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Today’s Devotional – February 11th

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Come Out From Among Them

EXCERPT FROM THE SIGNS OF HEAVEN ARTICLE… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

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“They did not destroy the nations,

concerning whom the LORD commanded them:

But were mingled among the heathen,

and learned their works.

And they served their idols:

which were a snare unto them.”

Psalm 106:34-36

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Many people are perplexed about all the killing that went on in the Old Testament.

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Most Bible readers simply cannot understand why the Old Testament is so violent!

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Why all the killing?

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Gideon and His Three Hundred (Bible Card) www.thebiblerevival.org – Wikimedia – public domain.

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NEW TESTAMENT NON-VIOLENCE

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And what makes this even more confusing, is that the New Testament reveals how non-violent Jesus was!

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And in the New Testament, the only killing that occurred, was done by unbelievers!

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It almost seems as if there are two Gods in the Bible: an angry God and a forgiving God!

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Nailing Jesus to the Cross – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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EVIL ASSOCIATIONS

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Oh yes, many theologians rightly teach that the Old Testament brought out the justice side of God, while the New Testament brought out His mercy side.

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But there was another really important message that God wants us to learn from so much of the killing in the Old Testament.

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Listen… “Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places…” Numbers 33:52, 55, 56

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Yes, God is trying to get our attention. That’s right! All these literal killings in the Old Testament were allowed by God, to give a picture of what God wants us to do spiritually.

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No, God doesn’t want Christians to kill anyone!

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But rather, He wants Christians to separate themselves from fellowship with unbelievers. 

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joshua 24 Parting Advice www.thebiblerevival.org public domain

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THE WICKED ENCIRCLE AROUND GOD’S PEOPLE

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“Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.” Habakkuk 1:4

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This above passage confirms the concept that when God’s people become enveloped by unbelievers, or false brethren, then such overwhelming associations will have a destructive influence on the Church of God.

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Perhaps this next verse says it more concisely… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.

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Yes, this above verse not only speaks of inordinate friendships, but also, the words, “evil communications”, seem to speak of such communication devices as television, Internet, etc….

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Habakkuk by James Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain

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SHARING HEAVENLY MANNA…

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OR JUST SHARING WORLDLY FARE?

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While unbelievers are not to be considered as unclean when it comes to evangelizing them into Christianity; they are definitely considered unclean when it comes to Believers sharing in their worldly and ungodly ways.

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The Bible clearly commands to avoid such fellowship with unbelievers…“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?…Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]” 2nd Corinthians 6:14, 17 

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When evangelizing, we are trying to get them to eat of the Bread of Heaven.

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When fellowshipping with unbelievers, we are partaking of their worldly fare: hence we are as though eating the unclean meat of sin!

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Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama

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“TAKE THEM NOT OUT OF THE WORLD…

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BUT KEEP THEM FROM THE EVIL!”

John 17:15

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Of course, there will be many times when a Christian cannot avoid a certain amount of fellowship with unbelievers: family situations and work situations, etc..

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During these get-togethers, the Christian will sometimes be sorely tempted to engage in ungodly conversation.

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Afterwards, the Christian may plead for God’s help to keep him from being drawn into such ungodly conversations.

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Barbecue – Dutch family – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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WHO WOULD WANT TO “HANG OUT” WITH HOLINESS?

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But listen to how the world feels about Christians…“For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.” 2nd Corinthians 2:15-16

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If any Christian has the notion that unbelievers are really impressed with Christians, the above passage puts that fallacy to rest!

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No, the fact is, to the world, we are “the savor of death-unto-death”! We make them very uncomfortable when they hear Christians preach the Gospel.

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They don’t like Christians’ law-abiding ways!

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Just think about it! If a Christian is living the Christ-like life, who in the world would want to “buddy around” with him anyway!?!

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Only another Believer would dare hang around him, if he is truly Christ-like!

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Protest – cropped image – Anti-Christian rally in Chicago – Wikimedia

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JESUS, PAUL, ETC., HAD NO SECULAR FRIENDSHIPS

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Does anyone suppose that Jesus had secular friendships? Or Paul, perhaps? Or even the Apostle John?

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Certainly, the Bible makes no mention of these three having any secular friendships.  

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No, the only persons who wanted to “hang out” with Jesus, Paul, or John were those who were already disciples, or those who were contemplating becoming disciples.

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John The Apostle – by Alonzo Cano – 1635-1637 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Paul the Apostle – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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PAUL HAD NO SECULAR FRIENDSHIPS

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And so, we never read anything about secular relationships with those three Christian role-models (Jesus, Paul & John).

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And yet they evangelized more successfully than any other persons on this planet! These three role-models for the Church were so busy with their spiritual life (and daily duties), they had no time for secular entertainment, even had they wanted to!

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Listen to Paul… “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.

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Does this type of total devotion to Christ by Paul, sound like something that would attract worldly friendships?

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No, Paul’s only desire in life was to transform his own life into the exact image of Christ, so that his evangelism could be more perfect!

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St Paul Preaching in Athens (Raphael, 1515) Wikipedia US public domain

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“I SAT ALONE”

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Now listen to Jeremiah’s testimony…“I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of Thy hand: for Thou hast filled me with indignation.” Jeremiah 15:17

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As this above verse exhorts, we too will often experience loneliness or sadness, even as Jeremiah did, as we also refuse to join in with the mockery and folly of today’s world.

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Repin – Cry of prophet Jeremiah – www.wikiart.org – US Public Domain

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ONE DAY SOON…

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But as Strangers & Pilgrims sojourning through this hopelessly dying world, the Christian must fix his eyes upon the heavenly Prize.

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Yes, one day soon, the faithful followers of Jesus will cross over that Black River, and into that wonderful Promised Land which will ring with the sounds of everlasting joy!

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Study for The Cross and the World…… Brooklyn Museum Thomas Cole – US public domain

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TO READ PART 2, GO HERE…

January 3 (Come Out From Among Them, Part 2: “Making Friends With Unbelievers”)

Lunch Break – Wikimedia Commons – Share-alike License

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to study out this topic in the Bible. Let me not be immersed in the corrupting influences of today’s society…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

The info and pics of the constellations on this site are all taken from Wikipedia and from The Internation Astronomical Union (click here to view their site)

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WIDE & NARROW GATES IN THE HEAVENS

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As the opening verse says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

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So what are these two gates all about? And how can I choose the right door? Well, just read this article and these questions and more will be answered.

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This sketch, while not 100% accurate, gives a fair portrayal of how this constellation group appears at winter’s end and even into June, when above the western horizon.

 

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW:

“February 12th (Pilgrim’s Family’s Progress)”

Christian in Pilgrims Progress – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #42 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain