Mensa Otabil - Be Separate (10/26/2025)
Welcome to day number three of our 40 days of power. If you started well and you’ve been praying and fasting, I’m sure by now you’re beginning to get into it and you’ll properly get into the routine, and you’re going to follow through to the end of the prayer and the fasting as we come seeking the face of the Lord. It’s always important that we separate ourselves for the Lord. A time of consecration means a time when you have set yourself apart to do something for God, so this is a time of separation.
We read that in Second Corinthians chapter 6, verse 17: «Therefore come out from among them and be separate,» says the Lord. «Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.» God has called us to live a separated life as Christians, but especially when we set ourselves to prayer and fasting, we separate ourselves unto the Lord. That means we set ourselves to be committed to the things of God. We pay special attention to the things of God, and that’s what the scripture is saying. Yes, during this time, you can live your normal life, but be mindful that this is a time of consecration. You shouldn’t spend all your time watching football, debating, fighting, and doing all your usual things. Be mindful that you are in a consecrated period of your life, and the passage says a few things to us when we are in this mode.
It says, «Come out from among them.» That means there are certain things you have to withdraw from-people you have to withdraw from, places you have to withdraw from, and things you do that require you to say, «Listen, I’m spending time in prayer. I’m spending time seeking the face of God.» You have to withdraw from those places. Then it says when you do that, «Be separate.» Being separate doesn’t mean you are now going to hide in a corner or become like a monk in a monastery and not talk to anybody. No, it’s just a mindset of knowing that I have devoted my time, my life to God. I’m separating myself unto Him. Be separate unto the Lord. Then it says, «Do not touch what is unclean.» I don’t need to explain that any further. If something is unclean, just don’t touch it-don’t touch it when you’re fasting, and don’t touch it after the fast. If it’s unclean, just don’t touch it.
Look at your life and ask yourself, «Pastor, what is unclean?» You know what is unclean. You know thoughts that are unclean; you know words that are unclean; you know actions that are unclean; you know things that your heart tells you do not please God. So, when we are fasting, we don’t continue living our lives as they are, doing everything we used to do, continually sinning, and just hoping that the fasting is so powerful that it evaporates our sin. No, we have to set ourselves apart; we have to be separate; we have to come out from some places, and we have to ensure that we don’t touch things that are unclean. Our relationship with God demands separation, and God wants us to live a separated life, primarily from sin and anything that is offensive to the purposes of God.
Then the passage says, «If you do that, I will receive you.» God says, «If you come out from among them, if you are separate, if you do not touch the unclean thing, I will receive you.» I don’t know about you, but in these 40 days, I want God to receive me. I want Him to receive my prayer; I want Him to receive my petitions. I want that when I intercede, He will receive not only my prayer but my fasting. When I enter His presence, He will receive me, and that should be your desire as we seek the face of the Lord. May He receive us because we have separated ourselves unto Him; we do not touch the unclean thing, and we are committed to Him.
Let us pray. Pray with me: Heavenly Father, you are a holy God. Let my life be a true reflection of your holiness. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.