Cleansing First, Then Power
Drawn from the teaching of Professor Gary S. Maxey · 2 min read
Many believers ask God for power. Professor Gary Maxey gives an order that surprises them. In his book on the Highway of Holiness, he says the negative comes before the positive. Cleansing precedes purity, and purity precedes power.
The pattern in Titus
He points to Titus 2:11-12. The grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously and godly in this age. Notice the order. First the denial. Then the positive life.
Professor Maxey draws a parallel with the beginning of faith. A repentant sinner cannot receive salvation until he recognizes he is a sinner. In the same way, a born-again believer does not normally receive the deeper cleansing and the fullness of the Spirit until he sees the uncleanness of his fleshly heart.
Two honest questions
He asks two questions. Can someone rightfully claim to be born again who has never confessed any sin? Can someone claim the deeper cleansing Paul prays for in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 who has never seen the ugliness of the fleshly mind? He suggests the answer to both is no.
What the power is
Professor Maxey says purification brings a power unknown before. Jesus promised that power when the Spirit came (Acts 1:8). He says that on a daily basis, the power shows in a pure heart. He describes what it looks like. Pride is replaced by gentleness, so the person is willing to be underrated, corrected and unnoticed. Anger is replaced by understanding. Envy is replaced by gladness at another person's promotion. Selfishness is replaced by generosity. Deceit is replaced by openness. The love of praise is replaced by humble service.
The evidence of purification, he says, is simply purity.
The warning for the ambitious
If you want power for ministry, expect a prior question from God. Is your heart clean? Professor Maxey notes that Satan can put on a show of holiness for a time, but he fails again and again to counterfeit true holiness of heart and life.
One step
Find the item on the list above where you are weakest. Pray about that one only for a week. Ask God to replace it, and ask a friend to tell you honestly whether anything changes.
Drawn from the teaching of Professor Gary S. Maxey.
