This Bible Study illustrates the need for Christians and those who desire to be Christians to separate themselves from the things that influence us to do, say, or think; things that are unbecoming of a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is a gradual process that comes out of faith, as we will discover today.

1. What comes into your mind when you hear the word separation?

Ezra 10:1-13 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, [...], he ate no bread and drank no water, for he mourned because of the guilt of those from the captivity. […] Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. Now therefore, make confession to the Lord God of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives." Then all the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, "Yes! As you have said, so we must do.

Gen 12:1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. Heb 11: 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Heb 11: 24- 26 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

1 Cori 2: 13-16 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

2. What is your opinion about / What do you learn from the above passages on the matter separation?

What to separate?!
Stuffs that God do not want in our life, some examples are

a) Idols - Idols aren't necessarily graven images; idols are anything that prevents you from wholly giving your self to God.

Rom 8: 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

b) General Stuff – 1 Cori: 11 12  …... But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

c) Behavior In order for us to live for God, and enjoy the eternity that He has prepared, sinful behavior must be forsaken. Every sin comes under one of the three: Lust of the Eyes - Looks Good Lusts of the Flesh - Feels Good Pride of Life - Improves my Stature These things have to go.

1 John 2: 15-16 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life— is not of the Father but is of the world. First sin was a combination of all these Gen 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. ………. 3. These are typical “material stuff “ people talk about. How can we achieve the state of separation from each of these?

Mat 17: 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." (Also Mark 9:29)

d) People (Please do not be deceived by this wording!) As much as it may hurt us and them, there does come a time when we may have to set aside people who would hold us back. This separation is not typically literal. We don't just cast someone aside, there are instances where we may be forced to, but typically this isn't the case. The way separating ourselves from people that we do not allow them to influence us in matters pertaining to the kingdom of God. 

1 Cori 5:9-13 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world [...] Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

4. The first three are obvious but the fourth case should be carefully dealt with! Discuss in light of our daily life where we can put it into action (if possible with examples).

Dead to Natural Law

Rom 7:4-6 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Gal 5:16-25 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. […] And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

5. How can we “kill” our self and walk in the Spirit?

Things to remember!!

a) It takes time! The people of Israel had been a long period of years finding their way back to the fullness of God's promise to them. The return from captivity did not happen overnight. It is the same with us people today. 1 Pet 2: 1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

6. Sharing about the above statement!

b) Needs disciplining our bodies! 1 Cori 9:24-27 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

7. What do you mean by discipline your body?

The following “12 – 1” rule guarantees success in living for God. By following this rule we will separate ourselves from every evil influence.

Eccl 12: 1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them"

Rom 12: 1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Heb 12: 1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…

c) Call upon the Lord for strength! Build a wall around you with prayer.

Pro 18: 10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

Psa 18: 7 - 9 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

Eph 6: 10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Meditation:
Think about the things which we need to change in our life and how to achieve it.

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