Detoxification

“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”  2 Cor 7:1 (NIV)

Recently my wife and I went for a full-body lymphatic drainage detox massage lasting an hour, which we signed up during an Expo sale promotion or similar to one that would be given to new credit card sign-ups. Prior to the massage by the therapists, our heights, weights and different girths of our body and limbs were taken. They used a machine, putting plates on our upper and lower limbs, to measure of our body fat, cellulite (for women) and the amount of calories burnt during resting phase (kind of like our metabolic rate). After the selection of relevant aroma oils to be used, the light touch massage commenced with our backs working from head to feet. The process is supposed to clear the body of toxins, reduce congestion and promote healing. Once the massage was over, they again measure girths of our body and limbs.  The consultant will give us a summary of our results including BMI and the rest, and of course asked whether we would want to sign on a package with them, which we politely declined.

In the scripture verse quoted above, God has promised to be our Father if we separate ourselves from the evil influences of the world that contaminates our body and spirit.  In the physical, God has created our bodies uniquely with a lymphatic system, which is our body’s first line of defense in fighting pain, inflammation and infection; detoxifying and moving metabolic waste and toxin out of the body. When the lymph nodes become blocked, fluids accumulate and cause the whole lymphatic system to become toxic, making us feel lethargic and more prone to illness. By stimulating this system through massage, the lymphatic system works more efficiently, which in turn boosts the immune system, clears blockages, eliminates toxins, transports nutrients to cells and increases the metabolism. 

Just as the gentle massage techniques adopted by the therapist with the aroma oils on our bodies stimulate the detoxification process, so likewise we need to allow God to work in our spirit man, saturating us with His Holy Spirit so that we may be quickened to respond to His Word. One of the ways to do this is to pray in tongues, allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through us because He intercedes on our behalf according to God’s will (Rom 8:26-27). Another way is to read God’s Word daily, allowing it to saturate our being in order that we may praise God aright and instruct one another appropriately (Col 3:16). The evil influences will come through our five senses and that is why it’s so important to guard our hearts and minds by keeping ourselves aglow in the Spirit in order that we may not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness but instead expose them (Eph 5:11).

When you read the mass media, invariably there would be news of people committing crimes against humanity. Among them, sexual sins are featured as well as people flaunting their bodies online without a care in the world, with a view to titillate and entice people into sin. It is as if the spirits of lust have been released en masse by the devil, knowing that his days are limited.  The apostle Paul warns us in 2 Tim 3:1-5
“There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (NIV)

Unless we know how to detox our minds against the onslaught of evil, it is wise not to indulge our senses in such filth that are being portrayed in the online and printed media. Otherwise, spiritual bondage to sexual sins can only be broken through deliverance and counseling.