FELLOWSHIP WITH DARKNESS

Ephesians 5: 11 -- And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

One of the most difficult parts of the renewed mind is to break away from people who reject God's Word. You have got to remember that when it comes right down to God's Word, you have no friends. I know that sounds rather drastic, but it really results in a very positive lifestyle of blessings if you adhere to the Word and stop arguing with God. Now the next Scripture tells you why we should not fellowship with darkness.

II Corinthians 6: 14 -- Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

There is no fellowship and there is no communion between righteousness and unrighteousness nor between light and darkness. God is keeping it real simple here for us. Right now, we are laying a firm foundation for our subject matter and that is to have company with like-minded believers as opposed to being around and being close friends with unbelievers or unbelieving believers.

I Corinthians 15: 33 -- Be not deceived: evil communications [associations] corrupt good manners [morals].

In other words, you become like who you hang around with.

Romans 6: 21 -- What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

You should want to manifest the fruit of the spirit mentioned in Galatians.

Galatians 5: 22, 23 -- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

You will manifest counterfeit fruit of the world IF you continue to fellowship with darkness.

Romans 13: 12 -- The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour [implements] of light.

Renewing one's mind to God's Word in this area will allow you to cast off the works of darkness and in turn, put on the armour of light.

Ephesians 6: 11 -- Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles [methods] of the devil.

Ephesians 6: 12 -- For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places [from on high].

Ephesians 6: 13 -- Wherefore take unto you the whole armour [all the resources] of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day [the evil one], and having done all, to stand.

There is only one way to defeat your personal adversary and that is to put on God's Word in your mind!! THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. You won't get that major accomplishment that you desire in your life by studying human relation courses, becoming the president of the PTA, or becoming the CEO of a major corporation. The world will offer you nothing but a counterfeit existence that will LURE you into believing that you are getting somewhere, but as you think you are progressing, you are in actuality, transgressing -- going backwards.

Jeremiah 2: 13 -- For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

God has an unlimited supply of blessings, but the world has a limited supply. That's what this verse is talking about. One example of a broken cistern that can hold no water is RELIGION. Religion is man's interpretation of what they think God's Word should say. Religion is for idiots, for fools -- it is for people who cannot think for themselves, but would rather blindly follow someone else's teaching. Many people think that because they go to church every Sunday or EVERY DAY, that they stand approved before God. The Word of God does not say that anywhere in the Bible. God's Word says that we stand approved before Him IF WE STUDY HIS WORD.

II Timothy 2: 15 -- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

That is the only way you will defeat the adversary and THAT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST the temptation to fellowship with darkness. If God made the universe and man and woman and all the animals etc., THEN DON'T YOU THINK HE KNOWS HOW TO LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST? It's so simple. Where is the problem if you are having one? You must keep God FIRST AND FOREMOST in your everyday life OR YOU WILL DEFEATED ON EVERY HAND by the god of this world. That is his job. That is what he does.

Remember the movie "The Terminator"? Most people saw that movie and enjoyed it to a certain extent. Remember that machine? Of course you do. It was programmed to do only one thing -- DESTROY. Now John 10: 10b says that the adversary's ministry is to steal, and to kill and to destroy. So oftentimes, if you are searching for the problem, take a good look in the mirror. ARE YOU KEEPING GOD FIRST? Anything else is idolatry. You could possibly be worshipping your job above God or your hobby or your sport or your girlfriend or even your spouse?! THAT’S RIGHT. God expects you to keep Him first before your wife or husband. That's when life really gels and you will develop a spiritual understanding and insight that will make every day exciting. You will have a strong, healthy and happy marriage, not become a statistic. There will be a surprise around every corner when you walk by the Spirit of the true God. Otherwise you will be deceived, lured and eventually destroyed NEVER realizing your dreams, desires, and the true aspirations of your heart. A fountain has an unlimited supply -- a broken cistern has a limited supply. What choice are you going to make? This web site is for people who desire to keep God first. If you do not fall into this category by your own free will, hit your 'close' [x] button and stop wasting your time. God's Word was written for believers, not for unbelievers.

I Thessalonians 5: 5 -- Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

So stop hanging around with the god-rejecters. I admit I have a very serious outlook toward this teaching because, as all of the teachings, it is very important.

When I was a teenager, we had a large and very noticeable sign on the poolroom wall where we hung out. This sign was put below the rules of the poolroom. I can see it so clearly. Do you know what it said? 'OBEY OR PAY'. That is really what it really amounts to. If you choose to transgress the commandments of the Lord, you will eventually pay a price. Remember, it is never the true God that brings any harm to people. It is the god of this world that you will open doors to if you continue to disobey the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

By the way, I was one of the best pocket billiards players in my area. DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT CAME TO BE? I practiced -- I worked at it -- I, in actuality, STUDIED that game for many long hours almost every day until I would pick up a cue stick and it seemed like I couldn't miss! I was about 12 or 13 years old. I used to sweep the whole place of business for the owner and he would, in turn, allow me to practice for hours, at times. It became like second nature to me. This may be an unusual analogy but that is how you need to work at renewing your mind to God's Word. You need to master the principles that God has set forth until you can approach a difficult situation and you immediately know what God's Word says about that opportunity and you know EXACTLY WHAT TO DO according to God's Word. I learned Scriptures by memory for practical situations that I run through my mind every single day of my life. This has become my very strong point to defeat my personal adversary and I have shared this idea with others many times. You name a destructive emotion or situation and I can tell you the Scripture that relates to that situation by memory quickly and almost always WITHOUT ANY HESITATION. The devil is after God's Word because it is the only thing that defeats him. You should make an attempt to learn Scriptures by memory for situations and then watch the enemy run. DARKNESS CANNOT STAND LIGHT.

I John 2: 17 -- And the world passeth away, and the lust [over-desire] thereof: but he that doeth [PRACTICES] the will of God abideth forever.

What is the Will of God? It is the Word of God. PRACTICE, work at it, study, just like I practiced every day in that poolroom. Do it until you become the BEST at it. When my opponents entered the pool hall, they dared not play against me due to some type of feeling that they would look foolish, although that was never my intent. Sometimes they almost appeared to run away! AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT YOUR PERSONAL ADVERSARY TO DO WHEN YOUR PRESENCE IS MADE KNOWN!!

James 2: 19 -- Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble.

By fellowshipping with darkness (unbelievers or unbelieving believers), you open doors to devil spirit activity in your life which will drag you down and get you out of fellowship. You will eventually become 'friends' with the world and just go with the flow of things until the world gets you in a position where it can steal, kill, and destroy you in some way, shape, or form. Let's go to God's Word and see what is in this world. It is composed of three things:

I 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.

Notice how the adversary uses three (3) components to make up his world. The number three represents 'completeness' in the Bible. The god of this world copies, counterfeits, and parasites off of everything that the true God does.

The temptation to fellowship with unbelievers is very strong and only God's Word will give you the strength to get away and recognize that this type of behavior is harmful and destructive to your spiritual walk and growth with God.

James 4: 7 -- Submit [addict] yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

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