II Corinthians 6:17 - "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you."
1 John 2:15–17 - Love not the world.
John 4:4 / 1 John 5:4
Ephesians 5:11 - "...have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
1 Thessalonians 5:22 - "Abstain from all appearance of evil."
II Thessalonians 3:6 - "...that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly..."
Bible Example: Samuel
Here is someone who separated himself right in the midst of a sinful atmosphere and God honored it and used Samuel in a mighty, anointed way!
1 Samuel 3:10 - "...Speak, for thy servant heareth..." Also, 1 Sam. 3:19 - "Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him."
1 Samuel 3:13–14 - God’s warning for Eli’s house to be judged by God. Eli failed to correct his sons properly, so God wouldn’t listen to sinning, anointed without remorse.
1 Samuel 3:20 - "And all Israel... knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord."
NOTE: In spite of the ungodly atmosphere around Samuel, he chose to do the right thing to please God. See: John 8:29 - "...for I do always those things that please Him."
Jesus was tempted (resisted it). Matthew 4:1–11, Luke 4:1–13 - "...satan left for a season..." Satan tried to tempt Jesus in different times, but each time Jesus resisted with the Word of God! Jesus gave scripture every single time He was being tempted. That’s exactly what we should do!
Every temptation will fall into one (or any) of these three categories:
- Lust of the flesh – Matthew 4:3–4, Genesis 3:6, 1 John 2:16
- Lust of the eyes – Matthew 4:5–6, Genesis 3:6, 1 John 2:16
- The pride of life – Matthew 4:8–9, Genesis 3:6, 1 John 2:16
II Corinthians 10:3–5 – "...casting down imaginations..."
I Corinthians 10:12 – "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed, lest he fall."
I Corinthians 10:13 – "...will with that temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
Hebrews 2:18 – "...He is able to succour them that are tempted."
Hebrews 4:15 – "...was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
Those "all points" are the 3 categories of life:
1) Lust of the flesh
2) Lust of the eyes
3) Pride of life
Leviticus 20:7 – "Be ye holy, for I am holy."
I Peter 1:15–16 – "...be ye holy in all manner of conversation... be ye holy for I am holy."
John 8:36 – "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
John 8:32 – "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
II Corinthians 3:17 – "Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
REMEMBER – II CORINTHIANS 6:17 – "Come out from among them and be ye separate..."
You can do it. Just love God with all your heart.
Soar and live, not down in your emotions. Want more than anyone or anything else your flesh desires. Someday, the Lord will have us stand before God and give an account of our lives. (Romans 14:12 / Matthew 25:21) Will He hear you say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant...”?