2. Review – Purifying Our Environment Keys to 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

3. Review – Purifying Our Environment

4. Drawing Near to God NT instruction to draw 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? Why should we want to draw near? – 1 Jn. 4:9-10, 19 – Rom. 5:6-11

5. Drawing Near to God God is Passionate about Me (I Am Precious) How did God feel about Israel? How did God feel about Israel? – Deut. 4:24 – Ezek. 16:6ff He feels the same about His people today. He feels the same about His people today. – Rom. 8:37-39 – Eph. 5:25-29 Do we ever forget that we are precious? Do we ever forget that we are precious?

6. Drawing Near to God God is Perfecting Me How did OT writers refer to perfecting process? (Prov. 17:3; Mal. 3:2-3) How did OT writers refer to perfecting process? (Prov. 17:3; Mal. 3:2-3) God also refines/perfects His people today: 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

7. Drawing Near to God God 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.” “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: Consider 2 Thess. 1: – Vv. 3-5 – Vv. 6-10 Which group will I be in? (Heb. 10:26-27) Which group will I be in? (Heb. 10:26-27)