Maintaining Moral Purity...

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7
"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,
that ye should abstain from fornication:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel
in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence,
even as the Gentiles which know not God:
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:
because that the Lord is the avenger of all such,
as we also have forewarned you and testified.
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."


Most people care about purity in some areas;
they wish for pure water, pure air, etc...
But sadly, our country has forgotten about moral purity.
Statistics show that 9 out of 10 people have pre-marital relations.
Should we just throw in the towel and accept this?
Verse 7, above, says,"For God hath not called us unto uncleannes,
but unto HOLINESS." God wants us to be holy.
Can this really be done? Yes, it really does matter to Him!
We should not imitate, nor should we isolate...
but we really need to insulate! Resolve to stay pure!
The Lord can keep our hearts and minds pure.
Here are a few ways we can insulate our lives...


1. Make A Commitment To God's Way
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?
by taking heed thereto according to thy word."
Psalm 119:9
What should we base our whole lives on?
The Word of God!
We should commit to the standard of His Word alone.
Where we fail to commit, we'll fail in that area.
Even if it doesn't make sense, or isn't popular,
we need to be determined to follow God's standard.


2. Manage Our Minds
"Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life."
Proverbs 4:23
Our desires reflect what is really in our hearts and minds.
Bad and sinful thoughts lead to bad and sinful decisions.
Every temptation starts in the mind.
An 'empty' mind is Satan's playing ground.
We are to be keeping our hearts diligently,
being sure to take every thought captive
to the obedience of Christ!
We all have our own lustful and selfish nature.
We must not follow our lusts and own desires!
"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away
of his own lust, and enticed." James 1:4

"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
James 1:15

The whole beginning of wrong actions begins in the mind,
when we dwell on and think about our own lusts and desires.
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness,
faith, charity, peace, with them that call
on the Lord out of a pure heart."
2 Timothy 2:22


3. Monitor Our Media Intake
"The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge:
but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness."
Proverbs 15:14
Do we really want to get our philosophy of life from the media?
TV shows, movies, news, magazines, advertisements, etc...
We really need to watch what we allow ourselves to see!
We can't live morally pure by
always feeding on television and the like!
Let us not let the world stick to us.
"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:
I hate the work of them that turn aside;
it shall not cleave to me."
Psalm 101:3


4. Minimize The Opportunity For Temptations
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted

above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also

make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
2 Corinthians 10:12-13
We must be able to realize and pay attention to what tempts us
and we need to be resolved and rely on the Lord to help us say "no".
We must choose our friends wisely.
It is much easier to pull someone down than to raise someone up.
We must establish protective guidelines.
"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness,
let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting,
which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks."
Ephesians 5:3-4
These things should not be named even once among us!
They should never (including in our thought life) be a part of us.
If we are tempted in certain areas, we need to avoid them.


5. Magnify The Consequence Of Sin
We really need to realize the seriousness of sin.
Just because people's standards have changed,
does NOT mean God's standards have!
He remains the same and so does His hate for sin.
If we mess around with something, it will destroy us.
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
Galatians 6:7