Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Faith] >> General Faith



Message

Lufia -> Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/20/2008 10:04:33 AM)

I am wondering if in our physical world God makes a difference between a christian and all 'others'. We know that we will have eternal life if we believe but here on earth, it is sometimes so hard for some of us christians. Does God help us more ? Will He help a christian that is praying , more than helping a non-believer? Because He said that sun and rain are for everybody meaning He helps the non-believer too

Like the abundant life. Everybody here said that this mean an abundant spiritual life. So if i suffer, having an abundant life will mean that i will be at peace with it? If i pray for a mate in my life and don't get it, i'll be at peace? The abundant means peace and acceptance of God's will?

Also i don't believe too much in physical healing in a way that it is so rare that i dont 'waste' prayer time to ask for healing on someone or me. I used to pray for that but i have never seen someone healed. An look at all the people who goes to Medjugorge The church has declared only 10 or less true miracles! And there are millions of people that goes there!

So again what difference God is making to a christian HERE on earth?



delete123 -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/20/2008 1:17:30 PM)

Lufia~
I probably won't answer all of your questions, but will tell you what I believe.
God provides for all his creatures in such a way that we turn to Him. Un believers don't do that, they ride or believe in luck, not blessings.

In the scriptures Jesus said, He would like to see all be like one as He was with the father, so yes he does answer all prayers, but it doesn't mean the answer is always what we would like it to be.

When God says Yes to a prayer, it is according to His Will of what He says is right for the person. Not what we think in our limited knowledge.
He knows what is best for us, more than we know for ourselves.

I also believe when we pray to Him for a healing whether if be for oneself or another God is going to heal then in what's best for that person.
Many times people want to see physical healing, but will that truly be what the person needs?
Again God sees around corners when we can't. He knows the outcome before we do.
The hardest thing my younger sister did when her daughter was in the hospital, was put her in the Lord's hands and prayed a healing and His will for her. I say hard because the Lord took her home, but that was the best healing her daughter could receive.

She was very sick, she had no kidney function and the transplant kidney died, leaving her again on dialysis. The doctors do not even know why her own kidneys failed when they did. So did God not heal her? Yes he did! He brought her home to Him, so she would no longer suffer the way she was and how her life would turn out to be. My niece in her last episode, collapsed at the dialysis center, was transported by air and coded. When they arrived at the hospital she coded again and she lost oxygen to the brain, so would a physical healing really be a good thing for her? Or would the physical healing only benefit the people who so wanted her to live?

I hope this is giving you some understanding and you are right though acceptance is a good part of our faith, believing and knowing the He knows what is best for us.

Another example is my prayer, this was over 10 yrs ago. I was in such turmoil and mind you I am using the word "felt" rejected. I had gone through a whole lot and "my world" was falling apart.

I had asked the Lord if He was going to show me what Love is? Imagine that, the Living God who is Love and me being a christian needed to know what love is?!
Well He answered my prayer, but not in the way I expected or thought possible.
I became pregnant (something doctors told me all my life would never happen. When I prayed that prayer it was almost a year after I had surgery on my ovaries which had become cystic.)
At first I was upset (because I am older and somewhat set in my ways, lol) and asked: What are you thinking? You are crazier than me?
Well No, God answered my prayer according to His will and in a way that would be right for me.
God revealed Himself to me from my first ultrasound and to this very day with my son and what a blessing that is. I would not change this answered prayer for anything in my life.

But do you see how *I* didn't think it was the right answer in the beginning? But as it turns out God was Right .

I believe sometimes Christians overlook the blessings the Lord puts before them because it wasn't "exactly" what they were seeking. Or the answer they wanted to see or hear.

We tend to be selfish in that way, like spoiled children, No I want ......


See the goodness around you that our Father has blessed you with, that maybe was overlooked.
I do this in my daily walk and He always suprises me with something new.

Ok sorry if it doesn't help you in your answers

CRH



BerianAardvark -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/20/2008 2:45:30 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lufia

I am wondering if in our physical world God makes a difference between a christian and all 'others'. We know that we will have eternal life if we believe but here on earth, it is sometimes so hard for some of us christians. Does God help us more ? Will He help a christian that is praying , more than helping a non-believer? Because He said that sun and rain are for everybody meaning He helps the non-believer too


"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27)

Notice Jesus doesn't say that those who hear and act upon His word will never encounter storms, but rather that they will endure the same storms as the unbelievers. But those who do not act upon them will suffer catastrophic loss because they didn't, while the believer's rode out the storm (relatively) unscathed.

The believer's "house" endures the storm because it is on a firm foundation, the non-believer's "house" is built upon sand only. If there is a lay off where I work and I get laid off, I know that He is going through it with me, and will either calm the storm or calm me through the storm. I have been through exactly such a case, and "somehow" I my funds lasted longer than they should have, and a the new job I found turned out to be better than the old.

Others were weeping or swearing as they packed up their things and left uncertain of their future, and very much alone.

quote:

Like the abundant life. Everybody here said that this mean an abundant spiritual life. So if i suffer, having an abundant life will mean that i will be at peace with it? If i pray for a mate in my life and don't get it, i'll be at peace? The abundant means peace and acceptance of God's will?


But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

I guess it is a matter of focus. If my focus is on what I have against what I want or what others have there is no way that I will ever be satisfied, because it is human nature to always want more. "I want what I want when I want it" is fleshly thinking, it is the way the world thinks and acts.

God will satisfy our needs, not our greeds, but He will does so in His time and manner.

quote:

Also i don't believe too much in physical healing in a way that it is so rare that i dont 'waste' prayer time to ask for healing on someone or me. I used to pray for that but i have never seen someone healed. An look at all the people who goes to Medjugorge The church has declared only 10 or less true miracles! And there are millions of people that goes there!

So again what difference God is making to a christian HERE on earth?


God changes the lives and manner of thinking/perceiving in this life which, in turn, changes how we live our lives and what we desire from life.

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (Psalms 37:4-5)

At first glance those verses seem to promise that what ever we want God will give us. But the actually say that if we delight in the Lord He will cahnge what we desire to match what He would have us desire, and that as we grow to trust i8n Him and what He desires for us He will bring those things to pass.

Abundant life doesn't mean having/getting everything we want (if for no other reason than that we would never be satisfied), nor is it solely spiritual abundance. Rather it is a change in perception as well. Because abundance is often a matter of being satisfied with what we have, and an understanding that all that we need will be provided.

Tim



rcjames -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/20/2008 3:39:16 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lufia
Like the abundant life. Everybody here said that this mean an abundant spiritual life. So if i suffer, having an abundant life will mean that i will be at peace with it? If i pray for a mate in my life and don't get it, i'll be at peace? The abundant means peace and acceptance of God's will?


Yes, more or less.

The Scripture teaches;

(Php 4:12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

(Php 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

You can handle being abased (things going bad) and you can handle abound (things going bad).

Folks in the world usually handle things going bad with suicide, drugs, drinking, complaining, etc; but as a Chrisitan you do not have to handle things that way.

Folks in the world usually handly things going good with pride, arrogance, etc. as a Chrisitan you can give the Glory to God.

Thanks
RC



mvic -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/20/2008 5:30:59 PM)

Life is an adventure. It can be easy or hard, it can be happy or sad, it can be long or short, it can be healthy or ridden with illness and disease: in short it can be positive or negative.

Believers have the advantage of a guide book and road map.

It is called "The Bible".



Lufia -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/21/2008 9:41:52 AM)

Thanks for the answers it's appreciated



URForgiven -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/21/2008 10:05:25 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lufia
So again what difference God is making to a christian HERE on earth?


Do you not know that if you are a Christian, that you are now indwelt by the living God? That once you were dead, but now have been made alive? Jesus Christ died for you, to give Himself to you, so that He can live His life through you.

Christians are the only truly alive people on this planet, seems to me that is a difference for us here on earth.

Your asking if there is a difference between being a dead man and being an alive man...is that really a question you do not already know the answer to?

Peace



iamjc-s -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/21/2008 12:33:43 PM)

-
In the Bible God wiped out evil people with flood, disease, & earth quake.

Who's to say for sure if the recent devistation in China wasn't due to them putting paint with too much lead on CHILDREN'S TOYS for "Jesus loves the little children".

I for one sure want to be on His side, not the side of evil.
-



iamjc-s -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/21/2008 12:51:43 PM)

-
Luke 18:1-8 (NIV) 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
-



Lufia -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/21/2008 7:36:38 PM)

quote:

so that He can live His life through you


Yes you are totally right, how did i forget that?



URForgiven -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/21/2008 7:47:35 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lufia

quote:

so that He can live His life through you


Yes you are totally right, how did i forget that?


We all need to be reminded...all the time. [;)]

Bless you



Lufia -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/21/2008 8:15:15 PM)

Thanks a lot URforgiven.



atheistinpeace -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/22/2008 5:30:52 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: iamjc-s

-
In the Bible God wiped out evil people with flood, disease, & earth quake.

Who's to say for sure if the recent devistation in China wasn't due to them putting paint with too much lead on CHILDREN'S TOYS for "Jesus loves the little children".

I for one sure want to be on His side, not the side of evil.
-


I have to say that this is the sort of argument that creates a permanent barrier between me and faith: I simply cannot get into this way of thinking.

- Hurricane Katrina affected the French Quarter far less than other areas of New Orleans, yet it's the area that is surely the most sinful by Christian rules.
- the flooding the UK last year was blamed on Britains tolerance of homosexuals by a somewhat dimwitted figure going under the title The Bishop of Carlisle (Graham Dow), despite the fact that the floods badly affected some of the more conservative corners of the country, leaving Brighton (the gay capital) and London wholly untouched.

I appreciate that this is something of a tangent, but arguments like this need to be addressed.

AiP



Jhud -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/22/2008 5:48:05 PM)

quote:

I have to say that this is the sort of argument that creates a permanent barrier between me and faith: I simply cannot get into this way of thinking.

- Hurricane Katrina affected the French Quarter far less than other areas of New Orleans, yet it's the area that is surely the most sinful by Christian rules.
- the flooding the UK last year was blamed on Britains tolerance of homosexuals by a somewhat dimwitted figure going under the title The Bishop of Carlisle (Graham Dow), despite the fact that the floods badly affected some of the more conservative corners of the country, leaving Brighton (the gay capital) and London wholly untouched.

I appreciate that this is something of a tangent, but arguments like this need to be addressed.


Thankfully, Jesus already addressed them:

Luke 13:1-5
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."



AboundinginHisGrace -> RE: Is there a difference between a believer and a non-believer in this world? (7/22/2008 10:07:01 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: atheistinpeace

quote:

ORIGINAL: iamjc-s

-
In the Bible God wiped out evil people with flood, disease, & earth quake.

Who's to say for sure if the recent devistation in China wasn't due to them putting paint with too much lead on CHILDREN'S TOYS for "Jesus loves the little children".

I for one sure want to be on His side, not the side of evil.
-


I have to say that this is the sort of argument that creates a permanent barrier between me and faith: I simply cannot get into this way of thinking.

- Hurricane Katrina affected the French Quarter far less than other areas of New Orleans, yet it's the area that is surely the most sinful by Christian rules.
- the flooding the UK last year was blamed on Britains tolerance of homosexuals by a somewhat dimwitted figure going under the title The Bishop of Carlisle (Graham Dow), despite the fact that the floods badly affected some of the more conservative corners of the country, leaving Brighton (the gay capital) and London wholly untouched.

I appreciate that this is something of a tangent, but arguments like this need to be addressed.

AiP



What you say about the French Quarter. OK, look at this way. If you are a Christian and you die, you go to heaven = HEAVEN. So for a Christian to die is gain. But if you are not a Christian then you go to hell when you die. So I think by sparing some of the worse areas he is showing His mercy on the lost. And also showing mercy on the saved.



Page: [1]



Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.5 ANSI