And....?

[Doubting Thomas]

Matt, I think since we're all different and we struggle with different things, I wouldn't get too discouraged when you look at your friends and see them seemingly progress more spiritually in an area in which you may struggle more. (I certainly seem to struggle with many of the same things, more at times than others) Though the fruit of the Spirit is the same, some of us seem to have more of some than others evident at a given time. I think this is because we all have sins that beset us that often differ between individuals, yet we are all admonished to diligently add to our faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, perserverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7) so that we are neither barren nor unfruitful (v.8) in our knowledge of Christ. Some of us, however, struggle with adding certain of these characteristics to our faith more than others largely based on what sin(s) "beset" us. We shouldn't lose hope but rather keep praying, confessing/repenting, and meditating on the Scriptures...and, may I add, partaking of the Lord's Table. :saint:

 

[DHK]

Thanks. What though would you say was the cause of that change? Eg: did you just think, "well, now I'm a Christian, I shouldn't behave like that anymore", or would you say it was the action of the Holy Spirit?

I am not one prone to feelings. They were actions of obedience at first. However as I spent more time in prayer and in His Word there were definite times where I could sense the presence of the Holy Spirit, and His leading.
It was also as if red flags went up if I were to do something wrong or questionable.
Otherwise the Lord would give me peace about the things that I was doing, and was in his will.
It was if my conscience became more acute.

 

[BobRyan]

The question and scenario posed in the OP is only semi-hypothetical; I suppose what I'm asking is "should I feel or do anything differently?" Apart from some charismatic experiences in the 1990s which I'm now a bit dubious about, I don't feel that my life has changed drastically since I underwent my evangelical conversion some 23 years ago. I didn't massively sin before and I don't now. I pray and read the Bible every day, I go to church more or less weekly, but there seems to be largely deafening silence from 'the other side'; if I'm meant to have a 'personal relationship with God' (whatever that means!), then it strikes me as being pretty one-sided...

huge problem.

2Cor 10 "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" puts us all in a tight spot -- I am surprised you do not sense that.

Phil 3 "this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and PRESSING ON" - what does Paul say "in that chapter" that he is pressing on "for"??

1Cor 9 "I buffet my body and make it my slave lest after preaching the gospel to others I myself should be disqualified" - no coasting in that model.

Peter's ladder is kind of interesting as well. You will find it in 2 Peter 1.


Physically our muscles are designed so that with more use - they have increased capacity.
The mind is a mental "muscle" the more it is used the more capacity it has to learn.
The spirit has the exact same capacity issue - the more it is used the more capacity it has.

In Hebrews 5 Paul speaks about the problem of being an infant in Christ when in fact those people should have been mature adults. In 1Cor 3 he addresses that same problem.

If you compare your initial acceptance of Christ with your evovled position today and find that today you regard the Word of God as less trustworthy than when you started - you have a "clue" as to what the problem might be.


in Christ,

Bob

 

[steaver]

I guess I feel like I'm doing my bit as best I can (although I'm sure there's room for improvement!), but there doesn't seem to be much in the way of reciprocity from the Holy Spirit. That's why I asked the question of DHK above; for me, the changes which have occurred with me have been (as it seems to me) largely the result of me thinking, "I'm a Christian so I shouldn't do xyz but should instead do abc", rather than "Oh, I really don't feel like doing xyz anymore but I have a burning desire to do abc" ie: it pretty much all seems to be down to me and my own rather pathetic strength. I'm not having a whinge and saying that that's unfair of God, but I am concerned that other, close Christian friends seem to have much more of the latter mechanism (ie: the Holy Spirit convicting and causing them to change behaviour) at work in them...

You appear to have the same bug tens of thousands of Christians carried in the first century as is carried by tens of thousands of Christians today. The cure is found in the letters written to us from the Apostles. Salvation is the free gift of God, we are given the Holy Spirit as a deposit, a seal of ownership, to help us, comfort us, guide us. This Spirit works together with God's word to sanctify us. We entered into a marriage with Christ and this means two work together as one.

Are you doing your part in the marriage? Have you read James 4 as I suggested? If we want to experience more of God we must see less of self. Humbleness and submission. Read the word and apply it. Ask God for what you desire, pray for His presence to be known unto you.

Many Christians are afraid to ask God for a real life change. We get too comfortable in our habits.

How is your worship service at your church? Visit some other congregations. Maybe you need a change of pace. I don't promote church hopping in search of a feeling, but sometimes God does move believers around and places them where He sees a need for their gifts or sees a need for their soul to be filled in a certain area.

My brother just left his church of ten years, it is the only church he ever went to. He learned alot in this church concerning the word of God. The church is very good at bible exegesis. But it lacks LOVE! The church spends all it's energy on the shall nots. The worship amounts to two maybe three hymns and then these are shortened by skipping stances to save time for more shall nots.

He is now church shopping and he went to this one church last Sunday and the music was a mix of hymns and contemporary worship songs. He couldn't believe how freely the people were worshipping as they sung raising their hands in the air and they must have sung at least eight songs. He was thrilled at the openness to worship. In the church he left contemporary music is a curse word and raising your hands is just showing off. This church he left preached KJVO, hymns only, piano only, dresses only (ladies of course), no shorts on anyone at anytime, no beach, no eating in restaurants that serve alchol, no public schools and anyone who does not go to their church probably isn't saved!

Needless to say he feels set free. They would say he has backsliden. The subtle way that this church and many like it keep people for so long is that they constantly indoctrinate the congregation that there is no place else out there that preaches the word. He has had several conversations with people from the church who complain about the legalism and end the complaint with this "but where else are you going to go? There is no other place where the word is being preached". This is how they keep the people in line, they preach to them that all the other churches have left satan infiltrate them with contemporary music and satanic bible versions.

He is free now and I pray he will find where God needs him to be. I pray you also will find your place in God's will.

:jesus:

 

[Matt Black]

Thank you all for your helpful comments. I still wonder whether there is something lacking in my 'spiritual formation' eg: I wonder whether like the Rich Young Ruler, Jesus would say to me: "one thing you lack" etc. I wonder whether I do lack something and what that something is?

 

[Alive in Christ]

Matt...

"Okay, so I believe and trust that Jesus is God the Son, that He became incarnate as a man being born of a virgin, died on the cross in my place so that my sins may be forgiven, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and will one day return to judge the living and the dead. I've even prayed 'the sinner's prayer' and got baptised.

Now what?"

Rest.

Walk in the goodness of ressurection life.

Walk in the knowledge of "Not I, but Christ"

Understand that Christ is your very life. Meditate on the great truths that are yours because of your relationship with Christ.

"It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives through me"

"In that day you will know that I am in the Father, the Father is in me, and I in you

"Apart from me, you can do nothing."

Abibe in Me and I in you. As the branch can not bear friut by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches.

Walk each day in a state of REST, with the full willingness to respond at any time that CHRIST initiates in and through you what He desires.

Some days, God might not have any ministry for you. So just enjoy the day in union with your Father.

Other times He might want to work through you in many ways. He will open the doors and initiate the minstry. You simply join Him in what He is doing, trusting Him to live through you.

Hope this helps.

God bless you.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Matt...



Rest.

Walk in the goodness of ressurection life.

Walk in the knowledge of "Not I, but Christ"

Understand that Christ is your very life. Meditate on the great truths that are yours because of your relationship with Christ.









Walk each day in a state of REST, with the full willingness to respond at any time that CHRIST initiates in and through you what He desires.

Some days, God might not have any ministry for you. So just enjoy the day in union with your Father.

Other times He might want to work through you in many ways. He will open the doors and initiate the minstry. You simply join Him in what He is doing, trusting Him to live through you.

Hope this helps.

God bless you.

Just out of curiosity; can I hang out like in those corona comercials and wait for the return of Christ? I mean that seems pretty restful to me.

 

[Jedi Knight]

I believe there can be different seasons in our journey. There are those mountain top experiences and some valley ones too. I love when God speaks and confirms directions...but I never liked the silent times when your like "hello" and get just an echo back.