How do I put God first in my life?
- Thread starter dothackzero
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
- Status
S
Start by putting yourself last.
+ Think about the things you do. Why do you do them? Do they bring you closer to Christ or do they put distance between Christ and yourself?
+ Think about your friends and family. Do you love them? How do you show your love? Do you dislike them? How do you (or can you) lovingly relate to those you dislike?
I can offer you some tidbits for the examination of one's conscience that I have handy:
+ Do I believe in fortune telling, horoscopes, dreams, the occult, good-luck charms, tarot cards, palmistry, Ouija boards, seances, reincarnation?
+ Do I give time to God each day in prayer?
+ Do I love God with my whole heart?
+ Do I despair of or presume on God's mercy?
+ Do I have false gods in my life that I gave greater attention to than God, like money, profession, drugs, TV, fame, pleasure, property, etc.?
+ Do I blaspheme or insult God?
+ Do I take God's name carelessly or uselessly?
+ Do I curse, or break an oath or vow?
+ Do I get angry with God?
+ Do I do work on Sunday that was not necessary?
+ Do I set aside Sunday as a day of rest and a family day?
+ Do I disobey or disrespect my parents or legitimate superiors?
+ Do I neglect my duties to my husband, wife, children or parents?
+ Do I neglect to give good religious example to my family?
+ Do I fail to actively take an interest in the religious education and formation of my children?
+ Do I fail to educate myself on the true teachings of the Church?
+ Do I give scandal by what I said or did, especially to the young?
+ Do I cause anyone to leave the faith?
+ Do I cause tension and fights in my family?
+ Do I care for my aged and infirm relatives?
+ Do I give a full day's work for a full day's pay?
+ Do I give a fair wage to my employees?
+ Do I get angry, impatient, envious, unkind, proud, revengeful, jealous, hateful toward another, lazy?
+ Do I give bad example by drug abuse, drinking alcohol to excess, fighting, quarreling?
+ Do I abuse my children?
+ Do I willfully entertain impure thoughts or desires?
+ Do I use impure or suggestive words? Tell impure stories? Listen to them?
+ Do I deliberately look at impure TV, videos, plays, pictures or movies? Or deliberately read impure materials?
+ Do I commit impure acts by myself?
+ Do I commit impure acts with another -premarital sex, adultery.
+ Do I avoid the occasions of impurity?
+ Do I try to control my thoughts?
+ Do I engage in homosexual activity?
+ Do I respect all members of the opposite sex, or have I thought of other people as objects?
+ Do I steal, cheat, help or encourage others to steal or keep stolen goods? Have I made restitution for stolen goods?
+ Do I fulfill my contracts; give or accept bribes; pay my bills; rashly gamble or speculate; deprive my family of the necessities of life?
+ Do I waste time at work, school or at home?
+ Do I envy other people's families or possessions?
+ Do I make material possessions the purpose of my life?
+ Do I lie?
+ Do I deliberately deceive others, or injure others by lies?
+ Do I gossip or reveal others' faults or sins?
+ Do I fail to keep secret what should be confidential?
This is a lot to think about. Ponder these things and don't beat yourself up too much. We're all human. I find it helpful to read this every now and then just to reflect on the past week or so, put what I do in perspective. Something here does, has, or will apply to all of us at some time (hopefully not all at once, haha). Think about what is above and how your answers affect your relationship with Christ. How you choose to live in relation to these things is how you will choose to put Christ first in your life: hopefully, you wil put him first in your life and these things won't happen much at all, if at all.
Peace.
+ Think about the things you do. Why do you do them? Do they bring you closer to Christ or do they put distance between Christ and yourself?
+ Think about your friends and family. Do you love them? How do you show your love? Do you dislike them? How do you (or can you) lovingly relate to those you dislike?
I can offer you some tidbits for the examination of one's conscience that I have handy:
+ Do I believe in fortune telling, horoscopes, dreams, the occult, good-luck charms, tarot cards, palmistry, Ouija boards, seances, reincarnation?
+ Do I give time to God each day in prayer?
+ Do I love God with my whole heart?
+ Do I despair of or presume on God's mercy?
+ Do I have false gods in my life that I gave greater attention to than God, like money, profession, drugs, TV, fame, pleasure, property, etc.?
+ Do I blaspheme or insult God?
+ Do I take God's name carelessly or uselessly?
+ Do I curse, or break an oath or vow?
+ Do I get angry with God?
+ Do I do work on Sunday that was not necessary?
+ Do I set aside Sunday as a day of rest and a family day?
+ Do I disobey or disrespect my parents or legitimate superiors?
+ Do I neglect my duties to my husband, wife, children or parents?
+ Do I neglect to give good religious example to my family?
+ Do I fail to actively take an interest in the religious education and formation of my children?
+ Do I fail to educate myself on the true teachings of the Church?
+ Do I give scandal by what I said or did, especially to the young?
+ Do I cause anyone to leave the faith?
+ Do I cause tension and fights in my family?
+ Do I care for my aged and infirm relatives?
+ Do I give a full day's work for a full day's pay?
+ Do I give a fair wage to my employees?
+ Do I get angry, impatient, envious, unkind, proud, revengeful, jealous, hateful toward another, lazy?
+ Do I give bad example by drug abuse, drinking alcohol to excess, fighting, quarreling?
+ Do I abuse my children?
+ Do I willfully entertain impure thoughts or desires?
+ Do I use impure or suggestive words? Tell impure stories? Listen to them?
+ Do I deliberately look at impure TV, videos, plays, pictures or movies? Or deliberately read impure materials?
+ Do I commit impure acts by myself?
+ Do I commit impure acts with another -premarital sex, adultery.
+ Do I avoid the occasions of impurity?
+ Do I try to control my thoughts?
+ Do I engage in homosexual activity?
+ Do I respect all members of the opposite sex, or have I thought of other people as objects?
+ Do I steal, cheat, help or encourage others to steal or keep stolen goods? Have I made restitution for stolen goods?
+ Do I fulfill my contracts; give or accept bribes; pay my bills; rashly gamble or speculate; deprive my family of the necessities of life?
+ Do I waste time at work, school or at home?
+ Do I envy other people's families or possessions?
+ Do I make material possessions the purpose of my life?
+ Do I lie?
+ Do I deliberately deceive others, or injure others by lies?
+ Do I gossip or reveal others' faults or sins?
+ Do I fail to keep secret what should be confidential?
This is a lot to think about. Ponder these things and don't beat yourself up too much. We're all human. I find it helpful to read this every now and then just to reflect on the past week or so, put what I do in perspective. Something here does, has, or will apply to all of us at some time (hopefully not all at once, haha). Think about what is above and how your answers affect your relationship with Christ. How you choose to live in relation to these things is how you will choose to put Christ first in your life: hopefully, you wil put him first in your life and these things won't happen much at all, if at all.
Peace.
B
Matthew 6:32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek
for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Put your trust in the Lord to be Your Good Shepherd as well as Your Saviour. That is how you get to know Him when you trust Him at His Word. Read the King James Bible for the actual meaning to God's words and rely on wisdom coming from the Lord to read His Words and see their application in your life as you lean on Jesus to help you live as His.
Trust is the basis of all relationships. Once He has enable you to see that you have been retsored in that relationship with God the Father through the Son, then you may understand that now we have a life with God as the just shall live by faith in Him and all His promises to us.
So learning of Him through the scriptures is the best way to increase in the knowledge of Him so that your love may abound yet more and more as we walk by faith in the Son of God.
Galatians 2:20I 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.
for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.Put your trust in the Lord to be Your Good Shepherd as well as Your Saviour. That is how you get to know Him when you trust Him at His Word. Read the King James Bible for the actual meaning to God's words and rely on wisdom coming from the Lord to read His Words and see their application in your life as you lean on Jesus to help you live as His.
Trust is the basis of all relationships. Once He has enable you to see that you have been retsored in that relationship with God the Father through the Son, then you may understand that now we have a life with God as the just shall live by faith in Him and all His promises to us.
So learning of Him through the scriptures is the best way to increase in the knowledge of Him so that your love may abound yet more and more as we walk by faith in the Son of God.
Galatians 2:20I 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.
D
Hi Dothackzero,
I guess the biggest part of me wants to ask you... why do you ask us? Does the answer lie with men? If it does, where did we get it?
1) If we figured it out ourselves, then I'd say, "Walk away." If men through our own wordly and poor reasoning came to a conclusion, then you gotta know it's going to be flawed.
2) If we say we got it from God through scripture (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit), then I'd ask, "Why do you need a middle man?" If our wisdom is from scripture, then why not go directly to scripture?
Sure people are useful, and necessary to the growth of a believer, but in the end, do we test the Bible by man's ideas... or do we test man's ideas by the Bible?
-----
Ok... now that I've been totally annoying, I guess I should at least answer the question
A) Believe in the Lord Jesus. Not the 'friend' Jesus, not the 'servant' Jesus, not the kindly old neighbour Jesus... but Lord Jesus. Is He Master of your life? Have you submitted everything to Him... because He is the only one worthy of our worship.
B) Pray to the Holy Spirit, who is given as the seal of Christ to guide us in all truth (John 16:13), and become immersed in the Bible. This is not some dry book written by dead men... they are the words of the living creator of all things. Ask the Spirit to guide you in understanding what has freely been given to us... freely but at such great cost to our Lord Jesus Christ. You will be endlessly amazed at what God reveals to there.
C) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)
It's not about us. It's about Him.
I guess the biggest part of me wants to ask you... why do you ask us? Does the answer lie with men? If it does, where did we get it?
1) If we figured it out ourselves, then I'd say, "Walk away." If men through our own wordly and poor reasoning came to a conclusion, then you gotta know it's going to be flawed.
2) If we say we got it from God through scripture (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit), then I'd ask, "Why do you need a middle man?" If our wisdom is from scripture, then why not go directly to scripture?
Sure people are useful, and necessary to the growth of a believer, but in the end, do we test the Bible by man's ideas... or do we test man's ideas by the Bible?
-----
Ok... now that I've been totally annoying, I guess I should at least answer the question
A) Believe in the Lord Jesus. Not the 'friend' Jesus, not the 'servant' Jesus, not the kindly old neighbour Jesus... but Lord Jesus. Is He Master of your life? Have you submitted everything to Him... because He is the only one worthy of our worship.
B) Pray to the Holy Spirit, who is given as the seal of Christ to guide us in all truth (John 16:13), and become immersed in the Bible. This is not some dry book written by dead men... they are the words of the living creator of all things. Ask the Spirit to guide you in understanding what has freely been given to us... freely but at such great cost to our Lord Jesus Christ. You will be endlessly amazed at what God reveals to there.
C) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)
It's not about us. It's about Him.
M
Experience has shown me that I'm a happier person when I do God's will over my own....
When I have chosen to live in the flesh, although it brings a fleeting sense of pleasure for a bit....eventually that thrill wears off and I end up miserable.....
So, after awhile, you just get tired of feeling that way and I actually now crave the joy and peace from being obedient to God instead.
Sometimes you need to hit the lowest of lows to appreciate fully how vain and pointless life is without God as your priority. Putting Him first becomes a lot easier after that kind of experience ~ you finally realize that His peace is more fulfilling than anything the world can offer
When I have chosen to live in the flesh, although it brings a fleeting sense of pleasure for a bit....eventually that thrill wears off and I end up miserable.....
So, after awhile, you just get tired of feeling that way and I actually now crave the joy and peace from being obedient to God instead.
Sometimes you need to hit the lowest of lows to appreciate fully how vain and pointless life is without God as your priority. Putting Him first becomes a lot easier after that kind of experience ~ you finally realize that His peace is more fulfilling than anything the world can offer
B
If it is all about Jesus, why did you stated B as praying to the Holy Spirit? Yes, the Holy Spirit shall guide us into all truth, but again, that is with the understanding of John 16:13 in that whatever He hears... that He speaks as He brings into remembrance all things Jesus taught unto us. We need not pray to the Holy Spirit to do His job. His word says He will do it.
Also, Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus... the risen Saviour at the right hand of God the Father Whom the indwelling Holy Spirit in us is testifying of and leading us to testify of as well as He points us to go to our first love in having that relationship with God the Father.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd as He guides us through the Holy Spirit in us. We should not be pointing to the Holy Spirit to go to prayer towards when the Holy Spirit is pointing us to Jesus to pray to.
So C is an exhortation to apply towards the correction in B since there are no scriptures that would put the Holy Spirit as being inbetween us for that would fit the description of a thief and a work of iniquity.
John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. .......7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
1 Timothy 2:5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
It is because of the Nicene Creed and errant Bible translations like the NIV of Romans 8:26-27 and unscriptural hymnals that I post this by His grace to give pause so you may take this to Jesus in prayer for confirmation and wisdom to discern the error of B further.
John 5: 22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Since the Holy Spirit is God, He will not fail as a witness by speaking of Himself. He shall only testify of Jesus Christ in seeking His glory and those that are led by the Spirit of God shall be doing the same thing for the only Way to honour the Father is by honouring the Son for Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. John 5:22 above specifically stated as that is how we shall be judged by also.
John 16:13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
John 15:26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Philippians 2:9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
May God cause the increase to prune away those things that are contrary to His will by the scriptures.
Also, Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus... the risen Saviour at the right hand of God the Father Whom the indwelling Holy Spirit in us is testifying of and leading us to testify of as well as He points us to go to our first love in having that relationship with God the Father.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd as He guides us through the Holy Spirit in us. We should not be pointing to the Holy Spirit to go to prayer towards when the Holy Spirit is pointing us to Jesus to pray to.
So C is an exhortation to apply towards the correction in B since there are no scriptures that would put the Holy Spirit as being inbetween us for that would fit the description of a thief and a work of iniquity.
John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. .......7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
1 Timothy 2:5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
It is because of the Nicene Creed and errant Bible translations like the NIV of Romans 8:26-27 and unscriptural hymnals that I post this by His grace to give pause so you may take this to Jesus in prayer for confirmation and wisdom to discern the error of B further.
John 5: 22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Since the Holy Spirit is God, He will not fail as a witness by speaking of Himself. He shall only testify of Jesus Christ in seeking His glory and those that are led by the Spirit of God shall be doing the same thing for the only Way to honour the Father is by honouring the Son for Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. John 5:22 above specifically stated as that is how we shall be judged by also.
John 16:13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
John 15:26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Philippians 2:9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
May God cause the increase to prune away those things that are contrary to His will by the scriptures.
That's kinda hard since I'm normally a very selfish person.
+ Do I believe in fortune telling, horoscopes, dreams, the occult, good-luck charms, tarot cards, palmistry, Ouija boards, seances, reincarnation?
Don't mean doing them? Anyway, no to all of them.
+ Do I give time to God each day in prayer?
I do pray everyday. Though it might not be as much as I should.
+ Do I love God with my whole heart?
I try to, but I don't think I'm at that point yet.
+ Do I despair of or presume on God's mercy?
nope
+ Do I have false gods in my life that I gave greater attention to than God, like money, profession, drugs, TV, fame, pleasure, property, etc.?
Probably trying to find a girlfriend. ;_;
+ Do I blaspheme or insult God?
nope
+ Do I take God's name carelessly or uselessly?
nope
+ Do I curse, or break an oath or vow?
Yeah, I do swear more than I should. Though I'm not the type of person to take oaths or vows so it would kinda hard to break them.
+ Do I get angry with God?
nope
+ Do I do work on Sunday that was not necessary?
not anymore.
+ Do I set aside Sunday as a day of rest and a family day?
I try to rest on sunday, but I'm not really good at keeping it a family day.
+ Do I disobey or disrespect my parents or legitimate superiors?
I try not to. But I'm trying to get better at it.
+ Do I neglect my duties to my husband, wife, children or parents?
Probably, it takes a lot get me to do what I don't want to do.
+ Do I neglect to give good religious example to my family?
I'm not sure about this one...
+ Do I fail to actively take an interest in the religious education and formation of my children?
Since I've never had sex, that would be a pretty hard thing to do.
+ Do I fail to educate myself on the true teachings of the Church?
I read 2 pages of the Bible everyday.
+ Do I give scandal by what I said or did, especially to the young?
I hope not
+ Do I cause anyone to leave the faith?
I really not, but probably not.
+ Do I cause tension and fights in my family?
yeah, I do tend to that. I'm not sure how it happens somtimes. >_<
+ Do I care for my aged and infirm relatives?
If I can help I do.
+ Do I get angry
Sometimes
+ +impatient
very
++envious
yeah
++unkind
no
++proud
I guess?
++revengeful
no
++ jealous
very
++hateful toward anothe
I don't even think I know how to hate someone.
++lazy?
very
+ Do I give bad example by drug abuse, drinking alcohol to excess, fighting, quarreling?
nope, I'm a good boy.
+ Do I willfully entertain impure thoughts or desires?
I'm a 20 year old guy, what do you think.
+ Do I use impure or suggestive words? Tell impure stories? Listen to them?
I'm a 20 year old guy, what do you think.
+ Do I deliberately look at impure TV, videos, plays, pictures or movies? Or deliberately read impure materials?
I try not to.
+ Do I commit impure acts by myself?
I'm a 20 year old guy, what do you think.
+ Do I commit impure acts with another -premarital sex, adultery.
nope, I'm waiting till I'm married for sex. Or anytype of sexual activity.
+ Do I avoid the occasions of impurity?
physicly, well they avoid me. But yeah I do try to avoid it.
+ Do I try to control my thoughts?
nope
+ Do I engage in homosexual activity?
no way
+ Do I respect all members of the opposite sex, or have I thought of other people as objects?
I try to respect them as best as I can.
+ Do I steal,
nope
++cheat,
nope
++help or encourage others to steal or keep stolen goods?
nope
+ Do I fulfill my contracts
yeah
++ give or accept bribes
nope
++pay my bills
yep
++rashly gamble
nope
++speculate
speculation is fun as long I don't put money on it.
++deprive my family of the necessities of life?
nope
+ Do I waste time at work, school or at home?
I try not to.
+ Do I envy other people's families or possessions?
Only of my friends that have a girlfriend, or actually have friends that are girls.
+ Do I make material possessions the purpose of my life?
I try not too.
+ Do I lie?
no
+ Do I deliberately deceive others, or injure others by lies?
nope, and nope
+ Do I gossip or reveal others' faults or sins?
nope
+ Do I fail to keep secret what should be confidential?
nope
+ Do I believe in fortune telling, horoscopes, dreams, the occult, good-luck charms, tarot cards, palmistry, Ouija boards, seances, reincarnation?
Don't mean doing them? Anyway, no to all of them.
+ Do I give time to God each day in prayer?
I do pray everyday. Though it might not be as much as I should.
+ Do I love God with my whole heart?
I try to, but I don't think I'm at that point yet.
+ Do I despair of or presume on God's mercy?
nope
+ Do I have false gods in my life that I gave greater attention to than God, like money, profession, drugs, TV, fame, pleasure, property, etc.?
Probably trying to find a girlfriend. ;_;
+ Do I blaspheme or insult God?
nope
+ Do I take God's name carelessly or uselessly?
nope
+ Do I curse, or break an oath or vow?
Yeah, I do swear more than I should. Though I'm not the type of person to take oaths or vows so it would kinda hard to break them.
+ Do I get angry with God?
nope
+ Do I do work on Sunday that was not necessary?
not anymore.
+ Do I set aside Sunday as a day of rest and a family day?
I try to rest on sunday, but I'm not really good at keeping it a family day.
+ Do I disobey or disrespect my parents or legitimate superiors?
I try not to. But I'm trying to get better at it.
+ Do I neglect my duties to my husband, wife, children or parents?
Probably, it takes a lot get me to do what I don't want to do.
+ Do I neglect to give good religious example to my family?
I'm not sure about this one...
+ Do I fail to actively take an interest in the religious education and formation of my children?
Since I've never had sex, that would be a pretty hard thing to do.
+ Do I fail to educate myself on the true teachings of the Church?
I read 2 pages of the Bible everyday.
+ Do I give scandal by what I said or did, especially to the young?
I hope not
+ Do I cause anyone to leave the faith?
I really not, but probably not.
+ Do I cause tension and fights in my family?
yeah, I do tend to that. I'm not sure how it happens somtimes. >_<
+ Do I care for my aged and infirm relatives?
If I can help I do.
+ Do I get angry
Sometimes
+ +impatient
very
++envious
yeah
++unkind
no
++proud
I guess?
++revengeful
no
++ jealous
very
++hateful toward anothe
I don't even think I know how to hate someone.
++lazy?
very
+ Do I give bad example by drug abuse, drinking alcohol to excess, fighting, quarreling?
nope, I'm a good boy.
+ Do I willfully entertain impure thoughts or desires?
I'm a 20 year old guy, what do you think.
+ Do I use impure or suggestive words? Tell impure stories? Listen to them?
I'm a 20 year old guy, what do you think.
+ Do I deliberately look at impure TV, videos, plays, pictures or movies? Or deliberately read impure materials?
I try not to.
+ Do I commit impure acts by myself?
I'm a 20 year old guy, what do you think.
+ Do I commit impure acts with another -premarital sex, adultery.
nope, I'm waiting till I'm married for sex. Or anytype of sexual activity.
+ Do I avoid the occasions of impurity?
physicly, well they avoid me. But yeah I do try to avoid it.
+ Do I try to control my thoughts?
nope
+ Do I engage in homosexual activity?
no way
+ Do I respect all members of the opposite sex, or have I thought of other people as objects?
I try to respect them as best as I can.
+ Do I steal,
nope
++cheat,
nope
++help or encourage others to steal or keep stolen goods?
nope
+ Do I fulfill my contracts
yeah
++ give or accept bribes
nope
++pay my bills
yep
++rashly gamble
nope
++speculate
speculation is fun as long I don't put money on it.
++deprive my family of the necessities of life?
nope
+ Do I waste time at work, school or at home?
I try not to.
+ Do I envy other people's families or possessions?
Only of my friends that have a girlfriend, or actually have friends that are girls.
+ Do I make material possessions the purpose of my life?
I try not too.
+ Do I lie?
no
+ Do I deliberately deceive others, or injure others by lies?
nope, and nope
+ Do I gossip or reveal others' faults or sins?
nope
+ Do I fail to keep secret what should be confidential?
nope
D
Hello again Baruch,
You're right that my post left room for misunderstanding, and I'll address it briefly here, though the fullness of this discussion is best left to a different Forum thread.
I would ask first of all, is the Holy Spirit separate from God... or are the Father, Son and Holy Spirit one?
If they are separate entities, then by all means we should not pray to the Holy Spirit... unless we follow Mormon theology and worship many 'gods'
Yet if God is One, which the Shema confirms (Hear oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One (Dt 6:4)), then it is not 'wrong' to pray to the Spirit, any more than it would be to pray to God the Father, or God the Son. I would even ask... if they are One, why do we not give equal honour to all 3? Does not the Great Commission command us to baptise in "the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Mt 28:19 KJV)?
Please note the context with which I'm placing the focus on the Spirit though in the earlier post. It is in the context of understanding the Scriptures which God has given us. Please read over the posts on the Spirit which you posted, and ask what the role of the Spirit is. If it is to guide in all truth, then might I ask where that truth is found?
It has been my reading of scripture, confirmed by experience and fellowship with believers from many nations, that it is the Holy Spirit which guides us in understanding of Scripture.
In addressing your KJV focus, let me simply say that the KJ is a lovely translation unmatched in it's poetic use of the English language, and I use it as well as the NIV, NRSV, and a few other translations (including Barclay's which is a joy to study). No translated Bible is 'perfect', yet each of them, when read under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will yield the same message(s).
Do not be so quick to critique your Brethren, lest you be judged as you judge others. The plank in your own eye may get in the way of your seeing clearly
Please take this in good humour, as it is posted with no animosity, but only fellowship in Jesus Christ. It is however, also a rebuke and I would call upon you to meditate and pray upon it, as I will do with what you have posted.
Jesus Christ is Lord.
You're right that my post left room for misunderstanding, and I'll address it briefly here, though the fullness of this discussion is best left to a different Forum thread.
I would ask first of all, is the Holy Spirit separate from God... or are the Father, Son and Holy Spirit one?
If they are separate entities, then by all means we should not pray to the Holy Spirit... unless we follow Mormon theology and worship many 'gods'
Yet if God is One, which the Shema confirms (Hear oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One (Dt 6:4)), then it is not 'wrong' to pray to the Spirit, any more than it would be to pray to God the Father, or God the Son. I would even ask... if they are One, why do we not give equal honour to all 3? Does not the Great Commission command us to baptise in "the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Mt 28:19 KJV)?
Please note the context with which I'm placing the focus on the Spirit though in the earlier post. It is in the context of understanding the Scriptures which God has given us. Please read over the posts on the Spirit which you posted, and ask what the role of the Spirit is. If it is to guide in all truth, then might I ask where that truth is found?
It has been my reading of scripture, confirmed by experience and fellowship with believers from many nations, that it is the Holy Spirit which guides us in understanding of Scripture.
In addressing your KJV focus, let me simply say that the KJ is a lovely translation unmatched in it's poetic use of the English language, and I use it as well as the NIV, NRSV, and a few other translations (including Barclay's which is a joy to study). No translated Bible is 'perfect', yet each of them, when read under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will yield the same message(s).
Do not be so quick to critique your Brethren, lest you be judged as you judge others. The plank in your own eye may get in the way of your seeing clearly
Please take this in good humour, as it is posted with no animosity, but only fellowship in Jesus Christ. It is however, also a rebuke and I would call upon you to meditate and pray upon it, as I will do with what you have posted.
Jesus Christ is Lord.
Matthew 6:32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you
for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you
I'm just kinda obsessed with finding a girlfriend right now...
What about NIV?
Yeah, I really do need to get better at trusting God.
K
My best advice to anyone would be to first ask God for a personal heart felt revelation on the full extent of what exactly Jesus did on the cross that fateful day when He gave Himself as a sacrifice for sin. I don't think most people who profess to be christian truly understand how a horrible crime scene can become the most beautiful sight one can even imagine and, because of that, they can't truly appreciate what happened that day nor do they fully comprehend the power behind the cross to transform lives.
L
For me, it's developing a relationship with God; it's not just a list of "dos and don'ts." The more I get to know Him, the more I love and want to please and honor Him. The way I get to know Him is by spending time with Him in prayer and reading the Bible. The more I get to know Him, the more I enjoy spending time with the Lord. It's similar to how I got to know and love my husband. We met, we spent a lot of time together, we talked to each other, we listened to each other, and we grew together in love. Because of the love we have for one another, our marriage isn't "all about me," but it's all about how each of us can honor and serve the other.
As you draw near to God, He will draw near to you. I pray that your relationship with the Lord is strengthened and that you grow to love Him more and more every day.
As you draw near to God, He will draw near to you. I pray that your relationship with the Lord is strengthened and that you grow to love Him more and more every day.
Yeah, it's the same for me. Though It would be a lot easier for me if I was. Since nice chunck of his commands come natrually to me.
Yeah, for some reason it's like I'm having a problem getting to know him better.
[/quote]As you draw near to God, He will draw near to you. I pray that your relationship with the Lord is strengthened and that you grow to love Him more and more every day.[/quote]
Thanks, and please keep praying for me, I need it. ^_^
Yeah, for some reason it's like I'm having a problem getting to know him better.
[/quote]As you draw near to God, He will draw near to you. I pray that your relationship with the Lord is strengthened and that you grow to love Him more and more every day.[/quote]
Thanks, and please keep praying for me, I need it. ^_^
- Status