Welcome back, friend, glad you’re continuing in your studies!
How do we get rid of the filth of impurity? The world would tell us that it’s by our efforts at trying hard to do better. When they stop doing a wrong thing, a certain behavior, they say “I’ve been clean for two years” (or however long they haven’t done the act.) Is this how to be clean and pure?
Today, we want to see a powerful illustration of exactly how we become clean. Let’s take a look:
Zechariah 3:1-5 NIV Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. (2) The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” (3) Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. (4) The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” (5) Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.
Question 1. What condition was Joshua in when Satan was standing by his side accusing him?
Joshua was “dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel” (verse 4). This is like living in impurity and the lusts of our flesh. Sexual immorality stains even our clothing (Jude 23), and makes us dirty before the Lord and other people. “All of us have become like one who is unclean...” (Isaiah 64:6 NIV).
When we involve ourselves in pornography and sexual impurity, we give Satan much ammunition with which to accuse us. Notice Satan was “at his right side,” which the Bible always equates with “the place of power” (Mark 14:62). Satan’s accusations are powerful and penetrating, and our conscience agrees with him in his statements against us.
Anyone who has ever experienced these kinds of accusations and dark thoughts knows it is futile to try to overcome them. Indeed, in this situation, people often turn to alcohol or drugs (either illegal or legal), or something else to try to drown out the thoughts, to try to silence the accusations of the Satan. It is an absolutely horrible and extremely discouraging state of mind.
Question 2. Have you ever experienced these Satanically inspired accusations before? If so, what was it like for you?
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