What can I do?

[bsd13]

1Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

God says both - we will not be tempted beyond what we are able, and He will provide an escape. Perhaps the escape is so that we will not be tempted beyond what we are able, but it does not matter. we are clearly told that we will not be tempted beyond what we are able.

I guess I don't see your point other than an apparent desire to argue schematics with me. Again, nowhere in scripture does it say that God won't test us. Nor does it ever indicate that there is a limit to the testing he will put us through. We just know that by turning to him we can endure anything. And that's the point of being tested, so that we can learn to turn to God to get us through things.

 

[dancingforJesus]

It seems you are at the point where you are needing to make a decision. The decision between things of this world (including people) and God. It's like, do you follow the things of this world, do you stay with your family even if they refuse to believe God or follow Him, do you keep your job even though you know something they are doing is wrong...or do you follow God? That's really what I see here. It comes down to this really: what is more important in the long run...staying with family because you love them so much, keeping a job that is clearly doing something wrong just because it's hard to find one, ect. or is it more important to get yourself right with God and build yourself up in Him as to have a Heavenly reward for all eternity?
I think at some point we all reach the place where we have to decide. And, even though it may be the hardest thing we've ever done in our lives, we have to follow God and that may mean we have to give up a good job (we just trust in God to provide us with another one), we may have to leave people in our lives (not necessarily forget about them or have no relationship with them, just not being around their influences all the time), ect.
At times there may be things that God asks us to give up for Him. It is never easy when He asks this of us, believe me. But, it is far more rewarding to please God then to please ourselves...to follow Him and not the things of this world.
In regards to the pirated software being used at your workplace...it may be something that your boss did, but if you are using it then it is the same as you saying it is ok that it was stolen. In the Bible it says that lusting after another mans wife is considered comitting adultry...so, if that's the case, then wouldn't using something that's stolen be the same thing as stealing it yourself?
People always seem to make all kinds of excuses for things, trying to pass them off as being ok when really they're not. People say things like, "Oh, it's just a movie"; "It's not like you stole it yourself, you're just doing your job."; "It's just this...or it's just that". It's not JUST anything. If you participate in it in any way wither it be watching it, listening to it, tagging along with a friend who's doing something, ect. then it is the same as saying you approve of it and it's alright. We need to get serious in our walk with God and not try to make light of things or make things seem alright that is not. We need to stop making excuses for things and trying to reason why something is alright just because we want to do it or want some benifit of it (like the money from the job). We need to follow God and do what He wants us to do. We need to do what is right in His eyes, not in our eyes or anyone elses. We need to listen to God, not anyone else. If God says it is wrong and/or if God would not approve of it, then we should not do it or participate in it in any way. It is not a game or something to take lightly. It is not something we can brush off as saying...well, God will forgive us so it's ok...God understands I'm not the one who stole it in the first place...ect. We can not be double minded...one minute we're serving God and trying to please Him and the next we're making all kinds of excuses why something is right that isn't so we can do what we want or what someone else thinks we should....or participating in something that God would not approve of saying well, He will forgive me. Yes, He will forgive you, but it is not a free ticket to do as you please and then come back to Him asking forgiveness. It is when we make a mistake or mess up and truly desire to please Him that we come with a repentive heart sencerely turning from that and to Him and asking Him to help us do what's right as it is in our heart to do right and be pleasing to Him.
As for God's love being soemthing you can't understand...well, it is beyond our understanding. I myself, don't understand why He would love me so much when I mess up all the time, do things wrong, say things wrong, have bad attitudes, have anger at times, ect. But, regardless He still loves me. He loves me and all of us so much that He layed His life down for us. His love is unconditional, and uncomprehendable. We just have to accept it and return that love to Him.
It is not through any thing that we do that we can get to Heaven. It is through the blood of Jesus, that He shed for us on that cross, that we can get to Heaven. We must believe in Him and know that He paid the price for all of us. We repent of our sins (ask God's forgiveness of our sins), believe that Jesus came and died for us, and that's how we get to Heaven. There is nothing we can do but to believe in Jesus that will get us to Heaven. No good acts, no amount of money given to good causes or churches, no ministry work...nothing we do will get us there.
It has taken me a long time to realize that we can never be good enough. We all sin and fall short of the glory. But, it is through repentance (asking God to forgive us) that we are made right in God's eyes. Jesus paid the price for our sins and it is through Him that we can come to God and ask forgivenss of our sins knowing that God will forgive us. It is what is in our heart that matters most, not in our actions. We may mess up over and over and most likely we all do, but it is our willingness to ask His forgiveness, ask His help to not do those things again, and our hearts that seek to do what's right that matter most.
Sorry, I guess I got carried away there. But, it is just something that burst out when I began typing in reply to this.

 

[Jayangel81]

Have you received the Comforter, the Holy Spirit?
the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5)

Here's what to expect:-
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance . . the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:4, 39)

I just want to make sure peter knows there is a difference between recieving the Holy Spirit and by what happened in acts 2:4. In acts they recieved the baptism of the Holy Ghost. two different events. The apostles already recieved the Holy Spirit in John 20:22 when Jesus breathed on Him.

John 20:22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Many people get these two events mixed up and believe its one in the same but it isnt

Just wanted to clear that up, carry on

 

[Pure_Heart]

God only gives us what we can handle through His strength and no more.

Proverbs 27:17 says "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

Do not blame God for your choices in life. But, rather, ask God why it is these things are happening and what is it you are supposed to do in these circumstances that would be pleasing to God alone?

Perhaps you were in the job because you asked God for a job, but rather than wait for God to bring you the job which God planned for you to have, you, instead, went out and found you a job and then you claimed it was the job that God had given you when in reality it was not.

The hardest thing for Christians to do is wait on the LORD and trust God to provide All of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Instead of waiting for God and on God, Christians go out and answer their own prayers. And, then you have situations like these! And, when you are in situations like these, satan comes along with his slippery voice/messages and says to your listening, hurt and embittered ear "God doesn't love you, if he did, then he wouldn't have put you in this job to begin with .... " right? A strong Christian would rebuke satan and tell him to get thee behind him. A weak Christian accepts the messages as his own and believes them which deters him from seeking God and wanting to know what the truth is.

Which Christian are you?

 

[peterparker]

Man, sometimes I wish it were just easier to explain my situation. I'll try to clarify a bit more.

It seems you are at the point where you are needing to make a decision. The decision between things of this world (including people) and God. It's like, do you follow the things of this world, do you stay with your family even if they refuse to believe God or follow Him, do you keep your job even though you know something they are doing is wrong...or do you follow God? That's really what I see here.

Let me ask you some things. If I chose wrong do I go to hell? I'm assuming you would chose what you believe is God in this situation (i'm not completely certain it's a strict choice between God and this world here to tell you the truth). What would be your motivation in chosing what you believe is God? Fear of hell? Or something else?

It comes down to this really: what is more important in the long run...staying with family because you love them so much, keeping a job that is clearly doing something wrong just because it's hard to find one, ect. or is it more important to get yourself right with God and build yourself up in Him as to have a Heavenly reward for all eternity?
I think at some point we all reach the place where we have to decide.

Based on how you would answer my previous questions I'd be more certain, but I don't think you know where I am in my life/faith. In all honesty I don't know either. Am I chosing so that I won't go to hell? Because that's my fear.

I'm going to make some assumptions here about you and your faith: I'm going to guess you believe you are saved. I'm going to guess you are not worried about hell, and you would make these choices based on love and obedience towards God. If this is true, let me clarify that you and I are in very different places in our faith. I don't know if I am saved, because in all the mess that has been my religious walk (if you could call it that) I'm still not sure I know how salvation works. I hate to say it, but I don't love God, and I'm afraid the holy spirit might not even be in me.

And, even though it may be the hardest thing we've ever done in our lives, we have to follow God and that may mean we have to give up a good job (we just trust in God to provide us with another one), we may have to leave people in our lives (not necessarily forget about them or have no relationship with them, just not being around their influences all the time), ect.
At times there may be things that God asks us to give up for Him.

Again, "for Him", as in for salvation? And if that's the case then I am confused once again as it seems to me salvation isn't free.

It is never easy when He asks this of us, believe me. But, it is far more rewarding to please God then to please ourselves...to follow Him and not the things of this world.
In regards to the pirated software being used at your workplace...it may be something that your boss did, but if you are using it then it is the same as you saying it is ok that it was stolen.

With your opinion here (which is a very valid opinion, and what I was originally thinking I would have to do) I'm fairly confused as to what to do. If I was truly a Christian what would be my motivation for say quitting that job?

In the Bible it says that lusting after another mans wife is considered comitting adultry...so, if that's the case, then wouldn't using something that's stolen be the same thing as stealing it yourself?
People always seem to make all kinds of excuses for things, trying to pass them off as being ok when really they're not. People say things like, "Oh, it's just a movie"; "It's not like you stole it yourself, you're just doing your job."; "It's just this...or it's just that". It's not JUST anything. If you participate in it in any way wither it be watching it, listening to it, tagging along with a friend who's doing something, ect. then it is the same as saying you approve of it and it's alright. We need to get serious in our walk with God and not try to make light of things or make things seem alright that is not. We need to stop making excuses for things and trying to reason why something is alright just because we want to do it or want some benifit of it (like the money from the job). We need to follow God and do what He wants us to do. We need to do what is right in His eyes, not in our eyes or anyone elses. We need to listen to God, not anyone else. If God says it is wrong and/or if God would not approve of it, then we should not do it or participate in it in any way. It is not a game or something to take lightly. It is not something we can brush off as saying...well, God will forgive us so it's ok...God understands I'm not the one who stole it in the first place...ect. We can not be double minded...one minute we're serving God and trying to please Him and the next we're making all kinds of excuses why something is right that isn't so we can do what we want or what someone else thinks we should....or participating in something that God would not approve of saying well, He will forgive me. Yes, He will forgive you, but it is not a free ticket to do as you please and then come back to Him asking forgiveness.

This is why I'm not sure I can agree with you that I am at a crossroads of chosing God or the world. If you think I'm someone that might say "God will forgive us so it's ok" you read me wrong. I'm completely opposite to this. I say "God might not forgive me, so I have to chose right". It is not a good place to be, trust me.

It is when we make a mistake or mess up and truly desire to please Him that we come with a repentive heart sencerely turning from that and to Him and asking Him to help us do what's right as it is in our heart to do right and be pleasing to Him.
As for God's love being soemthing you can't understand...well, it is beyond our understanding. I myself, don't understand why He would love me so much when I mess up all the time, do things wrong, say things wrong, have bad attitudes, have anger at times, ect. But, regardless He still loves me. He loves me and all of us so much that He layed His life down for us. His love is unconditional, and uncomprehendable. We just have to accept it and return that love to Him.

That's not the lack of understanding of his love that I am talking about. I don't understand why people, when I am having these difficulties, tell me "but don't you know that God loves you!?!?!". AND??? How many people that God loves are going to be condemed? What am I supposed to say or do when they say this? Will God's love save me? I'm not thinking about God's love, I'm thinking about God's salvation and how I can obtain it. I understand that because of God's love he sent Jesus, but how is God's love going to help me in this situation? And the next situation that arises?

It is not through any thing that we do that we can get to Heaven. It is through the blood of Jesus, that He shed for us on that cross, that we can get to Heaven. We must believe in Him and know that He paid the price for all of us. We repent of our sins (ask God's forgiveness of our sins), believe that Jesus came and died for us, and that's how we get to Heaven.

See, this is why I am confused. "It's just about Jesus, only Jesus, its not about you or what you can do, it's just Jesus, only in believing in him are you saved, Just Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross, only Jesus, but you have to repent for your sins, its just about Jesus, it's not about us, just him and his sacrifice, it's about Jesus". Oh really??? The only way I can explain this contradiction is that once you turn to Jesus and he changes you so that you repent, but I hear it so much I'm not sure. I think "what if it's true and salvation isn't free and the cost is repentance. So somehow I need to change my mind and force repentence on myself (which is nearly, if not, impossible)." That's why I still have doubts about salvation being free.

There is nothing we can do but to believe in Jesus that will get us to Heaven.

Don't forget to sneak in repentance.

No good acts, no amount of money given to good causes or churches, no ministry work...nothing we do will get us there.

Repentance?

It has taken me a long time to realize that we can never be good enough. We all sin and fall short of the glory. But, it is through repentance (asking God to forgive us) that we are made right in God's eyes.

There you go.

Jesus paid the price for our sins and it is through Him that we can come to God and ask forgivenss of our sins knowing that God will forgive us. It is what is in our heart that matters most, not in our actions.

So it's about us?

We may mess up over and over and most likely we all do, but it is our willingness to ask His forgiveness, ask His help to not do those things again, and our hearts that seek to do what's right that matter most.

I thought it was about Jesus?

Sorry, I guess I got carried away there. But, it is just something that burst out when I began typing in reply to this.

This is a good article I just found and it talks about what I believed might be true repentance (and that it's a gift from God). Tell me what you think guys.

http://www.gracevalley.org/radio_trans/repent.html

 

[Mr.Cheese]

.

 

[peterparker]

God only gives us what we can handle through His strength and no more.

Proverbs 27:17 says "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

Do not blame God for your choices in life. But, rather, ask God why it is these things are happening and what is it you are supposed to do in these circumstances that would be pleasing to God alone?

Perhaps you were in the job because you asked God for a job, but rather than wait for God to bring you the job which God planned for you to have, you, instead, went out and found you a job and then you claimed it was the job that God had given you when in reality it was not.

The hardest thing for Christians to do is wait on the LORD and trust God to provide All of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Instead of waiting for God and on God, Christians go out and answer their own prayers. And, then you have situations like these! And, when you are in situations like these, satan comes along with his slippery voice/messages and says to your listening, hurt and embittered ear "God doesn't love you, if he did, then he wouldn't have put you in this job to begin with .... " right? A strong Christian would rebuke satan and tell him to get thee behind him. A weak Christian accepts the messages as his own and believes them which deters him from seeking God and wanting to know what the truth is.

Which Christian are you?

Probably a weak Christian, but I don't want to be.

How do I wait for God to give me the job he wants for me? How do I know (when the job gets here) it will be the job God wanted for me? Ok, so this job, the pirated software one, is not one God wants for me. So what do I do now? I don't have experience with this. I don't suppose you mean wait at home, and someone will show up and offer me a job. How do I wait for a job God wants for me?

And, more importantly how do I know Gods will for me? I already read the Bible, and will continue to do so. Anything else? Because this is hard.

 

[Flibbertigibbet]

Probably a weak Christian, but I don't want to be.

How do I wait for God to give me the job he wants for me? How do I know (when the job gets here) it will be the job God wanted for me? Ok, so this job, the pirated software one, is not one God wants for me. So what do I do now? I don't have experience with this. I don't suppose you mean wait at home, and someone will show up and offer me a job. How do I wait for a job God wants for me?

And, more importantly how do I know Gods will for me? I already read the Bible, and will continue to do so. Anything else? Because this is hard.

Poor Peterparker - it really is tough sometimes isn't it?

I'm not willing to say that the job you have now is not the job God wants for you. It will be nigh on impossible to find a job where everyone is living out Christian values - nor do I think that is what our Lord would always have us do.

Our job isn't to rebuke others for their sins, but to live our own lives in such a manner that we are set apart from non-Christians by our actions. Perhaps you are meant to be in that job so that as you grow in faith and your life begins to change (and it will, eventually - don't give up hope because you don't hate the sins yet; trust me if you read, pray, and stay close to God it will come without you working at it) those changes are noticed by your boss and coworkers and others who come into contact with you.

I don't know God's plan for you - I just know he has one. Don't be so quick to question every move you make, and don't live in fear. I've read your posts - you are a believer in Christ and what he did for you. You are his, forever sealed, and no-one can snatch you out of his hand. Don't doubt your salvation because some things that are sin don't seem so bad to you. Sanctification is a life-long process.

 

[heron]

For your job scenario, you're going to have a really, really, really hard time finding a company where people aren't engaging in some kind of infraction, usually minor, just as taking home office supplies, negligent in their work, taking "sick days" just because they're available, etc. Some things you will see in the work force will absolutely sicken you.

So true.

Joseph worked for a self-proclaimed sun god (Pharaoh), Moses lived with a pharaoh who kept a whole nation's worth of Israelites in slavery, Daniel with Shadrach Meshach and Abednego allowed themselves to be trained for the service of the empire that kidnapped them. Jacob worked years for Laban who severely cheated him. David was devoted in service to Saul, who seemed to wreak havoc in extreme bipolor episodes (IMO). Work is work.

Ethics is a wonderful thing, but we can get obsessive over it. If we approach issues wisely and patiently, some new solutions have time to gel. For instance, you could start slowly by recommending that they use Open Office software, which is free to individuals and small networks, and very cheap to larger groups. Encourage more shareware. Be the solutions person, instead of one who appears to tear down (even though that's not what you're doing, that's how they will perceive it).

Approach it by trying to protect your employer legally in as many creative ways as you can think of. People don't see the reason for protection until they get caught.

It sounds like have been surrounded with a lot of legalistic teaching. I'm not trying to dilute the concept of being ethical, but address the level of guilt and fear attached. It sounds like church people were continually trying to prove you wrong, or less spiritual.

About parents -- Jesus didn't ask everyone to leave their parents -- there is record of a couple times, probably taken note because it was so unusual. Jesus used family imagery in much of His teaching. Children of God the father. The prodigal son. (Who I'm sure was older than 18 when he moved back home). He acknowledged that honoring father and mother was one of the commandments.

Noah took care of his whole household, including his sons' wives. Families were very tight in Hebrew culture, and adult children often lived and worked together -- raising livestock, growing grain, and ruling kingdoms.

The priesthood was established by family -- not by who was more spiritual or trained, but by who was responsible for whom. The rebuilding of the temple was done family by family. I'm not listing these to convinve you of anything, but to point out that it might be your fellowship members that have a weak view of family, instead of God.

Jesus went to a wedding in Cana with his mother, and met her requests even when they conflicted with his ministry plan. He made sure that one of his disciples looked after her when He died.

 

[wayseer]

Peter - If I gave you a stick would you beat yourself some more?

You demand to hear from God yet you are closing yourself off from the possibility of hearing from him. God is talking to you but your are not listening.

You seem to have a lot of preconceived ideas about what God should and should not do. That's Ok - but in your case it seems to be debilitating - debilitating because you seem to be focused on two words - fear and hell.

Your opening sentence reveals your problem -

WARNING: Only read if you are a faithful Christian. I don't want to make anyone else stumble.

Fear. What makes you think your outlining of your problems will make anyone stumble? Whether I stumble or fall is my responsibility - not yours. I point this out as you appear to be accepting responsibility for others - which is not your call. You are also accepting responsibility for God.

Jesus did not take the Torah with him when he went into the desert - He took himself. Jesus didn't read another chapter of Judges before feeding the multitudes. Jesus did not confer with his friends before turning towards Jerusalem for the last time. Sometimes you just do what needs to be done. But you are frightened to act.

But let me return to the beginning. There are lots of replies to you on this thread - all of them from God - and you still claim you cannot hear God! Perhaps you don't want to hear from God so I'll put it in a nutshell - stop your garbage, treat your parents as parents, treat your job as a job. And your right - none of this is free - there is a cost. It will cost you your life - well your life as you know it at present. But that life is precious to you - your 'Precious' - you have grown to like the fear and the hell.

By the way, when did you last think about someone other than yourself?

That's my best shot. If what I said means nothing then please seek professional help.

No one should seek his own good, but the good of others 1 Cor 10:24

 

[peterparker]

Thanks guys. I have one last question. Do you first come to Christ (not necessarily repenting for all your sins), and he saves you and helps you repent for your sins? Or, do you come to Christ repenting for your sins already, and he forgives you and saves you?

 

[Jayangel81]

Thanks guys. I have one last question. Do you first come to Christ (not necessarily repenting for all your sins), and he saves you and helps you repent for your sins? Or, do you come to Christ repenting for your sins already, and he forgives you and saves you?

You need to ask yourself before anything if your willing from the heart to forsake your sins and serve God. Thing is Peter coming to Christ is more than just repenting for your sins. but ill stay on that for now since that was your question.

Talk to God, just pray and tell Him that you are willing to forsake all of your sins and that you need help doing it. (true repentance is a Gift) confess your sins to Him and ask Him to rebuild you the way He wants you to be. You need to be willing to let Him be the Lord of your life, let Him take over

There is no special formula in how we become saved, God just does it, but in the begining of everything is your wllingness to repent for your sins. God knows your heart. Remember we are saved by Faith. and Faith alone in Christ is the only thing that will save you.

Peter do you honestly believe that Christ died for our sins? we need to believe on Him.

 

[Flibbertigibbet]

Thanks guys. I have one last question. Do you first come to Christ (not necessarily repenting for all your sins), and he saves you and helps you repent for your sins? Or, do you come to Christ repenting for your sins already, and he forgives you and saves you?

I think there are very few people who come to Christ feeling that everything that God says is sin actually is sinful.

This is just my opinion, and others may disagree, but it is my belief that it is sufficient to agree that in God's eyes certain actions & thoughts in your life are sinful; that you are unable to live your life completely without sin; that because of this God sent Jesus to live a sinless life and die to pay for your sins; and thereafter through reading God's Word and prayer the Holy Spirit works in your life to bring you to your own recognition and feeling that those actions & thoughts are sinful.

Quit worrying so much, PeterParker.

 

[heron]

Thanks guys. I have one last question. Do you first come to Christ (not necessarily repenting for all your sins), and he saves you and helps you repent for your sins? Or, do you come to Christ repenting for your sins already, and he forgives you and saves you?

Christ died, once for all. The redemption plan was prophecied long before it happened, so it seems that God paid the price (in futures) lo-o-o-ong before we were born. We were forgiven before we sinned, by His policy for our redemption.

I think that honestly, none of us repent of everything when we come to Christ. There is just too much to bear, and too much tucked away in our memories that would come out after our conversion. But our intent to repent is there, and I think grace covers our weaknesses in not remembering it all. Then God works on us year after year to melt out the dross.

it is sufficient to agree that in God's eyes certain actions & thoughts in your life are sinful; that you are unable to live your life completely without sin; that because of this God sent Jesus to live a sinless life and die to pay for your sins; and thereafter through reading God's Word and prayer the Holy Spirit works in your life to bring you to your own recognition and feeling that those actions & thoughts are sinful.

 

[Catherineanne]

I don't know what to do.

Take the job. And with your first wage packet, ask your employer to purchase some legitimate software. I don't know what he uses that costs thousands; it may well be not as much as you think.

We are called to be salt and light in the world. If you prefer to withdraw from the world, then you could look at the religious life. But I doubt if that is really the answer.

Peace be with you.