How are Christians at peace?

[SPP]

I'm having a really hard time with stress as a Christian, and I don't mean stress induced by every day life. I mean stress that comes purely from believing the Bible. I know one of the fruits of the Spirit is peace , but I honestly have no clue how I'm supposed to be at peace.

The Bible tells us plainly that we are in a war. I'm stressed from the moment I get out of bed in the morning until the moment I fall asleep at night, because I believe that every thought, word, and deed has eternal consequences. Gods Word tell us that most people go to hell. I have NOT had complete victory over sin, and to be honest, I don't know that I ever will.

Despite my warnings, all of my family members, co-workers, and friends seem to be firmly on their way to eternal suffering. The Bible tells us to be fruitful and multiply, but what is the incentive to bringing children into the world when we know that most of them (statistically speaking) with suffer eternal torment? Why run the risk?

I 'm also a bit obsessive compulsive, so I can't have the simple pleasures in life like a bowl of ice cream, because that will inevitably lead to gluttony. I can't have a beer, because that will turn into drunkenness, fast food is also out of the question for me. Can't watch TV or play video games, because they are loaded with occult satanic themes, and mind control.

I can't go to the beach, because that's a recipe for falling to lust, or causing someone else to fall into lust. I can't walk around in public without being extremely guarded as to where my eyes go because almost all women are wearing skin tight and revealing clothing these days. Can't get a girlfriend, because... lust.

As horrible as it sounds, I feel like a prisoner. I'm experiencing the opposite of peace. I feel like I'm trapped in this tiny box where all I can do is sit on my couch (with the TV OFF) rocking back and forth like a mental patient with a Bible in my hand.

I fell away from the faith in late 2013, and I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I just couldn't handle the stress. About two months ago, the Lord pulled me back into the fold, and now all the stress and anxiety has returned.

I just don't know what to do. I can't continue on like this, it's just not healthy.

 

[jeff77]

First of all I will pray for you. Also, realize that sitting on the couch with the TV off doesn't allow God to use you for witnessing to others. I understand the thing about going to the beach. One can avert their eyes but it is difficult when the next thing they see is another thing to look away from.

 

[JoJoe]

Aye, its on my mind and heart a lot with my worldly friends and family. Lord knows I don't want to dust my feet of them. This is why it is our job to feed them the word so that may grow on spirit and come to the Lord. I tend to do this when they bring it up themselves and happens quite often.

Anyways brother it is overwhelming sometimes I will agree but, God also has planned for you to be free of all this stress.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I know it's hard to not move around in this world and see things that make our flesh come out. To me the war is training one self to think in spirit rather then the flesh. The flesh stresses out because it wants to be in control but, as Paul states we must whip out flesh into submission. Just know there will be a day in victory.

Romans 16:20
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Psalms 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

God doesnt want you locked in a room in misery. He wanted you to be in victory with Jesus Christ. Tear down those walls and don't be afraid to go out, yes you will sin, we all do. Don't let it get you down, reading the OT we can see that God's chosen were sinners and even in his presence sinned against God.

I am a gamer and just because I gave my life doesn't mean I will go to hell because of it. I just don't hold things over God anymore like I used to. I add more Bible time and prayer now days and I can definitely see a difference. If it's his will for me to not play games one day then so be it. Until then the devil can talk to himself.

God bless brother.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Temptation is not sin. Caving into it is.
The Christian life is about a journey from sin to righteousness.

8 For if you possess these (spiritual) qualities in increasing measure..." (2 Peter 1:8 NASB parenthesis mine)

Read the verse in context in your spare time to get the whole point. Peter did not say, "if you possess these spiritual qualities perfectly". It is expected that the Christian is growing up into the righteousness of faith, not starting out in it. It's a growth process. And you have the blood of Christ covering you for every bump in the road and wrong turn you take in that journey.

You aren't doomed to hell every time you sin. That's what we call 'legalism'. The only way sin can condemn the Christian is if it is purposely being done out of a careless disregard and/or contempt and rejection for the forgiveness they have received through Jesus Christ. Sin from weakness or ignorance does not end your relationship with God. And even if you do start getting careless and contemptuous with the grace of God he will chastise you as a son long before he gives you over to unbelief. Look, he's already brought you back once.

What helped me in my struggle with sin is realizing what righteousness is all about. It's not about focusing on the outside of the cup, but rather the inside of the cup. The outside of the cup is all about 'do not touch', 'do not look', etc (Matthew 23:25-26 NASB). The inside of the cup is about character qualities--the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 NASB). When a person is being kind, or peaceable with others, or generous, or forgiving, or patient, etc. they won't be doing sinful things on the outside. Approach this matter of righteous living from the inside out and you will have victory, and the peace that comes with it.

 

[Edward]

SBB, I understand the sentiment you proffer. I was there before and liken it to a chess game where I am in a bad way and almost any move I make, I will lose material on. However, it's like they say, it aint over till its over. There's been many a chess game where I started with many blunders but hung in there and eventually won the game.

Grasping ahold of the peace and joy from God doesn't happen overnight. The renewing process is just that, a process. I think that if God layed all answers and understanding on us at once, our head would explode. So it's a learning process and takes time. That's probably why scripture tells us that we must become as a child to learn how to receive these things. It's basically a re-education and we start out in kindergarten. A kindergartner knows nothing except to hold onto daddy's hand and trust Him to protect us. Look for anything in this that would turn it into a positive, a learning experience, for therein will be your hope.

Scripture tells us that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. You got that that brother, that's apparent. So the Lord is very much so working in your life and it shows. Before you learn to be able to have peace, you have to put your faith into Him. Faith is a choice, not something that comes after you understand it all. It's not an easy ride, but you must learn to be able to trust Him. He promises that He will not put more upon you that you can bear.

He's looking for obedience. He wants to see effort on your part in some way. You will mess up. He knows this and forgave you before you were born. No one can snatch you from His hand. So what to do? Try. Pray. Read the Word. Give it time to come to fruition. We think we know it all but really have little clue. Don't lean on your understanding, for your understanding will tell you to have a defeatist attitude. Instead, stand on His Word and promises and wait. Occupy your time with an effort to learn His ways through His Word and drop everything else in His lap.

You're coming under spiritual attack brother. The enemy doesnt want you seek God or to grow in Christ. So he's throwing everything at you to create doubt and fear within you. At these times it is essential for you to believe. Do not give up trusting in Him and He will see you through it because He does not lie.

Your story reminds me of a similar story in 2nd Kings, Elisha and his servant.

2 Kings 6: 14-15
14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?.../

They got up early and looked out the window to see that the enemy had surrounded them, a whole army. Uh-Oh, what do we do now?! Elisha took it in stride being more mature than the servant,

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.../

I can imagine the servants reaction to such a casual response, ""Say what?! they've got us surrounded, they're revving up their tank engines and are about to attack!!"
But Elisha, having a strong faith in God wasn't rattled. He understood that the servant was less mature and could not see the truths of the protection from God...

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.../

and so it was. God protected them according to their faith and prayers.

The Lord is not slack brother, in keeping His promises. Cling to the Lord and believe that He will see you through the times of trouble and doubt. The best thing that you can do is to read and pray and refuse to give up your faith in Him.

Ok, so perhaps you can't see the company of protection around you. (I can't either)...but it is there and keep this in mind;

John 20:29
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed./

 

[Brother Mike]

I'm having a really hard time with stress as a Christian, and I don't mean stress induced by every day life. I mean stress that comes purely from believing the Bible. I know one of the fruits of the Spirit is peace , but I honestly have no clue how I'm supposed to be at peace.

The Bible tells us plainly that we are in a war. I'm stressed from the moment I get out of bed in the morning until the moment I fall asleep at night, because I believe that every thought, word, and deed has eternal consequences. Gods Word tell us that most people go to hell. I have NOT had complete victory over sin, and to be honest, I don't know that I ever will.

I 'm also a bit obsessive compulsive, so I can't have the simple pleasures in life like a bowl of ice cream, because that will inevitably lead to gluttony. I can't have a beer, because that will turn into drunkenness, fast food is also out of the question for me. Can't watch TV or play video games, because they are loaded with occult satanic themes, and mind control.

I fell away from the faith in late 2013, and I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I just couldn't handle the stress. About two months ago, the Lord pulled me back into the fold, and now all the stress and anxiety has returned.

Let me guess, the Lord pulled you back though fear of eternal torment and consequences. Would that be correct?

 

[Nordica]

SPP, seems you are guilt-ridden and in bondage.
Firstly, you should come down to your knees and ask the Lord to forgive your sins: walking away from Him, lust, etc. Name every sin and repent. It's good to ask the Holy Spirit to remind you the roots of each sin, so you could repent and say out loud that you take the basis for that sin away, so satan's strongholds would be destroyed.
It would be also good if you confessed your sins in front of a trusted brother in Christ; this helps to cleanse one heart and heal one spiritually. (It's good to do that from time to time).
Your position towards sin should be - I am dead to sin (Study the book of Romans chapters 6,7,8). Proclaim that you are dead to sin out loud and believe. It would be strange at first, but then you would gradually feel more and more freedom. If something bothers you, repent and move on. It's good that you monitor what you see and the kind of information that you get, but you shouldn't hide from everything completely. Pray and ask the Lord, so He would show you why you got yourself into such bondage. Where do these feelings come from? Certainly not from God. Don't let the devil eat you up with guilt and fear as it's his tactics. Also, you shouldn't wrestle with sin, it's futile. We can't defeat sin with our human efforts, we need God's grace. Jesus Christ died for us, so your old self died with Him, and ressurected in order for us to get a new self.
BTW, have you been baptized?

 

[Brother Mike]

Your position towards sin should be - I am dead to sin (Study the book of Romans chapters 6,7,8). Proclaim that you are dead to sin out loud and believe.

There's a concept you don't see much. Take the Living Word of God, find out what God said. Jesus said what measure you meet to that, it will be measured back to you in the measure you gave the Word. (Mark 4) There is power in the Word to those who will believe and activate by faith to accomplish what God said. Power to save the soul (James 1) Power to transform our minds (Rom 12) Power to change any physical circumstance as the spoken Word created the physical, and can make right as God intended (Isa 55).

Pray for me, pray for me they say, and there is power to create and grow a mustard seed laying on the coffee table that will move mountains, and pluck trees up casting them into the sea.

I am dead to sin, sin has no power over me. I will not live in fear of falling, for I have a advocate and high priest always making intercessions for me. I don't have faith in sinning but I have faith in the one that provides a way out of any situation that my be sin for me.God will not stop the Work He started in me. If my thinking is not perfect, even God shall reveal these things to me. (Php 1:6) (Php 3:15)

I am what the Word says I am, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, I can have what the Word says I can have, not a sad day, a broke day, a sick day, and sin day, but in all these things I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus, God's Word never failing in any place in my life.

Nordica's advice will get the bills paid, get you healed, and get the family back together. Believe, speak. Be ready to follow direction by the Holy Spirit.

Mike

 

[SPP]

Thank you everybody for your replies! I found them to be really well thought out, and I wanted to let you all know that I appreciate it.

Feeling a bit better already.

God bless you guys.

 

[Kenny_ms]

I 'm also a bit obsessive compulsive,

As I read your post and before I got to that part, FWIW anyway, there seemed to be an unusual issue at work here and maybe that's it...maybe. I would pray about that one along with whatever else you feel necessary.

I occasionally get obsessed in my mind with things like lust/hate and these are things that can be acted upon within the mind. I figure all I can do it keep telling my self to stop thinking what I'm thinking, until I've trained myself to not think it. There are also other things one can do to get things out of their head, like doing things to keep our mind off things or not doing what triggers the thoughts. Seems over simplified, I know, but how can God expect us to do anything more than try? And we will get it after awhile or we'll at least be measurably better than before as we move on. The main thing is, just DON'T GIVE UP. I think when God sees that attitude, that we have made up our minds "doesn't matter, whatever it takes, I'm not going anywhere, here to stay no matter, so figure it out" it makes a huge difference in how he sees how we act and for that matter, how much he may help but do pray for that help with whatever problem you have still.

I don't go to the beach BTW, and probably a good thing for me...seems, once we get so old they aren't looking back, it kinda defeats the purpose, lol

Always remember too, whatever we do is forgivable so, If worse comes to worse, well, it can't actually come to worst, because all we need do is ask for forgiveness, if we do, he is just and faithful to forgive our sins, repent, keep on sincerely trying and move on. With that in mind, how can we fail?

SBB, I understand the sentiment you proffer. I was there before and liken it to a chess game where I am in a bad way and almost any move I make, I will lose material on. However, it's like they say, it aint over till its over. There's been many a chess game where I started with many blunders but hung in there and eventually won the game.

Good analogy and as with any game, we get better with time if we keep on practicing and allow no quiddit.

 

[childeye]

You can't eat, go to the beach, watch tv, because you will lust? No wonder you're stressed. You have a devil. You have a false image of god ruling in your conscience and it is defiled because of it. Your reasoning is going to be self defeating, hence your predicament. You need to ask yourself if by doing whatever you're doing, you are not doing unto others as you would want done to you. Then you need to answer honestly. Notice the spiritual changes you will feel as you answer and are convinced you've done nothing wrong.

Satan can make anything wrong. It is the mark of wickedness. Once he gets you to think you're lusting because you are attracted to the opposite sex, he then gets you to condemn others for looking where you will not, but secretly wish you could. Then you begin to judge others after the flesh. God sees all knows all. You don't have to hide your nakedness from Him. So Just walk in Love/empathy, and not judgment.


Matthew 7:1-2King James Version (KJV)
7 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

you shouldn't wrestle with sin, it's futile. We can't defeat sin with our human efforts, we need God's grace.

When I'm defeated by sin, I mean really defeated, I plop down before God in prayer and just tell him I'm helpless, I'm defeated and can't go another step in the right direction. His grace meets me and I find a renewed strength and power to rise up and face the day knowing God loves me and cares deeply about my helpless state. That grace is what teaches us "to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:12 NASB). The more you experience the loving grace of God in your honest weakness the more power over sin you begin to have.

 

[Angel]

Hello friend.

*take a deep breath, and exhale*

Are you trying to save yourself from your sins? Isolation would be boring, I think. If you are *tempted* to sin, all you have to do is turn your back and walk the other way. And I think you are already practicing that. But I think you are taking it a little bit too far.

There are very wholesome movies you can watch. Maybe try older movies, black and white, back when there wasn't the offensive things they do today. You can play sports! You can listen to Christian music and go on walks. I assume you go to Church? Have them over for dinner, play board games, play cards. If you are watching TV and something offensive comes on change the channel or turn the TV off. But don't banish all things because that's legalism, and let me tell you, legalism stinks.

I'll tell you what one of my best friends tells me all the time, "Don't be so hard on yourself!"

Dear Father, SSP is really stressed out. He is trying so hard to please you, and I know that you love him dearly. Please touch his body, and just release him. Give him your grace. Let your Spirit descend on him, body, soul, and spirit. Free him from feeling like he has to do all these things that are making him so uptight. Have mercy God. Bless him with TRUE peace. Protect him. In Jesus name, may he be rid of all things that are giving him unnecessary stress. Amen.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Despite my warnings, all of my family members, co-workers, and friends seem to be firmly on their way to eternal suffering. The Bible tells us to be fruitful and multiply, but what is the incentive to bringing children into the world when we know that most of them (statistically speaking) with suffer eternal torment? Why run the risk?

The Bible does say that, but it also endorses the idea that if one can stand to remain single that it might be best for them because it can be a distraction from serving God. It's not a commandment and the apostle Paul made it clear that it was mainly his opinion, but the fact that it's still in the Bible gives it some credibility I'd think. So you don't have to reproduce if you don't want to.
Would also say that with the population at billions that that "multiply" commandment probably isn't directed at us today anyway.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Doesn't look like anyone's shared this verse yet:
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."
~Hebrews 4:15 ESV

We don't serve a God who's sitting on the edge of His seat just waiting for an excuse to throw us into Hell