Who are You Keeping Company With?
Yesterday, as a couple of ladies and I were doing our daily walk, part of the conversation was pertaining to who Christians should keep company with, fellowship with, or hang out with. We discussed how we can be friendly with the unsaved people, but they are not our friends. I had a conversation with someone later, who shared his pastor’s message and it was similar to my conversation with the two ladies; this was confirmation to write and post the message for today.
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:14, 17a). Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good character. Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame (1 Corinthians 15:33-34).
As a matter of fact, we are not supposed to fellowship with carnal (acting like worldly people). Example- It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 5:1-5). Please read the entire chapter.
Can two be together unless they are in agreement with one another (Amos 3:3). Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners [acting like sinners]; and purify your hearts, you double-minded (James 4:4-8).
Even when it comes to certain Christians (carnal- acting like worldly people), we should not fellowship with them; their influence will cause us to act ungodly.
I am among many types of people, but I also allow God’s purpose/will to be done regardless of where I am. Many people don’t think we Christians can go to certain places. Well, it’s like this. If the Spirit of God leads us, there is a reason to go wherever we are led to go and do whatever He tells us to do.
Jesus went among the sinners. How do you think you’re going to witness to others? Jesus told us to go into the world and witness (Matthew 28:19-20). Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?
When Jesus heard that, He said to them, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repent (Matthew 9:10-16).
While going to certain places, I was at a wedding reception a few years ago, and each person was given wine. A person said to me “I know you’re not going to drink that wine” I said, “I am going to drink this wine; this is a celebration. Jesus made wine at a wedding (the first recorded miracle) – John 2:1-12.
Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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