“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one”. John 17:15 NIV
This is part of Jesus prayer to His Father. He is asking His Father to protect His followers from the evil one and its influences on them.
While we know that God can protect us from all evil and its influences, we have an important part to play in this protection.
“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 by my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty”. 2 Corinthians 6: 17-18 NIV
God is telling you that your part is to remove yourself from the influences of the world. This represents any corrupting moral influence, sin, or compromise that defiles a person’s relationship with God.
I like this analogy. If you have a pile of Garbage in your yard or near your property you will have rats. You can remove the rats, but the garbage is still there and eventually the rats will return. You remove the garbage and the rats remove themselves.
If I want a pure and wholesome walk with God, I must remove the garbage from my life. God is ever present and very willing to help me throw out the garbage. I must make the first move or decision to stop piling up the garbage. Once I make the decision to stop piling up the garbage, God and the Holy Spirit will fill me with cleanliness and their presence so that the rats don’t have anything to feed upon.
I must stop putting in any influences that allow the evil one to find a dark corner in my heart and mind.
“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” Matthew 5:29 NIV
Jesus does not want people to physically harm or mutilate their bodies. He wants radical action. Jesus is telling you that you must aggressively remove the real sources of temptation from your life.
You need to ask yourself. Is what you are doing at this moment, what you are watching, what you are listening to. Are these things bringing me a closer walk with God my Father.
Is this input being used by Satan to deposit a demon in my mind and heart to keep me from an intimate walk with God.
Shut off the influences that are harmful to your walk with God.
Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.
Prayers and Love for all.
Larry
Unbolt The Door To Your Heart 