Soul Man » Cleansing

When Prejudice Meets The Word

Soul Man — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:47:11 +0000

Last weekend’s message was simple but very difficult for me to deliver. Remember the major point from the weekend, as Malachi helped us to Reset Justice? – “Correcting injustice in the world, begins with God correcting injustice in me. “ It was a heavy message for me to deliver, but God lifted my spirit in an amazing way as someone literally allowed God to immediately deal with the injustice in their own hearts.

After the 11:00 service a man approached me and said he needed to ask me to forgive him. Immediately, I wondered what it could be. He told me that when I was introduced as the candidate for the position of Senior Teaching Pastor, he didn’t vote for me. “I am sure that many people didn’t vote for me.” I opined. So, his comment was no big revelation to me. What he said next was. He said, “You need to know why I didn’t vote for you.” I continued to listen. Because of his experiences in the past, he had developed a spirit of prejudice and racism against black people. In essence, he was saying he didn’t vote for me because I was black. He began to weep and asked me if I would forgive him. I said it wasn’t a problem. He retorted, “Listen! You don’t understand. I really need you to forgive me. I don’t want the junk of prejudice and racism spilling over into my kids’ lives. I didn’t vote for you and I was wrong. God has been and is using your preaching to impact my life.”Wow! To His glory!

I realized what God was doing. This man heard God and was acting on what he heard. I forgave him. We hugged for a good while, weeping in one each other’s arms (Glad we weren’t in the men’s bathroom doing this – Smile! It was a joke). I was moved, humbled, and I rejoiced as I was reminded that God has me in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. God, thank you for using Malachi to help us see that: Correcting injustice in the world really does begin when we let God correct injustice in us. For His glory!

I’m Sorry

Soul Man — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:47:37 +0000

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24

I was taught that if you hurt someone or offend someone, you apologize and ask the person to forgive you. The other morning I was impressed with the thought of how I have hurt and offended my heavenly Father, and how I needed to tell him, “I’m sorry.” So, here is a portion of my apology note to my heavenly Father:

For the times I taught your word in my own strength and for my own glory, I’m sorry.

For the times when I thought I was You, I’m sorry.

For the times I said You existed, but lived like You didn’t, I’m sorry.

For the years that I was angry at how “church people” treated me, I’m sorry.

For the times I was jealous/envious of another’s gifting or their success, I’m sorry.

For the times I let days go by without talking with you, I’m sorry.

For the times I was more concerned about my blog traffic and stats than about your glory and honor, I’m sorry.

For the times when I thought it was all about me, I’m sorry.

For the times I embarrassed the Kingdom with my words/actions, I’m sorry.

For the times I crucified you all over again, I’m sorry.

For the times I took the “second look,” I’m sorry.

For the times I had the attitude of the older brother, I’m sorry.

For the times when I used people for my own benefit and gain, I’m sorry.

For the times I put the church before my first church (family), I’m sorry.

For the times I was self-righteous and judged others harshly, I’m sorry.

For the times I knew what was right but did what was wrong, I’m sorry.

For the times my motives were tainted with personal gain and security, I’m sorry.

For the times I harbored unforgiveness and bitterness toward others, I’m sorry.

For the times I placed my priorities ahead of yours, I’m sorry.

For the times I posed and managed an image to impress people, I’m sorry.

For the times I clouded the truth to save myself, I’m sorry.

For the times I simply went through the motions, I’m sorry.

For the times I breathed your air, ate your food, used your gifts, and enjoyed your blessings, without saying thank you, I’m sorry.

1 John 1:9 says: if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 says: confess your sins to one another that you might be healed.

Proverbs 28:13 says: People who cover their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy.

What about you? How would your apology note to your heavenly Father look?

A Riot of Colors

Soul Man — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:26:55 +0000

I ran across an article the other day which highlighted the restoration of Night Watch, one of Rembrandt's paintings. It's called the Night Watch, but this moniker has proven to be something of a historical misnomer. As they were restoring the painting, they came across a severe build up of dirt and varnish. It was traditionally thought to be a night scene. The recent cleansing, however, has dispelled this idea. The picture is a riot of colors – blues, greens, reds, oranges, browns and yes, lemon yellow. The dirt kept the patrons from seeing the brilliance of the colors in the painting.

As we walk and serve, sometimes we inadvertently pick up dirt in our lives, and there are times when we intentionally pick up dirt. Either way, if we do not cleanse ourselves internally, we can get dirt build up and people conclude that our lives are a night scene, when there are vibrant colors waiting to break forth. Now, if we neglect daily cleansing, we will experience spiritual decline until we no longer feel the need for spiritual things. As we fail to see our need for frequent cleansing from our sins, cleansing becomes something we no longer sense a need for. The fact is, we need frequent and daily spiritual cleansing.

I believe cleansing and healing happens in several ways: through the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26, Psalm 119:9), confessing sins to God (1 John 1:9), and confessing our sins to one another (James 5:16). These habits keep the dirt from building up in our lives on a day to day basis. Moreover, we will worship God in purity and holiness and we will serve people with integrity. Also, and probably most importantly, these daily practices will allow the brilliant colors of God's grace, forgiveness, love, freedom, peace and power to explode and shine through in our lives and our world.

When was the last time you let Jesus cleanse you through the aforementioned practices? Do you have a safe place where, or a safe person with whom you can share your deepest struggles and who will pray for you?

What other frequent spiritual practices do you think can help cleanse our lives? Let me know what you think.