INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• We live in a time when it is difficult to live a life of purity. Our society glorifies immorality. Our society applauds and rewards bad behavior.
• When you look at the movies that are produced today, the music produced today, we can see why society is struggling to stay afloat.
• As bad as things seem, there have been times around the world where immorality ran rampant, much worse than what we are experiencing today. Nonetheless, we live in increasingly difficult times when it comes to striving to live a life that is pleasing for God.
• The message today is not meant to be one that bashes the evils of society, but rather it is designed with the intention of helping us to be able to live in such a manner that is pleasing to God.
• SLIDE #2
• James 1:27 (HCSB) Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
• THIS my friends is not easy and we need all the help we can get to make it happen.
• When you think about this subject, it is not just about pleasing God, but it is also about living a life that will be a better life.
• When one decides to live a life that is pleasing to God, their life will be better! Your life will be less stressful as well as experiencing fewer self-inflicted wounds.
• Today we are going to go to Psalm 119 we are offered a blueprint for purity as we see three things we need to possess so that one can stand strong in the face of opposition.
• Let’s begin by looking at Psalm 119:9-11
• SLIDE #3
• Psalm 119:9–11 (HCSB) — 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your word. 10 I have sought You with all my heart; don’t let me wander from Your commands. 11 I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.
• SLIDE #4
SERMON
God’s blueprint for purity includes…
I. A disciplined heart.
• Anything worth achieving in life takes discipline. Discipline flows from desire.
• Athletes who want to be successful have to be disciplined, students who want to excel, have to be disciplined.
• Those who want to stay in shape, have to be disciplined.
• If you want to live your life in a way that is pleasing to God and is a blessing to yourself as well as all those you have influence over, it takes discipline, which flows from the heart.
• The Psalmist askes the question, how can a young man keep his way pure?
• Now, the principles shared in this Psalm are not only for young people, but the earlier in life they are instilled in a person, the better.
• SECOND SERVICE! Young parents, are you instilling the Word in your children, are you modeling it in your life?
• GRANDPARENTS, are you helping your children raise their children by being a good example of how to live out the Word in your life?
• In verse 9, the word WAY speaks of CONDUCT, BEHAVIOR, MANNER OF LIVING.
• The word PURE speaks of BEING FREE FROM SIN, FREE FROM FAULT.
• The writer is speaking of being pure in a moral sense. We will never be sinless perfect; however, we can save ourselves a ton of grief by doing the right things in life, by striving to live the life God has planned for us.
• By the power of God’s Holy Spirit that we receive when we are immersed into Christ, we can do so much more with life than we ever thought possible.
• The Psalmist answers the question of how to keep pure in the later part of verse 9 by telling us we can stay pure by keeping God’s Word!
• This is how we can avoid many of the pitfalls of this world.
• When we drop down to verses 10-11 we see more of the theme of a disciplined heart shining through the text.
• In verse 10 we see another act of determination, the Psalmist says he sought God with all his heart!
• This implies discipline and determination, it implies a single-minded focus on the part of the Psalmist.
• He was able to work on what we find in Colossians 3:5
• SLIDE #5
• Colossians 3:5 (HCSB) Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
• The writer is saying I have put all me efforts into seeking God, now he is appealing to God for protection!
• He is asking that God help him to stay on the right path!
• “Do not let me” or “prevent me from”; therefore “do not let me disobey your commands.”
• The negative request, don’t let me wander, that is, depart from, abandon, disregard, can be expressed in a positive way, “keep me true (or, faithful) to your commandments.”
• Verse 11 continues the disciplined heart theme.
• 11 I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.
• Some version use the phrase, HIDDEN, or STORED UP,
• In verse 11 the psalmist proclaims his determination not to sin against God, that is, not to disobey any of his commands; so he treasures God’s word in his heart. The verb the HCSB translates I have treasured means “store up, hide away”; here it may mean to memorize the Law.
• This meaning seems to be supported by verse 13, which speaks of the proclaiming all the laws that God has given his people (see also verse 15a).
• What does it mean to TREASURE the Word in his heart? Treasure implies something of value, something worthy of holding on to. WE all have memories that we will treasure all the days of our life because they meant something to us.
• What did Jesus do when Satan came to tempt Him? What did Jesus use to fend Satan off? Jesus used the Word, the Word of God was His weapon of choice!
• If it was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for us!
• Here is something to understand, our purity will affect our ability to love other people than ourselves.
• SLIDE #6
• 1 Timothy 1:5 (HCSB) Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
• Let us turn to verses 12-13.
• SLIDE #7
• Psalm 119:12–13 (HCSB) — 12 Lord, may You be praised; teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from Your mouth.
• Next we see that God’s blueprint for purity includes…
• SLIDE #8
God’s blueprint for purity includes…
II. A teachable spirit.
• Verses 12-13 offers insight as to the type of spirit one needs possess to be able to maintain a sense of purity.
• In my opinion one of the problems with education in general, not just schools, lies within the student.
• When I went to High School, I really on cared about sports and girls, I told my algebra teacher that I would never use this stuff in real life.
• I did ok in High school, but being a typical teen, what more could I add to me vast expansive knowledge.
• When one lacks a teachable spirit, they will never learn nor will they grasp important concepts in life.
• I begrudgingly went to College, I did ok, but I was not thrilled with going.
• Once I got a little older and knew the path I was supposed to travel in life, my education took a new turn.
• When I started going to Bible College, I did not just want to make it on my ability, I wanted to learn and grow.
• If broke my heart to see students not giving the best. I enjoyed bible College, I am enjoying Grad School, although I am ready to be done.
• Learning is about being teachable and about knowing why you need to be teachable.
• The Psalmist is so excited about learning God’s statutes, or commands. He wants God to teach Him so he can remain as pure as possible.
• The teachable spirit begins with a proper regard for God (v. 12). The psalmist confesses his adoration for the Lord.
• The inner devotion to the Lord will lead to possessing a teachable spirit!
• When one is excited about learning, they want to share what they learned with others.
• Verse 13 indicates the Psalmist’s desire is to proclaim all the judgments that come from God.
• Verse 13 is a declaration, not a promise. The psalmist states that he likes to recite God’s laws.
• I cannot tell you how many Sunday School classes I have participated in or taught were a number of the participants did nothing to prepare for the class.
• I have heard people talk about being bored at church. Ok, sometimes a preacher can make it dry; however, if that same person was telling you how to use your parachute as the plane is about to go down, I bet you would listen!
• If you are interested and want to learn, you will be interested and you will learn.
• Let’s look at verses 14-16
• SLIDE #9
• Psalm 119:14–16 (HCSB) — 14 I rejoice in the way revealed by Your decrees as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts and think about Your ways. 16 I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
• SIDE #10
God’s blueprint for purity includes…
III. A joyful attitude.
• If you have a bad attitude, you will never reach you full potential, you will never be the learner you were made to be.
• Imagine winning the big lotto! Would that not be exciting? Would you not be enthusiastic about life?
• The attitude of the Psalmist is one of complete JOY!
• The Law is equaled in value to all possible riches; that is, to all blessings that can be conceived, and that are most highly prized by men.
• If we value something, we will pay attention to it. Our attitude will determine how much effort we will invest in an endeavor.
• Look at verse 15 and 16 again.
• SLIDE #11
• 15 I will meditate on Your precepts and think about Your ways. 16 I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
• The Psalmist is excited about carrying out God’s will in his life and his attitude about God opens the door for him to invest his whole life into his walk with God.
• We will take the time to meditate on God’s precepts and he will think about God’s ways in verse 15, he will also delight in God’s teaching according to verse 16!
• SLIDE #12
• 1 John 5:2–3 (HCSB) — 2 This is how we know that we love God’s children when we love God and obey His commands. 3 For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden,
• Our attitude will dictate how we deal with life, and we grow in our faith!
CONCLUSION
• God’s blueprint for purity is one that if we follow it, we will do well in this life, we will not only store up treasures for eternity, but will be save ourselves a ton of grief in this life!
• God’s blueprint for purity will help you to grow, but you have to be willing to follow the plan as well as possess the attitude and commitment it takes to do it.
• The world is filled with temptations, and we need all the help we can get to resist.
