AREAS OF PERSONAL
SEPARATION
PASTOR DAVID WARNER
FAITHFUL BAPTIST CHURCH
OMAK, WASHINGTON
Areas of personal separation:
what we WATCH
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Ps 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
TV – almost nothing redeeming; getting worse and worse; possible “good” show ruined by the sensual commercial; you never know what you’ll see or hear; news is humanistic; whole flavor of TV is anti-God, violence, immorality, cheating, lying, get rich, avoid responsibility, etc. Name one program that the Lord would sit and watch with you!
Movies – generally are more wicked than TV; kid’s shows are full of worldly principles, beaty music, and an underlying theme of rebellion, humanism, and outright occultism.
Computer – Video games usually involve some form of violence, often mixed with sensuality and occultism; the internet is a very potential highway to the depths of hell with its endless opportunities for immorality and deviancy.
Advertisements – on billboards all around our town; plastered all over our stores; these ads usually show blantant sexuality. This is very difficult to avoid in our culture today.
what we READ
Neh 13:1-3 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
***What we read in the Bible should cause us to separate.
***But, we usually read the very things that we are to be separated from!
***We often read comics, mags (women’s, men’s, fitness, entertainment...), and books (mystery, sci-fi, romance, philosophy). They are usually full of sensuality, occultism, selfishness, and unbiblical precepts.
***The world’s way enters your mind and doesn’t leave. Little by little what you read will change you, and you won’t even know it.
***Saturate your mind with the Bible and you will lose your apetite for filth.
what we SAY
Eph 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.
***Most of our conversation with people is self-centered, joking, careless, and unedifying. Graceful words; they should be pleasant and helpful.
***Does your speech betray you (Peter’s)? Do they ‘know’ that you are different by your conversation. Peter actually showed himself not to be a Christian by his crude speech.
***Those around you can know that you are different by the words that come out of your mouth.
Ps 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
***Every thing we do or say should be to the glory of God.
***We should be speaking the very Words of God…the Bible. So, we need to memorize Scripture and meditate on it. Constantly flood your mind with the things of God.
how we LOOK
Deut 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.
Isa 47:2 Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.
Isa 47:3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.
1 Tim 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
***Clothing on us should be loose fitting, so as not to draw attention to the body itself.
***We need to dress appropriately for the occasion: church = best clothing; yard work = not your best clothing.
***Men shouldn’t wear dresses and high heals; women shouldn’t wear pants/slacks or ties.
***Women have worn long flowing apparel for 6000 years. Why go along with the Women’s lib movement.
***“Apparel” is from the word ‘katastole’ which means ‘to lower, i.e. longflowing’. How long is too long? How short is too short?
***Men should not show off physique and should look respectful and dignified.
***Are we dressing sloppy, rebellious, too casual, too costly, or revealing?
***Four rules to follow for how we dress: 1)Dress appropriate for the occasion; 2)The less skin showing the better; 3)Avoid tight fitting clothes; 4)Don’t “cross-dress”
1 Cor 11:14-15 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
1 Cor 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
***Hair should be appropriate for your gender.
***Men’s hair should be noticeably ‘male’ (the head is to be uncovered, i.e. the ear area; the crown is the top).
***Women’s hair should be covering her whole head (it shows her submission to her husband and to God).
***Modest apparel and modest hair. It all gets to the impression you are giving to others.
where we GO
1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
***Where we go says a lot about us. Obviously walking into a bar or a strip club would hurt one’s testimony badly. But, on the same principle, what about restaurants that serve liquor? and theatres where there is routinely “stripping” on the screen? or near a pool or on a beach where people parade around in their underwear proudfully?
***You are guilty by association. You may have no intention of looking at filth on the movie screen, but the passerby that sees you enter the ‘multiplex’ doesn’t know if you’re going to Bambi or Hellboy.
***Others may, you may not. We are held to a higher standard. We are peculiar people.
Mt 28:19,20 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the Earth.
***This is where we are to be going.