Cleanse Consciences and Purify Hearts
It is written in 2 Peter 1:5-9 (NIV) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
I have been seeking the Lord for how to “possess these qualities in increasing measure“, the answer came to me after approaching the Throne of Grace. It is written in Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! And in Hebrews 10:14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
This is the process of sanctification, mainly involving our heart and spirit, the Scriptures call it “cleanse our consciences”. Each time we approach the Throne of Grace asking for mercy and grace we may receive more, so that our faith, goodness, knowledge, …… and love may increase. As it is written in James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Don’t know why I couldn’t see this before, Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. And Hebrews 10:35-36 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Be Perfect, therefore, as Your Heavenly Father is Perfect
I regret that I didn’t seek the Lord in order to “possess these qualities in increasing measure“. I have to confess I have such casual attitude towards many commands, such as: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect“. I made no effect to try, nor do I seek the Lord for guidance. I am still very ignorant of the Scripture: Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
The sacrifice is made once for all by our Savior, but the purification takes time. The Scripture says: “So do not throw away your confidence“, it indicates some may throw away their confidence in the end. Therefore, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” In another word, we need to keep coming to the Mercy Seat for cleansing of our conscience until we “have done the will of God“.
However, many God’s servants have overlooked such privilege of approaching the Throne of God. Francis Chan said in his sermon in Feb 10, 2023 “The Throne of Grace“, that he have not thought of this before. He said @18:60 “My training was (in you know) in seminary. It was just all about; let me tell you how messed up everyone is, how messed up you are, and it’s just like (and) Jesus has to be the Lord of your life. Are you sure he’s the Lord of your life? Are you sure he’s really the master of your life? And this is good stuff but the focus was always about how messed up, and how much I failed and failed and failed. And God was also showing me this week that I I have more baggage than I realize.“
Serve The Living God by Doing His Will
After watching the whole sermon, I think Francis still hasn’t put the focus on the main purpose of drawing near the Throne of Grace. It was stated in Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! The Hymn “SAVIOR, THY DYING LOVE” explained quite clearly:
Savior, Thy dying love, Thou gavest me.
Nor should I aught withhold, Dear Lord, from Thee.
In love my soul would bow, My heart fulfill its vow, Some offering bring Thee now, Something for Thee.
O’er the blest mercy seat, Pleading for me, My feeble faith looks up, Jesus, to Thee.
Help me the cross to bear, Thy wondrous love declare, Some song to raise, or prayer, Something for Thee.
Give me a faithful heart, Likeness to Thee.
That each departing day, Henceforth may see Some work of love begun, Some deed of kindness done, Some wanderer sought and won, Something for Thee.
All that I am and have, Thy gifts so free, In joy, in grief, through life, O Lord, for Thee!
And when Thy face I see, My ransomed soul shall be Through all eternity, Something for Thee.
The Anointing from The Holy One
The body of Christ still does not truly know how to pray according to God’s will, and it is in desperate need of the Anointing from The Holy One. We are not focused on serving the living God by doing his will. I seriously doubt that seminaries teach their students to do God’s will by listening the voice of the Lord, for that is the “daily bread” of the Lord’s prayer. We have failed to heed the Scriptures, especially Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
The lessons on prayer are found throughout the book of Psalms, and we are instructed to “Speak to yourselves in psalms”, yet only a few are listening. The sober reality is that most seminary-trained students and teachers neither understand the Scriptures, nor hear the Lord’s voice, due to a lack of anointing from the Holy One. For it is written in 1 John 2:20-21 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.
Receiving that anointing depend on whether we remain in Him or abide in Him, as it is written in verse 26-27 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit–just as it has taught you, remain in him. If anyone had this anointing, he would not need any scholar or expert to teach him. The core of seminary training relies on man-made concepts to explain the unanswered questions that a believers might ask. This reality effectively nullifies Jesus as the “Only One Master” and “One Teacher“, as he said in Matthew 23:8, 10 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. …… Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
True Salvation
True salvation is very simple. If anyone believes Jesus died for his sins, in response to this love and kindness he will give up his freedom to sin. And he will desire to become Jesus’ disciple by taking up his cross, denying himself, imitating his Lord and Savior to doing the Father’s will for the rest of his life.
Does it make sense for any believer to learn from those who can not hear Jesus’s voice nor inquire of the Lord, yet teaches something like “systematic theology” about God? This phenomenon should come as no surprise, as the Scriptures foretell what kind of teachers we will see in these last days, for it is written in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
I Do Exactly What My Father has Commanded Me
Today, the teaching of imitating Jesus’ way of the cross to do the Father’s will has been deliberately suppressed and has all but disappeared. Consider, for instance:
“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19)
“…… I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.” (John 8:28)
“But the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” (John 14:31)
There are many other Scriptures like these; they are parts of the whole counsel of God. But man-made doctrines of cheap grace have led many sheep astray, causing them fail to hear the Good Shepherd’s voice, and thus missed the narrow road.
It is written in 1 Corinthians 12:28: And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then … But these teachers are not called to teach any type of man’s doctrine or theology. When Jesus instructed Peter to feed his sheep, it did not mean that Peter could teach whatever he thought was right. No, he had to feed the sheep with the Oracles of God—that is, the real time spoken word from God. As Peter himself wrote: “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.” (1 Peter 4:11). Watch out for those who have no respect for the Word of God, although some of them may be called by God but not yet ready to serve.
The Gospel
The true gospel of the Bible is so simple and straight forward, the sermon on the mount summarized for us, I highlight a few below:
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. If anyone truly believed Jesus and want to enter heaven, he would pray and ask God for a humble spirit.
- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Whoever believes and desire to see God will ask Him for a pure heart.
- If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
- But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven…… Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Be perfect as your heavenly Father is exactly what Paul wrote: “Be imitators of God“. Whoever intend to obey the Word would have to ask God for guidance and follow the Psalms prayer example: “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.“
- So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
- Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. This is the dividing line, It is essential we ask for our daily bread according to the Lord’s prayer. Those who assume they know it without asking are likely to be deceived by themselves.
God’s love, justice and righteousness are clear:
- But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
- But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
- God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
- But glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
- This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
- I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
- If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.“
- The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
- As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
Teach me Your way, O LORD
However, it is difficult to obey everything Jesus commanded, but he said “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” It is very easy to be deceived if we do not learn from Him, because there many false teachers, with large number of God’s people being taken captive by the devil.
We learn from Jesus through prayers and he promised “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ” We are to learn from Jesus directly and receive instruction through prayers—our daily bread—rather than relying on human teaching. Because he promised, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27) There are so many prayer examples and patterns in Psalms for us to follow, such as:
Psalms 27:11 (AFV) Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a level path because of my enemies.
Psalms 119:33 (AFV) Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end.
Psalms 119:66 (AFV) Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I have believed Your commandments.
Psalms 119:125 (AFV) I am Your servant; give me understanding that I may know Your testimonies.
Psalms 143:10 (AFV) Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground of uprightness.
Lesson from The Man of God
Too many believers are misled into asking Jesus to come into their hearts without first examining their own hearts and praying Psalm 51:10: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. We often have too much self-confidence in our hearts to truly seek the blessing of being poor in spirit or pure in heart, as described in the Beatitudes. Remember Jesus’ words in John 14:23 (NIV): “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.“
Jesus and the Father will come in and live inside us, if we obey his teaching. A sinner’s prayer without obedience does not save anyone. Some of God’s servants are preaching the wrong doctrine made up by man. Tragically, we often fail to learn the lesson of the man of God who was killed by a lion, as it is written in 1 Kings 13:14-22 (NIV).
…… He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” “I am,” he replied. So the prophet said to him, “Come home with me and eat.” The man of God said, “I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. I have been told by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.'”
The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.'” (But he was lying to him.) So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house. While they were sitting at the table, the word of the Lord came to the old prophet who had brought him back. He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your fathers.'”
How often do we sin just like that man of God, of whom it was said, “the Lord says: you have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you“? How often do we listen to a “hired hand” rather than heeding the Word from the Living God? This example serves as a warning that even a recognized prophet can lie, echoing the principle in 1 Corinthians 14:29 (NKJV): Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. Yet, how frequently do we blindly accept the words from God’s servants without judging them or inquiring of the Lord? Furthermore, if we are commanded when “two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge“, how much more must we judge and test the teachings of any man-trained preacher or hired hand?
Do Not Judge or Let The Others Judge
False teacher and false prophet will quote Jesus’ word: “do not judge”, or do not cause division. We must pay careful attention on how to judge as it is written in Galatians 2:11-14 (NIV) When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? If Peter, an apostle appointed by God, can lead others astray by his hypocrisy, how much more will man-trained preachers lead the flock to destruction?
Everyday we are witnessing the Scriptures fulfilling right in front of our eyes: He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16)
Heed what Jesus said about hypocrites in Matthew 15:7-9 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'”
15:13-14 … “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.“
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:17-18)
It is a profound tragedy that thousands of God’s children have listened to countless sermons from hired hands and false teachers, resulting in little to no transformation of life or purification of heart. Although they have had ample time to seek their Good Shepherd, Jesus, who died for them, they have not done so. This is simply because they fail to realize they have neglected and grieved the Holy Spirit, who already dwells within them. He can teach them all things, just as Jesus promised in John 14:26: But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Yet, at any moment, they can still choose to focus on Jesus, seeking Him as their Teacher and learning directly from Him. Therefore, heed the Word: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart” —not any longer. When the Word said in Psalms 119:97-100, simply go and do it.
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.
I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
Your Face, LORD, I Will Seek
It is time for God’s people to wake up, repent and come to Jesus, learn from Him, by praying Psalms 27:7-14 and 19:7-14 (NKJV):
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.
When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.
Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
My house will be called a house of prayer
Now let’s obey the Scripture in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV) I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. And pray for everyone:
Acts 4:24-30 (NIV) …… “Sovereign Lord,” … “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Psalms 10 (NKJV)
WHY do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD.
The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.
His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.
He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.”
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.
He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the secret places he murders the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless.
He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net.
So he crouches, he lies low, That the helpless may fall by his strength.
He has said in his heart, “God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.”
Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble.
Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.”
But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man; Seek out his wickedness until You find none.
The LORD is King forever and ever; The nations have perished out of His land.
LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear,
To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.
Psalms 17 (NKJV)
HEAR a just cause, O LORD, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.
Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.
You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.
I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them.
Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me.
They have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly.
They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,
As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.
Arise, O LORD, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,
With Your hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.
As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
Psalms 94 (NKJV)
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs– O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud.
LORD, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph?
They utter speech, and speak insolent things; All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.
They break in pieces Your people, O LORD, And afflict Your heritage.
They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless.
Yet they say, “The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”
Understand, you senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise?
He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge?
The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.
Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, And teach out of Your law,
That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked.
For the LORD will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
But judgment will return to righteousness, And all the upright in heart will follow it.
Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Unless the LORD had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence.
If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.
In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with You?
They gather together against the life of the righteous, And condemn innocent blood.
But the LORD has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge.
He has brought on them their own iniquity, And shall cut them off in their own wickedness; The LORD our God shall cut them off.