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to accept Jesus?
- Thread starter DeAnima
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Cian,
Actually, God works very visibly and evidently for us. That's why you see the same answers! I can tell you on any given day things that God has alerted me to, given me ideas for, led me to pray for people in danger that I would have never known of, helped me prepare more efficiently at work, and on. This comes from years of "practicing His presence..." starting with being grateful for those little moments that you suspect He has worked, and continuing to listen for more. Keep reading through other posts on this forum, and you'll see some amazing reports.
Part of the key, is to choose not to rely too heavily on your own strengths and judgements. Allow Him to help, and He builds on that faith.
Actually, God works very visibly and evidently for us. That's why you see the same answers! I can tell you on any given day things that God has alerted me to, given me ideas for, led me to pray for people in danger that I would have never known of, helped me prepare more efficiently at work, and on. This comes from years of "practicing His presence..." starting with being grateful for those little moments that you suspect He has worked, and continuing to listen for more. Keep reading through other posts on this forum, and you'll see some amazing reports.
Part of the key, is to choose not to rely too heavily on your own strengths and judgements. Allow Him to help, and He builds on that faith.
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holo
former Christian
Worried about your faith?DeAnima said:
You need faith like a mustard seed. So you're in the clear
btw, faith isn't something you conjure up in your mind, or something you force yourself to do. It's God's gift. Of course, we can complicate it with discussions on free will and theological technicalities, but I'd rather not go there.
You don't have to understand God (though it's tempting to try). He's just waiting and longing to give you everything He has for you. And if you're anything like me, you can't stand to know the entire truth all at once. Rather, God will guide us, step by step, from truth to more truth.
About prayers being anwered or not.
The bible says a lot about prayer, and I guess you'd have to sum it up in order to get the full truth about it.
In the meantime I have a few observations about it:
I think we often pray with selfish intentions, rather in pure love. God's will for us is to love one another, and I think our prayers have to be in line with that.
Also, sometimes what seems good to me isn't what God's plan for me is.
For example, I was praying and praying to get a good job, but I never imagined God woud place me with "special" people. It turns out I have a talent for it, and He's teaching me a lot about love through my job.
Also, sometimes we ask God to do something He has already told US to do, and sometimes we ask Him to do what He's already done, like forgiving us.
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swifteagle
Prophetic ~ Intercessor ~ Warrior!
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Crossrunner is right.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
If your best friend gives you a gift, you wouldn't own it until you received it from your friend. ~ Jesus has offered you a free gift, eternal salvation. Have you received it? Then you are "Saved", a "Christian" a "Child of God".
If you received a gift from your friend would it be less yours if you didn't feel it belonged to you? No, if you received it then you now own it!
Now it is time to find an awesome church with other believers that will help you grow in faith and encourage and strengthen you.
Bless you!
swifteagle ><>
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
If your best friend gives you a gift, you wouldn't own it until you received it from your friend. ~ Jesus has offered you a free gift, eternal salvation. Have you received it? Then you are "Saved", a "Christian" a "Child of God".
If you received a gift from your friend would it be less yours if you didn't feel it belonged to you? No, if you received it then you now own it!
Now it is time to find an awesome church with other believers that will help you grow in faith and encourage and strengthen you.
Bless you!
swifteagle ><>
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ChristianDude777
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Cian said:
Actually, this isn't correct. While it is all about faith, God can speak to anyone at any time. To try and tell someone otherwise is simply wrong.
Cian said:
You're simply wrong. Just because you never heard Jesus' voice does not mean anyone else can't. Maybe you just didn't see the answers.
Tim L.
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I can see where Cian gets the impression that this is unreal, though...think about how cultish and ineffectual blind faith sounds, if you get no answers.
Blind faith is more of a cultural phrase than a scriptural one. It sometimes feels like blind faith, to read a promise of God that seems overwhelmingly gracious, and to apply it to you. The lack of clarity comes from making decisions where you don't always see the circumstances lined up. If you faith pertains to a leading of God, you should always weigh your impressions with various scriptures, how it will impact others, whether the timing is meant to stretch out farther than you would choose. God often tells people about destinies years ahead, so they'll have time to prepare.
If you combine Proverbs with the gospel faith statements, you get a nice balance of wisdom and stepping out.
Blind faith is more of a cultural phrase than a scriptural one. It sometimes feels like blind faith, to read a promise of God that seems overwhelmingly gracious, and to apply it to you. The lack of clarity comes from making decisions where you don't always see the circumstances lined up. If you faith pertains to a leading of God, you should always weigh your impressions with various scriptures, how it will impact others, whether the timing is meant to stretch out farther than you would choose. God often tells people about destinies years ahead, so they'll have time to prepare.
If you combine Proverbs with the gospel faith statements, you get a nice balance of wisdom and stepping out.
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NothingButTheBlood
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I had no feeling when I became saved other than "relief" that I had finally figured out what I had been looking for. Are you asking how can you tell if your saved or are you specifically asking God to guide you on something? As far as being able to tell if you saved think about your life and what you are doing. Are there things you don't like about yourself or behaviors you want to change? Are you looking for guidance on something and are not sure what to do? I thought for along time I wasn't saved because I don't get emotional or "feel" anything but I started to notice changes in how I looked at things and how I thought of God.
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That's valuable info, NBTB...I think that God can withhold experiential feelings when we need to put more effort into reading and trusting. If we're too focused on the proof, or the miracles, then He can allow the search to be more difficult.
It's an exercise of faith to see the words that you are saved when you believe, because it requires believing that God means what He says. The same for getting help from Him. We gradually learn to trust his written words. It's a training process, so we can grasp more complicated instances needing faith. Getting no answer can be the beginning of greater things.
I hope this doesn't sound like God is playing games. On the contrary, He's making sure our faith walk is real and genuine to us, and that we can know He's there even when the room is dark.
It's an exercise of faith to see the words that you are saved when you believe, because it requires believing that God means what He says. The same for getting help from Him. We gradually learn to trust his written words. It's a training process, so we can grasp more complicated instances needing faith. Getting no answer can be the beginning of greater things.
I hope this doesn't sound like God is playing games. On the contrary, He's making sure our faith walk is real and genuine to us, and that we can know He's there even when the room is dark.
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Here's a funny one on trusting God's voice...
One day I heard what I thought was God, saying "You will gain forty pounds." What a disconcerting thing to hear, and try to imagine how it was God. Was it the devil? Was it my imagination? It just came from nowhere, and seemed to be bad news. About a month later, I found out I was pregnant.
I had so much vomiting, my doctor and nurses nagged me to gain weight (and "stop trying to lose it," ha, right-- and eventually I did.)
Other words came at the same time, that seemed to be bad news, but they prepared me for what was to come, and helped me see that some of the circumstances were not my fault, but part of a larger process.
One day I heard what I thought was God, saying "You will gain forty pounds." What a disconcerting thing to hear, and try to imagine how it was God. Was it the devil? Was it my imagination? It just came from nowhere, and seemed to be bad news. About a month later, I found out I was pregnant.
I had so much vomiting, my doctor and nurses nagged me to gain weight (and "stop trying to lose it," ha, right-- and eventually I did.)
Other words came at the same time, that seemed to be bad news, but they prepared me for what was to come, and helped me see that some of the circumstances were not my fault, but part of a larger process.
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good questions. I have begun to read the Bible each day now and I will try to live more like a christian. I get often side tracked (cause of friends and stuff) so I am often thinking about that God will put me on the right track again.
Does it take awhile before you become a christian?
I guess I whant a more the lost son experience, where there is no hope and God comes to rescue.
I also hava non-christian girlfriend, I personlay think that is not good for my chritian growth.
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The lost son experience... 
yeah, some of have really boring stories to tell!
You can decide to become a Christian any time you'd like. You are the one who decides you're ready.
Do you know what that involves? The first thing, which I think you already do, is believe that God exists, that Jesus is God who came to earth in our form, and died to redeem us...and rose again, showing his power over death. Even if it doesn't totally make sense, just let God know that you want to believe that.
Admit that there are areas of your life that you know aren't right...selfish ambition, stepping on others' toes, pride pushing through too hard, jealousies, whatever. Basic human error along with gross errors, over which you choose to allow God to forgive, cleanse, and reshape you.
Decide that you would like God to be a part of your daily life, that you would like to interact with Him, listen to his advice, care for others.
The other thing that Jesus spoke of, was baptism, which is a public and visual statement of being washed clean for a new life. It's not practical to do that while you're typing, or your keyboard would get wet, so see if a church might do that for you.
In the meantime, if you'd like to make a decision public, you can do it here. How much more public can you get than the worldwideweb?
If you'd rather wait, you'll see there are people on this forum who are great at leading you through salvation prayers...we can post a few prayers if you're not comfortable with what to say...but you can also do it yourself.
yeah, some of have really boring stories to tell! You can decide to become a Christian any time you'd like. You are the one who decides you're ready.
Do you know what that involves? The first thing, which I think you already do, is believe that God exists, that Jesus is God who came to earth in our form, and died to redeem us...and rose again, showing his power over death. Even if it doesn't totally make sense, just let God know that you want to believe that.
Admit that there are areas of your life that you know aren't right...selfish ambition, stepping on others' toes, pride pushing through too hard, jealousies, whatever. Basic human error along with gross errors, over which you choose to allow God to forgive, cleanse, and reshape you.
Decide that you would like God to be a part of your daily life, that you would like to interact with Him, listen to his advice, care for others.
The other thing that Jesus spoke of, was baptism, which is a public and visual statement of being washed clean for a new life. It's not practical to do that while you're typing, or your keyboard would get wet, so see if a church might do that for you.
In the meantime, if you'd like to make a decision public, you can do it here. How much more public can you get than the worldwideweb?
If you'd rather wait, you'll see there are people on this forum who are great at leading you through salvation prayers...we can post a few prayers if you're not comfortable with what to say...but you can also do it yourself.
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Yes, like with me I didn't so much as discover jesus as i did rediscover my faith by learning more about religion. I learnt about the evils of Islam and thought to myself "That is why there is Christianity!". Because Islam is pure evil and Christianity is pure good.
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Had a thought in the middle of the day today, what if I'd never believed in an afterlife. It would be painful to live, thinking that I wouldn't exist at some point. How nice it has been, having that expectation in my mind.
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I am allready babtised. but I get the point. To say that you are a christian and to show it.
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Elect
It is God that Justifies
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.DeAnima said:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. So then, whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Everyone who calls upon the name of Jesus shall and will be saved and He will not turn any away.
This is the condemnation, the light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil, which is everybody. For everyone that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
He that believes on Him is not condemned, but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand and Jesus was sent down from heaven, not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him. And this is the will of the Father that sent His Son, that everyone which sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life, and He will raise him up at the last day and that of all which the Father has given the Son that none should be lost.
If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart, that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. So repent of your sin and believe the Gospel, call on Jesus and you shall be saved and the blood of Jesus will cleanse you of all your sin and God will impute righteousness to you and you will escape the wrath to come. Amen.
"But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."[size=-1] (Acts 10:35)[/size]
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DeAnima, sorry to have wandered from your thread. I went back and read most of it, and your words stood out -- "One time we got a visist from a South-African misionary, who said that God has a plan for me. I wonder what that is."
There are the general redeemed and relieved life plans that someone mentioned, but I believe there are also optional things that God knows would fit well into our backgrounds and skills, that would serve others. People get a strange knowing inside of them, a passion for something they can't quite explain. It pops up over and over through the years, and you find yourself preparing for that goal and making it a part of you.
When I was about 20, I had a simple vision of a house that wasn't one I would normally pick, and had a sense that it was my house; I had no idea what the significance was, but the impression was strong and returned often, and seemed far into the future. As my married life progressed, I found my husband developing a career interest in an area that made no practical sense, and it tied in with the location of my house vision.
I don't think God gave me much information on it because there were so many free will decisions that needed to lead up to the cause for owning the house, but it helps explain to me that my husband's goals are not off the wall, and so I support them, resting in the assurance that God has his hand in it.
There are times when I go places based on a still-small-voice hunch, and run across people who have been praying for help. God does an incredible amount of networking; I don't know how he keeps it all straight! But I believe that God does have a purpose for your life, and some of it is based on prayers of people a decade or two ago, people who were crying out for help. God knows where your strengths and interests fit in.
There are the general redeemed and relieved life plans that someone mentioned, but I believe there are also optional things that God knows would fit well into our backgrounds and skills, that would serve others. People get a strange knowing inside of them, a passion for something they can't quite explain. It pops up over and over through the years, and you find yourself preparing for that goal and making it a part of you.
When I was about 20, I had a simple vision of a house that wasn't one I would normally pick, and had a sense that it was my house; I had no idea what the significance was, but the impression was strong and returned often, and seemed far into the future. As my married life progressed, I found my husband developing a career interest in an area that made no practical sense, and it tied in with the location of my house vision.
I don't think God gave me much information on it because there were so many free will decisions that needed to lead up to the cause for owning the house, but it helps explain to me that my husband's goals are not off the wall, and so I support them, resting in the assurance that God has his hand in it.
There are times when I go places based on a still-small-voice hunch, and run across people who have been praying for help. God does an incredible amount of networking; I don't know how he keeps it all straight! But I believe that God does have a purpose for your life, and some of it is based on prayers of people a decade or two ago, people who were crying out for help. God knows where your strengths and interests fit in.
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The key is repentance. To receive Him as our Savior, we must do more than pray to Him. We must come to Him in humility and tell Him that we are sinners. We must ask Him to forgive us, because we know He has an infinite capacity for mercy. We must name for Him all of the mistakes we've made, and accept His gift of pardon.
We have ALL sinned; all are undeserving of God's eternal reward of heaven. We cannot be in God's presence with sin on our records. God sent His Son to willingly die for us, and in doing so, paid the penalty we have all earned. We must now be completely honest with God about our mistakes, and tell Him that we accept His Son's sacrifice. For this, we owe Him no less than our very own lives, our hearts, and our all. Ask Him to forgive you, and offer yourself as an instrument of His Will on earth with complete sincerity and love. God, who knows every thought in our minds and worry in our hearts, will give you peace.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11: 28-30
Seek His own heart, find out who God is. Ask for the Holy Spirit of God to reside in you, and through you, do God's Will on earth.
We have ALL sinned; all are undeserving of God's eternal reward of heaven. We cannot be in God's presence with sin on our records. God sent His Son to willingly die for us, and in doing so, paid the penalty we have all earned. We must now be completely honest with God about our mistakes, and tell Him that we accept His Son's sacrifice. For this, we owe Him no less than our very own lives, our hearts, and our all. Ask Him to forgive you, and offer yourself as an instrument of His Will on earth with complete sincerity and love. God, who knows every thought in our minds and worry in our hearts, will give you peace.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11: 28-30
Seek His own heart, find out who God is. Ask for the Holy Spirit of God to reside in you, and through you, do God's Will on earth.
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Followers4christ
Love my wife, 2 sons and Daughter. God is great!!
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Here are some useful scriptures on how to become a Christian.
Romans 10:9"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is lord and believe in your heart that GOD raised him from the dead you will be saved.Acts 2:21"And everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved."Romans 6:23"For the wages of sin is death,but the gift of GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."John 3:16"For GOD so loved the world that HE gave his one and only son,that Whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life.For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world,but to save the world through him."1 John 1:9"If we confess our sins,He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."Romans 3:22"This righteousness from GOD comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.There is no difference,for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD,and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."Psalm 51:1"Have mercy on me,O GOD,according to Your unfailing love according to your great compassion blot out my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin."Galatians 5:24"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires."Romans 10:17"Consequently,faith comes hearing the message,and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
2 Corinthians 5:17"Therefore,if anyone is in Christ,he is a new creation the old has gone the new has come."John 5:24"I tell you the truth ,whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned he has crossed over from death to life."Romans 10:12"For there is no difference between jew and gentile the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."Joshua 1:8"Do not let this Book of the law depart from your mouth,meditate on it day and night,so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.Then you will be prosperous and successful."2 Corinthians 5:17"Therefore,if anyone is in Christ,he is a new creation the old has gone the new has come."I Believe that if you have faith in Jesus Christ and believe he died for are sins and rose from the dead that you will have eternal life in heaven.Just becuase you believe in Jesus dose not mean you should go and start sinning more.You should put your sinful way of life to death.Read Ephesians 4:28 to 4:32 Also read Romans 12:17 to 12:19.
Romans 6:1"Shall we go on sining so that grace may increase?By no means!We died to sin, how can we live in it any longer"GOD BLESS.
Romans 10:9"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is lord and believe in your heart that GOD raised him from the dead you will be saved.Acts 2:21"And everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved."Romans 6:23"For the wages of sin is death,but the gift of GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."John 3:16"For GOD so loved the world that HE gave his one and only son,that Whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life.For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world,but to save the world through him."1 John 1:9"If we confess our sins,He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."Romans 3:22"This righteousness from GOD comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.There is no difference,for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD,and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."Psalm 51:1"Have mercy on me,O GOD,according to Your unfailing love according to your great compassion blot out my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin."Galatians 5:24"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires."Romans 10:17"Consequently,faith comes hearing the message,and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
2 Corinthians 5:17"Therefore,if anyone is in Christ,he is a new creation the old has gone the new has come."John 5:24"I tell you the truth ,whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned he has crossed over from death to life."Romans 10:12"For there is no difference between jew and gentile the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."Joshua 1:8"Do not let this Book of the law depart from your mouth,meditate on it day and night,so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.Then you will be prosperous and successful."2 Corinthians 5:17"Therefore,if anyone is in Christ,he is a new creation the old has gone the new has come."I Believe that if you have faith in Jesus Christ and believe he died for are sins and rose from the dead that you will have eternal life in heaven.Just becuase you believe in Jesus dose not mean you should go and start sinning more.You should put your sinful way of life to death.Read Ephesians 4:28 to 4:32 Also read Romans 12:17 to 12:19.
Romans 6:1"Shall we go on sining so that grace may increase?By no means!We died to sin, how can we live in it any longer"GOD BLESS.
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You'll get an answer if you seek him. The way I found him was that I went to church one day when I was younger and the pastor was talking about the unforgivable sin and I thought I had commited it and I was so stressed out and it was preying on my mind every second and I didn't think I should ask God to forgive me for waht I'd done, but I adventually did and I was baptized in the holy spirit right there in my room. I didn't expect that to happen, but I knew exactly what I was feeling. And sometimes when I've sinned and I just really need to feel Gods presence I will seek and long for him and in the past I've opened up the bible and read something that stuck out to me and I would feel the presence of the holy spirit. But God often or usually answers in other ways.
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