Revival, Part 5

As we are doing this study we are also reading most of the book, The Calvary Road, by Roy Hession. Most of the scripture references are being added by me because there weren't enough to satisfy in the little book.

Cleansing! Blood applied.

Let's face the facts, Jack! ;) We are to be clean. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about this. We are to be clean.

Read this:
1 Cor. 5:6-8
2 Cor. 6:17-7:1
Ephesians 5:25-27
James 4:8

The Lord commanded that we be cleansed, therefore we know that there is a way for it to be done. Our initial cleansing (Acts 15:9) makes us feel fresh. new. free. However, we need to be cleansed continually because we are continually getting dirty. Here is what Jesus told His disciples: "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean." (John 13:10) Our "feet" get dirty every day, all day in so many different ways. We need that constant cleansing. So, how do we get it? First John 1:5-9 (read that, please) :)

We are cleansed by confessing our sins and trusting that Christ's blood cleanses us as we confess. John says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." That sounds so easy, but we have to go back to that brokeness because if we won't admit that we have sinned, we can't be cleansed from any sin. It is my opinion that we must be specific if we can and call sin what it is.

Cleansing is definitely necessary because we are commanded to do it, but I've come to the conclusion that I can never please the Father EXCEPT and ONLY in Christ, through love for Him and my neighbor. You know, that's what it's all about. Being filled with love for God and for my neighbor, against such there is no law. Loving Christ so much that you would gladly die to any "thing" for His sake in service to others is really where it's at. In order to be close to Christ and be a conduit for His love, we MUST be clean!! We must be a clean vessel to be a filled vessel.

God's word acts like a filter--when we read it a lot and think on it prayerfully it will transform our hearts and shape our thought life into something pleasing to God. That is what "renewing our mind" is all about. Out of that renewed mind flows truth, wisdom and works of God (not man). If we are consumed by the love and word of God when something "unclean" comes in, we will know it immediately. We'll feel like we need an internal bath. Jesus' blood is what we bathe with so to speak.

In closing: "'Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests of the law: If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?'" The priests answered and said, "No." Then Haggai said, "If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?" The priests answered and said, "It does become unclean." (Haggai 2:11-13 ESV)

Just because we are clean, that doesn't mean that we will make what we touch clean. This is just common sense stuff...If it is unclean, it will make us unclean and seperate us from the Lord. To be cleansed we must daily apply the blood of Christ who offered Himself once, for all.