On BEING PURE

 1 Thessalonians 4:1

King James Version

4 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, 

and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, 

that as ye have received of us 

how ye ought to walk and to please God, 

so ye would abound more and more.

What is purity?

Why must we be pure?

Why are we called to be pure?

What happens when we're not?

What happens when we don't care to be pure?

Remember what GOD said?

Leviticus 11:44-45

King James Version

44 For I am the Lord your God: 

ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, 

and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: 

neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner 

of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

45 For I am the Lord that bringeth you up 

out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: 

ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

How can we be "pure"?

Job 23:10-12

King James Version

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: 

when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps, 

his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back 

from the commandment of his lips; 

I have esteemed the words of his mouth 

more than my necessary food.

Psalm 19:12-14

King James Version

12 Who can understand his errors? 

cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; 

let them not have dominion over me: 

then shall I be upright, 

and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, 

and the meditation of my heart, 

be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, 

my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 51:10

King James Version

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; 

and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:14

King James Version

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, 

O God, 

thou God of my salvation: 

and my tongue shall sing aloud 

of thy righteousness.

Psalm 119:9

King James Version

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? 

by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Proverbs 10:20-21

King James Version

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: 

the heart of the wicked is little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many: 

but fools die for want of wisdom.

Matthew 5:48

King James Version

48 Be ye therefore perfect, 

even as your Father which is in heaven 

is perfect.

Romans 13:13-14

King James Version

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; 

not in rioting and drunkenness, 

not in chambering and wantonness, 

not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, 

and make not provision for the flesh, 

to fulfil the lusts thereof.

1 Corinthians 6:13

King James Version

13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: 

but God shall destroy both it and them. 

Now the body is not for fornication, 

but for the Lord; 

and the Lord for the body.

1 Corinthians 6:18

King James Version

18 Flee fornication. 

Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; 

but he that committeth fornication 

sinneth against his own body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

King James Version

19 What? 

know ye not that your body 

is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, 

which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: 

therefore glorify God in your body, 

and in your spirit, which are God's.

Ephesians 5:1-5

King James Version

5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, 

and hath given himself for us an offering 

and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

3 But fornication, 

and all uncleanness, or covetousness, 

let it not be once named among you, 

as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness, 

nor foolish talking, nor jesting, 

which are not convenient: 

but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this ye know, 

that no whoremonger, 

nor unclean person, 

nor covetous man, who is an idolater, 

hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ 

and of God.

Philippians 2:14

King James Version

14 Do all things 

without murmurings 

and disputings:

Philippians 4:8

King James Version

8 Finally, brethren, 

whatsoever things are true, 

whatsoever things are honest, 

whatsoever things are just, 

whatsoever things are pure, 

whatsoever things are lovely, 

whatsoever things are of good report; 

if there be any virtue, 

and if there be any praise, 

think on these things.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

King James Version

3 For this is the will of God, 

even your sanctification, 

that ye should abstain from fornication:

4 That every one of you should know 

how to possess his vessel 

in sanctification and honour;

5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, 

even as the Gentiles which know not God:

1 Timothy 1:4-5

King James Version

4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, 

which minister questions, 

rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

5 Now the end of the commandment is 

charity out of a pure heart, 

and of a good conscience, 

and of faith unfeigned:

2 Timothy 2:22

King James Version

22 Flee also youthful lusts: 

but follow righteousness, 

faith, charity, peace, 

with them that call on the Lord 

out of a pure heart.

Titus 2:1-12

King James Version

2 But speak thou the things 

which become sound doctrine:

2 That the aged men 

be sober, grave, temperate, 

sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

3 The aged women likewise, 

that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, 

not false accusers, 

not given to much wine, 

teachers of good things;

4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, 

to love their husbands, to love their children,

5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, 

good, obedient to their own husbands, 

that the word of God be not blasphemed.

6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: 

in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, 

gravity, sincerity,

8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; 

that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, 

having no evil thing to say of you.

9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, 

and to please them well in all things; 

not answering again;

10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; 

that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour 

in all things.

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation 

hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, 

denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, 

we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, 

in this present world;

James 1:27

King James Version

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God 

and the Father is this, 

To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, 

and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

1 Peter 2:1-2

King James Version

2 Wherefore laying aside all malice, 

and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, 

and all evil speakings,

2 As newborn babes, 

desire the sincere milk of the word, 

that ye may grow thereby:

1 Peter 2:11

King James Version

11 Dearly beloved, 

I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, 

abstain from fleshly lusts, 

which war against the soul;

1 John 3:3

King James Version

3 And every man that hath this hope in him 

purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Purity is holiness.

It is perfection.

It is godliness.

It is a virtue.

It is a LOVE for GOD.

It is a respect for self, and others.

Which every believer needs to cultivate.

Through JESUS.

John 15:5

King James Version

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: 

He that abideth in me, and I in him, 

the same bringeth forth much fruit: 

for without me ye can do nothing.

Through the HOLY SPIRIT.

John 16:7-11 

King James Version

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; 

It is expedient for you that I go away: 

for if I go not away, 

the Comforter will not come unto you; 

but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, 

he will reprove the world 

of sin, 

and of righteousness, 

and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, 

and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment, 

because the prince of this world is judged.

What comes from being "pure"?

What does the WORD of GOD promise us?

Psalm 19:7-11

King James Version

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, 

converting the soul: 

the testimony of the Lord is sure, 

making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, 

rejoicing the heart: 

the commandment of the Lord is pure, 

enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, 

enduring for ever: 

the judgments of the Lord 

are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, 

than much fine gold: 

sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: 

and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Matthew 5:8

King James Version

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: 

for they shall see God.

Acts 3:19

King James Version

19 Repent ye therefore, 

and be converted, 

that your sins may be blotted out, 

when the times of refreshing shall come 

from the presence of the Lord.

Philippians 2:15-16

King James Version

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, 

the sons of God, 

without rebuke, 

in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, 

among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life; 

that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, 

that I have not run in vain, 

neither laboured in vain.

Titus 1:15

King James Version

15 Unto the pure all things are pure: 

but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving 

is nothing pure; 

but even their mind and conscience 

is defiled.

Titus 2:13-14

King James Version

13 Looking for that blessed hope, 

and the glorious appearing of the great God 

and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, 

that he might redeem us from all iniquity, 

and purify unto himself a peculiar people, 

zealous of good works.

1 Peter 2:12

King James Version

12 Having your conversation honest 

among the Gentiles: 

that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, 

they may by your good works, 

which they shall behold, 

glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 John 3:2

King James Version

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, 

and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: 

but we know that, when he shall appear, 

we shall be like him; 

for we shall see him as he is.

It is vital we be born again.

That we may WALK with the SPIRIT.

And LIVE by the Bible.

Being guided every moment.

Into obeying GOD's commandments.

With love.

With delight.

With assurance.

With faith.

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What PLEASES GOD?

 Proverbs 16:7

King James Version

7 When a man's ways please the Lord, 

he maketh even his enemies 

to be at peace with him.

What makes GOD pleased with us?

What delights the LORD?

Is it sacrifice?

Or burnt offerings?

Find out here.

In answer, SPIRIT led me to these verses:

1 Samuel 15:22-23

King James Version

22 And Samuel said, 

Hath the Lord as great delight 

in burnt offerings and sacrifices, 

as in obeying the voice of the Lord? 

Behold, 

to obey is better than sacrifice, 

and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, 

and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. 

Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, 

he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Psalm 40:4-8

King James Version

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, 

and respecteth not the proud, 

nor such as turn aside to lies.

5 Many, O Lord my God, 

are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, 

and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: 

they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: 

if I would declare and speak of them, 

they are more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; 

mine ears hast thou opened: 

burnt offering and sin offering 

hast thou not required.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come: 

in the volume of the book it is written of me,

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: 

yea, thy law is within my heart.

Psalm 51:16-17

King James Version

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; 

else would I give it: 

thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: 

a broken and a contrite heart, 

O God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalm 51:18-19

King James Version

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: 

build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased 

with the sacrifices of righteousness, 

with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: 

then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Isaiah 1:11-20

King James Version

11 To what purpose is the multitude 

of your sacrifices unto me? 

saith the Lord: 

I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, 

and the fat of fed beasts; 

and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, 

or of lambs, or of he goats.

12 When ye come to appear before me, 

who hath required this at your hand, 

to tread my courts?

13 Bring no more vain oblations; 

incense is an abomination unto me; 

the new moons and sabbaths, 

the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; 

it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts 

my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; 

I am weary to bear them.

15 And when ye spread forth your hands, 

I will hide mine eyes from you: 

yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: 

your hands are full of blood.

16 Wash you, make you clean; 

put away the evil of your doings 

from before mine eyes; 

cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; 

seek judgment, 

relieve the oppressed, 

judge the fatherless, 

plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, 

saith the Lord: 

though your sins be as scarlet, 

they shall be as white as snow; 

though they be red like crimson,

 they shall be as wool.

19 If ye be willing and obedient, 

ye shall eat the good of the land:

20 But if ye refuse and rebel, 

ye shall be devoured with the sword: 

for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Isaiah 66:1-5

King James Version

66 Thus saith the Lord, 

The heaven is my throne, 

and the earth is my footstool: 

where is the house that ye build unto me? 

and where is the place of my rest?

2 For all those things hath mine hand made, 

and all those things have been, 

saith the Lord: 

but to this man will I look, 

even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, 

and trembleth at my word.

3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; 

he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; 

he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; 

he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. 

Yea, they have chosen their own ways, 

and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

4 I also will choose their delusions, 

and will bring their fears upon them; 

because when I called, none did answer; 

when I spake, they did not hear: 

but they did evil before mine eyes, 

and chose that in which I delighted not.

5 Hear the word of the Lord, 

ye that tremble at his word; 

Your brethren that hated you, 

that cast you out for my name's sake, said, 

Let the Lord be glorified: 

but he shall appear to your joy, 

and they shall be ashamed.

Jeremiah 7:21-23

King James Version

21 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, 

the God of Israel; 

Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, 

and eat flesh.

22 For I spake not unto your fathers, 

nor commanded them in the day 

that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, 

concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

23 But this thing commanded I them, 

saying, 

Obey my voice, 

and I will be your God, 

and ye shall be my people: 

and walk ye in all the ways 

that I have commanded you, 

that it may be well unto you.

Hosea 6:6

King James Version

6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; 

and the knowledge of God 

more than burnt offerings.

Micah 6:6-8

King James Version

6 Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, 

and bow myself before the high God? 

shall I come before him with burnt offerings, 

with calves of a year old?

7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, 

or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

 shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, 

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; 

and what doth the Lord require of thee, 

but to do justly, 

and to love mercy, 

and to walk humbly with thy God?

Matthew 9:9-13

King James Version

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, 

he saw a man, named Matthew, 

sitting at the receipt of custom: 

and he saith unto him, 

Follow me. 

And he arose, and followed him.

10 And it came to pass, 

as Jesus sat at meat in the house, 

behold, many publicans and sinners came 

and sat down with him and his disciples.

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, 

they said unto his disciples, 

Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

12 But when Jesus heard that, 

he said unto them, 

They that be whole need not a physician, 

but they that are sick.

13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, 

I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: 

for I am not come to call the righteous, 

but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 12:1-8

King James Version

12 At that time 

Jesus went on the sabbath day 

through the corn; 

and his disciples were an hungred, 

and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.

2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, 

Behold, thy disciples do that 

which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

3 But he said unto them, 

Have ye not read what David did, 

when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

4 How he entered into the house of God, 

and did eat the shewbread, 

which was not lawful for him to eat, 

neither for them which were with him, 

but only for the priests?

5 Or have ye not read in the law, 

how that on the sabbath days 

the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, 

and are blameless?

6 But I say unto you, 

That in this place is one greater than the temple.

7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, 

I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, 

ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

8 For the Son of man is Lord 

even of the sabbath day.

1 Corinthians 10:18-21

King James Version

18 Behold Israel after the flesh: 

are not they which eat of the sacrifices 

partakers of the altar?

19 What say I then? 

that the idol is any thing, 

or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols 

is any thing?

20 But I say, 

that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, 

they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: 

and I would not that ye should have fellowship 

with devils.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, 

and the cup of devils: 

ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, 

and of the table of devils.

1 Corinthians 10:31

King James Version

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, 

or whatsoever ye do, 

do all to the glory of God.

Hebrews 10:4-6

King James Version

4 For it is not possible 

that the blood of bulls and of goats 

should take away sins.

5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, 

he saith, 

Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, 

but a body hast thou prepared me:

6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin 

thou hast had no pleasure.

Hebrews 10:8-10

King James Version

8 Above when he said,

 Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings 

and offering for sin thou wouldest not, 

neither hadst pleasure therein; 

which are offered by the law;

9 Then said he, 

Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. 

He taketh away the first, 

that he may establish the second.

10 By the which will we are sanctified 

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ 

once for all.

Hebrews 10:24-27

King James Version

24 And let us consider one another 

to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, 

as the manner of some is; 

but exhorting one another:

and so much the more, 

as ye see the day approaching.

26 For if we sin wilfully 

after that we have received 

the knowledge of the truth, 

there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment 

and fiery indignation, 

which shall devour the adversaries.

Hebrews 10:36-38

King James Version

36 For ye have need of patience, 

that, after ye have done the will of God, 

ye might receive the promise.

37 For yet a little while, 

and he that shall come will come, 

and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: 

but if any man draw back, 

my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

In SUMMARY, these things "PLEASE GOD":

obeying the voice of the Lord

to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams

Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, 

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart,

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings 

from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word

Let the Lord be glorified:

Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance

I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, 

I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

I come to do thy will, O God. 

let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise

the just shall live by faith:

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Related video:

The Battle with the Flesh: Pleasing God - Ministério R.C. Sproul