“And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Acts 19:18-19
2 Kings 20:15, “And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.”
Someone said, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” How true is that? Is it a Biblical principle? Yes, it is.
Cleaning is a constant job. Things naturally get dirty. We must daily clean our bodies, teeth, hands, and houses. We must also keep our physical and spiritual homes cleansed of sin. The Bible particularly speaks of our actual homes.
Jesus spent time in Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ home. Luke 10:38, “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.”
Jesus also spent time in Simon’s home. Luke 4:38, “And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.”
In Luke 19 Jesus told Zachaeus He was coming home with him.
David speaks of his home in Psalms 101:1-2, “I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.”
ACTIVITIES TO BE DONE IN THE HOME
1. Prayer is to be given in the home
Acts 10:30, “And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,”
2. Dad is to rule the home
1 Timothy 3:5, “(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)”
3. Church was held at a home
Philemon 1:2, “And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:”
4. No false teachers are to be allowed in the home
2 John 1:10, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:”
FOUR TYPES OF SPIRITUAL HOUSECLEANING
1. Trash out
Proverbs 28:13, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
2. Everything put in order
Isaiah 38:1, “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.”
Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
3. Washing
Psalms 51:7, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
4. Dusting
Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Every room in our house needs physical cleaning as well as spiritual cleaning.
FAMILY ROOM
Throw out the past. Forget past hurts done to you. Put the family in order. Dad leads the home. Mom sets the sweet spirit of the home. Dust off the family alter-get back to Bible reading and prayer as a family.
KITCHEN
Throw the liquor out of the home! Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Get the beer and wine out of the refrigerator. Start having meals together as a family. Have a scheduled family life.
ENTERTAINMENT ROOM
Clean up the book shelf. Stock it with great Christian books and biographies. Get rid of books with false doctrine, pornography, romance and horoscope.
Clean up the television shows. Are shows allowed in the home where the hosts are unsaved and the heroes ungodly? Do the shows contain nudity, cursing, or bedroom scenes?
Clean up the videos. Have you purchased, rented, or taped shows that Jesus Christ would not want to watch?
Clean up the games. Ouija boards, playing cards, and gambling games are not conducive to Christian living.
Clean up the music. From time to time a Christian needs to do a thorough inventory of his music albums and tapes. Harmful music needs to be discarded. Romans 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
Acts 19:19-20, “Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”
When people got right with God they had a big bonfire and burned their ungodly materials. How can God bless our home when items in them dishonor Him?
Deuteronomy 7:25-26, “The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.”
BORROWED ITEMS
We need to return borrowed objects. Is there something in your home you borrowed and is now long overdue? Return it. “Owe no man any thing.” “The borrower is servant to the lender.”
BEDROOMS
We need to clean up our closets. Clothing that honors beer companies, or is worldly and immodest need to be thrown out.
Drawers need to be cleaned out. Reminders are bridges back to the world, and will only make it easier to return.
BATHROOMS
Our bathrooms need to be cleaned out. Illegal drugs and drugs used in a wrong manner have no place in a Christian home. People ought to be able to walk into your house and see it is a Christian home where Christ is glorified. If Jesus walked through your home, would he find something there that does not belong?
