How can we identify and address "unclean" practices in our own lives? Scriptural Foundation “Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” — 2 Corinthians 7:1 What “Unclean” Looks Like Today • Anything Scripture labels sin (Galatians 5:19-21) • Habits that dull love for God or neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39) • Secret patterns hidden from the light (Ephesians 5:8-11) • Cultural trends that contradict God’s revealed will (Romans 12:2) Four Ways to Identify Unclean Practices 1. Invite God’s Searchlight • Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God… See if there is any offensive way in me.” • Regularly pray through passages that list sins and virtues (Galatians 5:19-23; Colossians 3:5-14). 2. Compare Actions with the Word • Hebrews 4:12: the Word “judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” • Read slowly, asking, “Is my life in line with this?” 3. Listen to Conviction, Not Condemnation • John 16:8: the Spirit “will convict the world concerning sin.” • Conviction is specific and hopeful; condemnation is vague and hopeless. 4. Seek God-honoring Accountability • Proverbs 27:17: “Iron sharpens iron.” • Invite mature believers to speak truth about blind spots. Addressing Unclean Practices: Practical Steps • Confess Immediately ‑ 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive… and to cleanse.” • Renounce and Remove ‑ Acts 19:19: believers burned occult books; eliminate triggers (websites, contacts, objects). • Replace with Righteous Habits ‑ Ephesians 4:22-24: put off the old, put on the new. ‑ Schedule prayer, Scripture memory, service to others. • Rely on the Spirit’s Power ‑ Romans 8:13: “by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body.” ‑ Ask daily for His filling (Ephesians 5:18). • Walk in Ongoing Obedience ‑ James 1:22: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” ‑ Small, consistent choices build lasting purity. Guarding Against Future Defilement • Saturate the Mind with Truth (Psalm 1:2) • Stay Alert to Subtle Drift (1 Corinthians 10:12) • Practice Regular Self-Examination (Lamentations 3:40) • Keep Short Accounts with God and People (Matthew 5:23-24) • Celebrate Growth and God’s Faithfulness (Philippians 1:6) Living in Cleanness Cleansing is not mere self-improvement; it is cooperating with the Holy One who already made us His own (1 Peter 1:15-16). As we continually identify and address unclean practices, we experience deeper fellowship with Christ, stronger witness to the world, and the joyful freedom of a conscience made clean. |
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