Word and Purity Psalm 119: 9-16

Today’s gathering centered on the deep, transformative power of God’s Word to cleanse and renew our souls, much like a potent solution that eradicates black mold from a home. Just as black mold can silently invade and corrode the structure of a house, so too can sin, bitterness, pride, and pain seep into our hearts, polluting our thoughts and affections. Many of us carry wounds—some self-inflicted, some caused by others—that have left a residue on our souls. Yet, the good news is that God has provided a remedy: His living, breathed-out Word.

Psalm 119 asks, “How can a young man keep his way pure?” The answer is by keeping and treasuring God’s Word. This is not a passive act, but an active, deliberate investment of our habits and emotions. God’s Word is not just a set of rules to follow, but a treasure to be protected, a source of joy, and an anchor for our wandering hearts. When we saturate our lives with Scripture—meditating on it, rejoicing in it, and letting it shape our speech and actions—it becomes the means by which God purifies us from the inside out.

The Word is described in many ways: as a decree, a statute, a prescription, an instruction, a command, a precept, and a judgment. Each term points to its authority, reliability, and life-giving power. We don’t approach Scripture with our own opinions or interpretations, but with a desire to know what God has said and to let His truth shape us. The Word is trustworthy, perfect, and inspired—God-breathed, just as He breathed life into Adam.

To be cleansed from the “black mold” of the soul, we must deliberately invest in the Word, making it a daily habit and the true treasure of our hearts. This means prioritizing time with God, letting His Word anchor us when our hearts are prone to wander, and allowing it to change what we talk about and how we live. The Word is not only desirable and enjoyable, but it also calls us to action—to invest our habits and emotions, to rejoice, to proclaim, and to meditate. Ultimately, it is Jesus who cleanses us, and His Word is the means by which we experience that ongoing purification. No matter what has polluted your soul, God’s Word is powerful enough to restore and renew you.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Word of God is the only remedy strong enough to cleanse the deepest stains of the soul. Just as professional-grade solutions are needed to eradicate black mold, only the living, God-breathed Word can reach and heal the places in us that are most polluted by sin, pain, or bitterness. No substitute—be it willpower, distraction, or worldly wisdom—can do what God’s Word does in purifying us at the root. [34:14]
• 2. Treasuring God’s Word is not merely about obedience, but about affection and protection. What we treasure, we orient our lives around; what we protect, we invest in. When Scripture becomes our true treasure, we naturally guard it, meditate on it, and let it shape our decisions, just as we would protect anything of immense value in our lives. [48:07]
• 3. The Word of God anchors us when our hearts are prone to wander. Life’s storms—grief, anger, insecurity, or temptation—can easily pull us away from God. But seeking Him with all our heart, and saturating ourselves in His Word, keeps us tethered to truth and hope, even when emotions and circumstances threaten to sweep us away. [49:09]
• 4. Deliberate investment in the Word requires both habit and emotion. It’s not enough to read Scripture out of obligation; we must choose, again and again, to invest our time, attention, and even our feelings into God’s truth. This means making space in our lives for quiet meditation, rejoicing in what God reveals, and letting His Word become the lens through which we process both joy and sorrow. [66:31]
• 5. The authority and sufficiency of Scripture demand that we approach it on God’s terms, not our own. Our opinions and interpretations are secondary to what God has actually said. The Word is trustworthy, perfect, and inspired—meant to be received, obeyed, and proclaimed as the very breath of God, powerful enough to bring life, wisdom, and transformation. [41:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [09:37] - Giving and Announcements
• [11:17] - Boobash Outreach and Community Events
• [12:20] - Guatemala Mission Opportunity
• [29:29] - Introduction to Psalm 119
• [31:53] - The Black Mold of the Soul
• [34:14] - The Power of Purification in Christ
• [35:14] - The Desirability of God’s Word
• [38:25] - How God’s Word Purifies
• [39:47] - The Nature and Authority of Scripture
• [44:49] - Keeping Our Way Pure
• [45:39] - The Desirability and Value of the Word
• [48:07] - Treasuring and Protecting God’s Word
• [49:09] - Anchored by the Word
• [51:27] - The Preventative Power of Scripture
• [54:46] - The Word Makes Us Wise
• [56:15] - Proclaiming God’s Judgments
• [57:58] - Speaking God’s Words, Not Our Own
• [59:26] - The Inspiration and Breath of Scripture
• [60:34] - Meditating on God’s Ways
• [63:01] - Deliberate Investment in the Word
• [66:31] - Investing Habits and Emotions
• [72:05] - The Only True Remedy for the Soul
• [73:22] - Jesus Cleanses Us Completely
• [80:17] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Reading

Psalm 119:9-16 (CSB) — 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.
10 I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
12 Lord, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (CSB) — 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,
15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Observation Questions

1. According to Psalm 119:9-11, what is the connection between keeping God’s Word and living a pure life?
2. In the sermon, what are some of the “black mold” issues that can invade our souls? ([32:13])
3. How does the psalmist describe his attitude toward God’s Word in verses 14-16? What words or actions show this?
4. What does 2 Timothy 3:16 say about the source and purpose of Scripture?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon compares sin and pain in our lives to black mold in a house. Why is God’s Word described as the only “remedy” strong enough to cleanse us? ([34:14])
2. The psalmist says he “treasures” God’s Word in his heart. What does it mean to treasure something, and how is this different from just obeying rules? ([48:07])
3. The pastor said that our opinions about Scripture are secondary to what God has actually said. Why is it important to approach the Bible on God’s terms and not our own? ([41:44])
4. The sermon talks about deliberately investing both habits and emotions into God’s Word. What might this look like in real life? ([01:06:31])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says that many of us have “black mold” in our souls—wounds, bitterness, pride, or pain. Is there an area in your life that feels polluted or stuck? What would it look like to bring that area to God’s Word for cleansing? ([32:13])
2. The psalmist talks about treasuring and protecting God’s Word like something of great value. What is one practical way you could “treasure” Scripture this week? (For example, memorizing a verse, journaling, or setting aside time to read.) ([48:07])
3. When life gets hard or your heart wants to wander, what anchors you? Can you share a time when God’s Word kept you steady during a storm? If not, what could you do to make Scripture more of an anchor in your life? ([49:09])
4. The pastor challenged us to deliberately invest our habits and emotions into God’s Word, not just read it out of obligation. What is one habit or emotional investment you could make to let Scripture shape your daily life? ([01:06:31])
5. The sermon said that no substitute—willpower, distraction, or worldly wisdom—can do what God’s Word does in purifying us. Are there things you turn to instead of God’s Word when you’re hurting or struggling? What would it look like to turn to Scripture first? ([34:14])
6. The psalmist says, “I will meditate on your precepts.” What does meditation on Scripture look like for you? Is there a way you could try this week to “soak in” God’s Word more deeply? ([01:00:34])
7. The pastor said, “What we treasure, we orient our lives around.” If someone looked at your life, what would they say you treasure most? Is there anything you want to re-orient so that God’s Word is your true treasure? ([48:07])