Category Archives: Defiled

Bible, Defiled, Foolishness, Jesting, Praise, Scripture, Thanksgiving

CHOOSE YOUR MESSAGE WISELY

EPHESIANS 5:4

“and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”

I have to admit that before I came to Christ, my language was a little salty. I didn’t talk filthy, but I did use curse words more than I should have. And I heard and told my fair share of dirty jokes in the locker room. It’s amazing how Jesus can clean up your language once you give your tongue to Him.

Paul uses three words in this verse that are not found elsewhere in the New Testament. “Filthiness” is aischrote which means obscene, or indecent conversation, literally, that which is shameful, or deformed. “Foolish talk” is mōrologia which refers to idle chitchat, words that serve no purpose. And finally, “vulgar joking” is the word eutrapelia which mean coarse jesting. I think it is interesting that Paul uses these particular words which are only used once in the New Testament. What does that mean to you?

APPLICATION

Paul then turns his attention to proper speech, a proper message. He says, “but rather giving of thanks.” What a contrast! Instead of filthy, foolish or vulgar talk, we are to give thanks. Sure, Carl! Are you saying that all we are to talk about is what we are thankful for? In a way, yes. Do I do that all the time? No, but I should.

The next time you are tempted to say something you shouldn’t about someone, pause and give thanks to God for that person. I believe God puts hard people in our paths to perfect us. If we never had challenges, how would we grow? Now, I am not saying that I do this perfectly. In fact, I miserably fail at this. There are people in my life that challenge me. But as my wife said to me last night, I need to give them to the Lord.

We need to spend a lot more time sending out that message of gratitude. We have so much to be thankful for, even when our circumstances are trying. God is faithful. He knows exactly what you are going through. Give Him praise! Thank Him! Tell others you are thankful. Their response to your praise may surprise you.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

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Bible, Cleansing, Confession, Defiled, Forgiveness, Repentance, Scripture

NOW THAT WILL STINK

MALACHI 2:3

“‘Behold, I am going to rebuke your descendants, and I will spread dung on your faces, the dung of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.’”

My uncle Hugh Lee was a pig farmer. He used to say you could eat everything on a pig except the squeal. He even meant the intestines which we know what is used for. To clean those was a smelly mess because you had to get rid of the fecal matter, the dung, before you washed them and cooked them. I have smelled a lot of these cooking. Let me tell you – I am not sure they got that clean.

The Lord tells the priests that He is going to take that fecal matter, the dung from the offerings, and spread it on their faces. This word for “dung” is used these two times in Malachi and the only other five times in reference to the instructions for making the sacrifices. So, these priests knew exactly what the Lord was talking about. Dung – stinky!

APPLICATION

I hate to ask if you have anything stinky in your life. Maybe you are hiding a secret sin that is starting to smell a little. Others are noticing. Your spouse may be questioning you. Your friends notice a change in you. Listen – sin stinks. It will come to light, sooner the later.

Moses told the tribes that wanted to stay on the west side of the Jordan in Numbers 32:23, “But if you do not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure that your sin will find you out.” When we sin, it is always against the Lord. I am reminded of Psalm 51:3-4a. “3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight;”

Those sins, my sins, need to be cleaned out. So does yours. We all have those stinky things in our lives that need to be confessed. Join me today and bow before the Lord. Ask His forgiveness. Accept the cleansing that comes and watch that smell disappear.

Thank You, Lord, for cleansing me from all my sin. That cleansing comes with a disinfectant. Praise You!

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Agreement, Attitude, Betrayal, Bible, Covenant, Deceit, Defiled, Offering, Scripture

THE OLE SWITCHAROO

MALACHI 1:14

“‘But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,’ says the LORD of armies, ‘and My name is feared among the nations.’”

I bet you have never done that, have you? You promised one thing, and at the last minute you switched it out for something of lesser quality. No, you wouldn’t do that, I am sure. But a lot of people do. There are a lot of swindlers out there. They will take you for a nickle. You had better watch out.

The Lord accuses the people of being swindlers. They switched out the appropriate sacrificial animal for one that was blemished. The Lord was outraged. He says, “I am a great King.” He deserves the best. He required the best. Nothing less would be accepted by Him.

ACCEPTABLE

Are you playing switcharoo with God? You promise one thing and deliver another. You say, “Oh God, I promise…” You fill in the blank. But then you get out of your predicament and decide to just go halfway with your promise. Something is better than nothing, right? Wrong! God demands your all, nothing less.

Deuteronomy 15:21 still applies to our offerings to God. “But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God.” God still demands our best.

Psalm 96:4 tells us this about our God. “For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.”  So, why are you offering God less? Why are you promising one thing but giving another? Whatever you vow to Him, give it. God will surely bless that. Be true to God. He is always true to you.

Father, I promise to give as I have promised. I promised you all of me. That is what I give.

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Accountability, Accused, Advice, Bible, Blasphemy, Deception, Defiled, Elders, Following, Leading, Scripture

NOT GOOD DESCRIPTERS

ZEPHANIAH 3:4

“Her prophets are insolent, treacherous men; her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the Law.”

When I read this verse, my mind instantly went to the stories of the preachers who buy their multi-million dollar jets. They have mansions and are covered with fine clothes and jewelry. Many of them have been caught stealing from the churches they are supposed to serve. They are wolves in sheep clothing.

The same held true for the priests in Jerusalem. Zephaniah describes them as insolent, treacherous, profane and violent. Not a good way to be described. I am sure Zephaniah put himself in danger saying these words. These men who he is prophesying against would not take kindly to being called those names. But truth must be told.

APPLICATION

This behavior was nothing new. We see it in 1 Samuel concerning the sins of the sons of Eli. In 2:17 it says, “And so the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD disrespectfully.” The saying goes that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Men who hold positions of power have to be careful how they use that power.

And we must be aware of who we sit up under as our spiritual leaders. We must check what they say and do against Scripture. Only the Word is the complete truth. Our spiritual life is too important to be held captive by someone who corrupts the Word and leads falsely. This is a Biblical concept found in Acts 17:11 when the Bereans checked out Paul and Silas. “Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” 

I am not saying all preachers are bad. Far from that. Most of these men are humble servants who only want to love their people. Follow these men. They are men who heed to the words in 1 Peter 5:1-3. “1 Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock.” These are men worth following.

Lord, protect Your servants from the schemes of the devil. Keep their eyes clearly focused on You.

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Accused, Defiled, Forgiveness, Judgment, Oppression, Rebellion, Scripture

COMING HOME

ZEPHANIAH 3:1

“Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city!”

When I thought of a title for this blog, I struggled a bit. We have seen Zephaniah deliver God’s message of judgment to all the nations around Israel who had oppressed her. God’s judgment is harsh and swift. But now, here in chapter 3, God turns His attention to His own people. Jerusalem is singled out.

You see that city had been rebellious, defiled and oppressive itself. Zephaniah is delivering a “woe” to them now. In other words, “Watch out Jerusalem. I’m aware of your sins against Me. You can’t blame someone else. I warned you about fraternizing with those people. I told you that for a reason. Now you will feel My wrath.” God’s eyes were focused on their home.

APPLICATION

Look at that verse again. Ask yourself this question. Have you been rebellious, defiled and oppressive? If you are like me, the answer is “yes.” At one time or another I have been all three. I have definitely rebelled against God. I know I have defiled myself by some things I have done. And I have been oppressive towards others when it was to my advantage.

Fortunately, all those sins (and that is what they are) are under the blood of the Lamb. I could never repay God for my sins. I could never be good enough to tip the scale in my favor. Only Jesus can pay the price required, and He did. All through the New Testament we read of the blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says it clearly. “18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

That’s all we need to wipe away our sin of a rebellious spirit, all our defilements from sin and all our sins of oppressing others. Hallelujah! Praise His name! I am forever thankful for Jesus and what He did for me. He has done that for you, too. Do you know Him? Are you thankful?

And I’m forever thankful for the cross. I’m forever thankful to You.

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