The soul that sin, it shall die. We are the body of Christ but members in particular. 1 Corinthians 12:27. Your relationship is unique with God, and before him, with others is also unique, though you work collectively, as a team. The Lord says, my reward is with me to give to every man according as his works shall be. Meaning, Christ will not reward or judge you collectively with others, but according to the foolish, wise, holy or ungodly roles you played among his brethren in the church or in the world. He will hold you personally responsible for any false step or decision you make, irrespective of any excuses or bad influences or pressure under seek to justify your compromised life and unbiblical ways and actions. You will not be spared, but be held responsible for your errors alongside those that misled you, just as Adam, Eve and serpent were separately punished for their different roles in the fall of man in the Garden.
This subject before us has nothing to do with the prideful and sinful attitude of some super spiritual people in the church; which say, stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, says the Lord, a fire that burns all day. Isaiah 65:5. Though, you are among the crowd but should not joined with them in actions which are not biblical. There is a limit to what you can do with the crowd within the limit of your liberty in Christ Jesus. You can weep with them that weep among the crowd, if they are not as when the children of Israel wept before Baal to hear them to prove that there are another god and power besides that of the One and living God of heaven and earth. You can rejoice with the crowd if their celebration is for the testimony of the goodness of God and not like when the Israelis in the wilderness when the people sat down to eat and to drink and rose up to play. Exodus 32:6.
The children of Israel from coming out from Egypt was called the church in the wilderness. Acts. 7: 30. It was an exceptionally large multitudes of people where different wrong and sinful events happens among them to different people who were caught up in some of those unpleasant events according to their choice and preference of sin. People chose not to follow the same crowd for several reasons, but according to their preferences, they chose to take part in other things that most interests to satisfy the strongest lust controlling them.
The participations of individuals in different sinful events reveals the different kinds of lusts they were in bondage and attracted to; you don't have to do it because you see others doing it: but if the same spirit in them is in you, spirit will attract spirit, just as the birds of the same feathers’ flocks together, you' join them. 1 Corinthians 10:6. For example, few among the crowd chose not to commit idolatry because they do not believe in any other God, as were some of them were idolaters; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. 1 Corinthians 10:7. While twenty-three thousand were destroyed on the same day for committing the sin of fornication with the daughters of Moab, but many chose not to go down the same path of sexual immoral act before God. 1 Corinthians 10:8. Some taunted the Mighty power of God; they challenged his presence among them and were destroyed by the serpents, but others knew that God is with them no matter what, and they chose not to follow the multitudes to tempt his presence neither his power. 1 Corinthians 10:8. Many murmured and complaint against God because of the difficulties of the way, but were destroyed by the destroyers while others chose not to murmur than to give thanks in everything; casting all their cares unto God, knowing that being anxious for anything, will not only take away the peace of God from them, but will not please God, showing their lack of faith in him. 1 Corinthians 10:8.
Daniel was chosen from among the crowd to stand before the king; but he chooses not to follow the crowd nor to live or walk by what is commonly good, popular and recommended. Though the outward effects of those things are good for the flesh, and eyes to behold, but not good for his spiritual life, walk, and relationship with God, Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1:8. Daniel was among the rest, lived and worked together with them, but refused to accept anything that will destroy the holiness of God, anything that can diminish or destroy his consecration before God. Daniel 6:10. Note: those who prioritized God in their lives as it should be, will prioritize the welfare of their spiritual life above every other thing; also relating with others in the light of their prioritized relationship with God.
An overcomer seeks to know the will of God concerning his life to fulfil it. What makes him an overcomer if he has not been made perfect and complete in all the will of God? Moreover, he seeks to know what God wants from him in the life of others as well as to play his God's given parts in their life, believers or unbelievers alike. He would not involve himself in anything beyond this. His loyalty is exclusively to God and not man in the light of the word, will and purposes of God.
What is popularly, widely accepted and practiced by others, though such things not approved by God, neither are they listed as the standard of living in his word, certain people with no set of particular principles and standards of life, they willingly play along or fall for anything and everything just because many other people are involved doing it. They don't want to offend others, thus they become such as pleases men, instead of pleasing God; having respect for men, more than they have for God: (b) they don’t want to be left behind by the rest of the world, but chosen to flow with the crowd; not ready to face the wrath of the culture of cancel - ostracized, boycotted, or shunned. Such unwise decision to follow the crowd is to join others is to challenge and provoke God - following rebellious crowd against God. As a child of God, you are called to shining as light in the world as a city built on the hill, which cannot be hid. You are called to stand against any wrong public or false majority opinions in the church or world, expressing sound biblical opinion at office place among ungodly colleagues in the face of any ungodliness: to resist family’s suggestions contrary to the word and holy counsels of God. To stand up for what is right; though painful, and you have to do it alone (blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Matthew 6:22), but you should not follow the multitudes or any individual to do what is not right before God, otherwise, you are not an overcomer. Exodus 23:2.
Who among the present-day believers will not say, a confederacy, to all of them to whom this people shall say, a confederacy; neither fear their fear, nor be afraid, but will sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be his fear, and let him be his dread. Isaiah 8:12-13.
Would you be numbered among the overcomers faithful remnants who will not compromises with the crowd in the church of the last days in Christ Jesus before his arrival? Elijah thought he was the only prophet left in the land of Israel who is not following after the crowd to walk after other god, but God disapproved of his claim, by telling him there are other seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. 1 Kings 19:18.
This is the last days, your brain must be working very fast in the word of God that you may be wise as serpent, and have your eyes wide opened following after the Lord; not following after the crowd or any church leader who is out of the right way; a leader who is not preaching in such a way until Christ is formed in you, but a preacher who is preparing you for the coming of the Lord in holiness and righteous living to present you as a chaste virgin unto Christ. Galatians 4:19.
If I cast out demons by the finger or power of God, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. The Lord would have the Jews of old understand that he was not like their children, but different from all the rest who were casting out demons by the spirit of Beelzebub - And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. This is part of the great deception we must overcome in the last days; to stand aside from the falsehood and deceptions of false deliverance manipulations of the false apostle, prophets, pastors, evangelist, believers etc. Deliverance or casting out of demons which never set the victims free from sin. Deliverance where people are made to do stupid's, unbiblical and ungodly deeds. Deliverance that opens more doors for Satan into your life than when you first began. Spectacular deliverance to make a public show of their victims while nothing of godliness is wrought in them. Luke 11:19-20.
Many believers shall perish with others because they are blindly following the crowd for recognition, praises and acceptance coming from men and not God's. Many pastors shall perish with others because they have left the Lord and likewise lose his presence and guidance, having chosen to follow after the patterns of other corrupts and evil mindedness pastors to build and labor for the Lord with satanic rituals and sacrifices (siren spirits power, occultism, voodoo, illuminati, freemasonry etc.), in order to acquire power of darkness to draw crowd into the church for temporal vain glory and wealth.
Be careful of following after the wrong crowd. You are already relevant before God. Your sense of belonginess with God should be enough to avoid uniting and following after ungodly crowd and gatherings of worshippers in the name of seeking for unity or love lest you be defiled and fall under the condemnation of false association in the church.
If we don't stand out for truth against darkness, and to separate ourselves for its true cause, we're not standing on the immovable Rock - Christ, but falling deeper into the sinking muddy sand. Who is on the Lord’s side? Who have renounced hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully? Who will leave the world's side introduced inside the church to shun and overcome the worldliness and ungodly lusts there among the Lord's children in the church today? Who will face the foe, not with the help from the Egyptian’s armies of sorceries, wise men and magicians which are not the Lord’s, but will set and raise up their banners only and purely in the name of the Lord by taking the battle to assault the enemy at his own gate?
Who will not compromise the truth, but buy and not sell it for gain in the church?
Those who are on the Lord’s side will gallantly resist the enemy to fight the good fight of faith in the defense of truth, righteousness and holiness of God in the world and inside the church by separation from those having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the of the word of God; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
Though the faithful brethren shall be defamed, but they entreat. They live by pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet they are well known; as dying, and, behold, they live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich in the true riches of Christ; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
Prophet Jeremiah and Ezekiel were both called into the office as servants for God and not of the people, meaning; they must please God and not the people by their fidelity to his word and prophetic messages to the people irrespective of the difficulty, challenges and confrontations of the people. They should follow the Lord only. God warned and encouraged them to be different from the people they were sent to deliver warnings and instructions through obedient and seriousness.
They should not compromise for whatever reason. They should not bow to any of the threats of the people or allow any sort of intimidation or threats from the rebellious house of Israel to change the message they were sent to deliver which must be spoken as they received it from God. Jeremiah 1:17-19. Ezekiel 2:1-7. Note: he that is appointed and empowered as God's battle axe and weapons of war (Jeremiah 51:20) to correct and reprove the declining moral standards and spiritual lifestyles of God’s people in order to bring them back to him should not stoop so low in moral and spiritual lifestyles as same as the people he was sent to warn; but to take heed to himself, lest the other side of the sword of the Lord be used to uproot, pull down and destroy him as well - See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. Jeremiah 1:10.
Fourteen years ago, I was invited to preach in a Pentecostal church at Turin, Italy. Hours before the time to preach, the pastor approached and gave me the lists of certain things I should not talk about, lest the people be offended: lest they give less in offering. I'd rather not preach at all than to be restricted and guided by man against the truth to say and not to be preached. I told him to count me out of the programmed, I am not interested anymore, but he finally agreed I should speak as God gives utterances. To his surprised, the people he thought will be angry for the word of God were broken in penitent after they heard the word preached: they gave more than his expectations and his pending church bills were taken care of by the Lord.
If you confront a false pastor for any of his false teachings, he will become angry and likely accuse you of having a rebellious spirit. They are the blind leaders who want you to remain blind, following them blindly. Have you ever been threatened by a pastor after you discover that the church is false and you are leaving to lay a curse upon you, just for withdrawing following the false crowd? Have you ever been told by a pastor’s friend or group of pastors, or church members or church Committee that your preachings are too hard, that crowd will leave your church, if you don’t speak wisely – change the way you preach? In other words, all they are saying is, just be like us, make no difference from the rest of us, you are not the only preacher in town; we are in the Twenty first century where you don’t make things hard on yourself.
Make yourself different for the Lord by not following false unbiblical crowd. It is better to stand alone in righteousness than to follow the crowd - I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because your hand was on me. I was filled with indignation at their sins. You know where I am. Jeremiah 15:17.
Cowards who cannot stand apart for the Lord chose to follow the wrong crowd, but they shall have their parts in the lake of fire according to the word of God. By following the wrong crowd in the church, you are corrupting yourself. By corrupting after the preachers who corrupting the word of God, you are being corrupted and defiled, you will never be sanctify by corruptible word of God. God is against those that steals the truth from others. Pastors should not corrupt the word of God to make at ease or draw the crowd of false worshippers who are not thirsting and hungry after righteousness into the church; but in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Titus 2:7-8.
It was written of Christ that he preached not like the Pharisees and Scribes, for his word carry life, authority and power. From all these qualities, the Lord still encounter problems from disgruntled hearers for speaking the truth. The crowd and many of his disciples departed from following him; the Lord then asked the twelve disciples, if they will also walk away from him: but Simon Peter, speaking for the rest eleven disciples, answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. John 6:68-69. Whether it has to do with your husband, do not follow him to do evil as Saphira lied in support of her husbands' lies before the church and perished with him on the same day. Whether it is the group of false believers or the associations of false pastors, stop following the wrong crowd; chose not to be false. Is the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? Though his excellency mounts up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; yet he shall perish forever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, where is he? He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found yes, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. Job 20;5-8.
God is not with the wrong crowd you are foolishly following but has promised to be with you if you wisely separate from following after them. Prophet Micaiah stood up for truth amidst hundreds of false colleagues who were also prophet like him. Though, others tried to convince him to compromise with them before the king, he chose to differentiate and separate himself from them, chose to be a different man from the rest for God. Though was rejected and suffered alone for speaking truth before the king, but God was with him; accepted his work and stand against following the group of deceitful and lying prophets and protected him. 1 Kings 22:1-28.
The Lord wants you to differentiate yourself from the crowd through your walk, gospel lifestyles and fruits of righteousness which are by him. He that is holy, let his eyes looks straight on, turning no to the right or left; but let him keep walking in the highway of holiness, without which, no man shall see the Lord. Consecrate yourself before the Lord. Do not follow after the lifestyle of the evil crowd of this generation that is pure in its own eyes yet is not washed from its filth. Proverbs 30:12.
The bible command you to remove the unrepentant gay and lesbian believers from your assemblies. It is not because many false pastors are welcoming and accepting gays and lesbians into their churches as fellow believers in Christ, or they themselves being gays, should you be doing the same - blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor seated in the seat of the scornful. Psalms 1:1.
At Sodom, Lot separated and differentiated himself openly from the gays people of his time, never hide his displeasure from day to day before them against their ungodly lifestyle – he vexed his righteous soul from day to day. 2 Peter 2:8. Yeast, is a small thing, but it works its way through a whole batch of bread dough pretty fast: a little leaven leavens the whole lump: it is, therefore, the duty of the elects to walk daily in discernment to avoid and escape the corruption, contamination, and defilement hidden within the church. 1 Corinthians 5.
A genuine Christian is called to make a daily call and chose the type of believers he allows into his life. This is a personal call to spiritual deepness and growth, lest any of the children of the wicked one become the obstacle of his iniquity to hamper his walk and growth in the Lord. Psalms 1;1.
Jesus made the contrast of the animals in his sheepfold – goats, sheep, and wolves in sheep clothing. He knows all his sheep by name. Against ungodly association, he apprises to warns them of the present and danger of the wolves in sheep clothing, lest they become prey to the wolves. It is not all Israelites in the flesh were Israelites of the spirit: neither because they are of the seed of Abraham are they legitimate children of God’s covenant. It is not all that claims children of God; born of the spirit and of the water baptism are children of God. Many are walking in the flesh, though it is said that they are living in the spirit, do not follow the pattern of such to serve the Lord, but after those who are living in the spirit and are walking in the spirit. They're existing many false brethren and false churches, false gospel messages, false holy spirit which is the familiar spirit – false Jesus of which apostle Paul warned not to follow them, otherwise, you alone will bear the damages and consequences afterward. 2 Corinthians 11:4.
Ruth, by the instruction of her mother-in-law- Naomi, gathered left over grain from the field which belongs to Boaz, a godly man with the fear and word of God, lest by gleaning from those who are ungodly Jews, she be abused, and men take advantage of her. We also seek guidance through prayers, and be careful and prayerful with the guidance and discernment of spirit of the church we attend and the word we heard, lest we become like one among the crowds of people that followed after Absalom in their simplicity in his rebellion against his father’s throne, numbered among the rebels and were all slaughtered in battle. 2 Samuel 15:11.
Before the final separation, it is your responsibility to discern, resist and to overcome evil and false brethren in the church, - and that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Galatians 2: 4-5.
It is your responsibility to disassociate from anyone seeking for unity of spirit in the name of gospel peace or brotherly love with the believers whose doctrinal beliefs, practices, lifestyles and teachings are contrary to the teachings of the anointing that you have of him, and abides in you, and teaching you into all truth: and it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, what peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? 1 John 2:26. 2 Kings 9:22.
To follow the wrong crowd in the church for whatever reason shows you are credulous: and now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, that, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresses and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 2 John 1: 5 – 11.
Live obediently in holiness. Though God dwells amid the praises of his people, but no sacrifices of praise can steal his heart from his righteousness and holiness. You can praise and worship God on earth and go to hell for eternity even as Devil once praised and worshiped God in heaven but was cast out of heaven to earth while awaiting his final eternal destiny in suffering of eternal vengeance of fire.
Many churchgoers foolishly assumes that by singing the high praises and worship songs, though in an unclean, ungodly and unrighteous lifestyles, shall spared them from God’s wrath; but God has this to say against them; take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. Let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Amos 5: 23-24.
David was not only the man after the heart of God because he composed and sing many songs unto God, but he also tremble to the word of God to regulate his association with other people who are not in compliance with the standard of the word of God: I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A forward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso secretly slanders his neighbor, him will I cut off: him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me: he that walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that works deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that tells lies shall not tarry in my sight. Psalms 101:3 – 7.
God doesn't keep any fruitless branch under his care, why should you be over righteous to destroy yourself by keeping company with such a fruitless branch in the vine? If you have discovered a thorny tree, bearing thorns and briers, without fruits, if you are not out of senses, why should you accept such for so long in your life to the hurt of your spiritual life? In the early church, them that sin is rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 1 Timothy 5:20.
Judge the standard and quality of your personal standing and relationship with God. Seek to company with those who can improve and raise up the standard of the quality of your relationship with God. It is not your duty to judge or condemn anyone having the same besetting sin as you, only the hypocrites do such things. It is your responsibility to discern and balance other believer’s life, conducts and belief practices on the scale and balance of the scriptures; the spiritual man judges all things in the light of the word of God, so that you may keep following after righteousness, charity, peace and love with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22.
How do you know if a believer’s heart is pure or not?
Proverbs chapter 20 verses 11 say: even a child is known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right. The companion of fools shall be destroyed, stop following the wrong crowd. Proverbs 13:20. Who are the fools? The scripture is clear that a fool listens to the word of God, but that’s where it ends, no practical changes by the things he heard in his life. What should you do with a fool whose words are not seasoned with salt and filled with grace? Go from the presence of a foolish man when you perceive not in him the lips of knowledge. Proverbs 14:7.
There are many forbidden lifestyles and attitudes not expected from a child of God as becomes those called to live as the saints of the Highest. As obedient children who should not comports himself according to the former lusts in his ignorance, where such attributes and virtues of true holiness are missing, don’t be deceived by the operations of spiritual gifts, neither by whatever outward packages of impressions, which are presented to steal away the hearts of the simple ones to follow after them.