Ep.13-Clean on the inside by Faith

Appearances can be deceiving. While the world fixates on how we look and what we possess, God's gaze penetrates deeper to the condition of our hearts. 

In this soul-stirring devotional, we explore the powerful concept of inner purity versus outward appearances. Drawing from Jesus' sharp rebuke to the Pharisees who "clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence," we confront the uncomfortable truth about spiritual hypocrisy. Through vivid examples, including a poignant story about a beautiful perfume bottle containing toxic residue, we're reminded that our external righteousness means nothing if our hearts remain impure.

The message cuts to the heart of authentic spirituality: "You can go to church on Sunday, but you can still be the devil on Monday, and God will know." This isn't about shame but transformation. We learn that true cleansing can only come through Christ, not through our own efforts at self-improvement. When we allow God to clean us from the inside out, the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—naturally flow outward.

As you listen, you'll be challenged to examine areas of your life that may look pristine externally but need divine cleansing internally. What would change if you focused less on appearance and more on heart transformation? How might your relationships, work, and spiritual journey be different if you prayed like David, "Create in me a pure heart, O God"? Join us for this thought-provoking episode that will inspire you to seek authentic spiritual renewal. Share your own journey toward inner purity in the comments, and if this message resonates, consider supporting our ministry so we can continue bringing these transformative truths to others.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey guys, it's B-Rob, it's the Food for Thought
Faithcast, and it is Monday,july 14th, and we're going to do
a little devotional today, alittle message sermon, if you
will.
We're going to call this oneClean on the Inside, inside,

(00:24):
because God desires inner purity.
He desires a heart and mindthat are clean, not just outward
actions that appear righteous,not just a good looking person,
not just a good looking car, notjust a good looking house.

(00:46):
No, psalms 51, 10 states createin me a pure heart, oh God, and
renew a steadfast spirit withinme.
That's a cry for inward renewal, the Holy Spirit.

(01:11):
Matthew, chapter 23, verses 25and 26.
State Woe to you Teachers ofthe law and Pharisees, you
hypocrites.
You clean the outside of thecup and dish, but inside they

(01:34):
are full of greed andself-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee.
First clean the inside of thecup and dish and then the
outside will also be clean.
Man, why do you think that is?
Jesus challenges religioushypocrisy.

(02:00):
He flips tables.
It's about doing what is right.
It's about doing what is inGod's word.
Matthew 5, verse 8, says Blessedare the pure in heart, for they

(02:21):
will see God.
Purity does nothing but bringus closer to God.
Does a suit and tie give youpurity when you step in the
shower and wash off and get yourhair all slick back and looking
all swass.
Is that, uh?

(02:42):
Is that purity?
Will that bring you closer toGod?
Will a fresh pair of sneakersbring you closer to God?
I do not think so.
I do not think so.
I do not think so.

(03:02):
Purity on the inside is theonly thing that can bring us
closer to God.
Can I get an amen andhallelujah?

(03:24):
James, chapter four, verse eightcome near to God and he will
come near to you.
Wash your hands, you centers,and purify.
There's that word again purifyyour hearts, you double minded.

(03:50):
That's James four, verse eight.
That is a call for inner cleans, cleansing.
A call for inner cleansing andthen a call for outer cleansing.
First, samuel 16, seven.
First, samuel 16, seven saysbut the Lord said to Samuel do

(04:19):
not consider his appearance orhis height, for I have rejected
him.
The Lord does not look at thingspeople look at.
People look at outwardappearance, but the Lord looks
at the heart.
See, that's what I'm talkingabout.

(04:40):
God sees the inner person,about.
God sees the inner person.
God sees you for who you reallyare, not your outward
appearance, not how much moneyyou have, not your house, not

(05:00):
your car and not the size ofyour bank account.
God sees your heart and you cango to church on Sunday, but you
can still be the devil onMonday, and God will know.
God will know.

(05:24):
True cleanliness starts from theinside, because outer behavior
can be deceiving.
God is more concerned withmotives and intentions.
Let me give you an example.
Pharisees focused on rules butignored the mercy, justice and

(05:46):
faithfulness, and that wasMatthew 23, 23.
Interpurity requires God's help.
You can't cleanse yourselfwithout the blood of Jesus
Christ.
Can I get an amen?
You cannot cleanse yourselfwithout the blood of Jesus
Christ.
We must ask God to purify ourhearts.

(06:07):
That was Psalms 51, 10.
A cup can look clean on theoutside but still hold poison.
Let me say that again A cup canlook clean on the outside but
still hold poison.

(06:28):
I had a friend, a brother inChrist, this weekend at man camp
, told me a story of how heactually found a junkyard when

(06:49):
he was.
It's 120 acres and they've gota boneyard, they've got a
junkyard, they've got.
There's many things you canstumble upon in those 20 acres,
in those 20 acres, but the 120,excuse me, 120 acres, but those

(07:10):
120 acres are blessed by God.
It's called Camp Little Lightand he told me he stumbled upon
a junkyard and he had beenpraying about what was weighing

(07:31):
him down all day while he wasout in the woods.
And he stumbled upon a junkyardand he found a perfume bottle,
a beautiful perfume bottle onthe outside, but you could see
it was kind of kind oftransparent, but not really.

(07:51):
But you could see there was allkind of nasty crud on the
inside where the perfume hadmade Mildewed, probably poison,
whatever.
But at that moment the spiritcame upon him and showed him

(08:19):
that he was trying to look goodon the outside, making money for
his family, but he was spewingpoison over them.
And that hit me like a ton ofbricks.
That story made me tear up, man.
I mean, the Holy Spirit spokebecause it doesn't matter what

(08:41):
you look like on the outside,you can be spewing poison from
the inside if you are not pureon the inside.
And that's what God talks about.
That's what we're talking aboutright now.
We can't cleanse ourself.
We can't cleanse ourself.

(09:04):
You might say, oh, yeah, yeah,I believe in God, I got Jesus,
yeah, yeah, but I'm going to dothis thing on my own, yeah, that
might last for a minute, butyou're going to fall flat on
your face.
Only the grace of God canpurify our insides.

(09:32):
We can't cleanse ourself fully.
We must ask God to purify ourhearts.
Psalm 51, 10.
Like I said, a cup cannot lookclean on the outside.
Excuse me.
A cup cannot look clean on theoutside.
Excuse me.
A cup can look clean on theoutside but still hold poison on
the inside.

(09:56):
And a pure heart leads to clearvision, that vision Dr Coleman
talked about.
That vision Dr Coleman talkedabout in the last podcast.
That vision, those eternityglasses.

(10:19):
A pure heart leads to thoseeternity glasses.
Blessed are the pure in heart,for they will see God.
That's Matthew, chapter five,verse eight.
Spiritual clarity and closenessto God comes from purity only of

(10:40):
God.
And you can only do that fromliving from the inside out.
Don't just modify your behavior.
Let God transform your heart.
Don't just modify your behavior.

(11:02):
Let God transform your heart.
Romans 12, verse 2 come to mind.
Do not conform to the patternof this world, but be
transformed by the renewing ofyour mind.
Then you will be able to testand approve what God's will is,

(11:25):
his good, pleasing, pleasing andperfect will.
Right there in Romans, the fruitof the spirit are internal
qualities that manifestexternally.
I'm going to say that one moretime.
The fruits of the spirit areinternal qualities that manifest

(11:47):
externally, which brings me toGalatians.
But the fruit of the spirit islove, joy, peace, forbearance,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

(12:10):
Against such things there is nolaw, and that's Galatians,
chapter 5, verses 22 and 23.
It's right there in the goodbook, it's right there in the
living bread of God, the life ofGod, his breath, and you need
it every day.

(12:34):
So the good thing to do is askwhat areas of my life look clean
on the outside but needcleansing inside.
Another good question is have Ibeen more concerned with
appearance than with hearttransformation?
These are great questions to beasking yourself.
How often do I pray like David?

(12:56):
Create a clean heart in me, god, please create a clean heart in
me.
We should pray like David everysingle day.
We should put on that armor ofGod every single day we wake up.

(13:17):
Am I letting God reshape mefrom the inside out?
Are you seriously letting Godreshape you from the inside out?
It's a great question.
I mean, am I doing it daily?
No, I would be lying if I did,and God knows he's the

(13:48):
all-knowing, all-seeing, greatGod, all-healer.
He is amazing.
I'm going to end you guys withthis prayer and I just want to
say that I love you guys and I'mgrateful for this platform, I'm
grateful for this faith cast,I'm grateful for anybody who

(14:15):
listens.
We are financially, uh, hurting.
So if you could, you like and Imean you could donate, donate
as small as a dollar.
I mean, everything helps.
Um, please, if you want us topray for you, click the prayer
link below, prayer requests linkbelow.

(14:36):
And, um, I'm going to end youwith this prayer, dear heavenly
father, we come to you today.
Lord, we just thank you, lord,for everything you do and
everything you are going to do,lord, everything you have done.
Lord, we thank you for your son, jesus Christ, our Lord and

(14:59):
Savior.
Lord, we thank you, we giveprecious thanks for your grace,
your mercy, lord.
We love you Lord.
Lord, just search our hearts,lord, cleanse us from what is
hidden and what is not pure.
Please make us whole, lord,inside and out.

(15:24):
Lord, let our life reflect yourholiness from the depths of our
soul.
Lord, as we give thanks to you,we give thanks for your grace,
lord, we give thanks to yourmercy, lord, we accept
everything good that is going tohappen from this moment forward

(15:46):
, lord.
We accept all blessings, weaccept all mercy.
We accept forgiveness for oursins, lord, and please forgive
us for our sins, lord.
Lord, just help us to be clean,lord, and help us to be pure,

(16:08):
because we know that everythinghidden comes to light.
Lord, let us be a beacon oflight.
Lord, it's in Jesus' heavenly,holy name, we pray these things.
Amen and hallelujah.
Well, thank you guys, we willsee you soon.
God bless you and I hope youhave a very good week.

(16:36):
Thank you, guys, I love you.