OBC ATT 6 ATTITUDES OF THE HEART

OBC ATT 6 ATTITUDES OF THE HEART NOV / DEC 2007

LESSON SIX

Attitudes: Wickedness and Purity

"The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,

But the words of the pure are pleasant." Proverbs 15:26

In this verse we see a contrast between the wicked and the pure. The attitudes of one’s heart decide whether wickedness or purity will rule. These attitudes will not create salvation, but these, along with all other attitudes will determine whether one is willing to follow completely the commands in God’s word in order to receive salvation and remain in a saved condition.

Consider the attitude of wickedness:

1. All wickedness begins within the heart or attitude.

Mark 7:20-23, "And He said, What _____ ____ of a man, that _____ a man. For from __________, out of the ________ of men, proceed ____ _________, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, ___________, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these ____ ______ come from _________ and _____ a man."

2. Refresh your mind on the story of Joseph. His brothers sold him to Midianite traders (Genesis 37), who then sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Joseph became very successful, yet his life was not without temptation. Read the account of one temptation in Genesis 39.

How did Joseph respond to the temptation?

From Genesis 39:9, we see that wickedness is ____ against _____.

3. Many scriptures tell us that the wicked will perish. Write at least one scripture which teaches this.

Does that mean that if I do a wicked deed, I will perish?

4. God is a God of love and mercy. The next verses will consider other attributes which also describe God.

Psalm 7:11, "God is a ____ ______, And ____ is ______ with the _________ every day."

Zechariah 8:17, "Let none of you _____ ____ in your ______ against your neighbor; And do not love a ______ oath. For all these are things that I _____, Says the _____."

Psalm 5:4, "For You are ___ a God who takes _________ in ______________, Nor shall ____ dwell with ____."

5. We need to remember that Jesus knows the wickedness in our hearts.

Matthew 22:18, "But ______ ___________ their ______________, and said, ‘Why do you ____ Me, you ____________?"

6. Christians are to remove all wickedness and replace this with attributes of God.

From Ephesians 4:31-32, list the wickedness we must put away.

Then list the things we must be.

How are Christians to forgive?

Colossians 3 is a parallel passage, listing other wickedness (sins) to put off and many other attributes Christians must have to be pleasing to God.

7. Ezekiel was commanded by the Lord to warn the wicked in Ezekiel 3:17-19 and again in 33:7-9. This principle applies to Christians today, as seen by commands in the New Testament.

2 Timothy 4:2, "Preach the word! Be _______ in season and out of season. _________, _______, ______, with all ______________ and ____________."

As women, we do not "preach the word" in a public worship setting, but there are many opportunities for women to teach in a manner pleasing to God, without being in authority over a man (see 1 Timothy 2:11-12).

Consider now the attitude of purity:

The dictionary gives the definition of pure as "not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material." In the spiritual sense, an attitude of purity would be not mixed with other substances — in other words, not mixed with the fleshly and worldly desires. Purity is not being sinless. However, maintaining an attitude of purity will help a Christian to have a pure heart and a desire to obey God.

8. Matthew 5:8, "__________ are the _____ in _______, For ____ shall ___ ____."

9. According to 1 Peter 1:22, how is the soul purified?

How are Christians to love one another?

10. God’s word is pure and is the example from which we learn how to have and maintain a pure heart.

Proverbs 30:5, "_______ _____ of ____ is ____; He is a _______ to those who ___ their ______ in ____ ."

Psalm 19:8, "The __________ of the _____ are ______, rejoicing the _______; The _________________ of the ______ is _____, enlightening the ______;"

11. Christians are commanded to be holy. The Greek word for holy, when referring to persons, has the meaning "holy, pure, consecrated to God." To be holy, we must have an attitude of purity.

1 Peter 1:15-16, "but as ___ who called you is ____, ____ also __ ___ in ___ your ___________, because it is written, "___ ___, for I am ____."

12. 1 John 3:3, "And __________ who has this _____ in Him _________ himself, just as ___ is _____."

Read 1 John 3:1-2 and tell what "this hope" in verse 3 is referring to.

Keep up the good work!

Dena Ivie

d_ivie_obc@hotmail.com

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)