Self Cleansing  

2 Corinthians 6:1-Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleasnse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Probably what is lacking more than anything else in Christianity today is what I call "self purification." It is the process of eliminating worldliness in our lives and making a wall between us and the world in every area that God has revealed to us in his word and will reveal to us through prayer. If we talk about separation many people will quickly associate legalism with the word. I too have been in legalistic churches that imposed restrictions upon it's people. However, if we are to walk with God then we must separate from the world. This is a personal process and not one a church can impose on us. If it is imposed by church standards then we will become legalistic pointing the finger at others instead of ourselves. God does not want us to point the finger at others and there are plenty of scriptures for that. This is also not an issue of looking inside at our sin for which Christ has already died and only he can cleanse us from. Rather, this is a process of making a definite wall of separation between ourselves and how the world's acts, thinks, and philosophizes.

It was not until the last year or so that I really began to understand this principle. I had bounced back and forth between how to actually put this in practice. For instance, when someone says something a thought process now goes on inside that instantly compares it to God's word and what it says. This is why it is important to be in a loving relationship with God and his word. If you do not love his word you will not be interested in comparing it. When someone says something the spirit brings God's word to mind and God's word will either approve or condemn the philosophy in the statement heard. It is brought to mind not necessarily for the purpose of openly saying something about what is heard and to correct the person, but maybe just to teach me that the thing said was wrong thinking, that it came from the world's way of thinking or even from satanic origin.

It is important that we separate from everything that is worldly but it is a choice only we can make. God can even chasten us but it is our decision. If we really have a close loving relationship with him and his son then we will want to purify ourselves. If we don't we will constantly have troubles and be snared by those things that will bring us down which will destroy our spiritual and physical health in ways we cannot even determine.

A person that does not separate in the areas that God points out to him will have his mind clouded to the leading of God in his life. This brings darkness into our lives. We cannot then make proper decisions about things and we will live in fear thinking God has forsaken us. Remember what darkness causes? Ever try to get up in the middle of the night in almost total darkness? Did you hit anything with your foot and hurt it because you didn't see the thing in front of you? Did you stumble and almost fall over? Did you kind of grope or feel along the edge of the wall or furniture to find your way? This is why the Bible uses physical darkness as an example of those who are in spiritual darkness. For instance, one example of walking in darkness used in the Bible is hating our Christian brother-

1 John 2:11- But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

The process of purifying ourselves is not just of God alone. Paul, in the opening scripture makes it clear it is also our responsibility.

Let us choose personal cleansing in God's word and through prayer, supplication and giving of thanks so that we may have a clear path before our feet to walk and for strength of spirit in him.

Other verses that talk about purifying ourselves-

1 John 3:3- And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure.

James 1:27- Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

James 1:21- Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.