Day 13 Inward Purity

Day 13

Inward Purity

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” 

(Matthew 5:27-30)

Inward Purity is the 5^th pillar

Inward purity is the fifth pillar that holds the temple of Truth!

Sin starts in your heart. That’s your mind.  If you expose your mind, you give the enemy an opportunity to plant evil thoughts into it, and if you do not cast those thoughts out, but continue to meditate on them, your thoughts will become words, then actions, and that becomes sin.  Temptation is not sin, but dwelling on and yielding to temptation, acting upon temptation--that is sin.

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”  (James 1:12-15)

The devil is constantly planting evil thoughts in our minds.  Our response to these thoughts determines our inward purity.  Because of our sinful nature, we easily respond to sin, and the devil knows it, he has been around for 6000 years.  He knows which temptations to use against each one of us.  Though he cannot read our minds and he doesn’t know what is in our hearts, he meticulously studies us and learns in what directions our desires are inclined.

If it is money, he will make sure there are always some ungodly deals coming your way;  if it is sex, he will make sure some sexy woman or some handsome guy is always coming  your way, dishing it out freely; if it is power,  the truth is the devil will tempt you with opportunities for power.  All temptations are according to our own desires.

“The heart is deceitful above all things,
      and desperately wicked;
      Who can know it?”  (Jeremiah 17:9)

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man…”   (Matthew 15:18-20)

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”  (Proverbs 23:7)

So guard your heart and mind.  Watch out for fleshly desires.  Abide in Christ always, as you and I are no match for devil.  Only when we are 100% in Christ can we have victory over our own desires. For without Christ, we can do nothing.  Do not trust your own strength, or your ability to fight temptation.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
      and lean not on your own understanding;
        in all your ways acknowledge Him,
      and He shall direct your paths.
        Do not be wise in your own eyes;
      Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
        It will be health to your flesh,
      and strength to your bones.”  (Proverbs 3:5-8)

 For:

“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.”  (Proverbs 28:26)

Why?

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:5)

 If you want to be pure inwardly, put on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Meditate on the Word of God daily (day and night) and as the Spirit convicts you, do not grieve Him, but cooperate with Him.  He will sanctify you completely: spirit, body, and soul.

How to be pure inwardly:

A) Read and meditate in the Word of God daily (the BIBLE, not just Christian books)

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  (Joshua 1:8-9)

For it is written:

“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”  (Matthew 4:4)

And again:

“Your word I have hidden in my heart,
        that I might not sin against You.

Your word is a lamp to my feet
        and a light to my path.”  (Psalm 119:11,105)

B) Pray without ceasing

“Then He spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”  (Luke 18:1)

“Pray without ceasing.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

C) If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you

This is to watch what your eyes see--see no evil, do no evil--for by beholding, we are transformed.  Everything our eyes see is recorded in our subconscious and these lead to actions even when we are not aware of them.  So if you watch an exotic movie, you will have sexual desires and wet dreams, whether you like it or not, which could lead you to sin. The same with what you hear, as hearing has the same effect.  Let me put it plainly:  your eyes and ears are channels that lead to your heart, so whatever you see, read, or hear will be stored in your heart.  Now the Lord Jesus tells us:

“…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart^, brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”  (Matthew 12:34-35)

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man…”   (Matthew 15:18-20)

Your heart is your treasure.  Everything you see, hear and read is stored in your heart, so your mouth will reveal that of which your heart is full.  It is the same with the body.  Your body will do according to that which abounds in your heart.  So if you fill your heart everyday with junk, you will speak and do junk.

Be careful therefore what you watch, see, hear, read, and do:

·         Soapies, movies, TV shows, music videos, video games, cards, gambling--if there is evil in it cast it off from you! (Stop watching it.)

·        And the music you listen to, if it is full of cursing, violence, and foul language, cast it off from you. (Stop listening to it.)

·        And the books you read, magazines, novels--if they do not profit you, cast them off from you. (Stop reading them.)

·        And the activities that you do, if they cause you to sin, cast them off from you in the name of Jesus. Amen! (Stop doing them.)

Finally my dear beloved, many of these things above are not meant for Christians.  For you can see the name of the devil written all over it.  Have discernment and ask yourself:  if indeed the Spirit of God abides in me, will I then take the Spirit of God to watch evil with me?  God forbid!

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body^. and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  (1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen!

Meditation:  My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  It must be kept pure.

Prayer points:  LORD, please sanctify me by Your Truth and deliver me from all my fleshly desires.  Lead me to live a holy life by Your grace, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen!

Commitment:  I commit myself to keeping my heart, mind, and body pure, for my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore I will glorify God in my body and in my spirit, which are God’s! I ask this help of You, My Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen!