Psalm 51:2: Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.Psalm 51:2: Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.Psalm 51:7: Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.Mark 2:22b: But new wine must be put into new wine skins. It seems for many believers a major disconnect occurs between the heart and mind. That being said, a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit is greatly connected to our conscious awareness of Hisindwelling. John’s gospel states clearly the sending of the Holy Spirit, ‘the Comforter,’ for encounter not only with us but to dwell (live His life) in us. We must be aware of His presence more than our sin.
Romans 8:5: For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Jesus having become sin for us dealt the death blow to sin’s hold on us. Now the removal of the residue of sin’s power is no less than Christ’s promise to us.

Romans 6:11: Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There are many word pictures or descriptions of the Holy Spirit; one is water. Notice the request from Psalm 51 is for ‘another’ to wash, cleanse, and purify us. The very work of the Spirit invokes the idea of cleansing or purifying by literally being the ‘Living Water’ flowing in power from within. Also, Ephesians speaks of Christ and His bride “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.” The living water and living word are ever present to do their work; we simply must say “yes” to His will and way in us and through us!
The new wine skins spoken of in Mark can refer to fresh governing or new governing of our lives. When the new spiritual ‘mind-set’ being the awareness of Christ’s promise is fixed, fresh outpouring, ‘New Wine’ will follow. When new wine comes, ‘times of refreshing’ in the Spirit of the Lord will overcome and overtake us with breakthrough in all aspects of our lives and those we influence… as it did on the Day of Pentecost and throughout the book of Acts. Jesusstarted the church the way He wanted it; now He wants the church the way He started it! He wants us saturated with fresh outpouring!

Reflect:

  • Do you need a fresh awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life?
  • Will you ask Him to fill you to overflowing?

Prayer:

Lord, I pray for times of refreshing as Your Word and Holy Spirit’s presence cleanse and renew me. I pray that I will be spiritually-minded and that I will say yes to Your way and will through me. Thank you for Your faithfulness to me! I pray that my spiritual family will receive a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit!

Take some time to reflect upon today. Use the space in the comments to communicate your reflections with others on this fast. Or, use your own paper and pen at home to jot down your thoughts.