How the people you fellowshipped with can have influence over your perception?
2 Samuel 10:1-5 (NKJV)
It happened after this that the king of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. [2] Then David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the people of Ammon.
[3] And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?"
[4] Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. [5] When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return."
In this story, David did not react to this situation after what Hanun did to his servants. (which is a sign of maturity).
It is only when the Hanun hired Syrians to fight with them. David had no choice but to destroy them.
The result was, forty thousand horsemen were killed.
Why?
Because Hanun had the wrong perception. Why? Because Hanun was influenced by the wrong people.
The definition of perception.
a result of perceiving, the process of using the senses to acquire information about the surrounding environment or situation
It is important as Christians that we are not influence with the wrong people.
The bible tells us in the last days.
1 Tim. 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 Tim. 3:13 (NKJV) But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
1 John 2:26 (NKJV) These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.
The Bible warns us about choosing our friends:
Psalm 1:1 (NKJV) Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
1. The ungodly man—one uninfluenced by God. in can be a Christian too have not regards of God. Jesus Christ is not Lord over his life.
2. The sinner—he who adds to ungodliness transgression
3. The scornful—the deist, atheist, etc., who make a mock of every thing sacred.
The UNGODLY man walks, the SINNER stands, and the SCORNFUL man sits down in the way of iniquity.
Mark certain circumstances of their differing characters and conduct.
1. The ungodly man has his counsel;
2. The sinner has his way; and,
3. The scorner has his seat.
The ungodly man is unconcerned about religion; he is neither zealous for his own salvation, nor for that of others: and he counsels and advises those with whom he converses to adopt his plan, and not trouble themselves about praying, reading, repenting, etc., etc. there is no need for such things; live an honest life, make no fuss about religion, and you will fare well enough at last.
Now, “blessed is the man who walks not in this man’s counsel;” who does not come into his measures, nor act according to his plan.
The sinner has his particular way of transgressing; one is a drunkard, another dishonest, another unclean. Each has his easily besetting sin; therefore, says the prophet, let the wicked forsake HIS WAY. Now, blessed is he who stands not in such a man’s WAY.
The scorner has brought, in reference to himself, all religion and moral feeling to an end. His conscience is seared; and he is a believer in all unbelief. Now, blessed is the man who sits not down in his SEAT.
See the correspondent relations in this account.
1. He who walks according to the counsel of the ungodly will soon,
2. Stand to look on the wag of sinners; and thus, being off his guard, he will soon be a partaker in their evil deeds.
3. He who has abandoned himself to transgression will, in all probability, soon become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin; and sit down with the scorner, and endeavor to turn Christianity into ridicule.
In the New Testament
2 Cor. 6:12-15
[14] Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
Paul’s use of “yoke” comes from Deut. 22:10, where the Israelites were directed not to yoke an ox and donkey together. The ox was a clean animal but the donkey was not (Deut. 14:1–8). Moreover, from a practical standpoint, the two animals had different work styles and different natures.
Practical Application
For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
Fellowship; communion; to live with; to share; to be in union, in partnership, in a bound fellowship; to be closely bound together; to have a close, mutual relationship.
How can a believer who focuses his life upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ share and participate with unbelievers, unbelievers who care little if anything about Jesus Christ and His call to righteousness?
Unbelievers do not obey God. They live and do as they wish, not as God says. They reject God and what God says and go about doing their own thing. They rebel against God and His commandments, living lawless and unrighteous lives.
1Corin 15:33
33 Do not be deceived: m“Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Cor. 15:33 (Living) Don’t be fooled by those who say such things. If you listen to them you will start acting like them.
Do not be misled, misinform, Be not deceived could also be translated as do not roam or wander from the truth. That is what deceivers do. They use their charm and wit to lure you into thinking something evil is good.
Paul is warning the Corinthians that they are being deceived or tempted to wander from the truth by some folks that seem skilled in the Word and holy in their actions .
These friends and teachers had so influenced the Corinthians that they had ignored soul winning and discipleship. Paul said that "some have not the knowledge of God" and this was a shame to them. (Vs. 34) They needed to wake up and get out of these bad friendships.
2 Cor. 6:14 says that there is no communion or fellowship between light and dark. Therefore if our friends do not lead us into the light then they are darkness and we are to have no fellowship with them. We need to carefully choose our friends so that they will affect us for good.
Prov 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. KJV
I think of a blacksmith or sword maker when I see this passage. You take a piece of iron and bang it with an iron hammer as it lies on an iron anvil and you can sharpen it into a sword.
Now the iron you are beating must be hot. If the believer is filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and he allows God to hammer him and if he has a mature Christian friend that he can lean on as God is molding him he will become sharp. Then he will be able to be used to slice through the lies of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
A good, strong Christian friend will sharpen you. He will look for ways to make you stronger. The word countenance refers to the face. Face is often used to represent character or reputation. The Japanese do everything they can to save face. We say that we must face up to our fears or sins. A godly friend with strong character will encourage you. He will help you to maintain a good reputation. He will help you to save face. His reputation will improve yours for you are known by the company you keep.
Do your friends sharpen or dull you? Do you sharpen or dull them?
The word sharpen can also mean to make fierce. Does the devil see you and your friends as fierce warriors of truth or does he see you as dull brittle swords that can be easily broken?
God’s warning concerning a certain group of Christians
1 Cor. 5:9-13 (NKJV) I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. [10] Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. [11] But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. [12] For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? [13] But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."
You are not to keep company or mingle with fornicators and other groups of people that are not living righteous lives. Now, you cannot escape mingling somewhat with unrighteous people. As Paul says, you would have to go out of the world.
However, if they are called a brother or a Christian and actively living in these lifestyles then you kick them out of the church and do not fellowship with them. The motive is to make them rethink their life and repent so that they can be restored.
Romans 16:17-18 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. [18] For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
Sinful living is not the only thing that should cause us to separate from "friends" that are not wholly for God or righteousness. We are to separate from the troublemakers. These are the ones that like to get folks all angry up for nothing. They look for ways to trip you up and then rebuke you when you fall. They like to fuss about everything and everyone. They talk a good fight and to those who are not mature enough to have discernment, they look like they might even be right. They gain a following and do more to create disunity rather than the unity that sound doctrine teaches.
There are times when grievances are valid. We should always stand for the truth and when necessary divide over doctrinal issues. Luther said, "Peace if possible, but truth at any rate." However, the ones Paul speaks of here are just whiners. They seek attention and control with their whining and they do not even have the courtesy to serve cheese with their whine. If they requested one egg sunny side up, and one scrambled and you served them on a silver platter they would whine that you scrambled the wrong egg.
These folks are not serving Christ. Their own appetities or bellies control them. Their goals and motives are their own and not God’s. Paul says to absolutely shun them. Run do not walk away from them. Pray for them, but don’t hang with them. Be there to welcome them back if they repent and God removes the bitterness and pride from them. Don’t go out with them, but do not go out of your way to rebuke them at every opportunity either. Even negative attention feeds their flesh. Starve them and they may grow to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Then God can fill them and make them the friend they should be.
2 Thes. 3:6 (KJV) Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
