Remove the Filth

[Christ4Ever]

and said to them, "Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. 2 Chronicles 29:5 ESV

After a sixteen-year-reign by his father, Hezekiah radically changed the direction of Judah. Ahaz was exceedingly wicked, including burning some of his sons as offerings to his horrific false gods (2 Chronicles 28:2-3). In his very first month as king, Hezekiah cleansed the Lord’s temple (2 Chronicles 29:3-19) and restored biblical worship there (29:20-36).

It’s never too late to change direction. In his first few weeks as king, Hezekiah acted decisively on the Lord’s behalf and everything changed for many years. You can enact that same type of change in your own family, no matter your upbringing.

Think about your spiritual lineage. Did your grandfather or father walk in spiritual darkness, making decisions that displeased the Lord?

Become a Hezekiah in your family.

Consecrate yourself and your household, remove any filth, and enter into a time of rejoicing because of the Lord’s subsequent provisions—much as Hezekiah and the people experienced in 2 Chronicles 29:36.

Prayer: Lord, give me the faith and the courage to act on Your behalf. Where my family has gathered filth, and maybe even cherished it, I will remove it and restore true worship and praise to You, for Your glory, honor, and praise.

 

[Trevor]

and said to them, "Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. 2 Chronicles 29:5 ESV

After a sixteen-year-reign by his father, Hezekiah radically changed the direction of Judah. Ahaz was exceedingly wicked, including burning some of his sons as offerings to his horrific false gods (2 Chronicles 28:2-3). In his very first month as king, Hezekiah cleansed the Lord’s temple (2 Chronicles 29:3-19) and restored biblical worship there (29:20-36).

It’s never too late to change direction. In his first few weeks as king, Hezekiah acted decisively on the Lord’s behalf and everything changed for many years. You can enact that same type of change in your own family, no matter your upbringing.

Think about your spiritual lineage. Did your grandfather or father walk in spiritual darkness, making decisions that displeased the Lord?

Become a Hezekiah in your family.

Consecrate yourself and your household, remove any filth, and enter into a time of rejoicing because of the Lord’s subsequent provisions—much as Hezekiah and the people experienced in 2 Chronicles 29:36.

Prayer: Lord, give me the faith and the courage to act on Your behalf. Where my family has gathered filth, and maybe even cherished it, I will remove it and restore true worship and praise to You, for Your glory, honor, and praise.

I would have thought Christ4ever, that this is the experience of all born again believers, who want nothing but to please our Lord.

 

[B-A-C]

I would have thought Christ4ever, that this is the experience of all born again believers, who want nothing but to please our Lord.

I agree.. it "should" be. But is it? All the time 100% everyday? If so... why do Christians still sin? Why do they do things they "know" doesn't please God?
Paul said he still does things he knows is wrong, he doesn't even want to do them... but he still does them.
It's been my experience that most "Christians" still want to please themselves more than they want to please God.

The other thing here is... "filth". We should all be able to agree on what filth is. Yet it seems we can't.
Yes God, I want to get rid of the filth... but.. what is filth?

Should I quit watching those XXX rated pornographic movies? Well OK.
Should I quit watching those X rated short video clips, they aren't quite as bad as the movies above?
Should I quit watching R rated movies? Surely they aren't so bad. It's just some nudity, illicit sex, and gory killings.
Should I quit watching those cheesy adult anime cartoons? They are just cartoons after all?
Should I quit looking at those swimsuit models in Sports Illustrated? Most of them have most of their clothes on. A little lust never hurt anyone.
...well.. OK... maybe I'll get rid of that stuff... if I "have" to.

What about your gory mass killing video games?.. hey aren't you being kind of legalistic here?
What about those soap operas, they don't really show much nudity, they just have everyone sleeping around and cheating on everyone. God doesn't mind if I watch that.
What about "reality" television where everyone is lying and manipulating everyone else? Heck, God probably watches those Himself... ..really?
What about those cheesy romance novels that are full of lust and sensual desire?

That's just one example.. I could pick on gambling, smoking, drugs, alcohol, passive-aggresiveness, name calling, lying, stealing.... the list goes on.
But very few... if any Christians even know what all God considers "filth" until they've been Christians for a while.
Many of them have strong-holds within them. These can be broken down, God certainly has the power.... but do we always have the will?

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. It's easy to sit here and say.. yes, yes I'll get rid of all those things. But if we are honest, is it really easy?
If it was easy... why do we still choose to sin?

Acts 7:51; "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.

In many, many, many posts I read here on TalkJesus... people are usually trying to justify their sin rather than remove it.

2Pet 2:22; It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."

 

[Christ4Ever]

I would have thought Christ4ever, that this is the experience of all born again believers, who want nothing but to please our Lord.

Dear Brother,
You would think that would be so brother, but like Brother BAC has shown there are so many things in this life that has bombard us, that we either carried with us when we received Christ, or has come anew and has been justified in doing while trying to walk the path set before us. It truly takes a concerted effort on the part of the person to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and putting into good use the studying of God's Word. Not always easy, and should be a reminder for one to make that effort.

There is more that could be said on the subject, but this is but one part that one should consider.

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
\o/
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