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Thirty-One Scriptural Reasons Why Overcoming Christians
Should Remove the Idol Of Television From Their Homes


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By David Wilkerson
undated
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"To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:2).

1. We have a direct commandment not to bring it into our homes.

"Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing" (Deuteronomy 7:26)

2. It puts viewers in the seat of the scornful.

"Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper" (Psalm 1:1-3).

3. Overcomers are not to set any wicked thing before their eyes.

"I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me" (Psalm 101:2-3).

4. When animated by Satan it is fellowshipping with the works of darkness.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14).

5. It pollutes the pure stream of righteous thoughts.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever thins are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

6. It is touching the unclean thing that Paul warned against.

"And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them , and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 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 6:16, 17).

7. It is unsuited to the bride preparing herself for Christ.

"And John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:2.

"... to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17).

8. We are not to waste time, but redeem it.

"Wherefore he saith, awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:14-16).

9. We are not to partake with idols of the children of disobedience.

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 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 rare made manifest by the light: for whatsoever does make manifest is light" (Ephesians 5:3-13).

10. Viewers are in the seat of violence which takes away grief for sin.

"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion... that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; that lie upon beds of ivory... but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph" (Amos 6:1, 3, 4, 6).

11. It certainly does not renew the mind.

"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. 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" (Romans 12:12).

12. It represents the leaven of the world and should be purged from the home.

"Your glorying is not good. Knowing ye not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).

13. We are to mortify all that is unclean and idolatrous.

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience" (Colossians 3:1, 2, 3, 5, 6).

14. It is a filthy communication that we are commanded to put off.

"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth" (Colossians 3:8).

15. It is not walking worthy of God, unblamable and holy.

"Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory" (1 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

16. Viewers are not possessing their vessel in sanctification and honor. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; for God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4, 7).

17. It is a polluted fountain out of which proceeds cursing and bitterness.

"Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh" (James 3:10-12).

18. It takes away the blush toward sin.

"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 8:12.)

19. Christ calls us to anoint our eyes, not poison them.

"And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou may see" (Revelation 3:18).

20. We are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

21. A ministry to Christ demands we renounce hidden things of dishonesty.

"Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (2 Corinthians 4:1, 2).

22. It is an idol that causes confusion and should be hated (Psalm 97:7,10).

"And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea" (Mark 9:42).

23. It offends children, causing them to stumble.

"And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea" (Mark 9:42).

24. Viewing becomes a dominating sin of presumption.

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:7-14).

25. It is too late. Christ is coming soon. We should be casting off all works of darkness.

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honesty, as in the day; not in rioting [reveling] and drunkenness, not in chambering [immorality] and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:12-14).

"And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3).

26. God commands holy people to destroy and cast down all idols.

"But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God has chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 7:5-6).

27. It is friendship with the world, causing enmity with God.

"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:3-4).

28. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, and viewers are not eschewing [avoiding] evil as commanded.

"For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew [avoid] evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue [persue] it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" (1 Peter 3:10-13).

29. If you consider it only a spot on your garment, it is still wrong.

"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless" (2 Peter 3:14).

"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness" (2 Peter 3:17).

30. Television encompasses all three temptations Satan introduced in Eden.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17).

31. Overcomers who have seen the Lord in His glory do not need it!

"What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him" (Hosea 14:8).


Conclusion


Shall we tremble at His word and obey -- or shall we make excuses and continue sitting in the seat of the scornful? Will we become so enthralled with Christ that we can no longer gaze upon that which would grieve Him?

Will the bride of Christ truly separate from all that is of this world? Are there any in this nation who can hear and accept this message? Or, are we too sedated by the addictions of this world to hear?

Will the church of Jesus Christ call me a legalist, a self-proclaimed judge? Or, will the Spirit raise up an anointed body of saints to shake off all entanglements and cry out for cleansing and separation?

We shall see!

---
Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O. Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771 USA.


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