“Purity”

1. (V22) Flee also youthful lust

Sometimes we can misunderstand and think God doesn’t want us to have fun

Why?

(Unwanted pregnancy) Kids grow up with out a father in the home, which for boys leads increased likelihood of incarceration, for girls it can lead early pregnancy, poverty, dropouts, and suicide

(Jealously) If you don’t end up marrying the person you are with, at some point or another your spouse will ask you about your past

I’ve heard of a woman who had sex one time and got HIV.

a) One mistake Christians make in dealing with temptation

How close can I get to the fire without getting burned?

The word says, I can look but I can’t touch

Matthew 5:28 “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Looking and thinking about it, eventually you will give in and do it

ILLUSTRATION

I’ve been doing this intermittent fasting for a while. Some nights I can’t sleep and I will begin thinking about food in pantry.

If I keep thinking about it, eventually I will give in and break my fast

2. One example of lust gone bad is (King David and Bathsheba)

a) King David should of been with the military as they were fighting a war

He was walking around on the roof when he noticed a beautiful women bathing

Instead of turning away he continued to look, so much so, that he inquired about her

He didn’t care she was married and he took her and lay with her

b) She became pregnant

David had her husband killed to cover up the scandal

c) David was forgiven but he consequence remained

The sword will never depart from your house

God will raise up adversity against you from your own house (Absalom)

What David did in secret it will be done to him in public (Absalom)

Their son died

Application: I want to encourage you guys to do it the right way because God will bless your obedience

**A practical suggestion is to not be alone with the opposite sex. This provides accountability

3. (V22) But pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace

Pursue the things that bring you closer to the Lord instead of the things that push you away

Dictionaries define righteousness as “behavior that is morally justifiable or right.” Such behavior is characterized by accepted standards of morality, justice, virtue, or uprightness.

4. Pursue these things with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart

Pursue all these things with those who call onto the Lord with a pure heart

Its impossible to keep company and pursue purity with those who do not call on the Lord with a pure heart

Its called being unequally yoked