How can Isaiah 65:4 guide us in avoiding ungodly influences today? Setting the Scene Isaiah 65 records God’s rebuke of people who claimed to belong to Him while practicing things He expressly forbade. Verse 4 shines a spotlight on specific behaviors that polluted their worship and their lives. What Isaiah 65:4 Actually Says “who sit among the graves, spend nights in secret places, eat the flesh of pigs, and have the broth of unclean meat in their pots.” The Practices God Condemns • Sitting among graves – dabbling in death-centered or occult environments • Spending nights in secret places – hiding sinful activity, courting darkness rather than light • Eating the flesh of pigs – willfully ignoring God’s dietary law (in that era) • Broth of unclean meat – choosing continual defilement instead of continual purity Timeless Principles We Can Apply 1. God calls His people to separate from occult and death-related practices. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Ephesians 5:11) 2. Secret sin invites bondage; light brings freedom. (John 3:19-21) 3. Deliberate disobedience, even in “small” matters, dulls our sensitivity to God. (Luke 16:10) 4. What we consume—physically and spiritually—shapes our fellowship with the Lord. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 4:8) Practical Steps to Avoid Ungodly Influences Today • Distance yourself from occult entertainment: horror that glorifies demons, séances, astrology, tarot, Ouija boards. • Refuse secret online habits: anonymous chatrooms, hidden social media accounts, pornography, illegal streaming. Bring everything into the light with accountability. • Guard your intake: music, shows, podcasts, books, and food/drink choices that celebrate impurity or rebellion. • Choose friends and mentors who strengthen, not weaken, your walk with Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:33) • Fill the gap with godly alternatives: Scripture memorization, worship music, wholesome media, serving others. • Stay regularly in Christian community—corporate worship, small groups, discipleship—so darkness has no foothold. (Hebrews 10:24-25) Encouraging Reminders as We Pursue Holiness • God’s call to “come out from among them and be separate” is always followed by His promise: “I will be a Father to you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) • Walking in the light not only protects you; it testifies of God’s purity to a watching world. (1 Peter 2:9) • Whenever you turn from an ungodly influence, Christ stands ready to fill you with “life and life to the full.” (John 10:10) |
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