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Doubt, The seed of Satan, watered by the flesh - 10/9/2008 6:16:38 PM
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Dan94
Posts: 51
Joined: 9/25/2008
From: Upstate New York
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Saints of God,
Many of us have struggled in the faith and have encountered other believers who find themselves up against the wall and start to doubt God and His Word. Lets face it, even John the Baptist, while sitting in prison started to wonder and sent 2 followers to ask Jesus "are You the One, or is there another? As a baby He leaped in His mother's womb, it was He who proclaimed "behold the Lamb Of God who takes away the sin of the world! But while sitting there alone in prison Satan whispered and His own flesh started to wonder, to doubt what He was for sure He knew.
So how do we as a family of God help encourage each other, when the Words on the page, seem to blur in the tears of worry. Satan is known to use His best stuff when we're down and out, look at Peter, Job or doubting Thomas. How do we stand against the lies of Satan, when even these models of the Faith started to doubt?
How have you been helped or have helped someone else restore their faith in the faithfulness of God? IT IS SO NEEDED IN THESE LAST DAYS, that we pull together as a unified body of Christ, casting off denomination titles and use our combined experiences to help each other.
So that's my question what has worked for you? or know of something that has helped another believer, or non believer?
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RE: Doubt, The seed of Satan, watered by the flesh - 10/10/2008 10:08:54 PM
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thiricy
Posts: 40
Joined: 8/22/2005
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When thoughts of doubt start to appear, I pray and rebuke the devil
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RE: Doubt, The seed of Satan, watered by the flesh - 10/11/2008 1:02:02 AM
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campbe33
Posts: 422
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From: Idaho
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I've gone through quite a few difficult times myself. Though my faith was weak, it did not change my belief that there is a God. When I wasn't exactly close to God I noticed even in the dark times if I was committing a sin I would always have the feeling like from far away Christ was calling out to me. I believe once Christ has a hold of you he never lets go.
When I feel I'm slipping, nothing helps more than a real heart to heart with God. I don't mean just praying but talking from deep within in the heart, as though he is sitting right there across from you. You know letting it all hang out. It's not like he doesn't know what's going with you anyway.
I also find that if I get involved in too many bible studies or church activities, I tend to suffer burnout. Trying do everything you feel a christian should do can actually sometimes cause faith to wane. When that happens I take a step back take some deep breathes and slow things down. I try to take sometime out and do some relaxing activities and of course pray.
_____________________________
"Let your conversation be gracious and seasoned with salt so you will have the right response for everyone"
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RE: Doubt, The seed of Satan, watered by the flesh - 10/11/2008 10:02:00 AM
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delete123
Posts: 973
Joined: 6/1/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Dan94
So that's my question what has worked for you? or know of something that has helped another believer, or non believer?
I had been attacked fiercely by satan and believe me it took a long time to recoop, but what helped me is when I helped someone else see when they were having doubts.
Even though I 'felt' detached I pressed on in trust and belief.
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RE: Doubt, The seed of Satan, watered by the flesh - 10/11/2008 1:59:13 PM
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misty35
Posts: 614
Joined: 9/22/2008
From: Arkansas
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quote:
ORIGINAL: delete123
quote:
ORIGINAL: Dan94
So that's my question what has worked for you? or know of something that has helped another believer, or non believer?
I had been attacked fiercely by satan and believe me it took a long time to recoop, but what helped me is when I helped someone else see when they were having doubts.
Even though I 'felt' detached I pressed on in trust and belief.
I agree delete123
I have gone through some hard times here recently too, and when I help someone else, and stop magnifying my own problem, it always helps me too. I trust, believe and love God with all my heart, but there have been times when I feel like He is so far away, but I know He isnt! I always have to remind myself, we dont live by what we feel, and we lean not on our own understanding. And then Job comes to mind, that always helps me. I read just the other night, we cannot make our problem bigger than God, and I know that I have done this without even realizing it. We have to remember, we cant and wont face anything in this world that God did not know that we were going to face, so that gives me comfort as well. Knowing that He knows my destiny, He has planned it all out, gives me reassuarance that anything that I face, will only make me stronger. He is making us and molding us into the Warriors that He has intended for us to be!!
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RE: Doubt, The seed of Satan, watered by the flesh - 10/11/2008 2:51:00 PM
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terryjohn
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Doubt what? That all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God? Well that ain't gona happen any time soon.
You see the truth in Christ does not go away. Righteousness does not suffer from doubt, for it stands out even more as the darkness attempts to overtake us. It is the ideal we are promised not what we now see. Faith is like a faithful soldier taking up a sword to fight a battle he knows he has no hope of winning but will gladly fight and die for righteousness sake.
For although we Ro 8:23 - who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
2Co 5:2 - groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
2Co 5:4 - are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
This is so because 1Co 13:12 - Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
The more I see and hear, the more I am convinced that if it were not for the grace of God no man should live for all sin. Now we may think it loving to overlook each others sins and not mention them for fear of upsetting others and be accused of judging one another, but how will that save us? You have to be willing to fight for what is right or surrender to evil.
By all means weep and be sad at your unworthiness and then get angry and;
Eph 6:14 - Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
1Th 5:8 - since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
Though wounded the faithful will want to go down fighting for the truth and righteouness in Christ.
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RE: Doubt, The seed of Satan, watered by the flesh - 10/11/2008 5:35:21 PM
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nettiel
Posts: 184
Joined: 10/8/2008
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 hi, the way i get up is to grab my bible, find scriptures, get my prayer journal and write, write alot of verses that are for me and there are alot you can clam also. i write little scriptures over and over.get them into your mind into your heart and speak them out your mouth, thats what god said to do speak to the mountain, not around it bye for now nettiel
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RE: Doubt, The seed of Satan, watered by the flesh - 10/11/2008 10:07:40 PM
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Dan94
Posts: 51
Joined: 9/25/2008
From: Upstate New York
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Thanks everyone for your heart felt responses. I have been examining this problem among professed Christians for awhile. It seems doubt (at least for me) comes in a season of discouragement and that seems to happen when God just doesn't seem to mold to my time table.
I used to beat myself up for having seasons of doubt or discouragement. It is not like I ever doubted the divinity of Jesus or the virgin birth or any other solid articles of the faith. I'm talking about the little foxes that seem to spoil the vine. Thoughts that build up quietly, unexamined or unchecked emotions, that cause you to wonder...does God really care? He seems like 10,000 light years away from you at that time. I used to think these were sign's of a weak Christian. But then when I started to read in-between the lines about the story of John the Baptist. He was the chosen fore-runner of Christ. At the beginning of His ministry, He was well molded iron, bold and unafraid to challenge the political and religious authorities of His day. Then He found Himself in prison and it must have been doubt that caused Him to send out 2 of His disciples to question Jesus. Did Jesus react in anger? no He praised John!, He knew and felt what John was going through. In the meantime John might have been thinking (again reading between the lines) "Well when is Jesus coming to spring me? post my bail or something"?
When God does not reveal all of His plans concerning your personal trial that you may be facing. We may tend to think like John the Baptist or Peter who denied Him. Then we start to have those thoughts, that may lead down the road to full blown doubt.
I must confess, when I was young in the Lord, I did not like the book of James. If you do not properly grasp what He is trying to teach you (I'm speaking of my own troubles interpreting James) then you can become bitter against His "IN YOUR FACE" gospel. Imagine your supposed to count it pure joy when your hurting. And because your hurting the rest of the verse does little to comfort you.
I mean here you are, going through trials, trying to make understanding of your situation and some "Christian" will club you over the head with "WITH OUT FAITH ITS NOT POSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD" and continue to berate you about not trusting God.
I mean I know our emotions and feelings are not to define our faith, but unless your "SUPER CHRISTIAN" (and better then John the Baptist) you have a natural tendency towards a weakened heart. Yes I know we have "another Comforter" and we are not left as orphans. But the shortest verse in the Bible "Jesus wept" (John 11:35) is a model of compassion from Jesus Son Of God in whom all fullness dwells. Then we as followers must also weep and come along side each other. It has been said of Christians that we shoot our wounded...where in the world..would the world get that from????
So in searching my heart I found myself asking "How can I model the Lord"? when trying to comfort a dear brother or sister. We all have been at a lost of words and to reach out without causing further damage is like trying to be a spiritual surgeon. If the wrong cut is made then the patient may bleed out (I'm talking faith bleeding, not blood) and you find yourself in the awkward situation of thinking, now why did I say that?
So I thought I would pose the question to other believers that have had the experience of being hit over the head (twice sometimes, just to make sure your dead) or have found that special touch from the Lord that helped heal a broken heart with kind words or reassuring actions that helped heal and not wound.
I believe strongly that if we share with each other, we can learn from each other.
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RE: Doubt, The seed of Satan, watered by the flesh - 10/11/2008 10:25:52 PM
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lionofzion56
Posts: 46
Joined: 6/23/2008
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hello. one of the things that i am learning to do that helps me to stay encouraged is to really trust the Lord and stay faithful to him..sometimes i have to repeat over and over again " I trust You, God" until I believe it and feel it in my spirit. I've been a Christian for about almost 8 years, and I have had a very difficult salvation/Christian experience... and what I have learned the most is that being consistant in faith, like going to church, praying and SEEKING THE LORD, is what keeps me safe and sane and encouraged. honestly right now i am having kindof a pity party...i have been wanting to get married for like ever and when i became a Christian I was in a relationship with a nonbeliever, and that relationship lasted of and on up until the beginning of this year. we never got married, which now i am grateful for, but i am having to wait, and be single and trust God, and that is hard for me sometimes...
anyways, praying prayers of faith is what has really brought me through this far.. and just knowing that God is always here for me.
and about what you said (Dan) about not wanting to cause more hurt by saying the wrong thing-when you see a Christian struggling, maybe praying for that person is the best thing you could do...
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RE: Doubt, The seed of Satan, watered by the flesh - 10/12/2008 12:25:19 AM
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Dan94
Posts: 51
Joined: 9/25/2008
From: Upstate New York
Status: offline
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Lionofzion56,
Thanks for sharing, your right about praying and the Lord hears the prayers of a saint for another saint. But sometimes His answers come slowly and it's that time in-between the answer we may need additional comfort. I mean Jesus wept with those that were weeping, even though He knew that in a very short time He was going to glorify the Father and Himself, with a miracle that none of His followers were praying for. They only knew that He was too late for poor Lazarus.
We must find a way with words or deeds to comfort one another until God brings about His promise to go above and beyond all that we pray for. Because before that time, it seems like eternity and sorrows can over whelm even a prepared heart.
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RE: Doubt, The seed of Satan, watered by the flesh - 10/12/2008 12:59:05 AM
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campbe33
Posts: 422
Joined: 10/4/2008
From: Idaho
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"He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matt. 17:20
No Christian can be fervent all the time, that doesn't necessarily mean they've lost all faith. In the verse above Jesus says our faith can be as small as a mustard seed and it still is mighty. Just because we sometimes doubt and question, it doesn't mean that tiny little mustard seed of faith isn't in us. Mother Theresa went 50 years without feeling the presence of God. She must've had that mustard seed buried deep inside her because even in her doubt she still managed to serve God.
I have been through those unpleasant times where someone is need in comfort and I don't know what to say or do. I've learned through experience a gentle hand on the shoulder and telling them you care and are there for them is usually all it takes. I know when my mother passed on all it took for me to feel comforted was knowing people cared and were there for me. Sometimes there are times when I am at a total loss. I'll tell them I don't what to say or do to make them feel better, then they tell me what it is they need from me. I hope I helped at least a little.
< Message edited by campbe33 -- 10/12/2008 1:06:20 AM >
_____________________________
"Let your conversation be gracious and seasoned with salt so you will have the right response for everyone"
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