Friends, Flesh and the Holy Spirit

[Turbopun]

I am at a loss. I am not quite sure if it is me or if it is my friends.

Most of my friends including my roommates have known me mostly while I was a believer walking in the flesh. I produced no fruit. Now over the last month I have been restored by the Lord into a fresh walk with Him. I by no means am perfect and lack faith just about every day at some point, but overall I believe the Spirit has come forth lately due to His work in me and produce some fruit. I take NO credit for this. This is nothing but the Spirit working.

Here's the problem. All of my friends, which are believers to my knowledge, are walking in the flesh and have been ever since I have known them. Yes, I have seen the occasional 2 day post-church-retreat spiritual high, but no fruit coming forth from the Lord in their lives.

This is not the problem in my life. The problem is that since God has been working in me over the last month, my whole demeanor has changed (which in my opinion is good). I am not opening my mouth at every thought that passes through my mind, I am refraining from crude jokes, and I am not focused on myself all the time.

This is what my friends know me for which is quite sad. When they are making crude jokes and I don't jump in anymore, there is almost this awkward silence and I just sit there with nothing to say. When they play video games that glorify violence, I just have no interest in playing anymore.

The worst part though is this flesh vs spirit war that is in me that they all get to see me go through. None of them understand which I know makes complete sense, but it is just so hard. I feel like they are looking at me sometimes like I look down on them because God is revamping my life.

When I am humble and surrender my will to the Holy Spirit I find that I no longer am living but Jesus that is living out actions in me. These are the days that I could die so peacefully! I love Him!

The next day I can wake up and find myself just aimlessly becoming more independent from God and pride starts building up. These are my flesh days. Sometimes I can humble myself and confess my pride before God, but sometimes I just remain proud and am in agony.

(Galatians 5:17 ESV)


1) Does this make sense?

2) Does anyone else have an intense daily battle between their flesh and the Spirit?

3) What should I do with my friends?

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings Turbopun,

1) Does this make sense?

2) Does anyone else have an intense daily battle between their flesh and the Spirit?

3) What should I do with my friends?

1)... Yes, it makes plenty of sense!

2)...Yes, daily, brother

3)...Love them and let His love shine on through you and love them even more!


I might write more on all this, but, for now, let His peace fill you with joy and worship, and delight yourself in Him for He loves you!

Bless you ....><>

Br. Bear

 

[Turbopun]

Greetings Turbopun,

1) Does this make sense?

2) Does anyone else have an intense daily battle between their flesh and the Spirit?

3) What should I do with my friends?

1)... Yes, it makes plenty of sense!

2)...Yes, daily, brother

3)...Love them and let His love shine on through you and love them even more!


I might write more on all this, but, for now, let His peace fill you with joy and worship, and delight yourself in Him for He loves you!

Bless you ....><>

Br. Bear

1) Good

2) Glad you can relate, very glad actually

3) I don't know how to do that sometimes even when I am walking in the Spirit.

 

[Br. Bear]

Bless you brother,

Here's a few Scriptures that may help...

Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Psalm 86:3-7 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto Thee daily.
Rejoice the soul of Thy servant: for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.
Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.
In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me.


For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Galatians 5:17-18


Bless you ....><>


Br. Bear

 

[TheWidowsOffering]

dear bro. Turbo

I am at a loss. I am not quite sure if it is me or if it is my friends.

The worst part though is this flesh vs spirit war that is in me that they all get to see me go through. None of them understand which I know makes complete sense, but it is just so hard. I feel like they are looking at me sometimes like I look down on them because God is revamping my life.

The next day I can wake up and find myself just aimlessly becoming more independent from God and pride starts building up. These are my flesh days. Sometimes I can humble myself and confess my pride before God, but sometimes I just remain proud and am in agony.

wow.. the battle had begun bro.. battle against the flesh, against sin, against the world and everything there in, yes even battle against the enemy- the devil

Keep standing on your ground... Your decision to be guided and led by the Lord again and by His Spirit is the fiercest battle u ever entered.

but don't worry stay strong in the Lord bro.. The battle is not yours but the Lord... Stay firm in your convictions and keep practicing them.

Your chosen avatar is good reminder for you.. Praise the Lord..

May this scriptures help you too..
Overcoming tribulations/persecutions - Be of Good cheer/Take heart
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Overcoming the world - Your faith

"for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1John 5:4

Overcoming the enemy - Your Word of Testimony (the Word of God, the name of Jesus, and the Blood of Jesus)

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelations 12:11

1)... Yes, it makes plenty of sense!

2)...Yes, daily, brother

3)...Love them and let His love shine on through you and love them even more!


I might write more on all this, but, for now, let His peace fill you with joy and worship, and delight yourself in Him for He loves you!

Bless you ....><>

Br. Bear

And yes i agree a lot with Bro. Bear's statement and prayer for you..

If you have great references perhaps you can read on teachings about becoming Christ Disciple..

There's also a great post by Rene at the Ethics and Morality section "Assertive Christianity" which i think may give you a glimpse of light regarding your situation today. I don't know if you read this already. Though you're keeping silent as i understand with your statements but your way of life now is a living testimony to convict them to what they are doing whether of the Lord/Spirit or the flesh/ and or of this world.


God bless you Bro. Turbo and thanks for sharing with us here..


For me it is better to be abandoned by this world than being abandoned by God.. :shade: hehe.. Praise the Lord

Keep in touch with the Lord!!!!


Sister in Christ,


Reymielin

 

[Br. Bear]

3) I don't know how to do that sometimes even when I am walking in the Spirit.

Brother, moment by moment..... there is only one rule of thumb.... keep your mind stayed on the Lord..... and He will lead you and keep you and give you His perfect peace.

Bless you ....><>


Br. Bear


Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.
Isaiah 26:3

 

[Fragrant Grace]

3) I don't know how to do that sometimes even when I am walking in the Spirit.

Brother, moment by moment..... there is only one rule of thumb.... keep your mind stayed on the Lord..... and He will lead you and keep you and give you His perfect peace.

Bless you ....><>

Br. Bear

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.
Isaiah 26:3

Amen Br. Bear

Dear brother Turbopun

Yes, in agreement with previous posts, the battle is continual between the flesh and the Spirit. But praise the Lord we have beautiful victorious Saviour living within us to help us in these daily battles.....He is our peace and our strength

A few promises from God's word:


I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me...
Phil 4:13

Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ
Phil 1:6

....we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us
Romans 8:37

God bless you brother.

I am praying

Julia

 

[Turbopun]

I will chew on the replies here for a while longer. Thank you for being my family.

I have found out that I need to rely on the promises of the Lord and believe them to be true in my heart.

I also was reading the 11.22.08 devotional from Oswald Chambers and read something that convicted me of spiritual pride.

"Beware of allowing yourself to think that the shallow aspects of life are not ordained by God; they are ordained by Him equally as much as the profound. We sometimes refuse to be shallow, not out of our deep devotion to God but because we wish to impress other people with the fact that we are not shallow. This is a sure sign of spiritual pride. We must be careful, for this is how contempt for others is produced in our lives. And it causes us to be a walking rebuke to other people because they are more shallow than we are. Beware of posing as a profound person— God became a baby."


I realized that God had awakened me with some deep spiritual insight about a month ago and anyone that couldn't see what I saw was lesser than I. This made me relationally and culturally irrelevant as well as flat out proud. I just couldn't see that. I think that's why I have almost spent more time here on these boards than with my roommates and other friends lately. I have found others that share a similar love for my King!

It seems to be difficult for me to be able to talk about the things of this world without loving the world. (1 John 2:15-17 ESV)

1) Do any of you find that to be difficult? To engage with people about things of the world without loving the world?

 

[TheWidowsOffering]

you're always welcome bro. We all belong to God's family..

1) Do any of you find that to be difficult? To engage with people about things of the world without loving the world?

In our own local setting, we have here what we call social responsibility...

Going or attending to non-Christian wedding and other social activities like birthday parties are just examples without conforming to their practices. We are encouraged not to isolate ourselves from unbelievers so that we could be able to build good relationship to people and be a witness of Christ.

In doing so, just remember what Paul has to say:

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders, make the most of every opportunity" Colossians 4:5

As I have said though your not speaking if you have a consistent walk with Christ, your own life style with the Lord is enough to radiate God's love and standards and to convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness. Of course this is through the working power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

A lot of experiences i have when i was still in College, at first it's really hard to go along with the world without persecution just so you can't conform with it. But if you are already trained/disciplined to live God's standards out of this world, you will surely produce a harvest of righteousness and peace.


Keep going bro. Turbo and may God bless you continually..

Loving the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength i think is the best way to be kept from your question.. :shade:

"We love because he first love us." 1John 4:9


Praise the Lord.


Sister in Christ,

Reymielin

 

[abigya]

They say "Loneliness seems to be one price the saint must pay for his saintliness".

You may be interested to read this article.

http://www.talkjesus.com/church-sermons/23105-saint-must-walk-alone.html

God bless