Cleaning Up Spiritually: The Power of Prayer
Summary
### Summary
Yesterday morning, I woke up early and felt the presence of God urging me to speak about prayer. Our families, communities, and world desperately need God, and prayer is the key to inviting His intervention. Reflecting on John 19:38, where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took care of Jesus' body after His crucifixion, I was reminded of the importance of "after this" moments in our lives. Just as they cleaned and prepared Jesus' body, we too must clean up our lives, both physically and spiritually.
Life is full of messes that need cleaning, whether it's the aftermath of a celebration or the daily clutter we accumulate. Spiritually, we must also clean up after ourselves, laying aside every weight and sin that easily besets us. This involves repentance and allowing the Word of God to wash us clean. Just as Jesus' body was prepared and buried, we must bury the dead things in our lives—sins, bitterness, anxiety, and anything that hinders our walk with God.
The altar is a place of death, where we lay down our sins and burdens. It's not a pretty sight, but it's necessary for our spiritual health. After we bury these things, we can experience a resurrection, a new life in Christ. This process of death, burial, and resurrection is the essence of the Gospel, and it's what saves us. We must keep our focus on the Gospel, ensuring that we are living it out daily.
In these last days, many things will happen that align with biblical prophecy, but these events won't save us. Only the Gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus—can save us. We must hold on to this truth and live it out, ensuring our own salvation and helping others find theirs. Let's commit to living out the Gospel, repenting, being washed by the Word, and experiencing new victories every day.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Power of Prayer: Prayer is essential for inviting God's intervention in our lives, families, and communities. It is the only thing holding back God's return for His church. We must commit to daily prayer, understanding its power to change circumstances and bring God's presence into our lives. [01:30]
2. Spiritual Clean-Up: Just as we clean up physical messes, we must also clean up our spiritual lives. This involves laying aside every weight and sin, repenting, and allowing the Word of God to wash us clean. Spiritual cleanliness is crucial for entering into God's presence and experiencing His blessings. [11:02]
3. Burying the Dead Things: We must bury the dead things in our lives—sins, bitterness, anxiety, and anything that hinders our walk with God. This act of burial is necessary for experiencing a resurrection, a new life in Christ. We must leave these things behind and not dig them back up. [21:58]
4. The Altar as a Place of Death: The altar is where we lay down our sins and burdens. It's not a pretty sight, but it's necessary for our spiritual health. Just as Jesus' crucifixion was a place of death, we must also experience a spiritual death to our old selves to be resurrected into new life. [16:08]
5. Living Out the Gospel: The Gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus—is what saves us. We must hold on to this truth and live it out daily. This involves repenting, being washed by the Word, and experiencing new victories every day. Our focus must remain on the Gospel, ensuring our own salvation and helping others find theirs. [30:56]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - The Call to Prayer
[02:15] - The Importance of Prayer for Our World
[03:05] - John 19:38 - After This
[04:51] - The Aftermath of Life's Messes
[07:51] - The Necessity of Clean-Up
[11:02] - Spiritual Clean-Up
[13:47] - Preparing for Burial
[16:08] - The Altar as a Place of Death
[18:00] - Daily Sacrifice and Victory
[21:58] - Burying the Dead Things
[25:54] - New Celebrations and Victories
[30:56] - The Gospel Saves Us
[35:00] - Daily Renewal in the Holy Ghost
[39:47] - End-Time Prophecies and the Gospel
[44:47] - Keeping Our Focus on the Gospel
[46:16] - Prayer and Commitment to the Gospel
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 19:38-42 (NIV)
> "Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there."
2. Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
> "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
3. Romans 6:4 (NIV)
> "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
#### Observation Questions
1. What actions did Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take after Jesus' crucifixion according to John 19:38-42?
2. In Hebrews 12:1, what are believers encouraged to do to run the race marked out for them?
3. According to Romans 6:4, what is the significance of being buried with Christ through baptism?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the act of Joseph and Nicodemus preparing Jesus' body for burial relate to the concept of spiritual clean-up mentioned in the sermon? [03:43]
2. What does it mean to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles" in the context of our daily lives? [11:02]
3. How can the process of death, burial, and resurrection in Romans 6:4 be applied to our personal spiritual journey? [30:56]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on the sermon, how can you incorporate daily prayer into your routine to invite God's intervention in your life and community? [01:30]
2. What are some "dead things" (e.g., sins, bitterness, anxiety) in your life that you need to bury? How can you ensure you don't dig them back up? [21:58]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of the altar as a place of death. What practical steps can you take to lay down your sins and burdens at the altar? [16:08]
4. How can you actively live out the Gospel in your daily life, ensuring that you are repenting, being washed by the Word, and experiencing new victories? [30:56]
5. The pastor mentioned the necessity of spiritual clean-up. What specific areas of your life need spiritual cleaning, and how can you address them? [11:02]
6. How can you keep your focus on the Gospel amidst the distractions and events of the world that align with biblical prophecy? [44:47]
7. Think of a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed by life's messes. How can you apply the principles from the sermon to clean up and move forward with a renewed focus on Christ? [07:51]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Prayer
Prayer is essential for inviting God's intervention in our lives, families, and communities. It is the only thing holding back God's return for His church. We must commit to daily prayer, understanding its power to change circumstances and bring God's presence into our lives. Prayer is not just a ritual but a powerful tool that connects us with the divine. It is through prayer that we invite God to intervene in our situations, bringing His wisdom, peace, and solutions to our problems.
In these times, our world is in desperate need of divine intervention. Our families and communities face challenges that only God can resolve. By committing to daily prayer, we open the door for God's presence to enter our lives and transform our circumstances. Let us remember that prayer is the key to unlocking God's power and inviting His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. [01:30]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Reflection: Think about a specific situation in your life that needs God's intervention. How can you commit to praying about this situation daily, trusting in God's power to bring change?
Day 2: Spiritual Clean-Up
Just as we clean up physical messes, we must also clean up our spiritual lives. This involves laying aside every weight and sin, repenting, and allowing the Word of God to wash us clean. Spiritual cleanliness is crucial for entering into God's presence and experiencing His blessings.
Our lives can become cluttered with sin, bitterness, and anxiety, which hinder our relationship with God. To experience His presence and blessings, we must undergo a spiritual clean-up. This process involves repentance, turning away from our sins, and allowing the Word of God to cleanse us. By doing so, we create a pure heart that is ready to receive God's grace and guidance. [11:02]
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you need to repent and seek God's forgiveness. How can you allow the Word of God to cleanse you and help you lay aside this burden?
Day 3: Burying the Dead Things
We must bury the dead things in our lives—sins, bitterness, anxiety, and anything that hinders our walk with God. This act of burial is necessary for experiencing a resurrection, a new life in Christ. We must leave these things behind and not dig them back up.
Holding on to past sins, bitterness, and anxieties can prevent us from fully experiencing the new life that Christ offers. By burying these dead things, we make room for God's resurrection power to bring new life and transformation. It is essential to leave these burdens behind and not revisit them, trusting that God has taken them away and given us a fresh start. [21:58]
Colossians 3:5 (ESV): "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."
Reflection: What is one "dead thing" in your life that you need to bury today? How can you ensure that you do not dig it back up, but instead, embrace the new life that Christ offers?
Day 4: The Altar as a Place of Death
The altar is where we lay down our sins and burdens. It's not a pretty sight, but it's necessary for our spiritual health. Just as Jesus' crucifixion was a place of death, we must also experience a spiritual death to our old selves to be resurrected into new life.
The altar represents a place of surrender and sacrifice. It is where we bring our sins, burdens, and old selves to die, allowing God to transform us. This process may be painful and uncomfortable, but it is essential for our spiritual growth and health. By laying down our old selves at the altar, we open the door for God to resurrect us into new life, filled with His Spirit and purpose. [16:08]
Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: What is one area of your life that you need to lay down at the altar today? How can you present yourself as a living sacrifice, allowing God to transform you?
Day 5: Living Out the Gospel
The Gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus—is what saves us. We must hold on to this truth and live it out daily. This involves repenting, being washed by the Word, and experiencing new victories every day. Our focus must remain on the Gospel, ensuring our own salvation and helping others find theirs.
Living out the Gospel means embracing the transformative power of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection in our daily lives. It requires us to continually repent, seek God's cleansing through His Word, and celebrate the new victories He brings. By keeping our focus on the Gospel, we ensure our own salvation and become a light to others, guiding them towards the same truth and hope. [30:56]
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (ESV): "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain."
Reflection: How can you live out the Gospel in your daily life today? What steps can you take to ensure that you are continually repenting, being washed by the Word, and experiencing new victories in Christ?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We need to get that in our spirit that every day I'm going to pray for my family. Our families need God. Man, they need God. Our city, our communities around, they need God desperately. Amen. Every time I know when Brother Kyle is going to work, I pray for him because the things he's going to face and see, just like what happened this week and the killing of people in Tulsa. It's just all around. Our world needs God, and we need to pray." [01:30] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Sometimes God cleans us up. And sometimes God says, clean yourself up. Let me talk about it. Amen. There comes a time when you need to clean yourself up. I can hear the Apostle Paul. I can hear him making a statement. He said, he told, in the book of Hebrews, he said, lay aside every weight and sin that doth so evil, that doth so easily beset us. Amen. We are to do that. Amen. We are to clean ourselves." [11:02] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You need to bury the shame and the guilt in your life today. You need to bury that stuff. After this. After this. There is always an after this. After this service. What are you going to do? That's cool. Hopefully we'll get to eat. After this. After this day. What's going to happen? After. There's always an after this. And there's always things to do. Life never stops. Amen. Never stops." [22:32] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The Bible doesn't say that us being righteous and doing right things is going to save us. That's not what it says. It doesn't say just because my name is Jones that I'm going to be saved. doesn't say that. It doesn't say that just because I go to United Pentecostal Church and I feel like we preach the truth doesn't mean that I'm going to be saved. You know what's going to save me? The gospel. The death. The burial. And the resurrection." [30:56] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The gospel is what saves us. And I've got to grab a hold of the gospel and act like that nothing else matters. This is what the Lord was telling me about this morning. I've got to get a hold of this gospel and act like nothing else matters. You see, if I can preach the gospel to somebody and they get saved, that's awesome. God has saved their soul. Amen. That's incredible that that happens." [43:16] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I told my wife a while back, I said, it feels like all we do is all we do is clean. We clean the church, and then her and the kids clean the office that we work at, and then we clean the laundromat. And then I'm watching all the time as Stacy and as Joni, and it used to be Adriana, they're always cleaning the coffee shop. And it's all we do. We just clean, clean, clean. You might know what I'm talking about." [09:07] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I'm not being mean. I'm not being ugly. I'm not even talking about holiness issues. I'm not even talking about standards of holiness. I'm not talking about none of that. I'm just talking about sometimes we need to clean ourselves up. Our heart. Our mind. Come on, somebody. I need some help here. We need to clean ourselves up. We need to realize, yes, God is a miracle worker. Yes, He is. He is a way maker. Yes, He delivers us and sets us free." [12:01] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You got to have places like that. When Nehemiah went to rebuild Jerusalem. Anybody remember this story? And he goes back to Jerusalem and he goes at night and he's surveying the city to see what needs to be fixed. And you know what the Bible says that he came to? He came to a he came to a a dung gate. A refuge gate. A place that they would take the refuse and throw it out that gate. You can't leave it in your house. You can't stink up your house. You can't. You got to have a place that you're getting rid of stuff." [20:28] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I believe that that God does the miraculous and what He did for Tori and Aubrey when they start having kids. Amen. It's going to happen for their kids also. Amen. Because that's the type of God we serve. Because time never stands still. There's always going to be things going on. Amen. I don't know what's going to happen next but I do know this God's got it all in His hands. Amen. And if I'll bury some things and I'll get rid of some of my things that after this after the cleaning and after the burying there's going to be a resurrection." [25:27] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I need a renewing. This is what happened in the book of Acts. He said there's going to be a renewing. A refreshing. Day by day. Amen. What does that mean? That means you know what? I can get refreshed. Renewed in the Holy Ghost. Every. Single. Day. I don't have to wait until Sunday morning. Amen. When Sister so and so starts speaking in tongues and I feel the chill bump machine go off from the top of my head. No, no, no. That's not what that has to happen." [35:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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