Sweeping The House

Matthew 12:43–45 ESV

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Pray for discernment and eyes to see the things in our life that need to be swept

40 years of sweeping

Nation of Israel in their Liberation from Egypt spends 40 years circling the desert.

go back in time and tell them how it is enough just to be saved

Process by which the nature of Egypt was being removed from them.

Exemplifies the work that is being done in each of us.

our faith walk is not just about being saved from

the world

the enemy

hell

the self

We undergo a process in which we are being cleansed from the impact Egypt has had on us.

15x Israel shows the nature they developed in Egypt

Envision being in Egypt as Moses shows up and speaks for the nation and is intent bringing you and your people out of Egypt

each time Pharaoh takes it out on you

How many times did God’s people grumble even before being set free?

it would be important to go through examine each plague and identify what they meant as it pertains to us.

Israel complains 10x before arriving to the promised land the first time

Complaint for Pharaoh’s behavior

at-least they had better treatment before their rescue effort

Complaint they were better off serving Egypt at the Red Sea

at-least they would live

Complaint for the bitter waters of Marah

at-least they could get drinkable water

Complaint about Hunger

at-least they had food

Complaint about Thirst

at-least… wait a minute… didn’t we do this already

Complaint of being left alone while Moses goes to inquire of the Lord

they turn to their old Gods

now are punished for their rebellion

Complaint because things get difficult

This way is just too hard and complain

God’s fire is kindled against them

They long fro the provisions of Egypt and long for more of the old

Numbers11 tells us that this complaining wore him out to the point of wanting to die…

It was greed that led the people grumble against what God was doing in their midst and all who took such posture died in that land

Complaint because of Leadership

Aaron and Miriam are responsible for this one

Who died and made you leader… posture…

Miriam struck with Leprosy for 7 days

Complaint because it will be too hard to take the promise

at-least in Egypt things were handed to us.

they do not enter the promise

Complaint because of where there Leader brought them

they wanted to kill Moses and appoint another… because it was too hard

8-10 spies die

provoked the nation to spend the next 40 years in the dessert until everyone 20 and older dies

all of these before the promise and after

5x more after

19 years later Rebellion of Korah against their appointed leader

Israel rebels because the death of the 14.7k was not fair

Turn against Aaron

Lack of water again

God and Moses

In Num 21:5 the people reach another breaking point

Grew impatient of the Journey

Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?

There is no food and no water…

Disgusted with this miserable or worthless food

It would seem we are here once more. The journey has been a long one for many… these grumblings arise when we continue to carry the nature that is found in Egypt.

We have been told for generations the end is near… yet it seems further away at times than ever before.

Truth found in scripture is no longer enough there has to be more… and the portion that is given to us is not enough we find it detestable even as we blend it with the world or other teachings to try to make it better.

It is our responsibility to sweep the house ensuring every area of our life cleansed from the old.

Clean Sweep

Jesus explaining what Unclean Spirits in Matt 12:43-45 tells of the home that has been swept clean…

more than just clean up

its a re-alignment

The remnants of tradition and law have made this people super religious but as it states in Matt 23… instead of giving them freedom they make them twice as much the son of Hell…

It is necessary to uproot every portion of the old to make room for the Lord to make His throne in us.

not what you think it should be.

not what others say it is.

what the Holy Spirit has called it to be.

No longer desire or long for the things of Egypt

Luke 15:8–10 ESV

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Parable speaking on finding the portion that is considered lost

Take not she does not stop until it is found.

What in your life is lost today? What has the enemy lied to you to make you believe it is too far gone?

Multifaceted approach

Light a lamp

Sweep the house

Seek diligently until you find it

The work of Sweeping

Light a Lamp

Psalm 119:105 ESV

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

His word… His Word… His Word

Sweep the house

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

His Word… His Word… His Word…

Seek Diligently

Psalm 139:23 ESV

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

His word searching us…

Therefore;

Lamentations 3:40 ESV

Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!