I really need help and prayer...and so does my friend

[Tolorah]

Gday all,

im stuck somewhere between a rock and a hard place at the moment and i could really do with some prayer. Im kinda lost as to where i am going in life so far and i know i am only "young" aka 21 but i dont really want to end up later in life regretting not doing anything now. im not liking the course that i am studying and my job doesnt give me many hours and there isnt much where i live, and i dont have enough money to move or leave home, never mind buy a car. but thats just my hassles at the moment.
My second and more major problem is that my best a friend a male thats also my age is not a Christian neither is any of his family although im pretty sure both his parents were growing up. im not really sure what to say and when is the right time and that...im not gifted in that area unfortunately. anyway he told me that he was raped when he was 5 by an old family friend, who luckily they dont see anymore, and im not sure how much he has delt with it and how much he hasnt...he had never spoken to anyone about it before even his parents and sister dont know.  yet again im not sure what to say i dont really know what scripture will help him and what might make it worse, he is willing to consider finding out more because he knows how much it means to me and that i couldnt have survived all i have in my life without something. i really want to see him and his family returning to the church and growing in faith im just not sure how to help that happen so any prayers are welcome and i would really love any verses stories or anything you can give me to help

-Tol.

[nChrist]

Gday Sister Tolorah,

I'm so happy to hear from you. I will definitely be praying for you.

I know that all of us have had needs in various times of our lives. The best suggestion that I can give you is to pray, pray some more, and wait upon the LORD. GOD answers our prayers in HIS Own Way and time. It's good to develop patience in waiting upon the LORD because HIS Way will always be the best way for our lives. It's also important that we do the things that we know are right every day, regardless of whether or not we are waiting upon the LORD for guidance. We need to study our Bibles, pray, and keep close to our LORD and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.

It's not ironic that many times our answers are given to us while we are studying GOD'S WORD. GOD speaks to us from HIS WORD, and our times of quiet study should be frequent. It's good to just shut the rest of the world out, get quiet, pray for understanding, and study GOD'S WORD every day of our lives. This is food for our Spirit, and we need it just as much as we do food for our physical bodies. I really can't stress this enough - we need to grow in the strength that GOD offers us, and HIS WORD is a mighty arsenal of strength for us.

Sister, we've all felt the same way that you do about thinking that we are inadequate to witness to a friend or a loved one. However, it appears that GOD has given you this opportunity, so GOD may be telling you that you already have exactly what your friend needs from the WORD. Please remember this - if GOD calls us to do something, HE equips us for the work that HE wants done. Please forget about being eloquent or a Bible scholar, as that might not be what GOD wants for your friend. GOD many times uses plain and simple messages to reach the lost, and HE is quite capable of using all of us for HIS Purpose.

It's very positive that your friend has told you that he wants to learn more about the Bible and being saved. It's even possible that you are the only one that he wants to listen to, so it sounds like this might be an opportunity given to you by GOD. Don't worry about it - just pray and ask GOD to give you guidance about what to do and what to say. Remember that GOD'S Plan of Salvation is simple enough for a child to understand and be Saved. SO, we don't need an elaborate and complicated message to share. Just as an idea, it would be wonderful if he would read the Bible with you or let you read the Bible to him.

Faith still comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD OF GOD. Please check the next post for some beautiful portions of Scripture that you might read together and talk about. In the meantime, it's always good to pray that the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD will soften his heart in preparation for hearing the WORD. We also pray before we study that GOD will open our hearts and help us understand the message HE has for us.

I'll be praying for you and your friend.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Revelation 3:20 NASB  'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

[nChrist]

GOOD NEWS!

1:  Romans 3:10 NASB  as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."

2:  Romans 3:23  NASB  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

3:  Romans 5:12  NASB  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--

4:  Romans 6:23  NASB  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5:  Romans 1:18  NASB  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

6:  Romans 3:20  NASB  because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

7:  Romans 3:27  NASB  Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

8:  Romans 5:8-9  NASB  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

9:  Romans 2:4  NASB  Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

10:  Romans 3:22  NASB  even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

11:  Romans 3:28  NASB  For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

12:  Romans 10:9  NASB  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

13:  Romans 4:21  NASB  and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

14:  Romans 4:24 NASB  but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

15:  Romans 5:1  NASB  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

16:  Romans 10:10  NASB  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

17:  Romans 10:13  NASB  for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT!, JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour forever!

[Brother Jerry]

Amen BEP

And Tolorah I will add this to my prayers.  BEP has provided you some of the best advice.  Study the Word and maybe even invite your friend to come study with you.  Let him know though that if you two run into problems understanding something then you may have to go and talk to your pastor or deacons (if your church has them) for help in understanding. 

Doing this you are able to do a couple of things.  Get him reading God's Word as well as you.  Gets him praying with you when open and close the study.  And also gets him introduced to members at the church that may also provide wisdom and guidance and maybe get a comfort level growing there. 

But most importantly you should pray.  Pray for guidance on what it is that God wants you to do.  Even as BEP has said He will provide you with what you need.  But also remember that He may not want you to be the one to lead your friend in that prayer of salvation...but maybe to introduce him to someone who will be the one God wants.  Because sometimes God uses us as the tool to steer someone to someone else as well.

But do not give up.  As much as you pray for this friends salvation every day, all day, also pray that God will show you the direction that He wants you to go in. 

[Soldier4Christ]

You have already been given excellent advice here sister so I will simply say that I will be adding you and your friend to my prayers in this matter.

[Tolorah]

Thankyou for your prayers and verses i shall keep you posted hopefully on the progress

God Bless
Tol

[nChrist]

Thankyou for your prayers and verses i shall keep you posted hopefully on the progress

God Bless
Tol

Good Morning Tolorah!

We'll be praying for you. I'm sitting here thinking right now that you might really enjoy this opportunity. If you get stuck, you can always take Brother Jerry's suggestion. I can tell you that just reading the HOLY BIBLE is a very powerful tool. There is GREAT POWER there, and just the Hearing of the WORD might set your friend on a course of wanting to know more and more.

KEEP LOOKING UP!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 10:8-10 NASB  But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

[Tolorah]

well he came to church today so i guess thats progress!!

[Soldier4Christ]

That's great news. It is a step in the right direction. The seed has been planted.

[Shammu]

I will keep praying Tolorah

[Tolorah]

yea it is and thank you prayers will def. help!

[def]

  "one for all--all for one" 8)love in Jesus Def

[nChrist]

AMEN!

I love to hear abut GOD working in the lives of people. We will keep praying for your friend and many others. We also know that the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD is still working to soften the hearts of hosts for the hearing of GOD'S WORD. It isn't too late yet - hosts can still come to JESUS, and they are. All of us should pray that GOD gives us the strength and guidance to "press on."

Love In Christ,
Tom

Philippians 3:14 NASB  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Psalms 139:9-10 NASB  If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

Ephesians 6:10-17 NASB  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

[Greg F]

Tolorah you said: "im stuck somewhere between a rock and a hard place at the moment and i could really do with some prayer. Im kinda lost as to where i am going in life so far and i know i am only "young" aka 21 but i dont really want to end up later in life regretting not doing anything now. im not liking the course that i am studying and my job doesnt give me many hours and there isnt much where i live, and i dont have enough money to move or leave home, never mind buy a car. but thats just my hassles at the moment."

I heard a sermon a few months ago where the preacher talked about what we should be doing in life, with our life, day to day.  He made the simple point that we don't need a grand and glorious intervention of the Spirit to tell us this most of the time.  The Bible tells us most of what we need! I'd never thought of it that way before, as far as what we should be doing at the moment.  One of the posts above recommended that you study the Bible and that would help your witness and maybe he would study it with you.  You can never go wrong with scripture and the best advice I got was from a Christian when I first was touched by the Holy Spirit -- he just told me how the favorite part of his day was when he woke up and the family was still asleep and he read the Bible.  That little witness changed my life for the better and I've been waking up before everyone else ever since . . . and it's my favorite part of the day.

[Tolorah]

Greg F, thank you for your ideas...you may be right...im not sure if he would study the bible yet but i guess theres no harm in suggesting it is there...i know he has the "family" bible that would be good for starters...he has been to church for the last two weeks and has really enjoyed it so that is great...as for my own progress...my mum seems to be getting more answers from God for me then what i am so i guess im using her experience to help me here in what i should do. but we dont really have a close relationship where we talk that much. Hopefully ill find some answers some day some where i guess only time will tell...in the mean time im thinkin that a good bible study and his own bible might be just what my friend needs and would love for his up-comin b'day soonish...hmmz