We are Never Getting Back Together: Bad Yokes = You Broke

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers (NKJV: “Do not unequally yoked… “) How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 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. 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. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.””

Sam:

Breakdown: separate from the unbelievers because they will drag you down and keep you from living up to the potential that God has established. TESTIMONY

Not only should we separate from them but we should also not just be “believers”

James 2:19–20 “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”

Even the demons believe in God. I really want you to understand this. Anyone can believe anything. God wants you to FOLLOW Him. Not just believe. There needs to be evidence of fruit in your life. Pastor Caitlyn is going to hit on what fruits should be evident in your life in a little bit.

I have one more verse for you before I hand it over

Matthew 10:38 “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.”

Direct words from Jesus. He calls us not just to believe in him, but to FOLLOW Him. Take up

Caitlyn:

I wanna have the conversation about the difference between a believer and a follower.

I’ve heard this said a lot when its asked, “Is ____ (significant other, friend, etc.) a believer?”. Most of us answer that question with a resounding “YES”. However, why is it that our “YES” to that question doesn’t back up the condition of our relationship?

In God’s Word, there is no separation between a believer in Christ and a follower of Christ. They are supposed to be the same. In the world’s terms of demonstration, a believer has become this thing that means “I believe, but I don’t do…” and follower is where the commitment lies.

If you are truly a believer in Jesus then you have to be a follower of Jesus.

You cannot just believe in His personhood and not be impacted by Him. You are either a believer or unbeliever and your heart which was impacted or not impacted by Him will showcase who you truly are.

Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

What fruit would someone’s life show if they were impacted by Jesus?

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

This is what is produced in a life that is either completely outside of Christ or someone who is not walking by the power of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:19–21 “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

Back to our original text: Paul spells it out perfectly what a believer is and isn’t

V16 gives us 4 points to determine if someone is a believer:

GOD LIVES IN THEM (THEY CONFESS HIM AS LORD OF THEIR LIFE, NOT JUST SAVIOR)

GOD’S PRESENCE IS EVIDENT IN THEIR DAILY LIFE (THEY SPEND TIME IN PRAYER, WORSHIP, READING THE WORD)

THEY PUT GOD FIRST ABOVE EVERYTHING

THEY ACT LIKE GOD’S PEOPLE (THEY’RE CONNECTED TO THE CHURCH AND THEY LIVE LIKE THE CHURCH)

If they do not live like this or are refusing to change follow Jesus’ way, what do I need to do? V17 SEPARATE YOURSELF. Why? Because if you are unequally yoked (or teamed up) with unbelievers, this is what will happen…

Yoke demonstration