Please help me.

[died_last_october]

Hear me out. I may sound like a troll at first, but I'm not.

A short about me:
I am a frequent drug user. (Pot, Acid, Shrooms)

I never really belived in anything, God or satan, but would participate in "satanic" or "wicca" rituals with my friends a few years ago.

I used to get in a lot of fights, and once got arrested for stabbing a man.
(somehow, no Felony charges)

I swear often enough to now even really notice it anymore, it's just a part of speech.

I USED TO troll sites like these, and make fun of people's 'imiginary friend' (What I used to call God)

I spray painted a Pentagram on the side of a church with some friends, and set another on fire with them.

So, yeah, keep reading, I swear I'm not a troll.

Well, In the past two years all of those friends have, like, caved.

They all started 'repenting' and the likes, and alot of them started to abandon me for not becoming like them, I've lost them as friends, and have no contact with them anymore. Only one of them, Rob, even talks to me, but he's a Satinist.

And at first i thought the guys were Idiots, and sellouts.

But latly, some things have happened in my life, I'd rather not discuss them directly. But it made me think, maybe the guys (girls, too. 'the guys' just used to be our general term for each other) were right.

I'll still never talk to any of them again, for the way they exiled me, but maybe they had the right idea. Maybe there is a God. I guess I'm agnostic now...

I wanna get to know God.

Still, and here's why I needed advice:
Where do I start?

And will God even forgive me, with a past like mine?

I've been told that I can repent, but HOW? Are there, like, instructions?

Please help me. Thanks for reading all that, I seem to have rambled on a bit, sorry. -_-;

P.S-If I become a Christian, can I still be friends with Rob, and not have to convert him? Because I know he hates being preached to.
As long as people don't preach to him, he dosen't care what they worship, and he won't preach to them.

 

[Elijah2]

G’day mate,

Where do I start?
After reading your testimony, well you need to go to a church calling out for help.

There is an organisation called “Teen Challenge” and they help blokes like you.

And will God even forgive me, with a past like mine?
Yes our Lord Jesus Christ forgives those who confess and repent their sins. The forgiveness things also include forgiving those who have caused you to hate and resent them. Also forgiveness from those people who hate and resent you.

But, that is something that comes after you sort out all your own problems.

I've been told that I can repent, but HOW? Are there, like, instructions?
Yes, there is mate, but you still need to get in touch with a good pastor at a church, and see if you can get involved in “Teen Challenge” or a similar sort of organisation that is Christian.

Please help me. Thanks for reading all that, I seem to have rambled on a bit, sorry. -_-;

P.S-If I become a Christian, can I still be friends with Rob, and not have to convert him?
Mate, even though he is your friend, and you become a believer of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as you begin to be transformed and renewed in your thinking and heart, you decisions will be made then, not now.

Because I know he hates being preached to.
A Satanist is an unbeliever and sorry to say mate, that he is also one of the enemies of our Lord Jesus Chrost.

As long as people don't preach to him, he dosen't care what they worship, and he won't preach to them.
Well it all depends on what sort of Satanist he is. And that’s not the point, and that point is what you will find out when the time comes. Right now it’s all about you, and what you want. And you don’t need to be concerned about what others think. It’s all about you mate.

Blessings!

 

[drich0150]

There is forgiveness to be found, in God. Just know your fellow man may not be so forgiving (at first anyway.) Also know that forgiveness from God doesn't release you from the consequences of your actions. Arson and drug use are a crimes, and if your caught even with God forgiveness, you will be prosecuted. This doesn't mean he doesn't forgive you nor does it mean he doesn't love you.. It just means you are reaping what you have sown.. (Harvesting the fruit, from the seeds you have planted.)

That said Forgiveness comes, as easily as asking for it for those who truly seek it. I agree with Elijah2 you should seek out a church or maybe your old friends and get plugged into a church somewhere. It is possible to turn to God on your own, but it is alot easier to do so with a group of like minded people.

Also know your going to have to get "cleaned up" If you can put your drug habit down on your own then do so if you need to goto meetings, then find one to goto. This issue, like church can be accomplished on your own, but is easier done in groups of like minded people.

So basically if you know where you want to be spiritually, and personally/socially then surround yourself with those type of people, and then just let the changes happen as you feel comfortable with them...

Plus this forum is a good place to get help and seek advise. But, here like in life there will be people who may do more harm than good. These people are apart of the process of change and personal/spiritual growth. You don't have to like the difficulties that some may bring, but at the same time don't give up.. Your patients and long suffering will be well rewarded!

For now I would goto a quiet place, and just start talking to God. You don't have to use a religious formula right now the important thing is to make the effort.. this would be a good example:
Start out by introducing yourself and thank him for getting your attention the way he did..
Then ask him to help point you in the right direction, ask him to lead you to the right people to help you make this change that your looking for work.
Then ask for forgiveness for all of the things that you've done...
next ask him to help you forgive all of those who sinned against you. (This is important and the key to having your sins forgiven.)
finish with anything else you want to say.

This life style is something that you will have to work on the rest of your life! It will take time to start and develop a relationship with God let alone a strong or solid one.. So above all else give it time, and be patient with yourself and all of the rest of us.. Just like God has shown you patients, in all you have done. (do unto others, as you who have them {or God} do unto you.)

Good luck and God bless

 

[heron]

P.S-If I become a Christian, can I still be friends with Rob, and not have to convert him? Because I know he hates being preached to.
As long as people don't preach to him, he dosen't care what they worship, and he won't preach to them.

Lol. Nobody likes to be preached to; some are more vocal about it than others.

Most of Jesus' preaching was open air -- people walked by and stopped to listen, then followed Him. He didn't follow them.

There are no quotas for souls saved, no commandments to become a monk. There may be blessings from it, but spreading the good news was about relief -- God had offered that we could be with Him in heaven, and that He would provide the way for our sins to not count against us.

Repentance is included in the deal of course, but that's something that goes on in your heart, between you and God. Saying words or getting baptised doesn't guarantee His favor -- being earnest and investing yourself in communicating with Him will help the process make more sense.

There are few Bible verses that would tell you what friends to keep. Those are not formulas, but words of advice. Like, don't hop in the car when your friends plan to rob a bank. When you see your friends chronically lying, you have to admit that they will eventually lie to you too. (In shorter terms.)

Here are a couple:
Pr 20:19
Pr 22:24
Pr 24:21
Ha ha! You have to see this one -- "Do not associate with those who are given to change." There ya have it, no sneaking into the White House for late night poker.


Answering your question about God forgiving your past -- that IS Christianity. That is the core of the message.

You probably know who Paul was, the apostle. Do you remember what he was doing when he decided to become a Christian? He was trying to get a law in place for all Christians to be sent to Jerusalem for trial, and hoped they'd get the death penalty.

Paul's situation wasn't that different from yours.

The story is here.

What brought him to a point of change, was a direct visitation.

I've had a few friends who were hit that way -- not so blatantly, but had sudden realizations of God being involved in their lives after fending themselves against Christianity.

Most of us Christians would admit that as a group, we can be offensive and naive. But in coming to God, it's not to join a club. You don't need to express your faith the same way you see others do it. Start with where you are, and work forward. Search, read, talk with God, try to listen to what He has to say to you.

You don't need to decide immediately. Just put yourself on a track that will take you in a direction you feel is safe and wise for your life. You can always turn around. This is your life, and others should not take it away from you, even if you declare yourself part of the faith.

 

[andreha]

Hey there. I know what hell is like. I've been involved in satanistic rituals (long ago), and have crossed over. It's beautiful over here. Please PM me if you'd like to chat. I'll be more than happy to just listen.

 

[Justaman0000]

Well, In the past two years all of those friends have, like, caved.

They all started 'repenting' and the likes, and alot of them started to abandon me for not becoming like them, I've lost them as friends, and have no contact with them anymore. Only one of them, Rob, even talks to me, but he's a Satinist.

And at first i thought the guys were Idiots, and sellouts.

But latly, some things have happened in my life, I'd rather not discuss them directly. But it made me think, maybe the guys (girls, too. 'the guys' just used to be our general term for each other) were right.

I'll still never talk to any of them again, for the way they exiled me, but maybe they had the right idea. Maybe there is a God. I guess I'm agnostic now...

I wanna get to know God.

Your friends may have had to abandon you. When you leave a lifestyle like that it is easy to fall back into your old ways. Leaving your old ways sometimes mean leaving your old friends because they push those ways on you. Even they don't push those old ways on you, just being around that environment becomes tempting. I had to leave my friends, i really didn't want to, but i knew it was for the best. I ended up going back to see what they were up to and even preach to them. I ended up become a hypocrite. I would get messed up and then start conversations about God and speak his truth, but my lifestyle did not even reflect his in any way. This took me years to recover and completely get away from. Everytime i did a drug or committed a crime i hated myself because i had grieved the Holy spirit so much,but i couldn't stop.
As for your friends, Your first step to finding God could be to get in touch with them. They will know how to help you best, because they know you better than us, and they have walked down that road. A big step is going to be forgiving them for "ditching" you. You have to remember it was best for them. I wish my friends could have came with me, but now I have to watch them slowly rot away dealing, going to jail, committing suicide, and overdosing. I preached to them, but that was all i could do, i made it clear to them why i couldn't do the things they were doing anymore. They eventually excepted that.

 

[Jpark]

Hear me out. I may sound like a troll at first, but I'm not.

A short about me:
I am a frequent drug user. (Pot, Acid, Shrooms)

I never really belived in anything, God or satan, but would participate in "satanic" or "wicca" rituals with my friends a few years ago.

I used to get in a lot of fights, and once got arrested for stabbing a man.
(somehow, no Felony charges)

I swear often enough to now even really notice it anymore, it's just a part of speech.

I USED TO troll sites like these, and make fun of people's 'imiginary friend' (What I used to call God)

I spray painted a Pentagram on the side of a church with some friends, and set another on fire with them.

So, yeah, keep reading, I swear I'm not a troll.

Yeah, I understand. My friend and teacher used to do the things you did except for the satanist part. He has been in and out of jail. He has even been shot.

Well, In the past two years all of those friends have, like, caved.

They all started 'repenting' and the likes, and alot of them started to abandon me for not becoming like them, I've lost them as friends, and have no contact with them anymore. Only one of them, Rob, even talks to me, but he's a Satinist.

And at first i thought the guys were Idiots, and sellouts.

But latly, some things have happened in my life, I'd rather not discuss them directly. But it made me think, maybe the guys (girls, too. 'the guys' just used to be our general term for each other) were right.

I'll still never talk to any of them again, for the way they exiled me, but maybe they had the right idea. Maybe there is a God. I guess I'm agnostic now...

Well, the Holy Spirit brings conviction (Ephesians 5:30) and illumination (John 16:13) and wisdom and revelation. (Ephesians 1:17) Your friends now know the truth (2 Timothy 2:25) and the truth has made them free (John 8:32) from the snare of the devil. (2 Timothy 2:26)

Well, clearly there is a God because what is evident of Him is in creation (Romans 1:20), but in the end it is a matter of faith. (Hebrews 11:1; Hebrews 11:6) And evidently there is a God by observing their changed lives. This is why God's will can be proven. (Romans 12:2)

I wanna get to know God.

Still, and here's why I needed advice:
Where do I start?

And will God even forgive me, with a past like mine?

I've been told that I can repent, but HOW? Are there, like, instructions?

Please help me. Thanks for reading all that, I seem to have rambled on a bit, sorry. -_-;

P.S-If I become a Christian, can I still be friends with Rob, and not have to convert him? Because I know he hates being preached to.
As long as people don't preach to him, he dosen't care what they worship, and he won't preach to them.

Well, you can get started with what I'm going to provide you.

Scroll down to the bottom after reading the answers to your questions.

God will forgive you. If you repent of your sins and confess your sins before the Lord Jesus, God will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9; 1 Corinthians 6:11) and He will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25)

Just tell God honestly that you have sinned and ask for His forgiveness. A poorly prayer that I just constructed is very effective surprisingly.

Lord Jesus,

I have sinned against you. I did some rather bad things in my past. Please forgive me for my sins. I thank You for accepting me and forgiving me. I believe You have forgiven me and that I am cleansed from my sins. In Your name, Amen.

If you became a Christian, you can still hang out with Rob, but you should not have too much of a close relationship with him for evil company corrupts good habits (1 Corinthians 15:33) and we are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 6:14) Usually, the only real reason to hang out with him is to convert him to Christianity, but do it bit by bit. Just share Christ and hear him out, but don't have a debate with him. Also, the gentle correction of God's servant will bring him to the truth and repentance. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)





Confess the Lord Jesus and believe that God has raised Him from the dead that you may be saved (Romans 10:9-10) and that the God of our Lord Jesus may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17) and His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Colossians 1:9), that you may understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17), that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10) and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Tell Him in your own words or use this simple prayer:

Father God,

I know I need You but can never get to You on my own. I surrender my heart to You and receive Jesus as my personal Savior. I believe He took all my sins onto Himself when He died on the cross, conquering death for my sake and giving me access to You. Thank You for forgiving me and for sending the Holy Spirit to transform my life. Amen.

(I "stole" this prayer from Dr. Charles Stanley. )

Watch the sermons of Jack Hayford and Charles Stanley.

http://jackhayford.org/

http://www.intouch.org/site/c.cnKBIPNuEoG/b.4945473/k.BE35/Home.htm

Read the Bible. Receive His Spirit. (John 20:22) For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. You receive the Spirit by the hearing of faith. (Romans 10:17; Galatians 3:2, 5)

http://www.biblegateway.com/

 

[Sadiegrl]

Mod Hat On
Hi there, this thread is being moved to the Exploring Christianity forum, where it meets the FSGs (forum specific guidelines). Thanks and may you receive much wisdom and knowledge of the Father himself! Blessings in Christ!
Mod Hat Off

 

[Proud Christian 2]

Dude, I am passionate that you posted about this. God will always forgive you. I have done things I'm not proud of, but I have repented all the time. There is no real way to ask for forgivness, but it won't matter. As long as you accept the lord into your heart, and beleive that Jesus died for your sins.
Your friend Rob? You can be friends with him. You don't have to try to convert him, but it would be good.

 

[died_last_october]

Thanks to everyone who posted, it's good to know that some of you can relate.

I have to confess, I seem to have committed one last sin, but with good intentions. I stole a Bible from my hotel room last night. It was my only way to obtain one, I just coulden't afford one, and I spent the most of my money on the hotel room, and I need to get something to eat...
I finnaly oppened it on my way home (waiting for my food at McDonalds, what a sight I must have been sitting at the Mcdonalds table looking like I do, and reading a Bible...)Anyway, I open it up and the 10 commandments were on printed on page 2, and my eyes went straight to:THOU SHALL NOT STEAL. In fairness, I didn't really know that that was a sin and plan to pay the hotel back once I get my life back on track.

I really need help, spiratually speaking, and I guess all I can do right now is pray for forgiveness. I'm only 24, so I hope I have plenty of time left to try to get on God's good side before I die.

Once again, thank you all for the help. Yeah.

 

[drich0150]

I didn't really know that that was a sin and plan to pay the hotel back once I get my life back on track.

My understanding is, If that bible was placed there by the "Gideons" it was there for you to take.. They supply bibles to hotels for that purpose.

 

[andreha]

Thanks to everyone who posted, it's good to know that some of you can relate.

I have to confess, I seem to have committed one last sin, but with good intentions. I stole a Bible from my hotel room last night. It was my only way to obtain one, I just coulden't afford one, and I spent the most of my money on the hotel room, and I need to get something to eat...
I finnaly oppened it on my way home (waiting for my food at McDonalds, what a sight I must have been sitting at the Mcdonalds table looking like I do, and reading a Bible...)Anyway, I open it up and the 10 commandments were on printed on page 2, and my eyes went straight to:THOU SHALL NOT STEAL. In fairness, I didn't really know that that was a sin and plan to pay the hotel back once I get my life back on track.

I really need help, spiratually speaking, and I guess all I can do right now is pray for forgiveness. I'm only 24, so I hope I have plenty of time left to try to get on God's good side before I die.

Once again, thank you all for the help. Yeah.

Hey, that's no so bad. A few years ago, I wanted to kill someone. Fortunately, the poor innocent guy got away, and the Lord forgave me for even that.

God does have a very gentle side, which we do indeed get to see, as long as we at least try to listen to Him. He understands that we are not perfect. That's the thing with God. His love is unconditional. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to chat, I'll tell you about the horrendous things that God forgave me for.

 

[Proud Christian 2]

Yeah, God's cool like that. He can make you open the bible to a page completely relevant to what you have done. Maybe save a little something for who you stole from, and buy a bible back for them.
I am amazed. I have seen God's wonders in little ways, but that is pretty awsome.
Also, It doesn't take anything to get on God's good side. Just apologize truly after accepting him into your life.
And read revelations. That book is about what will come. After reading it, let me emphasize the "Nobody knows the place or time Jesus will arrive." Don't think like you have forever. Revelations could happen tommorow for all we know. Repent now, please, if your going to repent at all.
Hope that helped.

 

[Jpark]

Thanks to everyone who posted, it's good to know that some of you can relate.

I have to confess, I seem to have committed one last sin, but with good intentions. I stole a Bible from my hotel room last night. It was my only way to obtain one, I just coulden't afford one, and I spent the most of my money on the hotel room, and I need to get something to eat...
I finnaly oppened it on my way home (waiting for my food at McDonalds, what a sight I must have been sitting at the Mcdonalds table looking like I do, and reading a Bible...)Anyway, I open it up and the 10 commandments were on printed on page 2, and my eyes went straight to:THOU SHALL NOT STEAL. In fairness, I didn't really know that that was a sin and plan to pay the hotel back once I get my life back on track.

I really need help, spiratually speaking, and I guess all I can do right now is pray for forgiveness. I'm only 24, so I hope I have plenty of time left to try to get on God's good side before I die.

Once again, thank you all for the help. Yeah.

Did you feel guilty? Convicted? That is God bringing you conviction.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) Whoever has been born of God does not sin (Romans 8:14), for His seed (Spirit) remains in him; and he cannot sin without the Spirit's conviction, because he has been born of God. (1 John 3:9)

If you heed the conviction, you cannot sin for His Spirit remains in you, grieved.

Now judgment is withheld only to give time to repent. (Romans 2:4)

If you sin, confess your sins to God and repent.

For if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

 

[heron]

THOU SHALL NOT STEAL.

Confirming information above, this is from the Gideons' web site:

"Gideon Scriptures are gifts. They are printed and shipped through the generous support of individual Christians and local churches."

You can be almost positive it's a Gideon Bible.

 

[Justaman0000]

Thanks to everyone who posted, it's good to know that some of you can relate.

I have to confess, I seem to have committed one last sin, but with good intentions. I stole a Bible from my hotel room last night. It was my only way to obtain one, I just coulden't afford one, and I spent the most of my money on the hotel room, and I need to get something to eat...
I finnaly oppened it on my way home (waiting for my food at McDonalds, what a sight I must have been sitting at the Mcdonalds table looking like I do, and reading a Bible...)Anyway, I open it up and the 10 commandments were on printed on page 2, and my eyes went straight to:THOU SHALL NOT STEAL. In fairness, I didn't really know that that was a sin and plan to pay the hotel back once I get my life back on track.

I really need help, spiratually speaking, and I guess all I can do right now is pray for forgiveness. I'm only 24, so I hope I have plenty of time left to try to get on God's good side before I die.

Once again, thank you all for the help. Yeah.

The Gideons place those bibles there without charge to the Hotel. And im sure they would be honored to know that someone in need took it. Amen. If you can't afford a bible, I would be more than happy to send you a nice study bible free of charge. Just PM me if you would like one.

 

[heron]

I wonder how many people are out there feeling guilty that they took a hotel room Bible. Some day they will meet in heaven for a Bible-stealers support group. The first time I saw a hotel Bible, I felt guilty reading someone else's book. Then I figured that if they left it in the drawer, they probably wouldn't come all the way back for it. (A long time ago.)

You can get cheap paperback Bibles at dollar stores... they're usually in Old English, or separate CD's of each book, digital. New Bibles are at peak cost these days -- lots of perks tucked in.