Introduction

Good morning, cherished family of faith. We gather here today, not as strangers or mere acquaintances but as brothers and sisters united in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. We come together, not merely to fill a building, but to fill our hearts with the Word of God. We assemble here, not because we are obligated, but because we are called. We are called to learn, to grow, to love, and to live out our faith in a world that often seems at odds with our values.

Charles Spurgeon once said, "Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right." This discernment, this wisdom to know the difference between what is right and what is 'almost right', is what we need as we navigate the complexities of life in a world that often blurs the lines.

So let us turn to the Scripture for today. In 1 Timothy 4:12, we read, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." In Ephesians 5:3-5, we are admonished, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people." The call to purity continues in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, "It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable." And in 1 Corinthians 7:2-5, we are reminded of the sanctity of marriage and the mutual respect and love that should exist between spouses.

Let us bow our heads in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for bringing us together today. We ask You to open our hearts and minds to Your Word. Guide us in our understanding and application of these Scriptures. Help us to embrace the virtue of purity in our lives, not as a burden, but as a blessing. Give us the wisdom and discernment to choose the right path, to honor You in our thoughts, words, and actions. We ask this in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pursuing Purity in a Perverse Generation

Living in a world that often seems to celebrate the opposite of purity can be a daunting task. It's like trying to swim against the current. It's hard, it's exhausting, and sometimes it feels like we're not making any progress. But it's not impossible. The Bible is filled with examples of people who managed to maintain their purity in the midst of a perverse generation.

Take Daniel for example. Daniel was a young man who was taken captive by the Babylonians. He was taken from his home, from his family, and from everything he knew. He was thrown into a culture that was completely foreign to him, a culture that celebrated excess and indulgence. But Daniel didn't let his circumstances dictate his behavior. He made a decision to stay true to his beliefs, to maintain his purity, even when it would have been easier to conform.

What can we learn from Daniel's example? First and foremost, we learn that maintaining our purity is a choice. It's a decision that we make, not once, but every single day. It's a decision to say no to the things that the world tells us are acceptable, and yes to the things that God tells us are right. It's a decision to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it feels like we're standing alone.

But how do we make that decision? How do we find the strength to say no to the world and yes to God? That brings us to our second lesson from Daniel's life. Daniel didn't just decide to maintain his purity, he made a plan. He knew that he couldn't trust his own strength, so he relied on God's strength. He spent time in prayer, seeking God's guidance and asking for His help. He surrounded himself with like-minded individuals who could support and encourage him in his decision.

This is a crucial lesson for us. We can't maintain our purity on our own. We need God's help. We need to spend time in prayer, seeking His guidance and asking for His strength. We need to surround ourselves with people who will support and encourage us in our decision to pursue purity.

But what about when we mess up? What about when we make a mistake, when we give in to temptation? This brings us to our third lesson from Daniel's life. Even when Daniel made a mistake, even when he fell short, he didn't give up. He didn't throw in the towel and decide that it was too hard. He picked himself up, dusted himself off, and kept going. He knew that his purity wasn't dependent on his perfection, but on his perseverance.

This is an important lesson for us. We're not perfect. We're going to make mistakes. But that doesn't mean we should give up. Our purity isn't dependent on our perfection, but on our perseverance. When we mess up, we need to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and keep going. We need to remember that God's grace is sufficient for us, that His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Finally, we learn from Daniel's life that maintaining our purity is worth it. Despite the challenges, despite the difficulties, despite the opposition, Daniel remained faithful. And because of his faithfulness, he was able to influence those around him. He was able to make a difference in his generation.

This is our final lesson. Maintaining our purity isn't just about us. It's about the impact we can have on those around us. It's about the difference we can make in our generation. When we choose to pursue purity, we're not just choosing for ourselves, we're choosing for those who are watching us, for those who are influenced by our actions.

Principles of Purity in Relationships

As we continue our examination of purity, we turn our attention to the realm of relationships ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO