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Bill was a college student. He had wild hair, wore a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He had just become a Christian while attending college. Across the street from the campus was a very conservative church. They wanted to develop a ministry to the students, but were not sure how to go about it. One day Bill decided to go there to worship . He walked in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service had already started, so Bill started down the aisle looking for a seat. The church was completely packed and he could not find a seat. By now people were really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one said anything. Bill got closer to the pulpit, and when he realized there
were no seats, he just squatted down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, this had never happened in this church before!) By that time the people were really uptight, and the tension in the air was thick. About this time, the minister realized that from way at the back of the church, a deacon was slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon was in his eighties, had silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walked with a cane and, as he started walking toward this young man, everyone was saying to themselves that you can’t blame him for what he was going to do. How could you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?
It took a long time for the deacon to reach the young man . The church was utterly silent, except for the clicking of the man’s cane. All eyes are focused on him. The minister could not preach the sermon until the deacon did what hehad to do. Then they saw this elderly man drop his cane on the floor, and with great difficulty he lowered himself and sat down next to Bill and worshiped with him, so he would not feel alone.Everyone choked up with emotion. When the minister gained control, he said,"What I’m about to preach, you will probably not remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget. ”
Pure Religion Before God Ja 1: 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, his religion is vain. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before our God and Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unpolluted by the world.
3 Things Pure Religion Does 1. Pure Religion Controls Itself If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, his religion is vain 2. Pure Religion Preserves Itself …keeps oneself unspotted from the world.
3. Pure Religion Serves the Needy Religion that is pure and undefiled before our God and Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction • 20: 26…whoeverwould be great among you must be your servant, 28even as the Son of man came not to be served but to minister… Deut 10:17 "For the LORD your God is God of gods … 18 "He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.
Isa 58:6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Our Example Ac 10:37 "that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
