Think I've found God again...did he answer my prayer?

I see your concern. Masturbation, lust for me are not sin. BUT you have to control your body to act rightly according to the bible. Lust is not a sin BUT IT LEADS to sin if you don't reject it. Drunkeness is a sin. going out everyday drinking is not good and is a sin the bible said so. You can't be liberal and be Christian,have one leg in and the other out. As a christian you just need to follow the word, don't say why why why always, as I said before God is not allowing anything to come in your mind. Adam and eve were seduced to eat the fruit, that seduction was not a sin but the action that followed. I'm trying to judge you but if you try to follow the bible then you will see things easier. Have you received the baptism of the Holy Ghost?

@Howard So now you believe Jesus is God himself?

Thanks for sharing that, I think so. - yes.

'For every house is built by someone, but he that built all things is God' -Hebrews 3:4

Posted from TSR Mobile

Is this a yes to my initial question/OP?

Can people please answer my query without resorting to going off on a tangent?

I was directing this question purely toward Christians that may have similar stories to tell about how God has answered their prayers? And whether they could relate to my experiences?

I understand there are people whom are non-believers and thats fine, but each to their own.

The other part of my question was simply asking, is Masterbation, lusting and drinking sinful? But also, if it is so, doesn't that mean that thousands of Christians are sinning daily?

I know of a certain demographic of Christian that are very liberal and believe that its 'your relationship with God that is most important'. If God permitted us to feel pleasure from Masterbating, if He allowed us to lust and to see other woman as attractive and to have sex out of Wedlock then that should be ok? Understandably, this brings into question the scriptures in the bible.

I am more inclined to go by the word of so-called liberal Christians than 'full-blown' bible bashing devout God fearing Christians.

Simply because....if God were such a divine, accepting and loving deity, and he allowed such acts than he would be accepting of these acts. I think that the bible teachings pale into insignificance when you consider your own relationship with God. Of course, the Bible is seen as the corner stone of the faith, and the 'guidebook' for many. But really and truly, all that matters is your linkage with Him. Even if you just talk to him in your thoughts, to me that is worshipping God. I don't even go to Church regularly (and to be fair don't think I ever did!).

Point is, God is expressed as a loving pure divine individual, I really don't feel that he would be so limiting to us so as to give us so many rules. I think real 'faith' is more personal and less robotic and scriptured than we're led to believe.

Yes, God has answered my prayers, so many times that I have lost count. Even, being alive today is by His grace. Masturbation, lusting and drinking IS a sin. The Bible said in Matthew 5 vs 28: " I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" If you are spiritually inclined and read the bible, you will be more likely to be able not to lust, masturbate or drink alcohol. There are many people that used to masturbate and now they don't, after asking God to help them control their thoughts. No one said life would be easy, most of the prophets and Jesus in the Bible went through their share of difficulties, but they always prevailed. You can only prevail over these issues, if you commit your life to God 100%, no leeway. There is nothing like being a liberal Christian, as you the bible said in Matthew 6 vs 24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon". You cannot lust, masterubate and drink and say that it is okay to do these things because others are doing it. Your conscience doesn't not agree with it, hence why you asked the question, this should tell you something. You can either drink, masturbate or lust or serve God will all your heart and not do those things. By saying "you are inclined to go by the word of so-called liberal Christians" you obviously don't want to hear the truth from the bible. No one can call themselves a Christian if they fail to read and follow the doctrines of the bible. It's called Christianity (Christ followers- It's in the name- Christ loved the scriptures, so how can one call themselves a Christian if they fail to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ?)

Jesus was tempted in the bible, but He told Satan "Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" Luke 4 vs 8. God was in human form and the devil thought He would succumb to worldly desires, but Jesus didn't. Jesus came in human flesh in order for us to be like Him. He came for us to be free of sin and have salvation.

Ah, the classic cop-out of asking why there are disastrous/negative things in the world if God is such a loving God? God gave us free will, right from the time of Adam and Eve until now, He gave everyone a choice to follow Him or not. It's your choice really. At the end of the day, everyone would be accountable to Him, the "liberal" Christians would as well. Just to let you know, He does not like half Christian, He likes us to either follow Him or do what you please. Revelation 3 vs 16 "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth"

It's your choice if you want to serve Him or not. Joshua 24 vs 15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"

Nothing is okay, being a Christian is not a easy journey. You need to face temptation, free yourself from sexual sins and not drink. It would take time and being human, we shall struggle, but "with God all things are possible" Matthew 19 vs 26.

You need to go to Church to find similar people in the faith and to be spiritually nourished by the word of God as well as having a personal relationship with Him.

TL DR: Yes, masturbation, lust and drinking alcohol are sinful. From those "Christians" you know that are committing these sins, there are some who don't do such things. I don't know why you think they don't exist. Maybe they are not as vocal. You are using argumentum ad populum fallacy (just because everyone is doing it, doesn't mean it's right).

@royal1990 let me explain a bit what I mean by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. If you read on Acts 2:1-13New International Version (NIV)
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
2 When the day of Pentecost came, they
were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a
sound like the blowing of a violent wind
came from heaven and filled the whole
house where they were sitting. 3 They saw
what seemed to be tongues of fire that
separated and came to rest on each of
them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in other tongues
[ a] as the Spirit enabled them."

The baptism of the Holy Ghost is made during a special service in church but you may also see you pastor in order to help you pray for that baptism. Being Christened is not being baptised by the Holy Ghost. It is a very long topic but if you still need some answers feel free to ask.
Judgement sometimes is made using the bible, but it has to be relevant. You know, people sometimes think they can stop sin by themselves that's why they don't believe in anything the bible says. The Holy Ghost is our strengthener and if a christian is not baptised and filled with his power He cannot resist sin

...and people wonder why the Roman Catholic Church was completely overrun by paedophiles...

Whoa, some sweeping generalisations here about me. I didn't give any cop-out or particular statement about bad things happening in the world and God not doing anything. Of course, many use this argument, however what I actually was saying was that because God gave us the ability to achieve Orgasm via Mastervation (I.e. Feel good feeling- positive), then surely if he allowed this then it's his will??

I take some of what you said in mind, however, you come across to me as very judgemental and also very patronising (sorry to say).

If your somebody whom represents the Christian faith, then really and truly I'm sorry, but I'm dissapointed. Most of your post here was targeted and actually rather patronising to me. I didn't come here for criticism per se, I came here for hearing your experiences and your views, not a full blown diagnostic or why I'm not a follower etc.

To you I may not be, but honestly, myself, I chose to follow My faith and worship God in any which way I want.

Sorry

that is very offensive.

@Howard sorry but I'm not discussing with non-christian. You may notice our discussion will profit nothing. No one will be exhorted

Hi all.....

Hi there, great testimony. Love to read how people encounter God.

How I view stuff is basically like this. We sin and we sin all the time, as the creed (I think it is) says in thought, word and deed.

There is an example of how God sees sin in the bible. When Jesus encounters the woman at the well. He knew she had been married 5 times and was at that time living with someone. Jesus forgave her but said 'go and sin no more'. Once our eyes have been opened to sin in our lives God forgives us and says do that sin no more. As we are human we constantly fail and are forgiven again because we are not yet perfect.

That's not to say we deliberately sin just because we know God will forgive us because how I read it, he isn't saying that.

In the bible it says we need to constantly renew our minds.
Stuff gets in there which we need to wash out, stuff that doesn't benefit us or do us any good. People who don't know God think he is a kill-joy but he isn't, when God says something isn't good for us it usually isn't.

We need to simplify life a bit more, all God asks of us is to be kind. (Love one another as I have loved you).

Those instances of you and money, I think God has a sense of humour and these are the things that can make us laugh with God.

That's right,we need to Renew our minds as the scripture says. People nowadays don't know the scriptures and want to pick just some and acts on it then leaves others saying "I'm living my own way with God", but it won't work. To reach the level you were analysing above required a lot of spiritual work.