True Purity...

purity

pu·ri·ty: Purity is the quality of being unmixed, uncontaminated or wholesome.

What Is purity, Its more then just physical state,it is emotional and spiritual as well.

"He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." Psalms 24:4

" Who hath not lifted up his soul to vanity," what vanity is he talking about?

The vanity this world doles out so greatly?

Purity is so much more than a state of being, so much more than physical and mental, at it's core it's spiritual.

When you listen to music,converse with your friends, watch movies,or read books, these are all things that effect your inner purity and in turn impact the choices you make which who you are in a greater way.

"Proverbs 4:23 - Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life."

The issues of life flow out of the heart and what you put in the heart impacts you.

That is why it is so important to keep your eyes and mind set on what is pure, now more than ever.

"1Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

He (the devil) is looking to destroy you,break apart your testimony and lead others astray by doing so,and the greatest way he does this is through contaminating you first.

Sneaky, isn't it?

However evil fruit can only be produced from a contaminated tree.

"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Matthew 7 :18"

So that means that those who have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ ,have to be brought back into a place of contamination before they can produce the dead fruit of deceitfulness, lust,anger,malice,fear,hatred and the like.

It is so important that we stay vigilant as believers, Guarding our hearts against every little thing that can open a door to the enemy in our hearts, anything that effects our focus and becomes an idol.

(Yes girls I am referring to your teenage romance novels, and boys even some of your championship sports games)

If you think more about ANYTHING this world has to offer,than you do God,fulfilling your purpose for God ,and what He wants for your life.

You are walking on dangerous grounds.

Now, I am not saying you cannot watch or enjoy these things,but if they become a distraction from Him, odds are he wasn't leading you to them in the first place... And that maybe you should take time beforehand to ask Him what he is wanting you to do at this time.

Sometimes he will say yes sometimes he will say "no, do something else",

but ultimately this is the place where God wants us where we are constantly living in response to His spirit's moving and guiding presence within us.

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5

We acquire righteousness and purity,not by abstaining religiously,

A movie or a song in itself is not going to make you unclean.

However a movie or a song that you see/listen to in defiance of the Holy spirit's leading,

That's another story,

but truth is we often don't even bother to ask Him,thinking "well, God really doesn't care about a little movie here or song there, does he? Don't be so religious,and strict."

While it may be a bit religious to say, ban every single movie that is rated "R", "no exceptions!"

(Passion of the Christ was rated R so was hacksaw Ridge & Braveheart both favorites of mine...)

It is by no means religious to ask God what He thinks of a choice before we make it.

In fact God would like to be involved with everything we'd do and consulted on every decision we make down to the smallest ones, Not out of obligation, but out of an earnest desire on our part to please and share our life with Him.

He wants to be apart of everything that involves us, not because he is a strict father but rather because he loves us an insane amount and hates to be separated from us in any way

(Much like we are when we fall in love with someone for the first time)

Oh if we only would allow Him the precedence He deserves!

(I mean Isn't that exactly what Jesus did?)

"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." (John 5:19)

" I and my Father are one." John 10:30

(And isn't that exactly what it's supposed to be like for us as well? Jesus even prayed it for us didn't He??)

"20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." John 17:20-23

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:23

"The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name. "-- JOHN 14:26.

When . . . the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 16:23,24.

In most cases the Spirit of God is what helps you understand the things that are impure and vile,and the things that will undoubtedly contaminate your flow in the spirit. Anything that causes you to entertain even for a moment a thought that is impure or defiled is dangerous to your spiritual walk with God,

"19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21

At times we cannot always discern these things in our own judgement.

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. " 1 John 2:27

We must be vigilant yes, but by listening to the voice of the spirit Of God and allowing Him to direct us,teach us,and help us discern.

And If we can't hear Him then we take more time to listen,pray,and seek Him till we do!

God is not in the business of disappointing those who earnestly seek Him. He will give you an answer to whatever it is your looking for,you just have to be genuine in your pursuit.

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" Matthew 7:7

We need Him, and we need Him desperately!

He will not turn us away if we come to Him, most times the things that will harm us the most are the things that look to be the most innocent and un-deceptive,and we need the eyes of the spirit of God to properly discern these things for what they are.

We cannot be lazy and lax about what we allow into our lives. We must be attentive and true to the voice and spirit of God.

I believe the only reason we have believers walking in deceit and falling to the lusts of the flesh, is because they were never taught how to properly listen to the voice of God,thus leaving them without the ability to have discernment.

Religion says you must abstain from all things evil and not see,hear,or smell it, But Jesus calls us not to work for perfection in our habits but rather depend on Him to make us pure and perfect in all of our ways.

To remain undefiled.

If something (Movie,music,media,book,hobbies,etc.) impacts you so much that it distracts your mind, body, and spirit from Him it is defiling/contaminating you.

The key point is that we must not be affected by the things of this world,but rather,like Jesus, effect this world.

We are meant to bring purity into this vile wicked place, by being in it and shining His light.

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." 1 John 4:17

By his hand we are made pure, but what keeps our purity is not us abstaining from anything and everything,out of fear.

What keeps our purity is relationship with Him,following His spirit and obeying what he tells us to do.

The Holyspirit will keep you pure,you need only trust in Him and go where He tells you to Go.

God wants to take you to a place so deep in Him that the lusts of the flesh will no longer impact or appeal to you, and this is the place where God will really be able to use you.

Just think of it!

Jesus Christ,the Son of the Living God, Was able to commune with the desperately wicked sometimes even going to their homes or where they spent time.

God needs soldiers who are not only pure but that are unaffected by what the world has to offer.

That is where He wants to take us!

So that by destroying the works of the Devil in our own lives, He may be able to destroy the works of the Devil in the lives of others as well.

SO yes Guard your heart and abstain from doing those things which grieve the Spirit of God ( you'll know what grieves His spirit, because he will tell/show you beforehand).

Let your actions and directions come from God alone!

For I promise you the only way you can lead a pure life free from stain and contamination is in Jesus and in His leading.

Only through relationship with Him can you truly be pure!

Anything outside of that is either denial of sin or religious fanaticism.

Psalms 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

"10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1John 4:10-18

Titus 2:12 - Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

1 John 3:3

And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.