BE YE SEPARATE
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Nov. 14, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
BE YE SEPARATE
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Text: 2 Corinthians 6:17
2 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,
Introduction: “Be ye separate.” I want to talk to you tonight about Biblical separation. God is a God of SEPARATION. When we talk about separation, we are talking about a DIVISION. God is a DIVIDER.
Before God joined anything together in Genesis. He divided the light from the darkness (Gen. 1:4). He then divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament (Gen. 1:5-6).
When a person is joined to the Lord Jesus Christ, he must first experience the word of God DIVIDING between his soul and spirit and joints and marrow (Heb. 4:12).
Before a man CLEAVES (joins) to his wife, he is to LEAVE (be divided from) his father and mother (Gen. 2:24).
Jesus said that He came to bring DIVISION.
Luke 12:51-53 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
God’s people should be a SEPARATED, or “peculiar” people.
Titus 2:13-14 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
If you read the last two verses of tonight’s scripture reading, you will understand why I call separation the key to fellowship with God:
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
God is the Father of all who trust Him, POSITIONALLY. However, according to verse 18, God will be the Father of all who OBEY Him, in separation, PRACTICALLY. A son might accuse his father, “You never were a father to me!” The man was a father, positionally, but not practically.
Are you in fellowship with God? You are not in fellowship with Him if you are not separated from the world. Some prominent preachers, such as Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, and Jack Van Impe, have become “tight” with many of the charismatics and even with Rome!
Separation is both positive and negative. Tonight we will look at the negative first before closing with the positive.
I. BE SEPARATE FROM THE WICKED CROWD
Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Separation from the wicked crowd will keep us from
A. Being corrupted by their influence – Prov. 13:20a
B. Being consumed in their iniquity – Prov. 13:20b
II. BE SEPARATE FROM WRONG CONVERSATION
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
A. Don’t receive it
B. Don’t repeat it
III. BE SEPARATE FROM WORLDLY CLOTHING
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Proverbs 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
A. Your appearance should reveal your inner godliness
* Men look on the outward appearance, because they cannot see your heart.
B. Your appearance should reinforce your inner goals
IV. BE SEPARATE FROM WAYWARD CHRISTIANS
2 Thessalonians 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
A. They identify you
* That is why I don’t attend Southern Baptist churches, even for revivals.
* That is why I don’t attend seminars held by people who aren’t Bible-believing, fundamental, independent Baptists.
* Birds of a feather flock together.
* I have seen a rebellious man, woman, or teenager join a church and within TWO weeks be close buddies with another person who is just as rebellious.
B. They influence you
* It’s easier for one person to pull another down than to pull one up.
* Have GROUPS pull up wayward individuals (“ye” who are spiritual restore such an “one” – Gal. 6:1-2).
C. They are inspired by you
* Your approval by your company encourages them to believe they can live like the devil and still be in fellowship with God’s people.
NOW FOR THE POSITIVE …
V. BE SEPARATE UNTO THE WORD OF CHRIST
Proverbs 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
Psalms 1:1-2 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. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
A. Set aside time for it
* Read it through from cover to cover
* Meditate on it
* Memorize it
* Study it, rightly dividing it
* Pray over it
* Teach it to others
B. Sit under the ministry of those who believe it, teach it, and live by it
* The blessed man will not walk in the counsel of the ungodly.
* Too many independent Baptists are going to sit at the feet of compromisers, heretics, and worldlings to learn how to build churches, have emotional stability, and solve problems!
VI. BE SEPARATE UNTO THE WORK OF THE CHURCH
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
A. Bring your family into the church
* They should be led to Christ early.
* They should be baptized promptly after being saved.
* They should be in YOUR church, a Bible- believing, fundamental, independent Baptist church (not a SBC church or something even worse).
B. Build your family around the church
* Our girls were brought up to be in EVERY service. They didn’t miss a thing. They didn’t miss five services (even for sickness and pregnancies) between the two of them in 20 years.
* Let them see your love for God’s church.
* Each of our family members has more than one job in the church.
VII. BE SEPARATE UNTO THE WITNESS OF CALVARY
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
A. Prepare for it
* Put it in your schedule.
* Set goals.
* Pray ahead of time.
* Keep the proper tools on hand – New Testament, tracts, follow-material, notepad.
B. Participate in it
* Privately
* Publicly
C. Persist in it
* Don’t give up! Keep witnessing!