Hope for a backslider?

[RJ]

A heart possessed of Christ is fortified against the most seductive allurements of the world.

Again, if God says he will never leave or forsake you and Jesus says he will NEVER lose whoever God gives him, a heart possessed of Christ is greater than any " seductive allurements" of the world, unless he is not in your heart to start with.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

unless he is not in your heart to start with.

I hear that a lot but I feel that it is kind of vague to a new or struggling believer.
That used to scare me when I first believed because it adds an unknown factor that can lead to frustration and fear.
That was before I knew how to let God be true.

If we have asked him in to our heart,mind and every aspect of our life we must believe that he hears and
has begun a good work that he will complete.To question this is to waiver and is a "hath God said" temptation.
If we believe we are heard and God is answering then we can ignore our feelings and walk
by faith in God instead of listening to our feelings or circumstances.

 

[Samulas]

I hear that a lot but I feel that it is kind of vague to a new or struggling believer.
That used to scare me when I first believed because it adds an unknown factor that can lead to frustration and fear.
That was before I knew how to let God be true.

If we have asked him in to our heart,mind and every aspect of our life we must believe that he hears and
has begun a good work that he will complete.To question this is to waiver and is a "hath God said" temptation.
If we believe we are heard and God is answering then we can ignore our feelings and walk
by faith in God instead of listening to our feelings or circumstances.

I'll be honest that kind of did make me a bit worried but its ok. I'm believing the Lord is helping to show me that my problem is anxious thoughts and doubts. There is really no reason not to believe he is with me. He really has helped me and changed me a lot and I don't really think he would call me back to him of he didn't want me. Jesus said he wouldn't deny anyone that came to him. God so loved the world meaning everyone on the face of the planet. While I was yet a sinner Jesus died for me not because I loved him but because he loved me first. These are the truths I'm trying to edify myself with but I can't be made perfect without Jesus.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

He really has helped me and changed me a lot and I don't really think he would call me back to him of he didn't want me.

Amen,think about this a moment.Jesus said God is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
1 Corinthians 13:5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
1 Corinthians 13:6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
1 Corinthians 13:7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

God never gave up on you or me but love does not demand it's own way so he won't force us to love him back.

 

[Samulas]

Amen,think about this a moment.Jesus said God is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
1 Corinthians 13:5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
1 Corinthians 13:6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
1 Corinthians 13:7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

God never gave up on you or me but love does not demand it's own way so he won't force us to love him back.

Most recently I have been asking the Lord Jesus to make me perfect in love. I have also been praying for him to increase the love I have for him everyday. I truly want to love him even more. When I feel joy and love for God and can truly worship and praise him my faith is so quickly boosted and my anxiety vanishes. However the anxiety usually comes in waves of doubt, fear, and confusion. I get a tightness in the chest and my thoughts tell me thats my hardened heart that doesn't wish to serve God and I'm not being genuine.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

I get a tightness in the chest and my thoughts tell me thats my hardened heart that doesn't wish to serve God and I'm not being genuine.

I'm pretty sure your right,It's like cornering a wild animal,it gets vicious.
It only has so many tricks but it uses combinations and variations of those tricks.
It seems to be like water or electricity in that it uses what works.or the path of least resistance.
Once we cut off the easy sins that do visible damage to people's lives it works on the areas of fear and doubt which lead back to disbelief.
Jesus said I can only do what I see my father doing and since the father is love we can walk in love with faith that we are doing what the father is doing.

Thank you for giving us an opportunity to do what we are supposed to do.
We are in our fathers restoration business and it's awesome to see someone catch the wave of the spirit.
My hope for all of us is that it no longer takes a fiery trial to cause us to reach out and grab hold of all God offers.

Godspeed and peace

 

[RJ]

There is really no reason not to believe he is with me.

That would be my point exactly!

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

I get a tightness in the chest and my thoughts tell me thats my hardened heart that doesn't wish to serve God and I'm not being genuine

Just to clarify my previous post I meant you are right about the hardened heart speaking lies.
I'm glad you can tell the difference because you -are the new creature in Christ - not the desires and lies of the flesh.
You my friend are never anxious or fearful but anxiety and fear are trying to
convince you that they are you and that they are looking out for your best interest.

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Peter was interested in the things of men and contrary to popular belief Satan savors the things of men and wants men to appear righteous.
Satan was so impressed with Jesus he wanted to put him in charge and so did Peter.

So when you find yourself confronted by worry or fear remember it is not you because you are the one born from above and the one from above is perfect already.
We are perfect,we just have to catch up to ourselves in time.

1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

 

[Samulas]

Just to clarify my previous post I meant you are right about the hardened heart speaking lies.
I'm glad you can tell the difference because you -are the new creature in Christ - not the desires and lies of the flesh.
You my friend are never anxious or fearful but anxiety and fear are trying to
convince you that they are you and that they are looking out for your best interest.

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Peter was interested in the things of men and contrary to popular belief Satan savors the things of men and wants men to appear righteous.
Satan was so impressed with Jesus he wanted to put him in charge and so did Peter.

So when you find yourself confronted by worry or fear remember it is not you because you are the one born from above and the one from above is perfect already.
We are perfect,we just have to catch up to ourselves in time.

1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Today was by far the worst day. I felt completely powerless and weak and could not leave my bed. My thoughts were constantly anxious and I felt they were blocking me off from God entirely. Thoughts doubting his existence which makes NO sense kept coming up. It was like none other. I was tempted so severely today and that led to SIN so abruptly. I cannot stand this or live like this. I need to have Jesus's love in me entirely. I don't want to be given over to these disgusting sins and live a life of sin. Please pray for me and for my forgiveness.

 

[Samulas]

I don't have to listen to fear anymore even though it can be sneaky. Fear of the Lord is one thing but anxiety fear and worry that leads to unbelief is completely different. I have been making much progress brothers and sisters and I could not do it if the Lord Jesus had not used you all. Break-throughs and miracles are happening and joy is finally coming into fruition. My best friend since third grade who was Muslim is now a born again believer and we now hold each other accountable in a dedicated walk with the Lord since we both were dealing with anxiety, dear, and obsessive thoughts. Sin strongholds are being broken and shame is dissipating. But we always need more of Jesus. Thats an AMEN statement for all of us! Pray for me and my friend brothers and sisters that well only experience a incline in our relationship with the Lord for all eternity. The Lord is good! Rejoice in the Lord always! His ways are loving pure and bring about thanksgiving! He is slow to anger and merciful unlike anyone else! Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

[Christ4Ever]

Alleluia! Glory to God in the Highest for your testimony my brother!
From a letter in hand to church, to baptism, to fellowship with believers and a childhood friend that also Born Again, and ex-Muslim no less!
Alleluia!
God works in mysterious ways and how would any of us know the path by which He would draw you closer to Him.
Alleluia!

Your testimony continues to grow. Awesome my brother!
Thank-you for not forgetting about us and letting us know how you've been progressing.
The Holy Spirit is moving in your life!

You have brought me great joy this morning.
Thank-you!

Continued Blessings to you.
Alleluia!
YBIC
C4E
<><

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

Sin strongholds are being broken and shame is dissipating.

That is the Gospel,the good news that the power of God is here to break the yoke of oppression and set captives free.
Thanks for the report bro.
It really is all him and none of us,it's just that we start out believing in so much of us and so little of him that he seems distant.He really is everywhere.

 

[Velociraptor]

I just joined because of this thread. Reading this thread was very encouraging. I am not sure if there is a rule against bumping threads, but I felt lead to share this:

Matthew 18:12-13, "If a man has 100 sheep, but one sheep is lost, what will he do? He will leave the other 99 sheep on the hill and go look for the lost sheep. Right? And if he finds the lost sheep, he is happier about that one sheep than about the 99 sheep that were never lost."

When I am struggling, here are a few songs that always encourage me when I stumble.

"East to the West" and "Praise You in This Storm" are good too... or really anything by Hillsong or Casting Crowns.

Praying for you.

 

[Brighthouse]

The point brother Velociraptor,is not that he found a lost sheep, but rather why he went out to look in the first place!! hehe This good brother is the reason to me!( John 13:34-35) ( Luke 10:30-37!!) verse 37!!! GO!!!! and do the same!!

 

[Listening]

John chapter 17
Enter into that garden with Jesus.

Romans 11:32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.
God does want us to know the difference between will power and his power.

Like paper,leaves and dried grass the light of God burns up our little issues and there is a big fire and we feel that as being on fire for God.
This is a fire that God started,not our willpower and certainly not our logical mind.
It's easy to begin to conform by willpower and by doing so we can unintentionally quench the fire that started our journey.
When I am delivered from a wrong desire I know that it is the spirit of God at work.
When I have to use willpower to force a change the desire remains.
But grass and paper does not make coals,for that we need heavier wood,even timbers.
The individual acts that our desires cause are like paper that but the desires that cause them are like planks or timbers.

What you are doing now by repenting,praying,studying and listening is putting the flame back on the big wood.
I am confident that you will have a roaring fire in "no time".

I add my voice to my brothers and sisters here and agree with their prayers concerning your situation.
Godspeed your fire.

I try to stand in joy and hope in christ
But when i do the demonic voices i hear get louder
This is ongoing.
When i let go and feel weak like a bag of flesh
Then they go quiet
Is this a trick
Or is God telling me something?

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

When i let go and feel weak like a bag of flesh
Then they go quiet
Is this a trick
Or is God telling me something?

That has been my experience also,or at least was until I noticed the patterns and how they seem to run in cycles.

It seems to me as though rejoicing in the midst of trails and getting the joy of the Lord I would experience dark dreams and thoughts.
Our old belief systems have a life that depends on us believing that we are separated from God and all alone
in the cosmos which is trying to kill us.Our ego tries to convince us that he is us and he is the only voice we can trust
to keep us safe from the very cosmos that keeps us alive until it kills us.

The truth of God shines on these insane assumptions and lets us know that God is all that exists eternally and everything that is temporary is not real.
God is Love and that is the only reality.

If you read John chapter 17 you see that Jesus is calling us all to be one in the Father.
John 17:23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

To pray to God out of fear is still fear and perfect love casts out fear.
So when you get exhausted trying to believe what God said and just give up and let God deal with it you suddenly destroy the dark shadows that lived in your fear.
Darkness needs you to move in fear or doubt or unforgiveness,all of which stem from not believing Jesus that we are one with the Father.
I believe you have been heard and I think you will soon learn how to stand in the boldness of the love of God.
If you catch yourself praying in fear then ask the Holy Spirit to quiet your mind and renew a right spirit and bring you into the joy of your salvation.


Father,I ask that you would send boldness,strength,peace,joy and abundant life to our brothers in Christ.Amen
This is my petition on your(Listening) and Samulas behalf to our Father and he always hears us.