Cleaning house

When I became a Christian I felt the uncontrollable urge to get ride of a lot of things; I wanted to clean house.

I got rid of numerous music CDs, some movies, books, statues, art, and miscellaneous things.

I felt like the people mentioned in Acts 19:

Acts 19:17-21
17And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

I felt like I needed to get rid of some things that were holding me back. I don't really have an explanation for why, but I believe the Holy Spirit of God led me to get rid of things that would hold me back.

Next, the Holy Spirit began working with me. He clearly had a gameplan as to which things needed to be removed first, and which order, to make my sanctification on Earth more effective.

I think living holy is a process that requires prerequisite changes before other changes can occur.

To those Jews and Gentiles mentioned in Acts 19, who believed in Christ, confessed, and showed their deeds it was a matter of getting rid of the books about "curious arts." Most Bible versions seem to specify that books about "curious arts" is a reference to magic/sorcerery books.

Before the Holy Spirit can address the root cause maybe it's necessary sometimes to clean house a little bit. Then He can address the root causes rather than the symptoms.

That is my experience that I'm still experiencing to this very day.

Ever experience anything like that?

Curious . . . did you clean house with your friends? That's the hardest part.

I ended up losing people I was calling friends and gained new friends.

"The clean have no fellowship with the unclean"

Thank you for sharing your story. I am sure that she will become an example and motivation for many people to start changing their lives. I think that the material world affects the spiritual state of any person. If a person lives in a dirty apartment littered with unnecessary things, he will not be able to clear his mind.

Man am I thrilled to read your post!!!!!!!...Should hit me like that arrow hit an OT king. Ony not kill me. Real strange, did not notice who posted till later!!!!!

"Cleaning house" may demonstrate getting our hearts right to receive from Him.

It's a thing for those who have gone on mission trips to poorer nations. When you realize how much junk you own...

1st world luxuries are a burden most don't know they have. We all have tons of junk. And it's questionable as to who owns what. Does the junk own you or vice versa?

If there's stuff in your home or garage that you haven't used in a year or more...why are you still keeping it?

The dust collectors on the mantle....why?

Not saying that we need a life separate from ALL worldly possessions. But the clutter certainly doesn't help us live.

We have too often squandered our monetary blessings on wood, hay, and stubble, not on that which is eternal, now we can repent and turn.

See what you started. Hope you are happy!!!!....Not spring yet.

I had many things I got rid of. Books, music discs, some art, some games. I had owned a cross or two with a figure on it who was supposed to represent Jesus and I got rid of those too. Why did it get rid of them? Jesus isn’t on the cross anymore. I am not opposed to crosses otherwise.

I had some statues as well. I never have believed in idol worship so those things were just ornamental to me.

However, these kind of things attract demonic activity in the unseen realm. Most people are completely oblivious to this stuff and know it exists in theory, but don’t know how to perceive it. Unfortunately, of fortunately perhaps, I do. It’s a blessing and a burden.

I also changed many behaviors as well.

This is the first time I ever heard that demons would be attracted by certain items. Is there scriptural proof of this and is there scriptural admonish regarding the disposition of certain kinds of 'religious' items?

Yoga positions attract the demonic as well, thus there is NO such thing as "Christian" yoga.

Sin attracts demonic possession or oppression. Certain items related to sin just create convenient bait for them to use as lures for temptation. It’s like giving the devil a foothold. I don’t know if there are verses for that. This is just my experience. Let me research it a bit and see what I can find.

Perhaps this? These things Paul is mentioning can give the devil a foothold.

Ephesians 4
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

I would appreciate that since I possibly still have some religious type items. I got rid of some items but now you have me a bit concerned after seeing your post regarding this. Some of the items were purchased not for any religious purpose. Some were purchased for uniqueness and some as antiquities. Possibly pre-Colombian in some cases.

Not certain but possibly genuine and of fairly high value. Only one piece was ever evaluated professionally by Butterfield and Butterfield in LA years ago and while they claimed it to be a high-quality copy valued at several hundred dollars I am skeptical of their certainty that the piece is a copy. The appraisal of these types of items is not clear cut and often mistakes are made. That piece however is not likely a religious piece. But others I have may have been intentionally made as 'ceremonial' objects. Never had those pieces appraised.

Yoga is getting to be a 'common' practice offered by healthcare providers here. The healthcare provider I had just switched from has a facility near me which offered 'yoga'. I only do pushups and sit-ups at home so never use any healthcare provided services. Public Broadcast channels also encourage 'yoga'. Maybe you are right about demonic influence from this.

I've most definitely had similar experiences.

If we don't deal with the things that the Lord prompts us to deal with, then they'll inevitably come back to haunt us.

ALL things are new in Him

I did get rid of many things also. As well as crosses.
When I was radically converted (in the club one night and by 7 the next night I was changed) I experienced much warfare from the moment that I received the Gospel.
It felt like a spiritual tornado was going on in my home. I would pray and heard the LORD say "there is something dangerous in your home". This went on for a couple of weeks and I just kept purging. Finally, I became exasperated and thought to just burn the whole house down. LOL.
We went out of town, as I was not the only one experiencing this, but my husband and children also were fearful and uncomfortable in the house. We spent the night about an hour away from home and were still experiencing distress. Not to the degree as in the home, but still something was wrong.
After arriving home, realizing we could not run from this, in exasperation, I closed my eyes and leaned upon the hall entrance from the living room. I prayed (finally, asking specifically) "LORD what is it?". As I opened my eyes and turned toward the entertainment center my eyes fell upon 2 teak wood elephants. I experienced this "Duhm Duhm" (like a drum) in my being and a peace that I had found what was wrong.
I told my husband "It's those.". He asked why. I said, " I don't know, I only know they Have to Go!". (I really liked these things) As I went, I heard the LORD ask, "Why do you have these?". I said," Because they remind me of wisdom.". Then He said, "You shall have no other gods before me."
I was shocked! Then I heard "You shall not make unto yourself any graven image." I threw them into the firepit and worshipped God. I was in complete awe. I came in and told my husband what the LORD told me, and he informed me that in the past week he was seeking GOD and that he felt many times led to the elephants as the source of the trouble in our home but could not figure out how those could cause the problem and he knew that I liked them, confirming the Word of the LORD.
I then looked down the hall and say a collage of crosses I had hung in my hall. I felt that the LORD was putting His finger on those too.
I was so scared. I wasn't sure if I was really being led by the LORD.
I took the crosses down and set them out in the garage and began praying to be sure that I was not being misled. I had peace, but was so new in my walk and under so much with the warfare.
They sat out there until I finally realized that I did not have peace that I had obey. So, I took them and prayed that the LORD would please help me if I was doing wrong, and I placed them carefully in the trashcan to be taken to the street. I had peace, but was still some perplexed.
I then began to do some research on history in various areas of church history and found that it was Constantine's mother that brought the cross and relic worship into the early church.
It is truly amazing how much of our present-day church does not resemble the blueprint Christ left us with.