Video #18 - Follow the Instructions

God has a code of conduct for His children, it’s a certain behavior He expects from each of us.  In the Psalms David called them “precepts.”

• Precepts are the Biblical guidelines that provide us the principles of life.
• A great example of a precept from God is found in 1 Corinthians 10:31, which says, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  That’s a precept.  That’s a Biblical guideline providing us with a great principle for life.  Whatever you do - glorify God.
• Another one is this: “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17).
• Here is one more to consider: “among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity” (Eph. 5:3).

God’s code of conduct gives us the tools we need to daily maintain a close relationship with Him.  They are God’s boundaries that give us an amazing freedom in serving Him.  Guys, don’t look at Scripture as a set of rules handed to you by a God who is distant, detached and doesn’t care about you.  Don’t look at God as someone who is sitting up in Heaven just waiting for you to screw up so He can zap you.

God isn’t out to make your life miserable, He has amazing plans for you, plans to bless you beyond your wildest imaginations (Jer. 29:11).  I know that when you are in the thick of the battle against impurity it sure doesn’t seem that way.  That is the time we must desperately cling to God’s promises and trust Him completely.  That is the time we must choose fight against our lazy, self-centered desires and choose to be in God’s Word!

To know God’s blessing, to experience victory over sexual impurity in your life, God has given you a set of guidelines - His precepts.  These precepts are trustworthy (in other words – they actually work! Psa. 111:7) and they show you how to live in a way that is not only free from impurity, but will glorify Him (Psa. 119:93).  He wants you to keep these precepts diligently (Psa. 119:4).  Why?  Follow them and you will be free. God’s precepts are right, they will never lead you wrong (Psa. 34:4)!

In Psa. 119:104 David writes, “Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way”. 
& in Psa. 119:128 he says, “I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way”

We should strive to be like King David who deeply desired to know God’s code of conduct (Psa. 119:40).  In fact, David greatly loved God’s precepts (Psa. 119:159) and meditated on them.  He chose to daily fix his eyes always on God’s ways (Psa. 119:15).  This is why he was described as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).  He kept company only with others who were seeking God’s precepts as well (Psa. 119:63).  What are your eyes fixed on?  Whom do you associate with and keep company with?

When we seek out God’s precepts and walk in them, we are walking in a wide place (Psa. 119:45).  We will know God’s richest blessings on our life (Psa. 119:56).  Oh, that doesn’t mean we will be free from temptation, that doesn’t mean we won’t have to fight the battle anymore (Psa. 119:87; 110).  It does mean that He is there as our refuge, our fortress, our solid rock who will save us from destruction (Psa. 119:94).

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About Steve Etner
Steve Etner is a National Men’s Speaker, Author and Purity Coach (www.thepuritycoach.com). He has authored many books, including “Extreme Mind Makeover: How to Transform Sinful Habits into God-Pleasing Patterns of Life”; “The Pure Man’s Devotional Guide: A Biblical Toolbox for Purity”; and “Are You A Super Man? Becoming God’s Man of Steel.” 

Steve’s conferences, seminars and retreats focus on what God has to say about the way we think and the impact it has on our behavior. By teaching men how to live in moral purity by equipping them with Biblical answers, Steve’s goal is for men to have a re-ignited passion for Jesus and learn how to prepare their minds to successfully overcome their temptations and thus live pure lives for Christ.