For the Christians out there...?

Question

I was reborn about three months ago and I sinned... won't get into details... but now at church I don't feel the spirit anymore and He used to use me all the time. Do you think He's punishing me or I am paranoid and just punishing myself from guilt? I wasnt to fix my relationship with God.

Ok, I am not mental or crzy or one of those wierdos on the streets screaming the end is coming or something.. I am bored at work and was thinking about what to wear to church sun and whatnot and I thought I'd check opinions. If you are going to talk trash, don't answer me. And for those who left heartfelt answers, I appreciate it.

HAha Mr Bateman although not what I was looking for you made me laugh out loud at my desk! Thanks for cheering me up :-)

Answer 1

Dont want to seem like i have all the answers, but i have been in your shoes...Someone told me once that God's always speaking to us its just a matter if we are tuned in to his "station"...like radio waves are all around us but they dont come through unless we are in tune to that particualr one...which is why people who aren't "filled with the spirit" think you are a "fruit-cake" like the one guy said...its easy to understand...its IMPOSSIBLE to understand it all unless you FEEL it and it souns like you did...The problem is that sinning causes that static in the signal....God is still and always will want whats best for you, loves, and cares for you and is speaking to you. But anything like guilt, low self esteem, or negative thoughts and actions cause his voice and that "spirit" to seem weak. God has forgiven murderers, rapists, prostitutes and theives...the Bible is filled with people that were wrong-doers that became some of the greatest success stories...thats why The Bible speaks of them so much...to let you know...nothing you can do will make God stop loving you...but since you did sin (which we all are born sinners and continue to do) you should come before God with your feelings, pray for forgiveness and do whatever you can in your life to help heal what you did wrong...things happen for a reason...sometimes "bad" things happen to good people for some greater reason...maybe you will help others through what you went through...I know this has happened to me....But just ask for forgiveness just as you would with a family member you hurt....you hurt God....luckily he is the most forgiving of us all!

Answer 2

EVERYONE sins. Don't feel alone. Even when you're reborn and trying to walk with the Lord situations are going to come before you that will test your faith and moral conscience. This is how God allows your character to develop to be strong and pure. Becoming a Christian is forever an on-going PROCESS and will be for your entire life. Being born again doesn't mean you're "done" like a roast in the oven or something. The more you learn the more there will be to learn. Don't be too hard on yourself. God is not a punishing God. He wants the best for you. He is your Father and realizes you're just a baby in your faith. He's not punishing you--you are punishing yourself. It's good to realize your mistake and turn from doing it again. Just like Jesus told the villagers who wanted to stone the prostitute to death for her sin, "Let the one of you who is without sin cast the first stone." All the people dropped their rocks and walked away. No one is without sin--no, not one as the Bible states.
As far as feeling the Spirit that can come and go. The secret is to keep up your studies and faith even in the times when you don't feel God near. In fact--those times are very important because we walk by faith--not by sight(or feelings either!) God is always there whether we feel He is or not.
Do your best. Be honest. Read the word and pray. Keep going to church. You WILL get that wonderful spirit-filled feeling again...I promise! Don't lose heart over this mistake. It's one of many you;ll make in your life. Just confess your sin to God and ask Him to forgive you. Then trust in Him that He has and move on.
You obviously love the Lord! Keep that love in the forefront of your life and, again, just do your very best.

Answer 3

God is viewed often as the "perfect parent."

A good parent is less interested in punishing, more interested in leading a child to repentance, a restored relationship, and helping them to grow to be the best sort of person they could be.

What you're going through now? You've only really lived in this "relationship with God" a short while (three months).

Remember any dating experiences -- where you would feel "in love" for awhile and then the feelings would go away and things got harder/normal? That didn't necessarily mean the relationship was bad, but it was a big emotional shift and often did not feel good.

What you are going through is probably a combination of things. For example, it's fear over having disappointed God (so you have guilt and expect punishment). It's also confusion over the strong feelings to WANT to please God to have disappeared enough that you find yourself doing things you know are wrong.

There's also this fun thing with "dealing with the sinful human nature," which the apostle Paul describes as doing the things we do not want to do, and not doing the things we want to do. While the first few months you probably felt a real zeal to serve God and were on a "spiritual high," chances are now that you've crashed and have to deal with daily spiritual life, which sometimes can feel like a real battle.

Sure, there's the real possibility that the things you've committed yourself to in lieu of God have "put a block" between him and you -- your commitments are divided.

I don't want to bog you down in too much thought. You said you want to fix your relationship, so you have the right intentions.

So accept that God wants to forgive and slowly see you mature. He also wants you involved with His story on earth, as one of the characters -- you have a part you can play and he will use you.

Pray and ask God for forgiveness for your sin, ask him to help you want to do better, and ask him to help you want him more than what you've chosen here.

Since you are young, find a mature Christian lady at your church -- check with your friends or someone else for a woman who can help steer you, share with you what it feels like to live for God on a daily basis, encourage you to keep going even when you don't feel like it, and who will stick by you even when you're feeling pretty crummy about things. Everyone needs advice from the older and wiser, a mentor to help explain things they haven't yet experienced; a guide really helps.

Just take things one day at a time. It takes awhile to change. What you go through isn't unlike what every other Christian goes through, no matter how old they are.

Answer 4

If you truly have a repentant heart and desire not to walk in that sin any more, then you are forgiven- You are very likely feeling guilty and condemning yourself. Satan is a liar and the accuser of the bretheren. You should talk with a pastor or a respected, spirit filled women's leader in the church- you dont have to go into details there either but confession and prayer will help you get back to where you need to be with the Lord.

Answer 5

When we sin, we break fellowship with God. I know how painful it is when you don't feel the spirit and everything seems wrong...but you need to take the first step and repent. Tell God how sorry you are and thank Him for always loving you.
Then you should probably find an older woman (who has been through it)and pray with her. I've been encouraged in the most amazing ways when God sends someone into your life to tell you that He loves you more than you can imagine.
May God bless you! I'll pray for you!

Answer 6

If you accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, then you are forgiven for your sins. All of them, past present and future. The fact that it bothers you so much when you do sin is proof of your salvation. If it did not bother you, I’d be concerned. Christ took the punishment for you, so no, you are not being punished, you are being disciplined by a loving God you wants you to do the right thing.

What you need to do is repent. If you harmed someone else in the process, make amends. Any then pray for guidance and the will to avoid sin in the future. Since you and I are, by our natures, sinful people, we will never rid ourselves of sin totally in this world. But we are called upon to work toward that goal. That is the process called “sanctification”.

Answer 7

God has said that "If we confess our sin, and turn from that sin, that He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness"! If you have done what He said to do, then you are forgiven and He has cast that sin into the "Sea of Forgetfullness"! It's as if it never happened, with the exception of the reaping that we sowed! I know, because I am still reaping seed I've sown, but I know that I am forgiven! A parent loves their child, and when the child does wrong, the parent still loves them, but say the child did something that broke the law! The parent can love them with all their heart, but the seed that they sowed will bring about having to face the consequence of their actions! God loves and forgives us, but He has put certain laws into action that cannot be broke! When we break those laws, we set ourselves up to having to face the penalty of those laws! The punishment that we do not have to face is the punishment of an eternity away from God! That is because Jesus came and paid that price of sinners having to go to hell, but if a person ignores that that price has been paid, they have nothing to keep them from having to pay personally for those sins! God provided us a way to freedom, but most would rather do it their way!
Are you still doing that sin, that you mentioned? If not, then you need to accept that you are forgiven! If so, then that may be why you are feeling that God's Spirit has gone! Having the name "Slutlana" says something in itself about where you are at! Why would you want to continue to use such a name? Is that who you are(and don't get angry! I'm not judging you) I'm trying to point out that 1: your name tells people that either you are one or you have low view of yourself! If you have a low view of yourself, that would cause you to have a hard time feeling forgiven! I think that you are still punishing yourself, and have not yet accepted God's Love and Forgiveness for yourself! If you are no longer doing that sin and have asked for forgiveness, than it is done! Lift your head up! You no longer need to be ashamed! But please, get rid of the name! :) God Bless! Levi([e-mail]) If you want to write!

Answer 8

Its a two way relationship, you can be forgiven and you can feel like you will be forgiven but only if you do your part or follow through from now on. Any reparations necessary of the past sin may be required but, all you have to do, is say from this day forward, 'I will or I promise you God ..... in return you God promise or covenant to forgive me and bless me'. And He will, I know first hand. We all make mistakes, even monkeys fall from trees, nobody is perfect. There has been only one perfect person and that was Jesus Christ, and it is He from whom we should seek our blessings and salvation. But don't kill yourself with the guilt, like I said nobody is perfect just start today! make a stronger commitiment and promise God that you'll do it from here on out and he'll bless you, guaranteed.

Answer 9

Okay here's the thing, when we sin, we draw ourselves further from the spirit of God, and it gets harder to have that spiritual inspiration. But, you probably are having the spiritual experience of feeling some godly sorrow, the good kind of guilt that leads to repentance (not the bad kind that leads to discouragement).

It's okay we all sin, and we all go through hills and valleys of being spiritually in-tuned. Just as long as over all, you're going upward, I wouldn't worry about it. You'll feel that spirit again, just give your heart some time to repent and heal.

best wishes.

Answer 10

Have you repented has a lot to do with it. Being reborn doesn't make you free from sins but it makes you free from the bondages and control of sin. Best bet is to regain that relationship with God. Pray, read your Bible, and really take time to talk to God. And by the way, God doesn't you, you punish you.