"I am a companion of all who fear you,
and of those who keep your precepts."
Psalm 119:63
As the saying goes, "Birds of a feather flock together." And isn't it true!
We are created spiritual beings, and we are attracted to others of the same spirit. If you find yourself in friendships with unbelievers, don't think you can resist the influence they will have over you. You can't. Our friends have a more powerful effect on our lives than we think. The Lord says:
"Come out from among them
and BE SEPARATE, says the Lord."
2nd Corinthians 6:17
Why?
Spirit calls to spirit. When an unbeliever is put into a setting with a believer, that unbeliever is going to be very uncomfortable; they may be polite, but inside they can't wait to get away. And when a believer is put into a setting with unbelievers the same is true, he may be polite but inside he is very uncomfortable.
I saw this very clearly when I went to my high school reunion. We graduated from a "religious" high school, so I was eager to find like minds at this reunion. But I was shocked - there wasn't a believer among them. I sat there and endured their discussions on all things worldly; I tried to open a discussion about the Lord, always looking for an opportunity to share the faith, but not one responded. When a door doesn't open I don't force it, so I stopped talking and watched the clock, just waiting for the end so I could get out of there.
Brothers and sisters, don't think it strange when you're disliked or rejected, or ignored. It's not you, it's the Spirit of God within you that the world cannot respond to. Don't ever take it personally, wondering why you're not included, wondering why you can't connect. They CAN'T respond to you, they CAN'T connect with you. The most they can do is be polite, but you won't get any closer to them than that. DON'T blame them, DON'T resent them, realize they are of a different spirit and it's not possible for you to be "one of them." Should you try to be "one of them" both you and they will be uncomfortable, and that's just the truth.
"If the world hates you,
you know that it hated me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love its own,
yet because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world,
therefore the world hates you."
John 15:18-19
When you are in the world, look for an opening the Lord might create for you to minister to one or two of them. If he opens up the opportunity, speak to them about their eternal soul. If not, don't try to force it. They won't respond. They can't.
This is where your prayer life comes in. We are called upon to intercede for those who reject the Gospel. Prayer is the most powerful tool we have in our walk with the Lord. Prayer is effective. Prayer changes things. It almost always will involve a long period of waiting so don't get discouraged, no, persist.
For how long?
For as long as it takes. Your prayers can change the eternal destiny of a soul. Be patient, pray on even though you see no response, and at the end you'll see the results of your prayers and you'll be SO glad you did.
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man
AVAILS MUCH." James 5:16
"If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you saying, ‘Let us go after other gods which you have not known and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams..." Deuteronomy 13:1-3 The chapter goes on to say that the penalty for false prophecy is death. How much clearer can God make the point that we are to RUN from false supernatural experiences or words or dreams? People run to and fro looking for a word from a so-called prophet - as long as their prophecy makes one feel good. False prophets usually give nice-sounding words that "tickle the ears." But in this passage the Lord is solemnly warning his people NOT to run after such. We are inherently drawn to the supernatural, but many people have little discernment to know if a supernatural thing is from God, or from the devil. I make it a practice not to listen to any prophet EVER, because most of what's out there is false. If God wants to speak to me through a true prophet, then HE brings about the circumstance, not me, and then he CONFIRMS the word given so that I will know without a doubt that the word is from Him. This has happened only a few times in my life, not many, and that's how it should be. One might say, "well he's not enticing us to go after other gods." So I ask, which kingdom do you suppose a false prophet gives a word from? There are only two sources of supernatural power, the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. Satan is well able to give a prophetic word and then make it come to pass. Satan is well able to give a word of false hope leading to deep disillusionment later. Satan is well able to speak through a medium or a channeler and speak to you things with details that no one could have known. HE DOES IT ALL THE TIME. Were you called by a nickname when you were five years old? Do you think Satan doesn't know that? Therefore if a medium mentions the nickname, that is NOT proof that the word he/she gives is from God. It is a SNARE to you, to deceive you, and to entice you to further delve into "New Age" practices and occult things - to bring judgment upon you. This is so forbidden by God that the judgment for frequenting mediums and any other "New Age" or occult venue is deadly. So sinful is this that the judgment on it goes down to the third or fourth generation of those who do such things. The judgment is often mental illness or premature death. When you see a family in which more than one member has a mental illness, or more than one member meets an untimely death, suspect occult involvement even to the third or fourth generation back. How can God make it any clearer, you shall NOT go there. "The Lord is long-suffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but he by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation." Numbers 14:18 King Saul, the first king of Israel, was desperate to know what the outcome would be in an upcoming war, so he visited a medium in a town called Endor. FOR THAT SIN, HE LOST HIS LIFE. "So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and because he consulted a medium for guidance." 1st Chronicles 10:13 Not only did Saul die for this, but his sons also died. "So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day." 1st Samuel 31:6 Folks, STAY AWAY from anything "New Age." Scrutinize carefully any new practices being brought into the church, because Satan delights in bringing in false supernatural things especially to churches. Anything "emergent" is not of God. Labyrinths, meditation, candles, yoga, all this sort of thing is not of God and IS of Satan. And in any circumstance where something supernatural takes place, put it under intense scrutiny because most of what is out there is false. Does God interact in supernatural ways with his people? Of course he does. But he will always confirm his Word and will never leave you wondering if that was God or not. Do not feel guilty for intensely scrutinizing any supernatural occurrence, the stakes are too high and the warnings too dire. Hear Janet Ferriday's testimony. She saw spirits as a child.
"At that time Jesus answered and said,
'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that you have hidden these things
from the wise and prudent
and have revealed them to babes.'"
Matthew 11:25
The wise and prudent of this world are steeped in the love of the world, and their goals are the promotion of self ...always ...the promotion of self. More riches, more prestige, more power, more acknowledgment. You can't have it both ways. The principles of the Kingdom of God are the opposite from the principles of the world, and entry into the Kingdom of God requires the death of the pride of man. That's something that those who are wise in the things of the world and those who have made a name for themselves cannot even begin to understand. So ...God indeed has revealed his principles to the lowly.
"For you see your calling, brethren,
that not many wise according to the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world
to put to shame the wise,
and God has chosen the weak things of the world
to put to shame the things which are mighty;"
1st Corinthians 1:26-27
Consider carefully your ways. If your intentions in life are to gain wealth or honor, you make yourself ineligible for the Kingdom of God. Entry into the Kingdom of God requires humility and surrender. Not everyone can do that. The death of pride is very difficult. For many ...too difficult.
"Then Jesus said to his disciples,
'Assuredly, I say to you
that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
And again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”
Matthew 19:23-24
That does not mean that a rich person cannot enter the Kingdom of God, it is only saying that for that person it's going to be very difficult. It will cost him his pride and for the rich, that's excruciatingly painful. He can no longer be king of his own world, he must surrender to the King of the Kingdom of God. Sadly, that's just unacceptable to many who have advanced their name or their wealth in the eyes of the world.
Friends, there is no joy like the joy of a surrendered heart. Wisdom is surrendering to one's creator who has said he has the plan for one's life, and that plan is uniquely created to bring the person to true riches and unanticipated joy.
There is no peace like the peace of a surrendered heart. When you surrender pride you're not losing, you're gaining more than you could ever imagine, both for this life and for the life to come.
Pray with me:
Father, we are all filled with pride, that's the human condition, the fallen human nature. It's so obvious - if someone says something against me, I see pride rise up in self-defense and self-justification, oh how pride takes over! Help me, I pray, to surrender my pride to you. Even though my flesh cries out against it, the decision of my heart is to surrender to you, and I ask for grace to do it. It's not something the fallen human nature can do, Father, I can only be willing for you to grant me the grace to surrender all to you, all, everything, my life, my cares, my interests, and most of all, my self. Grant that grace to me Father, because truly I want to be pleasing in your sight and only in your sight. Father God, I choose to surrender all. Help me to make that real.