Spiritual Detoxification (Bible Study) – Rev. Funke Ewuosho
By definition, detoxification basically means cleansing the blood. It is a process that requires the circulation of detoxifying liquids through the body, so that the organs which are responsible for these functions (like the liver, kidneys, lungs and skin) can fulfil their tasks more easily, without being overloaded.
Signs that your body needs detox:
- Fatigue- no energy
- Constipation
- Lots of headaches
- Muscle pains
- Joint pains
- You can’t focus
- Skin problems such as, acne, blemishes, rashes
- You actually rely on caffeine to function
- You are getting fat (bloating)
- You eat lots of pre-packaged food
It seems a lot of times, what some of us might need is a physical detox – and not necessarily to attach the devil/demons!
The Need for Spiritual Detox
“Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high.” Isaiah 58:3a,4 (NKJV
NLT: “This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with Me.”
MSG: “The kind of fasting you do won’t get your prayers off the ground.”
Also read Psalm 24:3-10 and Psalms 15:-5.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)
How To Detoxify:
i. Repentance and Confession
“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.” Joel 2:12c-13 (NKJV)
Sackcloth is a coarse, black cloth made from goat’s hair that was worn together with the burnt ashes of wood as a sign of mourning for personal and national disaster, as a sign of repentance and at times of prayer for deliverance.
Sackcloth and ashes were worn as a sign of repentance for sin. See biblical examples below:
Ahab (1 Kings 21:27); David and the elders (1 Chronicles 21:16); the Israelites (Nehemiah 9:1); and the Ninevites and their king (Jonah 3:5-9) – even the animals were to wear sackcloth.
See more examples here: Isaiah 15:3; Jeremiah 49:3; Ezekiel 27:31; Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13.
NOTE: Interestingly, one of the recognised ways of physical detox is fasting!
Spiritually, fasting was one of the outward means of showing inward repentance; it’s therefore a means of detox! Though, unfortunately, it became a mere religious practice – hence verse 13 of Joel 2 says, “So rend your heart, and not your garments”.
We see also in Isaiah 58:5 that God wasn’t impressed by their mere outward show of repentance; He was more interested in their hearts.
Read: Matthew 3:8; Hosea 10:12; 1 John 1:6-10; James 1:21; 1 Peter 2:1-3.
NOTE: The role of the Word in spiritual detoxification can be likened to how water helps in physical detox! Like water, the Word of God is also a cleansing agent (Ephesians 5:26-27)
Psalm 19:12-14 – “Who can discern his lapses and errors? Clear me from hidden [and unconscious] faults” (verse 12 in the amplified translation).
NOTE: God knows our heart, and rewards our actions by the contents (motives) of our heart!
Read: Jeremiah 17:9-10; 1 Samuel 2:3; Hebrews 4:12-13; Psalm 51,
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10
ii. Walking in Love – Forgiving Others
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
Mark 11:24-25; Matthew 18:21-22.
NOTE: Jesus then went on to tell the parable of the unforgiving servant, and concluded saying- “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18:35)
a. Resolving Conflicts:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9
NOTE: The importance of making peace with a fellow believer- whether you are the offender or the offended!
Read: Matthew 5:23-24; Luke 17:3-4; Matthew 18:15-20.
Pursuing Peace
‘For “He who would love life And see good days…Let him seek peace and pursue it”. 1 Peter 3:10-11.
Read: Romans 12:18; Romans 14:19; Hebrews 12:14-15
NOTE: Pursue peace with all people.
Ephesians 4:1-3; Psalms 133:1.
b. Don’t Retaliate:
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”. Romans 12:17-21 (NKJV)
Also read: Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14; 1 Peter 3:9-12
c. Watch Your Words:
“Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness”. Isaiah 58:9
– Don’t judge! Matthew 7:1-5; Luke 6:36-38
– Mind your language! Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29-30
– Control your anger!
‘And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT)
Note the connection of anger to corrupt (foul and abusive) words!
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” James 1:19,20 (NLT)
d. Guarding Your Heart:
“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart from offence, hatred, bitterness, unforgiviness, strife, etc. It’s your responsibility!
‘Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come,”. Luke 17:1a
Read: Psalms 119:165; Hebrews 12:15; James 3:14-18 KJV; Titus 1:15
“Love…thinks no evil; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:5c,7
Amplified version: “it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].”
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8.
STUDY QUESTIONS:
- Read Joel 2:12-13 again – what do we learn about turning to God with sincerity of heart?
- What is the connection between fasting and spiritual detoxification?
- In looking at Proverbs 4:23, what are the things to guard your heart against?
- Which scriptures have stood out to you during this study, and why?
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