Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
2 Corinthians 7:1
Yesterday I talked about our part in our relationship with God. Our part is to use the promises (His Spirit, His Word, and His Power) God has given us to cleanse inside and outside of ourselves. God gives us a proposition: If you have the promises, then clean up the physical and non-physical aspects of your life. Jesus invites us to grow in the holiness He has imparted to us until we develop holiness in every facet of our lives. His promise is to dwell with us just as His Spirit does today. We prepare ourselves for that home going by cleansing ourselves to allow room for God’s holiness to grow inside of us.
On the way to our personal cleansing, we are to minister to those around us. In fact, it is the way we cleanse ourselves. In Jeremiah 15:19-21 the Lord encourages Jeremiah to repent of his self-pity and return. God promises Jeremiah that if he will stand before God and learn to sort the valuable from the evil then he will be a spokesperson for God (My Mouth). If we can bring ourselves to turn to God and not allow ourselves to turn to those around us then God will fortify us so that we will prevail in the conflicts of life. God will save us. He will invest us with value.
Our number one concern for discipleship (discipline) is to allow us to share in God’s holiness (health/wholeness) so that we can touch others with it. Our personal brokenness is not going to help anyone. They have their own issues. What people need is to see that God can bring health (holiness) to our lives. Then they will be able to hope for it in theirs. As we develop our holiness in the reverence of God we others will be effected. Our growth is part of their growth. We are to provoke one another to love by the health God installs in us. As we are faithful to use our health that way, He will impart more to us.
Cleaning Up,
Pastor Jason
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