The Lord has been speaking to me recently about the powerful things He is doing and is about to do in the earth in this season. I believe God is looking for what He has always been searching for, those whose hearts are fully consecrated to Him. It is those pursuing holiness and righteous living that will be used mightily by God to advance His Kingdom.
I was reading 2 Corinthians and came across a familiar passage that jumped off the page with fresh revelation for this season. The truth in 2 Corinthians 6 is unfortunately one of the main things watered down in Christianity today. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 in the Passion Translation says, “Don’t continue to team up with unbelievers in mismatched alliances, for what partnership is there between righteousness and rebellion? Who could mingle light with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and Satan?”
I see many believers entertain carnal things and people when they should be holy and set apart to the things of the Lord. Many believers will get in with carnal people, even people who profess to be Christians but are carnally minded, and those relationships will lead them astray. It matters who you run with, my friends! Surround yourself with those who are on fire for God and are full of His spirit. It is more important now than ever to be discerning and diligent with what and who we surround ourselves with.
Many like to pick and choose what scriptures or truths they want to stand on instead of allowing all of scripture to form them. We must understand that God is a holy God. Our God is not only a God of love but He is a God full of righteousness, justice, and truth. In the book of Leviticus, the Bible says “Be holy for I am holy.” more than 8 different times.
As children of God, and especially as Kingdom ambassadors, we are supposed to be moving toward holiness and greater consecration every day in our walk with God. Our lives are to be completely filled with the things of God and His purpose for us. The Bible says, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. So if you find yourself in compromise or even sin today, repent! Don’t beat yourself up just allow the Lord to wash you with His blood and restore you. There is none perfect, not one. The important thing is to live a lifestyle of repentance that moves us closer and closer to God and His ways every day as we go after Him.
Many people get complacent and then eventually begin to backslide into carnal living and thinking. When I was pastoring a group of young adults a number of years ago, whenever I would meet with young men that were struggling with sin or compromise I would ask them one question: “When did you stop reading your Bible and praying every day?” Without fail, each of them would admit they had become inconsistent in their daily devotional time and then fell into compromise or sin.
You cannot spend time in the presence of God, in prayer and in the Word, and live in sin. This is why our daily time with God is something we must fight for every single day. It is the source and lifeline for us as believers that keeps us living in that constant communion with God that keeps us from complacency.
In another translation, 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 says, “Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
In this hour, God is calling us to live holy and separated from the world. Many people dabble in the things of the world and end up taken over by it. In previous eras of the church, people would ask “What do I do to be saved?” And in the present age, many are asking “What can I do and still be saved?” The Bible is extremely clear about the standard God calls His people to live by and it is a life holy and separated.
I truly believe that there is a radical move of God coming upon the earth and God is looking for those who are wholeheartedly going after Him to lead it. So I want to encourage you today, be strong in your faith and run hard after the things of God. Don’t give in to compromise and instead give yourself fully to the presence of God every single day. I remember there was a time in my life when I was in my 20s. I had powerful encounters with God that shaped the rest of my life. I was so hungry for God and resolved to be holy even if I was the only person around me that was willing to.
I decided in those early days of walking with God that I would live holy and separate from the things of this world and I do not regret a single day I’ve run hard after God. There is a great reward in life when you pursue the Lord with everything within you. You will live a full, joyful, and fulfilled life if you stick with God. There is nothing this world has to offer that will ever even compare to living for and with God. So I want to charge you today, run hard after God and the things that He has for you. Don’t dabble in sin and listen to the Holy Spirit. Be one that lives holy and separate for God!
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Joe Joe Dawson
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