2 COR 6:14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." 17"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." 18"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." CHAPTER 7:1Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
It’s hard to live a holy life these days. It seems like eveerything is worse than it ever was. Our once great nation, founded on Christian principles is in such a state of moral decline such as we have never seen. Very much like Soddom and Gommorah was before God destroyed them. The nation of Israel also went thru their times of Godlessness. God would disciple them, even though He loved Israel greatly. How much more will He disciple the U.S. for our Godlessness.Jesus is the messiah...you must believe that. Light has no business with darkness. We don’t have any business teaming up with people who don’t believe in Jesus (messiah)
It is so bad that it has penetrated our churches. We have allowed sin to creep in and, in some cases, take over from what the church is supposed to be doing. Churches are now entertaining instead of preaching the Gospel. Preachers are afraid to preach about sin....might loose numbers or tithes. Heaven forbid we preach about hell....so we compromise the truths of the Bible and "do what is right in our own eyes". Just like in the days of Noah and Lot. There is a judgement coming...for us as individuals and as a nation.
What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? Are there unbelievers attending our churches? Let me ask you this. If you really believe in God, the Bible, the resurrection of the saints, then why do we not fear God enough to walk according to His word? Our text tells us to come out...seperate ourselves from the world. So why do we so desperately hold onto the things of this world? Why do preachers feel confined to preach against sin? Why don’t we tell people living together without the benefit of marriage that "hey...you are living in sin!" Or why do you go see movies that are not fit to watch? Movies that use your Lord’s name in vain. Movies that do not edify your soul. Our text says that we are the temple of the living God. Would you take God to some of the places you go, or tell some of the stories you tell if you knew that God was listening? How do you think He’s feel if you took Him to a movie and they kept using His son’s name in vain? You know, the one He sent to die for your sins? The church does a great dis-service when it doesn’t teach God’s truths....and great harm to believers.
17"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." That’s pretty plain, isn’t it? But how can we purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit like our text tells us to do? Only one way can we do anything...that is by the power of the Holy Ghost. And the more Holy Ghost you have dwelling inside of you, the better you are prepared to live that righteous life that God REQUIRES of us all. It is not a request...it is a requirement!
Have you ever seen where there is a toxic spill and all those "clean-up" guys come in with their yellow suits and oxygen masks? First they remove the source of the contamination. Then they wash everything away and cleanse it where you can’t even tell anything was there. Did you know that is how the Holy Ghost works? He will convict you of those things that are contaminating you. Then the blood of Jesus will wash away those toxins and the Bible says "remember them no more. What a wonderful Saviour we have! Even those guys in the yellow suits can’t get you that clean!
"But Pastor, it’s so hard to live like I know I should." I want to show you you something about Holy Ghost power. look in MAT 27:50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. How’s that for power? Can you imagine people you thought were dead and buried coming to see you? "Hey, look it’s Uncle Charlie...yea, I know I still owe you that $100 bucks...pay you when I get my income tax refund!" Notice it says the bodies of many "holy people" were raised to life. Holy. Now watch this in ROM 8:5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. Here’s what I want you to see....vs (KJV) 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
What does that mean, quicken your mortal body? The Greek word for this usage is zô-o-poi-e’-ô and here are the definitions...1) to produce alive, begat or bear living young 2) to cause to live, make alive, give life a) by spiritual power to arouse and invigorate b) to restore to life c) to give increase of life: thus of physical life d) of the spirit, quickening as respects the spirit, endued with new and greater powers of life 3) metaph., of seeds quickened into life, i.e. germinating, springing up, growing. Is any of this hitting home? (Re-read 1A and 2C) Listen, let’s read on there in ROM 8:13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. We MUST be lead by the Spirit! Hey, all you old-time Christians...you don’t get a pass....you can’t say "well, I got the Holy Ghost in 1972"...you need refreshing! The Bible tells us that God will pour out His Spirit in the latter days. We should be seeing visions and prophesying! Let’s move on..
ACTS 2:1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. WHEW...ain’t it GOOD to be Pentecostal? Well, preacher...that was then and this is now. Look here...here’s that scripturre I just gave you in vs 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: Bring it on!!! We’ve got to be lead by the Spirit to do these things, don’t we?
Here’s what I want you to see...ACTS 2:38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. Did the Lord call you? Of course He did! This promise of the Holy Ghost is for you...today. Tonight! Listen, I don’t know where you are spiritually...but you do....and God does. He wants to pour out His gifts tonight. Will you accept His gifts for you? Let me show you one more thing..
LUKE 24:44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things. 49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” We can do nothing apart from the Holy Spirit....but can do ALL things thru Christ who strengthens us.
Look, we all need this power from heaven, don’t we? You CAN live a Godly life...wrinkle-free, without blemish. One way is to stay in the Word, isn’t it? The Bible tells us in EPH 5:26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water (like the guys in the yellow suits) by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Jesus is coming for a spotless bride. Now listen, this doesn’t mean you are going to be perfect all the time. But it does mean that whenever you do something wrong (and the Holy Ghost convicts you) that you have an advocate with the Father. Praise God, we all need an advocate, don’t we? And we all need more of an indwelling of the Holy Ghost. Signs and wonders. Power to live...to be transformed, not conformed.
