Ever feel like an outsider?

[Guest P_W]

Maybe you need to just give up?  Just let go and stop the struggle.  Relax and rest in the Lord and let Him take over for awhile?  I think that is what He told us to do .... "Come unto Me all you who are weary .... and I will give you rest...."

 

It is such a comfortable place to be ....  give it a try ....  can't hurt, right?

 

  Praying for your peace,

  PrairWarur

[gray wolf]

Yeah.i always thought the problem was my personal indolence!

[OldSchool2]

I usually attended mass with my wife until recently when she lost her faith.  I decided to go it alone and went to a new church today ...

As half your flesh is now gone, "wherever two or more are gathered" can no longer be assumed for you.

Can you tell us how your wife "lost" her faith? Not surprisingly, its apparently affecting your faith as well.

[gray wolf]

It's a bit of a vicious cycle. She seems to have been affected by my character for worse. She is also discouraged by the reality that the good suffer and the wicked prosper. She has also been disappointed by the examples of Christians in her life. If I can somehow get Christ alive in my life, it may make things better.

[Hall7]

Have you ever been baptized by the Holy Spirit? I didn't begin to change until that happened, and it happened by surrendering completely, by not worrying about what people around me in church thought of me. I just threw my hands up in the air and surrendered, you need to want it to receive it, and what a good renewing feeling it is afterwards. That's when you truly begin to grow, and become able to discern what is and what isn't from God in this world, when you are able to recognize spiritual attacks... That's when the old self begins to die, the more you are in the Word daily, the faster you become a new creation. Although yes we are made into new creations when we are saved, the residual worldly self in the subconscious is what takes time to eliminate. Analize your thoughts and spirit daily, and eliminate the parts that want to cling to the world little by little. It is a long journey and battle, but well worth the end result.

[OldSchool2]

It's a bit of a vicious cycle. She seems to have been affected by my character for worse. She is also discouraged by the reality that the good suffer and the wicked prosper. She has also been disappointed by the examples of Christians in her life ...

She seems to have rejected the fact of fallen human nature and our desperate need for Christ, someone neither her husband or anyone else can replace.

[gray wolf]

Have you ever been baptized by the Holy Spirit? I didn't begin to change until that happened, and it happened by surrendering completely, by not worrying about what people around me in church thought of me. I just threw my hands up in the air and surrendered, you need to want it to receive it, and what a good renewing feeling it is afterwards. That's when you truly begin to grow, and become able to discern what is and what isn't from God in this world, when you are able to recognize spiritual attacks... That's when the old self begins to die, the more you are in the Word daily, the faster you become a new creation. Although yes we are made into new creations when we are saved, the residual worldly self in the subconscious is what takes time to eliminate. Analize your thoughts and spirit daily, and eliminate the parts that want to cling to the world little by little. It is a long journey and battle, but well worth the end result.

So what do you do exactly?  Ask for the Holy Spirit to baptize you?

[Guest P_W]

Great answer, Hall!  I was not raised in a church that taught this way, but I did earnestly desire the Holy Spirit and His gifts and after praying to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, God answered my prayer in a marvelous way.  This is also when I began to grow and experienced a deeper, closer walk with God.

 

I read a great book by Corrie Ten Boom called, "Tramp for The Lord", and in this book she talks about the Baptism which she received at 65 years of age.  She wasn't seeking this out, and even asked God, "Why now?"  She had already been through the worst period of her life in the concentration camp, but God said He was sending her into a part of Germany that was so demonic if she went in without this power she would be consumed.

 

Yes, the Holy Spirit edifies us, and gives us the ability to stand strong in the face of danger.  There is a boldness that comes after the Baptism and a greater ability to witness and even to receive from God.  I think this just might be the answer GrayWolf seeks.  Thank you!

 

I am including Scripture about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and I hope you will read more on this subject in 1 Corinthians as well as Acts.  Peace to you, Gray Wolf, and all.

 

Always in His care,

Born again, Spirit filled, and praising my Lord,

PrairWarur

 

 

1 Corinthians 14

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Prophecy a Superior Gift

14 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

[Hall7]

Have you ever been baptized by the Holy Spirit? I didn't begin to change until that happened, and it happened by surrendering completely, by not worrying about what people around me in church thought of me. I just threw my hands up in the air and surrendered, you need to want it to receive it, and what a good renewing feeling it is afterwards. That's when you truly begin to grow, and become able to discern what is and what isn't from God in this world, when you are able to recognize spiritual attacks... That's when the old self begins to die, the more you are in the Word daily, the faster you become a new creation. Although yes we are made into new creations when we are saved, the residual worldly self in the subconscious is what takes time to eliminate. Analize your thoughts and spirit daily, and eliminate the parts that want to cling to the world little by little. It is a long journey and battle, but well worth the end result.

So what do you do exactly?  Ask for the Holy Spirit to baptize you?

I believe that your first step should be to find a church where the Spirit of God can be felt strongly, a church on fire opposed to a luke warm church, and that would most likely be a Pentecostal or Charismatic church. All you need to do really is when the time of worship takes place, and everyone is praising God, join them in praising, surrender completely, ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit, to renew you. And it will eventually happen...

[Hall7]

Amen PrairWarur