Passion for Purity
Pastor Erickson speaks to students at Strong Tower Youth Camp from 1 Corinthians 6, Psalm 51 and the life of King Solomon, teaching that purity begins in the heart and in a person's character. He warns against lustful media and against dating people who do not honor purity, and he calls young people to commit to purity while offering restoration to those who have fallen.
The message in 6 points
Pleading for a few students
Like Abraham pleading with God for Sodom, he says he prayed that even ten students would take this message to heart. He tells of a father who warned his son that marrying the wrong girl would bury his ministry.
1:27:36A sin against your own body
Fornication is a sin against your own body, and your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, bought with a price. He reads how Solomon's wives turned his heart and how David prayed for a clean heart in Psalm 51. This session is not to shame anyone but to give hope and help them course correct.
1:29:59Purity is character
Purity is more than staying away from sexual sin. It is who you are behind closed doors and when nobody is watching. Solomon started humble and asked for wisdom, but his many foreign wives turned his heart, which is why it matters who you date and why you must guard your heart.
1:36:04Lasciviousness and what we watch
Lasciviousness is the voice that whispers that nobody will know, and it starts in the mind. He warns that what you let in through your eyes on television and phones shapes you, and he points to Philippians 4:8 for what to think on.
1:43:54Signs of a counterfeit
He gives signs that a boyfriend or girlfriend does not truly honor purity: saying everybody is doing it, that the urge is too strong, that nobody will find out, or that they will stop before going too far. You must make up your mind before temptation comes.
1:53:26The ruined car and restoration
He tells of a boy who could not wait for the Corvette promised to him and damaged it before his birthday, picturing what impurity does to a wedding night. Yet the message is about restoration, God can still make a marriage beautiful, and he calls students to live with a passion for purity from this day forward.
2:06:09
In his words
“Purity goes a whole lot farther than just sexual acts or abstinence from sexual acts. Purity is who you are. It's your character. It's who you are behind closed doors.”
“It all started in his mind. Your thoughts are your mission control. You got to guard them or lascivious ones will break in and take the good thoughts away.”
“However, if you have not stayed pure, I don't want you to feel condemnation. This message is not about shame. It's about restoration. It's about taking what's damaged and restoring it back to good character.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19What? 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? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
King James Version.
1 Kings 11:4
4For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
King James Version.
Psalms 51:1-13
1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
King James Version.
Mark 7:21
21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
King James Version.
Mark 7:23
23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
King James Version.
2 Timothy 2:22
22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
King James Version.
Philippians 4:8
8Finally, 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.
King James Version.
Matthew 5:8
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
King James Version.
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