More on Skirts

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I thumbs upped it because it's the Scripture is true. Even if though I find myself not being able to live up to it. I've tried trying. I've tried trying harder. I've done the legalism thing (you've beat up me thoroughly with it already, I get it). I've tried not trying at all and simply relying on some "new nature" to cure me. I've tried praying until I just sit and stare not knowing what else to confess, to repent of, or to do. I've tried to just focus on loving God and loving others, and still that wasn't enough. And... so far, nothing has worked for me. I might get as far as a day or two without sinning and then, I'm flat on my face again. Rather it be anger, lust, covetousness, etc... in a day or two, I'm back on the ropes. I think I hear the Spirit whispering "grace", but nobody believes in that sloppy agape, even I can't grasp it. I mean, why would God pardon me when I can't stop sinning? Sometimes I want to scream into the heavens, "I hate what I am, I didn't ask to be born. If this is some kind of sick joke, can you please just snuff me out now. You win. I'm tired. I don't want to hurt anyone... I just want to be... happy."

I've tried ultra-cons, I've tried liberal churches, I've tried so called moderate churches, I've rolled with the Reformed, charismatics, etc. Every last one of them was a joke. All of them were equally "trying" whatever it was they thought was the answer... but were failing miserably.

I listen to all the sinless holiness talk... but NO ONE has yet to step up to the plate who is actually living the sinless life the Bible demands and show me how to get this right for a change.

I've tied a knot at the end of the rope and I'm hanging on for dear life. But, I'll be honest... sometimes just the thought of walking away from it all allows me to breath easier.

I'm not being a jerk here guys. I feel like crying. But I've cried over this for so many years, and it hasn't helped yet.

I feel like I'm drowning. And the closer I feel that I get to God in prayer, the more evident it becomes that I'm a wretch. An absolute failure. It's the most depressing feeling, I can't even describe it. It's like an utter hopelessness.

I need help. I need someone who is actually living this thing to show me how it is done. Broad theological discourses are often like communism. They sound good on paper... but when applied... it still doesn't work. Every mentor and pastor I've had was flawed. They were great people, but they didn't even have the victory the Bible speaks of.

I'm hurting, I'm tired, and I really want to get this with all my heart... but I'm feeling really, really, discouraged. I dig politics because it isn't so close to home for me. We can debate economics and politics all day and I can ignore the pain I feel. But the reality is... I can't bring myself to give up... but if I could, I would.

I'm no victim. I'm to blame for my condition. No devil made me like this. No preacher made me this way.

I really feel hopeless today.

Bro, this isn't about you finding someone doing it right. Because it is about you following Jesus Christ. Giving up on Jesus isn't the answer, bro, you are going to make it. This is where we have to work on that faith. You have to trust Him. You are going through it, and now you have to embrace it. Be not filled with wine which is drunkenness, but be completely filled with the Holy Ghost. Jesus is working on you and everyone else. In the immortal words of Ronnie Sexton, God works with everyone on a case to case basis. Chris, Jesus is dealing with stuff, and we just have to get up right where we are at and go forward, You don't have to go back to square one. Just continue on from this realization and understand that Jesus started a work in you and will help you to complete that work. Just don't get in the way, allow Jesus to increase and Chris to decrease.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I thumbs upped it because it's the Scripture, and no matter what it is true. Even if I find myself not being able to live up to it or fully understand it all. I've tried trying. I've tried trying harder. I've done the legalism thing (you've beat up me thoroughly with it already, I get it). I've tried not trying at all and simply relying on some "new nature" to guide me. I've tried praying until I just sit and stare not knowing what else to confess, to repent of, or to do. I've tried to just focus on loving God and loving others, and still that wasn't enough. And... so far, nothing has worked for me. I might get as far as a day or two without sinning and then, I'm flat on my face again. Rather it be anger, lust, covetousness, etc... in a day or two, I'm back on the ropes. I think I hear the Spirit whispering "grace", but nobody believes in that sloppy agape, even I can't grasp it. I mean, why would God pardon me when I can't stop sinning? Sometimes I want to scream into the heavens, "I hate what I am, I didn't ask to be born. If this is some kind of sick joke, can you please just hurry up with the punchline? You win. I'm tired. I don't want to hurt anyone... I just want to be... happy."

I've tried ultra-cons, I've tried liberal churches, I've tried so called moderate churches, I've rolled with the Reformed, charismatics, etc. Every last one of them was a joke. All of them were equally "trying" whatever it was they thought was the answer (some even trying hard to not try! lol)... but all were failing miserably.

I listen to all the sinless holiness talk... but NO ONE has yet to step up to the plate who is actually living the sinless life the Bible demands and show me how to get this right for a change.

I've tied a knot at the end of the rope and I'm hanging on for dear life. But, I'll be honest... sometimes just the thought of walking away from it all allows me to breath easier.

I'm not being a jerk here guys. I feel like crying. But I've cried over this for so many years, and it hasn't helped yet.

I feel like I'm drowning. And the closer I feel that I get to God in prayer, the more evident it becomes that I'm a wretch. An absolute failure. It's the most depressing feeling, I can't even describe it. It's like an utter hopelessness. I've excelled in so many areas of my life most would think I have nothing to fear or that could make me feel like a failure. But this does. And this is what has always mattered most to me. Everything else from military service to what I do for a living now doesn't mean anything to me compared to this. But this is the one thing I feel God dangling in front of me... and I've discovered, I can't ever reach it, grasp it, and attain it.

I need help. I need someone who is actually living this thing to show me how it is done. Broad theological discourses are often like communism. They sound good on paper... but when applied... it still doesn't work. Every mentor and pastor I've had was flawed. I'm not going to bash them and list the things I discovered in their closets, but they weren't living it. They were great people, but they didn't even have the victory the Bible speaks of.

I'm hurting, I'm tired, and I really want to get this with all my heart... but I'm feeling really, really, discouraged. I dig politics because it isn't so close to home for me. We can debate economics and politics all day and I can ignore the pain I feel spiritually. But the reality is... I can't bring myself to give up... but if I could, I would.

I'm no victim. I'm to blame for my condition. No devil made me like this. No preacher made me this way. But I have yet to find the secret to all of this.

I really feel hopeless today.

Don't feel hopeless dear Brother

being real and honest with God is the best place to be

Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar

[Scott Pitta]

You are not alone. Everyone has a sinful nature. As we mature in Christ, we realize how sinful we really are.

Someday, my friends and I will meet in heaven. You now, the place where we will no longer have a sinful nature. I'm not sure my friends will be able to recognize my apart from my sinful nature.

We all desperately need the grace of God in our lives.

[Aquila]

Any of you ever fear meeting somene in Heave? I mean, someone that shouldn't be there.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Scott Pitta

You are not alone. Everyone has a sinful nature. As we mature in Christ, we realize how sinful we really are.

Someday, my friends and I will meet in heaven. You now, the place where we will no longer have a sinful nature. I'm not sure my friends will be able to recognize my apart from my sinful nature.

We all desperately need the grace of God in our lives.

Scott, the whole point of Romans 7 and Romans 8 is a renewing of the mind. You were once a lion, but through the leading of Christ you now eat straw like an ox. The unclean beast, receives the nature of the clean beast. Nebuchadnezzar became a beast, but when seven years past, he realized who was the most high God. He had his sanity return. The wolf lays down with the lamb, contrary of his nature. The newborn infant plays on the hole of the asp. The most deadliest snake in the Middle East denying its nature to strike and kill. The Law keeping Judeans struggled with their beast nature, David struggled with his beast nature, and when he ended up in the "Saul Zone" he started looking at porn on the roof top. Ended up taking another man's wife, laying with her, and she getting pregnant. David couldn't stop the process because he allowed the beast nature to totally take over. Now he plotted to send the man home so the man would lay with his wife and Uriah would be thought to be the father. But Uriah didn't go because he love God and king. The transformation of David was complete he was an ignorant beast at this point. He plotted to have Uriah murdered. When the prophet comes and points out to David by bringing David back to David's beginning when he was small in his own eyes. When he was a shepherd. Told of the murder of a little sheep, he was enraged with righteous indignation. But his words came right back at him, and smacked him in the teeth. The preacher pointing to him and saying, you the man. At that point David repents.

Romans 7 and Romans 8 speak of how our nature is transformed by Jesus Christ's mind, not ours. You may have a sinful nature, but it doesn't have to stay that way.

[Amanah]

Romans 8, being led by the Spirit of God. We have the Holy Ghost, but we need streams of living water flowing freely. Sometimes things of this world or the flesh clog up the flow of the Spirit. And we are in church or in prayer seeking God and the Spirit begins to flow freely flushing out the stagnant attitudes of the flesh. Cleaning our spirit, hearts and minds with the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Sometimes you need a preacher pointing his finger at you and saying *you are the man.*

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I thumbs upped it because it's the Scripture, and no matter what it is true. Even if I find myself not being able to live up to it or fully understand it all. I've tried trying. I've tried trying harder. I've done the legalism thing (you've beat up me thoroughly with it already, I get it). I've tried not trying at all and simply relying on some "new nature" to guide me. I've tried praying until I just sit and stare not knowing what else to confess, to repent of, or to do. I've tried to just focus on loving God and loving others, and still that wasn't enough. And... so far, nothing has worked for me. I might get as far as a day or two without sinning and then, I'm flat on my face again. Rather it be anger, lust, covetousness, etc... in a day or two, I'm back on the ropes. I think I hear the Spirit whispering "grace", but nobody believes in that sloppy agape, even I can't grasp it. I mean, why would God pardon me when I can't stop sinning? Sometimes I want to scream into the heavens, "I hate what I am, I didn't ask to be born. If this is some kind of sick joke, can you please just hurry up with the punchline? You win. I'm tired. I don't want to hurt anyone... I just want to be... happy."

I've tried ultra-cons, I've tried liberal churches, I've tried so called moderate churches, I've rolled with the Reformed, charismatics, etc. Every last one of them was a joke. All of them were equally "trying" whatever it was they thought was the answer (some even trying hard to not try! lol)... but all were failing miserably.

I listen to all the sinless holiness talk... but NO ONE has yet to step up to the plate who is actually living the sinless life the Bible demands and show me how to get this right for a change.

I've tied a knot at the end of the rope and I'm hanging on for dear life. But, I'll be honest... sometimes just the thought of walking away from it all allows me to breath easier.

I'm not being a jerk here guys. I feel like crying. But I've cried over this for so many years, and it hasn't helped yet.

I feel like I'm drowning. And the closer I feel that I get to God in prayer, the more evident it becomes that I'm a wretch. An absolute failure. It's the most depressing feeling, I can't even describe it. It's like an utter hopelessness. I've excelled in so many areas of my life most would think I have nothing to fear or that could make me feel like a failure. But this does. And this is what has always mattered most to me. Everything else from military service to what I do for a living now doesn't mean anything to me compared to this. But this is the one thing I feel God dangling in front of me... and I've discovered, I can't ever reach it, grasp it, and attain it.

I need help. I need someone who is actually living this thing to show me how it is done. Broad theological discourses are often like communism. They sound good on paper... but when applied... it still doesn't work. Every mentor and pastor I've had was flawed. I'm not going to bash them and list the things I discovered in their closets, but they weren't living it. They were great people, but they didn't even have the victory the Bible speaks of.

I'm hurting, I'm tired, and I really want to get this with all my heart... but I'm feeling really, really, discouraged. I dig politics because it isn't so close to home for me. We can debate economics and politics all day and I can ignore the pain I feel spiritually. But the reality is... I can't bring myself to give up... but if I could, I would.

I'm no victim. I'm to blame for my condition. No devil made me like this. No preacher made me this way. But I have yet to find the secret to all of this.

I really feel hopeless today.

Mt. 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Aquilla, I never said that you or anyone else will attain perfection. It is God's grace that we must live by. Everytime that a person falls they must repent to God and get up again. The thing is God is not fooled by false repentance. People that are repentant don't live in homosexuality. I understand that we all struggle in the flesh, but struggling in the flesh is not habitually sinning.

As far as all the imperfect men in your past. Everyone is human. We get angry, we say things offensive, we covet things we see, etc. Those are inward things that each of us contend with. Before the Lord saved me I didn't even recognize those things working on me, but now I am aware of my opposition. You said, you felt miserable inside because of the carnal nature. Evidently something inside of you desires more.

How can a person live in habitual sin with the Holy Ghost always crying out to them NO. I understand falling at moments, but the moment that you convince yourself that you are ok in your sin. God will not always stive with man.

[Esaias]

You need someone who is actually sanctified to show you how it's done? I thought Jesus was pretty sanctified.

Oh, you mean He's not enough? You need Jesus plus... somebody else? Or maybe its more like "Yeah, I know bout Jesus, but here in the REAL world..."? Like Jesus is really just a neat story but not enough?

God says we must be holy. If EVERY.BODY.ELSE failed to be holy, it wouldn't change anything.

God rewards those who diligently seek Him, not those who whine to Him. I've had to learn that lesson the hard way.

[Esaias]

I was once told, "Whatever you need, you'll find it in the Holy Ghost."

And surprise, surprise, surprise, that man was right as rain.

[Esaias]

Entire sanctification is not a one-time event, but a moment-by-moment reliance on Jesus Christ. The Ship of Zion has no cruise control.