Need Help Understanding Something

I have heard this said and am wondering exactly what does it mean. Maintaining a passionate, intimate relationship with God through daily seeking. That seeking includes separating yourself from every worldly influence. I've been trying to understand exactly what this means, but couldn't find anything that really explained it. So, if anyone could help to explain what exactly that means I would appreciate it.
Is it meaning you don't watch TV, only listen to Christian music, etc. or is it something else or something more then that...or is it not that you don't do these things, but that you just don't let them influence you in any way?

followingJesus1 said:

I have heard this said and am wondering exactly what does it mean. Maintaining a passionate, intimate relationship with God through daily seeking. That seeking includes separating yourself from every worldly influence. I've been trying to understand exactly what this means, but couldn't find anything that really explained it. So, if anyone could help to explain what exactly that means I would appreciate it.
Is it meaning you don't watch TV, only listen to Christian music, etc. or is it something else or something more then that...or is it not that you don't do these things, but that you just don't let them influence you in any way?

Click to expand...

Hi....

Let me start from the beginning....what does it mean to be saved? It means that you choose to make Jesus/Word/Truth the Lord or the boss of your life. It means that from now on you will live to know God's heart, His ways, and His thoughts.

To signify this, we get baptised. This means that we went into the grave like Jesus did and are now dead to this world. We don't live according to its ways anymore.

What are its ways? It might surprise you how deeply the ways of the world are ingrained into us.

For example: Be your own man, make your way in the world, and being proud of yourself, are all contrary to God's ways.

These kind of thoughts must be slowly changed to correct ones, this is sanctification.

As long as you are striving to enter heaven's gates, to love the Truth/God's mind/The Father with all your heart, soul, and might, grace covers your errored ways.

But for those who turn to sinful ways (wrong thoughts acted on) and do them in the name of God, they are not saved, but ony those who say "Lord" but don't mean it.

EVery day let your heart cry, "Father, I want to know what You are thinking, show me your heart, teach me Your ways". When you do this, you will come into an understanding of what pleases Him and what doesn't and you will move from understanding instead of rules and laws that bind you and make you angry inside.

Blessings,

AOF

When you are really prepared to devote your WHOLE life to GOD you will seek HIS WILL. HIS WILL for you could be much different than for others. Prepare yourself by reading GOD'S WORD. When this is complete and GOD sees that you are ready, HE SHALL bestow the HOLY SPIRIT upon you.

Then you shall have a:

!. TEACHER
2. GUIDE
3. COMFORTER
4. COMUNICATOR

For it is then that you shall receive these answers.

1 John
Chapter 2

26
I write you these things about those who would deceive you.
27
As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him.



ALWAYS REMEMBER:

JESUS IS RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE AT!!! EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T SEE HIM!!!
( left click and hold over the above to see your personal message )

I found the world can influence you a lot through MUSIC!! Before i was a christian i was right into heavy metal. Then when i became a christian, i cast that all out and started listening to christian music. A few years later i found myself listening to both christian music and pop music (like top 40 stuff). I know during that time, the wordly music was seeping like lustful thoughts and stuff into me. The line in the sand was when i heard this terrifying vision of hell of the seven columbian youths, about how the poeple in hell are tormented to the very wordly tunes they glorified in on earth. That was enough for me - i dont listen to any non christain radio stations now - just chrisitain music - and i really feel so much more edified in my spirit for doing so. I guess thats just one area of like many but hopefully that helps

I was reading this morning about eating meat sacrificed to idols -- Paul suggesting that we resist doing things that can cause each other to sin. His statement wasn't on the action itself, but on how others responded to our actions. It struck me that sermons on the passage usually focused on the rules, when the focus was on caring for each other.

Many of Jesus' teachings used a core premise that things done out of love and consideration would ultimately glorify God, and likely respect the Law of Moses. Finding the heart of the Law.

Using daily time efficiently and with purity will help us in many ways, but as with any type of fast, it can grow unhealthy after a time. We can grow too focused on ourselves, obsessed with perfection, and think of others as the ones that keep us from perfection. Then love and concern for others has been washed down the drain as life clutter.

The apostle Paul talks about running the race like an athlete, and casting aside things that hold us back. These hindrances will be different for each person. For one, it might be overdependence on an abusive boyfriend, for another it might be slandering good people, for another it might be taking too much from others. These are dark areas within ourselves, that can be more dangerous than the darkness around us.

There are times when I feel that God wants me to cut out certain input, like television, in order to focus better on a project. These times are temporary.

It is also important to listen to the Spirit within you, that squirms when you hear a song or a person's vain promises. God gave us His Holy Spirit to guide us. If we turn that sense/voice off by justifying "but this person is a respected preacher" or "it's just a song," then we dull our ability to hear other important things, like "the house is on fire." That's a big part of the seeking. Finding His voice and building your ability to hear it and respond.

There are some things we just know shouldn't go into our brain. Certain comedians' raunchiness. Rap singers who brag about rape. Video games that lead us through committing crimes. We input information to our brain, and our brain files it into place.

Walking ourselves through desensitization has a consequence. So we have to decide what we want ourselves to be in the future, and decide how we plan to get there. Train.

What that might look like:

If I'm watching a movie on tv and I know an uncomfortable scene is coming up, I just switch the channel temporarily, start talking, or get up and change a load of laundry. Then I return to the movie. No big boycotts.

If a friend pressures me to do something I don't feel comfortable doing, I try to remember that my opinions are as valid as theirs, and their rejection for me not doing something would just be immature. And maybe abusive or illegal.

If a social/political/economic issue really disturbs me, I will write my congressmen. I seldom sign petitions, because those tend to come with pressure to respond before researching. I am careful not to follow along with agendas that have been coined Christian, just for the sake of supporting ... because not thinking first gets societies in trouble.

When I'm in a conversation with friends who are insulting friends who aren't there, I will either change the subject or suggest that we be less negative. I don't cut off friendships unless I truly feel that I can no longer be myself.

You need to be yourself, and listen to God who resides in you. Then decide what you want out of life and what you hope your relationship with God will be, and find ways to make that happen.

followingJesus1 said:

I have heard this said and am wondering exactly what does it mean. Maintaining a passionate, intimate relationship with God through daily seeking. That seeking includes separating yourself from every worldly influence. I've been trying to understand exactly what this means, but couldn't find anything that really explained it. So, if anyone could help to explain what exactly that means I would appreciate it.
Is it meaning you don't watch TV, only listen to Christian music, etc. or is it something else or something more then that...or is it not that you don't do these things, but that you just don't let them influence you in any way?

Click to expand...

Greetings and God bless all who read. Jesus described it best as written in Mark 7:18-23, "And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing FROM WITHOUT ENTERETH INTO THE MAN, IT CANNOT DEFILE HIM;(make him unclean) Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which COMETH OUT OF THE MAN, THAT DEFILETH THE MAN. For from within, out of the HEART of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come FROM WITHIN, AND DEFILE THE MAN."

Yes, we as the children of God have to be very careful as to what we are taking in. More importantly, it is how you are letting it affect you in your thoughts and actions. That's why we are encouraged to pray, study the Word and worship God often, as to keep the worldly views from having too much of a negative affect on our minds and hearts. Pray and talk to God. Ask for spiritual guidance sincerely and God's Spirit will come to lead and direct your path. Then you will be able to understand what is good or not good for YOU.

followingJesus1 said:

I have heard this said and am wondering exactly what does it mean. Maintaining a passionate, intimate relationship with God through daily seeking. That seeking includes separating yourself from every worldly influence. I've been trying to understand exactly what this means, but couldn't find anything that really explained it. So, if anyone could help to explain what exactly that means I would appreciate it.
Is it meaning you don't watch TV, only listen to Christian music, etc. or is it something else or something more then that...or is it not that you don't do these things, but that you just don't let them influence you in any way?

Click to expand...

Let me explain it this way, cause I think the analogy makes it easy to understand. Have you had a close relationship with someone, a boyfriend, a friend, a parent? How did that relationship become close? It happens over time, as you get to know that person, talking to them frequently, finding out who they really are. Would you know their voice? Do you know their likes? Could you easily find them in a crowd? Do you do things that are pleasing to them? Would you answer when they called?

Its very similiar to building a close intimate relationship with God. You pray to him, you listen for his voice, you read about him, you learn about him. You will get to the point where you want to talk to him daily, where you want to know more about him, where you long to hear his voice. You will establish intimate relationship with him by taking the time and effort needed to get close with him.

followingJesus1 said:

I have heard this said and am wondering exactly what does it mean. Maintaining a passionate, intimate relationship with God through daily seeking. That seeking includes separating yourself from every worldly influence. I've been trying to understand exactly what this means, but couldn't find anything that really explained it. So, if anyone could help to explain what exactly that means I would appreciate it.
Is it meaning you don't watch TV, only listen to Christian music, etc. or is it something else or something more then that...or is it not that you don't do these things, but that you just don't let them influence you in any way?

Click to expand...

Don't go looking for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow - there isn't one there!

We must see God's presence is with us wherever we are and in whatever we do. Jesus made chairs, tables, repaired farm implements, related to his family and neighbours for 30 years. Was he not vitally intimately related to His Father for all those years?

Many NT Christians were slaves. They were on call 24/7. They has virtually no freedom of choice. They were surrounded by and deeply enmeshed in their surrounding society, which was far more brutal and corrupt than ours.

Keep well away from Christian dualism, a 'higher spiritual' world and a 'lower earthly' one. That is not a biblical concept at all, but a Greek one that has become very much part of some Christian teaching.

John
NZ

As some others have said, garbage in, garbage out. Therefore, it is important what we feed our brains.

Along with our living responsibilities, etc., you may chose to spend time in your prayer closet (Mat 6:6). Sometimes it’s difficult to find uninterrupted time to spend time with Yahweh (including thanks, praise (Psa 103), and worship (getting our minds off ourselves and ministering to Him).

"God is a Spirit:and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth"(Joh 4:24).

lisah said:

Daily seeking?

Set aside some time every day, a time and a place with no distractions.

Think of it as your spiritual "meal-time".

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I agree that this is needed & that this is what the Bible was refering to,
though we do have to be careful what we take in (watch &/or hear), especially on a regular basis.