Question

[Chris†opher Paul]

Hi-

Why do you believe in Jesus our Lord? I'm not asking for scriptural, or canned answers, instead, I am interested in your personal convictions.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Josephus]

Why do I believe in Jesus our Lord?

Because he faithful, loving, and answers my prayers. Every one of them:


February 18, 2001

Finally a rest today in cold, cold England. Today I felt God was saying to me that he wants me to learn how to play guitar. I don't understand why. I hate guitars. They make my fingers hurt. I play keyboard just fine and I'm perfectly happy with it.


March 9, 2001

Today, after prayer in the Library concering my future, I was peeling paint off of the radiator, and tossed one very large piece away from me, but somehow I missed, and it ended up flying behind me - hitting the window and falling back into the radiator. When it filtered through it and finally landed, it made a sound quite unusual. It sounded like it landed on a piece of paper or something.

So I bent down to investigate, and indeed, the paint chip fell on a piece of paper. Right next to the paper was a cassette case and... a guitar pick.


June 12, 2001

Man, Brazil is hot. Rio alone will make a newcommer sleep all day because of the heat. While in my room alone, I heard God speak to my heart again... but this time it was not on my time in Brazil, or anyone I met, or a situation he wanted me to pray for. He just simply said, "Ryan I want you to learn how to play the guitar."

I objected. I know I shouldn't have, but ... well, I did. But a strange thing happened. Two weeks ago, a friend of mine happened to have a guitar. He offered me a chance to play it, I refused, but after his insistence I plucked at the strings. I realized then, as he told me later, that his guitar is a nylon string guitar - a Classical. It felt very comfortable. After that, I thought nothing of the encounter but now today, I'm reminded of it.

Well then. Hmmm. God, if you want me to learn how to play guitar, then I ask that you would prove this by giving me a nylon string guitar like my friend's. With a guitar case too. And while I'm at it, I might as well ask if it's ok that it would come with an electronic hook up as well. Thank you. If this isn't your will, then please help me to hear you better.



November 21st, 2001

I've been back in the United States for the past four months. Today was an incredible day. My new group of friends who I've been hanging out with for the past month or so have Tuesday night worship meetings. God has really helped me to get plugged-in ever since I returned from my long absence from home. Tonight, Tuesday, we had another meeting.

Nathan, a good friend of mine I met a few weeks after I returned in July, pulled me aside. Nathan, Nacho - as everyone calls him, is the leader for our little meetings. He said, "Ryan, I've really been praying about this for a month now,...and I really felt God is wanting me to give you my guitar. I don't know why, but I really feel you should have it." And with that he packed up his only guitar (of which he masterfully can play and which sound I love) set it in it's case, closed it, and shoved it over to me. "It's yours now."

It's a nylon string, classical guitar with built-amp and electric hook up. I can't believe it. Wow. God is faithful. I take this to mean that God wants me to learn how to play. Alrighty. Wow... I don't know what else to write. I reflect now on the events of the past, which I forgot about until this evening... and, wow. God is faithful.





=======================================
Souljah, my personal convictions are beyond doubt. I no longer "believe" - but I "know". Every day God answers my prayers. Every day God reveals his presence. Every day, though good times and bad, He proves His love over and over. For me to reject him now, would be to reject my life; as I see no other logical or rational alternative than to give myself to something far greater, far more perfect and "in charge" than anything I've ever experienced before.

I didn't start to experience these things though until I made the decision to give my life to Him. Period. It begins with us. God will never force us to 'believe' in him, though the evidence for his existence is as plain as the night sky. He will never get personal with you unless you want to. When you give him a chance... when you do... your life will be continually changed forever.

 

[Chris†opher Paul]

"It begins with us. God will never force us to 'believe' in him, though the evidence for his existence is as plain as the night sky."

Amen brother, I believe that. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

Wow that's awesome! I wish God told me to play guitar. I try but can only play the most simple of power cords and even then I don't sound good!

So when can I buy your CD?

 

[LouisBooth]

*mod hat one* project this is a quesiton forum. Please read the instructions on the forum title. If you're not asking a quesiton, don't post. Thanks *mod hat off*

 

[Josephus]

LB and others, I'll mod my own forum now. Don't worry guys, I can handle it.

 

[Chris†opher Paul]

Josephus-

This morning I experienced something akin to what you said above.

First, I have all sorts of evidence that God exists and I believe this beyond a reasonable doubt.

Second, I also believe that my heart must be open to God, in order to put all the pieces together, so to speak.

So, I was a bit distressed this morning getting ready for work, so I prayed for God to come into my heart, and make my beliefs 100% solid.

After I was done praying, for some reason I decided to pick up a Prayer Book that my wife had given to me last night. I flipped to a random page, and it was a prayer for the same things I was asking for a few minutes earlier. I got chills down my spine and felt really at peace.

Cool, eh?

 

[Josephus]

That's awesome

Today, after a week later after I prayed for this professor, my friend comes up to me and says God provided an opportunity yesterday for him to share his faith with an agnostic Western Civ professor. This woman is facing a great deal of spiritual warfare, but amazingly shocking and yet incredibly awesome - she thanked my friend for prayer for her and as she did, she began to cry. I can't believe this! This woman, who I though could never... wow, God IS faithful to reach anyone!

 

[Chris†opher Paul]

Originally posted by Josephus
That's awesome

Today, after a week later after I prayed for this professor, my friend comes up to me and says God provided an opportunity yesterday for him to share his faith with an agnostic Western Civ professor. This woman is facing a great deal of spiritual warfare, but amazingly shocking and yet incredibly awesome - she thanked my friend for prayer for her and as she did, she began to cry. I can't believe this! This woman, who I though could never... wow, God IS faithful to reach anyone!

Nice! I had another revelation given to my by a friend today, whome I think God directed me to for knowledge.

I will send you a PM, since it is really cool, and I don't want to throw my pearls before swine.

 

[Neo]

I have a question. Why would God interact with you, answer your prayers, and perform miracles for you, but ignore thousands of people praying to him for help? Where was God when the people dieing in the WTC were praying to him for help? Where was he during the holocaust?

 

[Josephus]

God did not ignore them. God does not ignore anyone. He either answers, "yes", "no", or "maybe later".

And often, God always likes to prove his providence and love by showing that evil can always be turned around to good:

The Holocaust put in place the conditions necessary to create the State of Israel - an answer to a 2700 year old promise of God to restore Israel in the last days.

The WTC attacks allowed God to use the United States to destroy the extremely repressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan once and for all.

God allows suffering because He is looking at a greater good: those believers in the WTC center are in a better place now, free from the suffering of this world. Sadly though, those who rejected Christ before dying are sitting in Eternity, waiting for a dreadful day of Judgement.

Everyone deserves death, because everyone sins. Even me. So no one is exempt from the curse of this world brought out by our rebellion against God. We could go at any time. God could end it all at any time - and he will.

Notice though, that God does put a restraint on evil - for without it, bad things would happen ALL the time, but also obviously he doesn't get rid of it completely. If God got rid of all evil on this earth at exactly 3:15pm tomorrow, no one would be standing at 3:16. God has a purpose, and often times it is greater than what we can ever hope to understand - but it is always good.

So why doesn't he appear to answer "yes" to people suffering? Because he has infinite knowledge of all courses of history if he were to in fact do a "yes" but somehow, in computing all possible historical scenarios after a given point, it can be more loving for Him to say "no" or "later".

Praying to God is always an exercise in agreeing with His will and praying for it to happen. When you know what God wants to do, pray for it. It will happen. Especially the specifics.

For example: on Monday, I was driving home. I said, "God I really really really need to start working this week. I just know I have to. Can you please provide me a job - some work for me THIS week?"

I drove up into the open garage. Got out of my truck, went inside, and bam, there was my dad standing at the top of the stairway holding a piece of paper in his hand. He says, "You got a job - these people want you to call them for orientation... it starts Tuesday (the next day)." I start my paid training tomorrow.

In my case, God answered "Yes". But there have been times when God answered "No". And often, it was because of my own selfish ends and reasons for him to say "yes". God proves he loves us by giving us a chance to respond to him. If we don't, it's our fault, not his. Because if we really "would ever..." we would in fact do it "now" - and God knows this, and can caculate a person's way of thinking so perfectly that he knows when such a person has reached that point; but even so, God gives someone multiple and multiple and multiple chances...until at one point it is simply far more loving for him to allow death to find a person, than to let him continue in his rejection of God. After all, if God harassed you to no end, and you want nothing to do with him, isn't it more loving of God to simply leave you entirely... even to face death on your own?

 

[woodchip]

bump