THE POWER OF A SEPARATED LIFE

After I became a follower of Messiah Yeshua I committed quality time to memorizing scripture. One of the key Bible portions I memorized was as follows:

I didn't have to leave my friends when I became a believer; they left me! When my lifestyle became different and my interests were focused in Godly avenues, there was no common ground. However, I still talked to my friends about the Lord, and prayed for them, and loved them with Messiah's compassion. Thankfully, many of them are now followers of Yeshua who serve the Lord, including my immediate birth family, uncles, aunts, cousins . . . and now all of my children and grandchildren.

What a beautiful promise! God will be a Father to us: He will protect us, provide for us, and be personal in His relationship to us. Do you want to have a REALLY CLOSE walk with the Lord? Then learn and practice the beauty of a separated life.

In this teaching we will study the PURPOSE, the PRIVILEGE, the PROTECTION, and the PRODUCTIVITY of a separated life.

THE PURPOSE OF A SEPARATED LIFE

Why live a separated life?

THE PRIVILEGE OF SEPARATION

Why is it a privilege to live a separated life?

THE PROTECTION OF SEPARATION

Living a separated life of holiness unto the Lord provides extra angelic protection for the believer.

Other examples: Daniel in the den of lions and the three Hebrew teenagers in the furnace of fire. These were Hebrews, who as teenagers had separated themselves unto God.

THE PRODUCTIVITY OF SEPARATION

Why is it productive to live a separated life?

The greatest blessing you can have on earth is to walk with God!

Enoch walked with God, and he was not found anymore here on earth because God took him. [Genesis 5:24]

Elijah walked with God, and when it was time for him to go to Heaven, he was taken up by angels in a chariot surrounded by fire. [2 Kings 2:11]

You say, "But Apostle Handley, these were SPECIAL people." Yes, and so are YOU . . . if you WANT to be. They were special people because they wanted to be special people.

The question is: "Do you WANT to be SPECIAL?"

The Holy Bible shows us that Elijah was just like you and me. He had the same emotions, the same temptations, and the same faculties. "Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." [James 5:17-18]

As we approach the last days of Planet Earth and the return of Israel's Messiah we should all the more want to live a separated life. The Apostle Peter told us ahead of time:

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of people should you be in all holy manner of living and godliness . . ." [2 Peter 3:10-11]

The Apostle Paul assigned Titus, a young preacher, the responsibility of pastoring and appointing elders in Crete and explained to him that it was profitable for believers to maintain good works. "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that you affirm constantly, that those people who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." [Titus 3:8]

Paul also taught Timothy, who he placed in charge of the church at Ephesus, that there is great gain in living for God. "But godliness with contentment is great gain." [1 Timothy 6:6]

If we are going to live a separated life so that we will be prepared to be used by the Master, then we have to be like a soldier. "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Yeshua ha Meshiach (Jesus the Messiah). No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, so that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." [2 Timothy 2:3-4]

Holiness is the principle that separates the believer from the world. Holiness is a quality of personal conduct that consecrates us to God's service. The Apostle Paul urged the believers in his day . . . and urges us today through the scripture . . . to walk in holiness and thereby please God.

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor." [1 Thessalonians 4:3-4]

Notice, in the verse above, that YOU are to POSSESS your vessel: you are the owner . . . you are in control. Don't say "The devil made me do it!" Don't say, "I couldn't resist!" Have you been struggling with a certain temptation? Then get on your knees and CRY OUT to God. Ask Him to deliver you and sanctify you. The Bible says, "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." [Psalm 50:15]

God is not dangling temptation in front of you to tempt you. "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt anyone." [James 1:13]

God has made a WAY for you to exit temptation, but you have to WANT to exit! "There has NO temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that which you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." [1 Corinthians 10:13]

In the original Greek of which this passage was written it is actually saying that God will do the same as cut a path through a rock for you to make a way for you to escape . . . IF you WANT to escape! Cry out to Him and He will deliver you! God loves you and wants to help you. He also wants to use you to help others!

God may allow you to be tested from time to time, but only to see if you are worthy of Him investing His future talents and gifts in you so that you can be used for GREAT WORKS. What if after you have been used greatly, you mess up and ruin your testimony? Or, what if you make God or His people look bad?

Set apart a time for prayer and fasting to consecrate yourself to His service. Pray for a consecrated life: a life set apart in holiness and separation so you can be a vessel unto honor . . . worthy, competent, and profitable for the Master's use . . . prepared unto every good work.

The more you are in the arena and productive for God, the more you will be shot at! And there will be different times you will need to draw on God's strength through prayer and fasting. But always remember: Your best defense is a good offense. Keep reaching people for Messiah . . . keep under the anointing!

Study the following newsletters listed in the Archives of The Apostles Group:

     How To Be Used Greatly By God - October 26, 2003

     What To Do After the Victory (Part A) - September 14, 2003

     What To Do After the Victory (Part B) - September 21, 2003

CONCLUSION

In this ezine teaching we have studied the PURPOSE, the PRIVILEGE, the PROTECTION, and the PRODUCTIVITY of a separated life.