Why We Believe We Should Seek Purity

(Psalm 119:9-16)



I. Introduction.
A. Orientation.

We read in Acts 11:26,

That the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Why were they called Christians?

Because they were like Christ.

Why were they like Him?

It was because of the Spirits work

In them to be sure.

But it was also because

They wanted to be like Him

They were trying to be like Him

They were following His example.


Paul tells us

That when God chose us,

He predestined to become like Jesus

So that He would be the first-born

Among many brethren

So that He would be first

Among many who were like Him.


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Thats why the Lord gave us His Spirit

So that we would want to be like His Son

But its also why He gives us the command

To put on the Lord Jesus Christ,

And to make no provision for the flesh

To follow Him.


John tells us in our meditation

That this is what the hope

Of being with Him one day

Should also produce

That we would purify ourselves as He is pure.

This means theres something we must do.


Sanctification

The putting on of Christ,

The purifying of our souls

From the corrupting influences

Of our sin and this evil world,

So that we are not like the people of this world,

But like the Son of God

Is not something that happens automatically:

Its something we must work at!

B. Preview.

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How can we?

Thats what psalmist tells us this evening:

He first asks the question,

How can a young man

One who is inexperienced

In the things of the Lord,

Who is particularly liable

To sin against God

Because he doesnt know the way of righteousness

How can such a one

Keep his way pure?

By keeping it according to Your Word.


The key to moral purity

To becoming more like Jesus,

To thinking as He thinks,

And doing what He does,

To becoming more of what

God predestined you to become

Is by living according to Gods commandments.

Thats what I want us to focus on this evening:


Well look at five things

That will help us better understand

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And apply these principles

That we might become more like Jesus.

1. First, well look at the kind of effort you must be willing to put out to become
pure (v. 10).

2. Second, how you should value the knowledge that leads to greater purity (v. 11,
14, 16a).

3. Third, how you can treasure this knowledge more (v. 12).

4. Fourth, the best way to hold onto this knowledge/treasure (v. 13).

5. And fifth, how to make better use of this knowledge (v. 15, 16b).

II. Sermon.
A. First, what kind of effort

Must you be willing to put out

To become morally pure?

The psalmist writes, With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander
from Your commandments (v. 10).

If you are to grow,

Its something you must really want to do.


You cant have a divided heart

You cant!

You cant be torn

Between the world and God

Between the things of the flesh

And the things of the Spirit.

These are two opposing principles

That are constantly at war.
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Whenever you give into the flesh

You necessarily lose some of the Spirits influence.

The world is geared by the enemy

To entice your flesh

To do this very thing.


And so first, you must determine

That you are going to seek Him

His strength,

His truth

With all your heart.


And you need to pray,

That He will help you stick

To the path He shows you

As the psalmist also prayed,

Do not let me wander from your commandments.

Whatever else happens

Do not let me stray

From the path of moral purity:

Keep me from compromising;

Keep me from the world;

Keep me from sin.

Help me to obey.
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B. Second, as you purpose to live this way,

And seek the Lord for His strength

And for His truth

So that you can be morally pure

What kind of value

Do you need to place

On the truth He reveals to you

The truth that can get you there?

You need to treasure it.

The psalmist writes, Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin
against You (v. 11).

You need to rejoice in it.

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches (v. 14).

You need to delight in it.

I shall delight in Your statutes (v. 16).

You should see it for what it is: precious!


Why?

Because it shows you

How to steer you clear of sin!

How to honor and obey the Spirit

How not to quench and grieve Him!


Why is that important?
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Because the more He exerts

His holy influence in your life,

The more you will be like Jesus.


When you resist Him,

Youre actually trying to go off course.

When you succeed,

You offend Him.

And when you offend Him,

He withdraws somewhat and leaves you

To fend more for yourself.

If He does, youll have a more difficult time

Becoming like Jesus.


Youll be much less likely to do this

If you purpose to be His undividedly,

If you seek Him for His strength and truth,

And then treasure that truth

Knowing it is the path on which

He is seeking to lead you.


C. Third, how can you desire His truth more strongly

So that you will treasure it in your heart?

By loving the God, whose truth it is, even more.

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Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes (v. 12).

The more you love God,

The more youll want to please Him,

And so the more you will seek to know,

And value more what you know,

Of His truth/Law.


Whenever we resent or hate someone

The last thing we want to do

Is listen to or submit to them.

Our resentment will color everything about them

So that they cant do or say anything right in our eyes.


Thats why its important

To maintain love and respect

For those in authority

Whether in the family, the church or the state,

Whether they make good decisions or bad.

Thats why its also important that we pray for them

So that they will make good decisions.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be
made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may
lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:1-4).


Whats true of them is especially true of God.
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The more we love Him

The more we can bless His name

The more well want to listen to Him,

Respect what He says,

And purify ourselves

From everything that dishonors Him.


Do you want to treasure Gods Law more

So that youll become more like His Son?

Then love Him more!


D. Fourth, what is the best way to hold onto this knowledge

Beyond loving Him and His truth more?

By giving it away.

By teaching others

As much as you know.

With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth (v. 13).


The best way to hold onto

The things the Lord gives you in this world

Is to give them to Him

For His glory and use.

Thats how you store up treasures in heaven.


How can you hold onto the truth He teaches you?
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By sharing what you know with others.

The more you communicate it,

The more you will reinforce it in your own life.

Sometimes the teacher learns more from his teaching

Than the student who listens.


And dont forget

Your actions will speak louder than your words.

If youre not living a life thats consistent

With what you believe,

It will undermine what you tell others.

And so prove that you believe what you say

By living by that truth!


E. Finally, how can you make better use of this treasure (v. 15, 16b).

Three words:

Memorization.

Meditation.

Observation.

1. First, memorization: I shall not forget Your word (v. 16).

Make sure you hold onto

What the Lord shows you.

His Word wont do any good

If you forget what it says.
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2. Second, meditation, I will meditate on Your precepts (v. 15).

Try to focus in on what He actually says.

Try to understand it thoroughly.

Its been said that meditation

Is like chewing the cud

Mulling it over until youve extracted

As much spiritual nourishment and instruction

As you possibly can.


3. And third, observation, I will . . . regard Your ways (v. 15).

Understanding what the Lord wants you to do

Through memorization and meditation,

Apply what you learn.

What are you doing that you need to stop/repent of?

What are you not doing that you need to begin?

Knowledge is useless unless you apply it.

Its actually worse than useless,

Its dangerous.

The more we know and dont do

The more blamable we are

For not doing it.


But if you apply it,

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The more you know

And the more you do,

The more youll be blessed,

Because the more you will be like your Lord.


4. And so as Joshua said to Gods people

Decide today whom you will serve

If the Lord is God,

Then serve Him.

If youre going to serve Him,

Then understand what He wants from you:


He wants you to serve Him with your whole heart,

To treasure Him and His Word/Law,

To be willing to share His Word with others,

And to memorize, meditate and observe it.


He wants you to strive to live up to the name, Christian.

The more you do

The more successful you are

At breaking free from this world

And becoming more like His Son

The more He will use you,

And the greater will be your reward.

Thats what the Christian life is all about.
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May the Lord give us the grace we need

To purify ourselves as He is pure. Amen.


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