Pure in Heart: Lesson 3

Purity of Heart: 100% Satisfaction from God alone

Sexual Purity is 100% satisfaction from our spouse

Genesis 2:22-25 God and Adam were alone for a while with a complete spiritual relationship. Adam is giving a spouse God took a bone from next to his heart. Eve was created to be enough for Adam. Eve and Adam were enough emotionally, physically, and spiritually. He didn't need anyone else. She was enough to complete him sexually.

Ephesians 5:1-4 100% of our sexual gratification should be from our spouse. No place for jokes or improper thoughts because we are God's holy people. Sin doesn't belong with us. We are to be set apart from sin. Ephesians 5:7 Do not partners who do not hold the standard.

Matthew 5:27-29 Jesus takes away the look. Impurity is even looking at a woman. It is serious. How serious do we take the long look or the second look that brings the sexual fantasy?

1 Timothy 5:1-2 No sexual gratification going until it is a husband and wife.

Hebrews 13:4 Rules out sexual fantasy, pornography. Sex should be 100% about your spouse. Rules out masturbation. It is selfish, does not unify with anyone, and does not involve the spouse.

Mark 10:17-27 Living a pure life is possible with God.We become who we are with training with God. It is doable and a joy, not a burden. A beautiful life God gives to his children. The best sex are reserved for disciples who are living this pure life.

2 Timothy 2:22 Will I flee evil and will I pursue righteousness?

Exercises: Get an pencil and write out how I am getting sexual pleasure, sexual hits outside of marriage. Am I willing to hold to God's standards?

Back on Track - Day #2

Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

This chapter is about the Dragon from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, one of the Chronicles of Narnia books/movies. Specifically there is a moment where the dragon /boy has to become humble to never be a dragon again. He has to "undragon" himself by allowing Aslan to undress him.

Ephesians 5:18
Be drunk on the Holy Spirit of God verses the unholy spirit of wine. Why? Because whatever you are filled with it will be noticeable to others. What are people noticing about me?

(1 Thessalonians 5:19) Do I quench the Spirit or put out the fire? God gave me a Counselor (John 16:7) because I need to be counseled. God gave me a helper (John 14:26) because I need help. God gave me a comforter (John 14:16) because I need comforting. God told the disciples it would be better for them if they when he left (John 16:7), saying that the Holy Spirit would live within them. Do I believe that?! Would I rather have Jesus next to me or the Holy Spirit in me? Jesus says it is better to have the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2 the Holy Spirit shows up. Acts 4:29-31, it shows up again. The book of Acts is a living testimony to people who were changed not by their own might or power but by the Spirit of our omnipotent God.

Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

People realized these men were who they were because of Christ.

Questions at the end of this chapter:

1.What dragon-like characteristics do you naturally exhibit?
I like to think of Galatians 5:19-21 for the dragon-like characteristics. And if that is the case, I find myself struggling with impurity the most, followed by fits of rage.

2. Write down everything you know about the Holy Spirit.
It lives in you. This feels like a test ;) The Holy Spirit is a counselor, God living in me, a helper, a comforter, a guide for my life.

3. How have you seen the Holy Spirit change your life in the past and in the present?
I have seen the Holy Spirit change how I view people. I have also seen my character change some in regards to purity, money, basic values such as friendship, respect, and love for others. I have become more patient in a lot of areas and I continue to grow even now.

4. How can you tap into God's power today and see his strength unleashed in your life?
I think requires a lot of prayer and a lot of studying the Bible.

The Light Study #8

John 9:1-5
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

• You know, I think that still applies today, that Jesus is the light of the world even now. He's the light that is in the Christians today. If there is light, then Jesus is there.

John 12:35-36
Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

• When you believe in Jesus, you become a child of the light. Or at least you might be able to become a child of the light. It does say that you 'MAY' become children of light.

John 12:44-46
Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

• Jesus came as a light, so that people wouldn't stay in darkness.

Ephesians 5:8-13
You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

• If I live as a child of light, then there would be fruit of the light, such as goodness, righteousness, and truth. I need to find out what pleases the Lord and do that. I also need to have nothing to do with fruitless deeds, but focus on exposing those deeds. Everything illuminated becomes a light. So if sin is exposed, it, too becomes a light. I may not be understanding that correctly.

The Battle for Righteousness

Romans 7:14-25 

We know that the law is spiritual, but I am not spiritual since sin rules me as if I were its slave. I do not understand the things I do. I do not do what I want to do, and I do the things I hate. And if I do not want to do the hated things I do, that means I agree that the law is good. But I am not really the one who is doing these hated things; it is sin living in me that does them. Yes, I know that nothing good lives in me—I mean nothing good lives in the part of me that is earthly and sinful. I want to do the things that are good, but I do not do them. I do not do the good things I want to do, but I do the bad things I do not want to do. So if I do things I do not want to do, then I am not the one doing them. It is sin living in me that does those things. So I have learned this rule: When I want to do good, evil is there with me. In my mind, I am happy with God's law. But I see another law working in my body, which makes war against the law that my mind accepts. That other law working in my body is the law of sin, and it makes me its prisoner. What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death? I thank God for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Point #1: FLEE FOR YOUR LIVES 

James 1:12-15
When people are tempted and still continue strong, they should be happy. After they have proved their faith, God will reward them with life forever. God promised this to all those who love him. When people are tempted, they should not say, "God is tempting me." Evil cannot tempt God, and God himself does not tempt anyone. But people are tempted when their own evil desire leads them away and traps them. This desire leads to sin, and then the sin grows and brings death.

1 Corinthians 10:14
So, my dear friends, run away from the worship of idols.

1 Timothy 6:11
But you, man of God, run away from all those things. Instead, live in the right way, serve God, have faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:22
But run away from the evil desires of youth. Try hard to live right and to have faith, love, and peace, together with those who trust in the Lord from pure hearts.

What is a moral compass? How disgusting is my non-disciple life? Lot LOST his wife!!! Flee means to not stick around, don't flirt, don't challenge, just get out!!

Ephesians 5:1-7
You are God's children whom he loves, so try to be like him. Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.

But there must be no sexual sin among you, or any kind of evil or greed. Those things are not right for God's holy people. Also, there must be no evil talk among you, and you must not speak foolishly or tell evil jokes. These things are not right for you. Instead, you should be giving thanks to God. You can be sure of this: No one will have a place in the kingdom of Christ and of God who sins sexually, or does evil things, or is greedy. Anyone who is greedy is serving a false god.

Do not let anyone fool you by telling you things that are not true, because these things will bring God's anger on those who do not obey him. So have nothing to do with them.

Colossians 3:5-10
So put all evil things out of your life: sexual sinning, doing evil, letting evil thoughts control you, wanting things that are evil, and greed. This is really serving a false god. These things make God angry. In your past, evil life you also did these things.

But now also put these things out of your life: anger, bad temper, doing or saying things to hurt others, and using evil words when you talk. Do not lie to each other. You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before. You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you the true knowledge of God.

2 Timothy 2:22 (see above)
Grow Up! Flee from sin. Don't walk where it is slippery!

Point #2: STAY ON THE OFFENSE

Am I 'sitting on the ball'? Confession is not sitting on the ball, but staying on the offense.

Scriptures on Secret Sin:

Ecclesiastes 12:14
God will judge everything, even what is done in secret, the good and the evil.

Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the way we have lived.

Romans 2:16

Psalm 32:3

James 5:16

Fumbling the ball: CONFIDENTIALITY

Proverbs 11:13

Proverbs 18:8

Proverbs 20:19

1 Corinthians 10:1-13