How We Are All Different From Unbelievers?, How We Are All Alike

[farouk]

5 minutes ago, D. Adrien said:

Three things will make anyone stand out in this culture:

Don't smoke

Don't drink

Don't curse

(the saying goes on) ....and don't go with those who do.........

(Old saying......)

[Starise]

1 hour ago, D. Adrien said:

Three things will make anyone stand out in this culture:

Don't smoke

Don't drink

Don't curse

Don't drink as in excess? I don't do that. I have some wine occasionally.

Cursing? I have to occasionally still work on that one. Luckily that mostly happens out of earshot. The Lord heard it. I don't casually curse. I try not to do it. Unfortunately it occasionally comes out under frustration. Maybe I'm still being worked on. JUst being transparent here. There are believers who sometimes do it as a reflex mechanism of the flesh. I am not proud of it.

Smoking never appealed to me at all. 

[Marilyn C]

I`ve been thinking some more on this. Now, what I have noted is that unbelievers mostly talk about themselves and put down others. 

I believe as we, the believers are interested in others, and also encourage them in something they are or do, then they are left with the impression that that person genuinely cares about me. 

The world is damaged, and it is easy to talk about the wrongs, but it is much harder to encourage someone towards the right way. Yet, this is what we are told to do - encourage and exhort each other.... and that is among believers. (Heb. 10: 25)

Yet we do see Jesus encouraging others in the right way who had done wrong, so there is an example for us too.  

[RdJ]

The difference: I'm a christian and they're not yet. But they often behave a lot better than me. I have a lot of hope and faith that they will get saved and pray God wakes me up again to intercede much more.

If God could save even me He can surely save them.

Edited March 6, 2024 by RdJ

[Marilyn C]

We need to remember what the Lord said to the scribes and Pharisees -

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men`s bones and all uncleanness."  (Matt. 23: 27)

Jesus exhorted them -

"Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also." (Matt. 23: 26)

I think we are trying to get the outside all sparkling new, whereas the Lord says it is the inside that needs the attention first. 

I also, don`t believe that the unbeliever is particularly looking for a perfect person on the outside (as a believer) but someone who is sincere and honest, who would even admit to failings. It is those in the World System that want to look perfect, beautiful, mighty, and powerful. 

Did Jesus go round proudly exhibiting those qualities? I think He was more, meek, caring, walking the dusty roads with people and being there in their troubles.

[Starise]

The outside should reflect the inside in a sincere person. Why put on airs? We can't ever fool God. Some may fool men.

[warrior12]

7 hours ago, D. Adrien said:

Three things will make anyone stand out in this culture:

Don't smoke

Don't drink

Don't curse

Amen to that brother. I did all three and they all went away when the Lord awaken me to the spiritual realm, which then proved to me the biblical contents of scripture.   I had an encounter which was plotted by people who practiced evil, I was first scared and immidiately all three was dropped liked I never did them.  Previously smoking was very difficult addiciton, but that dissappeared like smoke.  

Twenty three years now and have not had a drink, smoke and curse.  Not a boast, but I don't miss a thing and now wished I had never done those before.

Any way , my favourite scripture verse in reminding me of behaviour is 

Matthew 10:16     KJV

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

 

It is not easy interfacing with the world today where I live, especially with all the diversity, woke and laws that prohibit speech, especially in the work place.  

We have to remind ourselves though as belivers, we are essentially in spiritual warfare when we find opposition in trying to be the best behaviour to others.  Some even see it as pride, mainly the ones that know you the most, like co-workers ect.

I often think of Joseph, when he was tried and tested, he stood on the priciple of his belief on what must be right in the sight of the Lord. His outcome later on we know. Each believer may have his own unique situation s that he deals with, but encouragement and like minded brothers helps to be better with the advice and as the saying goes "iron shapens iron".  

The core issue has to be not to wavier in testimony of the gospel and the truth of righteousness.  We have to still deal with our own weakness, but in own time and personal space that has to be worked out, as with the process of santification. 

 

Edited March 7, 2024 by warrior12

[D. Adrien]

3 hours ago, warrior12 said:

Amen to that brother. I did all three and they all went away when the Lord awaken me to the spiritual realm, which then proved to me the biblical contents of scripture.   I had an encounter which was plotted by people who practiced evil, I was first scared and immidiately all three was dropped liked I never did them.  Previously smoking was very difficult addiciton, but that dissappeared like smoke.  

Twenty three years now and have not had a drink, smoke and curse.  Not a boast, but I don't miss a thing and now wished I had never done those before.

Any way , my favourite scripture verse in reminding me of behaviour is 

Matthew 10:16     KJV

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

 

It is not easy interfacing with the world today where I live, especially with all the diversity, woke and laws that prohibit speech, especially in the work place.  

We have to remind ourselves though as belivers, we are essentially in spiritual warfare when we find opposition in trying to be the best behaviour to others.  Some even see it as pride, mainly the ones that know you the most, like co-workers ect.

I often think of Joseph, when he was tried and tested, he stood on the priciple of his belief on what must be right in the sight of the Lord. His outcome later on we know. Each believer may have his own unique situation s that he deals with, but encouragement and like minded brothers helps to be better with the advice and as the saying goes "iron shapens iron".  

The core issue has to be not to wavier in testimony of the gospel and the truth of righteousness.  We have to still deal with our own weakness, but in own time and personal space that has to be worked out, as with the process of santification. 

 

Hi warrior12, it has been 23 years for me too! I fell away from Christianity for approximately 10 years. (Certain sins I'd refuse to give up), After Jesus came and established me back into the fold, two years after that, I stopped drinking and smoking on the same day. Quit using curse words and moved on to bigger chunks of repentance after that. I had to learn to trust Him by undergoing trials and hardships - like all Christians.

[RdJ]

9 hours ago, Starise said:

The outside should reflect the inside in a sincere person. Why put on airs? We can't ever fool God. Some may fool men.

Oh LOL an air of superiority. I read this yesterday and was so puzzled. You may not try to look cool and wear Nike Airs?

[Starise]

3 hours ago, RdJ said:

Oh LOL an air of superiority. I read this yesterday and was so puzzled. You may not try to look cool and wear Nike Airs?

Oh not at all trust me. I was responding to @Marilyn C who was saying the outside is not important. MY point is both aside from the occasional human spiritual frailty should line up. The old " What you see is what you get" kinda thing.

I seen her statement as more of a personal reflection when we look at ourselves what do we see when we are honest? Oh yes I like to look nice on the outside. In fact I probably care more about that than the average man.  I always seen that as my OCD kicking in. You look in the mirror and a hair is sticking up. Noone else notices it but I notice it and it bothers me. If you have OCD or know someone that does you might relate to what I'm saying.

When I look  on the inside I can see the Lord has His work cut out for Him, but I also see a person who has been broken through several major life events and these things have made me stronger in Him. I see a man who sincerely desires to do all of the right things, but sometimes falls short of it.

It's probably good to do a reckoning of ourselves to see what needs to happen. The Lord points out the issues and majorly works in the repairs.

Having said that, I believe the more I grow, the more steady I am. This has nothing to do with me. Hopefully that shows to the world. Nothing substitutes for real love either coming into or out of us.

I say this not as anything to my credit, but I had led worship in the past for a long time, was out due to trials, and am now being worked back into it in different situations which thrills me to no end, however at the same time when a man preaches or leads a congregation in worship they have that extra burden on them, at least I feel a weight, a responsibility to always be in check. Sins confessed, bad actions corrected, all of that. You can't be fighting with your wife or have any kind of unclean thinking and be effective for the Lord, whether it be in that setting or any other the Lord places us in. In the worship context I have been trying to worship constantly throughout my days all through the day. That way when I am called to lead it, I'm already doing it. And for those in visible places, I sometimes feel the attacks are more intense and can come from the most unlikely places. Satan is looking for that chink in the armor. that crack to slide into. He knows a LOT about us and will attempt to go as far as his chain will allow to thwart the Lord's work.

Not to mention our own sinful natures.