MyLordsServant

Hypothetical scenario: Take it seriously and sincerely A man in a hospital has 1 hour to live. A Christian minister is called to share the gospel of Jesus to him. This man has heard of Jesus, but does not know about him. The minister arrives in the mans room exactly 3 minutes before the man dies. The minister quickly shares the gospel: "Jesus died that his blood may wash away your sins. He was crucified and resurrected in 3 days. If you repent and believe in him, you will be saved" The man says, in his last minute: "I confess my sins, I know I'm a sinner. I believe in Jesus and I trust in him, but how do I know that I really trust him and I'm not just saying it? How do I know I truly believe in my heart, not with my words and mind?" If you were the minister, how would you respond? Knowing this man has 10 seconds to live and your next response may determine his eternal life in heaven or hell Write in quotes your exact response to the man. Consider this man has no knowledge of the scriptures.

I used to research occult things before converting. I tried practicing a few mediation related things, but failed. I heard a sermon by Derek Prince, that things can be possessed by spirits. I named my folders and files with occult related names. Emails and usernames too. So I've been deleting everything. Nothing crazy, but still evil of course. Like "AstralGod" or a number sequence. Astrology, philosophy, metaphysics related things. I never tried to call demons, if anything I made sure to stay away from anything evil. Of course it wasn't an issue since I failed at it. But I still have a name or maybe a few I missed, that I can't delete. Otherwise it will crash my computer. I never look at the name, or take it to have any evil association. Will it have any impact spiritually? Is it any worse than watching a documentary on demons? Am I overreacting?

Has anyone had this happen? About everyday for the past week. I wake up randomly in the middle of the night, 1-2 times. Sometimes translucently, other times drifting between consciousness and dreaming. Conscious enough to have awareness, but barely. Each time I awake, for 5-10 seconds I catch a glimpse of a conversation in my head, of a deep thought. The thoughts/prayers, were something like "praise God" or something spiritual related. Really weird to wake up for 5 seconds in the middle of the night, think "praise God", and immediately fall asleep.

They know the creator, but they don't know the creators gift for them.

The circumstance was hypothetical. The point of the question is, what your response would be. Whether a believer or non-believer asks, doesn't matter. But like Jesus says, not everyone who calls his name will be saved. We expect those who do wonderful works and cast out demons, to certainly enter heaven. Especially those Christians who rely on works. But, the outward actions don't always necessitate salvation.

I don't think it's blame shifting. But most people already know about Jesus and choose not to care. So yes they will be without excuse. The scenario applies to those who have never heard of Jesus.

If you never question if you're saved, then you walk a thin line. Many believe they're saved and never question it. Some of them, or most, aren't truly saved. In fact, hate when asked if they're saved. Not a good sign.

What's your story? If an unbeliever asked how you know you're saved. What would you say? More than just saying, "because I believe". Go deeper than that.

Looked like you repeated what she said. You didn't quote her. Anyway, I understand now.

I never said it's to get God to do what you want. Correct, Jesus expects us to fast. In the same verse he says, "When you pray...". Then "When you fast...". Not 'if' you fast. Some people choose to do the bare minimum. "It's not a commandment? Guess I don't have to do it".

You don't fast, but consider yourself a Christian? Might be time to re-think your relationship. Ever wonder why your prayers are unanswered? Jesus will not hear us if we are prideful. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 Pride is one of the most deceptive and destructive sins. Many don't realize it or skip that commandment entirely. If we do not humble ourselves like children, "'you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" What was the very first sin ever committed? Eve eating the fruit? No. It was Lucifer who was full of pride! If one of the greatest angels was cast down as he was, how much more will we be cast out? How do you humble yourself? By fasting. "I humble myself by fasting" Psalm 69:10. Can you ask for Jesus to humble you? No. We are told to humble ourselves. Jesus won't fast for you. "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." This faith to remove demons - is not possible except by prayer and fasting. Do you want a mere bit of faith, or enough to remove demons? If you have this faith to remove such great demons, how much more will they leave you alone? In turn, build a solid relationship with Jesus. Research yourselves through the Bible how important fasting is. The occasions where God showed amazing mercy to those who fasted; humbling themselves.

Obeying commands doesn't show your trust is sincere. Many follow the commands as rules.

If your trust isn't true to begin with, then waiting for time to build your trust is futile. Not only futile in relying on time, but the fact that you may not have time. You may die tomorrow, so it's best to get your faith in order now. Will you wake up after tonight? Not everyone has trials or tests that can build their faith. There must be a method to capturing child-like faith, for any person, at any time. Many accept Jesus after a sermon is pumped out by an animated preacher. They're motivated to do something they don't fully understand. This is why a lot of those alter-call conversions and believers prayers, end up failing. They can "know" a Christ that doesn't exist. Many will say, "but the thief on the cross said a few words to Jesus and was saved". Yes that's because he actually seen Jesus. If someone were to say that now, they would have no idea what they're saying. Example: Go on the street and tell someone to say, "Jesus, remember me in paradise". Will they be saved? Even if they believe? I don't think so. What Jesus preached was in perspective of that generation, who experienced him. They already knew Jesus. Another reason why I don't understand why preachers yell on the street, for people to come to Jesus. Simply saying "Jesus died for your sins, repent", is almost saying it in vain. They don't know Jesus is God. Nor how the Father is related to the son. How Jesus was a gift. What his blood stood for, etc. Without some growing passion to learn about Jesus, he can be completely misinterpreted. People are misguided by preachers who overall say, "Believe in Jesus and you'll have eternal life". They say they believe, but what Jesus do they believe in, if they haven't read the scriptures. If I heard someone say, believe in Jesus for eternal life. Having no knowledge I would believe in the name. J.e.s.u.s. But what value does the name alone hold? Maybe I'm wrong and believing the name is enough. But if the preacher says, "go on live your life, come to church, you're saved". Their prayers are in vain, no? Especially if people don't have the passion, need, and want, to find Jesus. They never will. They will live religiously. "My pastor told me to say a prayer, I did, he said I'm saved, I go to church once a week and sing songs". Is that a person who's truly saved? I don't think so. But sadly that's probably 80% of Christians right now. Maybe there's a lot of reward-hungry preachers. Who think by getting people to say believers prayers, they build themselves a reward in heaven. When Jesus was preaching that they should believe in him. He was preaching to the people who seen and were with him...who knew him. Because he wanted their trust. People don't know Jesus, yet are putting trust in him. But who has time to explain to each individual person on the street, the entire summary of salvation. When death is imminent. "Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation". People need a quick way to understand trust like a child. Not everyone has years and years to finally build true faith in Christ. It is futile for any person to assume they have more than a day to live. If you assume you'll live another 30 years, what value does converting have at that moment? What value does it hold on any level? If you "believed in vain". When Jesus said few will be saved, I think he really meant...a FEW. A teaspoon out of the ocean. You mentioned your faith eventually was ingrained in your heart. That's another thing to be cautious of. When it becomes a mantra. A child doesn't say, "my mom will feed me", over and over. You can say "cows are blue", in your head over and over. Eventually when someone says cow, you'll imagine a blue cow. This isn't true belief, instead what you've conditioned yourself to believe. This is why I said there's a difference between practical and intellectual trust. You have to truly know Jesus, in order to have true trust. But those who do truly know Jesus, how do you know their trust is true? And not a mere intellectual faith. Even if you tell yourself, "I would sacrifice my son like Abraham, If God told me to". Is telling yourself that true faith? Or is that believing that you have faith. Same with believing you have child-like faith. Is simply telling yourself that God will always provide, is that real sincere trust? Or is that an intellectual condition. "The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know." Corinthians A child doesn't have to understand his parents, because he know's them. The trust is there without having to know if he trusts. How can you apply this to trust to Jesus, without questioning if you know the trust that you think you know? (That being, you had to learn who Christ is, in fallible logic, words, and thoughts). Ever since I started believing, I began to know Jesus in different ways. Every day I would learn something new. Which made me question, is the Jesus I first gave my life to and trusted, the Jesus I know now? Ask yourself that as well. If that Jesus was different, then is your faith in vain? “There was a young man who said though, it seems that I know that I know, but what I would like to see is the I that knows me when I know that I know that I know.” Alan W. Watts

I know it's simple. But the question is, how do you know if your trust is true? 2 types of people say, "I trust". Both can live Christian lives. Both mean it in their heart when they accept Jesus. Yet one of them can be wrong, because they didn't accept truly. I'm trying to find the core of true trust. So I know that my faith is indeed true. Not only something I say in my mind. As we are not children, it's really hard to find that genuine unconditional trust. As adults, we have to find the child-like faith intellectually. In my opinion anyway.

That's not practical. You can say "I give my life to God". But what does that mean, when you have nothing to give. "Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? "For My hand made all these things"

How can you know you have true trust in Jesus? How can we tell practically? Anyone can say, "I trust". But when word comes to action, most would lose trust. We can think and tell ourselves we trust. But how do we know it's true, deep down in the core? The only way to know 100%, is if we apply it practically. We can't justify the trust we convince ourselves of, with more thoughts about our trust. I'm sure a lot of people have heard trust examples like this: A guy pushing a wheel barrow across a tight rope, on a cliff; Asks a crowd, "how many think I can make it across?". 75% of people raise their hand. So he goes across and makes it successfully. Then he says, "who thinks I can do this blindfolded?". 25% of people raise their hand. Again, he makes it successfully. Then he says, "who wants to sit in the wheel barrow, while I push it across blindfolded?" At that point, obviously no one would trust him, even though they believed before. But to apply this trust to Jesus, for a test of true trust. We would need a practical application. Otherwise we're vainly saying we trust.

So should I change churches? That's the only way I can become a member

My church only does sprinkling.

A lot of people, even atheists that don't know Christ; Have good hearts and natures, who's sin is convicted by their conscience. Some live more righteously than Christians. If one of these was to come to know Christ, how would they discern between their old "good nature" and new heart? -If they wanted a sign of being born again. If they couldn't discern, then how would they know their faith is true? and How would they discern if it's their new heart, versus instinct to follow moral laws in the Bible?

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

The question we should ask is, why are the majority of tongues in Pentecostal churches? Is everyone else doing something wrong? 13And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘Myhouse will be called a house of prayer

So I found this verse, what do you think? 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

I'm thinking it's some form of mental paralyzation. Pray for so long and passionately, until your mind has no more words to vocalize, and begins to spew gibberish in a mentally disabled trance. Either that, or they fake it, evil spirit, or some form of Holy Spirit no one knew about.

I've stumbled on some "speaking in tongues" videos. Most of them confirm that babbling tongues are frequent in Pentecostal churches. Can someone read this and help discern what's happening at this church? My parents still go there. The Ukrainian church I was forced to go to with my parents for 18 years, named the house of prayer, always had these 'tongue babblings'. I don't know if these were actual babblings or different languages. They didn't sound like other languages. Everyone's babblings seemed to sound the same. But doesn't the Holy Spirit only use the tongues to speak to others in their language? Not some heavenly language gibberish? From what I remember, they called it a prayer support from the Holy Spirit, like a prayer assistance to help prolong it. Now I'm starting to question if this was a demonic spirit entering people. For over 20 years of my life, I thought that was the real Holy Spirit working. I feel the periods where I left the church, I came closer to spiritual things, then later God. Was God's eye on me the whole time? Keeping me distant from the church's doctrine, until now where I attend a United reformed church? This is mind blowing right now. For the entire 18 years, I feel I learned nothing. Like my ears were shut. I learned the stories, about Jesus, Moses, etc. But I never understood the deeper meanings. I didn't even know the point of Jesus, that he died for us, which even sinners know. During 90% of the sermons, the second it started, my mind would blank out, until the second the sermon finished. Maybe it was my ignorance blocking out the sermon? Or was it divine intervention, closing my ears to the doctrines? Some background: As the name of the church suggests, this church was heavy on prayer. Only vocal. Occasionally they had prayer days; church was open for 8 hours. People would come and pray for hours, vocally. There were 4-5 church services per week. It was structured with 3 sermons from 3 deacons and sometimes pastor. Each sermon about 30 minutes-1 hour. Each church service was 2-3 hours long. Monday's were prayer night, where focus was on prayer along side preaching. After each sermon they prayed for 5-10 minutes. All members pray together, not just pastor. Experiences I witnessed: ∙Often the moment the pastor starts praying, within 1-10 seconds, he's already babbling. ∙Alter calls had people come out, stand on their knees, and pastor would come around putting hands on them praying. Sometimes they dabbed oil on peoples heads. ∙A couple of occasions, a female prophet would come. It was super weird. 5-10 minutes into a heavy loud prayer, everyone would go silent almost in unison, and the 'spirit' would speak vocally from her, in her own voice. She would tell the church the problems they had, like not enough love or whatever ∙I don't remember 100% if this happened, but a prophet said in our church of 150 members, only 2-4 would be saved. ∙A teenage guy during an alter call, was praying so hard, he said he was paralyzed for a time. Not like a car accident paralyzed, but having no body control. ∙A trusted members experience story was, his wife in another church during prayer, physically started levitating while praying. Not sure if I remember this one correctly, but it was either physically or in his dream. 80% sure it was physically. ∙One teenage girl often gets babblings, and during heavy prayers, she would scream in a weird way. Not like horror movie scream, but shouting bursts of babblings. ∙One deacon especially, but other members also, would pray so loud and forcefully, they were basically yelling to God. ∙Average prayers were really loud. People would cry passionately and desperately, especially women. Sometimes up to 30 minutes straight. It seemed like a good church. They never had people running around or jumping during prayers. Some of the miracle stories seemed genuine. Like healing and whatnot. They dressed respectfully, no chewing gum, long dresses, no cellphones, etc. But everything else had me question. I never really felt peace in that church. It felt dead, without any presence.

What gets me is: what if I die tomorrow and haven't accepted Jesus in a proper way. There's many instances where people "accept" Jesus, but it's not a true acceptance. What if I die tomorrow and God says, "I never knew you". I'm ready to serve the Lord the rest of my life. But no one knows if they will have a life past tomorrow. I need to be ready right now.