Cleanse the Temple

2 Chronicles 29:3-7, 15-17

2 Chronicles 29:3-7 (NKJV) ³ In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. ⁴ Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square, ⁵ and said to them: "Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place.
⁶ For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and turned their backs on Him. ⁷ They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.
2 Chronicles 29:15-17 (NKJV) ¹⁵ And they gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. ¹⁶ Then the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and brought out all the debris that they found in the temple of the Lord to the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it out and carried it to the Brook Kidron. ¹⁷ Now they began to sanctify on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the Lord. Then they sanctified the house of the Lord in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. God wants us to cleanse our temple! What have you allowed into your life that does not honor God? Do you have a secret place in your heart that you won't even allow God in? 

      Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

    I. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)
¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. We are to honor God in all we think, do and say.

II. We are to cleanse our temple. Ephesians 4:21-22 (NLT) ²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. This is an ongoing process. Just as the priests and Levites threw out all the unholy things in God’s house, God says we are to throw off the old sinful things and our former way of life. Ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse you from hidden sins that include; Unforgiveness! Matthew 6:15 (NLT) But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Who in your life have you not forgiven? An unthankful heart! 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do you take God’s blessings for granted? Selfishness! James 4:3 (NLT)  And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. Do you put others before yourself? Disobedience! Galatians 5:7 (NKJV)  You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

   Idols! Ezekiel 14:2-3 (NKJV) ² And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ³ "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? Ezekiel 14:6 (NKJV) "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations. 

    Lack of reconciliation with others! Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV) ²³ Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

   Not wanting to wait on the Lord! Psalms 27:14 (NKJV) Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!  Don’t Get ahead of the Lord.                         

  III. We are to keep our temples clean! Matthew 5:8 (NKJV) Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

     a. How do we do that? (Eph. 4:23-24)²³ Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

        ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 5:18 (NLT)  Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.

    Conclusion: God wants our attitudes and thoughts to be pure before Him so He can work in our lives and fully bless us with the fullness of life and power which He desires for His people. Each of us must seek out and clean out these those things that can make our prayers ineffective and hinder our walk and close relationship with the Lord.

Invitation: This coming week allow the Holy Spirit to take inventory. Get alone somewhere and be still before God and ask Him to show you anything that you need to cleanse from your mind and life. Psalms 19:13 (NLT) Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. If you need salvation, confess your sins against God and ask Jesus to forgive your sins and to cleanse you and save your soul so you will be in Heaven with the Father God and His Son Jesus Christ!