SOUL DETOX: Clean Living in a Contaminated World

SOUL DETOX: Clean Living in a Contaminated World

Sunday, January 8, 2017

New sermon series that will run for several weeks. Craig Groeschel wrote this book.

Dwight L. Moody, “God doesn’t seek for golden vessels, and does not ask for silver ones, but He must have clean ones.

Spiritual Health. Something’s not right. We’re not growing closer to Christ. Worship is difficult. Service is hard. We want more of God in our lives, but we feel farther away from Him. We say that God is our first priority, but we are holding back from Him.

Many people are unaware of the forces that stun spiritual growth—harmful relationships, toxic media, addictive habits. And what they don’t know can and does hurt them, and can kill them spiritually.

It’s almost beyond description now, but you’ve heard about the Frog in the kettle. If you throw a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will immediately jump out. If you put that frog in a kettle of cool water and gradually increase the temperature, you can eventually cook that frog as it constantly adjusts to the heat.

If we had been dumped into our current culture from twenty or thirty years ago, there’s no way that we would not have jumped out of that pot. But we have slowly become acclimated to an environment full of poisonous toxins. Scalded. Scarred. Desensitized. We move away from God one degree at a time, unaware.

Ever found yourself in a situation like this? You’ve suddenly found yourself in scalding hot water, without a clue of how you get there? You’re watching a movie and maybe you’re suddenly repulsed by the language in the movie? Or the sexual content? Or the over-the-top violence? Maybe you find yourself asking this question, “Would I take Jesus to see this? Would He finish this film?

Back in the sweet innocent ‘80s, my mother-in-law used to ask my wife and her sister, “Would you take Jesus to that?” Movies. Concerts. Parties. Is there a movie you’ve watched recently that you think Jesus would sit through, let alone enjoy? Don’t misunderstand me, we cannot live in a sanitized spiritual fortress, keeping the forces of evil at bay. But neither can we soak up all the world around us and allow our culture to determine our lifestyles. There must be a line between right and wrong somewhere. Isn’t there a difference between the two? Between good and evil? Between pleasing and offending a holy God?

For those who follow Christ, every influence matters. Everything that we allow into our minds, hearts, and lives, everything that we spend our money on, everything that we spend our energy and time on absolutely affects us. Our spiritual health and growth are helped or hindered by all those influences.

Water jars. Same water. Same size jars. Look what happens with a few drops of food color. 1,2,3,4,5,10,20. A bit of toxin. A bit more. A bit more. It’s a very slow progression. It doesn’t seem that bad from one to two, to three, to four . . . but 20? None of us would think of making the jump from 1 to 20.

Proverbs 25:26 says, “Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.” If you’ve been polluted, you’re no longer clean drinking water. Maybe your waters have been muddied? There are several different sources for the pollution in your soul.

• “Thoughts don’t matter. They’re just inside my head.” Negative thoughts do affect you. Unhealthy thoughts lead to unhealthy words and actions.

• “My friends don’t influence me.” Friends who are not seeking God don’t understand your thinking and decisions. Peter wrote about this in his first letter, chapter 4, verse 4: “They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.” And so you may choose to live in a way contrary to your beliefs.

• “It’s just the way I am. I’m tired of struggling.” You see your struggle against sin as no more than your own quirks. You’ve listened to the voice of the enemy who has been whispering those lies to you. You swallow it and it feeds the sickness in your soul.

• “I let my faith out on Sunday mornings.” Your commitment to God is a one-day-a-week obligation. You prefer to keep God on His day for an hour or so, rather than experiencing a rich, full, meaningful, intimate relationship with Him. Spiritual “check-lists” must be marked off. You’re careful to check off that list religiously, and you like to look back to see what you’re doing and giving.

The rest of this series will examine some of the pollutants, the toxins, the spiritual poisons that we are happily, thoughtlessly drinking in. The reality is that, friends, it’s time to detox. We’ve got to come clean. We know that there is a better way to live, and it’s time for us to open our eyes, minds, and hearts to embrace God’s power and truth.

King David recognized the stain of his own sin, the result of poisonous, toxic lies he had soaked up. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and then plotted the murder of a loyal friend Uriah to cover his tracks. Confronted by his sins, David recognized his need for cleansing. We’ve read his words already.

Have mercyon me, O God,according to your unfailing love;according to your great compassionblot outmy transgressions. 2Wash awayall my iniquityand cleanseme from my sin. . . 7Cleanseme with hyssop,and I will be clean;wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. . . 10Create in me a pure heart,O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me. . . 12Restore to me the joy of your salvationand grant me a willing spirit,to sustain me.

Wherever you are spiritually right now, it’s not too late. However stained your life may be, it’s not too late. No matter what poisons you’ve soaked into your soul, it is not late for cleansing. Let’s drink in cool, clear water again. Let’s fill our souls with healthy, life-giving nourishment. Let’s embrace wholesome, healing relationships. Let’s be renewed by Him.

Create in me apureheart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10.

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