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Permalink Reply by JB on November 12, 2012 at 11:42am

Hey zoe;

 It’s the non-believers you need to be with, not those that already know the Lord, Matt. 11:19  
 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

John 16:32, ….every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

Though I understand it is good to be with others of like precious faith. But you should never feel you are alone, remember God says He will never leave you, nor forsake you….Heb.13:5.

Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of the mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Ro.12:2.

Though the mind cannot be renewed just by reading or studying the Word; it must be accompanied by corresponding actions. Otherwise the bible says we are just deceiving ourselves. Ja.1:22.

May Grace and peace be multiplied unto you, through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord…2Pet.1:2-3,

Blessings,

JB

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by zoey on November 12, 2012 at 3:51pm

Hi JB, 

Thanks for that. But what if they have the spirit of antichrist? I know on the one hand we should be with unbelievers, but what is a healthy balance? Currently I would say I am among 90% unbelievers and 10% believers, at best. At my church they said if we are not influencing them they are influencing us. I think as a new believer isn't it important to be among christian people until my faith is very established? Most long time Christians I know only mix within their own christian circles...I understand where you are coming from there.  It is also like that saying "do not be yoked with unbelievers" doesn't associating primarily with people of the world cause you to fall?

zoe

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Permalink Reply by JB on November 13, 2012 at 11:03am

Hi Zoe, “Life”

If they be of the antichrist spirit, just remember this; 1Jo.4:4, greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. You might look at it this way, in light of this scripture; you as one are a majority. Maybe God has you exactly where you are supposed to be at this time, your young energetic enthusiasm might just be what those around you need to see and hear. Though elderly: may need a little reviving of the “Zoe” Grk. for “life” and  zeal they once had for the Spirit of God. They need new life and maybe you are the one to re-energize that enthusiasm. Don’t get caught-up in thinking you need to be with others your age, we don’t lean upon our own understanding of these situations, but keeping your focus on the Word of God, and it will produce the desired results. So let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season, you will reap if you faint not. Gal.6:9.

 As with Paul, God said His grace was sufficient for him, and so it is with you.  Be still and hear that still, small voice saying, as in,   Isa. 30:21
 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.    

Blessings, my Bro.

JB        

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Permalink Reply by zoey on November 14, 2012 at 3:12am

thanks JB perhaps you are right, a christian friend who has been christian for 17 years did have a bit of issue of waning faith and said that it helped talking to me. I see my few friends who have been christian for a long time and I can see that that is the hard part to finish the race(which is why I think it important to surround with fellow christians for constant encouragement)...at the beginning it is easy because God "spoonfeeds you"!

actually i deliberately chose my christian name because it seemed to reflect the new creation i became when the holy spirit touched me e.g i understood zoe to translate to "soul is in union with God", but I have heard it means "life" too, literally....a new life! :)

anyway thanks for your kind words JB :)

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Permalink Reply by JB on November 14, 2012 at 7:03am

Zoe,

Welcome my friend and Have a great day in the Lord.

JB

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on November 12, 2012 at 5:24pm

 

zoe,

 

Let me give you a few scriptures that came to my mind as I was reading your post:

 

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals. 1 Cor. 15:33

 

I enjoyed reading your post.  The desire you have for fellowship is a desire God has placed in you and the desire to have like minded brothers and sisters in Christ is also from God.

 

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

 

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer

 

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

 

JB gave you some sound advice and your response is right on as well. Our ONLY PURPOSE WITH THE LOST is to bring them to faith in Christ. All the things that we do, we do with a goal in mind, with one singular focus, that they may come to received Christ as Lord and Savior, by repenting of their sin, but this should be done according to God's guidance in your life, for there is a time for everything under heaven as well as different seasons in our lives at different stages of it. It seems to me that God it's truly blessing you with wisdom, for you to establish a healthy balance as far as the level of interaction you should have with the unbelieving world for now, so just continue to listen to him. We may miss it, but he never will.

 

God bless you as you continue to abide in him. God has brought you to a good place; this is a beautiful community to experience fellowship. It has not been designed to replace actual tangible fellowship in a local church, but rather complement it.

 

Welcome to AAG, where you will find many friends.

 

He Reigns lyrics

It’s the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It’s the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God’s holy fire
It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir

It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns

Let it rise about the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/n/newsboys-lyrics/he-reigns-lyrics.html ]
To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this

And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they’ve just heard
‘Cause all the powers of darkness
Can’t drown out a single word

When all God’s children sing out
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
All God’s people singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns

 

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Permalink Reply by zoey on November 12, 2012 at 5:58pm

Thanks so much David, I find christian music very inspirational. What comes to mind when I read your post is that concept of "seasons" and that sometimes you are meant to be in the wilderness...for God to prepare you for what he wants to do with you...I'm definitely at that stage...the way I came to God was definitely in the nature of being a "calling"...and so yes, it's a little daunting...but also I've felt a certain excitement ...when you abandon your own plans and just be obedient and follow...with no idea what he has in mind...and I did keep getting that thought at one stage "be still and know that I am God"...because I guess we can't hear or be receptive to his word if we are constantly in mental chatter or preoccupied with distractions of the world.

Also what came to mind is that passage in the bible where it says that if you are a friend of Jesus it is natural the world will despise you too...definitely I felt a lot more socially normal and liked by the world before faith...I wouldn't say I am even a "bible basher" as I don't like to impose on people but I think it's maybe at the level of spiritual energy...I feel very good around people with the holy spirit and especially in christian homes I've noticed.  Some non believers just have a very strong reaction to me and it seems almost like an antichrist spirit energy comes out because they will deliberately  try to pick a fight that my belief in God is a "delusion" etc when I am just sharing my experience/testimony/belief I wasn't even attempting to convert them or push my ideas on them at all...I used to be in the world so I remember how annoying I used to find that. I realise I can plant the seed but it is up to God to open human eyes at the time that is right for that person...but I think that person has to want to seek as well....in the meantime I can just pray for them and be patient.

I did keep getting that thought(reading in a bible, christian books) several times now about the importance of preserving spiritual gains by surrounding with fellow christians, so conclude now that I will understand that to be a message from God warning me about the company I keep because he knows me best! :) Interestingly I only just remembered my Catholic friend overseas also reiterated this message to me 2 days ago as well...and he definitely has the holy spirit.

Anyway thanks...I think it is clear to me now what is personally right for me...I just have to toughen up in trials...the christian walk is not easy, especially if you really want to try to follow 100%...

cheers!

zoe

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on November 13, 2012 at 5:11am

Our walk is not an easy one beloved, as you have stated, but -

 

IT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WALK IN THE UNIVERSE. YOU ARE NOW INDWELT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HENCE YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED FOR GODLINESS AND TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL, AS YOU ARE COMFORM TO THE IMAGE OF YOUR CREATOR AND LORD.

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Permalink Reply by Mary O on November 13, 2012 at 7:02am

Hi Zoe, God bless you!

Just a suggestion which you may have already tried. So if you have, sorry about that. Retirees have children and grandchildren that they want to meet other young Christians. Do you know someone who could introduce you to younger people? Please don't say where you are.  I'm not a retiree and it's a few years away yet, but I know I would introduce you to my family. Or is there special events for young people at your church?

Love,

Mary

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Permalink Reply by zoey on November 13, 2012 at 8:24am

Hi Mary,

I have  really seemed to have exhausted all immediate local options for the moment. I'm in a retirement area so it's all old people...and their kids and grandkids are far away in different cities and countries-actually alot of their families are not necessarily christian anyway I have noticed...the very very few people my age are in couples with kids etc so they don't have much spare time. the local pastor in my actual town actually told me to move as he had noone near my age in his church either which is why i ended up going to the next town for church but it is hard as I don't drive...yet. I learnt the pastor in my actual town has since moved on himself and the church has not found a replacement yet and so there isn't even a local bible study I can attend!

But nothing is impossible with God :), I'll just continue to pray about it - I am confident God will fix this issue soon either by relocating me or bringing me in touch with more christians for fellowship through his miraculous ways :) And actually today I've signed up for a christian course retreat so I might meet some christians for fellowship at the same stage of their journey as me there :) Anyway I feel alot better about this issue even just from the replies here, so thanks for writing! 

zoe :)

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Permalink Reply by Mary O on November 13, 2012 at 11:26am

Good for you! A retreat sounds like fun.   :-)  

Love,

Mary

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