Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 9/11/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dear Carl,

I have some problems that hopefully you can help answer.  I am 24 years of age and am trying to change my life around.  In college I tried to fit in and drank alcohol on occasion.  I know this was a sin and got a DUI conviction.  Now I am facing another DUI charge.  I rarely drank (once every other month) after the first one.  I went to a friends birthday/engagement party and had a a few drinks and drove home.  I know you must think how stupid can I be.  But I let the pressures of society affect me.  I am now hopeless about the future.  I have been praying to God on a bi-daily basis to guide me through these problems.  Even though I dont have the slightest urge to drink alcohol, it repulses me now, I have been going to AA. I have comitted to him that I will never drink a sip of alcohol, it was never that I was relying on it but I drank socially once in a while.  My actions have disgusted me, my parents are ashamed as evangelical christians.  I know drinking alcohol was a horrible decision and to compound it with the driving.   I am in graduate school but I am afraid I will never be able to recover from these two mistakes.  I am afraid I will never be able to find employment and change my life so that I can help expand his kingdom.  I have tearfully humbled myself to God during prayer.  Aside from that I (once bi-weekly) masterbate.  I have hard time dealing with this because I know i am lusting and pleasuring myself. I feel so guilty because I know I have sinned against the lord.  I dont want to have a girlfriend as I am waiting for marriage to have sex.  I pray that he forgives me for my mistakes. These are my two main problems.  Please pray for me pastor.

ANSWER: Hi Neal,

Thanks for this honest and open question.  I am very glad that you have repented and committed not to ever take a drink again.  If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, all your sins have already been covered.  When you mess up like you did, if you go to God and ask for forgiveness, he promises to forgive.  He not only forgives, but He often restores the damage done from your son.

Matthew 12:20
20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Joel 2:25
25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

You have God's promise of forgiveness.

1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge# 1769.

Now to stay on track you should not only pray but also read the Bible on a regualr basis... renew your thinking.

Romans 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The King James Version, #Cambridge: Cambridge# 1769.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4 #For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;#  5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  
The King James Version, #Cambridge: Cambridge# 1769.

Psalm 119:9-11
9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The King James Version, #Cambridge: Cambridge# 1769.

You also need the fellowship, not just of recovering alcoholics in AA but also the fellowship of recovering sinners in Church.

Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The King James Version, #Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps.

In Christ
Pastor Don

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Pastor Don,

Thank you for answering, I was anxiously checking my email to see if you had answered.  I do attend church every sunday.  I also pray and read the bible daily.  I am just hoping the lord blesses my future.    I know I have sinned and am trying my best to humble myself before him.  I will be praying for you.  Continue the good work.  My only question is that I want to speak in tongues and receive the holy spirit but have been unable to do so.  I would like your opinion on that.  Also, I feel so guilty that I have been baptized and since then committed sin.  How do I deal with this?


Thank you,

Answer
Hi Neil,

THanks for this question.  You do not need to get baptized again... simply go to God and ask for forgiveness.  If you have trusted Jesus as Savior, then you already have the Holy Ghost.  Tongues were only given on thee specific occasions in the Bible.  Tongues are for unbelievers to hear the gospel in their own language, not just to make a believer feel good.  If you want more information, I have several sermons I have preached on that.

1 Corinthians 14:22
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don