Do you ever wonder if you're really saved judging by your behavior??
I sometimes wonder that and I also wonder if I actually believe what I say to be true...that God loves me more than anything...I believe I am fearfully and wonderfully made....I do believe that but I find it hard to accept how precious I am to God...it sometimes helps me to imagine God as a human in Heaven...is that wrong??
I don't think I have any gifts, I got prayed for to be baptised in the Holy Spirit but I didn't feel anything - I know things only happen for some people but its like, I feel like I have a spiritual block in my life and its really getting me down....
Help!
2007-01-29 21:15:43 · 14 answers · asked by Bridezilla 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You are saved since you trusted in Jesus. Romans 10:9-10
God loves you just as He loves Jesus. John 14:21
God is able to do for us more than we ask or imagine: Eph 3:30
Our minds and emotions get influenced by things we were
taught when we were brought up, things others say, our own
mood swings, etc.
According to the Bible there are a whole array of angels
and demons who feed negativity into our thoughts and feelings,
often through others, who are unwitting agents.
(Non-believers don't credit their existence.)
We tackle it by putting on the armour of God, an analogy
describing how to tackle the spiritual warfare against us,
see Ephesians 6:10-18. Theres lot of teaching on that, and you can learn more from more good teachers. Im trying to learn it myself at the moment, but am slow to get it working in my
life, I'm further up the path now than I was.
eg
The Breastplate of Rightousness - you're righteous with Jesus' righteousness legally in God sight; Romans 8:1. God won't condemn you at all, and if you feel condemned its not Him.
Also prayer, and the Word of God (Bible), which keep you abiding
in your relationship with God. I didnt read the bible much for
years; that was foolish of me. I was the stressed with worry,
and unproductive ground described in Mark 4.
Shield of faith: flaming arrows, eg nasty thoughts, come against
us, but we are shielded by our faith (which is developed through
the bible, faith, church etc)
There's also Sword of the Spirit. Thats God speaking to us
directly I think, supplying Gods wisdom to an immediate
situation. People have to really know the Bible well to
get to that, and have to also know Gods character so they
can detect what comes from our mind or some other spirit,
since like in Jesus' temptation Satan tries to put suggestions
to us that look reasonable, even using bible words.
Having this operational in my life is beyond me currently.
...imagining God as a human. Thats OK, but you can ask
Jesus to give you a more complete, fuller picture, and that
will gradually come to you.
Jesus came in part as a man because its so hard for people to
relate to concepts that are infinite..he is the image of the
invisible God (Hebrews 1 or 2 I think.)
Our relationship with God is a walking from glory to
(more) glory, so we grow in our understanding in all areas,
as far as we dont lose hope and get sidetracked.
2007-01-30 08:18:07 · answer #1 · answered by Cader and Glyder scrambler 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You sound a lot like Martin Luther - the guy who invented evangelical christianity in the 16th century.
Do look up some of what he said on line - I think you'd really like him.
Basically you need to chill out - The thing that really helped Luther was to realise that it is God who will sort you out - what you think about him, what you do, how little we love him etc... all we have to do is let it happen in God's timing.
If you keep hanging out in places where God can speak to you - church, read Galatians or John's Gospel again, put on a Christian CD and sing along or write a letter from God to you... you probably know what he's saying to you more than you think you do.
If you're in the UK perhaps think about going to a Christian Conference in the summer - I'm involved with Soul Survivor (for teens and students) and New Wine (for all ages) and a lot of people find that they meet God in a way that gives them a real boost to their relationship with him and push them through to a new level.
God will finish the good work he's started in you!
Grace
x
2007-01-30 05:33:56 · answer #2 · answered by Grace 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can't tell by judging your behavior. If you've invited God to be a part of your life, and if you have a growing relationship, that's all that matters.
It often takes years to see the change. The seed starts small and grows slowly and steadily.
As for gifts, you don't just get them. You need to get involved with work, and you need to pick something you enjoy or want to do. The gifts will come when you need them.
2007-01-30 05:28:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paul said he was the worst of sinner. We all sin, but God is good & if we trust Him & put Him first in our lives we grow in our relationship with Him. You have gifts you just don't know them yet, give it time. I understand what you mean about a block, you may be trying to do too much changing a short time. I find that God has given me certain things in my life which I need to remove if I wish to draw nearer to Him. It's not by works we are saved It's by faith, but our actions still matter. Learn who Jesus truely is by reading the bible, & pray always. Ask Him to show you what you need to do to strengthen your relationship, then when you know what it is, do it, then He will show you something else, then do it. You will grow, if this is what you truely want Jesus will give it to you.
I will pray for you. And remember that Jesus loves you, He gave His live to save YOU.
2007-01-30 05:39:32 · answer #4 · answered by Jason 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi and thanks for the question. Just the fact you are writing it and awaiting answers speaks volumes about God's love for you and His amazing grace. Every day is an awesome gift from the One who created you and gave His only Son, Jesus, as a sin sacrifice to pay your sins and everyone elses. Although we will never be free from sinning while we're in the world, we can draw closer to righteousness by actively seeking to be like Jesus, the perfect unblemished Son of God who came to pay the price for the sins of the world. After all, Christ is the root of the word Christian. We can't truly profess to be a Christian unless we have committed ourselves to be like Him in every way. So if you don't feel anything in your heart, maybe you need to read any of the gospels in your bible and connect your life with Jesus. Make Him the treasure of your heart for He told us that "where your treasure is there your heart will be also." Make your treasure Jesus and find your way to eternal life for it's only through and by Him that you are saved, not by works. If you need anymore help, e-mail me at gods4all@aol.com. My name is Mark. God bless you.
2007-01-30 06:04:58 · answer #5 · answered by Mark C 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One's behavior is due to His/Her actions which he/she can control. Prayer can certainly help. We all need to continually read, study, and follow the FATHER's BOOK that was written for us. HE gave us a guide so that we would be able to find HIS TRUTH each and every day of our lives. We need to be uplifted daily by searching the scriptures. Those of the book of Acts were said to do so with one another and we should too. Keep the faith. Have a great day.
Eds
2007-01-30 06:58:08 · answer #6 · answered by Eds 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
works do not dictate our salvation. that's why we're constantly called hypocrites. i am a hypocrite, but isn't everyone else? we will never be perfect enough to stand in the presence of god, but that is his grace and mercy. through faith in jesus we can attain the unattainable. it is through the faith that your religious conviction should wear thin the sinful nature of our physical bodies, but it will never be gone.
i know that is the typical christian rhetoric, but that is what i believe. take it however you choose. because after all the prayer and dogma (or whatever you would call it), it is still your choice.
2007-01-30 05:33:48 · answer #7 · answered by alex l 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are missing all of the poetry because you are reading the prose.
Look at the main theme of "religion" including Christianity.
"Love one another" and forget the details as to whether there is a God , a Jesus, an Allah or a Budha.
2007-01-30 05:27:58 · answer #8 · answered by emiliosailez 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
look at the bright side! if your a christian you can walk around all day having a conversation with yourself and no body will try to put you in a nut house! try that if your not a christian and see what happens.. you gonna get a strait jacket! and prob some really good meds! lol
2007-01-30 05:41:40 · answer #9 · answered by Mike 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People are sinners and we're going to sin. The thing to do is ask for forgiveness when we do sin. Prayer is a wonderful thing. Ask the Good Lord to open your heart up to Jesus.
2007-01-30 05:28:36 · answer #10 · answered by tracy211968 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋