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The Separated Life.The late Preacher Harry Ironside use to tell the story of some boys who caught two chirping baby linnets. They decided to teach these birds to sing by placing them in a cage and hanging it next to the cage of their pet canary. The canary sang beautifully, so the boys thought if the linnets were close to the canary, they would learn to become good songbirds. Several weeks went by with no results. Then one day the youngsters were startled by a strange sound coming from the canary’s cage. “Listen,” said one, “the canary is cheeping like a linnet.” That's the warning Paul gives the Corinthian church, how when a believer is in close communion with the world – they are in danger of acting like an unbeliever. Christians, can not be isolated from the world, because we live in this world, but at the same time we do not have to act- just like the world.” John 17:15 (Jesus said) My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Jesus was called a “friend of sinners”, he was accused of being worldly, a drunkard, hanging around prostitutes and tax collectors. Yet he was never influenced by the world, he always influenced others for God. So as we continue our studies through 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul beings to speak about living a separated life. How believers are to separate themselves from the world. Understanding that like the linnets influenced the canary, so the world can influence the believer to live apart from the will of God. The progression Paul gives in his letter to the Corinthians is, after laying a foundation of the fear of God – he speaks of the love of Christ – then how he had personally laid down his life for the faith. Then here in the latter part of chapter 6, Paul moves into a discussion of how believers are to live a separated life, a life different from the world. So lets read our text and consider living “the separated life.” READ THE TEXT. 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-7:1 THE SEPARATED LIFE. The separated life is a sanctified life. Sanctified means to “be set apart.” Our understanding of sanctification, comes from God. Just as the holiness of God means he is separate from all evil – so his children live a sanctified life, a life separating ourselves from whatever could influence us away from fellowship with God. What is the application of the life separated to God? What does it mean to live a separated life? How do we live in the world and yet keep the influences of the world from overwhelming us? The city of Corinth was a melting pot of many cultures, a port city with people coming from many different places and bringing with them the worship of many different idols. Corinth was a place of great thinkers, yet at the same time, a place of great immorality, with the temple of Diana at its center, with all its hideous practices. By the time Paul wrote 1st Corinthians those in the church had begun to embrace many of the practices of that culture - that were contrary to faith in God. So Paul writes the church of Corinth to help them grow in their faith and be effective in the ministry God has given them. Here he speaks about a separated life – a life separated from the society, and culture about them. Looking at Corinth's background we can see what kind of influences Paul is telling them to separate themselves from. But I think as we consider our twenty first century American life, I think it applies all the more right now. God's call for separation began with the nation Israel, how they were to be different then the people who lived in the land God gave them. That they were to be a separate community because they were chosen by God for a special purpose. That Paul's point to us, and that's why believers are referred to as pilgrims, and aliens, -- we are chosen by God to represent him here on earth. John 17:16 (Jesus said) They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. So there's a paradox -- in this world, we live on planet earth-- yet called to remain separate from the world. We live in the same society as everyone else - but told we are not of the world. So just how do we remain separate from the world, and yet live in that same world? Before we consider that, I want to be sure we all understand the term “world.” In the bible the term “the world” speaks of the systems of man, societies that develop, the cultures and national systems that deny God and deify man. When it says we are not of the world, it means that believers in Jesus are not to be “intimately connected” to those systems. So like anything else the scriptures say, there are those who would carry that to extremes, don’t vote, don’t solute the flag, don’t join the military, live in isolation, or live apart from modern conveniences. But that is not what the scriptures teach, that would only be living by law, and we know that. Gal 3:11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law , because, "The righteous will live by faith." Faith in God, is how men and women are made right with God, not by keeping rules for holy living, not by taking separation from the world to extremes. Let consider three things from this text.
Paul is referring to. Deut 22:10 Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. All the law is a picture of Christ, and so we look for the fulfillment in Jesus. It is not speaking to us about the yoking together of two different beasts of burden - but being bounded together with those who do not have share our faith. If you are, there will be problems, different morals, different agendas, a different world view. You will find your life becomes like a donkey and an oxen tied together. Working from different heights, going at different paces, and having different dispositions. If you yoke yourself with someone of no faith... well, the yoke is on you. To yoke means - to join together. A yoke is part of the tack used to harness beasts of burden to a load, like a cart or a plow. The yoke distributes the weight and lightens the load for the animal. A yoke can connect several animals together, like oxen, or donkeys so they can work together, in pulling a burden. The animals are side by side, tied together, where one goes the other goes and they are virtually inseparable. So Paul once again draws from the old testament principle and gives us the application as he says; “have no intimate relationship with someone that does not acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord.” Don’t marry them -- your headed for trouble. Don’t partner with them -- they are marching to the beat of a different drummer. It's a strong warning, there is no fellowship / no communion / people of faith and those without faith. Their lives are so opposed that there was no way that a Christian can thrive in an intimate partnership with an unbeliever. He contrast it to righteousness, and unrighteousness/ light and dark,/ Jesus and the devil. The irony of separation from the world, is just like those in Corinth, many of us here today had once lived lives opposed to the things of God. 1 Peter 4:3-5 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. If God has taken you from the standards of the world, how can you go back and live by those old standards? The standards of the world are different then the standards of the church - so others think we are strange – strange when we stand up for what the scriptures say is right. The things that the world says is acceptable, are not acceptable for followers of Jesus. When the world pushes a “tolerance for ungodliness”, we stand up and say “no.” When the world pushes an agenda of death, killing babies and sick people, we choose life and faith. We have a different world view, even though many of us used to be just like the world, when Christ came into our lives he took away that world view, and placed within us the Holy Spirit. So how does this yoking thing apply to us today? The Christian looking for a mate, should not consider someone who does not know Jesus. You are bound to have problems. “But Pastor Rich, I'll change him?” “But she said she'd come to church?” Your headed for issues, because there will come a time when your desire to serve the Lord, will be pulling the yoke you are bound with in a different direction then they want to go. If your already married, and your spouse is an unbeliever, the scriptures are clear, serve the Lord in your marriage. Fulfill your role, be an example to them - and who knows if your witness will attract them to God. If you are looking for a business partner, consider carefully who you are yoked together with in that relationship. You may have different morals, different work ethics, different values. If you are already in that situation the scriptures are clear, let your yes be yes, honor the contract, even if it is not binding. Like Paul tells those who are salves - to serve their masters well because - who knows if you might lead them to Christ. The people in Corinth, worshiped idols, so Paul tells the believers, ”what agreement is there between the temple of idols, and the temple of God.” If you are here and a child of God -- your body is God’s temple, so honor God with your bodies- and do not yoke your body with someone who does not have faith. Jesus most likely followed in Joseph's trade as a carpenter. The word used in the scriptures for carpenter is “master craftsman.” Some have speculated that their specialty was building yokes. Each yoke during Jesus day was custom fit to the animal. Custom fit to keep them from having sores, to make the pulling of the burden as light as could be. That understanding brings great light to Jesus words. Matt 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." “My yoke is easy”, literally means, “its a good fit.” Jesus says, “take my yoke, it will fit you perfectly, it will lighten your load.” Yoke yourself with Jesus; there will be no disagreement, he will carry your load. He will take the load of loneliness. He will carry the burden of trying to be good. He will pack the weight of your sin. ... INVITE. First we see; Do not be yoked together with the world.
2 Cor 6:17-18 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you……" Again, Paul quote from several old testament scriptures speaking of living a separated life. Come out from the world, be separate, keep away from unclean things, and I will be with you - that's the promise from God yet this is the area where people tend to get weird – this is the stuff that cults thrive on. Over the years we have had some folks in the fellowship that came out of cults. We had one couple who had an arranged marriage, they were complete strangers and some leader told them they were getting married. Another guy was in a cult and some Christians started sharing with him and he begin reading his bible. When he asked questions to his leaders, they told him to be quiet and that they were the only ones who could tell people what the bible said. This idea of a separated life is where the Jewish leaders of Jesus day got self righteous and where people get weird today. The Pharisees took God's command to be separate, and applied their own interpretations to it. They said who you could eat with and who you must avoid. But Jesus was very different as we said, he ate with those of questionable backgrounds, he was called a “friend of sinners.” When Jesus ate at Matthew the tax collector's house, some Pharisees asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and `sinners'?" Jesus heard them and said, Matt 9:12-13 ... "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Two weeks ago we asked the guys in the county jail; “Why was Jesus accused of hanging around undesirable people?” We got some good answers; “Because he wanted to show the religious leaders he was different....” “Because he was calling them to repent.” Good answers, but really the answer I was thinking about was very simple: Jesus was accused of hanging around questionable people because – He did. The religious leader made rules on how to be separate from the world, don’t eat with sinners, don’t shake their hands, don’t touch a sick person, cross the street if a gentile, a pig, or a woman is coming down the same side as you. Rules for separation - but Jesus embraced the sick, he touched the untouchable, the leprous, a woman with bleeding, the blind, the hurting. He was stationed far from his home, but he understood the traditions of the land. His beloved servant was sick so he goes to the only place of hope. This Roman centurion sent his friends to Jesus, after telling him that the servant was sick, Jesus said he would go and heal the man, but the centurion knew the Jewish traditions and sent more friends to tell Jesus that “I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but ... just say the word and my servant shall be healed. Luke 7:9 …. (Jesus amazed, said)... "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." (And the servant was healed from that very moment.) The example of separation from Jesus is quite different than the religious leaders, they were legalistic, they practiced segregation, where Jesus practiced separation. Separation from sin, separation from the world. So we follow Jesus- we do not practice segregation – but separation. The difference is obvious. Segregation says, “I’m better then you and will not be around you because you are not worthy of me.” Separation says, “I will not participate in things that are not edifying to my relationship with God.” 1 Cor 5:9-11 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. Interesting it is just the opposite of what segregationists say. They said don’t touch anyone who is not outwardly religious. The bible say, stay away from those who claim to be religious outwardly and yet inside are hypocrites. 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Being separate form the world is not to segregate yourself from those who do not know Jesus, but to separate yourself from activities that are contrary to faith in God. To love God and follow him so that you will be the light of God to others. A man once told D.L. Moody that he had lived "on the Mount of Transfiguration" experience for five years. " Moody bluntly asked him “How many souls did you lead to Christ last year?" "Well," the man hesitated, "I don't know." "Have you saved any?" Moody persisted. "I don't know that I have," the man admitted. "Well," said Moody, "we don't want that kind of mountaintop experience. Warren Werisby said: “When a man / a woman gets up so high that they cannot reach down and share Jesus will those who need him, there something wrong." If you're so removed that you only interface with Christians, how can you be the salt of the earth? If you're only shining on those already in the light, and salting those who are already seasoned – what good are you doing? Separation is to be separate from sin, separate from ungodly behaviors, separate from of the world. The religious leaders of our Lord’s day were consumed by segregation and they ended up in bondage to their rules. Even today many in the church are trying to have laws that keep themselves separate from the world. Don't dance, don't smoke, don't partake in these social activities, don't, don't, don't. I think it is interesting that when they asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, he didn't give them a don't, rather he gave the a do. Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Love God, and you will love others. Seek first God's kingdom and you will be separated from the world. Vance Havner , said: “We are not to be isolated but insulated, moving in the midst of evil but untouched by it. Separation is contact without contamination. Jesus was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from the world" yet a friend of sinners.” We have seen - the separated life is to not be yoked with unbelievers, and if we already are, make sure we are the influencing factor in the relationship. 2nd to the separated life is to be, separated from the activities of the world. Finally, the separated life is to.
2 Cor 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Look at Paul exhortation, because we have these promises from God. Promises of his abiding Holy Spirit, promises that we are salt and light- because of these promises, lets live in holiness as we fear the Lord. 1 Peter 1:15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy , because I am holy." Be holy, because God is holy. Not a command, “Be holy- or else.” But a resolve, an act of service, obedience, and an act of worship. We get to be holy as we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Living a life of purity, living a life different than the world. Today many in the church live the same as the society around us – not separate, but blending in. Maybe its because of the times we live in, but I think it is really that the church is in love with the world. Paul exhorts the Corinthians by saying “purify yourselves from all the things that contaminates the body and the spirit.” What is your wittiness when you are at a social event? Does your faith shine or do you blend in? How are believers to live differently then the world? We live by and walk in the Holy Spirit. Paul speaks in Galatians 5 about the acts of the sinful nature, and the fruit of the Spirit, the contrast is huge. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious- but the fruit of the Holy Spirit is just as obvious. Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control... The evidence of a separated life is the fruit of the Spirit working and moving. The evidence of a life not separated unto God, is anything that looks religious without a basis in the Lord -- like legalism and rules – to make us look holy. A lifestyle that tries to justify sin and serve God at the same time. Secret sins that we refuse to turn over to God. Worship of idols -- the idol of self pity, the idol of recreation, the idol of wealth, the idol of self indulgence. Putting these things before the Lord - is idolatry. But Agape love is the evidence of a life separated to God. Loving God and following Jesus will teach us to live separated unto God. In closing. 1 Peter 2:11-12 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. PRAY, INVITE, BENEDICTION, SING. Series: 2 Corinthians -Through the Bible |
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