|
|
Post by Jeff G on Aug 22, 2019 13:38:38 GMT
Hi Chris - I wanted to clarify something. When you answered #6 above, you said "At this point it would take a miracle for me to believe." I guess I just wanted to know what you meant by this. Because it seems to me like you believe some basic facts about the Bible... Uh... it seems like you believe in hell at least, and it also seems like you believe in the God of the bible, you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world, and so on. Perhaps what you don't believe is that salvation is still available for you. Is that what you meant? (Perhaps I'm wrong about this)
I just thought that clarifying this would help me to understand your situation better.
|
|
|
|
Post by bucklerchris on Aug 27, 2019 0:58:10 GMT
Hi Chris - I wanted to clarify something. When you answered #6 above, you said "At this point it would take a miracle for me to believe." I guess I just wanted to know what you meant by this. Because it seems to me like you believe some basic facts about the Bible... Uh... it seems like you believe in hell at least, and it also seems like you believe in the God of the bible, you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world, and so on. Perhaps what you don't believe is that salvation is still available for you. Is that what you meant? (Perhaps I'm wrong about this) I just thought that clarifying this would help me to understand your situation better. I say that because I currently won't repent and believe. And if you reach that place where you see sin and self as being more glorious than Christ, and you are unwilling to submit to Him, after having previously professed faith and been baptized, and never being truly converted, then it is impossible to repent per Hebrews 6. And if it's impossible to repent, then it's impossible to be saved. Ergo, my opportunity is gone. Unless I can repent, I won't be saved. So I need to find a way to see Christ as being more glorious than my sin, not just as a get out of hell free card. So the question becomes how does someone who can't or won't submit to Christ find a way to submit? It's clear that it's my responsibility to do so, but it's impossible for me in this state. I'm basically just looking for a way to get out of hell. I thought I already was and was just content to live the way I wanted to live. I guess it's the end of the line then. Unless I can see the depth of my sin and see Christ as glorious, I'm in my sin. The question is how to make that happen because that's my responsibility. |
|
|
|
Post by waris on Aug 27, 2019 15:18:55 GMT
<admin edit>
Be nice! It's a rule.
|
|
|
|
Post by bucklerchris on Aug 27, 2019 21:29:54 GMT
I say that because I currently won't repent and believe. And if you reach that place where you see sin and self as being more glorious than Christ, and you are unwilling to submit to Him, after having previously professed faith and been baptized, and never being truly converted, then it is impossible to repent per Hebrews 6. And if it's impossible to repent, then it's impossible to be saved. Ergo, my opportunity is gone. Unless I can repent, I won't be saved. So I need to find a way to see Christ as being more glorious than my sin, not just as a get out of hell free card. So the question becomes how does someone who can't or won't submit to Christ find a way to submit? It's clear that it's my responsibility to do so, but it's impossible for me in this state. I'm basically just looking for a way to get out of hell. I thought I already was and was just content to live the way I wanted to live. I guess it's the end of the line then. Unless I can see the depth of my sin and see Christ as glorious, I'm in my sin. The question is how to make that happen because that's my responsibility. <admin edit> Deleted I do freely admit that I am very lost, yes. By, toward the advice that you gave me, this Sunday, I did do an act of kindness for some folks while I was out grocery shopping. I don't know if it did anything to my heart, but I did help out some folks while I was out and about. |
|
|
|
Post by waris on Aug 27, 2019 21:41:45 GMT
Are you a dumbass or something? I do freely admit that I am very lost, yes. By, toward the advice that you gave me, this Sunday, I did do an act of kindness for some folks while I was out grocery shopping. I don't know if it did anything to my heart, but I did help out some folks while I was out and about. I was asking because you know what to do but your problem is that you just don’t care to do it and you’re trying to figure out how to care about doing it when you can just do it, but you don’t do it? What exactly (or specifically) are you struggling with? Did you pray and ask God to change your heart? Pray and ask God to help you love others as He loves them. Also last edit from earlier post, not sure if you saw it. Edit: just to add more, it’s not self righteous to do good for others unless your doing it for yourself. Also the answer to question 6 was given in blue when talked about section 1 though I know you personally struggle with wanting God from what you expressed so far. 1. Why would telling the truth or helping others be self righteous? 2. If you don’t want to do it and you do it anyways then how is that self righteous? |
|
|
|
Post by J. Gunn on Oct 27, 2019 8:50:28 GMT
Not much is written in the Bible about apostates, but plenty is said by those who have never been one or dealt by one. Take everything they say with a saltshaker, unless they are speaking something the Lord directly told them, or something they have personally witnessed or experienced. Theological opinions are plentiful, and plenty wrong.
And if anyone disregards the pertinent scriptures, don't listen to them at all.
The most pertinent scripture in the entire Bible for apostates is probably Deuteronomy 30:2-6. It's written SPECIFICALLY to those who were so wicked they were judged, but are still alive. And it SAYS: "Obey with all your heart, and THEN God will give you a new heart with which to love him."
Your heart is dead. There are two possibilities. Best case, you never received the Spirit to begin with, and that's what it sounds like. If that's the case, you need to get obeying and seeking and hoping, and your future is plenty bright.
Worst case, you did receive the Spirit (which I doubt, you were never filled with the Spirit or experiencing miracles). These are the requirements for Hebrews 6. If you WERE filled with the Spirit and doing miracles.. then you have a tough fight ahead. The word "impossible" can mean, "nearly impossible," just as we use that word. Sometimes literal, sometimes just means for all practical intentions impossible, but not literally so.
I received the spirit in fullness about 12 years ago. I walked in miracles. I heard from the Lord. I knew the future (what I needed to know), was protected from poison, made invisible, and the odds didn't matter if God told me to do it. And I gave it all up for sexual sin.
After two years, the Spirit stopped begging me and went away. I became so dark, it was far worse than I was before, and I was a monster before. I had no conscience. I walked in abominations for 10 years after that.
And you know what?
Do you know what?
When I started repenting, and quitting sins, and reading his word, and making amends, the Lord came to me. He was ANGRY, but.. he came. He told me what I needed to know to make things right with him. Not directly, but he gave me good clues.
And he sent servants to intercede for me. He taught them how to pray, and he cleared me out of sins by using the courts of heaven and their intercession. then he restored my spirit through a miracle.
It has been a very rough road to this day, I'm not out of the forrest yet. But I have had my Spirit restored after the longest, darkest rebellion of any Spirit filled Christian I've ever met. I can tell you more about the things that actually helped if you want.
But you might not even need them. You might not have received the Spirit to begin with. Find out which it is.
|
|
|
|
Post by J. Gunn on Oct 27, 2019 9:03:42 GMT
I'm going to tell you two things.
1. The first thing in months of quitting sins and repenting that ACTUALLY reduced God's wrath, which had been placed so heavily upon me I was pretty much bedridden, was in response to two personal appearances by him. In one, he said:
"YOUR KNOWLEDGE WILL NOT SAVE YOU."
So I stopped looking in theology books and the opinions of man. If it wasn't about knowledge, then it was personal between him and me, not an algebra formula to figure out.
The second:
"NOBODY DIED FOR EATING A PLANT, BUT FOR REBELLION."
I had run out of things I could think of to repent for, so I was searching for more things I could repent of and obey. He was saying that wouldn't help either, as he wasn't angry about me disobeying things I didn't know about, but for things I DID know about.
So it it was personal, and I knew what I had done, then the only thing left for me to do was to sit down and really ponder what my rebellion had meant. And when I did that.. I was horrified. I was Judas. I had known Jesus, and Jesus loved me and everybody else. And I betrayed him for a pittance that I couldn't even enjoy in this life.
I typed it out, made it public, and his anger actually subsided. It was the first thing I had done that had that effect.
The second thing I'll share is what he told me. I will die for the testimony if I have to, I am telling you the truth. We can debate theologies all day and interpretations and whether scriptures apply to yoursituation, but this is an iron clad statement God told me himself:
"Everyone who wants salvation will get it."
You ponder that. I'm telling you it's true. That means salvation is out there for you if you want it. There's not one example in the Bible of a person dying on God's doorsteps begging for mercy after trying to make things right as best he could. And I was closer to God than you were, and much, much worse a sinner, I can promise you that. My sins should not even be named, for they are abominations. And he restored my spirit by a miracle. But it was work, and it required very smart interventions through prayer warriors, finding and convincing one to help you is not easy either, God had to send one to me after much asking for help.
Blessings to you. I don't think your journey will be as hard as mine is, but get cracking. "Those who obey with their whole hearts will be given new heart so they can love Me with their whole hearts."
|
|
|
|
Post by J. Gunn on Oct 27, 2019 9:06:01 GMT
As for intercession, a good thing for them to focus on may be for them to loose your sins on earth. God will listen to them, and loose them in heaven. Once this burden drops off you, you will feel way, way better, and demons will have less leverage and your prayers will be more effective. Just a suggestion. I'd start with pondering the depths of your rebellion and humbling yourself before God and man, and I think you're doing that. And put your hope in his goodness and mercy.
|
|
|
|
Post by J. Gunn on Oct 27, 2019 15:44:48 GMT
I regret that I can't edit my previous comments. I slept, and realized I had been operating in a lot of pride and haughtiness as I typed my comments out. To anyone who reads them, please forgive me for that mess.
The basic facts I've shared are true, and the advice is as correct as I know, but ask God to hear my prayers for forgiveness and deliverance from my wretchedness.
My cup, if it hasn't been taken away again, is surely only the size of a thimble due to continual half-heartedness and disobedience. I can't feel the Spirit, and so I operate in flesh. Have pity on me, please. I want to serve God and help others, I am AMAZED at his grace, but don't know how to pierce through to his favor. My knowledge is useless.
Humbled and begging for help from his true servants,
Jesse Gunn
|
|
|
|
Post by James Brady on Oct 29, 2019 20:48:23 GMT
I regret that I can't edit my previous comments. I slept, and realized I had been operating in a lot of pride and haughtiness as I typed my comments out. To anyone who reads them, please forgive me for that mess. The basic facts I've shared are true, and the advice is as correct as I know, but ask God to hear my prayers for forgiveness and deliverance from my wretchedness. My cup, if it hasn't been taken away again, is surely only the size of a thimble due to continual half-heartedness and disobedience. I can't feel the Spirit, and so I operate in flesh. Have pity on me, please. I want to serve God and help others, I am AMAZED at his grace, but don't know how to pierce through to his favor. My knowledge is useless. Humbled and begging for help from his true servants, Jesse Gunn Brother, I love you, and I assure you, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ that He loves you. He is near to the brokenhearted and contrite of spirit, to save them. I also put up a video on fotm1, called "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" which you can find by just searching "James Brady blasphemy" on YouTube. Please consider watching it. I believed I was cut off for four years earlier in my walk, and God gave me a lot of good revelation about this exact subject. It's a video with a LOT of encouragement for believers being attacked by self- condemnation. God bless you. Definitely praying. |
|
|
|
Post by bucklerchris on Dec 10, 2019 19:32:12 GMT
Not much is written in the Bible about apostates, but plenty is said by those who have never been one or dealt by one. Take everything they say with a saltshaker, unless they are speaking something the Lord directly told them, or something they have personally witnessed or experienced. Theological opinions are plentiful, and plenty wrong. And if anyone disregards the pertinent scriptures, don't listen to them at all. The most pertinent scripture in the entire Bible for apostates is probably Deuteronomy 30:2-6. It's written SPECIFICALLY to those who were so wicked they were judged, but are still alive. And it SAYS: "Obey with all your heart, and THEN God will give you a new heart with which to love him." Your heart is dead. There are two possibilities. Best case, you never received the Spirit to begin with, and that's what it sounds like. If that's the case, you need to get obeying and seeking and hoping, and your future is plenty bright. Worst case, you did receive the Spirit (which I doubt, you were never filled with the Spirit or experiencing miracles). These are the requirements for Hebrews 6. If you WERE filled with the Spirit and doing miracles.. then you have a tough fight ahead. The word "impossible" can mean, "nearly impossible," just as we use that word. Sometimes literal, sometimes just means for all practical intentions impossible, but not literally so. I received the spirit in fullness about 12 years ago. I walked in miracles. I heard from the Lord. I knew the future (what I needed to know), was protected from poison, made invisible, and the odds didn't matter if God told me to do it. And I gave it all up for sexual sin. After two years, the Spirit stopped begging me and went away. I became so dark, it was far worse than I was before, and I was a monster before. I had no conscience. I walked in abominations for 10 years after that. And you know what? Do you know what? When I started repenting, and quitting sins, and reading his word, and making amends, the Lord came to me. He was ANGRY, but.. he came. He told me what I needed to know to make things right with him. Not directly, but he gave me good clues. And he sent servants to intercede for me. He taught them how to pray, and he cleared me out of sins by using the courts of heaven and their intercession. then he restored my spirit through a miracle. It has been a very rough road to this day, I'm not out of the forrest yet. But I have had my Spirit restored after the longest, darkest rebellion of any Spirit filled Christian I've ever met. I can tell you more about the things that actually helped if you want. But you might not even need them. You might not have received the Spirit to begin with. Find out which it is. What I have read is the opposite. If you have the Spirit, you are His. So if you have the Spirit, and fall, He will come back and get you. If you did not, you were never His (a false convert), and you would be forever cast out without a hope of ever being drawn back. So, this does not paint a good picture for me since I have never received the Spirit. BTW, the Lord being angry is good. That means He cares. It's when He leaves you alone that you ought to worry. And... that's where I am. |
|
|
|
Post by bucklerchris on Dec 10, 2019 19:35:32 GMT
I do freely admit that I am very lost, yes. By, toward the advice that you gave me, this Sunday, I did do an act of kindness for some folks while I was out grocery shopping. I don't know if it did anything to my heart, but I did help out some folks while I was out and about. I was asking because you know what to do but your problem is that you just don’t care to do it and you’re trying to figure out how to care about doing it when you can just do it, but you don’t do it? What exactly (or specifically) are you struggling with? Did you pray and ask God to change your heart? Pray and ask God to help you love others as He loves them. Also last edit from earlier post, not sure if you saw it. Edit: just to add more, it’s not self righteous to do good for others unless your doing it for yourself. Also the answer to question 6 was given in blue when talked about section 1 though I know you personally struggle with wanting God from what you expressed so far. 1. Why would telling the truth or helping others be self righteous? 2. If you don’t want to do it and you do it anyways then how is that self righteous? The motivation is wrong. No matter what, it's about self. I have to go from self to Christ. |
|
