4 Filters For Your Spiritual Spring Cleaning
We have been experiencing that time of year when people get very involved in ‘spring cleaning.’ In fact, we just had a wonderful time sharing together while cleaning up around the church just a few weeks ago. In much the same way, we must regularly do a spiritual house cleaning in our hearts. Remember those eternal words, “Create in me a CLEAN heart and RENEW a right spirit within me.” Let me ask you to do an honest examination of the clutter that could robbing you of spiritual strength, joy, and victory.
One of the cleaning tasks we do is to change the filters in the a/c units. In the same way, you must set certain standards as to what you allow to filter into your life as well as what you allow to filter out to those around you. Here are 4 filters to consider.
The first is Holy! “Be holy because I am holy” is a straightforward and easy-to-understand standard for our lives. Are there areas of unholiness that you are allowing to filter into your life? It may be music, movies, humor, relationships, etc. Activate your HOLY filter!
The second is Excellent! I am sure you can quote the verse “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is EXCELLENT or praiseworthy – think about such things,” but do you really apply it to your life? Do you meditate on what is excellent? Do you offer to God your best? Do you desire all that God has for you? Get your actions, thoughts, and words into gear! Strive for Excellence!
The third is Pure! Once again, this is powerfully connected to the first two points of Holy and Excellent, but it goes much farther. You are called to offer your body as a living sacrifice, pure and blameless, unto God! Filter out the impure! 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, “let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.”
The fourth is Anointed! God has redeemed you for a purpose! Jesus Christ made the greatest sacrifice of all time! Christ demands that you be endued with power! Greater is He who is now in you than he who is in this world. The anointed power of God Himself is with you and in you for a great purpose— to have abundant life, walk in victory, and win the world for our Lord Jesus Christ. Let His promised anointing flow into you. Then, let His anointing flow out of you to others!
As you read the life stories of great men of faith, you will quickly discover that each of them kept their lives filtered, clean and active! They lived Holy and Pure lives while offering themselves in Excellence in all they did through the Anointing of God’s Spirit!
Increasing in Christ,
Pastors Gary & Alisa
