Background:
This Corinthian letter us used by the Apostle Paul to give counsel and instruction on important issues of the Christian faith and conduct. It also reveals serious problems facing the young church not long after its foundation in the middle of the first century.
Interestingly enough, the problems that Paul preached about back then were some of the same issues that many churches face today.
In this message, I want us to talk about one issue that not only keeps a church from growing but it’s also an issue in leading lost souls to Christ.
Read: 2nd Corinthians 6:17
(Mr. T calling out Rocky in Rocky III – 1982)
Just as Rocky was being called out, I am calling you out. Calling you to “come out from among them and be ye separate.”
Ephesians Chapter 2 gives us three areas in which we as lost sinners would pattern our lives after.
· “According to the course of this world”
· “According to the prince of the power of the air”
· “According to the lust of our flesh”
But when you read on down to verse 4, “God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace are ye saved).”
It was nothing you did
It was nothing you said
It was nothing you accomplished
It was GOD that brought you out and it will be GOD that keeps you out.
So who needs to come out and be separated?
Those who are:
1. Looking Like the World –
Taking on their habits – Taking on their language – Taking on their looks.
You are what you hang around with –
Sick people – you will catch the flu
Depressed people – you will become down
Crazy people – you start doing crazy things too
Accents – talking like those you are around
(ex. Be like bowlers on tv)
Catch Phrases –
“Yada Yada Yada” – Sienfeld
“How rude” – Michelle Tanner on Full House
“Cowabunga, Dude” – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
“Go ahead, make my day” – Dirty Harry
“I’ll be back” – Arnold Shwartsannager - Terminator
“Good Grief” – Charlie Brown
“Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty” – ALF
“Kiss my grits – Flo on the show “Alice”
“Back Back Back Back” – Sportscenter
“Holy Cow” – Harry Carey – sportscaster
Television and Marketing executives know that if they can get you hooked on a saying, they can get you to buy the products.
Is that not what Satan is trying to do?
If he can get you hooked saying certain words, certain jokes, certain phrase that you ought not to say – He can control you.
You may say:
“I dress this way” “I talk this way” “I act this way” – because I want to be considered normal.
Do you know what this world is now calling normal?
· Dress in all black with tongue/nose/belly button rings
· Two guys walking down the street holding hands
· Praising God on Sunday but hitting the bottle on Saturday
· Men stepping out on their wives/wives falling in love with their bosses
· Kids having kids
· Sunday morning church is all the church I need
We need some people who will become separate – so the world can see that there is a difference in us.
· If we dress like them
· If we talk like them
· If we act like them
· If we go where they go
· If we do what they do
Why should they make a change in their life for Christ?
From the looks of things = they are right on track.
Paul says, come out and be ye separate!!!
2. Living According to the World –
Letting this world determine how we live
(Ex. Three Hebrew Children – Daniel 3)
Christians have come to the place where we have let our guard down and allowed this world, our government leaders, our school administrators to determine how we will live our lives.
1. Can’t pray in school or work
a. Won’t even allow some Christian t-shirts
2. Can’t display the 10 Commandments
a. Deut. 6:3-9 – we are display them everywhere
b. "This ruling is a big setback to Roy Moore’s religious crusade," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, which cosponsored the litigation. "It’s high time Moore learned that the source of U.S. law is the Constitution, not the Bible."
3. Can’t make reference to Jesus during Christmas
They will not allow their employees to say “Merry Christmas” but instead “Happy Holidays”. Wal-Mart officials say they don’t want to offend others who do not believe in Jesus.
a. But yet they will offend us as Christians
b. Can’t mention the name of Jesus but they will allow God’s name to be taken in vain.
When are we going to start standing up?
When are we going to start defending the Word of God?
When are we going to start standing for the Savior?
3. Looking to the World -
We are allowing this world to determine our outcome
This world has you believing in their system:
· You can’t get a promotion because you don’t have a degree
· You can’t afford to buy a house at this point in your marriage
· You can’t make it by selling everything you have to become missionaries – that’s just crazy!
· You can’t be prosperous while living a committed life with Christ
You let this world determine:
What is success
What is right/wrong
What makes you respected
This world has things all backwards:
This world says you have to go out drinking and socializing to treat clients and get their business…
This world says projects the theme that if you are famous, you can get a way with murder, child molestation and more.
· Martha Stewart can go into prison can come out richer than before.
· We can have a former President that thinks “sexual relations” outside of his marriage is okay. Then also lie about it.
· We can have murderers by passing prison due to technicalities of the court
· DUI arrest and the superstars get probation
· James Brown arrested for domestic violence but will see no jail time instead he pays the court $1087 as his penalty.
· Winona Ryder gets three years probation after a $5500 shoplifting spree. Community service was served and she continues to make millions in the movie industry.
For some reason, you are not popular, successful, or respected until you have done something wrong.
· This world is looking for hope
· They are looking for a way out of their problems
· They are rowing up stream and they are looking for someone to help them and guide them
· They are looking for something different than what they already have.
They won’t find it in Christ unless we are examples of something different than what this world has to offer.
2nd Corinthians 6:14 – “Do not be unequally yoke with unbelievers…”
Ephesians 4:24 – “…put on the new self which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness…”
Romans 6:6 – “…our old self was crucified with Him…”
Galatians 5:1 – “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:16 – “…walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out he desires of the flesh…”
*You may say, Yes but I am tired of committing to the ways of the Lord and watching the world progress around me.
Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.”
1st Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
Determine in your heart not to:
Look like the World
Live according to the world
Looking to the world for your reward!
