“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Here is the promise of God Almighty Himself: If we give up our false religion and twisted ways, then He will receive us.

First, most people think they are losing out by coming to faith. If we repent of tongues, in favor of praying to God clearly… if we repent of songs that don’t glorify Christ, in favor of singing His praises with sound doctrine… then we will somehow miss out. (The crowd won’t love us, and we’ll lose our religious feelings.)

No, you will gain all the more, because the Father will receive you with comfort.

Think about the Prodigal Son. He came home to kisses, music, and dancing! Then about Israel escaping Babylon. They had to leave the flesh behind, but they gained the worship of God in the new temple.

“For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” --Isa 52:12

We will be received by God, because He favors us through repentance. Do not be fearful, but come out and be separate.

Secondly, in purity and holiness, honoring God. “Do not touch what is unclean.” We thought happiness was serving ourselves, but it is in all-out allegiance to Him.

Don’t come out part way. “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.” Many stagger in false religion because they don’t make a clean break. They try serving two kingdoms at the same time, because they don’t want to suffer. Yet, in following Christ and depending on grace, there is much pleasure and peace.

Yes, we have obstacles and trials, but we also have a delivering God. Paul says,

“As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” vs10

This is the ministry. We have difficulties, hardships, and the weight of honoring our ministry [vs3]. We have opposition in the church and without, but we have a God who gives peace.