WEEKLY MESSAGE
SUN, 28/12/25 - SAT, 03/01/26
ON THE MESSAGE THIS WEEK: CLEAN OUT
KEY VERSE: “SANCTIFY THE HOUSE OF THE LORD... CARRY OUT THE RUBBISH” (2 CHRONICLES 29:5)
When the angel of the Lord called Gideon, he was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress, trying to hide the grain from the Midianites (see Judges 6:11). That’s interesting, because God was about to use him to destroy the forces of Midian and liberate Israel. But before he could do so, there were a few family dynamics to be dealt with - like the altar his father built to a false god called Baal. It had been in the family for years. So God said, ‘Pull down your father’s altar to Baal... Then build an altar to the Lord your God’ (v25-26).
Understand this: things like anger, addiction, abuse, and affairs may be part of your family history, but they don’t have to be part of your future. Not only will God heal your heart and hurts, He will use you to heal the hearts and hurts of your children. The generational rubbish can stop here and now. You don’t have to give your kids what your ancestors gave you. Bring it out into the open and lay it before the Lord. Revealing leads to healing. And if having a mature Christian counsellor helps, get one! ‘Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think’ (see Romans 12:2). No, it won’t happen overnight. Damage that may have been done to you in the formative years of your life will take time to heal, and God will work with you day by day until He has made you whole. But let the healing begin. Rise up in faith, take control of your life, and declare: ‘It ends with me, and it ends here and now.’
In Scotland they have a New Year’s tradition that involves cleaning out your house, dumping the old ashes from your fireplace, and paying off your outstanding debts. It’s about clearing out the old to make room for the new. And from time to time you must clean your spiritual house. The Bible says, ‘Carry out the rubbish.’ Why? Because over time wrong attitudes, shoddy workmanship, and bad habits creep in and blind us to what’s important.
Sheila Coleman says: ‘Ten years ago I cleaned my house from top to bottom. I dusted every nook and cranny... scrubbed the bath and every sink until they shone. That house had never been so clean. I even took a toothbrush to the grout in the kitchen. And today, ten years later, it’s still clean, even though I’ve never had to pick up another duster, vacuum, or wash the kitchen counter... yet my house looks as clean as it did that day, right? WRONG! We continually need spiritual house cleaning because we live in a dirty world.
Just as our homes... cars and clothes have to be maintained... our hearts - our spiritual homes - need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Not once a week or once a month, and certainly not once every ten years, or once in a lifetime. We need to let God have His way in us every day, to clean us up and renew us... Is there a room in your “house” you haven’t allowed Him to clean? If it’s been a while since God did a thorough heart-cleaning, make this your prayer: Lord, clean my heart so You can live and shine through me.’
This blessed week, as we go into another new year, let God have His way in you. Give it all to Him, receive healing from Him, and He will bless you. See you in the New Year.
Have a wonderful week in Jesus' Name, Amen.
(Article/ extract from ucb,wordfortoday)
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Did you know: There are almost 20 different passages in the Bible where it is mentioned that we are God's people.
Ref: Jeremiah 32:38 / Ezekiel 14:11 / Zechariah 8:8 / 2 Corinthians 6:16 / Hebrews 8:10 / Ezekiel 11:20 / Ezekiel 37:23 / Jeremiah 7:23 / Jeremiah 31:33 / Ezekiel 37:27 / Jeremiah 31:1 / Revelation 21:3 / Exodus 6:7 / Leviticus 26:12 / Jeremiah 11:4 / Jeremiah 30:22 / Ezekiel 36:28.