Review – Purifying Our Environment

• Keys to Purifying Our Environment:–Get rid of the physical objects–Get rid of the people who promote

sin–Get rid of the places where we sin–Get rid of the passing benefits–Get rid of the pieces forever–Replace them with proper practices

Review – Purifying Our Environment

• Unless we remove all obstacles:–No zeal – fire will never be ignited– Smoldering zeal – fire can never be

stoked–Moderate zeal – fire can never grow

In all cases, failure to purify our environment will ultimately result in

a dead, cold fire.

Drawing Near to God• NT instruction to draw near to

God:– Jas. 4:7-10– 1 Pet. 5:6–Heb. 10:19-22

• Why should we want to draw near?– 1 Jn. 4:9-10, 19– Rom. 5:6-11

Drawing Near to GodGod is Passionate about Me (I Am Precious)• How did God feel about Israel?–Deut. 4:24– Ezek. 16:6ff

• He feels the same about His people today.– Rom. 8:37-39– Eph. 5:25-29

• Do we ever forget that we are precious?

Drawing Near to GodGod is Perfecting Me • How did OT writers refer to perfecting

process? (Prov. 17:3; Mal. 3:2-3)• God also refines/perfects His people

today:– Jas. 1:2-4– 1 Pet. 5:10– 1 Jn. 2:3-6– 1 Jn. 4:12, 14-17– 2 Cor. 7:1

Drawing Near to GodGod Will Punish the Wicked• “If you embrace His will in this life, then

His fire is a blessing that purifies. If you reject His will, then His fire will be an eternal source of punishment for you.”

• Consider 2 Thess. 1:– Vv. 3-5– Vv. 6-10

• Which group will I be in? (Heb. 10:26-27)