Title
Housecleaning 大扫除
Date
10/05/2025
Description
Psalm 119:130: Break open your Word within me until revelation-light shines out! Those with open hearts are given insight into your plans.
诗篇 119:130: 你的言语一解开，就发出亮光，使愚人通达。
(page 1010)
Matthew 23:25-26: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."
马太福音 23:25-27: 你们这假冒为善的文士和法利赛人有祸了！因为你们洗净杯盘的外面，里面却盛满了勒索和放荡。 你这瞎眼的法利赛人，先洗净杯盘的里面，好叫外面也干净了。你们这假冒为善的文士和法利赛人有祸了！因为你们好像粉饰的坟墓，外面好看，里面却装满了死人的骨头和一切的污秽。(page 1602)
Matthew 12:43-45: "When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first."
马太福音 12:43-45: "污鬼离了人身，就在无水之地过来过去，寻求安歇之处，却寻不着。 于是说：‘我要回到我所出来的屋里去。’到了，就看见里面空闲，打扫干净，修饰好了， 便去另带了七个比自己更恶的鬼来，都进去住在那里。那人末后的景况比先前更不好了。这邪恶的世代也要如此。” (page 1579)
Galatians 5:16: "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
加拉太书 5:16: 我说，你们当顺着圣灵而行，就不放纵肉体的情欲了。(page 1892)
诗篇 119:130: 你的言语一解开，就发出亮光，使愚人通达。
(page 1010)
Matthew 23:25-26: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."
马太福音 23:25-27: 你们这假冒为善的文士和法利赛人有祸了！因为你们洗净杯盘的外面，里面却盛满了勒索和放荡。 你这瞎眼的法利赛人，先洗净杯盘的里面，好叫外面也干净了。你们这假冒为善的文士和法利赛人有祸了！因为你们好像粉饰的坟墓，外面好看，里面却装满了死人的骨头和一切的污秽。(page 1602)
Matthew 12:43-45: "When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first."
马太福音 12:43-45: "污鬼离了人身，就在无水之地过来过去，寻求安歇之处，却寻不着。 于是说：‘我要回到我所出来的屋里去。’到了，就看见里面空闲，打扫干净，修饰好了， 便去另带了七个比自己更恶的鬼来，都进去住在那里。那人末后的景况比先前更不好了。这邪恶的世代也要如此。” (page 1579)
Galatians 5:16: "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
加拉太书 5:16: 我说，你们当顺着圣灵而行，就不放纵肉体的情欲了。(page 1892)
Creator
Pastor: Mike Koger
Contributor
Hillside United Methodist Church
3737 US 80
Phenix City AL 36870
United States
3737 US 80
Phenix City AL 36870
United States
Transcription
Clean the House
Matthew 23:25-27
Driving to work Thursday morning, God spoke to me and redirected my steps. I am so thankful.
Psalm 119:130 tells us: "Break open your Word within me until revelation-light shines out! Those with open hearts are given insight into your plans."
This verse describes a fervent desire for understanding and divine enlightenment, where a person's heart opens to receive insight into God's will and purpose. What is in your heart today?
How can God speak to a heart that is filled with the world?
Goethe: "A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart."
Psalm 119:11 reminds us: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
A friend of mine once put diesel fuel in their gasoline car. Just as the wrong fuel ruins an engine, filling our hearts with the wrong things corrupts our spiritual lives.
Ephesians 5:18 instructs us: "Don't be drunk with wine, which will ruin your life, but be filled with the Spirit."
When we bought our house nearly 25 years ago, it came with a "self-cleaning oven." Not ONCE in almost 25 years have I woken up to find the oven had cleaned itself.
Christian, do not fall into the trap of seeking to clean yourself up.
You were never called to become a "self-made person." As the saying goes, "He was a self-made man who worshipped his creator."
The Pharisees were notorious for knowing how to look good outwardly while still concealing their dark hearts.
Matthew 23:25-26: "Great sorrow awaits you religious scholars and Pharisees—frauds and imposters! You are like one who will only wipe clean the outside of a cup or bowl, leaving the inside filthy. You are foolish to ignore the greed and self-indulgence that live like germs within you. You are blind to your evil. Shouldn't the one who cleans the outside also be concerned with cleaning the inside? You need to have more than clean dishes; you need clean hearts!"
Matthew 23:27: "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity."
"Whited sepulchers" (or "whitewashed tombs") is a Biblical phrase used by Jesus to describe hypocrites—people who appear outwardly righteous but are inwardly corrupt, just as a whitewashed tomb may look beautiful but actually contains dead bodies and filth.
Jesus uses this practice to highlight the hypocrisy of some religious leaders who presented a clean, beautiful exterior while harboring inner corruption and spiritual death.
What is in your heart today?
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."
Romans 1:21 warns: "...but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."
Give Jesus your heart—and let Him do the inner work that is needed.
I cleaned up my computer Monday morning. It was really slow to reload.
Eventually all the files and images started reoccupying their previous space in my PC. It was almost like it was before I cleaned it up.
In Matthew 12:43-45, Jesus describes a scenario where an evil spirit, cast out of a person, finds no other place to live and returns to the person's "house" (their heart or body).
Finding the house "empty, swept, and put in order"—meaning the person has rid themselves of outward sins but without filling the spiritual void with God's presence—the spirit brings seven other, more wicked spirits, resulting in the person's final condition being worse than the first.
Jesus taught: "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order."
Notice, Jesus said the unclean spirit said, "I will return to my house."
Whose house are YOU?
1 Cor 3:16: "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?"
For the past few weeks, we've been focused on finding the help and the power to move beyond our previous limitations so we can get on with our true assignments in life—our spiritual destinies.
After the house has been cleaned, what will you refill it with?
If you just go straight back home to the same music, the same friends, the same TV shows, the same books, the same distractions... Get it?
Proverbs 4:14-15: "Do not detour into darkness or even set foot on that path. Stay away from it; don't even go there!"
Non-Christian, you may think going to church more will help. You may think that being nicer will help. You may try to will yourself off of addictions, but you must come to discover that what you need is a clean heart, and only Christ can cleanse your heart. Come to Him in faith and repentance.
Psalm 119:104: "Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life."
Be "being filled"... (Eph 5:18) - The continual influence of the Spirit of God.
John 17:17: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
It is a battle at times... but remember, it is fought in the Spirit—not in the flesh.
We all struggle... even though sometimes maybe you feel you may be struggling harder than other people are?
1 Cor 10:13: "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."
Luke 10:19: "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
The authority of the kingdom is not theory—it is reality.
Jesus gave us power over every work of the enemy, and when we walk in that authority, darkness must bow.
The evidence of God's kingdom is not only in what we say, but in what is broken, healed, and delivered through His Spirit working in us.
His power brings heaven's reality to earth.
We must understand that what God wants to do in our lives is way more than just some “self-help” program.
True transformation is much more.
With God’s mighty power at work within us, we are becoming the people who can sustain the actions that lead to unlocking a new level of freedom and power *
…which will require true internal change
Galatians 5:16: "Let me emphasize this: As you yield to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life."
Galatians 5 is all about "Freedom in Christ."
Galatians 5:16-18: "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
So, let's let Jesus clean our cache—our hearts—let’s give it all up to God—and then let the Holy Spirit fill up the vanct spaces in us.
He can do in a moment what we cannot achieve in a lifetime of human effort.
Matthew 8:3: "Then Jesus put His hand on him and said, 'I will. You are healed!' At once the man was healed."
...and (as the scripture says) “be being filled.”
Confess your sins to God.
He is "faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Seek to work harder, not in your own power, but in "all God's energy that He powerfully works within you" (Colossians 1:29).
Trust God.
Colossians 1:29: "That is why I work very hard. Christ works powerfully in me to make me strong for this difficult work."
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me authority over the enemy. Teach me to walk boldly in the power of Your Spirit. Let every scheme of darkness be broken in my life and family. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done through me. Amen.
Matthew 23:25-27
Driving to work Thursday morning, God spoke to me and redirected my steps. I am so thankful.
Psalm 119:130 tells us: "Break open your Word within me until revelation-light shines out! Those with open hearts are given insight into your plans."
This verse describes a fervent desire for understanding and divine enlightenment, where a person's heart opens to receive insight into God's will and purpose. What is in your heart today?
How can God speak to a heart that is filled with the world?
Goethe: "A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart."
Psalm 119:11 reminds us: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
A friend of mine once put diesel fuel in their gasoline car. Just as the wrong fuel ruins an engine, filling our hearts with the wrong things corrupts our spiritual lives.
Ephesians 5:18 instructs us: "Don't be drunk with wine, which will ruin your life, but be filled with the Spirit."
When we bought our house nearly 25 years ago, it came with a "self-cleaning oven." Not ONCE in almost 25 years have I woken up to find the oven had cleaned itself.
Christian, do not fall into the trap of seeking to clean yourself up.
You were never called to become a "self-made person." As the saying goes, "He was a self-made man who worshipped his creator."
The Pharisees were notorious for knowing how to look good outwardly while still concealing their dark hearts.
Matthew 23:25-26: "Great sorrow awaits you religious scholars and Pharisees—frauds and imposters! You are like one who will only wipe clean the outside of a cup or bowl, leaving the inside filthy. You are foolish to ignore the greed and self-indulgence that live like germs within you. You are blind to your evil. Shouldn't the one who cleans the outside also be concerned with cleaning the inside? You need to have more than clean dishes; you need clean hearts!"
Matthew 23:27: "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity."
"Whited sepulchers" (or "whitewashed tombs") is a Biblical phrase used by Jesus to describe hypocrites—people who appear outwardly righteous but are inwardly corrupt, just as a whitewashed tomb may look beautiful but actually contains dead bodies and filth.
Jesus uses this practice to highlight the hypocrisy of some religious leaders who presented a clean, beautiful exterior while harboring inner corruption and spiritual death.
What is in your heart today?
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."
Romans 1:21 warns: "...but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."
Give Jesus your heart—and let Him do the inner work that is needed.
I cleaned up my computer Monday morning. It was really slow to reload.
Eventually all the files and images started reoccupying their previous space in my PC. It was almost like it was before I cleaned it up.
In Matthew 12:43-45, Jesus describes a scenario where an evil spirit, cast out of a person, finds no other place to live and returns to the person's "house" (their heart or body).
Finding the house "empty, swept, and put in order"—meaning the person has rid themselves of outward sins but without filling the spiritual void with God's presence—the spirit brings seven other, more wicked spirits, resulting in the person's final condition being worse than the first.
Jesus taught: "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order."
Notice, Jesus said the unclean spirit said, "I will return to my house."
Whose house are YOU?
1 Cor 3:16: "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?"
For the past few weeks, we've been focused on finding the help and the power to move beyond our previous limitations so we can get on with our true assignments in life—our spiritual destinies.
After the house has been cleaned, what will you refill it with?
If you just go straight back home to the same music, the same friends, the same TV shows, the same books, the same distractions... Get it?
Proverbs 4:14-15: "Do not detour into darkness or even set foot on that path. Stay away from it; don't even go there!"
Non-Christian, you may think going to church more will help. You may think that being nicer will help. You may try to will yourself off of addictions, but you must come to discover that what you need is a clean heart, and only Christ can cleanse your heart. Come to Him in faith and repentance.
Psalm 119:104: "Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life."
Be "being filled"... (Eph 5:18) - The continual influence of the Spirit of God.
John 17:17: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
It is a battle at times... but remember, it is fought in the Spirit—not in the flesh.
We all struggle... even though sometimes maybe you feel you may be struggling harder than other people are?
1 Cor 10:13: "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."
Luke 10:19: "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
The authority of the kingdom is not theory—it is reality.
Jesus gave us power over every work of the enemy, and when we walk in that authority, darkness must bow.
The evidence of God's kingdom is not only in what we say, but in what is broken, healed, and delivered through His Spirit working in us.
His power brings heaven's reality to earth.
We must understand that what God wants to do in our lives is way more than just some “self-help” program.
True transformation is much more.
With God’s mighty power at work within us, we are becoming the people who can sustain the actions that lead to unlocking a new level of freedom and power *
…which will require true internal change
Galatians 5:16: "Let me emphasize this: As you yield to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life."
Galatians 5 is all about "Freedom in Christ."
Galatians 5:16-18: "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
So, let's let Jesus clean our cache—our hearts—let’s give it all up to God—and then let the Holy Spirit fill up the vanct spaces in us.
He can do in a moment what we cannot achieve in a lifetime of human effort.
Matthew 8:3: "Then Jesus put His hand on him and said, 'I will. You are healed!' At once the man was healed."
...and (as the scripture says) “be being filled.”
Confess your sins to God.
He is "faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Seek to work harder, not in your own power, but in "all God's energy that He powerfully works within you" (Colossians 1:29).
Trust God.
Colossians 1:29: "That is why I work very hard. Christ works powerfully in me to make me strong for this difficult work."
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me authority over the enemy. Teach me to walk boldly in the power of Your Spirit. Let every scheme of darkness be broken in my life and family. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done through me. Amen.