Dare to be Different Series :: God's Expectation of Separation :: 10/26/15 PM

Part II

God’s Expectation of Separation

Intro: Contrary to many people’s opinion, separation isn’t the brainchild of some denominational or ecclesiastical hierarchy.  Though several denominations and churches are known for their emphasis on separation, it wasn’t their idea.  The truth is, the Doctrine of Separation originated in the heart and mind of Almighty God.  He demonstrated his passion for this doctrine by his Expression of Separation on the first few days of Creation.  His Expression of Separation is followed by an Expectation of Separation that continues until today.

A. It is a Repeated Expectation

This doctrine is not mentioned only once.

Even if it were, it would still be important.

But this doctrine is repeated throughout Scripture.

There are laws of separation that affected every area of life.

·         God separated the light from the darkness.

·         God separated the water in the firmament from the water on the earth.

·         God separated the water from the dry land.

·         God separated the murdering, rebellious vagabonds from their law abiding family members.

·         God separated the builders of the Tower of Babel by confusing their languages.

·         God separated the family of Noah from the wicked and perverted generation of his day.

·         God separated the seed of Abraham from the rest of the world.

·         God separated the nation of Israel from the Egyptians following the Passover and the 10 Plagues.

·         God made laws of separation between the men and the women.

·         God made laws of separation between the Jew and the Gentile.

·         God forbad them from marrying each other.

·         God forbad them from worshipping the gods of the Gentiles.

Throughout the Scripture, there is a distinction between the people of God and the world.

Psalm chapter 1 begins with “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful…”

B. It is a Relevant Expectation

This doctrine was relevant to the Nation of Israel.

This doctrine was relevant to the early church.

This doctrine is relevant to the church today.

There has always been a distinction between the believer and the unbeliever.

There has always been a distinction between the saved and the lost.

There has always been a distinction between God’s people and the world.

There seems to be a prevailing school of thought that any belief in separation is unrealistic.

So-called “Christians” today are in complete denial at the relevance of separation.

QUESTION: If I’m supposed to be separated, but it doesn’t affect what I do, where I go, who I hang out with, what I wear, what I listen to, what I eat or drink or what I watch and how I act, then what does it affect??

·         How separated am I expected to be?

·         How distinct am I supposed to be?

·         How long should a person have to be around me to detect that I’m separated?

·         How well should a person get to know me before it is obvious that I am separated?

·         What EXACTLY is the “unclean thing” that I’m supposed to not touch?

·         What EXACTLY are the “things that are in the world” am I not supposed to love?
What EXACTLY is the “way of the sinner” found in Psalm 1?

·         If there are things I’m forbidden to touch, and things I’m forbidden to love, shouldn’t I know what they are?

·         Should the modern day believer be separated?

·         Should the modern day pastor preach on it?

·         Shouldn’t the teacher teach on it?

·         Shouldn’t the parents instruct it and model it in their home?

·         Does it apply to the modern believer?

·         Is there any clear Bible teaching that will make this clear to us today?

C. It is a Reasonable Expectation

                1. Because we are His Body

As a born-again child of God, we are members of His body.

·         Eph. 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

The Bible is clear about one thing: When a person commits fornication, they violate themselves.

·         1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

When a Christian, whose body belongs to God, walks after the lusts of the world, they are using their members – which are His members, and using them for unrighteousness.

·         Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

When we are not separated and allow our members to promote unrighteousness, we are in essence taking the members of His body and using them to promote sin and unrighteousness.

                2. Because we are His Building

·         1 Corinthians 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

God expects separation in the life of the believer because He dwells within us.

·         I Cor. 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

ILLUSTRATION: We have what is called “squatters”.

The definition is: a person who settles on land or occupies property without title, right, or payment.

To allow the world to “possess” your vessel after God has paid for it and owns it is UNREASONABLE.
God is perfectly within His rights to demand that His purchased possession be used only by Him for His purpose.

Our body is a Temple – not a boarding house with a multiplicity of boarders and residents.

Our body is a Temple – not a hotel or a motel where strangers come and go at will.

As His temple – we belong to Him and are dedicated to serving His purpose and bringing Him glory.

ILLUSTRATION: As homeowners, we have locks, gates, security systems, etc. for the sole purpose of keeping out unwanted elements and people.  Our home is not open to the public and what we have is not free for just anybody to come use.  Likewise, as God’s building, He has put up some security measures to prevent the elements of the world from infiltrating and taking advantage of HIS BUILDING.

·         Matt. 12:25  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:  And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?  And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Satan doesn’t just want to move into your “temple” – he wants to destroy it; to spoil it; to divide it; to scatter it.

                3. Because we are His Bride

The Old Testament Israelites were forbidden from going after strange gods and God called it “whoring” over 18 times.

·         Exodus 34:11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:

Paul preached to the Corinthians with this explanation of his motivation as a preacher.

·         II Cor. 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

·         Revelation 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

How much more reasonable can a groom be to expect his bride to keep herself for him?

Over a dozen times, the Bible tells us that God is jealous.

One place said “his name is Jealous…”

It is PERFECTLY REASONABLE for the Bridegroom to expect a loyalty and a separation from others from His Bride!