Lesson #43 House In Order

God’s Requirements For Setting Your House In Order

All lessons are designed to educate and equip everyone to effectively do self- deliverance and to be able to help others as led by the Lord.  The lessons should be followed in chronological order to derive maximum benefits.

We are going to look at how God views the following statements and what He requires to bring them in perfect alignment with His will for our lives.

1. Most people maybe thinking how the New Year is going to be different.
2. At the close of this year, it is the custom for many to make resolutions for the New Year ahead.

• Quick comment: The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that they are vanity. Ps. 94:11

3. The proposed solution to the above: the easiest thing to do is to set your house in order.

I will attempt to make clear how God views the first two statements in my efforts to bring about a solution by seeking the easiest way to go about setting our houses in order.

QUESTION:

• How do we go about setting our houses in order? (To live a holy, consecrated and sanctified life – to become disciplined followers of Christ. Lk. 9:23)

1. By simply obeying all of His holy commands as shown in the following:

“He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.” Prov. 4:4

Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Prov. 7:2

And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. Due. 11:28 (Including anything that occupies your interest more than time spent in God’s word and researching his holy scriptures)

³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Rev. 4:11

Our prime purpose for being on the earth is to cultivate and walk in soul prosperity.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.3 John 2

• There is no other way but to be obedient followers of God’s word. Lk.9:23

All believers should understand clearly that our only purpose for being in the world is to fulfill God’s pleasure and walk in His will for our lives.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Rev. 4:11

2. What He expects of each of us if our houses are to be placed in order. Before we examine this statement under the microscope of God’s holy word, we will look at some scriptural injunctions that should lay the foundation for us to get a clearer picture of all that goes into setting and maintaining our house in order.

• He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. Matt.24:13

COMMENT: The born-again experience qualifies us to begin the race of life.

However, we are responsible for cleansing ourselves (through the deliverance process) from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7:1

• But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matt. 4:4

COMMENT: If we are not seeking to apply all of God’s commands to our life, we have become disobedient and rebellious children, cursed by God and now regarded as false teachers. (1 Sam. 15:23 witchcraft practitioners): rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.

• Cursed by God. (Jer. 48:10)

COMMENT: Doing God’s work deceitfully and refusing to use the weapons of our warfare to fight against God’s enemies – (principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places seen in Eph. 6:10-12) and now regarded as false teachers. 2 Peter 2:1

• “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15

COMMENT: Summed up as seen in Hos.4:6 which is in essence saying, my people perish for a lack of knowledge.

• Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Mark 10:15

COMMENT: Must have a receptive, unquestioning childlike mind, who simply does what they are told.

• For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.⁶ And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.⁷ So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 1 Thess. 1:5-7

COMMENT: The gospel should not only be preached by simply reading the scriptures, but by exercising the God given authority and power to set the captives free. Lk. 4:18

• We are to warn the wicked. Every servant of God is responsible to sound the trumpet and warn the wicked regardless of whether they want to take heed or not to take heed so that your soul can be saved.

Ezekiel 3:18-19 ¹⁸When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. ¹⁹Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, heshall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. ²⁰Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. ²¹Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

Finally, having taken heed to all the scriptural injunctions and the many other scriptures referred to in this lesson, you are now commanded to walk it out. Matt. 28:19-20, along with Mark 16:15-18

• Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matt; 28:19-20
• “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15-18
• Rev.12:11 They that overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony for they love not their lives unto death.

COMMENT: Those that believe (having their house in order) will have a testimony of engaging the enemy in warfare and defeating him. For Example: Casting out the spirits of lust (Isa. 19:14); fear (2 Tim. 1:7); spirit of jealousy (Num. 5:14, 30), evil spirit (1 Sam. 16:14-15, familiar spirit (1 Sam. 28:8); spirit of the world (those that are still holding on to worldly goals, ambitions, comforts/pleasures – has a spirit of the world that must be cast out. Along with all the above spirits and so many others if our house is to be set and maintained in order). (1 Cor. 2:12)

– Only overcomers will see the face of Christ in peace. Rev. 3:5, Rev. 21:7-8

– 1 Cor. 6:19 Confirms the above which says: What? know ye not that your body (house) is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you which ye have of God and you are not your own? (To do as you please). Vs. 20 For we are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s. 1 Cor. 3:17.

– Which simply means (Put nothing into your body that pollutes, defiles, or anything of a destructive nature that will go against the body’s proper functioning.

– Also, we are commanded to set no wicked thing before our eyes (Any movie, or activity that does not glorify and exalt the name of Jesus and point others to Christ). Ps. 101:1-3

101 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. ² I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.³ I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

– All believers must be prepared to embrace the suffering message and if necessary, martyrdom for the name of Christ. 1 Peter 2:21-23, Rev. 7:13- 14

What we all refer to as mistakes is seen as sin in God’s eyes:

Sin is an open door for the enemy to come into our lives and entice us to make these so called, “wrong decisions,” “ungodly behavioral patterns.”

We are the ones who will choose or reject the thoughts that the enemy brings to our minds.

(The only way open to us as believers is to cast down those satanic thoughts by standing on God’s word in the situation/temptation that you are faced with).

A good example of this can be seen when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness after his 40 days fast when he was at his weakest. Matthew 4:3-10.

There is no other way to overcome the wiles of the enemy and to extract ourselves from out of his clutches other than to use God’s word by faith in the given situation as a direct command.

Jesus was able to resist the thoughts of the enemy because he was first in full submission to his Father’s will.

• John 5:30³⁰By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

We are required to be in submission also to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who has sent us into this world to carry on where he left off. John 17:18

As we submit to the laws of the Lord, then we will be able to resist the enemy (engage in warfare that will see the enemy fleeing from our lives and our loved ones for a season).

(Our temples must not only be free from all satanic bondages – generational curses, ungodly soulish relationship bondages, satanic connections, witchcraft connections, occultic connections and New Age connections, but needs to be maintained against any attempt of the enemy to further pollute our lives as stated). Go and sin no more.

That’s why Jesus admonishes us about our Christian walk as not to be seen as an easy one. (i.e., to set your house in order). This statement can be borne out as seen.

Matt. 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

• COMMENT: Seekers of better days ahead/seekers for pleasures and comforts of this evil world do not have the love of the Father in them. 1 John 2:15-17

• ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

COMMENT: This scripture confirms this verse:

• Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

COMMENT: Except you follow the example Jesus set for us during his three and a half years of ministry, as he went about the streets of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among them. Matt. 4:23

And except you preach the full truth of the gospel, as Jesus did,

And except your lifelines up with the life of Christ, it will be difficult/and unlikely that you will face our Lord in peace.

• 1 Peter 2:21-23 For hereunto were we called, because Jesus Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps.

In our Lord’s prayer to his Father as seen in John 17:15-22, he is in essence saying, just as he came into the world to destroy the works of the devil,1 John 3:8, he is now passing on the same commission to all those who believe on him. Our Lord is depending on us to establish God’s kingdom of righteousness peace and joy here on this earth and in so doing to get his bride ready for his return. Ro.14:17

To accomplish this commission of his, we are required to carry out and exercise the authority and power given us to bring healing, deliverance and salvation to souls (referring to believers who still need to be freed from their bondages) that are held captive by Satan at his will. Lk. 4:18, 2 Tim. 2:24-26.

Every saint of God who believes shall exercise their authority as shown in the following scriptures (in order to set His people free). Lk. 4:18

• Ps. 125:1 They that put their trust in God shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abideth forever.

COMMENT: Belief in God and not in man’s wisdom.

– Another scripture supportive of the above: They that do know their God shall be strong and do mighty exploits.

– Believe God’s word, stand on His word, exercise the authority given us and cast out the spirits that would defile our house so that we can walk as an overcomer.

– Be true to the commands of God, despite the many temptations and adversities we may face, in our brief sojourn on the earth.

– John 6:66-67 We see in these verses God asking his disciples if they will also turn away from his word as many others had. They responded: Lord to whom shall be go, for thou alone hast the words of eternal life.,

Sinners who persist in their sins, will find themselves sinking deeper and deeper in the deceptive schemes of the enemy and ultimately will be taken captive by the devil.

AUTHORITY GIVEN TO BELIEVERS:

Our Lord commands all that are believers to exercise the authority and power given him to destroy and bring to naught all satanic hierarchical powers that are holding his people captive and so enable us to prepare the bride of Christ: faultless, in anticipation of our Savior’s eminent return. 1 Thess. 5:23

This authority is seen in the following: Gen. 1:26, Ps. 8:6,Heb. 2:7-8, Jer. 1:10,51:20, Joshua 23:10, Isa. 59:14, Isa. 54:17, Lk. 10:18, Matt. 10:7-8, Lk. 9:1, Rev. 12:11, Lk.9:1, Mark 16:15-18, John 15:7, Mark 11:23, Isa. 48:10

Ps. 8:6 “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:”

Heb. 2:7-8Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

⁸ Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.

Jer. 51:20Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;

Luke 10:18-19¹⁸ And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. ¹⁹ Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

COMMENT: Command given to believers.

Matt. 10:7-8⁷ And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

COMMENT: Command of God to believers.

– Freely you have received your deliverance, you should be willing to see others freed from their devils.

Jer. 48:10Cursed be he that doeth the work of God deceitfully and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

COMMENT: Simply put, anyone who carries out God’s ministry with selfish and ulterior motives is cursed. Also, the believer/minister is cursed if he refuses to exercise the authority given him as seen above to set God’s people free from satanic bondage. Lk. 4:18

– The question arises: Can we say that the church today is seen walking in the authority and power given and commanded of God? Do we understand that without exercising this authority, God’s people cannot be set free?

– Remember, we have been commanded of God to carry on where Jesus left off. John 17:18.

– QUESTION: What are we guilty of if we fail to carry out the commands of God as seen in all the above, and in Matt. 28:18-20.

– ANSWER: Rebellion, which is as the sin of witchcraft. This means that we are witches and God’s word says in Ex. 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

This means, that if we are found guilty of the above, we simply have to repent, accept where we have fallen short and start to do what he commands us to do in his word.

It is of utmost importance to note that Jesus came to this earth to be an example for us; to follow in his steps and to carry on the ministry that his Father gave him. John 17:18 tells us clearly that we are to continue to do what he was instructed of his Father to do while he was on this earth. See also, 1 Peter 2:21-23.

However, to be able to continue to do as Jesus did, our houses must be set in order before we can be used of the Lord. A great example of a house that was put in order can be seen in Isa. 6:1-8 where prophet Isaiah humbled himself, admitted his sinful state by repentance, after which his iniquities were purged (Got his deliverance), before he was sent by the Lord to preach his gospel of freedom. See also Rom. 10:13-17

Based off the above, without the cleansing – the deliverance process, your house (spiritual temple cannot be set in order).

I will refer you to another scripture that gives strong support of the above. This is seen in 1 Cor. 6:19 which says, What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and ye are not your own? 20. For we were bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body and your spirit which belongs to God.

WE ALL WILL BRING GLORY TO GOD:

• When we keep his temple free from: all satanic yokes, contracts, ungodly soulish relationship bondages, connections, generational curses, mortifying the flesh on a daily basis, be prepared to embrace the suffering message.
• With a clean house, we can exercise the authority and power as commanded of God to set his people free.

After prayerfully going through God’s word on the importance of setting our houses in order, let us quit playing around with our eternal destiny and begin to seriously start applying all his commands to our lives, and learn to become adept soldiers in the army of the Lord, effectively using our spiritual warfare weaponry along with the authority and power given us to destroy the satanic powers that are currently holding captive the leaders, peoples and nations of this world in bondage. 2 Cor. 10:3-5

Finally, in addition to all that the Lord has said to us through his word, we should also take note that a carnal mind will not enable us to set our houses in order. A carnal mind needs to be changed to that of a renewed and transformed mind. Ro. 12:1-2

A BRIEF OUTLINE WITH SHORT STATEMENTS AND SCRIPTURAL REFERANCES TO THE TRAITS OF THE CARNAL MIND. LET US EXAMINE OUR OWN LIVES TO SEE THAT WE ARE NOT WALKING IN CARNALITY IF OUR HOUSE IS TO BE KEPT IN ORDER.

EXCERPTS: Symptoms of Carnality Timeless Truths by Elmer E. Shelhamer, Free Online Library

i. A carnal mind is deadly

ii. Do you ever feel:

– A secret sense of pride, an exalted feeling that you have in view of your success or your present position – because of your good training and/or your academic accomplishments, along with your natural gifts and abilities; and important and independent spirit; stiffness and preciseness – a legalistic mind – no Christ like graces. Gal. 5:22-23

iii. Love of attention and human praise:

– A secret fondness to be noticed, love of supremacy, drawing attention to yourself in conversations. Matt. 6:1, Ro. 2:8

– Above individual is operating under the strongman of rejection which is the foundation of the demonic tree in all human lives on the face of the earth. Rejection needs to be dealt with through deliverance (by casting out the spirits of rejection along with the other two groupings – rebellion and bitterness).

iv. An angry, impatient, easily offended disposition:

– Some may want to call it nervousness (a spirit of fear is at work 1 Tim. 1:7) or holy indignation.

– A touchy, sensitive spirit, a disposition to resent and retaliate or distance yourself when reproved or contradicted. Mark 11:25; Matt. 5:38-41; Prov. 13:18

v. Self-will:

– A stubborn, unteachable spirit (not willing to accept and walk in God’s word when presented), an arguing, talkative spirit, harsh, sarcastic, or ornery response, an unwillingness to accept our sinful behavioral actions as revealed in God’s word, just make your mind up to repent and change – an unyielding, headstrong attitude, a driving, commanding spirit. 1 Sam. 15:23; 2 Tim. 3:16, Prov. 12:1

vi. Carnal fear:

– A man fearing spirit; a shrinking away from reproach and our Christian duties for fear of what others might say to intimidate or ridicule or cause you any embarrassment; reasoning around the cross. 2 Tim. 1:7, Ezek. 14:13

vii. A jealous disposition:

– A secret spirit of envy shut up in your heart; an uneasy sensation you experience because of someone’s success (spiritually or naturally); a disposition to speak of the faults and failings rather than the giftings and virtues of those operating in a higher level of anointing than yourself. James 3:16

viii. Lustful strings:

– Unholy actions, evil and vain imaginations (Ro. 1:21); undue affection and familiarity towards those of opposite sex. (wandering eyes); something in you that cannot be trusted if the right opportunity presented itself. 1 John 2:15-17

ix. A dishonest and deceitful disposition:

– A dishonest, and deceitful disposition, always evading the truth of the word – an unwillingness to say, this is what God is saying and I will seek to turn from my sinful ways and beliefs and do God’s bidding; not desiring to be transparent and not acknowledge your faults and transgressions; a lack of confidence in God and not believing that His word will accomplish what He says. Isa. 55:11; walking in false humility (hypocritical, legalistic, Pharisaical, formalism, traditional mindset – “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Tim.3:5

x. Unbelief:

– Plagued by a spirit of discouragement in times of pressure and opposition.

– Lack of quietness, impatient, no softness about your remarks which are most often harsh and not clothed in the love of God; a lack of faith in God – a disposition to worry and seek to protect oneself by placing trust in man’s wisdom/solutions, (Example: The vaccine: with the hope that it will protect you from the virus and so prolong your life)

– An overanxious feeling (a spirit of fear operating in all the above) of whether things will be better in the new year, that your life will be hopefully more comfortable. 2 Tim. 1:7

xi. Formality, exactness, selfishness and spiritual deadness:

– A lack of concern for lost souls, (as long as you are safe and protected from any adversity)

– No love and affection for the brethren:

(Including your weak brothers or anyone else outside the faith- even if they are ornery. 1 John 3:14

– Spiritual dryness and indifference and a lack of power with God. Amos 8:11, 1 John 2:27; Isa. 10:27

– Unable to walk in the authority and power of God to ensure your safety and that all that you need will be supplied by your Savior regardless of what the circumstances might say. Phil. 4:13, 19

– A love for the comforts of this life, not seeking to minister to others in need and a failure to always esteem others higher and better than yourself. (That is to focus on the gifts and strengths of others rather than trying to get others to recognize and praise our gifts and strengths). Phil 2:3

Ro. 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not please ourselves.

– Whether they are struggling with any sinful habit/disposition; whether they took the vaccine or didn’t take the vaccine.

xii. Stinginess:

– Over exacting – not having a liberal hand, unwilling to give sacrificially (even at your discomfort)

– You are exacting with trifles, falling out with others because you don’t see eye to eye with them. (God’s word says – be of the same mind.

– Put on the mind of Christ. 1 Peter 4:1

COMMENT: Paul is saying, no longer think and act or desire the things of this world nor establish goals around the material things and comforts of this world or behave the way this evil world behaves (1 John 5:19) – In fear, insecurity, anxiety, wondering if the new year will be better for us, or whether we can achieve our secular goals and comforts in the coming years, etc.

But rather seek to imitate the attitudes, sentiments and feelings of Christ as shown in the following scriptures:

Col. 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

– But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things (earthly goals and comforts will be added unto you) 3 John 2

– I implore us all to read verses 3-25
– Other scriptures on the mind of Christ can be seen in 1 Cor. 2:13-16, Ro. 12:2, 1 Cor. 2:14-16, Phil. 2:5, 2 Tim. 1:7, 1 Peter 1:13, Phil 2:5-11, 1 Peter 7:14

xiii. Sectarianism:

– Being narrowminded (closed mind, bigoted, in favor of my little crowd, your church members alone are your favorites – you are not really interested in whether the others who fellowship at another church is going home to be with Christ and if so, we all have to come into and put on the mind of Christ, for he is coming for one bride. 1 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:4

– All believers are responsible for searching the scriptures and seeking to apply the principles flowing from them.

So let us also take heed to another command of his as seen in 1 Peter 4:1-2

4 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; ² That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

– For added enlightenment, for clearer understanding of the above 2 scriptures, read verses 3-19

After taking note of what the Lord says in his word, we can simply say that to make it home, we must walk/follow in the steps of Christ as seen in 1 Peter 2:21-23, Lk. 9:23. A failure to reach out with the full gospel to bring others into the salvation experience and unto perfection will place us all in great trouble with our Lord and Savior. Eph. 4:10-17, 1 Thess. 5:23