In our modern day, this phrase does not seem to mean much to God’s people. It seems that Christians and churches everywhere are ignoring this command. Some ignore it because they don’t understand what to be separate from. Some ignore this command because they believe God was talking to other people in another time. Still others believe that separation does not apply to their culture. And of course we have Christians who just don’t believe in living separated from the world. Friends, we must not maybe, but must be separated from the world. God does not suggest our separation from the world, but demands it. “Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (I John 2:15).

            We find separation from the world mention as early as Abraham. “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation.” (Gen. 12:1,2). In Numbers 16:21; Moses was told by God to separate from the congregation in the wilderness, because of sin. I Kings 8:53, tells about God separating people for Himself. Ezra commands the people to separate from the unsaved in the city and the great Apostle Paul says we are to separate ourselves from the world. In            Heb. 7:26, we are told Jesus is separated from sinners, in Heaven where He is interceding for the saved here on earth.

            Separation is not a new thought, it has been taught from beginning, to all God’s children. Separation was taught in the past, the present, and the future. There are many reasons why you don’t see many of God’s children living a separated life. To start with a lot of God’s children “don’t! I repeat “don’t” study the Bible, as they should. We also have those who don’t think separation is meant for our modern days. Some don’t believe that God is talking to them in their culture. Satan has certainly blinded the eyes of many in our day and time, in regards to this matter of separation.

            God is very clear in His word concerning the thing we need to be separated from. Proverb 23:29-31, tell us’ who hath woe? Who hath contentions? Who hath babblings? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder.

            Did you hear that, at the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. Not only are there many Christians who are not separated from alcohol, but the don’t believe it can harm them. Every one knows of some family or some person whose life has been destroyed by alcohol. At the last it bringeth destruction. Friends, it’s hard to believe that many Christians don’t believe God. They still think it is safe to drink beer, wine, and other strong drinks. For a Christians, the physical harm is not the worst harm. The quotes harm to a child of God is their testimony. Everyone knows that drunkards cannot enter heaven. Everyone knows that anyone who drinks will one day get drunk. But most people don’t think it could happen to them. Friends, there is not one alcoholic who started out to be an alcoholic. All alcoholic started as a social drinker and one lead to another until they became hooked and their life was destroyed, taking with them some one else. You see your sins all cases hurt someone else. Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Children, Husband or Wife and in some cases friends. Christians! God says, don’t do it, separate from it, you cannot even sell it. You see when you sell it; you become a part of their sin. God even gets stronger in His demand for His children to separate from alcohol. “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not eat. (I Corn. 5:11). You are not even to eat with a person who does those things and to be stronger; if a person says he is a Christian and does those things you must not assosicate with him at all. Alcohol is very damaging to a Christian life. We have proof of that from great Christian’s people of the past. If you will read (Gen. 9), you will read about Noah and the sin that was brought to his family because of his drinking. In Gen. 19, you can read about a whole generation of heathens, which was started because of Lots drinking. Let us believe God and dot only stop drinking but don’t assosicate with those who do and certainly don’t sell alcohol in our places of Buisness. Your life will be happier, you walk closer to God, and your testimony for the Lord will shine forth to the unsaved world.

            The next point of interest for the Christian would be their money. You have just hit a live nerve. It is very hard to talk about a subject that is as personal as money. I know. Money, “for the love of it is the root of all evil”. Let us take a look at why we should be separated from our money. To start with I am not talking about your money, it’s God’s money. That which is God’s is supposed to be kept separate and sanctified. The word “sanctify,” means holy, it is a very important word in the Bible. It means, “Set apart for a specific purpose, it is called sanctified. The pulpit of churches in the world are  “sanctified”. This does not mean it is a perfect pulpit because it is only a temporary pulpit, but it is sanctified for the purpose of preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

            Some things in the Old Testament were sanctified to the service of the Lord. In such cases man could not touch it. For example, the ark of covenant was that little piece of furniture inside the Holy of Holies. It was sanctified to the Lord and could not be touched by the hands of men. When Uzza stopped it from shaking by grabbing hold of it, he was immediately taken by death because he touched that which was sanctified to God.

            In the Old Testament God sanctified the tithes. It was to be set apart for Him. It was His, and no man could use it. The first tenth of all the increase was sanctified to the Lord. Even the first born of all animals was sanctified to the Lord. Jesus himself was sanctified, sent to earth for one purpose to redeem the souls of fallen man. I Corn. 15:23 says “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits…” The Word of God is sanctified. The very fact that we call it “Holy Bible” means a “sanctified Bible”.

The tithes are sanctified, a tenth of everything you gain is set apart for God. All over the world people are leaving churches with God’s money in their pockets. Malachi 3:8-10 says that they are thieves. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings” I Corn. 16:1 says “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order (did you see that word “order”) to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gathering when it comes.”

            Beloved you cannot be sold out to God and steal His money. You cannot be walking in His light, if you are not totally committed to Him with your finances. You cannot grow to spiritual perfection until you have given your all to Christ, and that includes your money. I remember when I committed my money to Christ. It was at a time when I could hardly meet my bills. I never had any money left over. I made very good money but was always broke. I finally decide to trust God and give my tithes (which I could not afford). I did and it was at that time that my life turned around. I had money left over, I started growing spiritually. My life became full. I don’t know how I could have afforded it but I did. Beloved one and one do not make two when God is doing the counting.

            Christians we need to start being separated from this old world and the things that are in it, which keeps us apart from God. We need to be sanctified to God. We need to be separated from unbelievers. We are commanded not to marry them. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” II Corn. 6:14. But still thousands of Christians everywhere are marring people who don’t believe that Christ is Savior. People who never go to church, people who never read the Bible people who never pray, people who don’t teach God’s Word to their family. We as Christians need to start believing God and separating ourselves from the unbelievers. You should never date anyone who is unsaved; that way you will not marry an unbeliever. Beloved God is serious about this business of separation. Eph. 5:11 say “have not fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them”. Tell the unsaved they are wrong. The great apostle Paul says in I Corn. 5:11 “but now I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such as one no not to eat”. That is a strong friend; because there are a lot of Christians who has so-called friends who say they are Christians but they are not. God says come away from them. Looking at II Thess. 3:6, we can see God is really serious about us being separated unto Him.

            “Now we command you brethren in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. Beloved God says don’t have anything to do with a Christians brother if he is not walking according to His Word. Beloved if your Christian brother is out of fellowship with God you need to exhort them to turn back to God. If they don’t you are to withdraw and not so much as eat dinner with them.