October 26, 2021
Are You Filtered?
I recently was installing a new fuel filter on a lawnmower. As I looked at the filter and thought about its purpose I got inspired. The filter is designed to catch and trap any impurities that may be in the gas before they get to the carburetor and ruin its performance.
Its sole purpose is to keep the carburetor from becoming contaminated. It stores these impurities and keeps them from coming out into the fuel line. It holds the impurities until it is changed and then the filter and the impurities are thrown away. If the filter is not changed regularly then it becomes full of contamination and is useless.
The Holy Spirit serves somewhat of the same purpose in our lives, hearts, and minds. When we get saved the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. If we will allow, He filters out the impurities in our heart and mind and helps to make us pure in the sight of God. He also keeps things that are impure from spewing out of our mouths and thus contaminating the Name of Jesus.
If we allow Him, the Holy Spirit will filter our sin in such a way that people see the pure and Holy love of God coming out of us instead of the contamination and filth of the world. He not only filters out these impurities but instead of storing them – He completely destroys them forever.
Imagine the next time that you get ticked off and are ready to give someone “a piece of your mind” that the Holy Spirit catches that in you in the Holiness filter. He keeps you from saying things that don’t represent Christ very well. I am not just talking about what you say but the way that you say it. The Holy Spirit filter just kept you from spreading impurities to other people.
Jeremiah 1:9 says “Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.”. So not only can this filter stop you from saying bad things it can give you Godly things to say straight from the mouth of God. WOW. That’s a powerful filter.
Not only your speech but imagine the next time that you think a jealous, revengeful, or evil thought about someone the Holy Spirit filter catches it and changes it into a pure prayer opportunity for that person. The Bible says in Isaiah 26:3 “God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are locked in on Him” This Holy Spirit filter can really keep you on track in your desire to be more like Jesus.
The key is to be willing to allow the filter to do its job. Most of us want to snatch the filter out and go unfiltered – saying, thinking, and doing whatever we selfishly want to do. But I remind you the Bible says in I Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” I would add to also glorify God in your mind and attitude.
In other words – be willing to be filtered by the Holy Spirit. That way we can be Holy as God is Holy and He will be glorified in all that we do, say, and act.
In love with Jesus – Pastor Gary