We learn from God’s Word that everyone in the faith ought to fear God and allow Him to cleanse us of all our sins. It is when we hang on to our old lifestyle, that is contrary to God, that we are only following the lusts of the flesh and the things of this world. Jesus is therefore, out of the picture. For this reason, Paul wrote the following letter. It reads, 3“dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” As you can see from His counsel to those in the faith, we ought to give God everything that is holding us back. Nothing should be kept in secret. Any sin that is left in our hearts is vile and needs to be exposed of right away. So as Christians, we bow down to the Lord God and confess our sins openly, that God may change our lives and forgive us. And if you are living in sin, such as pornography, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, drugs or alcohol, 3“I speak not this to condemn you”, as Paul said. It is a good thing to let God cut the bondage from our lives. We will never be set free and truly walk with God, if we have things holding us back. 2Know that the Holy Spirit cannot dwell in unholy temples. And as we are the temple of God, live for Him and allow the Spirit to take root in your heart today.
As God’s temple is inside of each of us each of us and is holy, we ought to also walk in holiness to the Lord. This desire may not be in everyone’s heart right now, but for those that truly love Jesus then this desire is burning inside of them and cannot be tamed. I know this because the praise of Jesus, my Lord, is in my heart and soul. And when speaking to people His love shines forth. It is not a struggle at all to follow and to live like Jesus. Truly, when Jesus comes into our lives all we want to do His follow Him and have more and more of His holiness in our lives. And how does this desire begin? Well, in repentance to the Lord Jesus, of course. While in our brokenness and humility, we submit our lives to Him in prayer. Tears of sadness for our sins may be expressed and welcome before God. This shows your true desire to change. It is good to feel sorry, for this allows the Lord to make His way in our lives and cleanse us of all sin. Paul said it this way, 3“now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner.” 3“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” Death begins when our old life is laid down and God raises us up again in newness of life. We are therefore born again through the mercy of Christ Jesus.
After God takes all that sin and shame out of our lives and restores us into His love, we are set forth on a brand new path. All the darkness is scattered and there is only light. Where there was fear, there is now confidence in Jesus. This openness allows Him to work in our lives. And when God gives us counsel we listen and obey. This may be a struggle at first but the more we do God’s will, the more we will love it. It may even get to a point where we cannot get enough of God’s Word and teachings for our lives. 1This is because when Jesus comes into our lives, His Words become a lamp unto our feet. We are surely in darkness when the Lord is not with us, therefore, we seek Him throughout the day, that we may stay on track and not fall victim to the evil one. Now, when God moves me to witness for Him, I don’t always know what to say but when I trust in God, He opens my mouth and speaks through me. There is no more fear or doubt. As Paul said, 3“Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort,” this is how I feel when I get on the streets and share God’s truth. I 3“spake all things to you in truth” also, for Jesus is with me. I want you to know how much I love the Lord. He is my life and gives me every reason to live. I have so much hope because of His sacrifice for sins. Come unto Jesus and you shall be saved.
Let us pray:
Lord, it is so good just to have You near. We need Your guidance and direction and Your presence is what we need to know the way home. So thank You for coming into our lives and giving us the Holy Spirit to speak to our heart and soul. It is our desire now to follow You and not back down. If there is any sin in our lives, take it away now Lord. We don’t want it anymore, for if it offends You, it offends us also. We are sorry for even partaking of such things that are contrary to Your will. Please forgive us. Give us the ability to fight against temptation and win the battle. We all know what has taken has down before and is still tugging at us now. So we ask that You come into our lives, in order to be built up. Our flesh is weak, but with You, we are stronger. There is armor, when Your Words are in our hearts and minds. They are a lamp unto our feet. So, God we repent now and ask for Your forgiveness. Cleanse of all our sins, that we may have not be partakers of this world, but feast in Your presence. May the filthiness of this world no longer latch upon us and take us downward. We are strong with You Lord. It is Your holiness that we desire, for it builds us up to choose the right. May Your holiness reside in our lives each and every day. Watch over us that we may not fall. We love You Lord. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Psalm 119:101-109 (KJV)
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.
108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments.
109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
21 Corinthians 3:16-23 (KJV)
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your’s;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your’s;
23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
32 Corinthians 7 (KJV)
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
