DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS:

MONDAY - VERSES: The phrase take heed is used 55 times to warn of dangers. 1 Corinthians 10:5-11 PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank God for the many warnings that He has given us to keep us from danger.

TUESDAY - VERSES: Daniel 3:12-18 PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank God for your good companions who encourage you to do what is right.

WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Matthew 18:6-7; Romans 14:13, 21 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God to forgive you for times when you have been the evil company that tempted others to do wrong.

THURSDAY - VERSES: James 1:5; Colossians 4:5; Proverbs 22:24-
25; 28:7 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God to give you the wisdom to realize which of your companions would corrupt you.

FRIDAY - VERSES: Daniel 1:8-14; 1 Timothy 6:3-5 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God for the courage to separate yourself from corrupting influences even if it means a loss of companionship.

SATURDAY - VERSES: Psalm 119:63; Philippians 2:25; Hebrews 10:24-25; Revelation 1:9 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God to help you be a good companion who will influence others for good.

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The humblest individual exerts some influence, either for good or evil, upon others. - Henry Ward Beecher

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An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind. - Buddha

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ASSIGNMENTS

1. Daily read over this material and read or sing the song.

2. Place the scripture where you will see it each day.

3. Think of times when you may have been influenced by others or situations to do wrong.

4. Write down ways you have been influenced by those around you.

5. Plan to tell the class how someone has attempted to influence you but you resisted the sin, or tell how you have been influenced to do wrong because of being with the wrong people.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 30

COMPANIONS - 2-10-13 to 2-16-13

SCRIPTURE - 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

COMMENT - We, sometimes, think we are strong enough to resist the influence of being around people and situations which, or who, bombard us with bad language, evil behavior, poor attitudes, etc. but Paul says we deceive ourselves if we think it doesn't have a negative effect on us.

SONG – I MUST TELL JESUS

1. I must tell Jesus all of my trials; I can not bear these burdens alone;

In my distress He kindly will help me; He ever loves and cares for His own.

2. I must tell Jesus all of my troubles; He is a kind, compassionate Friend; If I but ask Him, He will deliver, Make of my troubles quickly an end.

3. O how the world to evil allures me! O how my heart is tempted to sin! I must tell Jesus, and He will help me Over the world the victory to win.

REFRAIN: I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear my burdens alone; I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

THOUGHTS

Boy Burns Self Imitating Rock Band. - Hollywood, FL, AP

A 12 year-old boy doused himself with rubbing alcohol and set himself on fire imitating a scene he had seen in a rock music video, authorities said.

The boy, a fan of heavy-metal music who takes electric guitar lessons and wears an earring in the shape of a cross, said he was inspired by a member of the band Motley Crue performing in a television video. "He just lit his legs on fire, and nothing happened to him," the sixth grader said. "He dropped to the ground and rolled around, but the fire would not go out."

The youth ran to the bathroom and got in the tub, which was filled with water from a bath he had taken earlier.

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Television is entertaining. We must reckon with the powerful fact and force of television. It is a comparatively recent force. But it is a fact and a force that is here to stay. But with us as God's people it is a force to be controlled and curbed and combatted and in many cases censored. We must remember and reckon with the fact that TV has brought all the lust and corruption and the pornography of the modern theater right into our living rooms. And many of God's people are only handling this invasion by the theater with kid gloves instead of an axe. If we do not think this is serious listen to the words of warning from Neil Postman of New York University (US News and World Report, Jan. 19, 1981). He said:

"What television does is to bring the whole culture out of the closet, because programs need a constant supply of novel information. In its quest for new and sensational ventures to hold its audience, TV must tap every existing taboo in the culture: Homosexuality, incest, divorce, promiscuity, corruption, adultery, and terrible displays of violence and sadism."

If that is what was said 30 years ago we can agree that things have not gotten better on television. Now we have added to that the power of the internet where people of any corrupt desire can mingle together and share their disturbing wickedness. Do not be deceived, adults can be corrupted by television just as easily as children.

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Charles L. Allen in The Miracle of Love writes of a fisherman friend who told him that one never needs a top for his crab basket. If one of the crabs starts to climb up the sides of the basket, the other crabs will reach up and pull it back down. Some people are a lot like crabs.

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Some time ago a scientific magazine published an article concerning a certain species of alligator. Being lazy beasts, they seldom hunt for their dinner but just wait for their unwary victims to come to them. They lie near the bank with open mouths, acting as if they are dead. Soon flies begin to light on their moist tongues, and several other insects gather. This crowd attracts bigger game. A lizard will crawl up to the alligator to feed on the bugs; then a frog joins the party. Presently a whole menagerie is there; then there is a sudden "earthquake" -- WHAM -- the giant jaws come together and the party is over! Here's the lesson: don't be lured by large groups of people. Remember, the crowd is always found on the "broad way." The "narrow way" of life admits only individuals, one by one. Most people take the easy, downward path. You as a Christian must follow Jesus on the upward road; it is the only safe way.

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Japan is now facing a serious problem with elderly criminals. There have been studies done and books written on the subject. Here in the United States there is an increase in older criminals as well. We should not think that it is only the young who have sinful companions who give them wicked ideas.

Temptation does not disappear at a certain age it only changes tactics. There are youthful lusts that may not tempt most of the aged, but there are still temptations that get the elderly.

Peer pressure doesn't go away either. Adults are powerfully influenced to fit in with certain societal norms and some of them are sinful. They are accepted and even encouraged. Young people are even told that some things are not bad, but are for adults. The fact is that if it is not fit for children we should wonder why it is good for adults.

Adult language, adult entertainment, adult beverages, adult situations, adult humor, etc. are these things really good for people who are mature or are they really sinful and immature?

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EVIL COMPANIONS CORRUPT

INTRODUCTION

I. "DO NOT BE DECEIVED" WARNS OF THE ________________ FOR DECEPTION.

II. "EVIL COMPANY" REFERS TO EVIL _________________ OR COMPANIONS WHICH DO NOT HAVE _____________ BELIEFS.

III. "CORRUPTS" INDICATES A STATE OF _____________ HAD EXISTED BEFORE.

IV. "GOOD HABITS" REFERS TO DOING WHAT IS _________.

CONCLUSION

EVIL COMPANIONS CORRUPT

INTRODUCTION

A. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

B. IN THE CONTEXT THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD - There is to be a resurrection of the dead. Those who deny the resurrection—are wrong. Do not be deceived by their error. It is an utterly false teaching and it is corrupting.

C. The point is this: we should not associate with those who hold to error and false teaching. If we associate with them—accept them as friends and companions—they will influence us and corrupt our behavior, lead us into sin and error.

D. Our companions do influence us. If they do not believe in Jesus, the resurrection of the dead, in the glorious life to come, the Bible, then their beliefs, ideas, morals, speech, and behavior will...influence us, loosen us, pollute us, mislead us and weaken us.

E. It would be difficult to exaggerate the degree to which we are influenced by those we influence. Eric Hoffer

L.S. - IN EXAMINING THIS VERSE WE LEARN THAT . . .

I. "DO NOT BE DECEIVED" WARNS OF THE POTENTIAL FOR DECEPTION.

A. In N.T. Days People Were the Primary Corrupters. Today There Are Many Avenues of Corruption.

1. Books, Magazines, Pictures - Pornography

2. Movies, TV, The Internet, Music

B. Parents Need to Be Aware of Potential Corruption of Their Children.

1. Know Where Your Children Are and What They Are Doing - Check up on Them to Be Sure.

2. Know Your Children's Friends and Their Values

3. Control What Your Children: Read, See, and Hear

4. Don't Be Naïve and Think Your Children Wouldn't Do Certain Things - Good Kids Do Go Bad - Consider the Headlines:

a. Altar Boy Kills Best Friend's Mother

b. Good Student Goes Berserk and Kills Fellow
Students

c. Elder's Son Goes on Drinking Spree

d. Preacher's Son Sexually Molests Seven Year Old

C. Adults Also Are Deceived about Bad Company Corrupting

1. Was There a Time in Your Life When You Were More Spiritual than You Are Today? What Happened? What Corrupted Your Good Habits? Ii. "Evil Company" Refers to Evil Companions or Companions Which Do Not Have Common Beliefs.

2. No One Refuses to Commit to the Time Required to Watch Their Favorite TV Programs. Why Do We Have a Problem Committing to Things Which Will Help Us Spiritually?

III. "CORRUPTS" INDICATES A STATE OF PURITY HAD EXISTED BEFORE

A. We Should Not Be Unequally Yoked Together with Unbelievers. - 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? {15} And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? {16} And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.

B. We Must Come Out from Among Them. - 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." {18} "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."

C. We Must Still Have Some Contact with Unbelievers.

1. John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

2. 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: (10) Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

D. Many Once Faithful Gospel Preachers Have Departed from the Faith Because of the Influence of a Close Friendship with a Denominational Preacher.

IV. "GOOD HABITS" REFERS TO DOING WHAT IS RIGHT

A. Many Proverbs Refer to the Influence Others Often Have on Us.

1. Birds of a Feather Flock Together.

2. The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree.

3. He (or She) Is a Chip off the Old Block.

4. You Can't Soar with the Eagles if You Live with the Chickens.

5. Any of These Could Be Good or Bad, But We Usually Say Them with a Negative Connotation

B. It Is Easier to Be Pulled Down than to Pull Others Up.

1. How Many Biblical People Fell to Evil Influences?

2. How Many Wicked People of the Bible Came to Repentance Because of the Good Influence of Another?

3. 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

C. Good Habits Are Easily Corrupted.

1. Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2. There Are Many Wrong Ways, But Only One Right Way.

3. 2 Peter 3:17 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 stedfastness.

CONCLUSION

A. Summary

B. Invitation

You have the right to say no to drugs (or any other sinful or harmful activity). Think about how you will say no. Here are some suggestions on how to do it:

1. Give a reason. If you know the facts, someone telling you that it feels good to be stoned won't fool you. You can say, "No, I know it's bad for me. I feel fine right now."

2. Have something else to do. "No thanks. I'm going to get something to eat."

3. Be prepared for different kinds of pressure. There are different levels of peer pressure. It can start out friendly or teasing; if so, you can respond the same way. If the pressure seems threatening, then you might just have to walk away.

4. Make it simple. You don't have to explain why you don't want to use marijuana if you don't want to. You can just say, "No thanks." If that doesn't work, you can always say, "No thanks again" or even stronger, "No way."

5. Avoid the situation. If you see or know of places where people often use drugs, stay away from those places. If you hear that people will be using drugs at a party, don't go.

6. Change the subject. Someone says, "Let's try some pot." You say, "No, I was on my way to the mall if you want to come along."

7. Hang out with friends who don't use drugs. Sometimes, however, you may already have friends who decide to try marijuana. If they are real friends, they will like you whether you smoke pot or not. And maybe, by saying no, you might make them think twice about using drugs themselves. That's how peer pressure can be positive too.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."