No. 9972-Inspiration

Refurbishing this old house
A sermon by Roosevelt Wright Jr.
For the Tabernacle Baptist Church
Monroe, La.

January 1983

Ê ÊSCRIPTURE:ÊWhen the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.ÊThen he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.ÊThen goeth he, and taketh with himself 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. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation." Matthew 12:43-45

Introduction

Ê ÊHave you ever cleaned house? What about spiritually?Ê
ÊÊ Each time we begin a new season, many of us make many resolutions that amount to "spiritual house cleaning." We often clean out a bad habit or two, and another bad habit there. We continue until we are satisfied that we have significantly cleaned up our entire "act."
ÊÊ However, we are challenged not only to think of cleaning up a few of our bad habits but also to fill the vacancy we created in some spots by replacing those bad habits with activity and thoughts inspired by God's spirit.
ÊÊ Once we rid ourselves of evil influences, we must be careful because, at that point, we are extremely vulnerable to the damaging effects of evil. Evil, lurking and waiting for the appropriate moment to return, gets an estimate of our strength and returns with a greater force. It is destined to conquer us entirely on its return.
ÊÊThe Apostles found that there is strength and power in the spirit of God, so much so that they waited for it on Pentecost and were filled with the Holy Ghost. Ezekiel even found that dry bones, left lifeless, could be revived fully if breathed upon by the spirit of God.
ÊÊWhen we clean house, we can throw out bad habits, but we must be careful not to replace one bad habit with another. We should also be careful not to throw out a bad habit and not replace it with a spirit-driven habit. The Spirit of the Lord is all around us and is ready and willing to help us restore our empty lives. We are living in the last days, so we can't be caught with empty places in our spiritual lives. The Prophet Joel said, "In the last days, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy and your old men shall dream dream." Let's prepare to allow God's spirit to fill the vacancies once occupied by the ungodly habits and thoughts.
ÊÊAs we begin to refurbish this old house with the fruit of the spirit, let's pray for God's presence. Let's replace hate with love, sadness with joy, impatience with longsuffering, despair with hope, confusion with order, meanness with kindness, and the presence of evil with the spirit of God.
ÊÊAs Christians, we should continually seek God's spirit in our lives. That's why we sing, "Fill my cup, let it overflow. Let it overflow with love."


Exposition

Ê This text focuses upon Jesus as he explains what happens to those who reject God the second time around.
Ê Throughout his ministry, Jesus had been the subject of attack and ridicule by the scribes and Pharisees. They characterized his ministry as one that came from the devil himself. They questioned his claim to be the son of God. They sought to discredit him in the eyesight of the people by continually asking him to give more details about the kingdom of God.Ê
Ê Christ challenged the effectiveness of the rituals of the Scribes and Pharisees. Their religious traditions gave them a sense of spiritual authority, but it still left them empty.Ê
 To illustrate his point, Jesus told of a man who had been swept clean of a demon. He noted that when the evil spirit left, he roamed the land and desert places in a non-restful state. When he could find no place else to dwell, the evil spirit decided to return to his old stomping ground. Upon returning, he found the house to be swept and cleaned but unoccupied, so he decided to return and take up residence, but he did not return alone; he brought seven other spirits with him that were more evil than himself. Jesus said the state of this man the second time around was worse than his beginning.
Ê Ê Jesus used this illustration to point out to the scribes and Pharisees the fallacy of their thinking that their rituals and ceremonies led men to righteousness. The people appeared to be righteous for a while, but they were not filled with anything; they had only emptiness if they were not filled with the abundant life teachings of Christ. This emptiness would ultimately lead to a greater fall than the first.Ê

Getting it right

Ê  There are several components to getting a new life in Christ. These include:
Ê  SPIRITUAL CHANGES NEEDED: Those who desire to join the kingdom of God must experience a rebirth, not physical, but yet a total makeover in their goals, passions, and relationships with God and others. Without these fundamental changes, the new life in Christ is impossible. Once these three elements change, there is a noticeable difference in the type of people with whom a new convert associates, the types of places he frequents, and the kinds of things he does.
ÊÊ Becoming a new you is not as easy as getting a fresh haircut, a toupee, implants, or a hair weave. That's a new look, but it's the same old you. The Christian life requires an extreme makeover. It's so extreme you can't do it yourself; God has to do it for you.Ê
ÊÊ John 3:3 says, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."ÊThat means our old selves must be wiped completely out, and we must let God make us over again. It won't be the old you dressed up in church clothes; it will be a brand new you. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,Ê"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."ÊWhen God looks for aÊ"new you,"Êhe's not looking for a new hairdo on you, but a new spirit in you. He's not looking for a Nutri-system, Jenny Craig, Bo-Flex version of you; He's looking for a new spirit in you. Those who genuinely want citizenship in the kingdom of God must be willing to turn themselves over to God and become one with him in every aspect.
ÊÊ This submission to God is described as being "Born Again." That's when God's goals become our goals, and God's will becomes our will. It's not merely a refurbishing, but a total makeover of our lives.
ÊÊREFURBISHING REQUIRES RIPPING OUT ROTTEN TRAITS: Anyone who has attempted to refurbish their homes has learned one truth, "Be prepared for what you will find once old boards are ripped out." Many who tried to refurbish a room in their homes are shocked at what they find once carpenters tear into the walls. Many find termites, faulty plumbing, bad writing, and rotten woodwork that make refurbishing impossible. To succeed, all of the bad materials have to be ripped out and replaced. That also explains why a person can't merely reform a single bad habit, because usually there is an underlying cause. A depressed person may use drugs or alcohol excessively. If a person is forced to stop using drugs or alcohol without addressing the depression issue, it is an exercise in futility because the drug or alcohol problem will return.
ÊÊMany people try to deal with sin in their lives by "replacing bad wood with new wood" without addressing the termite issue that eats away all wood. That's what happens when we reform. When we make resolutions, we decide to stop some bad habits and pick up a few good ones, but the desire is still present. We decide to alter some habits or go in a different direction with others, but the underlying sinful nature is not addressed. We sweep our houses clean. We sweep out the whiskey bottles. We sweep out the drugs. We sweep out the promiscuous activity. We even changed directions but still looked for a safer direction to get to the same old destination.
ÊÊRepentance requires us to rip out the bad stuff and get rid of the "termite problem" that will eat away at any effort we attempt at self-improvement. We need a power greater than ourselves to do that; we need Jesus. We need a repentant spirit and the power of the blood of Christ to seal the deal.
ÊÊREFURBISHING OFTEN LEADS TO SOMETHING NEW: Those who begin a refurbishing project usually find that simply refurbishing won't do; they usually end up creating something all new. Many attempted to touch up a room but concluded that touching it up wasn't enough; a whole new room was needed. Refurbishing brings out the old qualities, but many find that while their old ways may have nostalgic value, what they really need is something new.
ÊÊThat's why many people come to Christ. They don't want to clean up their old life; they want a new life. They want a life that is rooted in the power of God and secured by the blood of Christ. They want God to give them a new experience and are willing to make fundamental spiritual changes to align themselves with his will. If all they wanted was to refurbish themselves, it would be as easy as getting a facial or losing a few pounds. That's a new refurbished look, but they would be the same persons if the underlying habits remain. God doesn't look for a refurbished version of our old selves with a new hairdo, but he is looking for a new spirit in us. He's not looking for a Nutri-system, Jenny Craig Bo-Flex version of ourselves; he's looking for a new spirit.Ê
ÊÊThose who genuinely want to please God must be willing to let God make them over again.

God specializes in do-overs

Ê ÊFinally, brothers and sisters, our God specializes in do-overs and restorations of lives others have dismissed as useless.
Ê  God has a way of taking what once appeared useless and rejuvenating it so that it is useful for his purpose.
ÊÊ God's refurbishing goes beyond giving us a new outside, but he gives us a new purpose. That is the real key to refurbishing what has been castaway. The reason it was castaway was that someone thought it had no purpose. However, when a soul is put in God's hands, he rejuvenates it with new life, inspiration, and most importantly, gives it a new purpose.
ÊÊ This new spirit and purpose come with a life that has been retouched by the hand of God.
ÊÊ That's what David had in mind when he said in, "Psalm 51:10,12ÊCreate in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold meÊwith thyÊfree spirit.
ÊÊ When Jesus asks you to pick up your cross and follow him, it is a call for restoration.
ÊÊ Today, we cannot afford to ignore broken and fragmented lives because the master can use them.
ÊÊ The alcoholic is seen as useless and is often ignored.
ÊÊ The drug addict is seen as valueless and is often ignored.
ÊÊ The prostitute is seen as broken and is also ignored.
ÊÊ What can God do with broken lives?
ÊÊ God can wipe and reload and give them a new operating system.Ê
ÊÊ The refurbished life is now called by a different name.
ÊÊ Today, they call him preacher, but there was a time they called him pimp.
ÊÊ Today, they call him deacon, but there was a time they called him devil.
ÊÊ Today, they call her mother and deaconess, but there was a time they called her hot mama.
ÊÊ Today, they call you a saint, but there was a time they called you a sinner!
ÊÊ That's why Christ picks up the fragments and pieces of our broken lives and restores them.
Ê ÊHe works on our lives like a master chef works on fragments in your kitchen.
ÊÊThe other day the meat and potatoes you ate were reworked, remixed, and served again, but this time it was called hash!
ÊÊThe leftover turkey from your family dinner was remixed and served again, but this time it was called turkey salad.
ÊÊThe leftover cornbread was recycled and served with baked hen or turkey and called dressing!
ÊÊThe leftover light bread that was hard and inedible, but it was mixed with sugar, raisins, and eggs and served again, but this time it was called bread pudding
ÊÊThe leftover peas, corn, and chicken pieces that cluttered the refrigerator were recycled and served again, but this time they called it chicken gumbo.
ÊÊEvery now and then, when we look at our lives, we should see lives that have been given a new purpose by the grace of God.
ÊÊI heard Jesus declare that we all have a place of service in the kingdom!
ÊÊBring me your life that has no meaning, and I'll become your primary subject and purpose.
ÊÊBring me your hands, and I'll give them great work to do and add purpose to their lives.
ÊÊBring me your lost life, and I'll help you to find it in the service of the kingdom of God.Ê
ÊÊBring me your old life, and I'll make it better than new.
ÊÊTo give us that precious second chance, Jesus came to the earth and lived a mortal life.
ÊÊTo give us that precious life that has been touched with the grace of God, Jesus, died on an old rugged cross.
ÊÊHe died, but early Sunday morning, he arose from the grave that we might have a chance at eternal life.
ÊÊHe arose so that we can be fully refurbished, restored, and made whole again.

