CLEANLINESS & GODLINESSBut I hate it cleaning, it sucks... like a vacuum

Your Room

Think of your room, the space you call your own

What does it look like right now?

Your room is personal, its intimate

Your room is where you hide your secrets

Your room is an outward expression of your heart

What are some things in your room?

Clean Your Room

How many times have you heard this one?

Who likes to clean their room?

Why do you like to clean?

Why do you despise cleaning?

Well, your heart is like your room

It defines who you are, it’s intimate, it where you hide secrets...

Activity: Cleaning Relay

Which couch zone will win the prize?

Sweeping

Washing

Drying

Dusting

Picking Up

Throwing Away

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

Have you ever heard this phrase?

Seriously, who likes to clean their room?

I always have to clean (because my house is always a mess)

But my house is never clean!

I am always stressed out about my house.

What is up with this phrase exactly?

Create in me a clean heartPsalms 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me

Depending on the version you read: steadfast, right or willing

Let’s meditate on this verse... who cleans your heart again?

What attitude does it take to clean?

The spirit of steadfastness and willingness cleans.

The lights are on but...Matthew 12:43-45

When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through aird place seeking rest and does not find it.

Then it says “I will return to the house I left”. When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.

Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked then itself, and they go in and live there.

The final condition of the man is worse than the first

Not much beats a full house

Why would you clean a house if nobody is going to see it?

What is the reason the evil spirit showed up with all his buddies?

So who are we cleaning for exactly?

Moral: Making yourself look holy doesn’t keep the bad out.

How do we keep the evil spirits out?

Invite the good guys over to party! That keeps the bad out.

Home is where the heart is...

Do you understand the that the home equals your heart?

You are building the house you will live in

You are building the foundation right now

This lesson has a double meaning, both are important

Your room expresses your heart’s desires

What you do in daily life affects your spirituality

Your body is a temple

1 Corinthians 6:19

Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?

Who is in you, whom you have received from God?

You are not your own, you were bought at a price.

Therefore honor God with your body.

How do you honor God with your body?

The command with a promiseHint: How do you honor your parents?

Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and your mother,so that you may live longin the land the LORD your God is giving you.

This is the first commandment with a promise.

Obedience shows love and respect.

Hint: Cleaning your room kills to birds with one stone!It honors your parents and respects your

Cleanliness is an attitude!Does Jesus really care if you clean like Martha Stewart?

God doesn’t expect a clean house, he expects it to be “lived in”.

But it’s all about your attitude!

This attitude causes you to want to clean up.

When my mom comes over she says... “don’t clean, I just want to be with you”. I clean anyway!

Why? What is this attitude?

Get with the routineDaily cleaning tips

Get rid of the crap!Put old clothes in a bag. Sometimes it hurts to let go of the past.

Figure out what’s important to youGive these things their proper place for honor for easy access

A place for everythingGet some containers to put things in and label them, etc.

Get into and stick with the routineThings get messy because you let the busy day push you around

Get with the routineSpiritual cleaning tips

Get rid of the crap!Kick out the secret sins and the things in your closet

Figure out what’s important to youShould be God. But what about friends, college, music?Give them a place of honor by setting aside time for them.

A place for everythingFind a favorite place to pray. Find a meeting place for friends.

Get into and stick with a routineDon’t let the world mess with your clean house. Press in.

Set an example...1 Timothy 4:12

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers

...in life

...in love

...in faith

...in purity

So why should I clean up?

The parable of my ex-girlfriend’s room

I was never allowed to see her bedroom, I just figured it was the other reason!

One day her brother showed me. It was a disaster!!!

It changed my view of her.

Does she respect herself, would she respect me?

Again, why should I clean up?

The parable of the Jehovah Witnesses.

I was at home and I heard a knock on the the door.

I needed to leave for an appointment.

The house was a disaster.

I snuck out the back door!

What if that had been Jesus?

No seriously, I hate cleaning

Keeping things neat reduces clutter and confusion

Makes it easier to get around, no more tripping

Makes it easier to get dressed in the morning

Makes it easier to focus

It is the same with your heart, a clean heart is a happy heart

You can extend yourself to others which is more fulfilling

Knock, knock...

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone...

...hears my voice

...and opens the door

...then, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me

No RSVP for you

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night

Unfortunately you don’t know when your going to have guests.

What does that mean?

You have to keep things straightened up!

The condition of your room

What is the condition of your room?

Are you proud of your room?

Are you afraid of people seeing it?

Are you prepared to accept guests into your room?

Can your mom or dad feel comfortable in your room?

Would God feel comfortable in your room?

The position of your heartWhat is the position of your heart?

Do you have a spirit of humility?

Are you afraid of people really knowing you?

Are you willing to share your heart with others?

Are you willing to open your heart to God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit?

Do you want the good guys to hang out with you?

KNOCK, KNOCK...