Foundational Stones Of Salvation - Jesus Is Greater Series #3Sample

Foundation Stone 3: Baptism, Cleansing  

Thoughts on the Word

1. Repentance from Dead Works

2. Faith in God.

3. Baptisms (cleansing)

Baptisms (cleansing) This is all about cleansing a past.

"Lay down dead things-- and never pick them back up"

Water baptism - burying our old nature (do not pick it back up!) Romans 6:4-6

Daily cleansing - to be a vessel of honor in God's house (2 Timothy 2:20-21)

We are cleaned from our past (so bury those dead things and never pick them up). This is a powerful picture/act that shows us (and our world) that we are now different people. We call these powerful actions a prophetic act – a physical act that has powerful consequences in the spiritual realm. It tells our world and the demonic world around us that we are different people because Jesus has set us free from our failed past.

There is an ongoing portion to this cleansing process. It is process of ongoing cleaning up in our lives. This ongoing cleansing enables us to be a vessel of special honor in God's house instead of something used for common things. Common things get put away when special company comes to the house; special things get brought out and used when that company comes to visit. We want to be that kind of vessel in God’s house.

Put down dead things - do not pick them up. God will make you special in His house.

Prayer

Lord, why do we hang on to dead things in our lives? They just stink. They make us unusable by You for special things. They embarrass us. Jesus, You died for us so we could be free and clean. Help us not pick to up these dead things but let You clean us daily. I want to be used for special things by You. In Jesus name, Amen.