purity – Praying Pint

44.i. “Now is the day of salvation”

2Corinthians 6:1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;

“Life is options up to a point, and then it’s decisions made.” But no decision we make is more consequential than choosing where we are going to spend eternity. The decision is not whether you are going to live forever but where you going to live forever. And it is a decision you cannot put off indefinitely. If you wait until you die to decide where you are going to spend eternity, then you will have waited too long. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “The ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation”. Where we choose to spend eternity will be reflected in how we live our lives right now.

The older I grow the more I am convinced that real practical holiness does not receive the attention it deserves, and that there is a most painfully low standard of living among many high professors of religion in the land. But, at the same time, I am increasingly convinced that the zealous efforts of some well-meaning persons to promote a higher standard of spiritual life are often not “ according to knowledge,” and are really calculated to do more harm than good. Let me explain what I mean. It is easy to get crowds together for what are called “ Higher life ” and “ Consecration ” meetings. Any one knows that, who has watched human nature, and read descriptions of American camp-meetings, and studied the curious phenomena of the “ Religious affections.” * Sen¬ sational and exciting addresses by strange preachers or by women, loud singing, hot rooms, crowded tents, the constant sight of strong semi-religious feeling in the faces of all around you for several days, late hours, long protracted meetings, public profession of experience,—all this kind of thing is very interesting at the time, and seems to do good. But is the good real, deeply-rooted, solid, lasting ? That is the point. And I should like to ask a few questions about it. Do those who attend these meetings become more holy, meek, unselfish, kind, good tempered, self-denying, and Christ-like at home ? Do they become more content with * Sec tlie work of President Edwards on this subject. FEEFACE. :vii their position in life, and more free from restless craving after something different from that which .God has given them ? Do fathers, mothers, husbands, and otherrelatives and friends, find them more pleasant and easy to live with ? Can they enjoy a quiet Sunday and quiet means of grace without noise, heat, and excitement ?CAbove all, do they grow in charity, and especially in charity towards those who do not agree with them in every jot and tittle of their religion ? ^ These are serious and searching questions, and deserve serious consideration. I hope I am as anxious to promote real practical holiness in the land as any one. I admire and willingly acknowledge the zeal and earnestness of many with whom I cannot co-operate who are trying to promote it. But I cannot withhold a growing suspicion that the great “mass-meetings” of the present day, for the ostensible object of promoting spiritual life, do not tend to promote private home religion, private Biblereading, private prayer, private usefulness, and private walking with God. If they are of any real value, they ought to make people better husbands, and wives, and fathers, and mothers, and sons, and daughters, and brothers, and sisters, and masters, and servants. But I should like to have clear proofs that they do; I only know it is far easier to be a Christian among singing, praying, sympathizing Christians in a public room, than to be a consistent Christian in a quiet, retired, out-of-the-way, uncongenial home. (Ryles)

Out of great mercy, grace, and love, Jesus willingly went to the cross and paid the price for our sins. What manner of people should we be? How should we live? How should we speak? How should we think? Do people see a new creation born again changed life? Does the light and love of Jesus Christ flow out of you?

Let your days be filled with a single thought: Let my thoughts, words, and actions today be filled with honor and glory for Jesus Christ.

28.z. “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small”

Colossians 1:11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Isaiah 45:24   “Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him.

Ephesians 3:16    that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Philippians 4:13     I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

2 Corinthians 4:7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Proverbs 24:10     If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

2 Corinthians 6:4-6   but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities  beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;  by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;

Hebrews 12:1-2   Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

His strength is there to help us meet all of life’s challenges and to endure and overcome problems with circumstances (patience) and people (long-suffering) with joy. We find it easy to be patient and long-suffering when everything in our lives is free from trials and troubles. In other words, we think we will be patient and long-suffering when they invade our lives. We think we will be strong, steadfast, face it with courage, and will honor and glorify Jesus Christ through it, and then, Bam!! life happens and just the opposite happens. Our greatest failure is trying to or thinking that we are facing the trial or trouble alone and in our own strength. When we do, subconsciously we may know it is beyond our ability, but still, we plod on trying to overcome it in our self-reliant way. We may even consciously concede to the fact that is beyond our ability, but we still try to rely on ourselves. Why is that? Sometimes it is because of our spiritual growth or lack thereof, living in sin, not having a desire to surrender it into God’s hands, shallow faith in God’s power, thinking that we are not worthy of God’s help, or a host of other reasons. It is hard to yield to God’s power, strength, purpose, and plans. It is hard to wait on the Lord. Should it be? All throughout our lives, we must continually grow in faith, hope, trust, reliance, understanding, knowledge, and wisdom. Learning to do this takes continual practice, surrender, and yielding. It is with an intentional choice and desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we say, think, and do that we find learning applicable. God’s Word becomes more than food for our souls. It satisfies, fills, empowers, and we learn to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. How do we begin to apply this in our lives? Commit and Discipline yourselves to be in His Word and then practice surrender, yielding, seeking, and waiting on the Lord. Will we fail at times? Yes. However with continual practice, we will become more and more steadfast and resolute in our daily lives, and when trials and troubles fall upon us our natural reaction will be to place it in God’s control, power, purpose, and plans.

28.m. “An example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity”

Philippians 3:17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

1 Timothy 4:12   Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Peter 5:3    not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Romans 16:17    I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

While it is wrong to put our trust in any man, it is hypocritical for any Christian to say, “Do as I say, not as I do.” We are not sinless or are we perfect examples, but we can be good examples. This is where many fall short. They think they are defeated, not perfect, and because of this, they hide their faith, hope, and love. The hardest and easiest person to forgive is ourselves. When we sin or fall back into a sinful act we can deny it and shrug it off and in doing so we grieve the Holy Spirit. We can also confess it and move on in faith that God has forgiven it. We can learn from it and what it is that has triggered us to so easily fall into this sin. We might see that we have neglected time in His Word, or become complacent in seeking and desiring His Will in our lives. We might see that at that moment just before committing to that sin we heard a quiet whisper from the Holy Spirit and we intentionally chose to close our heart and mind to its warning and leading. So we either shrug it off and say “I am weak” and carry this thought around in defeat day after day until we forget about it. We don’t realize that the weight of these unconfessed burdens robs us of our witness and victory in Christ. We no longer see ourselves as a person to imitate. In fact, we may go so far as to just blend in both with the world and our Christian brothers/sisters so that no one can call us out as being a hypocrite. Satan will use every defeat to beat you into a lukewarm non-committed intimidated unrecognized Christian, when we should be confessing, trusting, relying on, obeying, and living victoriously in Jesus Christ. Are we sinless? No. Are we perfect? No. Should we allow this to keep us from being a living example of what it means to rely on, trust in, believing in, hoping in, following after, and obeying Jesus Christ? No. If we start living every moment of every day with an earnest desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ our lives will be an example of victorious living in the power of the Holy Spirit with acts of love, grace, mercy, joy, hope, faith, purity, generosity, kindness, forgiveness, patience, endurance, and courage and thereby an example to be imitated.

25.k. “But as servants of God”

2 Corinthians 6:4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left

Romans 14:18    Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

1 Thessalonians 2:3-11   For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,  but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

Romans 5:3-4    Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

Colossians 1:11    being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy

Hebrews 12:1   Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

James 5:7-10    Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Revelation 3:10    Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

We often think of patience as a passive thing – the ability to sit around and wait for something to happen. That is not the idea of the word Paul used here. It is an active endurance instead of a passive waiting. The ancient Greek word hupomone “does not describe the frame of mind which can sit down with folded hands and bowed head and let a torrent of troubles sweep over it in passive resignation. It describes the ability to bear things in such a triumphant way that it transfigures them.” (Barclay)

“Nowadays it is not the violence but the mockery or the amused contempt of the crowd against which the Christian must stand fast.” (Barclay)

Paul knew he needed endurance, and he knew many things in his life drew him to seek that endurance. Some of them were the general trials of life, some were sufferings directly brought by others, and some were self-inflicted. Not every trial was the same, but they all made him need endurance.

The idea of on the right hand and on the left is of holding both offensive and defensive weapons. It probably has in mind “both advancing and being attacked.” “Particularly, the shield and the sword; the former on the left arm, the latter on the right hand. We have the doctrine of truth, and the power of God, as an armour to protect us on all sides, every where, and on all occasions.” (Clarke)

25.j. “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice,”

2 Corinthians 6:3 Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

Ezekiel 16:8    “When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine.

Luke 19:42-44    saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side  and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Hebrews 3:7     Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice,

Hebrews 3:13   But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 4:7    again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

God has an acceptable time for us to work with His grace. God has a day of salvation that will not last forever. This is no time for Christian lives consumed with ease and comfort and self-focus. It is time to get busy for the Lord and to be workers together with Him. What is it that keeps us from seeing, knowing, and doing the Work of God? Is it trials? Is it ease and comfort? Are we deceived or influenced into believing He can’t or won’t use us? Do we find excuse after excuse, time and time again? I am not knowledgeable in the bible enough to be used by God. I am too busy. I am not good enough. I am not brave enough. I am not worthy enough. The list is as long as the number of excuses we make that keeps us from making a commitment to listen and then obey. Is the world influencing your ability to listen? Does it steal time away from working for God? Does it deafen your ears to hear His leading and calls for action in your life?

When we understand that our purpose in this life is to honor and glorify God in all we say, think, and do, it is then we will begin to understand His leading and calling and purpose and plans for our lives. Today is the day. Now is the moment. Right now. Make an intentional choice to make God-honoring and God-glorifying the reason for all you say, think, and do.

God’s word

Psalms 119:140 Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.

Psalms 119:128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.

Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

Psalms 18:30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Psalms 19:8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,

1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

2 Peter 1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Note scripture with references to God’s word:

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart.

Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

“In the word of God there is no error or sin. It is pure in its sense, pure in its language, pure in its spirit, pure in its influence, and all this to the very highest degree – ‘very pure’.” (Spurgeon)

God’s word is living, active, convicting, judging, saving, empowering, encouraging, pure, true, Holy, knowledge, wisdom, training, correcting, enlightening, giving purpose, equipping, food for the soul, perfect, flawless, giving hope, promise, peace, refuge, blessings, shielding, forgiving, accomplishing, never passing away, enduring, spoken by God, given by God, and inspired by God.

Neglect and complacency to His word rejects the full purpose and plans of God for our life.