I need some advice I suppose

godisreal36 said:

I still wonder about the baptism. And now Speaking in tongues. I remember someone telling me if i didn't speak in tongues i didn't have the holy spirit. Yet i could not find this in the bible anywhere. So i think they attempted to mislead me, probably not intentionally though. And that baptism thing, no answers.

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The baptism as such is not so important than the fact that you let the living waters wash your sins away and begin a new life with The Word in the Spirit of loving truth within The Living word to follow in righteous deed of faith in His Good Life and not your Bad Life trying to hinder that.

I was baptised as a kid and brought up a Christian, I fell, sinned, and repented and was then also told to be baptised again by many believers I hang out with in those days. I asked Jesus and He told me that there was no need for I had been - His baptism of fire followed and hasn't stopped yet.


To repent of our sin is what baptism signifies - and if we have not been baptised into the covenant of grace with the believers and their children yet, then certainly do so, but otherwise focus on The Real thing and not serve tradition or other people's demands about this.

Get The word into your heart and the Wicked out is the fire of His loving truth in us, while tradition makes people very happy with us and gives us often good times of fellowship, but doesn't achieve much more than that.

Yet Christ's baptism of fire fills us with True and Everlasting Love for God, self and neighbour and is truly what it is all about!

Kalasin said:

I've been a Christian for just over two years now. For most of that time I've been without a church (my old one was spiritually dead, so I left) but recently I've found this vibrant house church which I have attended for the past two months or so. It's really cool.

I've reached the stage where I'm definitely beyond simply a convert, and I have a lot of knowledge of the Bible and theology and Christian philosophy, but I want to deepen my relationship with God and I'm finding it really hard to go further than I already have done. I also want to know how I'm supposed to live at this stage in my Christian walk.

Recently I've had this phenomenon where I'll read the Bible and God will explain particular verses to me. I've also been reading the Bible a whole lot more than I ever have before in my life. I'm not an experienced Christian and I'm just not used to living a Christian life. What exactly is going on? Oh, and I also had an experience a couple of months ago where I met this woman who was a very experienced believer, who prophesied that I would become a writer (I know it's true, because it's my life's ambition, and she'd never met me before) and prayed to bless my writing and my relationship with God. For a long while after that, my praying was totally radicalised and different, but that's died down now. I don't pray as much as I should do anymore.

What can I expect as a Christian? What happens as your relationship with God deepens?

While I'm on the subject, last year someone hurt me very deeply, and I didn't give them any provocation. I don't want to go into the details because it's rather private. For several months I hated this person, but slowly God explained to me that hatred was wrong, and I've started the slow process of forgiveness. I eventually encountered a wall and simply couldn't progress without God's help. I prayed about this with my pastor and another woman at my church and it took the edge off my anger, but I'm still hurting and I don't really know what to do. Can anyone give me advice?

I realise there's a thread on this sort of thing in this forum already, but I read it and it wasn't very helpful to me. As it's rather old now, I wondered if anyone had any new ideas.

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Hi K,

Beware of the notion that one knows a lot... For such generally comes from highly limited comparisons, and can be used to stir up the kind of pride which leads to a downfall of some sort.

It's beautiful when godly prayers exert godly power !

It has been said that as one grows closer to God, "The things of this world grow strangely dim".

One can also expect / experience a more abundant life, an increase in giftedness...for which we may be envied and persecuted somewhat... Also, there comes strong sensations that everything is going according to plan -( God's plan that Is ! )

It can be tough when one is hurt / betrayed by another... but it should help to recognize / remember a few things ( among others ).

Forgiveness heals those who hold onto it in their heart, therefore we are counseled to forgive, not only for the sake of others...but for our own sake as well.

If we are justly angry that is not a sin ( or something which will cause separation between us and God )...but Scripture warns about staying angry, " let not the sun go down on your wrath"

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. <-----> Psalm 4:4

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: <-----> Ephesians 4:26

For if we stay angry, our anger turns to hatred or bitterness, and those things separate us from being in communion with a God Who is Love.

Also, the above verses indicate a daily "letting go" of what has angered or upset us.

As a mental / spiritual exercise one may, in the moments before falling asleep " commune with their heart upon their bed " / go over the events of the day - giving thanks where we can, reflecting over lessons learned, praying over needs apparent, and seeking and finding forgiveness for any wrongdoing.

It can be surprisingly difficult to chronologically go over a single day's events without our mind wandering off...

The sooner we can find the healing virtue of forgiveness in our mind and heart, the sooner we can get back to fellowshipping with God in The Spirit of Love.

And just because we forgive doesn't mean someone escapes consequences, but it does mean that we are freed from having any active role in taking vengeance / retribution of any sort.

God does not allow mercy to be used as an encouragement for evildoing... so He often allows some negative consequences to discourage our continuing in sin.

It's also helpful to purposely direct our thoughts towards those who have been kind and helpful to us, not letting the negative dominate our thoughts.

The Psalmist wrote of The Lord -

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. <-----> Psalm 104:34

Peace and Joy in Jesus !

wm

i will get baptized. And i don't worry about it as much because like you, i believe in the baptism by fire for sure. But the question intrigued me, still does. But any new believer should worry themselves about things like repentance and humility and walking in love. These things are enough i think for a beginner. Baptism Just something i ponder.

I still wonder about the baptism. And now Speaking in tongues. I remember someone telling me if i didn't speak in tongues i didn't have the holy spirit.

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I was filled for 2 years before stepping into these waters at all.

As far as regular baptism, a believer will be blessed to do this as a choice. If it's done for you, it's not you making the choice to fulfill righteousness.

There are so many benefits from praying in the Spirit, it's the most useful thing you can do (that I know of). Of course, you will need to live in love, but this can help you in that department as well.

I have heard that going to bed angry can lead to cell damage or something and disease. Your body heals itself when you sleep so if you are angry your body wont heal properly and disease can occur, don't know if it's true but i saw it somewhere. Gods word is for our own good.

Be angry but don't sin, this has helped me because i have struggled with anger and thought i was sinning by getting angry. Maybe sometimes it is but not always. But do not sin after being angry...a little tougher, that's when forgiveness can help allot.

Alive_Again said:

I was filled for 2 years before stepping into these waters at all.

As far as regular baptism, a believer will be blessed to do this as a choice. If it's done for you, it's not you making the choice to fulfill righteousness.

There are so many benefits from praying in the Spirit, it's the most useful thing you can do (that I know of). Of course, you will need to live in love, but this can help you in that department as well.

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Yes i wonder about god's holy spirit and what he does for me. But the person who told me that all people with the holy spirit speak in tongues, i think that person was wrong. And i wonder who actually knows the holy spirit. Blasphemy of the holy spirit scares me, the only sin to not be forgiven i think. Maybe this means rejecting the spirit, or maybe it means something else

godisreal36 said:

I have heard that going to bed angry can lead to cell damage or something and disease. Your body heals itself when you sleep so if you are angry your body wont heal properly and disease can occur, don't know if it's true but i saw it somewhere. Gods word is for our own good.

Be angry but don't sin, this has helped me because i have struggled with anger and thought i was sinning by getting angry. Maybe sometimes it is but not always. But do not sin after being angry...a little tougher, that's when forgiveness can help allot.

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It wouldn't be surprising that the negative effects of staying angry visibly show up on the cellular level.

Once read a study which claimed that being upset ( for extended periods especially ) triggers the manufacture of caustic chemicals in the bloodstream, and theses chemicals etch the lining of our arteries, enabling cholesterol to adhere more easily and cause blockages, which can lead to stroke and heart attack. The study was triggered when it was noticed that some who at a lot of fatty foods had relatively clean arteries, while others who ate little fat, had clogged ones...so it's not just what one feeds their body...it also (even more so) is what one feeds their mind.

wm

What does the bible say about not worrying about clothes and food or tomorrow, because it will only shorten your years or something? I'm so bad at memorizing. Tomorrow has enough worries of it's own... how's it go?

I am editing because i found the scripture i was talking about also some other very helpful scripture. Bible software is cool

Mathew 6: 25-34

Psalm 127: 2

Mathew 10: 16-42

Philippians 4: 6

1 peter 5: 7

May be a bit off topic but...

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. <-----> Matthew 6:31-34

Suggest checking out the free Bible Study Software called e-sword, has it's own search function, linked to Strong's Concordance + Dictionaries.

Here's a link to where one can download it -e-Sword - the Sword of the LORD with an electronic edge

wm

I'm using a free version of bible explorer 4. It seems pretty cool. it has references like strong"s and others. You can build a library by adding books and it seems to be pretty user friendly. i have no complaints. But I'll check that one too.

Did we hijack the thread talking about bible software? it's good info this bible software though.

Kalasin said:

I'm aware that I'm more prideful than I should be, and I've prayed to God about it. My knowledge of the Bible is simply natural for a person who was brought up in a Christian home like I was. It's not something I've earned or which I could (or should) take pride in.



That last part is great to know. It's not something that I've experienced just yet but I can totally see it happening. I don't really understand what Christians mean when they say stuff like "abundant life" though. D: (sorry, I mean no offence. I've heard that term a lot but nobody ever unpacked it for me.)

Thank you so much for all the advice everyone!! I'm touched that you care so much about me. If I can do anything to help *you* just let me know!

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No offense taken.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. <-----> John 10:10 ( Words of Jesus )

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; <-----> Titus 3:5+6

The Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit is also The Spirit of God / The Spirit of life.

Naturally, we have a tiny portion of this Spirit as it comes to us through our ancestors ...but when one is born again in Christ The Spirit of life in us is "washed and regenerated", allowing for "renewed" abundant life within.

Moreover we are told that through Jesus we have a supply of The Spirit.

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, <-----> Philippians 1:19

Naturally, we are like a battery which has an initial charge which stays strong a little while and then drains down to virtually nothing...but once one is given access to God through Christ & The Gift of The Holy Spirit, it is like being connected to a powerful charger; which has restorative and rejuvenating effects upon our spirit, which is a measure of God's Spirit.

And this effect is mostly experienced within in a personal manner, so that God's Mystery continues to be revealed selectively to those of us who are ready to receive it humbly and gratefully, lest being lifted up with pride we go the way of the fallen from heaven.

Knowledge puffs up <---> From 1st Corinthians 8:1

... But though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. <-----> 2nd Corinthians 4:16

...We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. <-----> 2nd Corinthians 4:7

That no flesh should glory in his presence. <-----> 1st Corinthians 1:29

Was not these things ever touched on while being brought up in a Christian home ?

No offense intended.

May The Lord Be Praised !

wm

Kalasin said:

Yup, I've experienced this stuff personally. I just didn't realise that was what abundance meant. Thanks for explaining.

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You're Welcome in The Lord !

wm