How can I get closer to God and be filled with the Spirit?

Question:

Hi,

I was looking for a particular topic online when I came across your page where you gave advice about fornication and other matters. I'm 21 years old. I was baptized when I was 11 years old. Since then, I changed churches, and I've been at my present church for over five years.

I've been engaging in sexual activities. I have a child, but I broke up with my child's father. I have been having sex with my friends whenever I feel tempted. I've drifted far from God. Sometimes I feel as though He's no longer by my side. But I'm really trying to get back even closer to Him. Do you think He has given up on me? Because in His word it says that "He will not leave us nor forsake us but He will be with us until the end." I really want to know.

I also want to be filled with the Holy Ghost. I want to speak in tongues. I feel like there is something holding me from speaking in tongues because when I start to pray when I reach the part where I feel as though I'm warfaring, I stop. Can you help me?

If I change my life, will God allow me in his kingdom even though I fornicated, committed adultery, and have a son outside of marriage? Please help me, and pray for me too.

Thank you.

Answer:

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

I'm glad you are trying to turn your life around because you because it is not reasonable to expect God to help you while you are rebelling against him. "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:1-2).

Sexual sins is a form of covetousness or greed. You want what doesn't belong to you. "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"" (Hebrews 13:4-6). Notice that your quote left off the fact that we must conduct our lives without sin to be able to have confidence that God is there helping us.

The start, then, is to truly fear God. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). Your conduct does make a difference in your relationship with God because the things you do reflect your willingness to listen to God. The second step is making a radical change in your life. "For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter" (II Corinthians 7:11).

You can be filled with the Holy Spirit if you immerse yourself in His teachings. "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:17-18). See: How can you know you are filled with the Spirit?

If you want to follow God, you have to stop following the world. "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4).

Response:

Hi,

Thank you very much for the advice and the Scripture. I really appreciate it. I am working on myself and the way I live. Please pray for me when you have free time. I will pray for myself, too.

Thank you!

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