How To Stay Clean In A Dirty World

How To Stay Clean In A Dirty World!

Psalm 119:9-11

Introduction

A. A text with a vital question.

1. How can one stay clean before God?

a. In this old work a day world¡Khow do we remain unspotted?

b. Is it possible¡KGod says be ye holy¡Kso it is possible.

c. Is it important?

d. So if it is important, and it is possible¡Kwhy does it seem that we fail so much?

e. Why does it seem sometimes like we are a magnet to sinful things?

f. Why does it seem that that pervasive attitude of anger and aggravation seem to always simmer just below the surface?

2. Many have asked this question¡K

a. Because ALL of us struggle with this problem!

b. We have a genuine desire to be clean before the Lord.

c. Our minds are truly willing¡Kbut our flesh indeed is weak!

d. We have the best of intentions¡Kso what happens?

e. Is this a new problem???

f. Story of the laver¡Kbetween the altar and the holy place we need cleansing!!! WOW

g. SO¡Kif this is not a new problem¡Kwhat is the answer?

h. As usual we find it in God¡¦s Word.

Psa 119:9-11 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (10) With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. (11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

3. There are 4 components to the Psalmists question and his answers we need to remember

BODY

A. The Psalmist¡¦s Desire

1. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?

a. The first step in cleanliness is a desire to have it.

b. You have to WANT to be clean before you can be.

c. You have to desire cleanliness more that you detest sinfulness!

d. You have to be tired of the sin that so easily besets you.

e. We must be weary of the broken resolutions¡Kagain and again¡K

2. How many of you can identify with the cry of the young man?

a. Lord¡Kit¡¦s me again¡KI¡¦ve done it again!!!

b. Why do we commit the same sins over and over and over again?

c. Don¡¦t we get it?

d. How can we say we love Christ and willfully commit the same sins over and over?

e. Listen to how the Apostle Paul puts it¡K

Rom 7:15-21 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

3. Newsflash, if the Apostle Paul struggled daily with his sin nature¡Kso will we.

4. But first, we must have a true desire for cleanliness each day¡K

a. Sin was defeated once¡Kand forever¡Kon Calvary¡K

b. But sinfulness is a daily struggle that must be fought daily¡K

c. Satan will not give up in his attempt to defeat you Spiritually¡K

d. We have to be just as tenacious in our defense.

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

5. This word resist infers the meaning to resist continuously!!!

B. The Scripture As A Detergent!

1. ¡§By taking heed unto thy Word.¡¨

a. Not by hearing¡Knot by reading¡Kbut by heeding.

b. To heed is to obey¡Ksuch as our traffic laws¡Kto heed the speed limit is to obey it.

c. If God¡¦s Word is to take root and make life altering changes in us¡Kwe have to heed it¡Kto heed it we have to understand it¡Kto understand it we have to study it!

2. Now, it is important to note¡K

a. We have already been cleansed positionally by Christ.

b. We never have to get re-saved.

c. If we have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior¡Kthen our position IN Him never changes.

d. We will never have to have the blood applied ever again.

e. We are saved and secured through the blood.

3. Yet we still need daily cleansing from walking thru this sinful world in which we live.