PURIFICATION TESTS
READ: Titus 2:7-15
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and PURIFY unto himself a peculiar people, ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS.
Titus 2:14
Purification takes place so that you will be zealous of good works. Without zeal, without a drive, without a strong determination and without inexorability you will not be able to do the good works God has determined for you to do.
Expect to have some terrible experiences that will bump you out of slowness, lateness, lethargy and gradualness. God is trying to purify you of negative phlegmatic tendencies.
In my experience, many pastors have a phlegmatic personality. Many pastors do not have a drive. Many leaders lack the fervour, the keenness and the enthusiasm that is needed for ministry. Also, many ministers are older people who have lost the eagerness, the passion, the hunger and the thirst for more of God.
As people get older, their feelings, their passion, their enthusiasm, fanaticism, vehemence, fervour, eagerness, ardour, keenness and intensity also grow older. Their outlook on life, their thoughts, their feelings and their mind-sets are hardened and resistant. You cannot squeeze much joy, happiness, excitement and enthusiasm out of these hardened ones. This hardening takes place with age.
If God is going to use you, you will need to be purified of this hardening. You will need to be cleansed of resistance to change, resistance to new things and resistance to youthfulness. There are many young people who are not youthful in their outlook. They have adopted a premature ageing syndrome as their default posture.
To work with God you need to be young in your outlook, in your attitude, and your approach to things. Gradual hardening leads to many dangerous conditions that are detrimental to spiritual growth and happy marriages.
Purification is necessary so that the stiffening of your neck as well as your sense of entitlement will give way to the yieldedness and humility of the Holy Spirit.