Unequally Yoked

Picture by R. Twiner

2 Corinthians 6:14 -17   NKJV
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
 17 Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you. 18  I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”

Now when I heard this taught, yeah decades ago....I remember the "pastor" tying it all up with the husband and wife teaching. (see Ephesians 5:25 and Colossian's 3:19)
Yet this passage has nothing to do with husband or wives, but as a believer with another believer or a believer with an unbeliever.
In closely yoking ourselves with others, we must be aware that we do not compromise integrity or our faith in God.
In verse 15, the mention of Belial has the meaning of worthlessness or lawlessness.

Understanding we are the temple of God, we are not to defile that temple in any way. Individually we are the living place for the Holy Spirit to reside.
God desires to be our Father. He desires us to know how richly He has life for us. In that abundance we have everything we need.

In those tales of the Old West, I remember visiting an old west town. It was in Arizona. I also remember that even the stage coach that was displayed for rides, was evenly hitched with the same kind of horse in size and weight. You certainly would not want a horse on one side of the team and a donkey on the other side to make a team.

To be a part of a family, one participates with the Father's way of being and doing. In idolatry, we become what we worship. Whether it be in watching zombie flicks, war movies or games, or even those that combine zombies, war and magic together. Yikes!
As a part of God's family, we must be in spirit and in harmony with His nature, which the Bible reveals. Knowing God's true nature is important because we become what we worship. 

So when we take a real look at what we spend some substantial time on: does it add up to more violence or more peace?
I have noticed of late that those which I considered "safe" to watch no longer follow the PG 13 or even PG rule anymore. ( not when nudity appears in the first 5 minutes of the show, etc.) 
Anything false and misrepresenting what they are showing is corrupt. And that false representation highlights that group desires to sneak in the wrong thing to make a buck!
Should we begin to idolize a certain show, character, and the "nudity" appears, what is your response?
If we idolize, we become the wrong thing.

So, if we spend extra time with an unbeliever, or one who exhibits ....say....a worldly attitude...do we remain with God and His peace or do we see how far we can stretch out and touch something that should never be touched.

Psalm 38:12.....They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

They also seek after my life lay snares for me. Malice in deed.

And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things. Malice in word.

And imagine deceits all the day long. Malice in thought.

In looking at what we once desired to look upon, spend time doing or just to relax in front of the TV or at the movies, would we consider Psalm 38?

Now the adversary cares not what you do as long as you stop spending time with God, being devoted to God and worshiping Him!

Ungodly behavior is not what a believer participates in. Living our lives and conducting them in the fear of the Lord honors Him and keeps us in quiet places and quiet rest. Check to see if anything in your life is that which degrades you. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide and lead you through anything which corrupts you.

Thank God, He did not choose us by our strength or ability or even good looks....but we remember His grace is for us. He is our sufficiency.

2 Corinthians 12:9   NKJV   And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

That infirmities in verse 9 has the meaning of malady, sickness, and morals. So whether in sickness or of weakness of morals, we need God to direct us.

When your character comes under fire, know that God knows. And He has given you His resource that makes "holy living" possible. He provides the way through and out of anything that the adversary may be presenting that is destructive to you.

Proverbs 13:20 ...NKJV ...He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. 

Finding those to be equally yoked as in fellowship and even ministry, we are admonished to be connect with those who will encourage us into better behavior, not take us down or lead us into lustful situations.

Amos 3:3.....Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? 

 Proverbs 13:20.......He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. 

Proverbs 22:24-25......Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul. 

This last one is even a verse that we speak over our grand-daughter as she is in grade school. We speak this over her that she will not desire to go with the angry or the furious one. Let's consider that we make the choice every time we put something before our eyes and put into our hearing. Filth will only multiply into more filth, but consider this that the more wisdom of God we put in, the more His wisdom will rule our hearts.

Don't get yoked with a donkey!

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:

Living a Full Life without Strongholds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oHfyyDl-bo



You can also visit my You Tube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at:  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV