Influences on Christian Life

Influence of Internet Influence of Friends Influence of Materialism

By: Godly Abraham/Abey Thomas Borivali Brethren Assembly

Influence of the Electronic Media: The Internet

Various forms of modern day Media Internet (Most influential due to its power and reach with over 1 billion around the world who have access to the Internet) Mobile TV Internet Complex Interconnected web of computers which stores and distribute knowledge. Dan 12:4: Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase. - Moore Law: Knowledge will double in 18 months - Why is the Internet so powerful? -The power of knitting human cultures and languages thus combining ability of human beings that lends it power. - Gen 11:1-5: Internet in many ways similar to the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-5). - Mark 1:16-20: Peter, John and James buzy with the Net while the Lord was calling them. The Web or the Net can make your buzy while the Lord is calling you.

Influence of the Electronic Media: The Internet

How can the Internet be used by Christians?

Sharing Christian Resources: Personal exp of going through sermons, ideas, thoughts and messages gives you tremendous insight into what the Lord is speaking to his saints around the world.

Contact details of Christian saints and assemblies when you travel to new places. (Borivali Assembly)
Internet can be used by family members to maintain contact and often exhort each other. Internet being the cheapest method of communication is a good tool to use to maintain contact.

Influence of the Electronic Media: The Internet

How the Internet should not be used?

For making anonymous friends Jeremiah 1:5 , Jude 1, 1 Cor 6:11: We are Set apart for God purpose 1 Pet 1:2: Sanctified people not to mingle our personal lives with unbelievers Internet should never be used to share your private life with unbelievers. 1 Cor 6:14 Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Never to be used to access information regarding morally degrading and corrupt practices like pornography and gambling. Eph 5:8: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

Influence of the Electronic Media: The Internet

Facebook: A specific example of Internet entangling Youngsters

The more I see some Christian believers Facebook comments, the more we should be concerned with a holy anger at how the works of darkness are quietly but surely taking control of youngsters lives.
We are set apart and sanctified. Kings and priests in the sight of God and we are the Sons of the almighty God. May our conduct and may our deeds be such that they stand to the highest standards of the Living God. Facebook: Integrates our personal lives with those of the unbelievers. How can you share your private life with unbelievers? Set apart to be kings to reign in his Kingdom ( Rev 5:9-10) Sanctified to be Priests in his Kingdom (Rev 1:5,6) Lord in the upper room closed the room (John 19) Mathew 6:6 close the door while praying Summary: Do not Denigrate your Designation Do not waste your time in needless commenting and integrating with the rest of the world on social networking

Influence of Friends

Friends
Acquaintance
Definition: People who you know but
are not close to them. You would not be sharing a family dinner with them probably. Shallow in emotion and bonds. Ex: Neighbors, School friends, Work friends and other contacts. Your are not rude to them but help them when they are in need.

Close Friends
Definition: People who share a close
bond with you and people with whom you share a lot of time. People who care for their welfare Ex: Intimate friends

Believers

Unbelievers

Influence of Friends
Acquaintance Should we have Acquaintance? Yes!
Mark 2:17: Lord answer about his interaction with Tax Collector Man is social creature and therefore needs to coexist with others. Luke 6:27: Love your enemies Mark 12:31: Love your neighbor Mathew 5:13: Salt of the earth and therefore we have to maintain our acquaintances Mathew 5:16: Be a testimony to our acquaintances. 2 Tim 2:24-26: We are not supposed to quarrel but maintain relationships

Close Friends
Believers: Should we have believers as our close friends? Yes! Act 2:42, Psalm 133:1: Imp of fellowship John 13:34: Love another No believer with whom you know should be an acquaintance but he should be one for whom you share a bond Unbelievers: Should we have unbelievers as our close friends? NO! Amos 3:3 1Tim 4:12 2 Cor 6:14 1 Cor 15:33 Unbelievers as your Close friend is a strict NO while no believer should ever be just an acquaintance.

Influence of Friends

FAQs What is the purpose of unbelievers as our Friends? They are our mission field. God wants us to publish the gospel to them. So does becoming a Christian mean I have to lose my friends? When many of your friends know your higher standards of holiness and truthfulness and they see the deeds of holy spirit in you, they will leave you. You dont have to leave them! So did Jesus have unbelievers as his friends? Was he ever unequally yoked with them? Jesus was never hanging out with Pharisees, Sadducees and all the evil doers. His meetings with them were always purpose and business driven. How do we deal with our friends from now? 1 Pet 2:9: Kings & Priests in his presence. Rom 8:17: We are heirs to his glorious Kingdom. Why do we need to spend time in worthless deeds. What do we have in common with unbelievers? Have Unbelievers as your acquaintances but never as close friends.

Influence of Money/Materialism
Materialism and Christianity are poles apart
2 Tim 3:1-5: lovers of money Mat 6:24: No one can serve both God and Money Mat 6: 19-34 1 John 2:15: Do not love the things of this world. We are to be de-attached from money (go and sell all his possessions and give them to the poor Math 19:16-22)

Materialism is dangerous!
Addictive: 1 Tim 6:9-10: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs It Moulds you: Rom 12:2: Do not be conformed to the things of this world Increases Hunger: Eccl 5:10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. Betrays the Lord: Mat 27:3-5 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, .

Influence of Money
Lord won the battle over Money!
The power of Money was destroyed by Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary: Col 2:13-15. Exousia which is the powers of the money, violence, politics and religion. Col 1:13,14: he has delivered us from exousia of darkness. Eph 1:18-23: . these are in accordance with the working of the strength (energeian) of His might (kratos), which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule (arche) and authority (exousia) and power (dunamis) and dominion (kuriotetos), and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His Body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.

and therefore Money has no influence over me !

"Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?'" (Heb. 13:4,6) "Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, lest I be full and deny Thee and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or lest I be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God." (Proverbs 30:8,9)

Influence of Money
Summary
Influence of Electronic Media Internet is the very sign of the devil: A modern day babel Social Networking sites are a colossal waste of time We are not to share our private life with unbelievers. Influence of Friends Acquaintance and Close friends Maintain Acquaintance to whom you witness Unbelievers as close friends are a strict No! Influence of Money Use Money for the glory of God. A noble deed would be to gift your money for the work of the Lord Lord won the battle over Money

Presentation can accessed at the website of Borivali Brethren Aseembly @ www.borivaliassembly.net