Questions About Christianity

[Lizzie01]

Thanks for helping me guys I really appreciate you are all wonderful, but how do you really know the love of Jesus like I feel I need something more but what?

We all have a God-Shaped vacuum that can only be filled by Jesus, however we try and fill it with other things. What are some of the ways we try to meet these needs ourselves? I mean what I do I always like watch TV or I am on the computer and I will eat alot!! *sigh* I dunno what to do anymore! thanks for your prayers and concerns everyone!

 

[whatseekye]

Hi Lizzie,

That was a great way to put it, "a God-shaped vacuum". I think that it's helpful to realize that this feeling of emptiness inside is a need for God, and that we can't fulfill that in and of ourselves. We have to wait on God to fill it for us. He'll do all the work. Tell God that you place all your faith in Him to complete you and to perfect your love for him. Spend time with him and cultivate an awareness of his presence. He is with you all the time, although when we get busy we tend to lose that sense of being close to God. He didn't move, we did (is the saying).

Another useful concept is that of the heart being hard, like an untilled field. We need to "break up our fallow ground", become broken for God. It means that when we find ourselves lacking in love or lacking in a zeal for God, then we seek him until we really care. Sermons have been written on this subject. I can't link because I don't have enough posts yet, but here are the bible quotes that talk about breaking up fallow ground. If you search on the internet you can find some great sermons that talk about how to break up the fallow ground in your heart:

Jeremiah 4:3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

GOD BLESS YOU LIZZIE....YOU ARE SEEKING HIM!

 

[Lizzie01]

Thanks again everyone,

What is it about Jesus that sets Him apart from anyone else? Why, more than 2000 years after his birth, do over 1 billion people claim to be his followers? What's your intake on this? Jesus is easily the most influential figure of all time . In fact, his arrival separated history into 2 eras: B.C. and A.D.

 

[Rafael]

Thank you so much Lyle but what should I do when I have some bad days like today for example I said some things I shouldn't have and I feel like I should be the one in chains and tortured and even on that cross, why would God want to reveal himself to me when I am not worth it and I always let him down but I tell you this I will not give up!

I WILL WALK BY FAITH NO MATTER WHAT!!

That's right! Never give up! The Bible says to continue to fight the good fight in your life, and that is a vitally important part of you testimony. The flesh and the spirit are always at war within us, and we are never free of this battle until the day we receive new bodies, He called mansions, that are eternal. Perhaps if you understand this, then you can forget the bad days more easily and move on towards the goal we have in Jesus Christ to be more like Him.

Galatians 5:17 (LIV) For we naturally love to do evil things that the Holy Spirit tells us not to do; and the good things we want to do when the Holy Spirit has His way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures.
Gal 5:17 (KJV) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Another good way to grow is to become more like a servant by helping others. Finding charitable service within the Church or communities. Visitation to the sick or lonely elderly in nursing homes, food programs in Churches for poor, City Missions - all these things are the things Jesus asks about when He returns, and He says that when we help even the least person of stature and importance, we have helped Him.

Lu 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you,
let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth
serve.

I know how it is with the battles of life, but there is wisdom in the one day at a time advice, for the Bible tells us that each day has its own evils sifficient for that day, and that we are to daily pick up our cross to follow Him, renewing ourselves daily in His Word. The Bible imparts life and spirit to you.
Never, never, never give up or cast away your confidence in God.

Php 3:13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

Lu 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Mt 6:34 "So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

 

[Lizzie01]

Thank you very much Raphe, I mean just reading that I've realized to look forward and I have read these things before but I dunno what it was but it just made me realize to honestly Forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead! that is true but I feel that if I forget some things in my past then I will never really heal from it, and I know I will always remember it but I want to heal from it just incase it might come up again! you know? It's a working progress but I know it's possible! Godbless you all!!!

 

[Johnnz]

Have you read "What's so amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey? It may be helpful to you, and give a greater understanding of God's constant attitude towards you.

John
NZ

 

[Lizzie01]

No I haven't read that book and I am reading a lot of books already but thanks though!

 

[Lizzie01]

I have a question for you people.. umm.. I like to go dancing and have a few drinks but it's like after when i think of God or I hear worship music it makes me feel guilty after.. so I dunno if it's a bad thing or not! you think if I feel guilty it is! but what is your intake on it?

 

[rogsr]

Don't do things that degrade yourself or others in the process of having fun. Though it's not everyones cup of tea it's ok to go to the club and hang out with your friends. But remain mindful of your actions and the fact that you are a child of God.

 

[Lizzie01]

I know I am a child of God and if I go drinking with friends or family I always watch my actions that is always what I do when I am out!

 

[rogsr]

Well then, it sounds like you are good to go.

Peace-

 

[Lizzie01]

I am good to go but whay do I feel guilty about it? some people say well Jesus had wine but yes that is true but that is bibical isn't it? I mean I feel drinking is wrong and I will only drink once in a while with my sisters and my cousin! and my close friends. What is the solution? God is this wrong? I just want to know the limit!

 

[rogsr]

I heard a story about a woman that cut her own tounge out of her mouth so that she couldn't denounce her Lord...that is beyond bravery.

My friend asked me to clarify the meaning of this story. He is worried that some of you may run out and cut your tounges out or something, and I see his point.

During times of extreme torture some very faithful servants of Christ have done things like this as a last resort. This is something that is beyond reason in the context of what any of us will ever endure. However, it does illustrate the love that we have for our Lord. That this person would do this under the most extreme conditions only illustrates the zealous love that we all have for our Lord.

There is another story concerning a convent under attack by barbarian invaders. The nun's smashed and disfigured their own faces so that their virginity would be preserved. This unreasonable for any of us, but it does illustrate the zealous love that we all have for our Lord and what we are willing to endure to stay true to that love. I like to remember these stories when I am stumbling. They help to make me realize that we all have it very easy in comparison to the physical and real torturous suffering that past brothers and sisters endured.

 

[rogsr]

Don't put yourself into a situation in which bad things happen. As I'm sure you know many bad things happen to young ladies when they are drunk. Be wise and either don't drink at all or at least practice temperance. Maybe God is trying to tell you not to go out because He knows something that you do not. God knows far more about us then we will ever know. When we belong to Christ we get special benefits like early warning signs, never ignore them.

 

[Lizzie01]

Thanks so much but I have realized that there are some people that are literally so hyped for God and like yelling and they are raising there hands and they like fall to the ground and I know I raise my hands but i hate it when they constantly yell and say PRAISE JESUS and constantly yelling and saying amen brother, that just freaks me out and I know I am not really close to him but i don't wanna get like that. With society and things that surround me I am having a hard time with it and I can't really remain focused anymore.. so I am kinda stuck so yeah that is all I have to say as of right now thanks!

 

[Lizzie01]

Hey everyone,

Right now I feel just happy with God and sometimes I feel like people do care for me but other people are concentrated on other things on earth and I understand that and I am in this pulse drama team and I am not sure if I should stay I just feel some people are rushing through things to get to the dramas and are not completely focused or they are just focused on themselves. I just feel out of the loop in a way and I feel I am not even there. I am going to pray about it though and if I was like the only person in this world I would be okay with that I would rather be alone and have a relationship God. I don't need to be around earthly desires. I might be sounding harsh or maybe not but all I am going to do is pray about it. tell me what you think though. thanks

Elizabeth

 

[somethinfishy]

I say you are on the right track. As I was reading this thread, I could hear your confusion and questions, just like I am having right now (see "Which Church to Attend?"). I, too have gotten a lot of great advice, but, like you said, it all comes down to you and God. He has given us three things to change our character to be more like His (from "The Purpose Driven Life") His Word (Truth), others (support) and circumstances (environment). I know that I am still appreciating what everyone here has to say, and still looking for more "jewels of wisdom," but over the last couple of days, I am leaning more and more to dedicating myself to prayer and searching the Bible, to know His character more. I know that the Bible won't tell me which church to attend, exactly, nor is it likely that He will hit me with the answer as I pray (thought not impossible), but by getting to know him more will definitely help (it can't hurt, anyways!! )

Keep praying! I'll be praying for you, too!

Kelsie

 

[Lizzie01]

Thank You very much Kelsey, I know that I haven't done enough prayer time and bible time and at my church the college and career, we don't exactly have one and the people there now are too clingy and too much gossip etc. and no offense to them but I couldn't handle it anymore, I feel much better reading the bible and doing things myself and alot of the time I feel alone and I know I do have friends but no one that I am really close to anymore but even if it's just God and me I am seriously completely fine with that. Just with society and computer and TV it's so hard to focus but I am going to start trying my hardest. I haven't even read the purpose driven life yet, I like start on it and then I stop, it doesn't make sense. I love Jesus with all my heart and I long for him even though I definately don't show it. It will be sad if I lose friends towards problems but no matter what happens Christ is always there. What ever happens good things always come out of it.

 

[TheMainException]

I think that having a God to watch out for us closes some of the doors we don't want to go through and opens the doors that are best for us. I think that in order to live a life that is fullfilling, we need God. I think, that if we want to reach heaven...we have to reach out and let Jesus embrace us.

 

[LegomasterJC]

If someone accused me of being weak, afraid, and needing Jesus because I can't make it on my own, I'd have to put my hands up and say "you got me."

But I don't have a problem with facing that this is the truth of my condition.
Human beings are weak and fearful in comparison to our Creator, and we were designed to live in a dependent relationship to Him.

I'd argue about the "Christians dont wanna have fun" bit though - I've had more fun in the few years I've been a Christian than I ever had before!

The problem comes when a human decides they are strong and brave and able to do everything themselevs. The Bible calls it pride, and that's the problem.

God bless, Susana

Exactly: Even the strongest man is nothing without God. heh. there's a guy in my church who is a self defense instructer and he is huge... has 3 girls... and is made stronger in Christ