Pastor’s Corner: “Spiritual Plumbing”
Luke 6:45 (BSB) – For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks
We can often take many things for granted in our lives. Things that when we don’t have them significantly affect our lives…… like not having power or water. Another example of something we rarely think about until it is backed up is our sewer line or septic system. When this happens every part of our home is affected. The clogged lines cause unimaginable filth and stench to invade our home causing us to become sick. The lines can slowly become clogged over time causing an obstruction that we do not address until it backs up and spills over into our home. It is a sickening experience.
This reminds me a lot of our spiritual lives. We can let things creep in and if left to grow, they cause an obstruction to our spiritual flow. Then a backup of nastiness starts to emerge and come out, spilling onto our surroundings and contaminating the environment around us. We can let some irritations or anger to fester in our lives. We stew on things that have been bothering us for months. If we are honest with ourselves, we would admit that we may not be handling our feelings in the best way, complaining, growing bitter and resentful.
Picture your sewer or septic system cleanout spewing stuff out. That is what we are doing. We’ve let some things cause blockage in our lives, and now filth is beginning to overflow and come out sideways affecting everything around us. We let negative feelings, bad attitudes and complaining surface and God is showing us that these things are like a foul stench to His nostrils. Isaiah 65:5 (NLT) – These people are a stench in my nostrils, an acrid smell that never goes away.
Are we in need of some Spiritual plumbing? Here are some practical steps to so some of your own spiritual plumbing. First, make an appraisal of your heart. Do you have any potential blockages or obstructions to the flow of God in your life? To do that, you need to see what is coming out of your mouth (Luke 6:45). What has been overflowing or spewing out of you lately? Is there any gossip going on? What does you communication with others look like? Have you been stewing in anger lately? Are you starting to become bitter about anything?
Philippians 2:14 (NLT) – 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing. Psalm 37:8 (NASB) – 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. Ephesians 4:26 (NLT) – don’t sin by letting anger control you. Ephesians 4:31 (NLT) – 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Colossians 3:8 (NLT) – But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 1 Peter 2:1 (NLT) – So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.
Second – Blockages need to be cleaned and removed to prevent backup and overflow. Sometimes and simple plunger is not enough and we need to do some deep cleaning. It might even require special equipment or a professional to come in.
Third – Contact the Plumber, aka Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit will convict you of some areas that need cleaning. John 16:8 (NLT) – 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT) – 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Fourth – Use a drain cleaner, aka repentance and confession. 1 John 1:9 (NLT) – 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. Acts 3:19 (NLT) – 19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
Fifth – Conduct regular maintenance by staying in God’s Word and doing frequent heart appraisals to detect spiritual blockages. Ephesians 5:26 (NLT) – 6 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. John 17:17 (NIV) – 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
When was the last time you checked your Spiritual Plumbing?
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton