"Time to Part ways"

Time To Part Ways

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT)

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. 18 And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty. ”

Toxic Relationship

Definition of toxic -By definition, a toxic relationship is a relationship characterized by behaviors on the part of the toxic partner that are emotionally and not infrequently, physically damaging to their partner. … A toxic relationship is characterized by insecurity, self-centeredness, dominance, control.

If you’re in a toxic relationship, you may recognize some of these signs in yourself, your partner, or the relationship itself.

 Lack of support. …

 Toxic communication. …

 Jealousy. …

 Controlling behaviors. …

 Resentment. …

 Dishonesty. …

 Patterns of disrespect. …

 Negative financial behaviors.

(Illustration)

I’ve done a little studying on toxins and I’ve learned a
few things.

And they are:
1. Toxins are Abrasive: Anything that is abrasive gradually “;wears something away”

2. Toxins are “Corrosive”. Anything corrosive gradually “eats or melts something away” (acid)

If a relationship is healthy it should result in the fruit of:

1. Progress (Every round ought to go higher and higher)

2. Productivity (Fruitful)

3. Prosperity (Growth)

If a relationship is unhealthy and toxic it will generally reveal itself as such by the fruit of:

1. Stagnation (No progress or growth)

2. Degradation (to be reduced; going down)

3. Deflation (To come into a lower level of value “self-esteem or self value“)

In the text, the Word of God instructs those who are connected to God and His Light to part ways from among them and their darkness. He tells us to part ways with relationships that are harmful to our relationship with Him and that are harmful to ourselves.

My enemies are not only “external” but they are also “internal”. There is always a constant that is occupying my life and that is the battle that rages inside of me. Paul declares in Romans 7

Romans 7:15-17 (NLT)

15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.  16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

A great source of much of the grief that comes to my life comes as a result of many of the dumb choices that I make. I have to come to a point as to where I am willing to admit that much of the toxic poison that gets into the system of my own existence comes out of my own spirit. There is some stuff that is going on in my life that God is not pleased with. It’s because of my connection to people that I have no business being connected to. And at the same time there is grief that has visited my life that grieves God of which the source is not people on the outside of me, but demons that have attached themselves to my spirit.

Not only do I need to respond through faith and obedience to God’s Word to, “part ways from amongst them” but I also need some stuff in my spirit “to part ways out of me”! Because a lot of the hell that I’m catching in my life comes to me as a result of the things that are going on inside of my spirit.

In the text we find a Word from the Lord that show us four things that can bring deliverance and prosperity into the lives of those who would walk in faith and obedience.

1. Separate yourself. 2 Cor. 6:14-15 (KJV) “Be ye not unequally yoked (Greek: “heterozugeo”, to havefellowship with one who is not an equal) together with unbelievers (those who reject truth): for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial?” (Belial is a Hebrew word “used to characterize the wicked or worthless.”)

Dr. Eugene Peterson declares through the Message Bible this text from the Greek using today’s English, “don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership, that’s war. Is light best friends with darkness? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil. Do trust and mistrust hold hands?”

2. See yourself the way that God sees you:

v.16, (KJV) “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

God is saying here in the Message Bible “leave the corruption and the compromise, leave it for good. Don’t link up with those who will pollute you, I want you all for myself.”

3. Sanctify yourself. 2 Cor. 6:17A (KJV). “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate (Greek,“aphorizo,” to mark off from others by boundaries, to limit, to exclude as disreputable) saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing” (Greek, “akathartos,” unclean in thought and life)

Joshua 3:5 (NKJV)

And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

4. Save yourself. 2 Cor. 17B-18 (KJV) quotes God as promising, “and I will receive you, (Greek, “to receive kindly, to treat with favour”). 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

The Lord says that there is a way out of your life being or remaining toxic. The Lord says that there is a way out of your soul being or remaining sick or poisoned by the scourges of depression, despair and defeat. The Word of God says that there is a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Your life does not have to remain stuck in the state of negativity, stagnation, degradation, depression, decline and decay. Once you make up your mind that you want out of the toxicity of relationship with that which has poisoned your life; hijacked your peace and detoured you in destiny; Once you make up your mind that you want real love, real peace, real joy, real happiness and real prosperity.

That’s when you’ll recognize that it’s Time to Part Ways

Part ways with sadness to come into His joy.

Part ways with darkness to come into His light.

Part ways with distress to come into His peace.

Part ways of my hell to come into His heaven.

He’s got something better for you. But you’ve got to Part Ways!

Is there anybody here …. That will help me lift Him up?

Is there anybody here… that will help me praise Him in the dance?

Is there anybody here … that will help me praise Him with the instruments?

Is there anybody here… that will help me praise Him with my hands?

Is there anybody here… that will help me praise Him with my offering?

Is there anybody here…that will help me praise Him with my lips? HE’S WORTHY OF ALL OF THE PRAISE!

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That’s why God is calling us to Himself by declaring through a commandment given to and through the Apostle to “part ways from amongst them”. It’s toxic in there.

TOXINS IN THE WORLD! TOXINS IN THE FAMILY!

TOXINS IN THE SOUL!

TIME TO PART WAYS!