18 yo former jw

Tyler112 said:

Do you know any good groups? Of encouraging music that glorifies god. Ever since becoming a acutual Christian I’ve began to realize how so many of my favorite songs had demonic lyrics and I was never able to see that

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Maybe someone in your area would be able to give you that information. I don't want to be seen to be proselyting for churches according to my own theology. There will be others on the thread who will share with you the virtues of their own church denomination in your area and then you can try them out and settle into the one that suits you and what you want to achieve in your new found faith.

Tyler112 said:

Hello Everyone I’m Tyler. About a year and a half ago I began questioning the beliefs of JWs and I now fully understand Jesus to be my savior. However ever since truly believing in the lord of the Bible and not the watchtower, I have noticed that I constantly feel like I am letting god down. Wether it be dwelling on impure thoughts too long, or looking at a girl at school longer than I should, or even saying thing I should not. I feel that now it is harder than ever to stay pure.

I have been praying about it and I feel as if god has helped to be much more conscious of when I’m doing wrong, but I still feel as if I have the issue of still doing it and feeing horrible after, sometimes I feel totally filthy before god and have a place in hell, and other times I am filled with spirit and belief. How can I reject these evil attacks from satan?

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Be encouraged: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17. Jesus, the Author of your salvation and the Perfecter of your faith, has made you a brand-new creation. The old you that walked in lust and impurity is dead - crucified on the cross with Christ (Galatians 2:20).

Now it is a matter of walking in the new life Christ has given you. We overcome by listening to and yielding to His Spirit, not by relying on our own resolve or strength (Zechariah 4:6, Romans 15:13). Believe what Christ has done for you - and keep believing it even the enemy wants you to think otherwise. Remember that nothing can separate you from the love of God, and no one can condemn you because you are His child (Romans 8:31-39). Think about these things and read about them in the Word of God - you will find that getting God's Word planted into your mind and heart will give you peace and equip you to resist temptation and the devil.

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Lord, thank you that Tyler is sensitive to Your Spirit. Please continue to led him away from sin and into your new life! Thank you that he is your son, and that he is truly a new creation. Thank you that nothing can separate him from Your Love! Please finish the good work You have started in him. Amen.

Tyler112 said:

Do you know any good groups? Of encouraging music that glorifies god. Ever since becoming a acutual Christian I’ve began to realize how so many of my favorite songs had demonic lyrics and I was never able to see that

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Tools to locate local churches:
Find Your Church - Church.org
Locate Cru Near You | Cru
The Gospel Coalition – Church Directory

If you have access to the Internet, you can probably find Christian Scripture songs (songs consisting purely of Bible verses), such as from this website: Scripture Songs for Worship
Perhaps the public library or your school library may have Bibles for reference and maybe Christian music to listen to or borrow?

You can also try to find music from local church websites.

Some Christian songs or names of Christian songs can be found here:
Christian Music - YouTube
Favourite Christian hymns
Christians - Favourite hymns?

If you are interested, odb.org has Bible devotionals. Some other Christian websites include Bible.org, crosswalk.com and crossexamined.org.

Tyler112 said:

Hello Everyone I’m Tyler. About a year and a half ago I began questioning the beliefs of JWs and I now fully understand Jesus to be my savior. However ever since truly believing in the lord of the Bible and not the watchtower, I have noticed that I constantly feel like I am letting god down. Wether it be dwelling on impure thoughts too long, or looking at a girl at school longer than I should, or even saying thing I should not. I feel that now it is harder than ever to stay pure.

I have been praying about it and I feel as if god has helped to be much more conscious of when I’m doing wrong, but I still feel as if I have the issue of still doing it and feeing horrible after, sometimes I feel totally filthy before god and have a place in hell, and other times I am filled with spirit and belief. How can I reject these evil attacks from satan?

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You need to understand that Jesus made the atonement for you on the cross, and according to 1 John 1:9 when you confess your sins He is faithful just to forgive you your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Which means that when you confess your sin to Him you are cleansed and restored to purity in His sight. This is because the blood of Christ which was spilled for our sin cleanses us.

The enormity of His sacrifice can never be calculated. The innocent lamb of God died for our sins by hanging on the cross. We feel that a great injustice was done to Him because He was taking our place on the cross. But in actuality God considered His death on the cross to be justice done for all of our sin. He proved this by raising Him from the dead. Our faith in Christ as our atonement is what saves us. When we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.

Stop beating yourself up! Accept you are human like the rest of us!
You get up, you try, you fall over again. Dust yourself down, and have another go!

All you are asked is to do your best:
Just remember, apostle Paul was instrumental in killing christians ( I will wager you have never done anything that bad!!!) but Jesus forgave him, so there is hope for the rest of us yet!

Even later Paul said in Romans 7 - During his mission "the good I would do, I do not: the evil I would not do , I do" It goes with the territory for all of us including him.

In the end when Jesus said "blessed are the poor in spirit" he means those who know how they are failing but aspire to do better. He means you! It is all he asks, as well as try to love God and Neighbour!

See matthew 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls .My yoke is easy, my burden is light.
Above all don't think of Him as hostile, judgemental, instead think of Him as friend, guide and shoulder to cry on, who will listen to any humble heart. Food for thought?

Tyler112 said:

Hello Everyone I’m Tyler. About a year and a half ago I began questioning the beliefs of JWs and I now fully understand Jesus to be my savior. However ever since truly believing in the lord of the Bible and not the watchtower, I have noticed that I constantly feel like I am letting god down. Wether it be dwelling on impure thoughts too long, or looking at a girl at school longer than I should, or even saying thing I should not. I feel that now it is harder than ever to stay pure.

I have been praying about it and I feel as if god has helped to be much more conscious of when I’m doing wrong, but I still feel as if I have the issue of still doing it and feeing horrible after, sometimes I feel totally filthy before god and have a place in hell, and other times I am filled with spirit and belief. How can I reject these evil attacks from satan?

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Tyler112 said:

We were taught that hell was a fake place and it’s only now that I know how real hell is and let me tell you it is one of the only things that scares me. They would always pass of the lake of fire as figurative

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The doctrine of God is the JW's most serious error, namely denying the Trinity. On the doctrine of Hell, you'll probably find some Christians hold to a similar doctrine of annihilationism, not that (to the best of my knowledge) it is the majority historical view or aligns with historic Creeds and Confessions of the Christian Church throughout the centuries. Personally while I hold to a literal interpretation, I am sympathetic towards annihilation, I cannot imagine neither burning for eternity nor the soul destroyed would be a pleasant experience. The point is, fear Him, who is able to destroy body and soul. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom. Always loved that verse from Proverbs, and I believe "beginning" should be understood as justification for knowledge, the difference between supposed autonomy and Theonomy.

Tyler112 said:

Hello Everyone I’m Tyler. About a year and a half ago I began questioning the beliefs of JWs and I now fully understand Jesus to be my savior. However ever since truly believing in the lord of the Bible and not the watchtower, I have noticed that I constantly feel like I am letting god down. Wether it be dwelling on impure thoughts too long, or looking at a girl at school longer than I should, or even saying thing I should not. I feel that now it is harder than ever to stay pure.

I have been praying about it and I feel as if god has helped to be much more conscious of when I’m doing wrong, but I still feel as if I have the issue of still doing it and feeing horrible after, sometimes I feel totally filthy before god and have a place in hell, and other times I am filled with spirit and belief. How can I reject these evil attacks from satan?

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It takes time to change habits. And basically that is what it is. The true Gospel teaches us that our faith is all we need to acquire the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Now you just need support from others who are going through the same thing. Fellowship with those who also now see the light as you. There is probably a support group near you. How can I meet Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses in my area?
Blessings

Tyler112 said:

Hello Everyone I’m Tyler. About a year and a half ago I began questioning the beliefs of JWs and I now fully understand Jesus to be my savior. However ever since truly believing in the lord of the Bible and not the watchtower, I have noticed that I constantly feel like I am letting god down. Wether it be dwelling on impure thoughts too long, or looking at a girl at school longer than I should, or even saying thing I should not. I feel that now it is harder than ever to stay pure.

I have been praying about it and I feel as if god has helped to be much more conscious of when I’m doing wrong, but I still feel as if I have the issue of still doing it and feeing horrible after, sometimes I feel totally filthy before god and have a place in hell, and other times I am filled with spirit and belief. How can I reject these evil attacks from satan?

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Keep up the fight and try not to originate the thoughts through prayer. When Christ sets you free, you are free indeed. However, you may need patience and the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Tyler112 said:

Do you know any good groups? Of encouraging music that glorifies god. Ever since becoming a acutual Christian I’ve began to realize how so many of my favorite songs had demonic lyrics and I was never able to see that

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As far as music try the band Casting Crowns... the album ‘until the whole world hears’ is one of my favorites

Tyler112 said:

About a year and a half ago I began questioning the beliefs of JWs and I now fully understand Jesus to be my savior. However ever since truly believing in the lord of the Bible and not the watchtower, I have noticed that I constantly feel like I am letting god down.

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Well, as has already been pointed out, you can't let God down. He has always known what you would do - even before the universe existed. This is what it means for God to be omniscient. There is nothing God has not always known. So, when you sin, God is not shocked; He was not expecting you to do better than you did. No, you did exactly what He has always known you would do. Now, He's not happy with your sin, but He is not let down by it.

Tyler112 said:

Wether it be dwelling on impure thoughts too long, or looking at a girl at school longer than I should, or even saying thing I should not. I feel that now it is harder than ever to stay pure.

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The good side of this, of course, is that you are now aware of the currents of sin that swirl around you and draw you into wrong behaviour and you want to do something about it. Your sudden sensitivity to sin is actually a very good thing! Disturbing, though, eh?

Tyler112 said:

I have been praying about it and I feel as if god has helped to be much more conscious of when I’m doing wrong, but I still feel as if I have the issue of still doing it and feeing horrible after, sometimes I feel totally filthy before god and have a place in hell, and other times I am filled with spirit and belief. How can I reject these evil attacks from satan?

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I think this blog article will help:

Getting The Victory Over Sin. | Christian Forums

Give it a read and let me know what you think!

Tyler112 said:

Do you know any good groups? Of encouraging music that glorifies god. Ever since becoming a acutual Christian I’ve began to realize how so many of my favorite songs had demonic lyrics and I was never able to see that

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A few of my favorites:

Contemporary Christian Music

Carman
Keith Green
Rich Mullins
Newsboys

Christian Rock

PETRA
Third Day

Christian Hip Hop

Bizzle
Lecrae
Trip Lee
116
Flame
Shai Linne

Here is one by Shai Linne:

You are getting attacked because now you belong to God. So now you have to learn how to fight:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

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Many people will tell you to pray this, or rehearse this verse - but that is not the solution. You need to do this; it is not a prayer - it about being rooted and grounded in your position with Christ; know that you are Saved - you don't slip in and out salvation for every sin.

Know that its not your righteousness that you are being judged on. Your righteousness even on your best days is not righteous enough. When you were saved, Jesus gave you His righteousness and He became your sin. He is an eternal Sacrifice; once and for all. You can be eternally grateful for this fact; and I think once you realize this deep within you; your going to be so on fire for God and such an overcomer you going to walk in a victory you never experienced before.

Take every thought captive; and cast down any thought that tells you that your less then the righteousness of Christ.

Tyler112 said:

No unfortunately I can’t find any real churches where I live. Every thing is about feeling good and nothing about the return of Christ or any form of prophecy. Most churches here are for Money to be totally honest.

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Being as eschatology is a very debatable topic (with no real consensus on whether the Rapture will take place before, after, or mid-way through the Tribulation), and being as when Christ will return is not nearly as important as believing on him and following him now, is it any surprise that churches don't put it at the forefront. I recommend you open your eyes afresh when evaluating local churches, because you need a local church. There are many wonderful passages in Scripture that can solidify your faith, but you grew up in a cult. That means you have been trained to read and (mis)interpret at least some of them in an oppressive way. That means you need to go through the Scriptures, the New Testament especially, within a community of Christians who understand God's grace and how we are to live in view of his grace. And you need to have them live alongside you, help you out. That will teach you how to love and help others as well. No one will ever completely master that in this life, no one is exempt.

Tyler112 said:

Hello Everyone I’m Tyler. About a year and a half ago I began questioning the beliefs of JWs and I now fully understand Jesus to be my savior. However ever since truly believing in the lord of the Bible and not the watchtower, I have noticed that I constantly feel like I am letting god down. Wether it be dwelling on impure thoughts too long, or looking at a girl at school longer than I should, or even saying thing I should not. I feel that now it is harder than ever to stay pure.

I have been praying about it and I feel as if god has helped to be much more conscious of when I’m doing wrong, but I still feel as if I have the issue of still doing it and feeing horrible after, sometimes I feel totally filthy before god and have a place in hell, and other times I am filled with spirit and belief. How can I reject these evil attacks from satan?

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The Light that has come to you is making known your heart and mind and soon your soul. Don't be discouraged. Jesus said this would happen. What you need to do is not look at your failings and condemn yourself but look to the one who has and is forgiven you for these things by His Son Jesus The Christ. Let him heal you. Let him replace all those things being made known unto you be replaced with Jesus. Read and devour the written word of God. If you haven't yet, find a Bible that isn't the Watchtower translation. I would recommend the New King James or NASB. Satan will try to keep the word of God from you so please, get into the word of God and let Father speak to you through it. Again, don't condemn yourself for these things, but use it to drive yourself into purity. Shalom.

By the way, this is very important, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT seek out a church to attend. You need to take some time off and work on your personal relationship with Father through Jesus Christ alone. You are not in a place of being able to discern what a true local congregation of Jesus looks like right now. If you submerse yourself into a local church you will only fall right back into the same religious cycles that you were going through with the JW Church. Take some time to commune with Jesus and let him teach you all things so that you may become mature and learn what you need to so that you can be able when the time comes to be placed into the right local congregation for the right purposes. Cultivate your relationship and become like Abraham with an ever increasing Faith and Let Father reveal all things to you. Don't let yourself be sucked into more religious bondage. The freedom you are seeking is not found in those buildings.

Tyler112 said:

Hello Everyone I’m Tyler. About a year and a half ago I began questioning the beliefs of JWs and I now fully understand Jesus to be my savior. However ever since truly believing in the lord of the Bible and not the watchtower, I have noticed that I constantly feel like I am letting god down. Wether it be dwelling on impure thoughts too long, or looking at a girl at school longer than I should, or even saying thing I should not. I feel that now it is harder than ever to stay pure.

I have been praying about it and I feel as if god has helped to be much more conscious of when I’m doing wrong, but I still feel as if I have the issue of still doing it and feeing horrible after, sometimes I feel totally filthy before god and have a place in hell, and other times I am filled with spirit and belief. How can I reject these evil attacks from satan?

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Put on your Helmet of Salvation, the Helmet of the HOPE of Salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Meditate on God as He is revealed in Scripture (Ezekiel 1:26-28, Revelation 1:14-16). Remember, that the Holy Spirit is God's SEAL, the Promise that He will return and deliver you from all your sinful flesh (Ephesians 4:30). There is not a righteous man on earth who does good continually and never sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20). All sin will be forgiven men (Mark 3:28). If we confess our sins, God's promise is that He will both forgive us AND cleanses us from it (1 John 1:9)

Tyler said "Thank you and yes I would love to be baptized."

Excellent Tyler. Some may try and tell you that you need two baptisms, one to receive Christ by immersion and another by prayer to receive the Holy Spirit. Supposedly if you pray to receive the Holy Spirit you will begin to speak in other languages (tongues) which will demonstrate to your fellow Christians that you are a real Christian. But what does the scriptures say about this. 1 Cor 14:22 (a) "Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers..." Speaking in other languages is a gift, not a right. You don't demand gifts from God you thank Him for what He decides to give to you, and besides the scriptures are VERY explicit as to how to receive the Holy Spirit, and exactly how many baptisms there are. Acts 2:38 "Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Eph 4:5-6 "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Not two, but one.

Tyler112 said:

Hello Everyone I’m Tyler. About a year and a half ago I began questioning the beliefs of JWs and I now fully understand Jesus to be my savior. However ever since truly believing in the lord of the Bible and not the watchtower, I have noticed that I constantly feel like I am letting god down. Wether it be dwelling on impure thoughts too long, or looking at a girl at school longer than I should, or even saying thing I should not. I feel that now it is harder than ever to stay pure.

I have been praying about it and I feel as if god has helped to be much more conscious of when I’m doing wrong, but I still feel as if I have the issue of still doing it and feeing horrible after, sometimes I feel totally filthy before god and have a place in hell, and other times I am filled with spirit and belief. How can I reject these evil attacks from satan?

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Hi Tyler,

You were once a slave to another Christ - "the annointed (Christ) class" the Governing Body. Now you are free of their grip. However, you still have not learned to place that total faith in Jesus as your Anointed Savior and your Lord. There is no elder looking over your shoulder. No more peer pressure that kept you in check.

The only way you, or any Christian, can deal with sinful thoughts and temptations is by putting on the whole armor of God.

The Helmet of Salvation - Your Hope in God's promises will help you to think twice before selling out for temporary pleasures of the sinful nature.

The Shield of Faith - Faith is your responsibility before God. A genuine faith has counted the cost of listening to and following Lord Jesus... The cost is your entire life. Only by this faith does God dwell in you by His Spirit. This is where most fail, and is the reason people keep sliding into sin. By this faith you will extinguish the fiery darts of Satan.

The Belt of Truth - Lord Jesus is your Truth, so trust and follow Him no matter what temptations tell you.

The Breastplate of Righteousness - Your are declared righteous before God if your faith leads you to sanctification before an almighty God - to be set apart and holy onto him. For no one who confesses Jesus as their Lord can go on living in Sin. You can only have one Master.

Your feet (your way of life) protected by reminding you of the Gospel by which you are saved, and the cost to God - His life for you. Let your whole self fall into the hands of a loving God. Remember to share that Love with others.

The Sword of the Spirit - which is the Word of God. Lord Jesus, when he was tempted, quoted Scripture. As a post-Jehovah's Witness, you are at an advantage, in that you are familiar with many Scriptures already. Rely on the Sword to defend yourself and others, and attack the forces of evil.

Now that your mind is free from bondage to the Watchtower you must learn to be bound to Christ as your Anointed Savior and Master. Jesus is the Lord you must now follow with your entire life. And God can see everything and discerns the intentions of your heart. Everything is laid bare before an all-knowing God. God promises all true Christians that they will suffer and be tempted - this is to test and refine your faith. If your faith is genuine you will pass the test, and you will stand before Him as one of His.

The Path (Lord Jesus) is narrow - to take up your cross daily and follow him into a New Life of Love. God is Love. Follow that Path and you will experience the peace with God you long for, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit by which God the Father and Lord Jesus come to live in you. And the Angels of God rejoice for you as you repent (die to your old life) and rise a new creature as a servant of your Lord Jesus who loves you and died for you.

1 Peter 1:3-12 (NIV)
Praise to God for a Living Hope
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who - through faith- are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

I will end this by requesting you please to read Romans 6

Blessings to you Tyler.

Tyler112 said:

Thank you brother. I can say that ever since turning from jw, I finally understand what spiritual attack is. I have never felt convicted when I would think lustfull thoughts or look at inappropriate contentography. On the day that I received Christ it is the first thing I noticed

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Lord have mercy.