Dealing with Spiritual Pollution (2)

Some causes of Spiritual Pollution:

Sinful Behaviours:

Our heart can lead us to sinful behaviours which causes spiritual pollution

“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” – Mark 7:21-23

The world system can lead us to sinful behaviours which causes spiritual pollution

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.” – 1 John 2:16

Sowing towards the things that the flesh want will cause spiritual pollution

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” – Galatians 6:7-8

One of the ways we overcome the sinful nature is to “walk in the Spirit”. And essentially, we walk in the Spirit by two main ways a consistent lifestyle of prayer and meditating and living by the word of God

Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”

-We need to follow the model of the Psalmist and cry to God to clean our heart daily due to the fallen nature of the human heart. The heart of man if not controlled by the Holy-Spirit and God’s word will always revert to its sinful nature. Psalm 51:10 (ESV) – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Worldly Influences:

Romans 12:2 (NKJV) – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Paul said, “do not be conformed to the world,” because he knew that the culture and value system of the world, is such that, if a child of God should embrace even a tiny fraction of it, it will surely pollute, and defile them. For example the wicked value system of the world tells us that we don’t need God or His church, all you need is go to college and get a job and you will be ok, and if you as a believer believe that because you are making money now, or have progressed in life, and so you don’t need to pray as much or go to church as much, then the spiritual pollution has started till it progressively moves you from eternal life in God’s love and presence into eternal wrath and condemnation (eternally separated from God)

Negative Speech:

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

-Read Proverbs 15:4; “A soothing tongue [speaking words that build up and encourage] is a tree of life, But a perversive tongue [speaking words that overwhelm and depress] crushes the spirit.” AMP

We need cry to God as believers to deliver us from a perversive tongue which is a tongue that is deceitful, devious, dishonest, manipulative, crooked, words that discourage and crush people. Having a perversive tongue will pollute you spiritually.

In Matthew 15:10-11 and Mark 7:14-15; Jesus emphasized that it is the things that come out of a person’s mouth that defiles them

In Luke 6:43-45; Jesus taught that a good tree produces good fruit, and an evil tree produces evil fruit. Our words reflect the condition of our hearts. And so if the words coming from our mouth are sinful, unkind, and arrogant, it is also a reflection of the true state of our heart.

In Isaiah 6:5, The prophet Isaiah, upon encountering the Lord, exclaimed, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips.” It means that negative speech can separate us from God. If all you do with your mouth is abuse people, speak doubt and fear, these kinds of speech will drive the presence of God away from you because they are spiritual pollutant that defile God’s temple in you.

-In Romans 1:29-32, Paul describes various unrighteous behaviours, including gossip, slander, and inventing evil. Negative speech is a sign of spiritual decay

Unhealthy Relationships:

Maintaining healthy relationships that align with God’s principles is essential for our spiritual growth and well-being. Keeping unhealthy relationships in your life can cause spiritual pollution.

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV) – “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.'”
Proverbs 13:20: “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

If for instance your close circle of friends are people who cheat on their spouse, very soon no matter how spiritual you are sooner or later they will lead you into that path because evil company always has a way of influencing bad behaviours in a person without you even knowing it. Conversely, associating with wise individuals (who fear God and live according to His will) leads to you attaining wisdom and emulating godly behaviours. Remember that choosing companions who lack biblical discernment or values the things of this world more than God will lead to negative spiritual consequences.

Idolatry and False Beliefs:

1 Corinthians 10:14: “Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.”

Idolatry, as understood from a biblical perspective, extends beyond mere worship of images and false gods. It is a matter of the heart, associated with pride, self-centeredness, greed, and love for possessions. When we prioritize anything above God, it becomes an idol, dulling our spiritual hearing and hardening our hearts.

False belief system can lead to spiritual deception

False beliefs can deceive people, leading them away from the truth and purity of devotion to Christ. Just as Satan deceived Eve in the Garden, false teachings can mislead believers and defile their faith.

Colossians 2:4: “I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.”
2 Corinthians 11:3: “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”

Overcoming Spiritual Pollution:

2^nd Corinthians 7:1b; let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (NKJV)

So how do we cleanse ourselves of these spiritual pollutants that seek to defile us?

Repentance and Confession:

1 John 1:9 (NKJV) – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Renewal of the Mind:

Romans 12:2 (ESV) – “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

Guarding Your Heart:

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) – “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

Fellowship with God:

James 4:8 (ESV) – “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

Scripture Meditation:

Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) – “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!”

Prayer is important

2^nd Corinthains 10:5; “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” (NKJV)

Use aggressive ware-fare prayer to cast down every spiritual pollutant that the enemy is using or trying to use to bring you down spiritually

Apply the blood of Jesus

Hebrews 9:14 (ESV): “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

The blood of Jesus will cleanse you from all spiritual pollutants. So, apply the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus to sanctify your heart on a daily basis in the place of prayer and proclamation by God’s word

Remember, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses believers from all sin (1 John 1:7). Through repentance, reliance on God’s Word, and continuous fellowship with Him, believers can overcome spiritual pollution and walk in the purity of Christ.

Altar call: For anyone reading this article who is not saved and wants to be part of the family of God or you want to re-dedicate your life back to Jesus, please repeat this out loud. “Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I have sinned against you. Lord Jesus forgive me of my sins. I repent of my sins. Lord Jesus come into my life and be my Lord now and forever in Jesus Name“

Prayer

Holy-Spirit my God empower me to crucify my flesh in the name of Jesus
Fear, discouragement, anger, strive, immorality and contention, you will not keep me in bondage, depart from my life now in the name of Jesus
Any spiritual pollutant that will cause my name to be removed from the book of life, O Lord remove it from my life by fire in Jesus Name
Father deliver me from any relationship that will push me into sin and error, in the name of Jesus
Father in your mercy in this year 2024, grant me victory over any temptation and satanic device, in the name of Jesus
Lord increase my thirst and hunger for things that are of eternal value this year, in the name of Jesus
I receive fresh fire from heaven to walk in holiness and purity this year, in the name of Jesus
Father this year 2024, please move my spiritual life to the mountain top, in the name of Jesus
Demonic power of contamination of pollution assigned to make rubbish of my walk with God, be destroyed now by the fire of the Holy-Ghost, in Jesus Name.
Father, this year I am willing to be clay in Your hands, please mould me into what you want me to be, in Jesus Name.
I will not give up in my walk with You, I will fight the good fight of faith, in Jesus Name