Our Companions Reveal Our Hear!

I am convinced that most people who claim to be Christian, are not growing spiritually for two reasons: The first reason is that they don't know their Bibles and the second reason is that they are not removing rebellious people from their lives. They are continuing to remain with those who have resisted God, causing the Christian to stagnate and regress in their walk. God commands us to get away from those who have heard about and rejected Him.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the [e]knowledge of the truth."

2 Corinthians 6:17 ""Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you."

1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

We must make our constant companions those who love Christ. We will be witnessing to unbelievers, even helping them at times when needed, but they should not be our constant close companions, unless we are in a living situation in which we have no escape.

Far too many believers are constantly interacting in extended family groups where most, if not all the people are unsaved. The pressure that comes from a group like this causes us to compromise in ways we would not among strong believers. Not to mention the influence those unsaved family members have on small impressionable children.

We will choose for our friends those who reflect our desired lifestyle. IF we find ourselves with non-believers more than believers, it is very likely a clue that we enjoy the company of the unsaved. We may be more comfortable around them because they do not expect standards from us while we still love to indulge in ungodliness. Some believers tend to enjoy the non-believers because they have had a superficial conversion to Christianity but were never born again by the Holy Spirit of God.

Those who love the Lord enjoy the company of strong believers, even feeling like a fish out of water around the unsaved. We have a desire to reach the unsaved, but we do not enjoy the things they talk about, the activities they indulge in and the attitudes they continually exude.

John 3:5-8
"5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

When we become born again God changes us into a new creation. We are no longer what we used to be, sort of like the metamorphosis that happens when a butterfly emerges from the worm. When the butterfly crawls out of that cocoon it is changed forever, never to go back to being a worm again.

When someone claims to be a Christian, but they have never changed from a worm to a beautiful butterfly free in Christ, but still crawls impotently along the ground, without any change at all, then they were never born again, they never became a butterfly.

The freedom in Christ is far greater than the freedom unregenerate non-believers think they have.

John 8:34 "Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin."

Romans 6:20 "For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness."

Those who are slaves to sin cannot experience the beauty of righteousness. Believe it or not those in bondage to sin never enjoy a clear conscience or assurance of salvation. They are continually at the mercy of worry, anger and many other debilitating emotions, while the believer rests comfortably in the certainty of God's love and provision.

Those who have trusted Christ have battles from time to time with the feelings of unbelievers, but they are not overcome by them. Unbelievers do not have the help of the Lord as believers do, they are left entirely to their own devices.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 "9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools."

John 16:33 "33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 41:13 "13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you"

Psalm 27:1 "1 The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid."

Psalm 37:23 "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way."

Psalm 1:24-25 "
24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel
And did not want my reproof"

God will not help or listen to those who have not trusted Him. The only prayer God will hear of the non-believer is the prayer of brokenness over his sin that motivates him to trust Christ.