Spiritual Advice

[setapart]

Hi!

I have had so many things that has been on my mind during the year's end. I have found myself more frustrated and confused than usual; and at the same time I have had the greatest hunger for God and his word -hunger that I once did not think was possible. SO I guess my first question would be Does it offend God when we seek advice from others concerning him. For instance, Ive asked a question before from someone and the answer was to talk to God and to seek Him. They said he's waiting for me to come to Him, which I believe they were right but I am not spiritually mature enough to be able to discern God's voice. I have recently increased my bible reading time but I received a word concerning my doing this that was completely true but confused me once again. So before I seek your advice on other things in my life that are confusing I wanted to know if it is wrong to do this -should I just wait on the Lord's answer?

 

[xDICEx]

Hello setapart. The answer is, No! It is not wrong to seek advice. It might be wrong to fallow advice, depending on the advice. You will have to judge the advise you are given; you will have to measure it by the Bible. God knows these things; that is why you are reading the Bible more.

Everyone wants to be useful to others in council and advice and that is good. We are supposed to do this. I think these things can be observed in the fallowing passage from Proverbs 15:
21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established.
23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
24 The way of life is above to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath.

Nice meeting you. I know this is little, but I hope it helps. God bless...DGB

 

[setapart]

Dice, actually that scripture was very helpful. Immediately after posting it I did some studying and research and saw where it is wise to seek counsel from those that are in leadership positions or are just more spiritually mature. Thanks for your response; it was very helpful.
With that confirmed -I am confused about several things

• Change – I know that no man is perfect and we are all a ‘work in progress’ but I find change very frustrating. I want to change several aspects of my life but it is so hard. These are things that have been ingrained in me since I was a child. And there are so many things about myself that completely have me frustrated. God usually speaks to me through two individuals (my pastor and an evangelist) that I trust because they are constantly speaking into my life on a daily to weekly basis, through sermons, where I know that it comes straight from God. They both said within a week of each other without me asking them but in a sermon, that for the person whom feels like they have a lot to get rid of must tackle one thing at a time. And that you keep failing because you’re doing it on your own without it being ‘God-inspired’. Well that’s me! So, I tried that. To handle one thing at a time and the other things that I haven’t gotten to yet makes me feel extremely guilty. There is one sin that I ask for forgiveness everyday knowing that I will do it again the next day. I feel like Im practicing sin. Like Im not repenting of it. But when I try to stop doing everything, I feel overwhelmed. So I either have this overwhelming feeling like if I move Im going to sin, or I feel completely guilty that Im living in sin that Im not repenting of.

• Hearing from God – I feel like almost all of my problems would be more manageable if I knew how to discern God’s voice. I once searched the threads here and read that it requires spiritual maturity. Ive also increased my bible study time and Im currently reading 2 books on discernment. One with great reviews by Mark Virkler and the other by Von something ..I forgot his name..lol. Ive also listened to a seminaron this by Virkler which is extremely helpful and very comical ..lol (hes a funny guy) But anyway, I don’t want to mislead anyone; God does speak to me about things that occurs in my life as mentioned earlier through sermons of those two ministers. And occasionally through others, but not usually through my bible study or at least not that I know of. WHich I find odd. SO I rely on feelings that I get that I think come from my spirit. Sometimes I think He asks me to do things that seem drastic and when I don’t do it, (because Im unsure that it is actually Him) I feel like Im disobeying. For instance, I have an issue with clothing, jewelry, makeup and shoes. I feel like He wants me to give it all away. But does all mean All? If so, what am I to wear? I don’t mind doing it but it seems extreme. I know at times it seems as if I require more from me than God does. Im confused

• Kingdom Work – I looked into joining an online ministry. I was accepted and welcomed to jump into work but then got a word that I wasn’t ready. Which I do believe and accept. I guess my question here is not necessarily Kingdom work but more on the line of spiritual levels and the sanctification process. In order for us to go to the next level, do we have to go through something drastic in order to become closer to God. I often hear spiritual leaders say that breakthroughs come wrapped in turmoil. Or that we have to go through so many tests and trials before hand. When will I know that I am ready where speaking to or witnessing to someone about Jesus wouldnt be spiritually dangerous for that person. Confused about that also.

Please forgive me for this being so long and wordy, but I don’t have anyone to go to when I am confused and that leads to frustration and also leaves a door open for Satan to come in and start whispering things that I know aren’t true. I just don’t know what to do sometimes because I do want more of God and a closer relationship with Jesus. Thanks again Dice for your response. Any further advice from anyone would be more than welcome and greatly appreciated. :embarasse

 

[Faithful Son]

Hi there Setapart, welcome to Talk Jesus, I hope you enjoy it here and I hope you get all the answers you have questions to.

I'll try to give you some advice,

Let me start off by saying that your original question was totally led by God, I believe you do hear God's voice, maybe you just don't realize it. When you think of something, when you think of a Christian based question, something you need an answer to, I believe the thought was inspired by God, now this is not always the case, but sometimes it's more than true.

The Holy Spirit is in you from the first second you decide to believe in Jesus Christ, He is not of the world.

John 14:16-17

16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.
17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Now the most simplest practical advice I could give you, straight from the Word of God, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:3-10

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Your life is life for Jesus, like your nickname says, you've been set apart. That's a wonderous life to live, the life for Jesus.

Live day by day Setapart.

Matthew 6:33-34

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


I hope these scriptures could help you some, and I hope people share their knowledge with you.

Thank you for joining Talk Jesus.

God bless your heart
Much love
teraside

All scripture posted is from the New International Version.

 

[xDICEx]

Dear setapart, the life we now live in the flesh we live by the faith of Christ who loved us and delivered himself up for us: Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Like Noah entering the ark and then God shutting him in, we are sealed in Christ when we believe in him as teraside has written above. This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit as Paul says: Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. As far as our acceptability before God is concerned, it is all settled in and at the cross of Christ.

Peters words, (1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit show forth the perfect, unflawed power Christ has to save those who come unto God by faith in Him. John tells us that as we walk in the light as he is in the light Christ’s blood cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn. 1:4-10). Walking in the light, like being sealed into the ark, does not mean there is no sin. We sin as did those in the ark, but the vessel still rides above the waters of judgment. Noah’s ark is just a picture of Christ. In Christ all the wrath of God decreed against our sin has been satisfied (paid in full). Power to live is in Christ, in whom we are new creations, but also power to die, like Paul says: Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Do not despair, Christ is fully able to take you as you are and work the finishing of your faith. He is in charge of the changing, and he is a great Shepard. He will not fail.

I would like to address the other points of your response, but this is long enough for now. This is addressed to your heading CHANGE. God bless you in your walk. …DGB

 

[setapart]

Thanks Dice and Tera I appreciate your advice