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About John of AllFaith
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You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Christian Teens > Christianity -- Christian Living > Born-again/witnessing
Expert: John of AllFaith - 10/24/2009
Question
Hey I have actually 2 questions, hopefully you can answer both as they are pretty close to each other. First let me give you a brief overview of my walk with the Lord. I grew up in a Lutheran home, and didn’t really understand Jesus entirely and I never acted like acted like a Christian at all. But I would say that that was my religion to my friends and everything. It wasn’t until two years ago I said a prayer and invited Jesus into my life. Although of course I kind of did this as an exit to get to Heaven then realizing what it meant 100%. Yet I have to say I felt a sense of peace and warmth when I said the prayer so I can’t say I was saved and got the Holy Spirit that day. My actions continued pretty similar to what it used to be, pornography, video games, movies, rock music etc. About the very end of 2008 I begin to start asking myself is my masturbation acceptable to Jesus, would he approve of this. I would like to think this was the Holy Spirit telling me about this, but I am a worrysome person and sometimes I can’t tell what comes from God and what doesn’t. So anyhow I decided to make 2009 my year I would start making myself “right” with God, again I don’t know why I felt this, I again would like to think it was the Holy Spirit telling me to get right. So this year I have struggled all year trying to break my 10+ years of masturbation and other addictions.
My question firstly is: What do you think person should “experience” when “born-again”? I never had some kind of near-death experience and had no real big life-changer when inviting Jesus into my life. Sometimes I wonder because the way I feel, thus my next question. I believe in God and Jesus and what he did, yet I find myself struggling with sharing the Gospel with encouragement. What do you think about this? Is it my faith? I WANT to do my duty as a Christian, but I just don’t know what to say to people who don’t believe. The “comfort” of witnessing is not there. I begin to question if I am truly saved or something. I wonder also that I have “quenched” the Holy Spirit so much that no “gifts” of the Holy Spirit are present. I know a lot of people have gifts of the Spirit and they say its easy for them to witness with encouragement. I have prayed of course about this, but want to know someone elses opinion. I want to get right with God if there is something I am lacking. Would be great if you could replay, THANKS.
Answer
Hi Benjamin,
Some people have overwhelming experiences when they "receive Christ" and many do not. Feelings are fleeting and not really that important. In some cases people who speak of such experiences often find their faith collapses when day to day life replaces that salvation high.
Micah says this:
Micah 6:6 How shall I come before Yahweh,
and bow myself before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
6:7 Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams?
With tens of thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience?
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good.
What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly,
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Faith is our daily walk. Walk humbly with God and others, trusting in Him and when you fail, and you will, know that that too is part of the Way. Learn from your ups and from your downs and keep walking.
Recall:
I Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 12:28 God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. 12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? 12:30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
13:1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. 13:3 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.
We are all called to love. That is our witness. If God leads you to share your faith with someone do so in love. If He calls your to serve at a soup kitchen, do it in love, if you are at school, reflect God's love...
That's what matters. You are not and will never be perfect (which doesn't mean don't try of course) and God doesn't expect it of you. He loves and accepts us just as we are. But Love is the key we are told to reach for.
Many people make it too difficult. They force themselves to be what they are not. Just love God and love those you come into contact with. If you do this, your testimony will be like a light on a hill that you couldn't hide if you tried.
I Corinthians 13:13 But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
And again:
Matthew 22:37 Y'shua [Jesus] said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 22:38 This is the first and great commandment. 22:39 A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 22:40 The whole Torah and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."
Hope this helps,
~ John of AllFaith
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