There's a sermon entitled "Cleaning House" that begins with these words,


It happens about once or twice a year. People wash walls, strip floors, clean windows, wipe cupboards, defrost the refrigerator/freezer, wash curtains, dry-clean drapes, steam-clean the carpets, sanitize the bathroom, paint the bedroom, clear out the garage, clean out the attic, reorganize the closets, take junk to the dump, pile bags of papers and boxes of unwanted items by the road for the garbageman to haul away. Maybe you did that not long ago, or maybe you are planning to do it soon. It's called house cleaning. It's a big job and a dirty job. But once it's done, it feels so good. You feel like you accomplished something. And the house smells fresh and clean again. You can park the car in the garage again. You enjoy sitting in the family room again. That awful smell whenever you open the kitchen cupboards is gone. And you can open the refrigerator door without embarrassment or fear, knowing that the green stuff growing inside has been neutralized.

And ends with these words,

Brothers and sisters, there comes a point in all of our lives, when we need to clean house. Whatever it is that prevents us from shining as temples radiant with God's Spirit, we need to get rid of it. Whether it's a book, a thought, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a habit, a bar, a fantasy, a desire, whatever it is, get rid of it. Whatever minimizes our devotion to God, whatever hinders our faith, whatever pulls us away from Christ, whatever defiles the temple, get rid of it. That stuff doesn't belong in your life. You are God's temple. God's Spirit dwells in you. You be careful what you do with his temple. "Sanctify yourselves and sanctify the house of the Lord", Hezekiah said, "and carry out the filth from this holy place." Destroy the garbage before it destroys you.

I have had to clean house many times in my life. Maybe this is your time to clean house. If it is, what better time than right now to do so. Open the doors of your heart. Carry the filth out of your life. And get rid of it once and for all. If and when you do, God's praise will echo in your heart again. God's glory will sparkle in and through your spirit. And God's presence will return to your soul. Isn't that what you want, child of God? I do.

I thought it was appropriate to post at this time.

That's what my house needs now, but I know you meant it spiritually. I believe it is more like changing our thinking patterns (renewing our minds) than get rid of our sins which is also important. What did you mean? Did you have such experience recently?

Edit: Or did you mean cleaning the forum?
Edit again: Now I see the second part of the post, meaning get rid of the Stuff. I see. In real life and real house I think there is a season for that big cleaning when we feel inspired to do it. Spiritually also. What would be that big inspiration? How do I recognize the season for it?

Tozsu,

You wrote, "Or did you mean cleaning the forum?"

Methinks you are wiser than you let on!

It was a good sermon anyhow!

There are times of confusion and times of clarity. We like to clean the house when the Sun is shining outside, not in a foggy weather. That way we see the dirt spots better and they bother us so much that we desperately want to get rid of them.
Why do you think this is the time of clarity? When we have condemnation of the devil this cleaning up is difficult and ineffective these are the confused foggy days.

Edit again:... How do I recognize the season for it?

Maybe this will help- give us this day our daily bread...take up our cross daily...His mercies are new every morning!

I did not want to delete that late second thought before I read the fullness of the post.

You mean there is a season for it every day? Then why is it compared to a big house cleaning which we do ones or twice a year? Why not compare it to a daily cleaning, when we do not move the furniture and clean the curtains and windows?

Good questions Tozsu, I might have to ask the preacher about it!

"I thought it was appropriate to post at this time."
But really why did you think that it's the time? Did you have a tangible reason or you felt it was time by the inspiration from God. (I do sometimes have those feelings). Usually this time comes right after hearing and understanding the truth.
Is that the case? What was that truth?

Thanks for the encouragement and inspiration. Is it possible to read the whole sermon?