THE BRANCH’S WAY-Isaiah 4:2 (A WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE) 

TOPIC: DEALING WITH THE ENEMY CALLED COMPROMISE

Text: Romans 12:1-2 

" I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [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".

‭‭The MSG translation says  “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

‭What ‭then is compromise, the dictionary defines it as doing something that is against one's principle. Or as something a person does that is against the norm or standard he sets for himself. It can also be by acting in a way that is not sensible. Compromise is defined in the book of James 4:17 'Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin'. Sin is moving away from God's standard of living to doing what the world thinks is right. However, the Scriptures says  'For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever' (1 John 2: 16-17).

The spirit of compromise will cast landmine on our way with God in order to trip us off the mark. Jesus said to the church in Pergamos 'I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.”(‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:14-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬). The doctrine of Balaam is to compromise what is known to be morally upright for what is expedient (the story is in Numbers 25: 1-13). While the doctrine of Nicolaitans says 'you are free in Christ to do whatever you want to with no consequences', this is a license to sin.The Israelites compromised their walk with God by having affinity with the Moabites. They started by saying 'Oh there is nothing wrong in just being friendly with them or nothing is wrong with eating their food (food offered to idols) after all it is ordinary food'. Then they began to commit sexual immorality and idolatry with the daughters of Moab that brought the wrath of God upon them. The Bible says 'Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,(2 Corinthians 6: 17)

These two doctrines are presently in the church today 

* The doctrine of 'it does not mean anything'

* The doctrine of 'God understands my situation' 

* 'Don't worry, it is nothing big'

* The language of 'Just once now'

Compromise will start by us leaving our first love for Jesus. David left his first love which is fighting the Lord's battle, working for the advancement of God's Kingdom (2Samuel 11:1 at the time when kings go forth to battle,) and tarried in Jerusalem. This eventually led to his immorality with Bathsheba and to his failure with God. David is no more the man after God's Heart. Compromise will set in when our focus and energy are no longer given totally to God's work. As we become more and more comfortable with the position we hold in church or with the things of God compromise might creep in. No wonder the Bible says 'Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall' (1 Corinthians 10: 12).

Compromise is to worship Jesus on Sunday and worship pleasure, money, success or self the rest days of the week (no mid-week service).

Compromise is not to have another God to worship in place of Jesus, but to include other gods along with our worship of Jesus i.e. bowing down to Jesus as well as other gods.

Compromise is to belittle or ignore the penalty that comes with sin or wrong behaviours.

Compromise is accepting a lower moral standard that deaden or lessen your spiritual effectiveness 

Compromise is a step taken in wrong direction.

Compromise is not doing the will of God 

Compromise is a subtle drifting away from God: Missing reading the bible; Skipping morning devotion; Missing the Mid-week service; Missing Sunday service; No paying of tithes.

Compromise is failure to speak up for what you know is right.

People compromise because they think being born again is too boring, too hard or weird when compared to the world. When we lack the true Word of God. They compromise in order to blend with the world's accepted way of life. It could also be due to peer pressure.

THE AREAS OF COMPROMISE 

* Immorality- sex outside marriage 

    * Not wanting to lose him or her

    * I found her too weak to resist 

* Dressing- trying to be like the Joneses 

    * In 1 Peter 3:3 -it says our adorning should not be of outward; of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

    * Paul said in Philippians 4:5 'Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand (the coming of Jesus could be any time).

    * In general a Christian should dress in a way that is modest, dignifying  and careful in a manner that honours God, respect others and not to draw undue attention to oneself (1 Corinthians 11: 5- 6, 13).

* Music- Many believers still enjoy the music of the world. That is the reason why the dance steps in the church is not different from that of the world. D. L. Moody said- 'Christian should live in the world, but not be filled with it. A ship lives in water, but if the water gets into the ship, she goes to the bottom. A Christian though in the world, should  not allow the world to get into him or her or else  he or she will sink'.

* Conversations- our words should be few and to point as believers. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise (Proverbs 10: 19). Evil communications corrupt good manners (1 Corinthians 15: 33).

* In the Marriage- God did not give room for divorce in Christianity. There is therefore the need to pray very well in seeking the will of God in the choice of a life partner. Never allow outside pressure to push you in making a wrong move. Do not be yoked with unbelievers ( 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 ) .

* Money: Many destinies have been destroyed, many have veered away from God as a result of money. For the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6: 10). 

WAY OUT 

1. Be genuinely born again. 

2. Have a very close relationship with God by spending quality time with Him in worship.

3. Read and study the Word of God (Joshua 1: 8, Jeremiah 33: 3, Psalm 119: 11 & 105).

4. Ask God to make His will clear to you.

5. Trust God whole absolutely: Proverbs 3:5-6 -  Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

PRAYERS 

1. O Lord my God renew a right spirit within me in the name of Jesus.

2. O Lord my God establish me a holy person in Jesus name.

3. O Lord produce in me the power of self control in Jesus name.

4. Holy Ghost breathe on me afresh in Jesus name.

5. I free myself from the spirit of confusion in Jesus name.