Called Out to be Separate--Not Conformed

Called out to be separate—not conformed

     We have been called out of our old sinful lives to live lives separate—wholly devoted, dedicated—to the Lord.

      One aspect of holiness is living a life of godly choices. We daily have choices on what we will place before our eyes, our ears, and where we will go. What we view, listen to, and attend/visit will affect us; either for our betterment or detriment. We must choose to feed ourselves with what is going to help us and others follow the Lord. For example, taking a youth group to an outing with a hotel stay afterwards gives you, the leader, choices. Will you let the youth watch whatever they want? Bloody, violent movies and sex-saturated, passionate movies will only harm them. It is not usually a onetime view that destroys people, it their continual choices down a faulty path. Your path determines your direction. Stick to the straight and narrow, not the broad (anything goes & don’t take stuff to seriously) and wide (tolerant & all-encompassing) road which leads to DESTRUCTION! Our choices have consequences on ourselves and others. The unbiblical dating frenzy today has produced a couple of generations with a lustful and physical view of love, multitudes of divorces, and an impractical view that one can find the “perfect” someone. Be careful how you live.

 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Peter 1:13-25 (KJV)

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 2:11-14 (KJV)

Live Set Apart—Holiness to the Lord

Live Set Apart—Holiness to the Lord

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. Psalms 4:3 (KJV)

 

 

   Let’s examine being separate—living lives that are set apart to the Lord.

 

O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 6:11-18 (KJV)

 

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV)

 

      Now that we are in Christ and no longer lost, we are changing into the image of Christ. We are separating from our old nature day by day and are being transformed by the renewing of our mind in the Word of God and from glory to glory in Christ! This issue is one of action, my desire and prayer is that you see how the Lord has created us to be separate, set apart to Him and just how essential this is to our Christian lives. It is not a subject to just throw to the side and forget and it is certainly not a small theme in the Bible.

       I am not saying that we are to live a monastic lifestyle in an effort to become Holy: it is unscriptural to completely cut yourself off from contact with the world for your whole life in effort to become Holy. As we mature in Christ, there are aspects of our flesh and our old way of doing things that we need to throw off and cast away. The reason being this: sin separates us from God and whether we like it or not we all have sin that comes up between us and God in the form strongholds, chains, and blindspots even after we’ve come to Christ. Jesus forgives our sin at the instance we accept Him, but some sins remain a problem until they are dealt with through a pruning process. Consequently, we will all come to a point in our growth where there is one thing that we have to deal with and separate from to continue moving forward in Christ. You are called to be not only a Holy People and a Royal Priesthood, but also a Peculiar people to the inhabitants of this world, living as strangers here in reverent Fear of the Lord. As you read, I encourage you to open yourself up to the Holy Spirit’s voice and listen.

 

Read these verses slowly and listen for what the Lord is speaking to you.

 

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2 (KJV)

 

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds 2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)

 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:9-12 (KJV)

 

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.

1 Peter 1:15-17 (KJV)

Live Set Apart—Holiness to the Lord

Live Set Apart—Holiness to the Lord

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. Psalms 4:3 (KJV)

 

 

   Let’s examine being separate—living lives that are set apart to the Lord.

 

O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 6:11-18 (KJV)

 

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV)

 

      Now that we are in Christ and no longer lost, we are changing into the image of Christ. We are separating from our old nature day by day and are being transformed by the renewing of our mind in the Word of God and from glory to glory in Christ! This issue is one of action, my desire and prayer is that you see how the Lord has created us to be separate, set apart to Him and just how essential this is to our Christian lives. It is not a subject to just throw to the side and forget and it is certainly not a small theme in the Bible.

       I am not saying that we are to live a monastic lifestyle in an effort to become Holy: it is unscriptural to completely cut yourself off from contact with the world for your whole life in effort to become Holy. As we mature in Christ, there are aspects of our flesh and our old way of doing things that we need to throw off and cast away. The reason being this: sin separates us from God and whether we like it or not we all have sin that comes up between us and God in the form strongholds, chains, and blindspots even after we’ve come to Christ. Jesus forgives our sin at the instance we accept Him, but some sins remain a problem until they are dealt with through a pruning process. Consequently, we will all come to a point in our growth where there is one thing that we have to deal with and separate from to continue moving forward in Christ. You are called to be not only a Holy People and a Royal Priesthood, but also a Peculiar people to the inhabitants of this world, living as strangers here in reverent Fear of the Lord. As you read, I encourage you to open yourself up to the Holy Spirit’s voice and listen.

 

Read these verses slowly and listen for what the Lord is speaking to you.

 

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2 (KJV)

 

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds 2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)

 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:9-12 (KJV)

 

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.

1 Peter 1:15-17 (KJV)

 

 

Thought 270: Found. . . .and named Angel from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 270

Found….and named Angel

   One day as I was going to get the mail, I found a stray cat. Now I strongly dislike cats, but this one was different. I brought it back to the house and fed it and played with it.  Shortly after doing all that I named it Angel.

     My Grandmother came over that day and saw how well me and my sister were getting along with the cat (which was still outside) and said that if Dad didn’t let us keep it that she would take it.  Well, Dad said no (we already had several pets) and a few days passed where I went outside and called “Here kitty, kitty” or “Angel” and the cat would come running from somewhere in the woods to me. In short, we never did get to keep the cat, but my Grandmother did take her. And the bond that used to have existed between myself and that cat is gone today when I visit: she avoids me and won’t come when I call her. Isn’t that how we are with God sometimes? We are following Him for a while, answering His every call, but then we get fed and placed in the comfortable indoors becoming cocky and prideful instead of humble and grateful.

   Are you still found . . . and named Angel and running to your lover at His every call? Or are you into Yourself and living in your found home?

Thought 241: Porn from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 241

Porn

  I have read many articles and testimonies from boys and men that have battled with this ugly monster. But let me assure you, most of the things that I have learned; any wisdom that my soul might now cling to, has come from using the gifts of my ears and eyes to listen and to read and using my mind to muse over something and consider the matter. God is the only way out of an addiction to pornography.

 God accepts me despite my failures and despite all my sins and all my miserable shortcomings. If He can accept me, one of the worst sinners, then He can accept you as well.

 If you struggle with the sin of pornography, first recognize that you cannot be free in your own strength, but the Lord’s Spirit in you can give you the power to become free. Believe—have faith—that the Lord will free you from this. It is not His will for you to stay in sin and if you are willing He will delight in helping you out.

 Read these Scriptures and stand on their promises—memorize them, know them, quote them when temptation comes: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, Ephesians 5:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Psalm 24:3-4, James 1:12-16, Psalm 119:9-11, Philippians 4:13, James 4:7-8, Matthew 1:21,   Hebrews 2:17-18, 1 John 2:14, Psalm 101, Job 31:1, 2 Timothy 2:20-21, 1 Cor. 10:13

Daily Devotion from Ryan Marks book Thoughts

Thought 129

A Peculiar People

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.”– Titus 2:11-15 NIV

Are you a peculiar person? Read this passage 3 times, slowly. While doing so, ask God to reveal the truth of this verse to you and listen for His gentle Spirits voice. (It might help to contemplatively write the verse down as well.)