pls help

[i.r.e.n.e]

hi...although this is my first post, i've been looking around this site for a while and finally decided to join as a member..i think i need some advice from ppl here..
i come from a christian family and have been taught in sunday school since i was a little kid...i still come to church every week now and i join christian fellowship in my campus..however, i feel that until now, i have never experienced Jesus personally in my life..i know it maybe sounds weird, but somehow, there are parts in myself that seems contradict with each other...in one side, i know that there's no way we can be saved without believing in Jesus, but in other side, i keep on questioning about the truth (whether all of the stuff i know from the bible is true) and this bothers me so much that i often feel hopeless in my life...i don't know what's wrong with me, it seems like i don't have enough faith...im really scared i will go to hell when i die someday...>.< i've never told anyone of this especially my parents...i know they will be very sad if they know about this..i've been praying many times but i don't feel that i get any reply...
could anyone pls tell me what to do??

 

[Boanerges]

Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.


Hi Irene and welcome to Talk Jesus!
There is an old saying my friend "God only has children and never grandchildren". Growing up in church never saved anyone so be sure you have received Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
Past that I would recommend spending less time learning about Him and more time getting to know Him.
If we are born again Christ has become your righteousness and your acceptability is based on that. As far as faith we have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness.God has indeed granted us each a measure of faith and now it is up to you and me to use it.
In the New Testament from the Book of Acts and on (when the church was born) we are never told that we need more faith but we are encouraged to build what we are given by the Word of God and prayer.
I totally recommend spending time in prayer- as one man asked cried out- I believe help me in my unbelief- God has never denied such a cry.
Learn to spend time talking with Him, reading His Word and learn to include Him in every part of your life. Work, play. school, etc' God is interested in every area. As you do this you will find your faith blossoming and a new awareness of the reality of God in your life will take root.

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. ]

1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

You are in my prayers my friend and God always hears my prayers.
Many blessings in Jesus Name,
brother Larry.

 

[Lion_of_Judah]

What he said..

Past that I would recommend spending less time learning about Him and more time getting to know Him.

"These things are written that you may know you have eternal life"


Welcome to TJ Irene

In his love, Marco

 

[i.r.e.n.e]

thanks a lot for replying...really appreciate that..=)
i indeed have asked Jesus to come into my heart many times, but i often doubt that He really wants me as His child...i don't know why..maybe bcause i did many bad things in my life, i pray and go to church only because it is routine, i seldom read the bible daily, etc that i always feel i'm not a true christian and i don't deserved Him and i just don't really trust my life to Him completely..
i don't know when i start to feel i'm really tired of living that kind of life because i don't feel any peace at all...now i just really want to learn how to have a strong faith, trust and love God truly and completely...

 

[Lion_of_Judah]

...i don't know why..maybe bcause i did many bad things in my life, i pray and go to church only because it is routine, i seldom read the bible daily, etc that i always feel i'm not a true christian and i don't deserved Him and i just don't really trust my life to Him completely..
..now i just really want to learn how to have a strong faith, trust and love God truly and completely...

I think I can understand and appreciate what your going thru Irene.
There was a period of years in my life, when I believed I was simply a tool of the enemy to ruin peoples lives.
Really. I was just hear to hurt people and make their lives miserable.

But like you, I kept coming back to Him. Somewhat out of routine, and somewhat because I saw a difference in men I knew had a life tougher than what I had. Eventually I realized the enemy, and my own self critizism, was what was driving the feelings of my not deserving His love. I had a deep struggle with being able to forgive myself. Maybe you do to.

I know reading daily isn't your most favorite subject, but I want to suggest you do this..
Read the book of John. Start at the beginning and keep at it thru to the end. At sometime of your day, which ever days you decide to pick up your bible to read. It doesn't have to be everyday, but when you pick up your bible, go back to that book of John.
Have a page marker or just bend over the page your on to keep your place. And don't concern yourself with being exact where you left off the last time. No big deal if you reread a couple lines. I did this myself when a man I spoke about above, suggested it to me when I was in a dark place.
The book of John is sometimes referred to as the book of love. His great love for us.


God bless you Irene, in His love, Marco

 

[Giggles4God]

Matthew 17:20
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.


Irene,

There is a big difference between having no faith and having some faith. How much do you have? I think Jesus is tugging at your heart to spend more time with Him. If He is loved by you, love = TIME! Spend time with Him. Not just talking, but listening, too.

God wants you as His child. He didn't send Jesus just for kicks...but to ransom the lost...all of us. We are all called the children of God. Don't let satan tell you you aren't a child of God.

No matter what you have done, Jesus took it all and cast it as far as the East is from the West, never to be seen again. Jesus loves you...everyone.

Jesus said in Revelation 3:20
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." So, open the door. Dine with the King of kings and Lord of lords. He wants to be everything to you.

What are you holding onto that might be chaining you up? Is there anything that you need to give to God?

1 Peter 5:6-8 (New King James Version)

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because[a] your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

I hope this helped.

 

[i.r.e.n.e]

thanks again everyone.

Well, I don't know how to tell it, maybe you feel it is too sudden since it's only been a few days since my first post here, but you know what?suddenly all the things become clearer to me now. and i believe it is God's work.

brother Larry, i think your word "spend less time learning about Him,and more time getting to know Him" was really true. i did always pray to God to help me in my unbelief and understanding, but i realize i had never let Him alone speak to me. i was always depend on my strength alone to search for the truth. i never really tried to open my heart, build a relationship with Him and know Him more! i only said i want to follow Him with my mouth but not my heart...i think that was my main mistake! after all these years i had been a "christian", but I never really was! I didn't know Him at all...i can tell you most of the stories in the bible: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, all the way to Jesus even i once memorized the journey of Paul..but it is all meaningless since it couldn't fulfill my "dry soul".

now i believe it's God who is tugging my heart (as giggles4god said), he makes me feel so ruined that i could finally surrender my all to Him. it was about two days ago when i feel really really just want to give up all of my effort to reach Him, i just said to God i didn't have any words to say anymore, just wanted to surrender and let Him alone reach my heart by His own way. and then i had an urge to read this book by Max Lucado (the title is 3:16). i have only read a first few chapters, but basically it tells how much God loves the world. i don't know how i just simply believe in it. really. i FINALLY believe. with all my heart. I believe it's not because the author is great, I believe it is Holy Spirit who helps me to believe. because if it because of the author, i should have believed long time ago since i have read so many articles and heard so many times that God loves the world, that God loves me.

and now i also understand why He allowed me to feel so hopeless, so helpless in my life at first. simply because He wants to show that He is so great, and only by His grace,not by my effort that i am saved (I don't remember which verse, but I'm sure there is one). praise the Lord!! =)

by the way, i'm sorry if there is any of my sentence which is confusing. i don't come from an english speaking country and my english is still far from perfect...;p

 

[MontanaCowboy]

Howdy,
Guess what? You are NOT alone! You know for most of us Jesus is so quiet. You can barley ever hear him if anything else has your thoughts. Guess he does it that way since it makes us focus on him. And doubt is a tool Satan will work against your faith too so it really can get hard & start thinking like you are.
When that happens to me I think of the times Jesus was loud & clear in my life. In my most traumatic painful times I truly felt him hug me. I was curled up on the floor, had been sobbing like a baby for hours. And then I felt his presence engulf me & for a few minutes and then he was gone but the peace that had come over me was over whelming beautiful.
I still can't hear him most of the time but I know he is there all of the time, even when I am almost as bad as I was & he doesn't hug me, I know he is there.
And the other go to I have is that, no matter what, when somebody has hurt me, or I hurt somebody or made a mess of my life in other ways then it has always been something I or they did that was directly against the bible. So the Bible is truth, reproved over & over again a bazillion times a day. And I guarantee you that if you dwell in those other areas, you will hurt someone or yourself because you are not in the truth.