Springs Article 2023-04 (4)

Matthew 5:27-30, 2 Timothy 2:19-22, 1 Corinthians 6:9-13

What is the value of purity?

  • God has a righteous and good plan for your life, Jeremiah 29:11
  • The devil has a wicked and evil plan for your life, John 10:10
  • In order to fulfil God’s plan, you need to know and follow the plan progressively, as revealed by God
  • Purity (consecration, sanctification, holiness, godliness) helps you to see and hear God clearly, Hebrews 12:14

Why does my heart need a regular spring clean?

  • In the process of living in this unbelieving world, believers pick up baggage, packaging and garbage. This is referred to as worldliness
  • Romans 12:2, 1 John 2:15-17
  • Purity is a continuous process of guarding and decongesting your heart and life from worldliness and carnality, Proverbs 4:23
  • The opposite of godliness is worldliness!

What is lust?

  • Lust is uncontrolled (out-of-control, ungodly) desire – a twisted desire for something bad or a covetous/inordinate desire for something good
  • If your desire is out-of-control, it is ungodly and lustful
  • To covet is to yearn for or claim what is not rightfully yours
  • To covet is to love material things more than spiritual things
  • To covet is to love the creation more than the creator
  • Purity (godliness) requires that all your desires are placed under the control of God’s Word

What is wrong with fornication (sex between two consenting unmarried people)?

  • It is a sin of stealing (covetousness) – taking what is not rightfully (legally and spiritually) yours, Proverbs 5:15-21
  • It is a sin of dishonour – not recognising the ownership of God over your body, 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

What is wrong with adultery (sex between a married person and someone who is not their spouse)?

  • It is a sin of fornication and unfaithfulness – giving out or taking what belongs to another, Hebrews 13:4, Proverbs 5:15-21

What is wrong with pornography, according to Matthew 5:28?

  • It is the junior brother of fornication!
  • It is a sin of covetousness and impurity
  • It is a sin that corrupts the mind and prepares it for greater sin

What is wrong with lustful fantasising, according to Matthew 5:28?

  • It is the junior sister of fornication!
  • It is a sin of covetousness and impurity
  • It is a sin that corrupts the mind and prepares it for greater sin

What is wrong with materialism, according to 1 John 2:15-17?

  • It is the basis of all idol worship!
  • It is fed by lust and pride
  • It is full of covetousness, worldliness and carnality
  • It competes with the love of God in your heart (congestion)

How can I stay pure in this morally corrupt world, according to Matthew 5:29-30?

  • If your right hand offends you, cut it off and if your right eye offends you, gouge it out! 
  • This is an hyperbole used by Jesus to illustrate how seriously you must take the issue of keeping yourself pure
  • You have to learn to cut some things off and gouge some things out of your life
  • A lack of purity can compromise you eternally!
  • A lack of purity can send a person to hell, Matthew 5:29-30

How do I apply Matthew 5:29-30 to overcome impurity in today’s world?

  • Block that person, unsubscribe from the content, leave the group, stop the movie, put off the TV, filter your internet, restrict your gadget, stop the chat, cut off bad company, quit the habit, invest in good company, seek for godly help and counselling, repent quickly

To find out more, listen to the audio sermon