You Cleanse Me From ALL Wickedness

If you are a regular follower of this blog, then you will notice a bit of a change for the next 8 weeks. I am serving as a table leader for an 8 week Freedom Workshop. If you'd like to follow along, you can find the resources at the link directly above. Also, I will post here, the daily Bible reading assignment (heartwork) so you can read along. This workshop has been a life changer for me so I'm eager to share it with others. May you be blessed!

BIBLE READING HEARTWORK
Week 3 - Day 1
James 1; Psalm 31

Psalm 31:9-10

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.

Tears blur my eyes.

My Body and soul are withering away.

I am dying from grief;

my years are shortened by sadness.

Sin has drained my strength;

I am wasting away from within.

This is what confessed sin does to us. Lord, help me to always be quick to confess my sin to you!

1 John 1:8-10

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us form all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

Lord, I thank you that you are faithful and just to forgive my sins AND to cleanse me from all wickedness. When I pour my heart out to you, crying out to you without holding back, it usually leads to a repentance of sin. When I do that, you forgive me and cleanse me from ALL wickedness. All that sludge that was in my pipe is GONE. If the same situation comes up again and I am tempted to feel those same emotions again, I can cry out to you but I have no obligation whatsoever to do what my sinful nature urges me to do! Thank you, Lord! In Jesus' name. Amen.

FREEDOM WORKSHOP VERSES

Romans 12:2

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

Romans 12:2

Lamentations 3:37

Can anything happen without the Lord's permission?

Lamentations 3:37

MEMORY VERSES

James 1:1-4

This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the "twelve tribes" - Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it and opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James 1:1-4

I Can't Throw the Stone

John 8:7

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!"

Lord, help me to not be quick to condemn others for their sin. I am just as sinful as anyone. It's only your grace, mercy and continual forgiveness that saves me.

Romans 8:12-14

So, dear brothers and sisters you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit, you turn from it and it's evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

As I'm learning to walk in victory and having some success in not doing what my sinful nature urges me to do, don't let me look down on others who are still struggling to learn this.

I can't help thinking of the parable of the proud Pharisee and the repentant tax collector from Luke 18:9-14

Luke 18:14

"I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Lord, I praise you for pointing this out to me before it becomes a huge issue in my walk. I have looked at others, who I know have heard the Freedom Workshop message, and wondered, "Why aren't they getting this?" Lord, please forgive me for my self-righteous attitude. Next time I'm tempted to do this please remind me of what you just taught me.

Other believers are in process, just like I am. Of course, if I see a brother or sister engaging in blatant, habitual sin, then I need to lovingly and with YOUR words, rebuke them. But not when they are simply stumbling along as they strive to obey you.

I can, however, remind them to run to you. And I can share the truths from Romans 8:12-14 with brothers and sisters in Christ who may not have learned them yet.

I praise you, Jesus, for the changes you are working in me. I want to decrease so you can increase. I want to be more and more like you, who did not condemn the woman, but told her, "Go and sin no more." In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSES

James 1:14-15

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. Those desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

James 1:14-15

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Gentiles Included in Salvation

Proverbs 6:4

Don't put it off; do it now! Don't rest until you do.

Proverbs 6:4

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 8:10-11

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel. And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world -- from east and west --and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Lord, I praise you that I will be one of those Gentiles!! I'm so glad that you came to save the whole world, not just the Jews! I thank you for giving me the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide and teach me, just like you gave him to the Jews who believed in you. I can't wait to spend eternity with you, Lord Jesus!!

Acts 10:45

The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.

Acts 11:18

When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, "We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life."

Romans 1:16 NIV

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:  first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Remove the Yeast

Romans 12:1

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Romans 12:1

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Exodus 12:15

For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. On the first day of the festival, remove every trace of yeast from your homes. Anyone who eats bread made with yeast during the seven days of the festival will be cut off from the community of Israel.

Yeast is representative of sin. This festival was an illustration of how we are to remove sin from our lives. When I choose to engage in sin, my fellowship with you, Lord, is cut off. But it doesn't have to stay that way. I can ask for forgiveness and repent. Then you restore our fellowship.

1 John 1:9

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

I praise you, Lord, that you have given us your Holy Spirit to convict us of sin. Just like the Israelites searching for every trace of yeast in their homes, so the Holy Spirit points out the sin in my life. Often, I'm not even aware of a sin until the Holy Spirit shows it to me. I don't have to go digging up dirt in my own life. The Holy Spirit will show it to me and then help me to clean it up when I confess it. This process is called Sanctification. It's also the process by which I am continually changed to be more like Jesus. 

I praise you, Lord, for giving me a way to be continually changed and cleansed. As I spend time in your word and in prayer, your Holy Spirit communicates to me and points out "yeast" in my life. You knew, Lord, that I would be woefully unable to do this on my own. I thank and praise you for setting up this process in my life. In Jesus' Name I pray, amen.

The Reason For the Plagues

Romans 12:1

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Romans 12:1

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Exodus 10:2

I've also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them - and so you will know that I am the LORD.

This world tries to make a mockery of you, Lord. But just like with the Egyptians, you will have the final victory, indeed you have already won!

The scenes of the plagues on Egypt make me think of the plagues that will be poured out on the entire world in the tribulation. The reason that you display these signs among us is so that people might see and know that you are the LORD - present to act.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.

I praise you, Lord, for your mercy! I thank you for giving me time to repent. I pray for those who have yet to repent. Please display your signs among them so that they will know that you are the LORD - present to act in salvation! In Jesus' Name, amen.

You Set the Time

Romans 12:1

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Romans 12:1

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Exodus 8:9-10

"You set the time!" Moses replied. "Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River."

"Do it tomorrow," Pharaoh said.

Umm, what?!? Really?? Tomorrow? Why not right now? John Gill's Exposition of the Bible  shed's some light on perhaps why Pharaoh answered this way. Gill suggests that Pharaoh may have hoped that the plague would go away without any intervention from God. Then he would not have to acknowledge God's power or let his people go.

Another theory is that Pharaoh thought that it would take much pomp and ceremony, such as his magicians used, to entreat God to take the frogs away. That would all take time and planning which could not be done right away if it was already night.

It seems to me that many people use similar reasons to put off trusting Christ as their Savior. They believe that if they give it time they can figure things out on their own. They don't want to have to acknowledge God or his power over them and their lives.

Some people think that asking Jesus to forgive their sin and  become Lord of their lives will involve some weird religious mumbo jumbo. In reality all it takes is a simple heartfelt confession and request to God. I'm sure that all Moses had to do was ask, "LORD, will you please take the frogs away now?" and the LORD responded. 

He will do the same for us. Sometimes even as a Christ follower, I think that I need to have long drawn out spiritual sounding prayers before God will move on my behalf. However, for one who is in close communion and fellowship with HIM, all it takes is a simple request.

Lord, I praise you! I'm thankful that we don't have to get all weird and religious for you to move on our behalf. I pray for the unbelievers in my life, that you will clear their minds of any false beliefs about who you are and how you work. Holy Spirit, please lead them to Jesus! In Jesus' Name, amen. 

Show Them You are Yahweh

Deuteronomy 33:26

There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor.

Deuteronomy 33:26

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it."

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Exodus 7:5

When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.

Just a little bit of research shows that each of the plagues was a slap in the face of at least one Egyptian god. Often it was an insult to more than one. Lord, you were showing yourself stronger than all other gods. You still are! You were showing the Egyptians that you are the LORD/Yahweh. You are always present to act. Unlike their false gods who were just twisted reflections of YOUR creation and could do nothing.

Lord, please do this for the "Egyptians" in my life. Please show the unbelievers who I am praying for that you are Yahweh, present to act in salvation. Please show yourself stronger than the false gods they are relying on. Give them eyes to see and ears to hear so that they might turn, repent and follow you. In Jesus' Name, amen.

In Egypt

Genesis 46

And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!"
"Here I am." he replied.
"I am God, the God of your father." he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes."
Genesis 46:2-4

I love how God reassured Jacob. What a caring and compassionate God we serve!

God even arranged things so that Jacob and his family got the best of the land. Not that that lasted for all of his descendants. 

I wonder why shepherds would be detestable to the Egyptians? All I can think of is that Egypt is a type of the world. My Shepherd is detestable to this world. They don't see him the way I do. Their eyes are blinded by the evil one.

Lord, please use me to shine your light into their blinded eyes so that you can cure their blindness and bring them into saving relationship with you. 

Amen

What Are My Motives?

Genesis 44

People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.
Proverbs 16:2

Joseph's brothers have had a dramatic change in their attitude towards a favored younger brother. Perhaps it was the guilt they felt in chapter 42 when Joseph accused them of being spies, or maybe it started even before that.

Joseph was testing them to see if they would treat their youngest brother as cruelly as they had treated him. Joseph was a picture of Jesus who also by the Holy Spirit examines our motives. Joseph was hoping  to find repentance in his brothers and the Holy Spirit looks for the same in us.

What a merciful God we have!! What other "god" shows us our wrong motives and then gives us the chance to change, not by our power but his?!

Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgements. 
Revelation 19:1b-2a