Unclean Thoughts and Actions Keep People From Receiving or Excelling in God's Blessings and Grace

In the Bible, uncleanness is almost always predicated to be the preventative factor, in either being less than what a Christian could be, or holding back his or her advancement in finding God's blessings to be more forthcoming. Those who were deemed unclean by Jesus Christ were also those possessed with devils or persons who had multiple immorality issues. The immorality of the mind might be almost as intolerable to God as actually committing the physical deeds, because it leads to sharply out of focus goals and a very twisted view of responsibility to yourself and the community of Christians. Maybe you are not actually possessed with a demon, but allowing the temptation to take root or condoning the sins of others will surely make one a less responsible Christian and ignored or entirely passed over by God.

Mark 7:20 - 7:23

20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Mark-7-20_7-23/

At Capernaum there was a man with an unclean spirit and Jesus commanded it to hold it's peace and come out of the person. After it had torn him and cried with a loud voice, it came out and the man was relieved of his sickness. They were in the synagogue, a Holy place to the Jews, but the unclean spirit had attached itself to the heart of the man and would not let him go. The Bible does not say exactly what kind of unclean spirit this was, but it had taken over the mind and heart of the man and even his personality, speaking from within him, as if it was a multiple demonic force. Most instances of uncleanness in the Bible and especially the New Testament deal with immorality, and more than likely the man had multiple vices: evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, or foolishness.

Mark 1:23 - 1:26

23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

24 Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Mark-1-23_1-26/

Luke 11:24 - 11:26

24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

25 And when he cometh, he findeth [it] swept and garnished.

26 Then goeth he, and taketh [to him] seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-11-24_11-26/

Leprosy was also an uncleanness and a vile disease that caused the people who contracted it to have to be separated from everyone else, because of the contagion. Often times the clothes, bedding, and houses were burned to insure disinfection of living areas. Jesus seems or appeared to be immune to it and even touched the leper, instantly cleansing him. This happened on multiple occasions. Jesus could heal a person from the inside out and from the outside in as well. Leprosy is still prevalent in the world today, through uncleanness and human to human contact with infected people, mostly through (skin to skin), mucus emissions, inhalation, contaminated sources, and intimate personal contact with infected persons. There are many other communicable diseases that are also spread through immoral acts. Being clean is more than just keeping house, washing dishes, taking a bath, and doing your dirty laundry. Your own immoral mind can also lead to destruction and decay, not just a debilitating outlook on life in general, such as depression and thoughts of suicide, but actual diseases of the body that can leave you blind and disfigured, separated from the rest of society for life.

Leprosy Causes

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Leprosy-Causes.aspx

World Health Organization

Leprosy

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/leprosy

Mark 1:40 - 1:42

40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth [his] hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Mark-1-40_1-42/

Uncleanness is at many of the root causes for failing to excel in all of life's pursuits. Take a look at today's television ads, programming, rampant pornography, immoral structuring of school textbooks, and even those in the pulpit, who are supposed to be teaching and preaching about cleanliness and Holiness. Some of today's ministers are the epitome of what constitutes a Nicolaitan, which was talked about and recorded in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, signified by his servant John. They were those who claimed to believe in Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Church, but still kept their immoral doctrines, vile deeds, evil ways, and their personal abominable acts, which God hated and despised. God still hates the deeds of all the modern day Nicolaitans, who claim to be Christians, yet they are burning in their own sins and corrupting the church.

Revelation 2:6

“But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-2-6/

Revelation 2:15

“So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-2-15/

Today is no different than it was thousands of years ago, during the days of idolatry, evil, and immense immorality. It is now maybe even millions of times worse. Abortion, homosexuality, and ten different ways to be abominable and immoral and protest that it must be honored and thought of by others as a thing to be proud of, is all just simply more uncleanness. If there was one main goal or spiritual gift that Jesus Christ wished for all humanity to have, it is that of being morally clean and pure. Holiness to the Lord is being spiritually clean. Many of today's churches are a total abomination and will not find favor with God. Those who try to do the right thing and adopt rules and regulations that are in keeping with traditional Christian Faith and moral values, are publicly admonished by the Liberal news media. Many LGBTQ church leaders have signed petitions that they will not leave the church and others in the church have vowed not to replace them, even when some Denominations of the Christian Faith have spelled out that abominable homosexuality is not acceptable. "The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."

What is the denomination’s position on homosexuality?

http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-is-the-denominations-position-on-homosexuality

United Methodist Court Keeps Core of New LGBT Legislation

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/april/united-methodists-judicial-review-umc-traditional-plan-lgbt.html

All of the designations of LGBTQ are unclean and abominable as defined by the Old Testament and the New Testament through numerous passages. It is the uncleanness that makes the sin to remain and to keep sickness within the mind and body. It is the uncleanness that causes the heart to be corrupted and to fight against the will of God. Those who are unclean will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Though they are to be loved, just as Jesus Christ loves the sinner, it is also required that a person give up his sins willingly, in order to be cleansed and healed. Their is no pride in being evil and unclean. It brings only sickness and death, rejection from God. He that is unclean, let him be unclean still, but blessed are they that do and keep the commandments of God.

Revelation 22:11 - 22:14

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-22-11_22-14/

Even the unclean leper may receive medicine for his plague and disease, becoming healed of his treacherous sickness, and many immoral persons who have committed grievous sins may still be forgiven and healed. Yet, those who hold onto their abominable sins with pride and vengeance will see the wrath of God and never be healed from their uncleanness. They will not have the right to the tree of life, and will not enter in through the gates of New Jerusalem.

June 19, 2019

Cliff Rhodes Christian Ministry