Come Out From Among Them

This message was delivered at Fountain of Life Christian Fellowship in Fairmont, WV on January 11, 2026.

I am a watchman that Father has set on the wall to watch, listen, and report. Please hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church today.

We will begin with a lengthy portion of Scripture in II Corinthians 6:14-7:1, “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?”

The Hebrew term “Belial” here means “worthlessness, wickedness, or lawlessness.” It is used to depict the enemy, the angel of destruction and the leader of the son of darkness. It speaks of Satan himself.

Then continuing on in verse 15, “Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?” In other words, what pact do we have with those who do not follow Christ and his teachings? Why should a believer’s life look anything like that of an unbeliever?

The Scripture goes on, “For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said, I will live with them and walk with them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” When we look at this Scripture, we want to apply it to us as individuals, but it is speaking to the Church, the Body of Christ, the people of God. Paul goes on in verse 16, “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you.” This is the focus of what Father is saying to us today.

“Come out from among them and be separate.” This is a call to the Church as a whole as well to each of us individually in these last days – these days in which we are seeing prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes and as we watch the words of Christ in Matthew 24 taking place right before us.

This is a call for all believers to live holy lives, separated from the world and its idols. It is a call for us to honor God and to experience his manifest presence in our lives and in our worship. It is also a warning against corruption, immoral behavior, compromise, and being complicit in our society’s sin. It is an urgent message to all believers because it is getting increasingly difficult to tell the difference between much of the language, practices, habits, and beliefs of Christians and that of non-believers.

Come Out From Among Them

The Word says to “come out,” and that term means to leave a place of your own accord without needing to be forcibly removed. It means to willingly and willfully escape or to depart. It means to forsake or to abandon by choice. To “come out from among them” means out from within or to come out from the middle of a group or association. Each of us are members of some group or part of a larger crowd. It could be your profession, your political affiliation, or a close circle of friends that has influence over your behaviors and attitudes. These are those who encourage and reinforce attitudes and behaviors that you know full well are less than Christ.

Be Separate

The Word says to “be separate.” Too many believers today have allowed worldly thought processes, attitudes, opinions, and behaviors to creep into their lives. I’m not talking about “them” – whoever “they” are. I’m talking about “us,” and that includes me. The term “separate” means to be set apart by a boundary. It means resetting those personal and spiritual boundaries, and that is something that we all need to do. This would mean disallowing and discontinuing those behaviors and attitudes that we know are less than Christ from remaining a part of our life. Again, this is something we all need to do.

Touch No Unclean Thing

“And touch no unclean thing.” The term “touch” literally means to attach oneself to or touching someone or something in such a way that alters or changes them. “Unclean things” refers to those actions, attitudes, and possessions that are not permitted or approved in the Word. They are things that are morally questionable and impure like the behaviors Paul lists as “deeds of the flesh” in Galatians 5:19-21, where we see listed “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” We also find other impure deeds mentioned elsewhere in Scripture like pride, arrogance, the love of money, malice, disobedience, deceit, slander, violence, and hypocrisy. These are the unclean things that we should not allow to touch our lives, affect our behavior, or infect our attitudes.

Paul continues in verse 18, “And I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and my daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reference for God.” 

It should be noted here that Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was not addressed to the local municipal authorities, nor was it directed to the local bar in its patrons. Who was it addressed to? It was addressed to the believers in Corinth and so to us as well. This is Father’s word for us today. This is his heart toward us and his admonition for us during these last days.

The Need for Holiness

During these difficult and trying times, I cannot emphasize strongly enough the need for holiness in our lives. Holiness is not a matter of being perfect. Instead, holiness means being set apart. It’s about being dedicated or committed to God and what we understand in the Word. Holiness means being set apart from the treasures and trappings of this world and from the attitudes and behaviors that we see around us. It means being set apart unto God and serving him with our whole heart.

Seven Things that are Detestable to God

There is another Scripture I’ve been instructed to share in this message. It is found in Proverbs 6:16-19, and it is another list of things that are unclean. These are the seven things that the Lord hates. This is pretty strong language, so we need to give heed to what it says because these are things that are being done by those who name the name of Christ today.

Reading from the NIV, it says, “There are six things the Lord hates; seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” 

I doubt any of us who are reading this blog would proudly confess that any of these things are normal parts of our lives right now. Indeed, I truly believe that none of us want any of these attitudes and behaviors to be found in us, but likely there is – if we are being honest with ourselves. Let’s look at each one of these things that Father hates and examine the original language and the intent behind the words beginning with a proud look or haughty eyes.

A Proud Look

“Proud” here means to be high or lifted up or to rise above other things. These are eyes that are condescending or that look down on those whom you feel are beneath you, those who are less deserving or worthy of our contempt. This is a look of arrogance and pride. This is an attitude of self-exaltation, when one feels they are better than others because of their social standing, economic status, country of origin, or the color of their skin. This is the practice of condescension, disdain, and snobbery to maintain an established level of superiority. Folks, this behavior is less than Christ and should never be a part of a believer’s life, and yet in today’s society, it is very much a part of the public perception of Christianity. It is very much part of what we see and hear online or on television from those who claim to be Christians.

The Word says in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or being conceited. Rather in humility, value others above yourself.” This is nothing new, but it is something we need to be reminded of especially when we’re viewing how different segments of our society are being mistreated right now.

A Lying Tongue

The second thing on that list of things that God hates is a lying tongue. Most of us are familiar with the old adage, “Why tell the truth when a lie would do.” And sadly it can be said of some people, “If he is talking, he is lying.” Perhaps you have known people or know people like this today. I know that I have and still do.

What does this look like? In the Scripture, the word means “speaking lies” or saying things that are known to be untrue. It also means using deceptive words. This might be telling some of the truth, but not all of it. This is when we tell the convenient parts of the truth to justify our need or intent in the moment and to convince others of what we are saying. A lying tongue actively avoids the truth. It dances around what is true to deflect and redirect a conversation away from the full truth of a matter.

A lying tongue intentionally deceives. It is blatantly dishonest for personal gain or benefit, but these actions and personal propensities have no place in a believer’s life. And yet, all too often we see self-professing believers on TV or in the news saying things that they know aren’t true and that we know aren’t true. Folks, this kind of behavior is less than Christ, and it reflects badly on all of us.

Jesus had strong words for the religious leaders of his day because they were speaking lies from their platform of authority. We see an example of this in John 8:44, “You belong to your Father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father‘s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, but there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar, and the father of lies.” These are the words of Jesus to the Pharisees, leaders who professed to know God, and Jesus’ words are just as true and applicable today as they were then.

Paul gives us this word of instruction in Colossians 3:9-10, “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” The truth may not always support or validate what we want or how we would like things to be, but speaking the truth is always the best policy. It makes life a lot easier in the long run. It is also what Jesus taught. It is Christlike behavior, and it is what every believer should be doing.

Hands that Shed Innocent Blood

The third item on that list of things that the Lord hates is “hands that shed innocent blood.” This speaks to the violence we see taking place in our streets. These are actions taken by those in power and includes those in our nation’s leadership who believe that “might makes right.”

An in-depth look at the words used here shows that this phrase refers to power that brings harm to the blameless. They refer to blatant actions that hurt and injure people who are causing no harm. These are actions that include cold-blooded murder as well as character assassination, which directly affects one’s ability to make a living and function in society. We must remember that words are weapons, too.

“Hands that shed innocent blood” speaks to the motivation of a person’s heart. It speaks to the inner, personal motives of the one causing harm, and it always involves harming the innocent. It means hurting those who cannot help or defend themselves, those without the power or influence to change their situation.

As believers, it is incumbent upon us all, especially those of us who have been given a position of authority, to check the motives of our heart, to examine the effects of our actions, and to carefully weigh out the impact of our words on those we govern or lead. We need to be mindful of the words in I John 3:15, “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” Again, “hate” is a very strong word that is being used here. In the Greek, it means to detest or to love someone or something less than someone or something else. Hate speaks of making a moral choice of elevating the value of one thing over another.

Rather than drawing lines of distinction and making the choice to harm or injure, we need to make a conscious, deliberate choice to be reconciled, to remove any existing barriers, and to repair the breach that has opened between ourselves and those around us.

We will leave this topic with Paul’s directive in Romans 12:3-4, “By the grace given me, I say to every one of you do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” This should be a sobering reminder for us all.

A Heart that Devises Wicked Plans

The next thing on the list of what God hates is a heart that devises wicked plans. As we know, the heart, as it is used in Scripture, does not refer to that muscle inside our chest that is pumping blood throughout our body. Rather, the term refers to the center or core of a person’s entire being. The heart includes our mind, will, emotions, desires, and conscience. It is the essence of who we are, and Father hates a heart that devises hateful or harmful plans against others.

What is referred to here are evil thoughts about others or inventing of ways to exact retribution or revenge against those we feel have wronged us. It refers to those plans we make to harm someone or to thwart other’s efforts. It includes schemes that we devise to enrich ourselves at the expense of others. It refers to the self-centered, self-benefiting plans we plan and then execute.

We see an example of this in David’s life as he devised a plan to have Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, killed in battle so he could marry Bathsheba and legitimize his sin. There’s another example in the Book of Acts when Ananias and Sapphira conspired to deceive the Church and make the others believe something that was not true. As the saying goes, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we set out to deceive.”

There are times in all of our lives when our minds begin to devise a plan to cause things to turn in our favor, but when those plans involve harming others or enriching ourselves to the detriment of the others involved it has become an evil scheme. It is a wicked plan, and Father hates it. Again, this type of behavior or mindset is less than Christ and has no place in our life.

Paul writes this in Ephesians 5:11, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” Deep down in our heart we know better. Listen to your heart. In James 4:17 we read these words, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” This is still true for each of us.

Feet that Rush into Evil

The fifth thing on the list are feet that run or rush into evil. The word “run” here means to rush, hasten, or to move with purpose. It gives the idea that the person involved seemingly possesses no resistance to sin or refuses to give credence to such restraint. This is an attitude which deliberately plans to do evil and to bring their wicked plans into fruition. It is a person with a dogged determination to cause trouble, one whose very mission in life seems to be to bring distress and heartache to those with whom he or she interacts.

God not only hates the heart that makes wicked plans but also the feet that carry out those plans. The only remedy for this kind of behavior, however, is submission. It requires submission to a higher ideal or submission to what is right. It means submitting to God like it says in James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

A False Witness Who Speaks Lies

Another thing that God hates is a false witness who speaks lies. Typically, when we think about a witness, our minds go to a courtroom where a person with knowledge of the case being tried is called upon to give testimony or to tell what they have seen or experienced. They are sworn to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” We also know that if they don’t tell the truth they are legally responsible for their false testimony and will be prosecuted for committing perjury, which carries its own stiff penalty.

A false witness’ testimony can be very damaging. People’s very lives and livelihoods are often at stake in these situations. Honest testimony is essential for justice to be carried out. Falsehoods, untruths, and deceptions can have heavy consequences for everyone concerned.

Solomon writes in Proverbs 25:18, “Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is the one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.”  Our words are powerful, and the lies we tell about one another are especially harmful. Paul writes these words in Ephesians 4:25, “Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor for we are all members of one body.” 

We read in Acts 1:8 these words, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” If we name the name of Christ – that is, if we call ourselves a Christian – then we are his witnesses. As such, we have been called upon to give testimony to that which we know, have seen, and have experienced. Being a false witness means to say one thing and do another, which is hypocrisy. Being a false witness is to claim to serve the Lord but behave like the world. This is what it means to “take his name in vain” or make it mean nothing. This is a serious matter. It harms the Kingdom and does damage to the work of God here on earth.

Regarding our Christian witness, consider Paul’s words in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, the Father through him.” Living “in the name of Jesus” is the acting out of the covenant we have with him. We are his representatives on this earth. Everything we say and do should reflect that representation. It behooves us then to guard our words, examine our actions, and be faithful witnesses declaring the truth as we know it.

One Who Sows Discord Among Brethren

The seventh, and most important item on that list in Proverbs 6, is one who sows discord or stirs up controversy among the brethren. Why is this so hated? Why is it such a concern to Father? It is because it leads to division, spreads confusion, interrupts the work of the local church, and gives the enemy a toehold or a platform from which to work.

I am certain that most folks reading this will have witnessed a church split at least once during their Christian walk. The damage these divisions cause is great. The ministry and reputation in the local community is affected, and if the controversy is severe, people who once attended church regularly simply stop fellowshipping anywhere. Father hates division and discord because it damages the Kingdom.

The word “sow” means to throw out, scatter, or spread like one does with grass seed. Grass seed gets thrown everywhere to cover the area, and, like the seed that has been thrown in the lawn, discord and division grow and reproduce wherever it has been thrown. The “discord” mentioned here means strife and contention among people. We must all be mindful of what we are sowing because it will grow.

Discord All Around Us

In our country today, the Church as a whole, individual fellowships, and even some families have been divided by the political discord that we are witnessing right now. We see two sides armed for battle with each declaring to speak for God and claiming that God is on their side. Be reminded of this important truth: God is not on any side. Rather, he is the center – the focus – and we need to be on the Lord’s side. In the Church today and even within our local fellowships, we are going to have differences of opinion, but we must remain focused on our God-given mission rather than on our individual preferences.

Where Do We Go From Here?

So, who is right? Where do we find clarity in the midst of the chaos that we are seeing and experiencing? Paul warned us about what the end times were going to be like. We find that warning in II Timothy 3:1-5, “But mark this, there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” 

Do we see these things today? Of course we do! But it is vital that we do not allow our disagreements about non-essential matters like carpet colors or political beliefs to become seeds of discord and division that are sown within our local fellowships. Instead, let us heed the instruction given at the beginning of this message.

Come Out From Among Them

We must willingly and willfully choose to leave those things behind. We must be determined to escape and to abandon those behaviors and beliefs that are less than Christ and be separate. We need to reset our boundaries. We must discontinue those behaviors and attitudes that are not Christlike and not worthy of representatives of the Most High God. We cannot allow them to remain in any part of our life.

The Word is clear: we cannot be friends with the world and be an effective part of God’s kingdom. We cannot live a life of compromise. Our hearts cannot be divided. James 4:4 makes this quite clear, “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” It’s just that simple. These are not my words. These are the words of the One who saved you and then sent you as his faithful and true witness.

A very familiar Scripture in Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The fear of the Lord, which is reverence for God and his Word, is the beginning of knowledge, which is an experiential rather than academic knowledge. But fools – those who refuse to listen or learn – utterly despise wisdom or the lessons learned from experience and instruction. They hate being taught how to do things and why they are important.

It also says in Proverbs 8:13, “To fear the Lord is to hate evil, I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Like that list of behaviors in Proverbs 6, these are also things that divide and destroy the Kingdom of God. They are things that undo the work of Christ and keep us from experiencing all that Father has for us.

I will close with this word of encouragement from Romans 12:1-2 from the Voice translation, “Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God‘s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings him pleasure. This is your reasonable, essential worship. Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you’ll be able to determine what God wills, and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete.”

We Belong to God

Folks, we belong to God. Let’s live our lives like that is true. Today, listen to Father’s voice. Hear his heart. If you are connected with a group, ideology, or political affiliation that is not fully aligned with Christ and his teachings, come out from among them. We are called to be more than simply members of a group or political party.

We are called to be holy, which means to be separated unto God and away from the world. We are called to be righteous, living in accordance to what he has said in his Word. We are called to be faithful witnesses who do not look down on others, who speak the truth, and protect the innocent. We are to be trustworthy witnesses whose hearts are set on the things of God, having feet that bring the gospel to those who have not accepted it yet. And above all else, we are called to be true witnesses who seek to live at peace with others to the best of our ability and to not stir up controversy within the Church.

Please hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church today.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®

Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ^TM

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, The Voice Bible

Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society

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