I'm not ready

[Deade]

This can be hard to do at times when all you want to talk about is Jesus. And especially if God is saying well these people especially need to hear about My son.

The other aspect is, and this is where it takes discernement, could those who arent ready be still in the world. Friendship with the world is enmity with God.

Can one show love by leaving these people alone? I mean if they keep refusing ones invites then, maybe just dont talk to them anymore. Cos Im kind of thinking its bordering on rudness to keep rejecting ones offerings or invites.

Real love contains sensitivity. Are you really sharing your faith or are you browbeating them with God's word? If you bring up things like them eternally separated from God, agnostics and atheists will laugh in your face. That means nothing to them.

When interacting with the unsaved be sensitive and don't keep harping on how they need God. That is your perception, not theirs. Sometimes your refrain will speak volumes. If someone really wants to know more about your faith, let them ask.

 

[dcontroversal]

What do you say to people who tell you 'I'm not ready'.
Do people have to be ready to receive Jesus, or do we have to prod them to be ready? Won't they be like the foolish virgins who werent ready and The bridegroom came when they were sleeping?

If so, how do we believers handle it when we see other people dragging their feet. Do we wait for them or do we walk on by or just go on ahead following Jesus without them.

Any scripture and advice appreciated.

Jesus let the rich young ruler walk as a lost man....He did not beg, plead or jump through hoops to get him to believe.

Remember the Roman that said to Paul...."Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian"

MANY are called, but few chosen......ONE must belief in order to be saved......our job is to witness and let the chips fall where they fall.....we are only required to witness one time......and beyond that it is in God's court to give the increase........!!!

 

[CharliRenee]

I love your heart and concern. I just want to encourage you to remember, that we are not the Holy Spirit. He only asks that we help His cause, planting seeds, shining His light, extending love and mercy and pray...and pray some more.

 

[Lanolin]

From reading the Word I have come to undersand tht our Father gives all people time to repet……..His mind is not ur mind so do not bring up new borns, children, people who have not heard the Word etc. These kinds of question actually are questioning the Love of OUr Father Wh is Love.

Faith in God. You must believe He is if you claim to believe..

Yes true. But how long, espeically when some people are quite self destructive, for example, one man attempted suicide and the other lady was also ending up in hospital. I suppose just let them be lost.
There is no way am browbeating anyone, but they were the ones wanting to be friends with me, and coming after me, but they wanted me to go down their road of addiction when I just said no Jesus is the way and they just ignored it and kept focusing on other things.

It would be like well do you know Jesus and they would just change the topic and not even answer the question.

 

[Lanolin]

I love your heart and concern. I just want to encourage you to remember, that we are not the Holy Spirit. He only asks that we help His cause, planting seeds, shining His light, extending love and mercy and pray...and pray some more.

The holy spirit is in us.
We can only say Jesus is Lord if we have the holy spirit and we cant be separated from Him if we do.

 

[Lanolin]

Jesus let the rich young ruler walk as a lost man....He did not beg, plead or jump through hoops to get him to believe.

Remember the Roman that said to Paul...."Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian"

MANY are called, but few chosen......ONE must belief in order to be saved......our job is to witness and let the chips fall where they fall.....we are only required to witness one time......and beyond that it is in God's court to give the increase........!!!

That is true. What would you say about Jesus saying about the unfruitful tree just dig it and dung it, leave it for a year, if it fruits, all good, if it doesnt...cut it down.
I dont really want to cut a tree down...but these are the ones that grew in my life I cant move them.

 

[dcontroversal]

That is true. What would you say about Jesus saying about the unfruitful tree just dig it and dung it, leave it for a year, if it fruits, all good, if it doesnt...cut it down.
I dont really want to cut a tree down...but these are the ones that grew in my life I cant move them.

Our responsibility is to witness, pray, water and let God give the increase.......sometimes it takes years and years. maybe decades for seed to pop and bloom.....

 

[Lanolin]

Our responsibility is to witness, pray, water and let God give the increase.......sometimes it takes years and years. maybe decades for seed to pop and bloom.....

What do you do in the meantime, it is tiring waiting and checking to see if they are ready. And how do you know when someone is ready?
Dont they need to get ready themselves? Isnt TODAY the day of salvation anyway? If God keeps calling someone and they just refuse to answer, but that person wants to continue in sin and expect God to be ok with it, well, what does God do??

 

[dcontroversal]

What do you do in the meantime, it is tiring waiting and checking to see if they are ready. And how do you know when someone is ready?
Dont they need to get ready themselves? Isnt TODAY the day of salvation anyway? If God keeps calling someone and they just refuse to answer, but that person wants to continue in sin and expect God to be ok with it, well, what does God do??

Who said "in the meantime" God is the one that softens the ground, convicts, enlightens etc......

 

[breno785au]

I'm not ready is a good start, I think it shows they know deep in their heart they are aware of the truth just suppressing it out of fear.
At least they arnt flat out denying lol

I used to be 'not ready'

 

[Lanolin]

I'm not ready is a good start, I think it shows they know deep in their heart they are aware of the truth just suppressing it out of fear.
At least they arnt flat out denying lol

I used to be 'not ready'

Yes true because both actually said to me they would come to church 'one day' . Well am still waiting for them to keep their word. I dont like to think they were lying and never intended to.

 

[JaumeJ]

Yes true. But how long, espeically when some people are quite self destructive, for example, one man attempted suicide and the other lady was also ending up in hospital. I suppose just let them be lost.
There is no way am browbeating anyone, but they were the ones wanting to be friends with me, and coming after me, but they wanted me to go down their road of addiction when I just said no Jesus is the way and they just ignored it and kept focusing on other things.

It would be like well do you know Jesus and they would just change the topic and not even answer the question.

If you have planted the Seed, you have done your work, now it is up to them to seek water for it to grow. If it is going to grow it is from God, not from you, so leave it in the prepared soil...

 

[Lanolin]

If you have planted the Seed, you have done your work, now it is up to them to seek water for it to grow. If it is going to grow it is from God, not from you, so leave it in the prepared soil...

Hmm ok.
When I garden I make sure that I water any new seeds in as well at the same time but I guess there might be some seeds that could be overwatered...?

And what do I do if it doesnt grow? Was it a bad seed...? Or was the soil no good.

The seed wasnt planted by me as such because these people supposedly heard the gospel in their childhood way before I did. But then I thought...maybe they needed to hear it again.

Anyone good at seed sowing? How do you ensure success i.e fruit?

 

[JaumeJ]

This was answered in my post and anterior in the quote…...you have done your work by planting, now the one who waters will contnue if it is God's will, and then there will be growth from the Father.

These things ae not always instantaneous. I prayed for the salvation of one person over many decades. This person attmpted to kill me on several occasions but Someone thwarted his intent.
At any rate he finally came to Jesus. Three months later he passed away. I have prayed since night and day thank our Father for his salvation and that it be sure, for only He knows these things, but >i AM BELIEVING in all things beautiful. Praise God, He is worthy, not we.

 

[Dan58]

What do you say to people who tell you 'I'm not ready'.

I just had a woman friend tell me that she's not ready... I asked her what's she's waiting for? She said that she loves animals and since they are innocent and incapable of sin, she can't relate to a God that kills them (Noah's flood) or wanted them sacrificed.. She's rescued several cats that were dumped, they were starving freezing, etc.. So she thinks God is heartless and doesn't care about suffering animals. She said, "I just can't serve a ruthless God that's content to stand by and do nothing. People say He's loving, but I don't see it, nor can I respect a God who doesn't mind if innocent animals are hurt, tortured, killed, or suffer"...... I had absolutely no answer or argument to persuade her differently?

 

[Lanolin]

I just had a woman friend tell me that she's not ready... I asked her what's she's waiting for? She said that she loves animals and since they are innocent and incapable of sin, she can't relate to a God that kills them (Noah's flood) or wanted them sacrificed.. She's rescued several cats that were dumped, they were starving freezing, etc.. So she thinks God is heartless and doesn't care about suffering animals. She said, "I just can't serve a ruthless God that's content to stand by and do nothing. People say He's loving, but I don't see it, nor can I respect a God who doesn't mind if innocent animals are hurt, tortured, killed, or suffer"...... I had absolutely no answer or argument to persuade her differently?

Oh my well He didnt do nothing becuase he got Noah to save the animals in the ark. She cant see shes doing the same thing.

 

[Lanolin]

This was answered in my post and anterior in the quote…...you have done your work by planting, now the one who waters will contnue if it is God's will, and then there will be growth from the Father.

These things ae not always instantaneous. I prayed for the salvation of one person over many decades. This person attmpted to kill me on several occasions but Someone thwarted his intent.
At any rate he finally came to Jesus. Three months later he passed away. I have prayed since night and day thank our Father for his salvation and that it be sure, for only He knows these things, but >i AM BELIEVING in all things beautiful. Praise God, He is worthy, not we.

Can I request that we pray for these people who say they arent ready...I dont know about the not being ready part what kind of excuse that is, but well when God got the angels to rescue Lot he had a tonne of excuses for not obeying as well. When fire and brimstone is coming to destroy your town and you still want to quibble about where you are going!

 

[Lanolin]

Am going to pray for it to rain...if these people have no water...they need to get outside and be prepared to get wet. So they can grow.