Dare to be Different

Dare to Be Different

Our text comes from the Book of II Corinthians 6:14-18, in the King James Bible. Beginning at verse 14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? 15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 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, 18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Bless the word of God. Let us look at verse 17. That is where our title is coming out of. My friends we can see here that according to God’s word, God is calling his people to be a separated people. When we get saved we are a new creature in Christ. According to the word of God in II Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 17, God word says; Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.  

To be separated, means to be set apart. To be separated, you must, you must be saved. You must be born again, by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. I think that the problem people on why most how a hard time being separated from this sinful world is that they have never truly been washed in the blood of Jesus. They have never been to Calvary and begged God to forgive them of their sins and cleanse them.

I have 3 points and I will be finished.

1.      Dare to be Different, because the world is watching.  

Let me say right here. When someone gets born again and pronounces to the world that they have been saved, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ. The world takes notice. And when I say the world. I mean your family takes notice. Your friends take notice. Your fellow Christians in this thing we call life, take notice. People you meet on the street that do not know God or the saving power of Jesus Christ, notice.

They are going to be watching. Many will watch to see how you react to certain circumstances. Many will watch to see how you treat other people. Many will watch to see if you truly are saved. And many will watch to see if and when you fall.

If you are living for God, the old crowd you were running around with, will do one of two things. They will either distance themselves from you. Or be convicted and draw nigh to God through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. And start living the Godly life that you are living.

If you are living for God, led by the Holy Spirit of God, then people will see the change in you.  They will either be rooting for you to run the race and win. Or they be rooting for you to lose.

You have to get rid of some baggage when you get saved. Some friends will have to go if they do not believe and live the way you are supposed to live and that is a Godly life in Christ Jesus.

2.      Dare to be Different, because heaven is waiting.

Yes, heaven is waiting.  Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you. When we get born again, heaven becomes our eternal home. That’s right heaven is waiting on me and on you, who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.

I heard a story about Dr. John R. Rice. Evidently some guys thought that he had money and wealth. They broke into his home to rob him.  Not finding anything of value in the home they threatened to kill Dr. Rice. That old man of God looked at his captors and said, “don’t threaten me with heaven.”  Amen and amen. Heaven is where Gods children are destined to go when their life down here is over. Praise Jesus.

According to Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. The heavenly host is watching us. Those dear saints of God who closed their eyes in death on this side of the grave are alive for evermore up in Glory watching us. Rooting us on. To fight the good fight. To live according to Gods word.

Heaven is waiting on us dear child of God. Don’t get caught up in the things of this world. Keep your eyes on Jesus and live for him. Guard your testimony. Pray for guidance and strength from the Holy Spirit.

And finally, my friends

3.      Dare to be Different, because Hell is wanting.

You ask, what are you saying? I am saying that hell is wanting you to stand fast. Hold to the cross and live a Godly separated life. Let us look in the book of Luke chapter 16 starting in verse 19.

¹⁹ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day :²⁰ And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, ²¹ And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. ²² And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; ²³ And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. ²⁴ And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. ²⁵ But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. ²⁶ And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. ²⁷ Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house :²⁸ For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. ²⁹ Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them .³⁰ And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. ³¹ And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Here we have the story of the Rich man and Lazarus. Many seem to think that this is a parable. But my friend this is no parable. This is something that happened.  We find that Lazarus a poor man a beggar dies. And rich man dies also.  And the bible says at the end of verse 22 and all of verse 23-31 that the rich man begs Father Abraham for a few things.  22 …. The rich man also died, and was buried. 23, And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried out and said Father Abraham have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water , and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.

The first thing that the rich man asks for is water. He asked that Lazarus dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue. The rich man was in torment from the flame. Just a little water. That is all he asks for. But my friend there is no water in hell. Nothing to quench the suffering of the flame.

Secondly  the rich man asked for a witness for his lost hell bound family. See in verses 27 & 28 ²⁷ Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house :²⁸ For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. The rich man did not want his family to come that awful place called hell. He had 5 brothers and he knew that none of them were saved. And that if they were to die without God they would be joining him in the torments of hell.

            So you see all those lost souls destined to spend eternity in hell are rooting that you hold fast to the word of God. Weather the storms of life and stand proud and bold and proclaim the victory which was won at Calvary. The lost in hell are begging for you and me to witness to their lost family members to their lost friends. They want you and I to live Godly separated lives. So that their lost loved ones will notice God living in you and come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

There is more I could say on this topic. And only scratched the surface of it. But I will close with this. When people look at you and your life. Do they see a Godly blood bought child of God. Or do they see someone who is just another copy of themselves. Do your actions and your speech proclaim Christ or the world. How we live in front of this lost and dying world will determine if they will see God in our lives. And come to know him.

My own life hasn’t always been a reflection of a Christian. I didn’t always live a life that is pleasing to God. I will have to give an account to our Heavenly Father because of that when I stand before Him.

My earnest prayer is that people will see Christ living in me. My earnest prayer for all Christians is that God is working in your lives and that you are living a life for God. It is my hope and prayer that the lost souls of this world find Christ. And that they get saved. Amen.

Prepared and Written by: David M. Shuler

                                           07MAY2018