Toxic Alignments In God’s eyes- Part 1

 

Slow poison. Have you ever considered that toxic relationships can be a slow poison? You don’t immediately see the negative impact, but over time, gradually, the negative effects are seen and can often be devastating.

The word toxicity, according to Wikipedia, refers to a substance or even a medley of substances that can damage an organism. It also discusses how the results or effects of such toxicity can be harmful to the whole organism. The definition goes on to give us a wider understanding of the term as it relates to society or even family systems. Wikipedia also talks about another interesting element, the dose correlation to toxicity.  It tells us that toxicity is dose-specific, as certain doses equate to toxicity, whereas lower doses don’t. (Wikipedia.org/wiki/toxicity)

Stay with me for a moment. If toxicity can damage an organism, we should be listening intently. If our connections can damage us in ANY way, it is time to look closely at our connections.  I think when we look at toxicity as it pertains to relationships, we don’t take it as seriously. Most of us, when thinking about taking any amount of a poisonous substance, would say absolutely not; remove all of it.  Somehow, as it pertains to relationships, we believe that we can endure small doses of toxicity and still thrive and survive. We are going to see what God says about relationships that are harmful or dangerous to us. Could the negative cycles that are happening in your life be partly because of your affiliations and your relationships? I hope I have your attention.  I’m going to start with a few questions today. Are your relationships a snare? Do your relationships draw you closer to God or farther away? Has the Lord taken his hand off of you? Is your vision blurry regarding the relationships? Are you relationships used as an instrument of constant punishment or criticism against you?  Have you broken a covenant with God?  Have you taken in a small lethal dose of relationships? 

As followers of Christ, we are supposed to take authority over our relationships. How do we do this? We can take authority, by taking heed to what the word of the Lord shares with us regarding relationships. There are clear, defined messages in the Word, throughout the Old and New Testaments, that help us to know God’s perspective on our alignments. God’s Word doesn’t change. He doesn’t change His mind on what he loves and what he hates. He is constant. The Word of God is for our guidance, instruction, and protection. However, just because the Word is there for us, it doesn’t mean that we always take heed. Unfortunately, sometimes, this can be to our detriment. The truth is we can read it, we can sing it, we can even say we believe it.  But the real belief comes about when we actually live out what the Word says!

Let’s immerse ourselves in the Word today and see what it says about our affiliations, our connections, and our relationships. Today, let’s investigate Joshua twenty-three. Joshua was the successor of Moses. He was granted the assignment of taking the Children of Israel into Canaan, the land that God promised them. Taking the territory was certainly a challenge, but the Lord was faithful in fulfilling the promise. Joshua twenty-three starts with a statement that tells us the Children of Israel were given rest from all of their enemies. Joshua knows that his time is short with them, he divides the land amongst the people and reminds them of how the Lord protected them and delivered them from each enemy.  He assured them that the Lord would continue to protect them and continue to drive out the enemies IF they followed the Lord’s commands, stayed close to the Lord and loved the Lord.

Further instructions were given to them for their success. They were told not to go among the nations amongst them, not to follow after their gods, serve them, or bow to them. They were warned that if they chose to cleave, connect with these nations, intermarry with them, and go into them and they into you, there would be problems.        (Joshua 23: 1-12)

It is clear that, somehow, these groups could potentially affect God’s people. Joshua tells them that it is guaranteed that if they don’t adhere to this warning, the following things would occur.

• The Lord’s hands would be removed (no longer drive away their enemies)
• The surrounding nations and their culture would be snares and traps for God’s people
• There would be scourges in their sides as a result of connection.
• The relationships would be thorns in their eyes.
• Evil things would come upon them.
• The Covenant of the Lord would be transgressed.
• The Lord would be angry.
• They would perish from the good land.

 

Now, keep in mind that this group had their issues. The generation before them complained about the freedom that they received as a result of the Lord leading them out of Egypt, where they had been slaves and brutally mistreated. Somehow many wanted to go back to the conditions. They were in free territory and didn’t know how to deal with the transition to freedom. Now that freedom arrived, what would they do with it? That is a question for you today, too; you may have been drawn out of bondage and don’t know how to maneuver in this new free state, sometimes wondering if going back might just be “easier.”  Is it better to just go back to what I know, even though it was treacherous? Can you imagine going back to Pharaoh? Are you trying to go back to a Pharoah relationship?

Well, going back wasn’t necessary; the children of Israel didn’t realize that going back into bondage would occur by they simply ignoring the warnings that Joshua shared. Bondage could occur in these new conditions if they didn’t pay attention to the relationship warnings and the warnings about wrong connections and falling into idolatry.

 

Joshua’s warnings help us to know that ungodly toxic relationships have a tremendous influence on you and have the potential to draw you away from God.

 

They were not to become loyal or connect, even intermarry with these groups. Why? These nations served other gods and had idolatrous practices and beliefs that were not pleasing to god.  Idolatry is a huge theme here. Know who you are connecting with. If your connections serve foreign gods, believe in them, or have practices that support them, then you are connected with idolatry. These affiliations will cause you to be desensitized to their practices and even beliefs. When you begin to really read the Bible, you begin to see patterns of witchcraft linked with idolatry as well as sexual immorality and wickedness.

 

Marriage is a covenant, husbands and wives have tremendous influences on their spouses. The practices of a spouse will slowly begin to have an effect over time. In the case of Israel, it would cause them to forget their first love.  (Revelation 2:4) We are reminded in the New Testament that we have no business being yoked with unbelievers. This means friends, family, and acquaintances, even jobs. We can certainly share the gospel with them, but creating intimate partnerships, relationships, alliances, and leagues is detrimental.  (2 Corinthians 6:14) 

 

Have you ever taken the time to look at a picture of yoked oxen?  They are supposed to distribute the weight and share the weight between the two. When one ox is brought down low, the other ox begins to go down as well, the pressure of the going down makes it difficult for the ox that is standing to continue to stand. I want you to picture that yoke with toxic affiliations. When one goes down, it is inevitable for the other to go down as well. Serving foreign gods is a clear going down. Thus the importance of being yoked with those who have Godly shared beliefs and values is vital.

 

We take associations a bit too lightly. I encourage you to read Psalm 1. This Psalm tells us how to be blessed. In fact, the Psalm begins with “Blessed is the man.” We see that this text is almost a recipe for the believer to stay in a blessed state. According to Psalm 1:1, believers shouldn’t walk in their counsel, stand in their way, or sit amongst those who are scornful. Instead, the believer should take delight in meditating on God’s word in the morning and in the evening. The believer found doing this, will flourish and prosper.  (Psalm 1:1-6) According to this Psalm, the ungodly would be judged and would perish. Joshua’s instructions clearly told the Israelites that perishing would be their portion if they didn’t cleave to the Lord, love Him, and follow His commands. It is almost as if what falls down on the wicked, will also fall upon you if you are in connection.

 

Joshua’s message gave a clear warning that the hearts of the people would be turned away from God with wrong connections.

 

The influence of wrong connections can lead one to serve other gods, bowing to them, and even being complicit in the practices of those who serve foreign gods.  King Solomon is an example in scripture that shows us how one's heart can be turned away by connections, affiliations, and relationships. In 1 Kings 11:1-13, we are told that King Solomon was warned not to connect with foreign groups. Solomon did NOT take heed; we know that he loved Moabite women, Hittite women, Ammonite women, Edomite women, and Zidonian women. (1 Kings 11:1) Solomon received the SAME warning that Joshua gave the Israelites. We are told that if he chose to do this, his heart would surely be turned away from the Lord.  Verse four confirms that his heart was turned away from the Lord when he was old. By who? His foreign wives who did not serve the Lord and served foreign gods. Solomon began having a divided heart and lifted up altars for the Lord and altars for the foreign gods.  Verse six makes it very clear. ⁶ And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.

 

If our hearts are turned away- it means that our hearts have not been guarded. 

The Bible tells us that we must guard our hearts!!!  Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.  The NIV version uses the terms above all else.  Our hearts in scripture refer to our minds, thoughts, will, desires, affections, character, will, emotions, our appetites, memory, conscience, the seat of emotions & passions, and the seat of courage. (Strong’s reference to heart -Kardia)

 

This is really about our mind’s friends. Toxic associations have a serious influence on our minds. Our minds begin to conform to their patterns of the world.  Romans 12: 2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. When we choose to align with toxic associations, our minds begin to conform to the idolatrous world's pattern.  No transforming is taking place, no renewal is taking place. This is why Scripture talks so much about mind renewal & transformation. (1 Corinthians 2: 16; John 1:12-13) 

 

Idolatry is a huge theme here- the New Testament tells us to avoid idolatry. It is the BIG culprit in turning the hearts of man away from God. 1 John 5:21- Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. What seems harmless to us can actually be lethal.  God tells us that we can’t lean on our own understanding. Our own understanding will lead us to disaster, friend. (Proverbs 3:5-6 ) says, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding; In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy Paths.

 

I hope you see now how wrong relationships can be harmful to you, harmful to 

your mind, your will to do things, your emotions, your thinking, and your appetites. 

Wrong relationships are not healthy according to the word of God. When we know better, we have an opportunity to do better.  It really is on us. No one is going to make relationship decisions for us but us. No one else can say no to things that are not of God. No one but you can draw the line, draw the boundary. It is up to you to make a decision on whom you will serve. It's up to you to make previously blurred lines absolutely clear. It’s up to you to come out of a foggy place and into clear horizons with the certainty of what is acceptable and what is not according to the word. 

 

** I hope you also see that in verse 6 of 1 Kings 11, it says Solomon went not FULLY after the Lord.  If we used the worldly proverb, we might say that You can’t have your cake and eat it too.  Solomon tried to do just that; he wanted God, but his heart also desired and had an appetite for these women who were not a good influence on him. Spiritual adultery slowly overtook the king. Solomon fell into spiritual adultery by connection and close affiliation; he fell into the pattern of the culture that he allowed to come in. 

 

The Old Testament helps us to see the patterns and the cycles of why the Israelites faltered so many times. We can see a pattern of their continued backward cycles that kept them in bondage. They continued to align themselves with those who did not serve the Lord.  (these were affiliations) With these toxic affiliations, they continued to follow the same patterns over and over of following foreign gods and intermingling with the culture around them, which turned their hearts away from God. It was a slow poison. 

 

In 1 Corinthians, Paul states that one cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. (1 Corinthians 10:21) Either we sit at the Lord’s table, or the table of the devil.  As far as God is concerned, there is no mixing of the two. (Acts 17:16-34; 1 Corinthians 10:14, 19-22; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; Galatians 5:19-21) We don’t get to have our cake and eat it too.  The Lord does not want us to operate in gray spaces; he wants us to stay in the light. When we move into gray spaces, we become just like their idols.  We won’t see, we won’t hear, and we won’t understand.  (Psalm 115:4-8) We become dull to the things of the Lord.

Psalm 115:4-8 -Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is everyone that trusteth in them.

UnGodly toxic associations -Lord takes His hand off of you

In Judges Chapters 6 & 7 - we have the story of Gideon, the Israelites, the Amalekites & the Midianites. 

 

We see in this text how the Israelites were having a rough time with the nations around them.         (Amelakites & the Midianites) Whatever the Israelites sowed; these groups stole everything that Israel tried to establish. Israel had become impoverished due to their meddling. The Lord allowed it. The Lord had removed his protective hand.  The Lord allowed them to deal with the consequences of their choices. The theft was so bad, that Gideon was hiding the wheat that he threshed, hoping it would not be found by the Amalekites and the Midianites.  But there’s a key in this text: we are reminded that Israel had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Again, they had taken on culture’s traditions & practices. I think we don’t pay enough attention to the mixture.  Many of these groups were praising God and lifting up these foreign gods as well.  Folks, that is drinking of the cup of demons and the cup of the Lord. They had a “form of godliness”. The New Testament tells us to turn away from those who display a form of godliness. 2 Timothy 3:5-  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  

 

The truth is many of us may have had a form of Godliness at some point. The Lord brought you to His Kingdom of light so that you can rejoice and declare His goodness. Listen, I am just a bearer of truth today. When you hear the truth, you are responsible for doing something about it. You are responsible for it. You don’t have to perish for a lack of knowledge. ( Hosea 4:6) 

 

 

We see in Judges that the Lord allowed what was happening to the Israelites. the angel of the Lord came to Gideon and said, the Lord is with thee, you mighty man of valor; Gideon responded; probably just as you have, just as I have. Lord, if you are with me, why are these people treating me this way? Why am I being plundered, stolen from? I don’t know; fill in the blank for you. But Gideon’s response was, Lord, if you are with us, why has all of this fallen on us? I’m sure Gideon was thinking, why are they able to steal from us, God? They are robbing us blind! You brought us from Egypt, but now I feel like you have left us. (Judges 6 & 7)

 

 Have you ever felt that way?  the Lord has left me; these people around me are trying to kill, steal, and destroy my life, Lord, don’t you see? Gideon said, the Lord forsook us and delivered us into the hands of our enemies, the Midianites. Has that ever been your cry? Lord, it feels like you are forsaking me, it feels like you’ve turned me over to my enemies.

 

Gideon knew that the Lord was speaking.  When an angel of the Lord personally visits you, you have to say, help me pull this together, Lord. The first thing Gideon did was build an altar unto the Lord.  I ask you today, have you rebuilt your altar to the Lord?  You may have affiliations around you that may not have been what the Lord desired for you. They may have mistreated you and done all manner of evil against you. But let me tell you, your first step, friend, is re-establishing your relationship, your intimacy, your covenant with the Lord.  Rebuild your altar.  Rebuild true worship, prayer & praise. Rebuild it. Offer your sacrifice of praise & thanksgiving to the Lord. Present your body unto Him as a living sacrifice. ( Romans 12:1) Worship Him in spirit and in truth.  We are responsible for the choices we make; we are responsible for the knowledge that the Lord is sharing with us. We are responsible.  I promise you that the Lord will defeat your enemies, but you must be in a close relationship with Him, with no mixture and no form of Godliness. 

 

The Lord looks upon Gideon and says go and thou shalt save Israel. Haven’t I sent thee? Gideon had a ton of excuses, of course, but he did follow through with what the Lord asked him to do.  Gideon also had shaky faith, he needed some signs from the Lord, thankfully the Lord was patient with him. Gideon's father was involved in Baal worship.  It tells you that it really doesn’t matter what the relationship/affiliation is.  The Lord said, tear the altars down! Gideon was afraid of the community response & probably the response of his father.   Gideon was clearly instructed by the Lord to tear down the altars & cut the groves. Gideon was so afraid that he tore down the altars & cut down the grove at night!

 

The community was angry. Friend, you can withstand anger from those around you when you decide to rebuild the altar of the Lord and choose to follow Him wholly with no mixture. The Lord will give you the power to withstand the backlash, but you be sure to tear down the foreign altars and rebuild the altar of the Lord. If you have to do it scared, do it. If you have to do it in the night, do it. Just rebuild the altar. Why? After this action of tearing down the altars and rebuilding the altar of the Lord, Gideon was given the go-ahead by God to take the Midianites & Amalekites in battle with only 300 men. He was given the authority to take back the territory that the harassers & oppressors held; Gideon was given the authority to take it all back, and guess what? The whole group benefitted from his obedience.

 

Friends, this occurred after the altar was rebuilt & one man in the community’s trust in the Lord was restored.  It took one man who was willing to be obedient to the Lord. The Lord used him to destroy the altars of the foreign gods. He also used Gideon’s small army of 300 to destroy the oppressors that had been a thorn in the Israelite's side. The Lord’s protection returned, and his power was made evident with the use of only 300 men. God wanted everyone to know it was His hand that delivered them from their enemies. 

 

Even though it was clear that the Lord’s hand was removed from the Israelites in Judges 6 and 7. It is also evident what happens when one recommits and puts their faith and trust back in the Lord. 

 

 UnGodly Toxic Associations Will Be A Snare and A Trap For You

 

Do you know what a trap and a snare are? Maybe if you knew, it might have an effect on how you view relationships.  Strong’s Concordance tells us that a snare is like a bird’s trap, calamity, plots, source of calamity, or a spring net. ( Strong’s H6341- pah)

 

I don’t know about you, but none of this sounds good. It all sounds like bondage/slavery to me. Affiliations can be a source of bondage. Nah, it ain’t for me. I hope you are saying right now, God, I will follow you wholly.  Are secret bondage, slavery, spiritual blindness, and spiritual deafness worth it?   Never! Is your freedom worth it? Is your quality of life worth it? 

Psalm 124:6-8- Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

 

Please pay attention to this scripture. We know this is about our hearts— this scripture says that our souls escaped. ( soul —-Ne-phesh - Strongs h5315) 

What is the meaning of nephesh? According to Strong’s it means our  life, appetites, mind, desire, emotion, passion, person, the activity of will, and our character. This sounds a lot like the heart, right? Again, it sounds like bondage to me when we choose to remain yoked to these types of toxic affiliations. They will trap the whole essence of who you are and who you were meant to be in Christ.

 

What is the fowler? (Strong’s Concordance  H3369 -ya-kosh) tells us that the fowler -lures, entices, snares, lays snares, sets a trap, lays bait, entraps 

 

I want you to picture your emotions in a cage, your will in a cage, your desires in a cage, your passions in a cage, and your appetites in a cage.  That’s a whole different kind of slavery, y'all.  I’m sorry. If this is the price, we pay with toxic affiliations.  I say it is too costly. 

 

What about the word trap? (Strong’s Concordance H4170-Moe- kaysh) tells us that a trap is bait, lure, a snare.

We decide that the cost is high, but the truth is when we have knowledge of the word, we can’t say that we didn’t know. 

 

UnGodly toxic associations will be a scourge and obstruct/affect your vision

 

Disciples tear apart what we read— What is God saying to us when He’s warning us? 

Let’s take the first one-   be a scourge

What is a scourge? Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary tells us that it is - a whip, especially one used to inflict pain or punishment, an instrument of punishment or criticism, or a cause of wide or great affliction.  Verb- to punish severely, to drive as if blows by a whip; flog; whip. What? Do you mean that my affiliations can act as severe punishment, like a beating? They can inflict pain and punishment; they can be used as instruments to criticize me and cause me great affliction. I don’t know about you, but that is just too much, y'all; it is just too much.

 

They can be thorns in my eyes (Joshua 23:13).  Anything in your eye is going to obstruct vision, but a thorn in your eye, friends, is likely to cause severe blindness. Blindness in the physical and in the spiritual?  Chile, you don’t have to say anymore. You just don’t. 

 

I have to admit in my younger years, I would question things. I would say ah, it’s not that bad. Hell comes in pretty packages friends.  I’m sure King Solomon had his pick of women and pretty packages, but the toxic affiliations cost him the kingdom.  What about you? Remember, the enemy will never come in looking like a cartoon red devil with horns. Nah, the enemy comes in looking like a friend, a spouse, a boyfriend or girlfriend, a family member, or a well-respected group that has practices not in alignment with God. You will have cognitive dissonance in many cases because the package seems like it should be good and even sometimes acts good, but evil is attached.  That enemy will not come in and say, hey, I’m your enemy. 

UnGodly toxic associations eventually cause you to break your covenant with God

Joshuah 23 vs 16- When ye have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

 

The Lord sees these affiliations as breaking the covenant with Him.  Friends, I think the hardest part of all of this to swallow is that when we are in toxic, wrong relationships, relationships that God sees as toxic, we are out of covenant with him.  If you have broken covenant with God, that means you are in covenant with the enemy. We are all familiar with the term “birds of a feather flock together” Make sure that you know in this season the birds that are in your flock. The wrong birds in your flock could result in YOU not inheriting the kingdom of God. Who wants to forfeit that? 

 

Vs. 23 16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

 

(Strong’s Concordance H5674 Transgressed)  The word transgressed means to pass beyond, alienate, do away, march over, leave one’s territory, become obsolete (law, decree),

 

The result of this is perishing from the good of the land.   The word says that they would quickly perish!  What is the good of the land that God has for you? Have you forfeited it because of covenant relationships? Israel’s affiliations continually put them at odds with God. Slow poisonous relationships. He continued to raise deliverers to save them from themselves. They continued to fall into the same traps over and over. It was like a hamster on a hamster wheel. I want you to picture the hamster on the hamster wheel. They are locked in a cycle that is never-ending. There seems to be no escape from this type of cage.  The cycles are the same: the deliverers would have to tear down the altars and, rebuild Godly altars, and release them from their cages. 

 

Friends read the Old & the New Testament, and you will see the patterns. The affiliations were a huge part of their spiritual idolatry that was often affiliated with every kind of evil, wickedness, and sexual immorality. It is why we are reminded in the New Testament to not affiliate with darkness.  Let me be clear: not what we call darkness, what the Lord deems as darkness. Ephesians 5:11-14-And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

 

You were asleep, friend; the Lord has awakened you, and now you have freedom choices to make. Freedom and abundance is ours if we want it. 

 

The Bible tells us that we perish for a lack of knowledge. Hosea 4: 6 -  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

 

I will continue to restate this important fact: when we learn what the word says, we are responsible and held accountable. We can’t say that we didn’t know.  You have the knowledge today to make some changes if necessary. You have the knowledge of the word to keep you from perishing. 

            * Perishing is a consequence for not being in alignment with God as it relates to 

              Our associations

 

We are given a clear picture of what the effects will be if we choose to allow toxicity into our lives.  Please understand that this toxicity involves a slow, gradual influence that causes you to turn away.  Think about gaining weight yall. When you gain an extra 20 pounds, it seems like it just comes out of nowhere. But this is not true; the pounds were added by gradual unhealthy habits. Continuing to eat in unhealthy patterns can cause health repercussions.  The same is true of our affiliations. 

 

These people will not inherit the kingdom according to the word; this can also help you to tighten up your relationships. 

 Revelations 22:15-  1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5: 5; 1 Timothy 1:9 ; Revelation 21:8

1. Men with impure minds (dogs); an impudent man ( strong’s) 
2. Sorcerers
3. Whoremongers 
4. Idolaters- 
5. Those who love lies & make likes
6. Unrighteous -
7. Fornicators- 
8. Adulterers
9. Effeminate
10. Abusers of self with mankind
11. Thieves
12. Covetous
13. Drunkards
14. Revilers
15. Extortioners
16. Uncleanness
17. Lasciviousness
18. Witchcraft
19. Hatred
20. Variance
21. Emulations
22. Strife
23. Wrath
24. Seditions 
25. Heresies
26. Fearful
27. Unbelieving
28. Sexually immoral
29. Abominable

 

We must keep our eyes focused on what God sees and says is toxic, not man. We must pay attention to what God says is breaking of covenant, not man. The bottom-line friend, if God says it is toxic or unacceptable, then it just is. Our opinions don’t matter. 

 

If we don’t study our word, we don’t know what is pleasing to the Lord and not pleasing to the Lord. He makes it very clear in his Word that toxic associations can cause us to perish. That is a high price to pay.  The Lord sees these connections and affiliations as toxic. Who are we to say, oh a little is not going to hurt me?

 

When we look at it from God’s perspective, it really becomes easier for us to say no to relationships that are not pleasing to the Lord. It’s better to know this when forming relationships. We can’t just blindly form associations and connections; these connections can have an effect on us and our children. 

 

There is one more scripture that I want to share with you- Deuteronomy 7:4 - God tells the Israelites that mingling with the “culture” will cause your children to turn away from God and serve foreign gods.    (4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.) 

 

Our affiliations with toxic people, cultures, and groups can have an effect on not only us but our children. We know that because David served the Lord, God blessed his Son Solomon as a result. But Solomon had to choose to follow the Lord as well. We all have a choice; our choices of relationships can help our children or hurt our children. Solomon’s choices caused his kingdom to be taken from him and given over to his servant.  ( 1 Kings 11:11-13)

 

The Bible tells us separate ourselves. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18- 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.18 And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 

We see that even in the New Testament if we choose to stay among those who do not serve the Lord, we won’t be received by Him.  Sons and daughters of God, don’t commune with darkness. 

 

 

Friends, the truth is we must get our own lives together with God before we can look at our relationships. When the Lord begins to convict us and heal us, then we begin to look out and see what kind of adjustments must be made. When the Lord begins to do work in you, you begin to make all kinds of changes. The inner change will cause you to make outer changes. Why? Because you are being transformed, you have a new mind and new spiritual eyes. You can see things that you were not able to see before. Some will see the changes that God is making in you as offensive. Especially when it means that relationships may have to be severed or distanced. Others will see it as a beautiful work that God is doing in you. It matters not what others think.  Stay strong, friend; making changes in relationships is sometimes difficult. But the Lord will guide you as to what moves you must make. Seek Him; he will give you all the answers that you need. 

 

What Can You Do?

1. Repent & give your life to Christ - you can do it right now. 
2. Be honest with your not understanding your situation with the Lord- Gideon was- God came to bring deliverance & clarity to Gideon; He will bring deliverance & clarity to you too. 
3. Rebuild your Godly altars- prayer- praise & worship; recommit to the covenant; accept Jesus; put your trust in the Lord; submit your life wholly to Christ
4. Begin to tear down the evil altars that have been set up in your life
5. Renounce & denounce them out loud- follow up with action

                        -  words are the first step, but your actions must follow 

- what does that look like for you? Only you & the Lord would know                   - tear down the altars in continuous prayer

6. Be honest with the Lord about your fears; Gideon was scared; the Lord was patient with Him; and he lived out the name that God gave him “ mighty man of   valor.

Remember- God did not give us a spirit of fear- we saw how the Lord’s power   allowed Gideon to be the hand that saved the Israelites.  

Allow God’s power to take over, with Him you have soundness of mind and love. 

7. Break the covenants that are keeping you from God’s covenant

 

8. Be prepared for backlash-  stand strong & resist the enemy; he will flee 

James 4:7  - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

9. Follow through with the instructions that the Lord is giving you 

• You may be sent as a deliverer for your family; your generation
• You may be the one who has been designated to take down the Amalekites & the Midianites that have oppressed & harassed your generation

 

10. Join a community that understands- that will help and support you. 

My journey was filled with sexual sin, occult, secret societies, new age influences, witchcraft, high control groups, childhood sexual abuse, and toxic relationships. I was reared and rooted in the church, and my relationships were “church folk.”  I hope you catch what I am saying. I couldn’t find one whole program that really addressed it all. I couldn’t find any community, church, or otherwise to talk this stuff through explicitly. Witchcraft is spiritual; a therapist didn’t seem to be the answer.  Occult, witchcraft, new age, and high control group demons are stubborn, and I didn’t understand what I had been connected with and influenced by nor how to fight it. It was the worst kind of spiritual war.  The average Sunday sermon and Wednesday night Bible study were not cutting it.  I soon realized that many church leaders are connected to occult groups. He that has an ear, let him hear. Satan’s kingdom is not divided, it will not tell you how to fight against his own kingdom. Catch that in the Spirit. God told me to document my journey so that I could be a resource for others.  So, guess what? I created what I didn’t see with God. The program came from the throne room. 

If you desire to know God in a deeper way and are trying to break free from secret sexual sin, toxic relationships, the adult effects of childhood abuse, and breaking free from the occult, witchcraft, new age, high control communities. Then come join me and be discipled. Reconnect with God, and learn true intimacy, learn how to fight this unseen enemy.  Join me in my Premier Disciple Mentorship/ Program.  It is a year discipleship program where we have weekly recorded studies, meet weekly to discuss homework and spiritual work, share our successes, give each other accountability, share prayers for our specific issues, success nights, group coaching, and deliverance.  The program is designed to focus on discipleship, helping you to Break the Pact while you build your faith, learn the word, discuss topics that the church just doesn’t touch, learn to live a Christ-centered life, and truly help you get back on course with Christ. If you’d like to join the waitlist to apply for the next cohort, go to:

https://www.shesdiscipled.com/premier-discipleship-waitlist

We cover the following in the Disciple Mentorship Group

***BUILDING YOUR FAITH IN THE WORD

1) Discovering the God who sees you & loves you

• learning about the God who loves through difficulty

2) 2 Kingdoms – Your Armor

• learning how to fight the enemy

3)  Discover your Open doors, cracks, and windows

• Sin, ancestral curses, wounds/trauma, Occult/Witchcraft/ New Age/ High- Control groups

4) Learn about the Spirits that are in operation in Satan’s Kingdom of Bondage

• Spirit of Jezebel, Delilah, Caine, fear…. and much more

5) Healing & Deliverance Sessions

• By zoom or conference call

6) Discover your Power & Authority in Christ

• Know your rights & what has been given to you by God to take authority over

7) Unveil Satan’s lies & stand on the Truth of God

• Find the lies that you’ve been believing & replace them with the truth

8)  Find Cracks in your foundation

• Beliefs- words- actions

9)  Learn new spiritual diets

• Word- Worship- Fast- Pray

10) Find your new identity in Christ

• Who does God say I am?

11)  Covenants

• Illegal Altars/ Covenants

12) Relationships God’s way

• Find out what God says about good healthy relationships

13) Resiliency

• Never giving up ; pressing toward the mark

14) Wholistic Life

• Living life in balance

15)  Painting a New Landscape

• What do you see? All things are possible to them that believe.
• Planning forward

If you would like to join our podcast community, go to:

https://www.shesdiscipled.com/podcasts/shes-discipled-llc-podcast

 

If you would like to read more of our blogs, go to:

https://www.shesdiscipled.com/blog