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Men of Heritage: The Pursuit of Purity
This is a talk from one brother to brothers, one sinner saved by grace to many sinners saved by grace. We're a church of broken people, all in need of God's grace. Living out that identity is a battle—a battle to follow Jesus in everything we say and do.
"But as he who has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. Since it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy." — 1 Peter 1:15-16
The Battle Never Stops
A Lifelong Reality
The battle for purity never stops—regardless of age. From young men born into a generation with smartphones to older men who remember when phones were invented, we all face this struggle until we go to the grave.
Access to material that once required going to certain parts of town is now available at our fingertips within seconds. Struggles with pornography and impurity are exacerbated by billboards, commercials, advertisements, and even everyday situations at the gym or grocery store.
This isn't about railing against technology or modesty. Technology is a gift—amoral, not immoral. The same device used for Bible study can access the most vile material imaginable within seconds.
Holiness Is Freedom
Let's put this positively: Holiness and purity is freedom. It's freedom to not be a slave to sin and freedom to love and enjoy God. Purity is godlikeness—and if God is holy (the only attribute described as "holy, holy, holy" in Scripture), then holiness is the essence of divinity.
When you walk in holiness, you look more like God and can enjoy Him more fully. This is why Satan attacks your personal holiness so aggressively. The more holy you are, the more you radiate God's character.
Your Position
If you've trusted in Christ, you're as holy as you'll ever be before God. Your position is unwavering because it depends on Jesus, not you.
Your Practice
We're called to live out that holiness. Sexual immorality and impurity must not even be named among us as saints.
Know Your Enemy
Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. He watches you, knows you, and knows how to target your weak spots. But it's not just the enemy from without—it's also the indwelling reality of sin.
"For I delight in the law of God in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am!" — Romans 7:22-24
Can you resonate, brothers? You want to do what's right, but your eyes, mind, and habits wage war. Satan loves to leave believers in despair at verse 24. But Paul continues: "Thanks be to God who's given us the victory."
The Purity Shield
Second Timothy 2:22 provides our framework: "So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." Notice three essential elements:
Flee
Run from sin—get out, run for safety
Pursue
Run to righteousness, faith, love, and peace
Along With
Do it with others who call on the Lord
If all you do is flee but never run to something, you're running aimlessly. And if you run alone, the battle becomes deadly. Shields work best when linked together—just like Roman soldiers who formed impregnable formations by standing united.
Side One: Flee From Sin
The battle for purity requires holding two truths: sin is deadly, and God's grace is abundant. If you only see despair without recognizing sin's seriousness, you treat God's grace lightly. Fleeing from sin means fearing God and recognizing the deadly consequences of evil.
01
Look Away
Enforce a zero tolerance policy toward any form of lust. Bounce your eyes—move them somewhere else immediately.
02
Eliminate
Do whatever it takes to remove known sources of temptation. A generation of young men are choosing dumb phones to guard their purity.
03
Evade
Stay away from ungodly influences and compromising situations. Don't drive down the street of temptation. In the absence of a plan, the enemy wins.
Side Two: Come to Christ
In fleeing from sin, you're running to a God who loves to lean down to the sinner. This is a gentle God who wants to reach down to His children and meet them in their struggles. The book "Gentle and Lowly" should be regular reading to remind yourself of God's character as you battle sin.
Repent
Develop a posture of continual repentance. Be so quick that throughout the day you're in tune with sin and running to Christ to taste His forgiveness.
Obey
Submit to God and embrace His wise commandments. Ask for help to follow Him in thought and deed.
Meditate
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Memorize Scripture and shove as much truth into your mind as possible to displace sinful thoughts.
Enjoy
Cultivate delight in God and His good gifts. Marriage doesn't solve everything—you must continue fighting for purity while enjoying what God provides.
Side Three: Share With Others
We're called to fight this battle together—"along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." If the enemy can isolate you, you can be much more easily defeated. God's grace is that He gives us the church to stand together with linked shields.
1
Seek Help
Ask at least one mature believer to hold you accountable. We men struggle with this—we think we can handle it alone.
2
Heed Advice
Listen to those who are older and have walked the path before you. Learn from the hall of faith in Hebrews 11.
3
Assemble Regularly
Join with your local church in worship, fellowship, and service. Link shields together for strength.
4
Reveal
Embrace transparency and confess your sins to others. Be honest and specific—not for shame, but for freedom.
5
Engage
Do the work necessary to walk in freedom by the power of the Holy Spirit through daily spiritual disciplines.
Diagnose Your Battle
Where are you in this fight? Each missing component produces a specific pattern. Identify where you need to shore up your defenses:
Secret Striving
Fleeing sin and coming to God, but not sharing with others. Same pattern over and over with no growth. This is pride and fear.
Fruitless Fellowship
Coming to God and sharing everything, but never actively fleeing. Airing dirty laundry without growth or trying.
Agnostic Accountability
Fleeing and sharing, but not coming to God. Just putting band-aids on a gushing wound. Healing comes from God.
Ask yourself: Where do I need to be more honest? Which side of the shield needs strengthening? Deal with this seriously—every single day opening God's word, praying, and practicing godliness. Growth takes time and good spiritual nutrition.
Remember the Gospel
Do not forget: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." None. In Christ, you are secure. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." — Romans 8:18
Fight the good fight. One day, all temptations will be gone—endless joy and holiness in God's presence. When Satan throws lies at you about God's love, remember: nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ. Your weakness didn't save you—God's love did.
Come to Jesus
Come with your struggles. He is gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Cleanse Yourself
Since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Cultivate the Tree
Water it, fertilize it. Over time it will grow into an oak of holiness that produces fruit and blesses everyone around it.
Be like a tree planted by streams of water. Link shields with your brothers in joy and hope. The holiness of God is worth it.