We all need times we are purified—examine our hearts and confess our sins. Hearing and obeying God’s Word brings joy. God wants us to live in the world, just not be like the world—to do so we must enjoy the fruit of the spirit while in the world.
‘Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall.’ Nehemiah 12:30
‘Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”’ 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Having such great promises as these, dear friends, let us turn away from everything wrong, whether of body or spirit, and purify ourselves, living in the wholesome fear of God, giving ourselves to him alone. 2 Corinthians 7:1
‘Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ‘ James 4:7-8
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.’ Matthew 5:8
“If your eye is pure, there will be sunshine in your soul. Matthew 6:22
“And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so that they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your commands. And the world hates them because they don’t fit in with it, just as I don’t. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from Satan’s power. They are not part of this world any more than I am. Make them pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world, and I consecrate myself to meet their need for growth in truth and holiness. John 17:13-19
‘Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ‘ Galatians 5:19-23
‘But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.’ 1 John 1:7-10
‘Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ‘ Acts 3:19
The second thing a minister/servant needs is a Worshipful Heart.
Too many people try to work for the Lord without worshipping the Lord—He does not want our work without our worship. Worshipping God is way more than singing and leading singing—it’s an inward condition of the heart that flows outward. Worship is to love God and rejoice in His great attributes and actions.
‘Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. ‘ Nehemiah 12:27
‘So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate. After them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, and some of the priests’ sons with trumpets—Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, and his brethren, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. Ezra the scribe went before them. ‘ Nehemiah 12:31-36
‘Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, according to the command of David and Solomon his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. ‘ Nehemiah 12:45-46
Insights:
- God wants us to worship Him.
- Worship is simply loving God.
- True worship comes from seeing God’s goodness and our sinfulness.
- God is so good, we are so sinful, but joy comes as we confess our sinfulness and enjoy God’s forgiveness, grace, and mercy.
- Joy comes as result of seeing God’s goodness.
- Unconfessed sin robs our joy and God’s power and presence in our life.
- Leaders need regular times to purify themselves, and purify the people, the gates, and the wall.
