CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 929

“Filthiness”

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:4)

Filthy, foolish, and crude talking is all around us. In the course of a day we are immersed in a cesspool environment of foul language from coworkers, customers, even family and friends. Then, one day something triggers and you speak out bad words also.

Before accepting Jesus Christ and being born again by the Spirit of God, I was oblivious to the filthiness of the environment that I was so much a part of. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world…among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  (Ephesians 2:32)

But now as a Christian I have become keenly aware of this world environment and I feel filthy. I am especially remorseful and repentant when I realize that I have let the environment get under my skin and my old nature rears its ugly head. This is a battle that we will be engaged in as long as we are in our body of flesh. Paul writes concerning this battle in his letter to the Romans. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! … (Romans 7:21)

How do we walk in purity and integrity in this world? …be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life… (Philippians 2:14-16) We shine the light of Christ by holding fast to the Word of life.

What does it mean to hold fast to the Word of life? In a nutshell it means to get a grip on God and don’t let go. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me… (Galatians 2:20) You cannot have any firmer grip than to have Christ living in your heart.

The first step is to sanctify, that is set apart, your heart and home as a place where the Spirit of God is welcome. Because the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp…therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you. (Deuteronomy 23:14) How much filthiness do you allow yourself to see, hear, and be entertained by? How much filthiness do you allow into your home?

Second, you need to remain in the Word. Discipline your lifestyle to have uninterrupted time reading, praying, studying, and meditating on the Word of God.

Third, walk with God – continually. Quiet devotional time each day is good but it does not end there. Pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:17) When confronted with filthiness during the day, silently pray for the individual(s). When confronted with temptation, pray. Your day should be characterized by continual silent prayer as you draw on the power and strength of the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ in you.