White Washed or Washed White?
Matthew 23:27-28
This morning we will pose the question, have you been washed white or white washed?
I think all of us know what white wash is.
White-wash- (noun) a liquid composition for whitening a surface, (verb) to gloss over or cover up (as vices or crimes)
So whitewashing is something done on the surface to enhance appearance.
How many Christians today are covering up their sins by trying to improve their appearance to the congregation rather than repenting of their sins and being cleansed from the inside out.
We are not fooling anybody but ourselves.
Jesus knows our hearts, man looks on the outside but God looks on the inside.
Jesus told the Pharisees that they were like the white sepulchers; they had a beautiful outward appearance but were dead on the inside.
Hey let’s face it; there are a lot of dead Christians.
And I’m not talking about the ones in graveyards but the ones in our churches.
Our churches are dead and cold.
We don’t have Sunday praise and worship service anymore we have a wake scheduled every Sunday morning.
Most of our churches in America today are so cold you can hang meat in them.
Well you better not bring any meat to this church. This church is going to be like a Cajun microwave, cause the Holy Spirit is radiating here at Reserve.
We talk about revival in America.
We need to talk about repentance in America.
We pray that God will pour out His spirit on America.
Well let me tell you something, God isn’t going to pour anything into a dirty vessel.
2Ch:7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land
Whitewash will never hold up against the storms of life.
Have you ever seen whitewash during a good rainstorm?
It begins to run and wash away. I can’t hold up to the storms.
If you are a whitewashed Christian your faith will never hold up to the storms of life.
If you’ve been washed white by the blood of Jesus you can handle any storm life throws at you.
The blood of Jesus cleanses from the inside out.
Old things pass away.
2Co:5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ga:2:20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Jesus can calm our fears and help us through the storms of life.
1Pe:5:6: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe:5:7: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe:5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Are you washed in the blood? Remember the old hymn?
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour, so be washed in the blood of the lamb.
Are you a new creature or have you just been whitewashing your old self?
Are you fully trusting in His grace?
I hear people all the time talking about the deeper Christian life.
There are thousands of books written on the deeper life.
If you really want a deeper Christian life start trusting Jesus and relying on the Holy Spirit to lead in your life.
Many of our churches are scared to talk about the Holy Spirit.
Be careful preacher.
It’s time to not only talk about the Holy Spirit, but also start letting Him lead, guide and direct our life.
Joh:14:16: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh:14:26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
If you let the Holy Spirit lead in your life you won’t need any whitewash in your Christian life.
Are you ready to let the Holy Spirit bring revival in your life?
Revival starts in each one our hearts.
We will never experience revival in our church and in our community if we’re relying on outward appearance instead of inward repentance.
Where are you today?
Have you been to Jesus for his cleansing power?
If not you’re still like the Pharisees, just old bones.
Maybe you’re a born again believer that has let sin get into your life, causing you to use whitewash instead of trusting Jesus and totally relying on Him.
Maybe you’re struggling to be Spiritually fed, because you’re not spiritually led.
Stand up for Jesus today.
