2 Timothy 2:22 “But flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
‘The proof of spiritual maturity is not how pure you are but awareness of your impurity. That very awareness opens the door to grace’ – Philip Yancey.
Purity is power. The above command is not just to the young but to everyone. Purity is cleanliness in our intentions, thoughts, words and deeds. The purity in our personal and private life will make us powerful in our public life. ‘Purity’ and ‘integrity’ walk hand in hand. Integrity is what you do when no one is watching; it’s doing the right thing all the time, even when it may work to your disadvantage. Purity in private makes us powerful in public.
There is a constant battle to live holy and pure. Hell is hoarded with teams of demons who are assigned to inflict us with unclean, angry, hateful, violent, unforgiving, lustful and promiscuous thoughts. Their job 24/7 is to inject impure thoughts and wait for our reaction. This is why the famous saying goes, ‘empty mind is the devil’s workshop’. When our body is at rest our mind should meditate, not meander. It was when King David was lazing around in his palace that he fell into adultery. Lethargy steals purity. Likewise, sloppiness or careless living invites unclean spirits to attack purity. Samson’s habitual visit to the brothel stole his purity and his power.
All sin is conceived as a thought. Anger is the seed that gives birth to rage, violence and rivalry. Jealousy is the seed that gives birth to division. Pride is the seed that delivers destruction and lust is the seed that births adultery. Evil, ugly and unclean thoughts are spiritual attacks against our purity.
Purity is power:
1. Nip: Nip it in the bud. Be cautious of the thoughts that run through your mind. Every careless thought has consequences. Put on the safety helmet of ‘purity’. When suggestive, provocative or insinuative thoughts cross your mind, beware that these are impure thoughts injected by the team of unclean demons. Resist the devil and nip it in the bud before it is planted in your mind.
2. Negate: Negate negative, anxious and demeaning thoughts. Anxiety attack is a result of entertaining and engaging with the fearful predictions of hellish ideas. Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations from God’s word.
3. Nurture: Nurture godly, pure and innocuous thoughts. Avoid music, entertainments or conversations that leave dirty footprints in your mind. Don’t entertain slur or slander. Malign is like gangrene. It not only hurts others but also poisons us. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8). Nurturing purity is empowering.
There is always a battle between our flesh and the spirit to live in purity. Purity makes us powerful and a threat to the demonic ghetto.
Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”.
Prayer: Dearest Holy Spirit, Strengthen me to resist impurity and win the battle of purity every day. Make me a threat to hell. Amen.
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