Thanks for adding that point, Tom.

Before I became the Lord’s, while I was still ‘mine own’, I was 23. A third generation Adventist, baptized, well indoctrinated and fully engaged. I longed for, well, a number of things. I wanted a wife, but I did not want to get one myself; I wanted the Lord to give me one. The other was: I wished I could settle the question about salvation, so I would not be afraid; but tied in with that fear was the fact that I did not have any victory over sin, neither did anybody else that I knew. Gritting my teeth and clenching my fists did not do it. Believing that Christ died to pay the penalty did not help. Getting busy in all church activities (leading out in many) did not help either.

So I had been praying for several years for a wife, and waiting for the Lord to answer. It was not that there were no girls, or that there were no girls that I liked. There were, and this added to the torment of waiting on the Lord. I contemplated of whether I should just go it on my own. Everybody else seemed to do so. But I had made a promise when I was young (6 years old), that I would ask the Lord. And I felt that to break that promise was to break all.

So why was not God answering? Surely he knows, so what is the problem? Silence, and more silence. I had been a TV technician so got to watch enough TV. We watched one at home that I had made in my study course. Let’s just say that what they showed back in the seventies on TV was not half as bad as what is on it today. We watched what you would call the better stuff; you know, selectively; took some 2-3 hours a day to see it, sometimes 3-4, maybe more; but never on Friday nights or Sabbath. You know how it is. Then after we are well ‘fed’ by it, I would go to my room, ready to fall into bed, but before going to bed I must and do pray for a wife, and not forget all my failures. In the morning also I must and do pray for guidance and strength for the day, and for blessings. Well those prayers were more wishful thinking than anything else, but it was also the cry of my soul. Thus one day followed another till it had been some 6 years of this.

One day I thought about this situation, and I decided I had to get through to God somehow. This business about praying and silence just isn’t going anywhere. So after my conventional diet of TV, I went to my room, and now I was going to be serious about gaining audience with the Lord. So in my most pious way I proceeded to pray on my knees. I didn’t get very far, when I started thinking about something on TV. I followed that movie for a while until I realized what I was doing. I shook myself and reset myself to pray seriously now. I began anew with determination, but was quite disturbed after discovering myself to have gone again thinking some other movie of some years ago. This was disturbing. I began anew with great determination and effort of concentration. I was chagrined when I found myself again meditating on another TV program. It was then I heard the Lord speak to me for the first time, and he said: “Choose John; what do you want”!

I was shocked, stunned and thrilled, I knew what it meant. It was TV or God. That was the last time I watched TV. It was the most blessed experience. I now had 2-3 or 3-4 or more hours a day free to spend in audience with the Lord. Almost overnight, my life of failure became a life of victory. God was talking with me, through his word, he would put his finger on this or that in my life, and there was power and victory. The mess in my mind was unraveling.

Now when I went to pray or sit or work I felt I had the audience of the Lord at all times, but the free times were the most precious. That free time which belonged to TV before, now was the special meeting time with the Lord.

I still had problems with my mind wandering during the following six months, and I frequently went to pray. I had an open bible in front of me while I worked, and dwelt on it, when I would find my mind wander I would read something until my mind would be re-established. Sometimes I just had to stop and pray. It was the battle of and for my mind. It was the battle of and for my heart. In the evening I often needed something to help keep my mind while relaxing. I remember two records, Jimmy Rhodes on piano and Barron Brothers. These songs became mine, the songs of my heart, the prayer of mine heart, something to rest my mind.

What you put in, is what you get out. What you sow, you shall reap. I never knew the impact TV had. It was just entertainment; I knew it was all made up; but it was interesting. Of course, I would not take anything on it for serious, much less live like it. Sort of, you’d say time to relax, time off; nothing bad (nothing bad that I would do, oh yes they on TV would do bad things, but not me, no, no, I was just watching). Yet the enemy was weaving the web of dullness, inculcating worldly principles and spirit, and disabling all spiritual inclination. Same thing with the continuous rambling of music; it is amazing how people cannot stand quiet; quiet is very disquieting to the carnal mind.

Within about a year, by the sustaining presence of the Lord I regained control of my mind, so that it would not wander, but stay on him. I began to appreciate quietness when I could commune with God undisturbed.

Well I have rambled on, but I will stop here. I just thought to share my experience with TV and radio and what the Lord had done. However it was rather the experience with the Lord in the aftermath of TV.

I look back at that time when the Lord entered and TV left as the time of liberation; the time when I began to live. There was no room for both. But I say it is the audience with the Lord that you'd want, and the rest you'll find out.

Oh yes, he did choose me a wife, and so much more than had ever entered my thought before.

Thanks John, what you share really could strengthen my faith that doing business Christ way can be done even though might be difficult in this time of corrupt. And your spiritual experiences with God admire me. I have such experiences long time ago when I still sailed in merchant vessels round the world, i.e. expelled demon spirit from my sailor, stops cyclones crossing our way otherwise our vessel might capsize. These spiritual experiences happened when I fully surrendered my life to God in faith (I was just baptized in 1982 and lived in Christ for a couple of years). I really believe when we live in Christ through faith, whatever we asked he would answer it if what we asked is not for self exaltation and we can handle it Christ’ way.

The problem now with me, I have wandered too long in the flesh, I lost those sights and faith once is with me, but on the other hand I knew much more about God and the truth of the Gospel. So, presently I am trying to live a surrendered life even it fails from time to time. But at least I had left behind almost all of my past habit (smoking 3 packs cigarette a day, gambling, night life) and start to go to church again.

I think, a modern Christ would not compromise with parties, night life, funky life, beverages, bribery, unpaid tax, unfair competition, etc, etc.

In His love

James S

Many Christ believers were lost at the end, not particularly because of their unbelief but mostly because they could not stop living for the flesh.

Is this true?

Gods of the end of time (and I believe we are living at the end of time) has taken people attention more than the cross of Christ. (Lust for) Money, (Lust for) Power, (Lust for) Fame and (Lust for) the Flesh are the gods of the world, who works against the God of heaven.

Surely it must be of something very special that might attract their attention to stop living for the flesh and start living for God.

What would that be?

The Gospel? The Law? The Cross? Hell?

Living for the flesh is greater than the love for self, because to satisfy what the flesh desires, many people died knowingly or unknowingly; better die than stop feeding what the flesh need.

It is really amazing to watch people died or following the way of death meanwhile claiming they are Christ’ believers. What makes these “modern Christ” choose the flesh rather than the Spirit? And what would be our part to affect their choices?

In His love

James S

James,

I believe the answere to your question is and has always been the gospel of the cross. The good news that God became man and came to earth to bring its inhabitants back to himself, even trough the unthinkable torture a roman cross inflickts.

/Thomas

Yes, I think so, but from where does we start?

And I still try to find out why satisfying the lust of the flesh is such a greater desire than the desire to stay alive for self loving people. If they love their self more than others why killing them selves just for the sake of their lust?

In His love

James S

Where is my God? Do I have a living God or a deaf one on vacation?

When I come to this situation, it's really enticing to freshen the mind with 4-5 bottles of cold beer, got a little drunk, live chatting and dancing with pretty girls in a closeby bar/cafe here.

Is this okkay for a modern Christ? Just when this situation arise?

In His love

James S

No one support the idea then I guess the answer is no.

In His love

James S

James, the lusts of the flesh only appeal to people who are not fully converted.

TM 440, 441
Has your character been transformed? Has darkness been exchanged for light, the love of sin for the love of purity and holiness? Have you been converted, who are engaged in teaching the truth to others? Has there been in you a thorough, radical change? Have you woven Christ into your character? You need not be in uncertainty in this matter. Has the Sun of Righteousness risen and been shining in your soul? If so, you know it; and if you do not know whether you are converted or not, never preach another discourse from the pulpit until you do. How can you lead souls to the fountain of life of which you have not drunk yourself? Are you a sham, or are you really a son of God? Are you serving God, or are you serving idols? Are you transformed by the Spirit of God, or are you yet dead in your trespasses and sins? To be sons of God means more than many dream of, because they have not been converted. Men are weighed in the balance and found wanting when they are living in the practice of any known sin. It is the privilege of every son of God to be a true Christian moment by moment; then he has all heaven enlisted on his side. He has Christ abiding in his heart by faith. {TM 440.2}

A soul united with Christ, eating His flesh and drinking His blood, in accepting and living by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God will war against all transgression and every approach of sin. He becomes every day more like a bright and shining light, and more victorious. He goes on from strength to strength, not from weakness to weakness. {TM 441.1}

Let no one deceive his own soul in this matter. If you harbor pride, self-esteem, a love for the supremacy, vainglory, unholy ambition, murmuring, discontent, bitterness, evil speaking, lying, deception, slandering, you have not Christ abiding in your heart, and the evidence shows that you have the mind and character of Satan, not of Jesus Christ, who was meek and lowly of heart. You must have a Christian character that will stand. You may have good intentions, good impulses, can speak the truth understandingly, but you are not fit for the kingdom of heaven. Your character has in it base material, which destroys the value of the gold. You have not reached the standard. The impress of the divine is not upon you. The furnace fires would consume you, because you are worthless, counterfeit gold. {TM 441.2}

There must be thorough conversions among those who claim to believe the truth, or they will fall in the day of trial. God's people must reach a high standard. They must be a holy nation, a peculiar people, a chosen generation--zealous of good works. {TM 441.3}