Gods people: Stiffnecked, Rebellious or ? – http://wp.me/p4qqra-JO
And older post revisited
Religion
A Simple Disappointment: theunfetteredpreacher
When I was brand new in the Lord, someone gave me a Charles Capps pamphlet “In Him”. I remember it being all the scriptures that told who we were In Him. I used that booklet to memorize those scriptures, it really helped me to grow in the Lord.
And few years ago I realized I no longer remembered all those verses, and picked up a new, “In Him”, pamphlet .
I didn’t recognize the verses, realized it was now in NIV, and just left it alone. I am not a KJV, only guy, but that is the version I think, pray and sing scriptures from.
If I have a problem understanding a verse I will usually check out the Amplified or Expanded Versions, for clarification . Rarely NIV, RSV, PHILLIPS or any of the others.
That’s okay, times change I left it there. (Never have rememorized those scriptures ) . My loss.
A few months ago, a number of our church members were sick. I went looking for a Charles Capps booklet, “God’s Creative Power for Healing”.
I brought them to the sick folks asked them to pray the scriptures and trusted in the Lord.
They are all still elderly, 60 to 80 years old but so am I . What can you do?
In examination of this booklet , I was saddened to find, prayers with addresses of scriptures and not the scriptures themselves .
To my mind, this change reduced the value of this product by about 95%. We are no longer teaching scriptures or even scriptural prayers. Just prayers… not even remotely connected to the scriptures listed.
A Simple Disappointment. A once excellent tool, made useless by progress.
I will be checking back to see if maybe the originals are still available .
Reblog from “My Blog”.. who is he? not a clue. GOOD WORD
This is a reblog I found on FB. He calls his blog, “My Blog”. I know not who he is, but I wish I thought and wrote as clear and concisely as he.
I believe we must move in this direction if we want a relevant, caring, growing body.
__________________________________
The church MUST change and change now!
The church has chosen to follow the world. The Anabaptist did it in the 1700’s when they copied and adopted as their form of church government the prototype government set up by the 13 Colonies.
Today we have chosen to copy the world again. How?
“Worship” has turned into entertainment as we have copied Madonna.
We now have targeted audiences like major incorporations. This is not biblical and guarantees that we will exclude more than include
We are stuck in our dead traditions. I see the church of the future meeting on many days of the week other than Sunday.
I see the church of the future getting rid of buildings and things that puts huge financial stress on the clergy and members and thus creates mandated giving. Mandated giving brings people under the law and drives people from church.
The church must get out of being an incorporation and begin to be a living organism. Many type A personalities get a bigger kick out of organization than God moving by His Spirit.
If being tax exempt is keeping us from being the church we are going to have to leave that and pay our taxes
We are going to have to quite being so falsely sanctimonious. Trump cussed and said vulgar things. O my, O my whatever will we do? Truth is many church goers cuss most every day, in their minds if not out loud.
We are going to have to take the law off of people and teach people real NT Christianity of living in the Spirit.
Being forced to pray at 6:00 am or fast the month of January has to stop. Its law if God has not told you to do it
Quite judging people who cannot handle the religious burdens we lay on their shoulders. Quit saying they are uncommitted, lazy, or not devoted to Jesus. We have put burdens on people that Jesus died to take off of people.
We must get back to church being about Jesus. Not ministry. Not growth. Not crowd size. If our churches are not about Jesus, why are we even a church?
Church must be about Jesus. Not prayer. Not faith. Not community. Not doing good. Not the poor. Not children’s church. Not youth ministry. All of these have become false gods within the church.
We have one of the most biblically illiterate generations of believers in modern history.
We must get away from the Joel Osteen message. Many of u that love Joel’s ministry, if truth be known, you know it is shallow. You are trying desperately to get the same results in numbers that he has. You are not going to get it.
The world has desperately tried to turn the body of Jesus Christ into a mere humanitarian organization. Many have fallen for this trap. We are not a humanitarian organization. We are the Kingdom of God and we are not here to just pass out bread. We are here to make the kingdoms of this world, the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.
Discipleship must return with believers being taught the tenets of the faith instead of being entertained on Sunday mornings. Feeling good has taken the place of knowing what you believe and why.
Life must replace ministry! Jesus came to give life and life more abundantly. He did not come to give ministry and ministry more abundantly.
Life, love, joy, peace, caring, helping, sharing, must replace the Christian religion.
Confronting evil must be a part of our future. We just saw what almost happened by keeping silent. When you have a huge incorporation that demands thousand or millions of dollars to maintain it cramps your preaching of truth.
Movement of the past are over! Quit imitating what is dead! Biblical faith is real and always will be but the Faith Movement is a carcass.
The prophetic has been the pathetic. Holding prophets and prophetess accountable for their “words” must become normal.
The “generational’ theology error must stop! All people are just alike no matter the age, gender, race, socioeconomic standing, education, etc. We have the same sins, sicknesses, dreams, failures, worries, fears, wants, and desires.
The church is the master segregationist institution on the earth. Shameful. We need each other and can learn and benefit from each other.
Segregation is how the church approaches people – children segregated from parents. Teens segregated from old people. Marrieds segregated from singles. Bass fishermen segregated from bowlers. Women segregated from men. Men segregated from women. Rich segregated from the poor. White collars segregated from blue collar. Employer segregated from employees.
Yes we approach ministry with a segregation spirit. This must stop.
Truth be told it is an indictment that we can’t or haven’t taught all Christians how to love one another and get along with one another. We haven’t taught that we are all equal.
My pastor in Bible College, a great apostle and man of God, said to me in the 1970’s, “Bob, you are twenty years ahead of your time.”
We can’t wait 20 years to enact the above changes
A new Hillary Clinton is waiting in the wings for 2020, 2024, etc. What the church does now will cause her to be defeated or win.
Thank you, Veterans: theunfetteredpreacher
Thanks to all, for Serving God and Country.
Praise in a minor key: theunfetteredpreacher
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l934p4okaho4r94/praiseinaminorkey.url%20.mp4?dl=0
More old praise tunes. Hope you enjoy.
Jehovah Jirah, The Trees of the Field. (Isaiah 55:12), Jesus is my Lord, my Master my Savior; Glory, to the Lord.
Tears of Grief or Relief? theunfetteredpreacher
Many tears have been shed this AM. For me, they were of relief. Others grief . These tears should be a point of contact. We are a people of diverse, views, desires and integrity.
Mr Trump was not my first choice, and I have some desires I would like to share.
~ Our police will once again be respected, criminals, punished.
~ Our retired and active military will be honoured and given the tools and health care they deserve.
~ Race relations can return to the harmony we knew and walked in before our divider in chief was elected.
~ Health care would once again be affordable, taxes reasonable, debt acceptable.
~ A wall on our Southern border. I do not care who pays for it… Just build it.
~ Energy independence, infrastucture repaired.
~ Babies would once again be safe in the womb.
That is my wish list. How about you?
Blessings
Shared from WordPress
Church, (Houston), We have a problem: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station – http://wp.me/p4qqra-1Pr
A reblog, We need to learn to worship
Shared from WordPress
My Obsession: theunfetteredpreacher – http://wp.me/p4qqra-1WH
A reblog of my desire
What is in your hand? theunfetteredpreacher
I read a post from,
“FaithBible Ministriesblog.com”
What is your spiritual gift?
The question was ” What is in your hand?”
That is a great question for all who are seeking their place in the Kingdom.
As a guy who loves to preach, who also plays piano… I am often given the job of playing while others who cannot play, preach.
They may not preach well, but that is where they desire to be. The question is should they ?
The test for me is:
~ Is there power in our words?
* are souls saved?
* are the sick healed?
* are there signs and wonders following ?
Unfortunately, for most of our Churches, the answer is no.
Now, a Preacher may tell a good story, he might even motivate you to action.
He may entertain, cause you to laugh or cry. The test is this.
Jesus said: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
A lot of Denominations, claim these verses were added, they do not belong. So I guess we throw out this one also. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
They say it doesn’t apply, because they believe but, signs and wonders aren’t following them.
Why not ?
I used to blame the lack of signs and wonders in my life on the sin, that so easily besets me.
As I studied, I began to understand, Pauls sin, didn’t disqualify him from having signs following .
So the problem is in the quality of our belief . What exactly, what do we believe ?
Salvation , certainly.
Miracles, God doesn’t do that anymore . ..
Really, tell me where it states that in the Word?
Oh, you think the Bible is that which is perfect? NO, IT IS NOT.
When Jesus returns is that, which is perfect, will be here.
Until that time, we need to reach up on the shelf , open the box of Gifts of the Spirit and ask the Holy Spirit for the Gift of Faith, the Gift of Working of Miracles , or the Gifts of Healing.
If you are afraid of Tongues and Interpretation, seek the other Gifts. Do not throw them all out because you don’t understand some .
Seek the Holy Spirit , the Helper, Comforter, the Teacher, the Leader to all Truth .
Read the Word, be instant in season and out, have an answer, have faith… believe , pray and receive .
Look behind you… do you see them?
Your Will… Amen
Breaking News: theunfetteredpreacher
Breaking News for all Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists and all Denominational Christianity.
Peter, was not a Catholic.
Martin Luther was not a Lutheran.
John the Baptist, was not a Baptist.
John Wesley, was not a Methodist.
Surprised?
They were all followers of Christ. It was those who followed them, that have screwed up, and split up, the Christian Church.
If you wish to follow Christ, we must, read His Word, Know His Word, Obey His Word.
Recognizing that these men of God, Holy, Powerful, Leaders, of their times, did not have or understand the whole council of God.
The Lords reveals Himself to those who seek Him. As we understood salvation individually, so is it with the rest of His Word.
Revelation is available to whosoever will accept it, obey it, and walk with Him.
Psalm 27:8
“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”
As Christians, we need to follow Christ, seek Christ, love Christ Jesus, above our Church building, above our Denomination, above our Pastor.
It is He who saves us, supplies our needs, comforts and heals us.
Seek Jesus. Find everything important, everlasting, and meaningful .
Amen
Church Prayer 3: theunfetteredpreacher
This is my third attempt to write a prayer that helps our church to go forward with the Lord.
We are sorely tied to the anchor of the past, with little desire for change. Even if that means the death of this body of believers .
Lord, hear my prayer.
Father God I desire that we, your people, might be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
That we might walk worthy of You, unto all that is pleasing, that we might be fruitful in every good work, and increase in our knowledge of You;
Strengthened with all might, according to Your glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Lord, that Your joy, would be our strength, Your peace, our constant companion, Your love our motivation.
Help us Lord to be perfect, to be of good comfort, to be of one mind, to live in peace; so then, we will know, the God of love, and peace is with us.
Lord, we ourselves were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Forgive us Lord, I pray.
Lord, we pray, that Your word, may have free course, and be glorified, in us, freeing us from our carnal self, to help us to love and care for one another.
We thank you Lord, for opening the doors of our hearts, that we would welcome and accept, new members, new ideas, and new ways to worship You.
Lord, that we might experience a mighty move of Your love and grace.
We thank you Jesus, for the Holy Spirit, who guides, directs, comforts, teaches and leads to Your truth.
Help us to see, consider, understand and believe Your Word.
Amen
Prayer for building of Church 2: theunfetteredpreacher
Father God, I love You and ask that You hear and grant my plea.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Help us Lord, to put on the armour of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Help us to speak boldly, as we ought to speak. May Your Holy Spirit guide, direct and protect us, to accomplish the work of Your will, as we take Your Yoke upon us.
YukKYU
Lord, You would have all men to come to the knowledge of Your love and grace.
Give us the boldness to speak, may Your Spirit go before us to soften the hearts and open the minds, of whosoever will seek Your face.
Jesus, help us to build Your Body, that the lost could be saved, that You would comfort the brokenhearted, and heal the sick.
May we put aside, our carnal desires, our petty selfishness, our need to be noticed, so that You would be glorified.
Lord, use us to build Your Kingdom.
Thank You for this beautiful facility, please fill us with Your Spirit, that this building would be filled and used for Your Glory.
You alone Lord, are worthy of all glory, honor and praise. Lord, help us to worship.
Amen
The Battle is Over: theunfetteredpreacher
Some have noticed and been vocal of my continued posts on the need of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit .
I believe that burden, has been lifted.
I was sure the Lord sent me to this little UMC, to play the piano, and to explain the need for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, to the Pastor and eventually to the flock.
He said he believed; ” I f the Lord wanted him to walk in the Gifts of the Spirit, he would have them already .
After all, without the Spirit, he never would have been saved.”
I am disappointed that he never studied the scriptures I laid out before him. He never gave me scripture in rebuttal.
Just refused the Gifts of God.
I continue to pray the Lord bless and keep him. That the eyes of his understanding be opened and he would receive the Holy Spirit, and walk in the love and power of God.
Father, I am sorry, I couldn’t convey Your truth to my brother. please send a more effective messenger of Your Love. Amen
Biblical Prayer for Our Churches health: theunfetteredpreacher
Our Pastor just left our Church. I lift him and his family up , that God will direct, send, and protect them.
That they will find the Lords perfect place to receive, themselves, and to minister to others the Lords love.
A Godly man, a loving man, a man that will be missed.
I have stolen some Biblical prayers to give to the congregation, to pray for growth of the Lords body in our little corner of the world.
Your are welcome to use any part of it to pray for your church or ours. Comments are always welcome .
Thanks for visiting .
Lord, we love you and come to You now to remind You, that we are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture.
You promised us in Psalm 23, that You are our Shepherd and we shall not want.
Well Lord, I am sorry, but this body of believers, is in want. We remember when the pews of this building were packed with souls that loved You.
We remember the Spirit being alive, and it was exciting to learn of and to walk with You.
So knowing that it is Your Word that You honor, I borrow from Your Word to pray, for Your Church. (Snippets from Ephesians).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Since You hath chosen us in Christ,
before the foundation of the world, (I ask You to help us Lord, to learn to be holy, without blame, to be acceptable, to You).
You have made known unto us the mystery of Your will, according to Your good pleasure which You hath purposed in Yourself:
Wherefore I cease not to give thanks for (our Church body), making mention of them in my prayers;
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto us, the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
That the eyes of our understanding be enlightened; that we may know what is the hope of our calling, and what the riches of the glory, of our inheritance is, in the saints,
And what is the exceeding greatness of Your power to us who believe, according to the working of Your mighty power, for by grace are we saved through faith; and that not of ourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
We are Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
That he would grant us, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith; that we, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fulness of God.
That we grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
We let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from us, with all malice:
And being kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven us.”
Lord, change our hearts and minds, help us to lift you up, so that You can draw all men to Yourself.
Let Your Spirit, guide, teach and direct us, into Your perfect will. Help us to be obedient, loving children, to build Your Body, Your Church.
We thank You, for this beautiful building. We ask You to build Your body, to use us, for Your glory.
Amen
The Ministry Years: – Opened eyes, today’s revelation – 1st Miracle – theunfetteredpreacher
I have read, known, believed and loved the Word of God for well over 30 years.
All this time, the ministry years of Jesus, have been exciting reading, but somewhat confusing.
I would see the same stories repeated book after book. That’s nice, but are they are in a different order, or have different details?
My mind did not comprehend.
I have been teaching Old Testament, on Wednesday nights to a small group in our Church, (8 to 12 folks), for several years.
A couple of chapters a week, from Genesis through Kings. ( to show Jesus, through out).
I decided it was time to look directly at Jesus.
Since they hear of the birth and death of Jesus every year, and unfortunately not much of His ministry, I decided to do a Harmony of the Gospels teaching.
We are using Mark as our anchor. Last week we made it through His Baptism and 40 days of temptation.
A realization, a revelation, my eyes were opened, events, did not occur in the order I had always assumed. (We must back up, and fill in information from John).
Tonight, I am going to set the time line of events, from the Baptism, (Jesus, receiving the Holy Spirit). To the wilderness, Andrew, seeing Jesus, bringing Peter to meet Jesus, to the wedding, (Water to Wine the first miracle).
It was after this Miracles, that the Disciples believed on Him.
Passover , cleansing of the Temple, they ask for a sign? Tear down, 3 days…. Alluding to the death and resurrection .
Many believed, when they saw the miracles He did, He did not call them to follow Him. “Because He knew what was in all men“.
He then met Nicodemus. You must be born again.
Men loved darkness, rather then the light.
He came to Judaea, Desciples baptized unto repentance. John the Baptist was elsewhere, Baptizing, not yet imprisoned. (John explained).
“He must increase, I must decrease“.
John: 3. 34-6
“For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
The Samaritan woman and the water of life. The first missionary.
John: 4. 24.
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
The second miracle, the healing of the Noblemans son.
John: 4. 48.
“Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”
Accept you come, my son will die. He believed, and it was so, in the same hour.
John is imprisoned at this time. (Mark 1:14,15, Matthew 4:12-17, Luke 4:14-15, John 4:3,43,45).
On way to Galilee He passed through Nazareth, Luke 4:14-30.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me . ”
Isaiah 61:1
Names of God Bible (NOG)
The Lord Will Anoint His Servant with His Spirit
“The Ruach (spirit)of Adonay (supreme ruler) Yahweh (Father) is with me
because Yahweh (the Father) has anointed me
to deliver good news to humble people.
He has sent me
to heal those who are brokenhearted,
to announce that captives will be set free
and prisoners will be released.
He has sent me to announce the year of Yahweh’s good will
and the day of our Elohim’s (God’s, the Creator, Supreme Ruler) vengeance,
to comfort all those who grieve.”
He was rejected at Nazareth , went to Capernaum. Matthew 4. Repent the Kingdom of God is at hand.
He there called the Desciples.
Shared from insanitybytes22
Meat and Potatoes.. – http://wp.me/p4a6eV-dra
A good and powerful read.
Come to Jesus moment: theunfetteredpreacher
Your come to Jesus moment.
Was it a time of trouble and strife? Fear and or depression? Loneliness, financial need, a broken heart, the loss of a loved one?
For me, it was loneliness, I didn’t really feel a part of anything or anyone. I needed comfort, I was brokenhearted.
I needed love, not human love, the true love of God. Agape, love.
How about you?
In my study this am, (I am doing a harmony of the Gospels, comparing the points of view of Mark, Matthew and Luke of the Ministry of Jesus, using Mark as my starting point).
It is interesting to see which details each include, and how they differ.
Silly, I know, but I really never understood they were describing the same instances, from different points of view.
Take in point, the calling of Peter, James and John. In Matthew and Mark they are fishing and leave their nets.
In Luke, we find they were mending their nets, when Jesus borrowed Simon’s boat to use as a platform to teach the crowd.
He spoke of the Kingdom, then, had them fish a certain side of the boat. They had to call James and John to help land their biggest catch ever.
At this point, they left all behind to follow Jesus.
In John, Andrew (a follower of John the Baptist), is the first to discover Jesus and he brings Peter to the Lord.
The account in John, seems out of sync, but it was probably their introduction to Jesus, and the miracle of the catch, that caught them.
It is a truth.
The day you decide to follow Jesus. Is the most successful day, you will ever experience. Spiritually, Physically, Physiologically or Financially.
We become blameless, forgiven, by the covering of His blood.
By His stripes we are/were healed. (Both Spiritually and Physically).
He is our Shepherd, we shall not want, my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory. (SPIRITUAL, PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL, FINANCIAL,) ALL MY NEEDS.
When we learn to Trust In The Lord, to Walk With The Lord, to Live For The Lord.
Life becomes Exciting, His Provision, Is Precious, His Presence, Indescribable. The Shekinah Glory of God, will visible in our lives, to whatever extent, we give ourselves to Him.
Whether you are at the top or bottom right now today, “Today is the day.” The acceptable day, the most successful day you could experience. The day of Salvation, Forgiveness and Love Devine.
He is knocking at the door of your heart. Open the door invite Him in. Change your future.
Amen
The blanket of His love will not just put out the fire, but keep you safe and secure. Amen
That they might understand: theunfetteredpreacher
Luke 24:45
“Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,”
Our Lord had died on the cross, been buried, rose again, and showed himself alive, by many infallible proofs.
He appeared to them, many times for forty days, speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
As He broke bread with them, He “Opened their understanding, that they might understand.”
Isn’t it interesting, not so they would, but they might.
With the Lord, it is all FREEWILL, all whosoever, all our choice, and only our choice.
We are all given a measure of Faith. What we do with it is our choice. Does it lay dormant, unknown and not used?
Or have you learned to build up your most Holy Faith. (See Jude for directions).
All our choice. To believe and receive, to walk in faith or without. We alone decide our fate. He never forces His love on us, we must ask to receive.
We must seek, comfort, peace, joy, healing, power and “understanding“.
The first time understanding is mentioned in the Bible is at the Tower of Babel. The Lord said:
Genesis 11:7
“Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
The Lord, God and the Holy Spirit as one, seeing and understanding.
“Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”
One language. Today, whosoever will, can receive the One language, given to us to communicate with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 14:2
“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
This is our prayer language, it does not need Interpretation. Our Spirit communicates directly to God and “now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
This is not the post I had planned to write. I had no intention of bringing up the Gift of Tongues again.
I am grieving and groaning within….
I am consumed by the “ZEAL OF GOD “ to see His will be done. “To build HIS CHURCH. ”
As the Pharaoh gave the Hebrews, all they needed to build the strongest, most useful, bricks to build His temples, that they would withstand any conditions, from weather or war. Good times and bad.
The Lord gave us all we needed to build His Body. We refuse to add the ingredient that will make it strong, able to withstand weather or war.
We refuse the straw. Like the Hebrews, we have to go find it. Unlike that time, Jesus said wait till you receive. The Holy Spirit, the Lord, Jesus freely gives, all good and perfect gifts.
You are able to understand and proceed. You are charged with building His Temple, His Kingdom, His Church.
You, Whosoever will, have Freewill. Will you accept the gift of God. Use the available tools, and do the will of God?
No Hope? Know This! theunfetteredpreacher
A man, feeling alone and unloved. Looks for comfort in a bottle, maybe smokes a little weed, pops a pill. What can it hurt?
His life improves. He now understands why people have rejected, ignored and avoided him.
His eyes are opened, his ears hear. Yes, he is sure, this is the truth, finally revealed.
He just needed a little help to give him the confidence, the strength, the ability to shine, to become himself.
He is smarter, faster, better than others, the secrets of the universe are an open book.
He is a God, the master of his world.
He becomes friendly, loved, popular. He is sure, life is better.
It is all a dream. He is in chains, shackles, as he screams and roars, relief is not to be found.
He is lost, he is alone, hopeless.
An older woman, her hands deformed, gnarly, painful to look at, impossible to use.
A Humpback. Her legs and feet, twisted, swollen, almost useless. To walk, and engage with others is to be tortured, humiliated.
She is ashamed of what she looks like, what she has become. What she has done.
Her money gone. Given willingly, to physicians, pharmacists, therapists. Nothing they prescribed has worked.
The rest went to charlatans, quacks and frauds. Always seeking an answer, relief, even rescue.
All the promises of health and peace, comfort and love, of a pain free life. Gone, unrealized, forgotten.
She is lost, alone, hopeless.
Then we have a father, his only daughter, sick, with an incurable decease. Slowly wasting away, her body, confined to her bed, nothing but skin and bones.
Weak, unable to attend to her own needs, fed, clothed, cleaned, by those who love her and who grieve and groan, desiring her return to health.
There is no where to turn, a death sentence has been pronounced, the trial finished, the hammer has sounded. It is over.
He is lost, he is alone, he is without hope.
There is no where for these people to turn.
Their wealth has been spent, their hopes dashed, the future is set in stone. They are not alone.
There are many on this journey, a multitude, countless millions.
Lost, alone, hopeless.
The road they are on, has a name. It is denial, their eventual destination, what they are seeking, is relief.
They are nearing…
They believe the answer is death, the grave.
There they will suffer no more, be at peace, find relief, be released from the problems, pain and troubles of this world.
I have heard it said: “They are in a better place, their suffering is over, they are at peace.”
Really, and you know this how? Are you sure? Is that your final answer?
No hope, hopeless, why?
Meanwhile the church gathers together weekly. Boasting, we have fed hundreds, clothed many, paid the light bills for others.
We have helped all who have come to our door.
We have sent missionaries abroad, financed them, prayed for them.
We are the few, the faithful, the chosen.
Is that it? Have we done enough? Is our job done? Have the scriptures been fulfilled?
Has the world, our city, our neighborhood, our loved ones, heard the answer?
Have we told them the Kingdom of God is at hand? That peace, joy, comfort, mercy and grace is available, affordable, and theirs for the asking?
I have not been faithful, in proclaiming this truth. Have you?
Father, we love You, forgive us. Empower us for Your Service.
Teach us, Show us, Draw us close to You.
Lord, may Your Love be recognized in us. Desired by those we meet. Would touch those in need.
May we be vessels of Your healing, comfort and salvation, to the lost and dying world. A road map that leads, only to You.
Thank You, Lord, that Your mercy is new every morning. You are an Awesome God. Your Love knows no bounds.
Amen
(The truth is found in Mark 5)
Is Church Growth Possible Today? theunfetteredpreacher
We have a glut of “us 4 and no more“, Churches. (I am speaking of Churches with 30 or so active members, that cannot seem to grow).
Is there a reason, a problem, a Biblical Solution?
Absolutely: The Lords will is:
“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”
We need to be of one mind. This has nothing to do with the corporate world, and everything to do with the Spiritual.
We will never agree on the color of the carpet, the Praise songs we sing, the style of preaching our Pastor may employ, the time and order of Service.
Or anything else in this world.
“We must have one mind to Serve, Love and Obey the Lord.”
That is what is important.
We have devolved into an order of Service that is focused on a Worship Leader and a Preacher.
This is great to teach the believers, but death to real growth. We have instituted a closed system.
We all have a way we look at the Word, understand the Word, explain the Word. We must let other parts of the body to speak.
With no source of new Revelation, death is soon to follow.
(See the Catholic, Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, all people that love God, but without a Billy Graham, or a motivational speaker, not much growth).
Most of us do not have Billy’s Annointing, or the skill to lead the multitudes.
So what is the Biblical Answer?
“God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
covet earnestly the best gifts:”
The Church is not just Worship and Preaching.
Is your Sunday and weekday Service open for the Apostle, Prophet, Teacher to share?
Probably not.
Is there room for workers of miracles? Do you anoint the sick with oil, pray corporately for healing?
Are your people who do everything willing to let others help and into the club? (There is too much, “That’s my job.)”
People want to help, physically, spiritually, financially. We must give them the opportunity.
Our government in the Church, should only guide to Jesus… POINT TO THE SPIRITUAL, the Lord promised He would take care of the rest.
Our facility upkeep is important but second to Spiritual upkeep and growth.
Yes, I am sorry, but diversities of tongues is included. (Check my old posts for information on this).
I do not know why this next one is hard to understand?
“Covet earnestly the best gifts:”
What is the BEST GIFTS? HOW DO I KNOW?
The best gift is the one needed right now. That is what the Lord wants to give us. A good and perfect gift, that comes down from above.
So how do we allow the Lord to GROW HIS CHURCH?
“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Let all things be done decently and in order.”
The Worship Leader and Pastor are not the only ones the Lord speaks to.
In the Old Testament, we have a servant girl informing Nathan of the miracle ministry of Elijah.
God will cause His Praise to come forth from stones if we keep silence. This does not have to be messy.
Just forget:
Our order of Service. You will not find it in the Word.
Our insistence of Music. The Lord would have us sing songs and hymns and spiritual songs.
Our reliance on the Worship Leader. We must learn to Worship ourselves, learn to enter the Holy of Holies to find mercy and grace in our time of need.
Our reliance on the Pastor for our Spiritual Food. If you need to be fed, you haven’t progressed to the meat of His Word. Learn to feed yourself.
We all have the opportunity, the ability, and the responsibility to draw close to Him.
If we would, He promised to draw close to us.
Let Gods people, seek Him and share His Revelation knowledge one with another.
AMEN
theunfetteredpreacher 