Recently, the Lord spoke to me through the scriptures text before us in the course of seeking and waiting on him for certain clarifications. As we look back into the account of the Old Testament wilderness journey of our fathers after the Exodus from Egypt, we could only found out that these three things are divinely demanded on them to fulfill the purposes of their salvation and deliverance out of the Land of Egypt, that they should be a holy kingdom of priesthood unto God, separated from other people and nations: to make the difference known between the circumcised nation of Israel of God and the uncircumcised Egyptians of a foreign god: to show the difference from the old life once lived in Egypt, to the new life expected of them as people saved by the Lord to live in the wilderness unto the promised land: you must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. Leviticus 18:3.
In the text before us, the Lord made three demands and requirements a believer should do in order to walk worthy of him unto all pleasing as a vessel and instrument of his honor, not only used here on earth, but that his servant should continue to serve him forever, beholding his glory and face in the world to come. He should therefore come out of the world, having been delivered out of the evil world (Galatians 1:4) to be qualified and made fitted to be sent back into the world for any meaningful service and mission, lest he be overcome by the things and men of the world he seeks to save. He cannot make any lasting impact on the world if the world is in him, or the world is found in him in any form of conformity and friendship, then his religion is defiled before God (James 1:27) and he’s disqualified for heaven which does not receive or welcome into it anything that defiles or is unclean. Revelation 21:23. Therefore, he must be purged from within against worldliness, freed from all its lusts and the pride thereof, if he expects to become a vessel of great delight unto his God, used and preserved as trophy of Christ glory throughout all eternity.
(A). Depart ye, depart ye, come ye out of it. This is a direct call from the Lord of the whole earth for a complete separation and abhorrence of the evil and ungodliness in the world. The believer must first separate himself from the world of sinners he was saved from and called to save if his light should shine as it ought to be out of darkness (I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[c] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 1 Corinthians 9-11): Christ himself, though he was called a friend of sinners and publican, yet, he was technically and practically separated and was undefiled (for such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.Hebrews 7:26) by the plagues of sin and the evil of unequally yoked: otherwise, he could not have fulfilled the scriptures and everything written about him. There was no common characteristic features of mentality of lifestyles between the Lord and the people he came to save. Love made the Lord to stoop down to serve and minister to each and everyone directed by God on his way, therefore, the believer should separate himself from been equally yoked together with unbelievers after his conversion and salvation (do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing,and I will receive you. And, I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18) from the kingdom of darkness -world into the kingdom of God’s dear Son – church, lest he should partake of the punishments of her iniquities from the Lord. Jeremiah 51:5-6. Revelation18:1-5.
Believers of all ages are God’s vessels, instruments and soldiers on earth, the hosts of the Lord. Exodus 12:41. They are his battle axe and the weapons of war (thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; and with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; with thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. Jeremiah 51:20-23): but it depends of what quality they are: while some of them are good and sanctified soldiers of good vessels and of divine pleasure (vessels of honor, used and preserved throughout all eternity) because they have labored to meet up with the rules and demands of their engagement in personal consecration in holiness with a pure heart to see God through self-purging and careful observations of the word of God (I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. Psalms 119:101. Matthew 5:9): some of them are soldiers and vessels wherein there is no eternal pleasure (but in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21), working for God in pretence and dishonesty, handling the word of God deceitfully, and have not renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, but are walking in craftiness. 2 Corinthians 4:1-2. Though God has judiciously and wisely given them enough rope to carry on just to make sure that the gospel is preached (what then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Philippians 1:18) so that the scriptures might be fulfilled, according to that which is written, that from the rising of the sun, unto the going down of the same, the whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters covers the sea (Habakkuk 2:14), afterwards, they shall be rejected and condemned to perish with Satan in the lake of fire, because by them, the way of truth shall be evil spoken of, and the gospel of Christ and the name of God shall be blasphemed among the nations (2 Peter 2:1-17): though they seems to be fighting the Lord’s battle who judges and wages his war in righteousness (Revelation 19:11) but they are holding the truth in unrighteousness, fighting the Lord’s cause in sins and divers lusts, just as the two sons of Eli lived in self willed, presumption, wantonness and debauchery (1 Samuel 2:22) before the Lord, and like the prophets of Israel which prophesied by Baal (divination through powers of darkness. Jeremiah 2:8: 23:13) and used idols to defile their spirit, soul, body, being caught up in the corruption that is in the world through lusts. Acts 15:20. 2 Peter 1: 3-4.
They failed to sanctify themselves in holiness unto the honor of Christ who has employed them to fight for the truth against the corruption that is in the world through lusts: no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 2 Timothy 2:4-5.
Separation from the world and from the sinners after salvation in continual walk with God is the first step leading to personal cleansing and holiness in preparation for the ways of the Lord before us. We all have unsaved friends, young boys or old men: young girls or mature ladies sinner’s friends we left behind in the world, including family members, neighbors and colleagues. We should care for the salvation of every soul, first, through a personal and true lifestyle in sanctification in awe of God to challenge them: two, by our constant compassionate prayers for their salvation which is now up to God to use us to reach out to them or use another – outsider to reach out to them for salvation. First, you should know that your spiritual health and wellness, stability, growth, purity, sanctification and holiness is much important before the Lord than any service or labor of love you may chose and desire to render in his name in an unclean, unsanctified and unprepared vessel – your life or body. You can’t just be carried away by a mere emotion and jump into the sea to save a drown victim if you are not a diver or a well experienced swimmer, otherwise, both of you shall perished!
The time of your separation and waiting unto the Lord is very crucial in your development and walk for future dealings in relationship with God: this will enables you to know him intimately until he bring or led you out. The Lord will not bring you out just to expose you to any spiritual danger and snare of the enemy if he has not first work on you to get you ready for the task he has for you in the world. Isaiah 33:19.
King’s David’s knowledge of God’s presence was the result of his many years of waiting and knowing the Lord better and better to the height and degree that he could understand the presence and the going of the Lord in the tops of the mulberry trees who has gone out before him against the Philistines, to smite his enemies before him for him to follow after the Lord who has gone out before him in the battle. 2 Samuel 5:24.
Blessed are those that waits on him like the wise laborers had waited until they were conveniently hired by the master, even though it was from the nine, twelve and fifteen hours of the day, yet, they also worked and received full payment of the day’s labor just like the rest that was hired early from the cook crow. Could it be said that their strength was not able to withstand the entire day’s labor, hence, he that searches the hearts hired them at a different hours of the day according to their strength and endurance, though they all received a full day’s wage? Matthew 20:1-16.
Countless of the Lord’s vessels and instruments have been wasted and destroyed by the enemy in battles as if they were not anointed with oil: though they were baptized with the holy ghost and they do speak with tongues, able to prophesy and pray for the sick with healing taking place, but they were not been sent forth by the Holy Ghost! Countless of them have been wounded and rendered invalid by the fiery darts of the wicked in battles as if the Lord is no more a man of war; while countless of them have been defiled and corrupted by the same people they sought to bring into the fountain of Christ blood for cleansing and deliverance from sin, as if the Lord have pleasure in iniquity and wickedness! Personal preparation in consecration before the Lord in the place of breaking and molding and empowerment for the battle is crucial during the time of separation, just like certain prophets and teachers were waiting through fast and prayer before the Lord until the Holy Ghost spoke with clear direction and instruction saying, separate unto me Paul and Barnabas for the work which I have appointed them. Acts 13:1-3.
(B.) Be ye clean, be ye clean that bear the vessel of the Lord. This is the call for personal sanctification and holiness unto God whose eyes are purer than to behold iniquity, and whose highway is the highway of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. Isaiah 26:7. Be ye clean, be ye clean that bear the vessel of the Lord (Isaiah 52: 11b): first, permit me to say that this is a warning against the battle they are called to confront against the unclean spirits and forces of darkness which should be carried out in holiness: (b) it is also a command concerning the rule of their engagement in the kingdom if the vessel of the Lord is expected to triumph always in battle from the God who always gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ: he should sanctify himself in holiness, lest the Lord, seeing any uncleanness, will not go forth to battle with his annointed one because the unclean and uncleanness opens door for the enemy, and it shut the door against God: blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seeks him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Psalms 119:1-6.
Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians made us to understand those things which sum up the spirit and acts of uncleanness before the Lord: but fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Ephesians 5:3-10.
In Christ Jesus, precious divine treasures are deposited in an earthen vessel which make the believer’s body an instrument or vessel of his Lord: but we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7), hence the warnings: be ye clean, be ye clean that bears the vessel of God, lest his Lord disown and frown at him in judgment as a worker of iniquity who must depart from his presence because he failed in the will of God –holiness and sanctification without which no man shall see God. 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8.
The believer is a life carrier and a light bearer: he is Christ embodiment and resurrection power carrier on earth – power of the world to come. Hebrews 6:5. A good and useful instrument of Christ must behave himself to live in all pureness (2 Corinthians 6:4) lest his own ways and lifestyle weakens him in the kingdom, and set him up for defeat and failure in spiritual battles and other engagement for his Lord, lest the state of his own personal uncleanness exposes him to demonic attack and is overpower by the enemy. His spiritual authority over unclean spirits and the powers of darkness to cast out devils is limited by the reason of his uncleanness, physician heals yourself! But there are many, as the Lord says, that cast out unclean spirits through Beelzebub the prince of demons (Matthew 12:27) to deceive ignorant worshippers as if their works are wrought by the finger of God (Holy Spirit): this is one of the mysteries of sin and spiritual manipulations in the church today (even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12) of the spirit of devils working miracles through those who sought after it.
What is the eternal good and usefulness of the power that seems to help others to have solution if any, to their problems, but won’t help you to make heaven? And what advantage is it to cast out unclean spirits but the possessed are not delivered from their unclearness’s and sins, while the same demons keeps manifesting its works and presence over and over again in them? These are the wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 2 Peter 2: 19-22.
I will whole heartedly submit before us that God’s presence is denied of its glorious manifestations and of its full potentials wherever uncleanness is found in any of his vessel. You cannot go into any battle with the assurance of victory in the state of uncleanness: neither should any make himself unclean in the midst of the battle to think that he will prevail against the enemy. Note: God’s greatest delight and interest is focused on the inward transformation in our relationship with him more than any of our outward occupation or engagement for him. The latter is important and a necessity, while the former is of great importance and necessity as well, but none should be left undone: both are required to win on earth (Job 17:9: Job 22:29-30) and to gain an entrance to be rewarded in heaven. Who shall ascend into the hills of God? And who shall dwell in his holy place? He that has a clean hand and a pure heart! Psalms15.
(C) There is nothing as dangerous as emotional zeal without a clear guidance of being led by the spirit of God. Yes, the harvest truly is plentiful and the labourers are few, but you must be called, separated, sanctified yourself unto God, wait and be led. How shall they preach except they be sent? as it is written, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! There is no end of the Lord’s work, but there is time with him to redeem, subtract, hold or changes and to add more: all his works are timely programmed and nothing falls under the term of emergency situation from the perspectives of eternal counsels – known unto God are all his works before the foundation of the world. Acts 15:18. You shall not go in haste, not go by flight; for the Lord shall go before you and his glory shall be your reward. Here is also the wisdom and patience of the saints to discern time and season of God’s own timing and guidance for any work and action, both to move forward in life, or to engage in any battle for Christ: for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God. Romans 8:14.
Whoever is the king the runaway David is making reference to in his name before the priest Ahimelech at Nob, either it was to the King of heaven and earth, or he was just referring to king Saul against whom he sought to flee for his safety and protection, the king’s business never required any haste as many believers have also taken to the text to justify their behaviours: it was just a lie spoken in David’s desperation to have a sword for his personal defense from the menace of king Saul in whose name and power he had deceitfully obtained the sword of Goliath kept up in the temple for a reference. 1 Samuel 21:8.
Thou shall not go out in haste, neither by flight…that with no hurriedness or hasty spirit on the believer’s part for whatever reason, should they go out in the name of the Lord. They should live and walk with God as the children of Israel in the wilderness, assuring their security and divine accountability of them, be timely and purposely led in and out by the pillar of cloud by day, and by the pillar of fire by night: and as they journeyed not, but as soon as the pillar is removed, either by day or by night, they journeyed by the commandments of the Lord, either it was by a day, week or months the Lord required them to move or stay: it is also clear that any outing or engagement for the Lord without the Lord having gone out before them usually ended badly and tragically as we see from the battle against the Amalekites and the Canaanites during the time of Moses (Numbers 14:40-45): also from the battle against the little city Ai during the time of Joshua which they were so confident to overcome, but they were defeated because God has not gone forth before them as the result of the accursed-unclean thing brought into the camp by Achan in the previous battle against Jericho, though difficult, but they won. Joshua7:1-13.