Young Adults' Group

Post-cleansing

by Pastor Mark
May 26, 2022

Going beyond cleansing

After seeking the Lord’s cleansing, we should enter a post-cleansing stage. This is something most vital in order that we do not return to the problem of sin as we can fall and backslide very quickly.

The Psalmist of Psalm 119 recognised the importance of taking specific post-cleansing steps. Let us consider whether we have taken these steps also.

Things to consider post-cleansing

1. Are we seeking God with the whole heart?

“With my whole heart I have sought You;” (Psalm 119:10)

a. Seeking the Lord is about seeking His face (Psalm 27:8).
b. It is about seeing the Person of God for all that He is.
c. Studying the Lord’s Word should lead us to see and know God more deeply.
d. After being cleansed, the Psalmist sought the Lord with his whole heart.
e. He was focused on the Lord rather than seeking the things of the world.
f. He was learning to draw closer to Him in his personal relationship with Him.
g. Have we been seeking the Lord with our whole heart in our daily study of His Word or have we allowed the busyness of work and other responsibilities to take priority?

Let us be challenged to make seeking the Lord our priority each day.

2. Are we desiring and pleading with the Lord that we do not wander?

“Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!” (Psalm 119:10)

a. After we have been cleansed, it is wise that we do not wander back into sin.
b. The Psalmist had a definite desire not to wander from the Lord and His Word.
c. He made a plea for God to keep him close to Him and His Word.
d. Seeking the Lord with the whole heart prevents us from wandering.
e. Studying the Scriptures must lead us to Him and not away.
f. If our study of the Lord’s Word is only theoretical and perfunctory, we may slowly wander away from Him.

Let us be challenged to look to the Lord to keep us from wandering.

3. Are we hiding God’s Word in our hearts?

“Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)

a. Once the heart has been cleansed, it must not be left empty.
b. The Psalmist recognised the need to be filled with the Lord and His Word.
c. He sought to embed the Scriptures in the deepest part of his heart.
d. Hiding the Lord’s Word would help to replace the things that defile.
e. It would help the Psalmist to prevent and overcome sin.
f. The Word of God gives us the power to battle sin.
g. Are we consistently seeking to hide God’s Word in our hearts?

Let us be challenged to take these post-cleansing steps to keep us close to the Lord and His Word.

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