Filter - Jan 2003

I have one of those vacuum cleaners that creates a visible cyclone of air while you work to show that it is working. When you are vacuuming the machine sounds and works the same weather the air is circulating or not, so you have to look at the actual collection chamber while it is running to see if it is collecting material or not. Over time as you vacuum you can see the air cyclone decrease in size as the filter slowly begins to fill up. Eventually, you can not see the cyclone of air while vacuuming. Then you know it absolutely time to clean the filter screen between the two chambers. Once that is done the full cyclone of air returns and the canister that was empty before quickly begins to fill because there is now nothing stopping the clear flow of air.

It seems to me that our relationship of God is similar. We are a empty chamber in the begin when we accept Him and we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Over time our filters get full of junk, over time we no longer get as much of God’s spirit as we had in the past. Eventually, we are barely able to even begin to get filled by God because our filters are so clogged. On the outside we look, sound and even act the same, but internally we are messed up with sin in its various forms - lust, greed, laziness, etc. These sin clogged filters keep us from functioning as we should. We are working at the things of God (study, prayer, etc), but really they are not filling us internally because our filters are so clogged.

Eventually we have to realize that God needs to completely clean our filters. After that, we are restored to 100% working order. Once that occurs our empty canister (our life) begins to fill again with the things of God, His will, and His ways. As this occurs, a another marvelous thing occurs, we are filled to overflowing with God and we allow blessings on flow into the empty canisters of those around us.

He is a great God, He is a true God, and He is a loving God. Allow Him to clean your filter today and restore you to full working order.

Vacuum Guy

James 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

2 Samuel 22:33 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

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	I have one of those vacuum cleaners that creates a visible cyclone of air while you work to show that it is working. When you are vacuuming the machine sounds and works the same weather the air is circulating or not, so you have to look at the actual collection chamber while it is running to see if it is collecting material or not. Over time as you vacuum you can see the air cyclone decrease in size as the filter slowly begins to fill up. Eventually, you can not see the cyclone of air while vacuuming. Then you know it absolutely time to clean the filter screen between the two chambers. Once that is done the full cyclone of air returns and the canister that was empty before quickly begins to fill because there is now nothing stopping the clear flow of air. It seems to me that our relationship of God is similar. We are a empty chamber in the begin when we accept Him and we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Over time our filters get full of junk, over time we no longer get as much of God’s spirit as we had in the past. Eventually, we are barely able to even begin to get filled by God because our filters are so clogged. On the outside we look, sound and even act the same, but internally we are messed up with sin in its various forms - lust, greed, laziness, etc. These sin clogged filters keep us from functioning as we should. We are working at the things of God (study, prayer, etc), but really they are not filling us internally because our filters are so clogged. Eventually we have to realize that God needs to completely clean our filters. After that, we are restored to 100% working order. Once that occurs our empty canister (our life) begins to fill again with the things of God, His will, and His ways. As this occurs, a another marvelous thing occurs, we are filled to overflowing with God and we allow blessings on flow into the empty canisters of those around us. He is a great God, He is a true God, and He is a loving God. Allow Him to clean your filter today and restore you to full working order. Vacuum Guy James 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 2 Samuel 22:33 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.