TAKE OUT THE TRASH

“Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!’ Then His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.’” (‭‭John‬ ‭2:13-17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

“Time for a trip to the dump.”  Dreaded words, spoken recently by my wife. She then enumerated all the junk that needed to be removed from the house. I agree—but it is nasty, sweaty, sometimes back-breaking work that requires a long excursion almost to Madison County where dust or mud and piles of stinking trash await your arrival. My wife is right, of course, and afterwards things will get much better.  For one thing, her scowl will transform to a smile.

Jesus saw that His Father’s house was full of trash. Nasty people were doing nasty things.  So, He rolled up His sleeves and cleaned house!  Little by little a place that was meant to be a place for prayer had become a place for religious racketeers to operate.  Christ’s righteous anger against sin—His zeal for His Father’s glory—would not tolerate it. 

Today, our body is the house of God—the believers gathered together are the place where Christ dwells and worship occurs.  The reality is that we need to take regular trips to the dump. The world’s trash has a way of accumulating in the corners of our mind.  The rotting heap of stinky sin piles up in our heart.  We ought to be zealous to clean up.  

Here’s how:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Sincerely,
Dennis Thurman

WILL YOU STILL NOT BE MADE CLEAN?

Read Jeremiah 13:18-27

If we do not humble ourselves, then God will humble us.  We can bow our knee to God willingly or God can bring us to our knees forcibly.  We can be broken before God in contrition or be broken by God in correction.  This is the warning God gave to Judah through Jeremiah.

He began with a message to the leaders of Jerusalem—the king and queen mother—for they had failed to shepherd the people spiritually and the result is they would see the people suffer physically.  As a woman conceiving, carrying, and birthing a baby, they would see the process James describes, “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (1:15).  

The people of Jerusalem had committed spiritual adultery against the Lord as unfaithful idolaters.  Their morally lewd practices and shameful acts arose from the worship of promiscuous, pagan deities whose temples essentially housed an orgy. Since they wanted such nakedness, God would pull their skirts over their heads, exposing them to the Babylonian conquerors who would strip them bare and shackle them in bondage.  Away to Babylon they would be taken, to a place flooded with idols, since that was the kind of worship they set their hearts on.  God would gorge them with it, until they could bear no more.

The reality is they could not cleanse themselves.  Lest we sit in self-righteous judgment on those Jews, we had best look in the mirror of God’s holy law and understand our hearts are likewise depraved.  As an Ethiopian cannot change the color of his skin and a leopard cannot exchange his spots for the stripes of a tiger, we cannot change our sinful nature.  It is who we are.  

That’s why Jesus told Nicodemus—an extremely committed religionist—that he had to be born again—to gain a new nature (see John 3).  Christ said that none get to heaven otherwise.  It is not reformation of our old nature, but regeneration bringing a new nature that saves us and fits us for heaven.  Only the blood of Christ can cleanse us from sin.  God must make us clean.  Apart from that He will say, “Woe to you....  Will you still not be MADE clean?” (Emphasis added)

SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE

 

Is this not a brand plucked from the fire? (Zechariah 3:2b)

This is one of my favorite pictures of salvation portrayed in the Old Testament.  It was how John Wesley described the preservation of his life and ultimately of his soul.

Wesley was about six years old, when a fire broke out in his house, and he was stranded in an upper room of the burning building.  Two neighbors barely got him out before the roof caved in and John would have died in the flames.  He would later refer to himself as, “a brand plucked out of the fire.”

John and his brother Charles became great evangelists.  From them the Methodist church began.    John never forgot how God saved him and saw it as an illustration of the sinner’s rescue from the flames of hell.  The result has been untold multitudes won to Christ from this Gospel ministry.

Let’s examine this text that a grateful John Wesley loved so dearly.  Then, it ought to be that gratitude to God will rise in us also, and though we may never have the impact Wesley had, we can be moved by God’s deliverance of us, to a desire to see others snatched from the fire.

This text paints a picture of REBUKING (Zech.3:1-2a).  Joshua as High Priest was a representative of the nation of Israel.  Satan stands there, pointing an accusing finger and levels the charges against him.  But, God rebukes Satan and makes provision for Joshua—and thus, by extension to all those whom God has chosen.  Our sins are hidden under the blood of Christ!  So, when Satan begins to try to dredge up the dirt of our past, and name our sins, just say, “What sins are you talking about?  They are gone, old Devil!  May the Lord rebuke you!”  The Accuser has no answer to that.

Our text also provides a portrait of RESCUING (Zech.3:2b).  We are a dry limb that is engulfed in flames, about to be consumed, snatched from the fire.  Hell would have been our final destination—the Lake of Fire our everlasting place of torment—had not God reached out the hand of grace and saved us!  Every child of God can take John Wesley’s self-description as his or her own.  I am a burning stick snatched from the fire!

Then Zechariah also paints from his palette of truth a word about REMOVING (Zech.3:3-4a).  Joshua stood there, dressed in filthy robes, defiled and disqualified from entering the presence of the Lord.  That was the spiritual condition of the nation—soiled by sin.  It is also an accurate description of any who are outside of salvation.  God has removed the filthy robe I was wearing.  He has bathed me in Christ’s cleansing fountain—washed in the blood of the Lamb. 

On the Biblical canvas, we also see a portrayal of ROBING (Zech.3:4b-5).  If our soiled attire was removed that is good, but not good enough!  We are moreover clothed in the righteous robe of Christ!  On Heaven’s golden streets, we will stroll among those dressed in white linen.

The final word picture is one of RESIDING (Zec.3:6-7).  God invites Joshua in.  He is given access to God’s courts, and by implication to abide in the presence of the Almighty.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) That way is open.  The truth is clearly presented.  The life is offered.  Have you been snatched from the fire?

WILL GOD FORGIVE ME?

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions. (Psalms 51:1)

David had failed God--not only committing adultery, but trying to cover his tracks by having his lover's husband killed.  What is secret sin on earth, is open scandal in heaven.  David's sin had been exposed.  For months, this evil had eaten at him--a malignant thing--which had now been exposed with surgical precision by the prophet Nathan.  What was David to do now?  Surely he wondered, "Will God forgive me?"  Maybe you are wondering the same thing.  Satan is so crafty.  Before we sin, he whispers, "Go ahead!  God is merciful and He will forgive you."  Then, as soon as we yield to temptation, he shouts, "Give up!  God is righteous and He will never forgive you!"  David's response needs to be ours.

We hear THE CRY THAT ASKS FORGIVENESS (Ps.51:1-2).  He asks God for compassion.  On blended knee and with a broken-heart He falls upon the mercy of God.  He asks for covering.  David had tried to cover up his sin to no avail.  Only God can blot out our iniquity, and He does so as we confess it.  David asks for cleansing.  Sin makes us dirty where soap cannot cleanse.  "What can wash away my sin?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus!"

We also hear THE CONFESSION THAT ANTICIPATES FORGIVENESS (Ps.51:3-6).  "Passing the buck," is a common human trait that can be traced to the first sin in Eden.  When God confronted them, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent.  The promise of Scripture in 1 John 1:9 is conditional, "IF WE CONFESS our sins, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  (emphasis added)

Then, there follows THE CLEANSING THAT ACCOMPLISHES FORGIVENESS (Ps.51:7-9). Cleansing from sin restores holiness.  The stain of sin that we cannot remove is cleansed by God.  Cleansing returns happiness.  The sorrow of sin that we cannot escape is replaced by the gladness of experiencing grace.  Cleansing resumes hopefulness.  The Devil is quite the prosecuting attorney.  He wants a guilty verdict, but our Defense Attorney--Jesus Christ--is superior!

Next we find THE COMMUNION THAT ACCOMPANIES FORGIVENESS (Ps.51:10-12). The child of God, once born into His family, will never be disowned, but if he or she rebels they will be disciplined.  The relationship is settled, but sin will cause the fellowship to be strained.  The Spirit who seemed so near at one time, will be as though He has taken flight.  The shouts of joy that once erupted from our lips, out of the wellspring of a soul in communion with God, are silenced by our disobedience.  There is only one way to get back--like the Prodigal Son returning in repentance to his Father--and what a communion and celebration awaits!

It all ends with THE CONSECRATION THAT ACKNOWLEDGES FORGIVENESS (Ps.51:13-19). Grace experienced leads to gratitude expressed.  How can we fail to serve a God who has been so merciful?  There is the consecration of our witness.  Having received forgiveness, we want others to have it.  There is the consecration of our worship.  Our mouth sings of His grace!  There is the consecration of our work.  David had a great responsibility, and he was now able to get back to it.

Will God forgive me?  YES--over and over--YES!

SPRING-CLEANING

When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.  (John 2:15)

April showers bring May flowers—and the time for spring-cleaning.  A little lady general will march in and draft her husband to join the window-washing brigade.  Dirt has a way of accumulating.  It can spiritually as well.  We see in John 2 how the house of God was cluttered with carnality and covetousness.  Christ comes to cleanse the Temple thoroughly.  Bear in mind that our body is now the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Does it need cleaning?

There was THE NECESSITY OF THE CLEANSING (John 2:13-14).  God is love.  He loves sinners or there would be no hope for us.  But, He hates sin!  His holy nature compels Him to visit judgment upon evil.  God never sweeps sin under the carpet.  The Son of God possessed the same nature as His Father—and we see His righteous anger boiling up and expressed forcefully in this text.

Religious racketeers had set up shop in the house of God.  The area where business was being transacted was the court of the Gentiles—the place where Gentiles had to go to attend worship.  Amid all the noise and smell of animals, the debate about the proper value of the currency exchanged, and the crowd of tables and people, worship for a Gentile was virtually impossible in those surroundings.  For those Jews the Temple was no longer about the message of the prophets, but making some profits.  What good does it do to speak about heaven, when our hearts testify we are living for this world?  That is hypocrisy—and the house of God today often is rife with it.  No wonder pagan people who might want to seek God observe this and turn away.

Then observe THE NATURE OF THE CLEANSING (John 2:15-17).  Christ felt an overwhelming passion to cleanse the Temple.  He forcefully took action.  Do we have the same ruthless desire to drive out sin from our soul?  It is easy to get comfortable with clutter.  There were two drunks.  After a night in the tavern, they staggered out into the sun.  Squinting, one says, “What’s that I see?”  His buddy answers, “That’s light!”  Sniffing, the other says, “What’s that I smell?”  His partner responds, “That’s fresh air!”  We can become so accustomed to the darkness and stench of sin that it seems normal.  May Christ confront us today with cords of conviction, driving us by discipline, upsetting the tables in our temple where we transact with worldliness rather than offer worship! 

The religious leaders challenged Christ’s authority (John 2:18).  Though they were blind to the truth, He responds that His authority would be affirmed by His crucifixion and resurrection (John 2:19-22).  Can we cling to sin when it cost Him so much?  If He conquered death, ought He not rule over our hearts?  Beware lest we assume we are carnal Christians, when it is even worse—we may be counterfeits (John 2:23-25). 

It is time for spring-cleaning—the cleansing of our lives of sin.

ARE YOU WILLING?

And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”  Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.”  Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  (Matthew 8:2-3)

Jesus was willing to touch the untouchable—are you?  The church is the Body of Christ; we are to be an extension of His hands to a world without hope apart from His grace. 

Leprosy was a loathsome disease.  It brought ISOLATION.  Because of the danger of transmission, the leper had to warn people to keep their distance by crying, “Unclean!  Unclean!”  They were often driven from society and forced to live in leper colonies.  Can you imagine what it would be like to live day after day without human touch—no hugs, no kisses, not so much as a handshake—driven away and excluded?  Yet, there are so many like this in our world today—children who have been orphaned with no one to care for them, the elderly who are often warehoused in a nursing home , the homeless—some whose minds are burned out from substance abuse, those with mental disorders stuck a group home.  Nobody comes to see many of them; nobody seems to care.  To touch them may mean to touch someone dirty and disheveled.  Saliva may drool down their chin, food stains may soil their shirt, crumbs fill their lap and sometimes feces fill their pants—all while the smell or urine pervades the air.  Will you touch them?

Leprosy not only brought isolation, but INSENSITIVITY.  The disease robs a person of feeling.  The capacity to feel pain is lost.  All around us we see such—hollow faces and glassy eyes—they are numb from neglect.  What do we do?

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.  (Fanny J. Crosby)

The insensitivity leads to INJURY.  You might think that to feel no pain would be a good thing—but it would be terrible.  You do not know when you burn your hand, or step on a nail.  Have you seen pictures of lepers with missing digits, maimed and crippled?  A leper might go to sleep on the streets of Calcutta, India, and awaken with a finger gone because a rat chewed it off in the night—and they didn’t even know!  There are folks you will see today whose lives are being gnawed away little by little by this world, and they don’t even realize it.

Leprosy is a picture of what sin is and does.  Sin separates us from people.  It robs us of feeling.  Sin eats away at our life.  It ultimately brings death.  We are all born with moral leprosy.  If we were healed by Christ’s grace, it is because someone reached out to us.  Are we willing?