彻底的清理之三：更换衣裳
除了除掉外邦神并洁净自己以外，他们还更换衣裳。（创三五2。）按照圣经，更换衣裳的意思就是改变生活方式。以弗所四章二十至二十四节启示，旧的生活方式是堕落人性的生活，新的生活方式是教会的生活。教会是重生的新造，人性是堕落的旧造。我们未得救时，生活方式是堕落、旧造的生活；现在得救、重生、被带进教会生活，就必须有新的生活方式。我们必须脱去旧人，并且穿上新人。脱去旧人乃是脱去旧的衣裳，旧的生活方式；穿上新人乃是穿上新的生活方式，就是教会。
除掉外邦神并洁净自己之后，我们必须更换衣裳，改变我们的生活方式。我们不该再以老样子表现自己，乃该以新的生活方式表现自己是教会，是新人。我们原是堕落的旧造，但现在是重生的新造。我们很多的亲戚、朋友、同事和邻居都能见证，在我们进入教会生活以后，我们的生活方式有了彻底的改变。教会已经改变了我们的生活方式，并且还继续来改变。这是为着伯特利。
彻底的清理之四：埋藏耳环
创世记三十五章四节说，“他们就把外邦人的神像，和他们耳朵上的环子，交给雅各；雅各都藏在示剑那里的橡树底下。”不仅偶像埋了，耳环也埋了。耳环是美化自己的东西，这些要和偶像一样加以对付。许多人的耳环、饰物，在神眼中等于偶像。雅各家里的人除掉外邦神的时候，也除掉了他们的耳环。这指明对他们的良心而言，耳环和外邦神同样可憎。很多姊妹在摸着教会以后，有同样的感觉，并且除去这种可憎的饰物。这与道德无关，乃与神的家有关。
神没有嘱咐雅各作这样的清理。那么为甚么雅各这样嘱咐每个人？因为神的家不是个人的事。不是只有雅各。神的家必须是雅各家成了以色列家。至终，雅各所有的后裔都成了神的家，伯特利。真伯特利不是帐幕，乃是以色列人。同样，我们必须看见，今天我们是教会。我们必须被洁净，不仅因为我们要去伯特利，更因为我们要成为伯特利。我们必须除掉一切的外邦神和可憎的饰物，洁净自己，更换衣裳。除掉外邦神，意思也就是除掉一切外来的倚靠。我们在全人里外都必须清除一切的玷污，并且必须改变我们的生活方式。这都是为着教会生活。
信息重点：更换衣裳表征改变生活方式。 为着伯特利，我们需要脱去旧的生活方式，穿上新人，活出与神的家相配的生活。
应用祷告：主耶稣，求你使我脱去旧的生活方式，除去外面的虚荣和自己的彰显，使我穿上新人，在每天的生活中活出与你的家相配的见证。阿们。
请享受诗歌 (点击诗歌名）
Jacob’s Response to God (3) — Gen. 35:4
The Third Aspect of the Thorough Clearance: Changing Garments
In addition to putting away foreign gods and cleansing themselves, they also changed their garments (Gen. 35:2). According to the Bible, changing garments means changing our way of life. Eph. 4:20-24 reveals that the old way of life is the life of the fallen human nature, while the new way of life is the life of the church. The church is the new creation of regeneration; human nature is the fallen old creation. Before we were saved, our way of life was a fallen, old-creation life; now that we are saved, regenerated, and brought into the church life, we must have a new way of life. We must put off the old man and put on the new man. Putting off the old man is putting off the old garments, the old way of life; putting on the new man is putting on the new way of life, which is the church.
After putting away foreign gods and cleansing ourselves, we must change our garments — change our way of life. We should no longer express ourselves in our old manner, but express ourselves in the new way of life, which is the church, the new man. We were originally the fallen old creation, but now we are the regenerated new creation. Many of our relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbors can testify that after we entered the church life, our way of life underwent a thorough change. The church has changed our way of life, and continues to change it. This is for the sake of Bethel.
The Fourth Aspect of the Thorough Clearance: Burying the Earrings
Genesis 35:4 says, “So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem.” Not only were the idols buried, but the earrings were buried as well. Earrings are things used to beautify oneself, and they must be dealt with just like idols. For many people, earrings and ornaments are, in God’s eyes, equivalent to idols. When Jacob’s household put away the foreign gods, they also put away their earrings. This indicates that, to their conscience, earrings and foreign gods were equally detestable. Many sisters, after being touched by the church, have had the same feeling and have removed such detestable ornaments. This has nothing to do with morality; it has to do with God’s house.
God did not instruct Jacob to make this kind of clearance. So why did Jacob instruct everyone to do so? Because the house of God is not a personal matter — it was not just for Jacob alone. God’s house required that Jacob’s household become the house of Israel. Eventually, all of Jacob’s descendants became God’s house, Bethel. The real Bethel is not the tabernacle, but the people of Israel. Likewise, we must see that today we are the church. We must be cleansed, not merely because we are going to Bethel, but even more because we are to become Bethel. We must put away all foreign gods and detestable ornaments, cleanse ourselves, and change our garments. Putting away foreign gods means putting away every outward reliance. In our whole being, inwardly and outwardly, we must clear away all defilement, and we must change our way of life. All this is for the sake of the church life.
Message Main Points: Changing garments signifies changing our way of life. For the sake of Bethel, we need to put off the old way of life and put on the new man, living a life that matches the house of God.
Today’s Prayer: Lord Jesus, make me to put off my old way of life, remove outward vanity and self-display, and put on the new man, living out each day a testimony that matches Your house. Amen.