The Pursuit of Purity

Last weekend I had the opportunity to speak at a youth event called Radical Conference. And the topic I was asked to speak on was “purity” which I titled it “The Pursuit of Purity” and I focused on four important points. Today, I want to share the cliff notes, a quick synopsis of what I spoke about. Purity brings presence, power, protection and peace.

“This life was not intended to be the place
of our perfection, but the preparation for it.”
– Richard Baxter

Purity it’s much more than just saving sex for marriage. It's a lifestyle. In 1 Timothy 4:12-16,  the Apostle Paul instructed his apprentice; Timothy on this very subject. He told young preacher, to strive for purity in all areas of his life; including speech, conduct, love, and faith. He did this so that Timothy’s life and ministry would be protected by any naysayers that would later rise up against him. So today, I want to dig a little deeper than your typical sex driven "purity" conference we tend to hear and talk about four points that will help us in our continuous journey of seeking purity in our lives.

We are living in a generation where purity is becoming obsolete; it’s a thing of the past. It’s no big deal if we don’t save ourselves for marriage, our conversations have become contaminated, our eyes and ears are no longer limited to what we see and hear. The Christianity of this generation has slowly blended in to the perceptions of this world.

We are called to be light in the midst of the darkness; we are not called to blend in. And God is looking for a generation that can be radical enough to stand tall in the midst of adversity. He is looking for a generation of young people that will rise and declare God Word, untarnished and uncontaminated. Are we that generation whose faith will not fluster or shake but stand strong despite what popular opinion states? Are you that person? Are you a person of faith in a faithless world?
 

1. Pursuing Purity Brings forth the Presence of God

When we pursue God’s presence, everything else will line up to His Word.
When you pursue His presence, His commandments will no longer feel like rules and regulations that you have to abide by but you will feel delighted in pleasing your Heavenly Father.

• The presence of God empowers us when we are weak and feel fear
• The presence of God allows us to feel safe and secure in the midst of danger, obstacles, uncertainty and pain. The Bible says in Psalm 46:1 that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. It doesn’t matter what circumstances we may be facing, when we have the presence of God in our lives, we become radical for Jesus. Where there is fear, now there is boldness and confidence.
• The presence of God allows us to become intimate with Him; we come to know who God is on a deeper level. We know things we did not know before, our relationship with Him grows, our love for Him becomes more evident and obedience to His Word will be less of a “sacrifice” or an obligation.

We all love these two verses found in Psalm 37:5, 6

Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

When we delight in the Lord, we are surrendering to His Will and His Ways. And when we do that He will grant us the desires of our hearts……BUT it doesn’t stop there……. Verse 5 continues saying: Commit your way to the Lord. (when we make a commitment, it’s a pact, it’s a promise, you are going to stick to it through thick and thin. The Psalmist is saying: Stick to God’s way….it’s going to get hard, but stick to it! It’s not going to be the popular choice but you have to be radical enough and almost “stubborn” enough to say NO, I’M STICKING TO MY COMMITMENT, MY PROMISE, MY WORD IS VALUABLE AND I WILL NOT BREAK IT! My friends can derail from the truth, but I am not! I will honor God’s Word in my life. I will trust Him with my life AND THEN, AND ONLY THEN will He grant you the desires of your heart.

When the going gets tough, we have to be people of a strong foundation; our faith has to be founded on the solid rock that is Jesus Christ. The winds will blow, the waters will hit your foundation but the house that is founded on the rock will NOT fall. If we are not radical in our faith, when tough times come, when the tough questions are asked, when we are faced in a sticky situation, we will become like the house that was founded on the sand and the waves will take it away.

2. Pursuing Purity Provides: Power

Purity in the life of a believer is extremely powerful. In fact, purity impacts our prayers just as faith impacts our works. Faith without works is dead and prayer without purity is limited.

In Matthew 5:8, Jesus makes a simple yet powerful statement.

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

Many believe this is a promise that will be fulfilled when this life ends and we enter eternity. And this is true, but it’s also a declaration that Jesus makes to His followers and to us today.

There is power in a walk of purity that results in the ability to open our eyes to see what is found in Psalm 27:13 ‘…the goodness of God in the land of the living.’ A person who walks in purity has the ability to open his/her eyes and see the goodness of God in their life and in their surroundings. God’s blessings hover over them. BLESSED, Jesus says, Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. I don’t know if you are yearning to see God, to see God’s greatness manifested in your life, to see His goodness and mercy poured upon their life. If you want to see His favor, if you want to see His promises fulfilled, and if you want to see His blessings poured down, having a pure heart will enable you to do so.

The power of God also gives us authority. You have power and authority to declare and decree the Word of God over your life and over the lives of others. Just because you pursue purity, does not mean you are weak, or you let people walk all over you, or it makes you an easy target and you get taken advantage of. All on the contrary, a person under the power of God; let me tell you, things have to change! The devil trembles when he sees young people on fire for God, unapologetic and radical for Christ. There has to be a shift in the atmosphere, the sick has to be healed and the oppressed has to be free. There is power in the name of Jesus.

Purity brings you before the presence of God and also leads to obtaining His power.

 3. Pursuing Purity Provides: Protection

Pursuing a pure life requires safeguards. These safeguards protect us and reduce the risk of temptations. As young people, we are confronted daily with temptations, your temptations may not be mine and mine may not be yours but they are present in our lives. The best way to pursue purity is to set up rules and safeguards for all areas of your life. Temptations are presented as opportunities to fail. They can be limited if you establish guidelines in your life.

The enemy has a calculated strategy against each and every one of us. Before he throws us a bomb to destroy, he studies us carefully, he knows what our weak areas are and he targets them. Don’t ever think for a second that the devil is dumb; he’s a very smart strategist that is why it’s important to be armed with the armor of God, because it will protect us from the enemy’s attacks.

We live in a society where there is temptations, left and right. Everywhere we go, we are being bombarded with the lust of this world. We have to be radical in our faith and in our purity to say like Daniel 1:8 says: “But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.”

Daniel was determined, he made a decision, he made a commitment, and he made a promise. He stuck to his word to not contaminate himself with unacceptable food. We as young people, we have to be determined and committed to not be contaminated by the corruption of this world.

“There is no point in praying for victory over temptation if we are not willing to make a commitment to say no to it.”
– Jerry Bridges

As we pursue a life of purity, safeguards are essential because they will protect us. John 10:10 says: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Let me ask you this? If someone were to accuse you of something negative or make a scandalous comment about you, would others believe it? Pursuing purity protects and defends you and your reputation.
 

“^I is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.”
– 1 Peter 2:15

4. Pursuing Purity Provides: Peace

When we keep our eyes focused on God, we can expect peace as a result. When we let our minds wander and do not yield the calling of God to live a life of purity, we find ourselves dissatisfied, disillusioned, and broken. When we walk in purity, God will give us His perfect peace, a peace that surpasses ALL understanding.

You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
– Isaiah 26:3

One of my favorite verses of the entire bible is found in Philippians4:6-7). It's such a beautiful promise that encourages us and strengthens our faith. No matter what circumstances we may find ourselves, these two verses remind us to not worry about anything, all we need to do it pay about everything and give God thanks. He has it all under control.  

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

Imagine living a life of peace, ahh, so peaceful, huh?. The whole world could be tumbling down before you and you’re ok. You have a peace that surpasses ALL understandings. A peace that even if you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, you will not fear because He is with you! Those who pursue purity, who seek to know God, who follow Him and yearn to be with Him are able to experience this peace.

Conclusion

When we pursue purity, we enter into His presence, we’re given His power, we feel His protection and we find His peace. This is why God calls us to a life of purity, this is why we should strive to pursue purity because it draws us closer to Him, we become empowered, we become bold and fearless and despite what the world may say or do, we are confident in who we believe and where our faith stands, in Jesus Christ.

Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!

Landy Perez-Feliciano ♥

 

 

It Was A Tuesday Night

It was a Tuesday night

A night that changed our lives 

A night that will be imprinted in our minds

The thoughts and emotions we all felt that night

It was a Tuesday night 

When I received that dreaded call 

Confirming that indeed you were gone.

How could this be?

I just saw you a few days ago

There has to be a mistake

Please let it be an awful dream, 

This can't be, someone pinch me

This nightmare has become a reality 

Oh my God, this pain is a calamity 

Of great emotional despair  

I don't understand, it doesn't make sense

I keep replaying our last time together 

And now you're gone forever 

You were a man of excellence and of great vision 

And although your purpose was fulfilled

And you've completed your mission 

We will make sure that your legacy carries on

Through your twin brother

Man of great courage and honor 

Abdias, we love you and support you.

And through you we are able to see a glimpse of your brother 

Josh was a great pastor and leader but above all, 

He was a loving husband and an exceptional father 

Gladys, we love you and support you.

Today we mourn the life of a great man

Today we celebrate the life of a great man

Josue Pimentel, thank you for impacting our lives 

You have embedded in each of us 

A spirit of excellence, humility and of servanthood  

We will remember your friendships, your messages, your encouraging words

In times of sadness, your smile will radiate in our minds 

And brighten up our gloomy day.

You loved the New York Yankees 

But today you have entered into the hall of fame

Because the Church of God Southeastern region celebrates you as our very own hero.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

 ~2 Timothy 4:7

You did it champ, you won!!!! 

It is up to us to keep fighting, keep running and keep our faith so that one day we can once again be reunited. 

I can only imagine the joy you feel right now and I can just picture you tell us all: it's worth it! Fight the good fight because it's worth it! I can imagine you telling us, I know life is hard and I know you're tired but keep running, your almost to the finish line. I can imagine you encouraging us to hold on strong to faith because it's worth it! 

So Josh, we will be a fearless generation! We will keep fighting even if we feel like quitting, we will continue to run the race even if we are tired because we are almost there and we will hold on strong to our faith no matter what this world throws at us because we are not of this world, our home is in heaven. And Josh is up there waiting for us so we can have the most amazing Youth Camp & Winterfest not in Tifton, Georgia or in Orlando, Florida but none other than in our Heavenly Father's House! 

Lord we will live a fearless life on earth so that we can dwell in your eternal presence as Josh is now doing so. And how beautiful wouldn't it be if Josh saw each and everyone of His youth up there one day, imagine how that reunion would look like? Amazing!

Always in our hearts,

Thank you Pastor Josh!

Be Encouraged, Be Blessed! 

Landy Perez-Feliciano 💗

The Bubble

Last weekend I was speaking to a youth group in South Florida (Port St. Lucie) and the theme was: Living Out the Word. I spoke under the topic of: Living out Word when you need a Word. The question was this:

HOW DO YOU LIVE OUT THE WORD WHEN YOU’RE IN NEED OF A WORD?

I want to share a little bit of what I spoke about. Maybe in a future post, I will get to the second part of the topic which was the study of The Shunammite Woman in 2 Kings 4:8-37 and it meshes well with what I will share today.

 

 

IPhone Bubble

There’s a feature that iPhones carry that allows you to see when someone is responding to a text you’ve sent out. It’s “the bubble with the 3 dots.” Know what I’m talking about? It’s actually called the “typing awareness indicator” but we all know it as (the bubble): the time between text messages or what I like to call it, the waiting period.

That little grey bubble can cause some serious anxiety.

I was reading an article from The New York Times and the title was: Bubbles Carry a Lot of Weight, the author was saying that this feature was causing too much anxiety “It’s giving monumental weight to matters of a text message.” The issue is not even the text messages, what gives people anxiety, it’s the “time between text messages”- it’s the waiting period. It’s waiting for THAT response, for that answer. She says her therapist ordered her to disable it on her phone because it was affecting her.

Maryam Abolfazli, a writer in Washington says this: “The three dots showed while someone is drafting a message in iMessage is quite possibly the most important source of eternal hope and ultimate letdown in our daily lives.”

Paul Dourish, a professor at the University of California says: “The awareness indicator as implemented on the iPhone is a curious beast- it conveys that something is being done, but it won’t say what.”

I don’t know if you’re following me, but just hang on for a minute.

As believers, many times the Holy Spirit conveys that something is being done in our lives but He will not reveal it to us just yet. We are in a bubble, in that waiting period.

And as I said, this can be a frustrating feature, why? Because all sorts of emotions can go into waiting for a response. Let’s say you send out a text message:

• You get happy when the bubble pops up because the other person is responding…But then the bubble takes a long time and you’re like.. Wow! Let me brace myself because I am about to read something deep but then what happens…

• The bubble disappears  and you’re left in a total and utter confusion (what happened? Weren’t you responding?) So at that point, we begin to get upset, sad, confused, and ignored. Then when you least expect it, all of a sudden the…

• Bubble comes back up, after 20 minutes, you're thinking, "there is hope", we are back on track now, the frustration turns into a sigh of relief … to only receive a ONE word: “K”… WOW! Really?!! All this for a “K”.. You couldn’t even type the full word, OKAY or OK, you type “K”. Or the response is: Yes, Cool, Good or even worse, the dreaded emoji (thumbs up!)

We’ve all been there, we can laugh about it because we can all relate, at one point or another, we’ve poured out our hearts to the Lord and cried out to Him as Jeremiah 33:3 says and we have not heard back. We can quote scriptures till we’re blue in the face but the real question is, how do you live the word when you need a word? And I would add.. when you're in the bubble?

Waiting on God can sometimes cause some serious anxiety because by nature we do not like to wait. We hate to wait in lines; we despise being stuck in traffic. Who has time to be patient and wait? We live in such a busy society that demands our time and attention but when God demands our time and attention, we can't comply. Oven cooked prayers do not result in microwavable answers. It doesn’t matter how long you have been praying, it’s all in God’s timing, not ours. Trust me, you will thank Him later, even if you don’t understand now. Delays are tough when you don’t know why they exist but if you could get a little insight, a  glimpse, a tip, some kind of information then the waiting process would be a lot easier to manage. Sometimes God reveals something, sometimes He reveals nothing.

I want to encourage you today, do not get discouraged if you find yourself STUCK inside the bubble! If you still have not seen anything; begin to PRAISE Him because God is up to something. That bubble indicates that something is happening. God is working it out! That bubble conveys that something is going on even if you don't know what's going on. Trust God in the bubble! It doesn’t matter what your present situation looks like, live out your life by believing what the Word says! Live out the Word!! Walk in total confidence and with the boldness God has given you to declare His promises. 

If you are in a bubble:

• Of uncertainty, continue to believe

• Where nothing happens, keep waiting (something is happening)

• Where everything is upside down and completely opposite of what God spoke to you. Keep pressing through, your bubble will soon pop and you will see manifested God’s Word over your life

The bubble is an uncomfortable place to be in but it is a necessary place to be in. Why does God keep us in the bubble?

1. So we can learn how to trust and whole-heartily rely on Him and Him alone. He is our only source.
2. To increase our faith. If you want to believe God in a deeper level, you have to go through deeper situations.
3. To develop us. Sometimes we simply need to grow up. We are not ready to receive YET what has been promised to us. He wants to develop us and get us ready. Sometimes we are too immature to handle the blessings. Take this time as training.

BUT THE QUESTION IS THIS:

How are you going to react inside the bubble? How you react inside the bubble will determine the outcome when get outside the bubble.

You may be in a BUBBLE of:

• God, I need a miracle
• God, I need healing
• God, I want a family
• God, I want to see my family serve you
• God, I need a job
• God, I want you to use me
• God, my business
• God, my ministry
• God, my future

Your reaction will determine God's action.

If you’ve been praying about something, start PRAISING and change your vocabulary to IT IS WELL! Speak Life. (Read the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:8-37)

When you find yourself in the bubble, think of the three dots as: It. Is. Well. because God is up to something!
 

Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!
Landy Perez-Feliciano ♥

 

Released 2013, the interview

Last week we were celebrating our yearly Youth Camp and it was such a blessing! Everyone is still talking about the impact it made in their lives. Over 600 young people from the state of Florida and Georgia gathered together for a week to fellowship, engage in sports and most importantly, receive word from God. This year's theme was: Released! And I have set a short interview with the Southeastern Youth Regional Director, Ramon Nina.

1.       Tell me a little bit about yourself?  Yo (Ramon Nina) naci en la Republica Dominicana en el 1974, por la gracia de Dios desde niño le sirvo al señor. Estoy felizmente casado con Yudy Nina y tengo dos hijos preciosos Zavier y Zarielly Nina. Por mas de quince años he estado envuelto en el ministerio de la enseñanza y el liderazgo de la juventud, en la iglesia local como pastor de jóvenes y en el concilio de la Iglesia de Dios  como director de distrito y como director de sector. Actualmente,  sirvo como Director de Juventud y dicipulado de la region Sureste Hispana de la Iglecia de Dios;  y tambien como presidente de Verdad Presente Ministries un ministerio donde  Yo sirvo al reino como predicador y conferensista, tambien soy el director del Instituto Biblico Berea.  Tambien soy coordinador de la Florida del ministerio de plantacion de Iglesias de la Red de Multiplicación.  

2.        Why was “Released” the theme for this year’s youth camp?  Porque estando en un estado de “Libertad” y entendiendo esa libertad que hemos tenido en Cristo es que podemos alcanzar y conquistar todo lo que Dios tiene para nosotros.

3.       What expectations did you have for camp 2013? El llevar a los jóvenes a tener una experiencia con Dios y que los distritos al compartir junto en los Teen Talent y los deportes, puedan lograr una mejor unidad y amistad.

4.       In Your eyes, what was the highlight of camp this year? Para mi fue el despliegue de talento que nuestros Jóvenes pudieron demostrar por medio de sus diferentes participaciones. El ver a los jóvenes sirviendo a Dios en el Campamento con sus dones y talentos para mi fue lo mas importante.

5.       If you had one message to give to the youth what would it be?  Jesus es lo mejor que te puede pasar en la vida. conocerlo a El, es el mayor conocimiento que tu puedas tener. Vivir en El Por El y para El es la mejor manera de vivir una vida realizada y Feliz.  La vida y el futuro de la Juventud esta en El.  Say Yes to Jesus over all things!

 

Awesome huh?! Well, it doesn't stop there! I spoke to a couple of youth pastors, leaders, musicians who attended this year's camp and check out what they had to say!

 

What are the youth leaders saying about Released?

• This year at camp I saw lot of improvements, new leaders and a new passion for greater things for God. {Fernando Botero, Musician, from Miami}

• Our church of God camp was beyond amazing! It was a blessing that marked our lives, greater things are yet to come. Young, Free & Released. {Karla Jiron, Worshiper, from Miami}
• Our COG Youth Camp 2013 was a week full of God’s tangible power upon a youth that attended hungry for His Presence. The Holy Spirit showed up and showed out! {Sabrina Yudith, Youth Pastor from Miami}

• You could see the results of genuine fellowship from the youth where they were ministered by other's similar experiences and breakthroughs. {Jairo Peña, Musician, from Miami}
• As my first time as counselor, youth camp gave me a new perspective of serving others, leadership, and teamwork.{Angel Marcial, Youth Pastor, from Orlando}
• God's manifestation produced a life changing experience! {Erik Carrion, Youth Pastors, from Port. St. Lucie}
• How God will wrap you in his arms to the point you feel as if your in a whole diff world. {Josh Fernandez, Youth Leader, from Tampa}
• I'm behind the scenes for the majority of camp so my camp experience is always different.  God has a purpose for each person that steps into camp and throughout the week you get to see His plans begin to play out.  From the campers to the staff, in one way or another their lives are changed. Bonds are formed between old and new friends, troubles are left at the altar. {Michelle Ramirez, Youth Camp Staff, from Tampa}
• Worth it. If all the work and sacrifice is done for the transformation of only one youth it is all worth it. {Juan Carlos Diaz, Senior Pastor & Youth Leader from Georgia}

Released 2013 was such a blessing that marked the lives of every single youth and adult that were present. They were released to be free, to love, to conquer and to go after their dreams.  Let's continue to motivate and encourage the young people of this generation to do great things in the kingdom because God has released so much in them, it's time to put it in action. Until next year's youth camp!!

Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!

Landy Perez-Feliciano ♥