Part 16 Keeping short accounts with God Part 2

Part 16 Keeping short accounts with God Part 2

1 John 1:6	If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7	But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8	If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9	If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We live in a world that is awash with pollution

While we are aware of physical pollution accumulating on earth, however most are not aware of the danger of spiritual pollution. The prophet Isaiah spoke of great darkness covering the earth in these last days. This of course it not physical darkness it is spiritual. As Christians we cannot avoid intermingling with the spiritual darkness around us, during a normal day in this world, we pick up some of the spiritual grime around us, this can not be avoided. Sex and seduction screams form bill boards and TV all day long, occult practices are now common in the world we live in and washed over us in shopping malls, bookstores. Then there is our own daily shortcoming which tend to accumulate.

The Apostle John wrote about the need for daily washing, and cleansing. He said if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, however he went on to say, if we confess our sins he Jesus is faithful to cleanse us. John also said this daily cleansing is necessary in order for us to continue to walk in the light with the Lord.

John also wrote about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples John 13.

The Jewish custom in the days of Jesus dictated that after a day going about normal business it was necessary to wash ones feet and especially the feet of guests who had walked to another persons home. Peter protested when Jesus tried to wash Peter’s feet, Jesus responded by saying

John 13:8

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” Peter then responded Lord wash my feet, hands, and head.

Jesus said this is not necessary’

John 13:10

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

Jesus said he that is washed i.e. talking bout our salvation and cleansing from sin we need now be washed again except for ones feet.

 Our feet are the part of us which touches this earth. Just being in this world brings us into contact with the spiritual pollution of this world and requires a DAILY WASHING

This daily washing is necessary in order for us to continue to walk in the light and in fellowship with Jesus. If we neglect to do this we get a build up of the spiritual pollution in our life which erects a veil between us and the Lord dulling our spiritual senses.

The tabernacle of Moses was Gods dwelling place, it was Gods home on earth, there in Holiest of all He dwelt between the cherubim’s in shekinah Glory. Before the high priest could enter he first stood before a huge container of water called the laver, he had to take the water and wash himself in it. This was more than a ritual cleansing, he was preparing to enter Gods presence and his heart had to be pure he had to be clean. This was a life and death issue see Ex 30:17-21. Self examination before God was crucial. Finally when he new and experienced the cleansing that this ritual represents he stood tall and entered Gods presence.

King David new this process when he said:

Psalms 139:23	Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24	And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

We like that priest must come before the Lord daily to be washed in order for us to walk in the light and in fellowship with Him. Don’t let the spiritual grime build up in your life.

If we want to walk with Angels and experience the realm of Gods kingdom we need clean hands and a pure heart.

Psalms 24:3	Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4	He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Then you can experience verse 9:  

Psalms 24:9

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

There is an interesting portion of scripture in Zechariah chapter 3

Zechariah 3:3	Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
4	And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

This cleansing of Joshua the priest was required in order to take him to the next level.

Zechariah 3:6	And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
7	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

After this cleansing the Angel of the Lord said to Joshua; “if you will walk in my ways and keep my charge I will give you places to walk among those that stand by”

The question is; who was standing by?

If you careful look at chapter 2 you will see that in verse 1 and 2 that a man stood by as well as an angel, see also Chapter 3: 4.

Joshua was given a place or and open door to walk with saints in heaven and angels. However Joshua first had to be clean and have a change of clothing.

There is a certain level of purity that required for you and I to walk in this realm. Angels are absolute pure and in order for us to walk with them it requires a certain level of purity in order for them to be our MANIFEST companions, if we emanate purity we can walk with them.

If we are to have a daily walk with the Lord we need a change of clothing, purity is required. The prophet Zephaniah spoke of this.

Zephaniah 1:8

And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

There is in some circles of the church today a notion that in order to reach the people of this world we need to be relevant to them and their culture, especially in how we dress.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Apostle Paul wrote

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The word conformed means to be pressed into the same mould

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, Niv

We pray let it be on earth as it is in heaven: Have you seen how they dress in heaven?.  Some Christians including ministers dress like they have just stepped out of hell.

I probably just lost a few fans there!

The point is how you are on the inside will inevitably translate to how you are on the outside. 

Everything inside eventually shows on the outside; if you are a Barbie doll on the inside it will come out. If you are an undisciplined person on the inside it will show externally. 

How you feel about yourself internally will show on the out side.

Before I dig too deep a hole here; God is looking for purity of heart we are to be clothed in righteousness in order to walk in the realm of Gods Kingdom while on earth.

Many of the clothing styles today represent a culture that is steeped in rebellion and uncleanness, the pure in heart will represent the qualities of the Kingdom of God.

We need to keep short accounts with God, daily washing is necessary in order to stay clean and in a place to have intimacy and fellowship with the Lord.

God Bless youN Johnson © December 6th 2007