What do you do when you realize that a life pleasing to God, has no chance of being pleasing to you?
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The lust of the flesh means death without resurrection were it not for The Great sacrifice Christ made for man. There is a school of thought that mandates all of mankind be saved. Since God The Father has infinite power, there is no other creation that approaches such power.
Jas.2
- [19] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
John.12 Verses 31 to 33
[31] Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
[32] And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
[33] This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Those who think they can sin at will with impunity are gravely mistaken. When Christ makes captivity captive, that is when we grow in Christ.
For a brief moment in time, we exist in these bodies only to grow in Christ. The only reason that we exist is to seek and find God The Father.
1Tim.4
- [10] For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
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Lady Donna Marie
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What?
He told me how to change Baptist on my faith that shows up under my profile name.
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It would be insane to "want" any suffering for any reason.. Nobody wants any suffering for any reason.
Most Christians start out this way and as we mature in our "walk" with Christ and in everyday life.. these things become more important to us.
Usually when we face hardship.
Who doesn't? Many good Christians are blessed with wealth and comfort. Everyone would like to be wealthy and comfortable. It's not rare.
Nobody should want to go to hell. Some will deny it's existence. Hell should not be the thing that drives you to Christ as a "do this... or go to hell".. sort of deal.
It certainly is a deterrent, however, using that as a method of converting someone... rarely works.
The life God wants for you will not be terrible. Is not terrible..
Even people that have gone way outside of their comfort zone and started to follow what the Spirit has called them to do, even when they are scared to death of it... find that the life it leads them to, no matter how earthly demanding it was... was totally rewarding to them and their family as far as how they are blessed by it. They would never want to do it differently.
Having said that:
Becoming a Christian is doing exactly what you are saying... Going against everything that you would normally want to do. You leave your own desire and go with God's desire for you.
As you grow in your Christian walk.. you will soon find that the ways that you longed for.. even could not live without.. are no longer even the tiniest of priorities in your life.
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- Feb 4, 2006
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Material wealth and comfort are important blessings. I wouldn't discount them.
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For this, listen to He who knows the best what you (and really all of us) need the most --
25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
So, what you need the most may be exactly this wonderful rest and comfort! To just listen to Jesus, as He speaks these words He says for us all in the gospels (all 4).
To just listen and hear.
Not to study with a study guide. Not to read according to a rigid plan. But to just read to hear -- to listen.
Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
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Help In Ministry
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Sometimes, we need to hit rock bottom before we can realize the true benefits of a godly life. This sermon, The Prayer That Brought the Rain describes this very circumstance on one man’s life,
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With regard to suffering there is authentic suffering and inauthentic suffering, thats not a specifically christian notion, one can for instance find it in the psychologist Jung, and probably elsewhere in Buddhism perhaps. But the point is not were its found, the point is there is always going to be some suffering in this life, and we should prefer authentic suffering to inauthentic.
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Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
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1 Timothy 6
Godliness with Contentment
6Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
9Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Luke 12:15
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
2 Corinthians 12:10
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
May the Lord help you to be content in Him. Amen
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SamanthaAnastasia
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Idk, before I became a Christian I was a bad person. Not like “oh we’re all sinners” bad. Like secularly bad. Like compulsive liar bad. Like wanting to commit suicide bad(not saying you can’t be saved and be suicidal, I still battle with this). Without God and Christ, I would die. Or be murdered. I was an actual terrible person. After I became a Christian, I slowly became “better”(though I’m still a sinner) and now I no longer compulsively lie and I have internal battles of whether Or not being polite is lying (lol!).
Also, what is suffering? Like do you mean being martyred? Or just not having partaking in the sinful activities the world offers?
Buddhists say all life is suffering. This is true but its not always suffering. I think the same could be said about Christian suffering. We all suffer. I would also like to state that no one truly WANTS to suffer. When I’m depressed or having existential anxiety, I want to suffer. But deep down? Not really. But if called to suffer, I pray I would have the courage and faith to.
it’s good to remember baby steps and to take faith one day at a time.
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Being polite is not lying, its normal to have a social persona and show some politeness in our interactions with others, the world would not be very livable otherwise. There are times I have to do a kindness for a family member when I'd as rather not, sometimes I don't feel like doing housework, but it builds up if I don't, so acting in spite of contrary feelings is sometimes necessary.
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Ohj1n37
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Hey man, I hope I can give you some advice that can help.
This is your problem right here, you fix it and everything should more less over time fall into place. You shouldn't want to be a Christian because you are afraid to go to hell. You should want to be a Christian because you love God. How do you get to love someone? You get to know them and you get to know God through Jesus. God loves you so much dude. He loves you so much that he chose to die for you. He died for you so you would see how much he loves you. He said there is no greater love than one that dies for their friends and that's what he did for you. Once you realize how much God loves you you will have the desire to love him and then you will want to do stuff for him.
Just don't forget that God loves you and loves you because you are his, you are his child. He is jealous for you. He says when you are his that no one can snatch you out of his hand. He wants to guard you like a good shepherd guards his sheep. And when your lost he wants to find you. Now he is knocking at the door of your heart. The Bible is more less God's love letter to the world. God wants a relationship with his children and you just happen to be one of his children. A being made in his image, so that he could be your father and you his child forever.
Hope that helps. That's what helped me... I am not perfect, but when I realized how much God loved me it's like I just woke up and had a desire to do what I could and I had a desire to want to be with God forever.
This is your problem right here, you fix it and everything should more less over time fall into place. You shouldn't want to be a Christian because you are afraid to go to hell. You should want to be a Christian because you love God. How do you get to love someone? You get to know them and you get to know God through Jesus. God loves you so much dude. He loves you so much that he chose to die for you. He died for you so you would see how much he loves you. He said there is no greater love than one that dies for their friends and that's what he did for you. Once you realize how much God loves you you will have the desire to love him and then you will want to do stuff for him.
Just don't forget that God loves you and loves you because you are his, you are his child. He is jealous for you. He says when you are his that no one can snatch you out of his hand. He wants to guard you like a good shepherd guards his sheep. And when your lost he wants to find you. Now he is knocking at the door of your heart. The Bible is more less God's love letter to the world. God wants a relationship with his children and you just happen to be one of his children. A being made in his image, so that he could be your father and you his child forever.
Hope that helps. That's what helped me... I am not perfect, but when I realized how much God loved me it's like I just woke up and had a desire to do what I could and I had a desire to want to be with God forever.
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I know that being Baptist or Catholic or any of the many Christian denominations has little to do with salvation. Christ taught us what we are to do to be saved. We are saved by Grace through Faith. The more faith one has, the more obedient to The Word one becomes. We all need God’s Grace and Love.
Some call Mathew 7:12 the golden rule. It is sound doctrine and a great way to live. I know that I can’t change anyone and I certainly can’t make someone live the Word of God. However it’s not about the other guy. I am fairly certain that when we all stand before the judgement seat of Christ, He is not going to ask me about the sins of the other guy. It’s going to be all about me. Fortunately, the judgement must first begin at The House of God. Since God has never dwelled in houses made by man, His children are made a living temple.
1Pet.4
- [17] For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Matt.7
[12] Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
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The World is passing Away. That is not just Biblical Truth but you can hear that truth in the News with any story about the Environment etc.
This World also is not your home. Compared to Eternity this is just a short stay at a hotel.
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That is when you give up. You tell God how you feel. You tell him how selfish you feel, how you are scared of hell.
You buy from Him gold refined... (revelation 3:14-18). He provides the will and strength. He provides the peace and joy. He provides the light to see, wisdom in your mind and a heart to seek the good (spritually good) things.
It's when you face facts... pretty much like the prodigal son that your life sucks where you are right now.. if not the material circumstances.. your inner self.
I'd just go and tell him the truth and ask to be sorted out. Humbly just sit in his shelter (Psalm 91) and rest there a while. Don't burden yourself, just give up and rest. Have trust and faith. Maybe in that solitude pick up your Bible and ask to learn what He wants and read under His guidance.
If you trust in Him and let Him order your steps He'll sort you out and mend your heart. Proverbs 3:5-6
Also, His yoke is light. In my experience I've found that usually you make one little act in faith, or obedience and He bears the burden. Ie I go to pick up that yoke and find almost immediately the Lord takes 95% of it and I end up with peace and quiet joy. Sometimes awe and immeasurable praise.
Bless you. I hope you find peace.
You buy from Him gold refined... (revelation 3:14-18). He provides the will and strength. He provides the peace and joy. He provides the light to see, wisdom in your mind and a heart to seek the good (spritually good) things.
It's when you face facts... pretty much like the prodigal son that your life sucks where you are right now.. if not the material circumstances.. your inner self.
I'd just go and tell him the truth and ask to be sorted out. Humbly just sit in his shelter (Psalm 91) and rest there a while. Don't burden yourself, just give up and rest. Have trust and faith. Maybe in that solitude pick up your Bible and ask to learn what He wants and read under His guidance.
If you trust in Him and let Him order your steps He'll sort you out and mend your heart. Proverbs 3:5-6
Also, His yoke is light. In my experience I've found that usually you make one little act in faith, or obedience and He bears the burden. Ie I go to pick up that yoke and find almost immediately the Lord takes 95% of it and I end up with peace and quiet joy. Sometimes awe and immeasurable praise.
Bless you. I hope you find peace.
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