The State of The Church: What Does Jesus See? | Day 4: Cleaning House Before Christ Returns

We keep asking God to send revival, but what if He is asking us to clean house first? What if the reason we are not seeing more of His presence is not that God has stopped speaking, but because His people have stopped removing the things that grieve Him?

In the days of King Josiah, God’s people faced a challenge.

For years, compromise had been tolerated, God’s Word had been neglected, and things that did not belong had found a place among God’s people. 

We saw this with Tobiah, the enemy, who was given a chamber in God’s temple, and with Eli, the priest, who failed to stop the sinful behaviour of his sons. In both cases, what should have been confronted was tolerated, and what should have been removed was allowed to remain.

When the Book of the Law was rediscovered, Josiah realised that before there could be renewal, there first had to be repentance.

2 Kings 23:24-25 (KJV),“Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.”

Notice what Josiah did. He did not merely acknowledge the problem. He removed what did not belong. He understood that God was not calling His people to make peace with compromise. God was calling them to get rid of it.

Family, if revival started with us today, what would God ask us to remove?

Would it be pride? Bitterness? Unforgiveness? Jealousy? Gossip? Secret sins? Worldly habits that have slowly become acceptable?

The uncomfortable truth is that many of us want revival around us while resisting revival within us.

David understood where revival begins.

Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV), “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

David did not ask God to search the church board, the elders, the pastor, or his neighbour. He asked God to search him. Before God cleans up the Church, He often starts by cleaning us up.

The Bible repeatedly reminds us that God’s presence is holy. Under the Old Testament system, even the high priest could not casually walk into the Holy of Holies. Preparation was required. Reverence was required. Holiness mattered.

Leviticus 16:2 (KJV), “And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail… that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.”

God was teaching His people something important. His presence is not to be treated casually.

David asked, in Psalm 24:3-4 (KJV): “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart…”

Clean hands and a pure heart are still important to God.

One of the first places the condition of our hearts shows up is in our speech. We often say things are “just expressions” or “just words,” but Jesus taught that our words reveal something deeper.

Matthew 12:34 (KJV), “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Paul instructed believers in Ephesians 4:29 (KJV), “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

And James wrote in chapter 3 verse 10, James 3:10 (KJV), “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

Family, if what comes out of our mouths changes depending on who we are talking to, perhaps God is showing us that there is some cleaning up to do on the inside.

This principle also applies to spiritual leadership. The Church should be a place where people find healing, comfort, direction, truth, conviction, and hope. If we continually sit under leadership that is not surrendered to God, what are we allowing into our own spiritual house?

Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 3:2 (KJV), “A bishop then must be blameless…”

Leadership is not about perfection. It is about integrity, accountability, and a willingness to submit to God’s transforming work. The house of God should not leave people more confused than when they arrived. It should point them toward Christ.

This is why Jesus’ message to the church at Sardis is so relevant.

Revelation 3:1-2 (KJV), “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die…”

Sardis had a reputation for being alive, but Jesus saw what others could not see. He saw beyond appearances. He saw beyond programmes. He saw beyond reputation. He saw the condition.

The same Jesus still examines His Church today.

The good news is that God does not expose what is wrong in order to condemn us. He exposes it because He wants to restore us. He is so merciful that He sent Jesus Christ so that cleansing would be possible.

Titus 2:11-14 (KJV), “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Family, Jesus did not die merely to forgive us. He died to purify us.

That is why Paul urges believers in 2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV), “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Family, every house attracts something. A house filled with compromise attracts confusion. A house filled with prayer attracts God’s presence. A house filled with God’s Word attracts spiritual growth. A house surrendered to Christ becomes a place where people find healing, direction, and hope.

As we prepare for Christ’s return, let us ask ourselves the question Josiah was willing to face: If revival started with me today, what would God ask me to remove?

Because before God sends revival, He often calls His people to repentance, cleansing, and renewed obedience. 

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