Since my post on Repentance, I have wanted to share on that subject some more.
2 Corinthians 7:1 has been on my heart a lot and I have been studying it out.
"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."
The few verses before talk about the promises we have. God will dwell with us and walk with us. He will be our God and we will be His people. We are to be separate and He will be our Father and we will be His sons and daughters. (2 Cor. 6:16-18)
So, how do we 'cleanse' ourselves? I believe, in part, this speaks to me about repentance. Recognizing when I have sinned and taking responsibility, repenting, renouncing and removing it.
I'm not talking about the 'big' sins here. Most people recognizes those and sees a need to repent of them. I am talking about other sins that seem to go unnoticed and most likely unrepented of.
How about fear? God has not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind. "Do not fear." I wonder how many times we are commanded to not fear? I bet way more than "do not lie" or "do not steal." Yet we do fear, sometimes everyday. (stress and anxiety fall under fear, sorry)
Not loving ourselves. Doesn't the bible tell us to 'love others as we do ourselves'? Didn't God create us fearfully and wonderfully? Who are we to hate ourselves or be unloving to ourselves?
Bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, retaliation, anger, hatred. If we do not forgive others He does not forgive us. Ouch.
Thou shalt not murder. What about 'murder with the tongue'?
Doubt and unbelief? Listening to and taking in accusations from the enemy. He is the accuser of the brethren, and we listen to him???
Guilt, self-pity, drivenness, control, comparison, envy and jealousy, shame, complaining, excessive need to be loved, perfectionism, performance, strife . . .
Need I say more?
How often should we repent? Every time we sin! Psalm 101:8
Morning after morning I will root up all the wicked in the land, that I may eliminate all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.
I think morning after morning would be a good starting point. Or evening after evening, for that matter.
When I was reading through the bible in 40 days, I was so humbled as I read through it seeing so many areas that I needed to repent of. God's word is a mirror like that.
How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it]. (Ps. 119:9)
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:3
Let's be 'doers' of the Word, ladies. Let's seek the Lord, ask Him to search our hearts and see if there is anything wicked and REPENT when He shows us. How easy it is to recognize, say, bitterness, and say, 'oh, yes, that is bitterness' and then walk away without repenting!! Ask me how I know this?!!
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1 :21-25)
Father God, thank You for Your mercy towards us. Father, I pray that You show each one of us where we need a spiritual bath. Open our eyes, give us discernment. We want to be 'doers' of the Word. Remind us by Your Holy Spirit to humble ourselves and repent, then and there, the moment You bring conviction. And Father, help us to discern Your voice that comes with conviction from the voice our our enemy that comes in with condemnation. We love You, Father. In Jesus mighty name, we pray!
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
(1 John 1:8-10)
"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."
The few verses before talk about the promises we have. God will dwell with us and walk with us. He will be our God and we will be His people. We are to be separate and He will be our Father and we will be His sons and daughters. (2 Cor. 6:16-18)
So, how do we 'cleanse' ourselves? I believe, in part, this speaks to me about repentance. Recognizing when I have sinned and taking responsibility, repenting, renouncing and removing it.
I'm not talking about the 'big' sins here. Most people recognizes those and sees a need to repent of them. I am talking about other sins that seem to go unnoticed and most likely unrepented of.
How about fear? God has not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind. "Do not fear." I wonder how many times we are commanded to not fear? I bet way more than "do not lie" or "do not steal." Yet we do fear, sometimes everyday. (stress and anxiety fall under fear, sorry)
Not loving ourselves. Doesn't the bible tell us to 'love others as we do ourselves'? Didn't God create us fearfully and wonderfully? Who are we to hate ourselves or be unloving to ourselves?
Bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, retaliation, anger, hatred. If we do not forgive others He does not forgive us. Ouch.
Thou shalt not murder. What about 'murder with the tongue'?
Doubt and unbelief? Listening to and taking in accusations from the enemy. He is the accuser of the brethren, and we listen to him???
Guilt, self-pity, drivenness, control, comparison, envy and jealousy, shame, complaining, excessive need to be loved, perfectionism, performance, strife . . .
Need I say more?
How often should we repent? Every time we sin! Psalm 101:8
Morning after morning I will root up all the wicked in the land, that I may eliminate all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.
I think morning after morning would be a good starting point. Or evening after evening, for that matter.
When I was reading through the bible in 40 days, I was so humbled as I read through it seeing so many areas that I needed to repent of. God's word is a mirror like that.
How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it]. (Ps. 119:9)
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:3
Let's be 'doers' of the Word, ladies. Let's seek the Lord, ask Him to search our hearts and see if there is anything wicked and REPENT when He shows us. How easy it is to recognize, say, bitterness, and say, 'oh, yes, that is bitterness' and then walk away without repenting!! Ask me how I know this?!!
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1 :21-25)
Father God, thank You for Your mercy towards us. Father, I pray that You show each one of us where we need a spiritual bath. Open our eyes, give us discernment. We want to be 'doers' of the Word. Remind us by Your Holy Spirit to humble ourselves and repent, then and there, the moment You bring conviction. And Father, help us to discern Your voice that comes with conviction from the voice our our enemy that comes in with condemnation. We love You, Father. In Jesus mighty name, we pray!
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
(1 John 1:8-10)
2 comments:
What a good post! The theme here reminds me of the book, 'Idols of the Heart,' which helps us expose to ourselves the many things we tend to put first - and even protect! Our hearts are truly idol-makers.
so good to stay so tender to the leading of the Holy Spirit in the big things and little things. "Love one another"...not loving your brother is loving them less than what God commands. That one is huge!
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