close to God!?

[lonelybird]

Have you ever been scared by this idea, close to God? God has no darkness in him, He is bright light, is perfect....will we burn out if we are too close to God?

I had. and I found it is the SHAME and FEAR which prevented me to have a close relationship with God. Then I remember this verse in Bible:

 

Gen 2:25(1)The man and the woman were both naked, but they were not embarrassed.

 

3:7 As soon as they had eaten it, they were given understanding and realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and covered themselves.

3:8 That evening they heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and they hid from him among the trees.

3:9 But the LORD God called out to the man, "Where are you?"

3:10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden; I was afraid and hid from you, because I was naked."

 

We have the same issue today. Nobody is perfect, we constantly make mistakes, sometimes we clearly know, sometimes we don't even know where went wrong (so it is important to know what is the living law in our heart--all written in the Bible), sometimes we choose to lie to ourselves.

 

But the guilt is still there even when we think we did no wrong. Guilt will be there as long as we did things against the living law in our heart.

 

This sense of guilt can reduce our level of self-esteem, AND make some of us want to deny there is a living God. we do silly things to pull ourselves far from God, thought this way God will not see and cannot see us:o , or think God hate us, or think God has a evil plan for our lives. Sometimes we even punish ourselves because of our guilt, or we want to hide these secrets.

 

These secrets make rooms for Satan. Satan will use these secrets to set traps. These secrets will come out public eventually. Like hatred, we know it is bad, we hide it, but it will show out in a passive way and hurt ourselves and others.

 

BUT:D when we confess all these dark secrets and most hideous thought to God, these secrets and mountains melt like wax, we can feel the lightness, the burden drop off, the fear for God fade away, on the contrary God become our most reliable dear friend. We pray, talk to God, God will talk and advise back to us. and God build up our confidence!!

 

We can confess everything to God, like

"I dislike xxx, what should I do?"

"I hate xxx:mad: , what's wrong with her! what should I do?"

"I am jealous of xxx, what should I do?"

or

"I am addictive to xxxx, what should I do?"

.

.

 

God has good plans for His children. If you ask HIM, and He would be happy to lead you out of darkness. But in order to hear from God, you have to fill yourself with verses in Bible, you have to eat these words in Bible. The more you feed yourself with words of God, the more clearly you can hear from God, oh, AND you must submit to God's will, and God's will is always much better your own.

[pelagicsands]

But the guilt is still there even when we think we did no wrong. Guilt will be there as long as we did things against the living law in our heart.

This is so true. You can justify something to yourself again and again, but you know, deep down, when you've compromised your integrity. There is no avoiding the blueprint of humanity.

[Topper]

You don't have to be a Christian to be close to God.

[LaughMachine]

And you don't need to use grammar check/ spell check to sound smart

 

jk! haha I'm a hypocrite

[quankanne]

Have you ever been scared by this idea, close to God? God has no darkness in him, He is bright light, is perfect....will we burn out if we are too close to God?

 

hmm, can't say I've ever felt that way about being close to him, there's just a very strong sense of assuredness that I am His, and He is mine.

 

but I can definitely identify with the shame and, for me pain, thing when I know I'm being sinful as I profess with my mouth, but not my mind and heart. Especially when it comes to family matters, and that's a hard one to reconcile what I'm called to do and how I actually behave! That's when praying really helps, asking for that help to do right by Him and by the people I've hurt.

[pureinheart]

Wow lonelybird, God is pouring out His Spirit all over you!!!!!!!

 

Hey Topper....I would say to your comment that without the saving power of Jesus Christ it is impossible to have a relationship with the Father in this dispensation....sin separates us from God, we must have a mediator. In the O/T the High Priest went into the tabernacle to cleanse the people of their sins, but it had to be repeated over and over, I think they did it yearly....not sure though.

 

It is interesting to note that no man has ever seen the face of God and lived....Gods perfection and glory is too awesome for our earthly bodies to handle. When God spoke to Moses giving him the Ten Commandments, Moses returned to the people with white hair and was aged greatly...our earthly bodies just can't handle it....

 

There is a requirement for Holiness depending upon the anointing that is placed on ones life, also a willingness to adhere to the calling. The Apostolic and Prophetic have an awesome responsibility, they are on the shortest leashes I have seen to date.

 

Some say that the Apostloic ended with the original 12 Apostles. I am of the understanding that since creation nothing has changed concerning His word....Jesus came not to take away the Law, but to fulfill it, why would it be different with the Apostolic?

[lonelybird]

How can we discern whether the

Rebuke from Lord or from Satan?

A vision from Lord or from Satan?

Please check out these verses:

 

Psalms

16:11 You lead me in the path of life;

I experience absolute joy in your presence;

you always give me sheer delight.

 

27:10 Even if my father and mother abandoned me,

the Lord would take me in.

 

27:11 Teach me how you want me to live;

lead me along a level path because of those who wait to ambush me!

 

119:143 Distress and hardship confront me,

yet I find delight in your commands.

 

So we can see our God is good God, He has good plan for us, a rebuke from Lord is like honey, always spirit lift-up, but a rebuke from Satan is to put spirit down. AND one thing for sure, Lord want us to put eyes on HIM, please don't loose focus on Lord, then everything will be fine:)

 

We can check ourselves if we have those spiritual fruits every day and every minute. If we have these fruits even when we debate with others, then we can be sure we are walking into the path Lord planed for us:)

 

The work of Spirit:Galatians

5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

5:23 gentleness, and self-control.

[Enema]

I know why you're a lonely bird.

[LaughMachine]

It doesn't scare me to be close to god. It scares me to base everything on the bible. How do we know this thing about god talking to moses is true? Did someone state this on their own perception or did it actually happen?

 

I keep googling things on " believing in god" and not believing in god"

 

Both have their logical points of view and both have them backed up. So I know It's up to my to choose.

[Moai]

It doesn't scare me to be close to god. It scares me to base everything on the bible. How do we know this thing about god talking to moses is true? Did someone state this on their own perception or did it actually happen?

 

I keep googling things on " believing in god" and not believing in god"

 

Both have their logical points of view and both have them backed up. So I know It's up to my to choose.

 

I would disagree with this last statement. I have yet to see one single shred of evidence that there is a god, Christian or otherwise.

[Enema]

You have to have faith Moai.

 

It's how god tests that we're worthy. If you can't believe in him without any evidence, then he doesn't want you anyway!

[deaconblues]

You have to have faith Moai.

 

It's how god tests that we're worthy. If you can't believe in him without any evidence, then he doesn't want you anyway!

 

 

That's actually not true. According to most of what I have read about God, she has unconditional love for all people including non-believers. Pretty absurd notion that an entity with unconditional love would have to 'test' the object of her unconditional love... I defer to the woman I love, who is Lutheran...she states that in her church's teaching, no person goes to hell...even sinners are saved (I love that about her - what mercy and compassion!).

 

Growing up Catholic, I was told even the most evil were redeemable. If your worst crime is relying on proof, but you are still a moral person, I don't see how that should incur God's ire (assuming that love is unconditional)

[Moai]

That's actually not true. According to most of what I have read about God, she has unconditional love for all people including non-believers. Pretty absurd notion that an entity with unconditional love would have to 'test' the object of her unconditional love... I defer to the woman I love, who is Lutheran...she states that in her church's teaching, no person goes to hell...even sinners are saved (I love that about her - what mercy and compassion!).

 

Most Christian religions claim that all sinners are saved. The only sin that is unforgivable is unbelief, or blasphemy. Lutherans believe that lots of people go to hell. Ask her pastor if you don't believe me.

 

Growing up Catholic, I was told even the most evil were redeemable. If your worst crime is relying on proof, but you are still a moral person, I don't see how that should incur God's ire (assuming that love is unconditional)

 

There are passages in the Bible that support this, and others that don't. Hence the "No way to Heaven but through me" idea, as well as the "born-again" idea. But no matter which way you look at it, if you deny the Holy Spirit--that is blasphemy--you are going to Hell.

[deaconblues]

This according to Lutheranism:

 

The material principle of Lutheranism is the doctrine of justification: salvation by God's grace alone (Sola Gratia), through faith alone (Sola Fide) for the sake of Christ's merit alone (Solus Christus). Traditional Lutheran theology holds that God made the world, including humanity, perfect, holy, and sinless. However, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, trusting in their own strength, knowledge, and wisdom. Because of this Original Sin - the sin from which all other sins come—all humans are born in sin and are sinners. For Lutherans, original sin is the "chief sin, a root and fountainhead of all actual sins" Lutherans teach that sinners cannot do anything (i.e. "good works") to satisfy God's justice. Every human thought and deed is colored by sin and sinful motives. Because of this, all humanity deserves eternal damnation in hell. God has intervened in this world because he loves all people and does not want anyone to be eternally damned. By God's grace, made known and effective in the person and work of Jesus Christ, a person is forgiven, adopted as a child and heir of God, and given eternal salvation.

 

Man can do nothing to earn God's grace...God has already granted salvation, regardless of one's sins...

 

Sounds pretty cool to me

[Moai]

This according to Lutheranism:

 

The [COLOR=#0000ff]material principle[/COLOR] of Lutheranism is the doctrine of [COLOR=#0000ff]justification[/COLOR]: salvation by God's grace alone (Sola Gratia), through faith alone (Sola Fide) for the sake of Christ's merit alone (Solus Christus). Traditional Lutheran theology holds that God made the world, including humanity, perfect, holy, and sinless. However, [COLOR=#0000ff]Adam and Eve[/COLOR] chose to disobey God, trusting in their own strength, knowledge, and wisdom.[COLOR=#800080][4][/COLOR] Because of this [COLOR=#0000ff]Original Sin[/COLOR]—the sin from which all other sins come—all humans are born in sin and are sinners.[COLOR=#800080][5][/COLOR] For Lutherans, original sin is the "chief sin, a root and fountainhead of all actual sins"[COLOR=#800080][6][/COLOR] Lutherans teach that sinners cannot do anything (i.e. "good works") to satisfy God's justice[COLOR=#800080][7][/COLOR]. Every human thought and deed is colored by sin and sinful motives[COLOR=#800080][8][/COLOR]. Because of this, all humanity deserves eternal damnation in hell[COLOR=#800080][9][/COLOR]. God has intervened in this world because he loves all people and does not want anyone to be eternally damned[COLOR=#800080][10][/COLOR]. By God's [COLOR=#0000ff]grace[/COLOR], made known and effective in the person and work of [COLOR=#0000ff]Jesus Christ[/COLOR], a person is forgiven, adopted as a child and heir of God, and given eternal salvation[COLOR=#800080][11][/COLOR].

 

Man can do nothing to earn God's grace...God has already granted salvation...

 

Yep. And in order to receive said grace, you must BELIEVE. No belief, no grace. Hence unbelief, or blasphemy, being the only unforgivable sin. And everyone who is not a Christian (Lutheran, really) is going to hell. I lived with a friend who was a teacher at a Lutheran school and had the credentials to be a pastor, and he had a long tract about how the Pope was the anti-Christ. Everybody isn't going to Heaven. Even the Bible says this. Look it up.

[deaconblues]

Boy, some people must go to hell? Sounds like religion is not very nice sometimes...

[LaughMachine]

Are we arguing about religion or are we aruging about God? Seems like when one person negates god's existince. I turn back and want to prove that he does. Than when one person states as a fact that he does, I want to prove otherwise. hmmm

 

Like I said many times, I don't believe in religion. It's common sense to live good, moral, to have a good steady life. It's cause and effect. Some people live their whole life for god, but neglect themselves in the process of living.

 

but

 

You don't have to be a prude to believe in god. You don't have to be ignorant to believe in god. And you don't have to be a christian to believe in god. You just gotta use common sense.

 

Many people argue god's existince simply based on religion and hypocrits. Religion is ones way of living.

 

You've got a heart that feels, that loves and endures pain. I think we've made god to be some actual person. I believe god to be a force of love. A force of nature, and soul.

 

I don't go for the bible hugging, and I don't go against it.

 

Does anyone actually believe that when they die, they flat out don't exist any more. No more thinking, nothing. Can you imagine that? You can't imagine it because if you were non exisiting spiritualy and physically you woulden't be able to imagine anything.

 

If there was a begining? who started it? Was it matter that forced us to need water and food to grow?

[deaconblues]

 

Does anyone actually believe that when they die, they flat out don't exist any more. No more thinking, nothing. Can you imagine that? You can't imagine it because if you were non exisiting spiritualy and physically you woulden't be able to imagine anything.

 

 

No, I don't think that...there more than likely is some kind of afterlife, but since I don't have any the answers and don't have much control over it, I just don't think about it that much; I plan to live this one to the fullest, and then whatever happens happens. Of course, I fully believe in being a good, moral person...and treating others as I would expect to be treated myself.

[LaughMachine]

No, I don't think that...there more than likely is some kind of afterlife, but since I don't have any the answers and don't have much control over it, I just don't think about it that much; I plan to live this one to the fullest, and then whatever happens happens. Of course, I fully believe in being a good, moral person...and treating others as I would expect to be treated myself.

 

 

It's hard to believe in things that haven't really been proven. I think alot of christians( some) believe that in order to live a good life, you must follow religion.

 

I personally can't follow something that Is ment to be true but can always be proven otherwise.

 

I hope there to be a god, but in the end maybe it will all make sense. Too bad the past on can't come back. But I'm sure they can leave little clues and It's up to you to believe !

 

I just strongly dislike ones who believe in a ignorant judgemental way you know?

[bluetuesday]

Have you ever been scared by this idea, close to God? God has no darkness in him, He is bright light, is perfect....will we burn out if we are too close to God?

 

i've never thought i'd burn out, but i have been a little apprehensive in the past to totally allow god into my life. i look back now on the time when i WASN'T apprehensive as being kinda arrogant, actually. like god wasn't such a big deal, i could be close to him and just get a fuzzy, warm feeling and then go back to my life.

 

my experience of the presence of god is very far from that. it was (is) a stunning, life-changing experience and i think most people, if they knew how earth-shattering it is to have an experience after which you will never again be able to make excuses for yourself, in which you will never again be able to act selfishly without knowing the consequences of your actions, and after which your life will never, ever be the same, would be apprehensive too.

 

for me, being in the presence of god was and is the total removal of any doubt, the total removal of any question that i am not responsible for my actions, and the total understanding that every single time i make a decision, have a thought or an emotion that is out of line with the reality of god's unconditional love, i have not been god's representative on earth. i have missed an opportunity to bring god's kingdom to earth. i have missed a chance to show god as god really is.

 

on god's part, there is absolutely no blame attached to this - there is nothing but love - but i've now gone past the point of being able to deny god unknowingly. i am an adult in god now. i take total responsibility for how i act because i KNOW how i should act. there is no getting away from it. if i go against that now, i do it willfully. that's a big responsibility - and being in the presence of god taught me more about that in one moment than every other experience taught me my whole life. i always have the option to do better, but when i don't do better i cannot turn around to god and say 'i didn't know'. i do know.

 

however, that doesn't mean i don't seek the tangible presence of god again. i do (or at least, i do things which sometimes bring it), because despite the awesome responsibility that presence, that knowledge brings, it also brings more joy and love and peace than i have ever experienced outside that presence. but the awesomeness of the feeling of overpowering bliss is, still, scary. not because i want to hide, or feel guilty or feel like a sinner - i don't think those emotions have any validity for me now because when i make mistakes i use them as lessons, not as a way to tell myself how unworthy i am. but it's scary because that feeling of being in god's presence actually makes you feel unlike anything the earth can make you feel. it's like the best experience you can ever have on earth, the most blissful or wonderful or giddy, multiplied a hundredfold. and its intensity can be shocking, still.

[alphamale]

all hail the resurrection of Christ

[LaughMachine]

i've never thought i'd burn out, but i have been a little apprehensive in the past to totally allow god into my life. i look back now on the time when i WASN'T apprehensive as being kinda arrogant, actually. like god wasn't such a big deal, i could be close to him and just get a fuzzy, warm feeling and then go back to my life.

 

my experience of the presence of god is very far from that. it was (is) a stunning, life-changing experience and i think most people, if they knew how earth-shattering it is to have an experience after which you will never again be able to make excuses for yourself, in which you will never again be able to act selfishly without knowing the consequences of your actions, and after which your life will never, ever be the same, would be apprehensive too.

 

for me, being in the presence of god was and is the total removal of any doubt, the total removal of any question that i am not responsible for my actions, and the total understanding that every single time i make a decision, have a thought or an emotion that is out of line with the reality of god's unconditional love, i have not been god's representative on earth. i have missed an opportunity to bring god's kingdom to earth. i have missed a chance to show god as god really is.

 

on god's part, there is absolutely no blame attached to this - there is nothing but love - but i've now gone past the point of being able to deny god unknowingly. i am an adult in god now. i take total responsibility for how i act because i KNOW how i should act. there is no getting away from it. if i go against that now, i do it willfully. that's a big responsibility - and being in the presence of god taught me more about that in one moment than every other experience taught me my whole life. i always have the option to do better, but when i don't do better i cannot turn around to god and say 'i didn't know'. i do know.

 

however, that doesn't mean i don't seek the tangible presence of god again. i do (or at least, i do things which sometimes bring it), because despite the awesome responsibility that presence, that knowledge brings, it also brings more joy and love and peace than i have ever experienced outside that presence. but the awesomeness of the feeling of overpowering bliss is, still, scary. not because i want to hide, or feel guilty or feel like a sinner - i don't think those emotions have any validity for me now because when i make mistakes i use them as lessons, not as a way to tell myself how unworthy i am. but it's scary because that feeling of being in god's presence actually makes you feel unlike anything the earth can make you feel. it's like the best experience you can ever have on earth, the most blissful or wonderful or giddy, multiplied a hundredfold. and its intensity can be shocking, still.

 

 

Some say the bliss you feel from god is only in your head? but I don't believe that........

[CaliGuy]

Have you ever been scared by this idea, close to God? God has no darkness in him, He is bright light, is perfect....will we burn out if we are too close to God?

I had. and I found it is the SHAME and FEAR which prevented me to have a close relationship with God. Then I remember this verse in Bible:

 

Gen 2:25(1)The man and the woman were both naked, but they were not embarrassed.

 

3:7 As soon as they had eaten it, they were given understanding and realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and covered themselves.

3:8 That evening they heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and they hid from him among the trees.

3:9 But the LORD God called out to the man, "Where are you?"

3:10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden; I was afraid and hid from you, because I was naked."

 

We have the same issue today. Nobody is perfect, we constantly make mistakes, sometimes we clearly know, sometimes we don't even know where went wrong (so it is important to know what is the living law in our heart--all written in the Bible), sometimes we choose to lie to ourselves.

 

But the guilt is still there even when we think we did no wrong. Guilt will be there as long as we did things against the living law in our heart.

 

This sense of guilt can reduce our level of self-esteem, AND make some of us want to deny there is a living God. we do silly things to pull ourselves far from God, thought this way God will not see and cannot see us:o , or think God hate us, or think God has a evil plan for our lives. Sometimes we even punish ourselves because of our guilt, or we want to hide these secrets.

 

These secrets make rooms for Satan. Satan will use these secrets to set traps. These secrets will come out public eventually. Like hatred, we know it is bad, we hide it, but it will show out in a passive way and hurt ourselves and others.

 

BUT:D when we confess all these dark secrets and most hideous thought to God, these secrets and mountains melt like wax, we can feel the lightness, the burden drop off, the fear for God fade away, on the contrary God become our most reliable dear friend. We pray, talk to God, God will talk and advise back to us. and God build up our confidence!!

 

We can confess everything to God, like

"I dislike xxx, what should I do?"

"I hate xxx:mad: , what's wrong with her! what should I do?"

"I am jealous of xxx, what should I do?"

or

"I am addictive to xxxx, what should I do?"

.

.

 

God has good plans for His children. If you ask HIM, and He would be happy to lead you out of darkness. But in order to hear from God, you have to fill yourself with verses in Bible, you have to eat these words in Bible. The more you feed yourself with words of God, the more clearly you can hear from God, oh, AND you must submit to God's will, and God's will is always much better your own.

 

 

Good post. I will add something as well.

 

When you are truthful, to yourself and to those around you, you don't have to live a lie. Living in lies destroys your confidence and self-esteem because you know, deep inside, that most of those things aren't true.

 

That is why confessing your sins to God washes away a lot of the guilt and the despair. It does rebuild your confidence and self-esteem because you no longer have to live in fear of being "found out."

 

It's much harder to live a life of lies than a life of truths simply because you don't have to worry about keeping your stories straight

 

God has great plans for all of his children. Amen.

[lonelybird]

Last night I got this chart in my mind, I believe God put it in my mind:D .

Suppose there are different grades of spiritual growth or moral level. And bigger number, the higher moral level. Suppose God is beyond 100

 

GOD, HEAVEN

------------------------------------------100 grade

. 99

. 98

Jesus Christ .

. .

---------------------------------------------------------- 10th grade

. 9th

human being

 

spiritual realm, good works .

. (still have hope:p )

-------------------------------------------------------- 5th grade

human being .

 

flesh realm: greedy, jealous, strife, anger

impurity.......(end up hell)

 

So no matter how human man try their best they only can get to 10th grade, but heaven and God is beyond 100th:eek: . So "good people:o " by themselves cannot go to heaven. It is PRIDE to think they can go to 100th by themselves.

 

Here Lord Jesus Christ comes, He helps us leap in faith to the 100th grade, so we can go to heaven.

[bluetuesday]

Some say the bliss you feel from god is only in your head? but I don't believe that........

 

you could argue that everything we feel, we feel 'in our heads' since our brains translate the way we experience ourselves and the entire world.

 

but whether an experience originated in our heads is an entirely different question.