Recently I've been looking at my life, and haven't been satisfied. My life seems to be falling apart as I know it, and I need a higher power to get me through it. I'm 15, and havent gone to church let alone talked about the lord in 8 years. I was born and raised a Christian, but like I said we kind of got off track. It was a terrible time for my family to stop going to church because I still didn't know all I needed and wanted to know, and now at this age, I wish I had. I have so many questions, doubt even. And I hate admitting to it. How do we know he's real? What do you mean we can't be forgiven for our sins, but we have to. Only Jesus can give us forgiveness but still that's not enough? What if he isn't real? Did I waste my time seeking a imagitive figure? I know very little about the bible, his commandments and everything else including some meanings. I don't knew verses by heart, I don't know stories of different people and animals. I don't know the lessons and teachings of the bible but I want to. I want to more then anything. But I need to get rid of my doubt and fear. I also feel empty. Like when I do go to church with a friend that the pasture or whoever is speaking to everyone but me. Like god is there for everyone but me. This creates my doubt. Why don't I feel anything?? I want to seek him and praise him, let him live through me. But it seems like I can't get to him. Please help with my doubt, and tell me where to start to get me on track again. I want more then anything to be saved and close with Jesus Christ. I just don't know how. All prayers are welcome! Thank you
Answers wanted
- Thread starter tmarie13
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Hello @tmarie13
Here are a couple of links that will lead to some threads on what you have been seeking. :thumbsup:
A lot of reading in some
, so I hope you don't mind
http://www.talkjesus.com/threads/how-do-i-accept-jesus-as-my-savior.51542/
http://www.talkjesus.com/threads/questions-and-objections.13601/
http://www.talkjesus.com/threads/how-to-be-friends-with-god.10887/
If after reading them and you still have questions or need clarification. Please return to this posting and ask your questions!!!!!
I as well as other here at Talk Jesus are here for you as Jesus has always been there for you as well!!!
C4E
Here are a couple of links that will lead to some threads on what you have been seeking. :thumbsup:
A lot of reading in some
, so I hope you don't mind http://www.talkjesus.com/threads/how-do-i-accept-jesus-as-my-savior.51542/
http://www.talkjesus.com/threads/questions-and-objections.13601/
http://www.talkjesus.com/threads/how-to-be-friends-with-god.10887/
If after reading them and you still have questions or need clarification. Please return to this posting and ask your questions!!!!!
I as well as other here at Talk Jesus are here for you as Jesus has always been there for you as well!!!
C4E
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- Feb 9, 2004
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- 17,078
Hi @tmarie13
God's grace is *always* available. Please consider the awesome story of the Prodigal Son. Also, while reading, keep in mind the pain, anguish and suffering Jesus went through on the Cross (even before the Cross) for your sins. A free gift of grace that cost Him his life.
Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out toa]">[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’b]">[b] 22 But the father said to his servants,c]">[c] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
God's grace is *always* available. Please consider the awesome story of the Prodigal Son. Also, while reading, keep in mind the pain, anguish and suffering Jesus went through on the Cross (even before the Cross) for your sins. A free gift of grace that cost Him his life.
Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out toa]">[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’b]">[b] 22 But the father said to his servants,c]">[c] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
RJ
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You sound like so many, including once myself, that God is reaching out to you, he is calling you, that is why you acknowledge you are on empty, that is why you are here now seeking something other than yourself for the answer. That answer is God and through Jesus Christ, nothing else will quench your thirst. At your young age you have everything and the rest of your life to gain.
- Revelations 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
- John 14:4 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
- Answer his call, invite him in and be saved; quench your thirst!
Wired 4 Fishen
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Shaolin
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"T," what kind of church did your family used to attend (just so I know your spiritual background)?
Questions are good to have, it shows that you are being honest about things, and that is the very first step. I will answer what you give here, but if you have others feel free to PM me with them and I will answer whatever questions you have...
For starters, when we take real science (not false evolutionary 'science'), biology demonstrates that God is real. I can go through facts if you want, just let me know. We can also look at spiritual facts in nature: people get demon possessed, and Christians who know who and what they are in Christ, can - and do - cast demons out of people. If God was not real, we could not do this. Miracles are also demonstrations of the reality of God - I do not have the power in and of myself to heal anyone, but in Christ, by the power of God's Spirit, I have healed people...most recently a coworker who was in the last stage of breast cancer; she is alive and well today. There are other proofs, but three should suffice...
These sound like things coming from previous discussions you have had with people, but keep this in mind: not everyone knows what they are talking about, and that causes confusion. We can be forgiven of our sin, there is only one sin that a person will not be forgiven for, but only people who have been walking with God in the Spirit can commit that sin, so you don't have to worry about that. Jesus does forgive us when we come to Him in an honest heart. What do you mean by ending the sentence with, "but still that's not enough?"
He is real...if He wasn't real, then you would not be here discussing the issue. Life cannot come out of lifeless chemicals, life can only come from life - God created life, that is why you are here now.
God, nor Jesus, are imaginative figures, but you may have wasted your time seeking Him in a way that He does not approve of... What I mean by that, is some people go about seeking God in some pretty..."weird"...ways, and God cannot be found in such ways. He says plainly, choose to believe in Him, choose to stop practicing sinful things (which we all did at one time in our lives) because He will not save anyone who does not repent from sinning, and then come to Him according to how He tells us to in Scripture. That is the only way to God, and that is through Jesus Christ.
All of those things can be taken care of in time, and you are not expected to know all things before coming to God...and He will help you once you come to Him on His terms. The fact that you want to, says everything. However, you have nothing to fear by coming to God, but you do have to count the cost. What that means, is by coming to God, you may lose your friends, they may reject you afterwards. Will that happen? I can't say, all I can say is that it is a possibility...I did not lose my friends when I got saved at 16, but the point is; are you willing to accept whatever happens? That is counting the cost, because there is a cost to coming to God.
The cost to me was that I had to give up games and the martial arts as a love of my life. Do I still practice? Whenever I can...but I do not love it like I used to, it does not take up all of my spare time like it used to, I can take it or leave it, because God comes first. And that is the cost...God has to come first in your life, or you are just wasting your time.
The whole point here is this: God wants people who want to enter into a personal, loving relationship with Him. People who come to God who do not have that as their reason for coming to Him, don't last. But when we come to Him because we want to have a personal relationship with Him, He always reveals Himself to us sooner or later...
John 14:21
Whoever holds firm to My commandments and continuously obeys them, that is the person who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him so that he can come to know Me personally.
Today we are under the new commandments of the New Covenant, and there are only two: put your trust in Him for everything, and help people in their needs when you have the opportunity to do so. When we do these, we live in Him and He will live in you.
This could be for any number of reasons that is NOT on you. This church that you went to, if the pastor was never called by God to be a pastor, then he does not have the giftings to be a pastor...in effect, he is a false pastor, so you don't get anything from him because he is false. It could be the church...if it is a calvinist church, or a church where calvinism or other false doctrines are taught, then you will not find the Holy Spirit there, and that could be another reason why you do not feel anything when you go there. As I said...I could go on and on, but having never been there, I can't tell you what's really going on. You should not let this create doubt in your mind - what you need to do is a little research on that church, and try to find a church where the full gospel is taught.
Full gospel churches believe in the full gospel...meaning every word in the Bible is true. Such churches are the Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal church of God, or a Foursquare church - but even then, in some geographical places, the false doctrines of calvinism are being taught in denominations that traditionally deny calvinism. It is sad, but it happens right here where I am at...there is hardly any church in my local area where calvinism is not taught to one extent or another. It is truly sad. If you want to continue this dialogue, get me the name and denomination of the church in a PM and I can give you pertinent information that will help.
I will pray for you, and in the mean time, if you are still here and looking, you can PM me and I will help you as much as I can...or if you prefer to keep it out in the open, I think when you respond the board will ping me so that I know you still want more information and guidance.
Blessings!
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A good place to start is learning all the tools God has made available to declare his will .In that way we are not left as orphan without a heavenly father. For instance we are loving commanded to study to show ourselves approve unto God not seen .. as two walking together.
Prophecy the word of God comes in more than one way. For instance the Bible informs us without parables Christ spoke not. God purposely hiding another understanding that the eyes cannot see. You could say the spiritual understanding not the literal historical alone. .It must be mixed with the faith of Christ who does work in the believers new heart and soul . . the unseen eternal . Search why and how parables can effect the outcome of ones new born again faith
Some thing I learned after a few years of studying it was helpful to me. . Doubt is not the opposite of faith, un-belief or no faith is .
Having a living hope as it is written can lead to a feeling. But should never be the cause to seek after . What some call sign gift.
Let no person look down on your youth.
In Philippians 1:6 we are informed that Christ our living confidence works in the believer from the first hearing to the end of of ones life. If he began the interest in ones heart he will continue.
In that way the accuser of the believer accuses us day and night before God.
God does not accuse he heals empowering the believer to continue and walk or understand by His faith that works in us after the unseen work of God .
Again feeling can follow after one commits' faith .But those who have no faith as it is written in the law and the prophets tend to look for sign to confirm they are on the right track .
In the end look for marveling or wondering (feeling ) that come after the three avenues of the spirit of error the father of Lies and not faith as to the end of the matter . 1 John informs us not of the Father.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Jesu gives us a example (Nicodemus) of one who did look for things that excite the flesh in false pride .
Signs to wonder after again follow the work of Christ in us feeling do not lead. many will try and convince a beliver to sek after signs as a way of feeling. But there is no such thing as a sign gift. There are spirit gifts not seen that can work in a beliver
Signs as feeling follow after never lead.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
As a testimony to show they have no faith they made Jesus into a circus seal work a miracle then we will believe or exercise faith.
John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
In that way Nicodenmus a sign seeker was lovingly commanded to marvel not . Marveling or wondering is not believing.
In John 3 Christ uses the greatest possible miracle to warn us of seeking after the things seen the temporal Lust flesh, lust eye, pride of life and not the eternal things of faith
John 3; 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Thomas is another example of how not to walk after the things seen the temporal . In that way it can destroy our living Hope. For hopes for what they already have?
John 20: 24-29 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
No blesing of faith comes by obersing the things seen
Thomas in order to show the power of the loving commandment (and be not faithless, but believing.)
Thomas testified to the law of faith that worked in him found below .
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Doubt is not confessing. . its doubting wondering marveling .(no faith just a empty feeling. )
One last example of those who had no faith coimng from the gospel . In the end because they were marveling that made the apotles as gods in the likenss of men nameing them after grrek gods . amy say thi ere is a gift and the tough of a human hand does the work . Not that feeling are not neded .But not the touchy feely doctrine .
Note. . .(Blue) my addition to help make a point.
Note . . .(purple ) no faith coming from the gospel
Acts 14: 7-12 And there they preached the gospel. (the power of our unseen God unto salvation) And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: (as a prophet the he spoke the words of Christ) who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith (of Christ) to be healed, Said with a loud voice, (the words of God) Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
