View Full Version : Being the Church
Amanah
11-11-2018, 03:33 AM
Sometimes I feel like I'm going through the motions and not quite living up to being the church that Jesus purchased with His blood on Calvary.
I've been praying about it and trying to get it clearly in my mind. What does it mean to be the church. And I think I have some direction.
First comes vision. Why are we here in the first place? our world is suffering and Jesus is the answer. We have families, friends, and neighbors who need what we have in Jesus.
Second, what does it mean it walk in the Spirit? how do you walk in the Spirit?
* Spiritual Disciplines. Practice the Spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, bible reading, meditating on the scripture.
* Separation/Consecration. Protect our minds, eyes, ears, from what is contrary to God that comes to us via media, music, social media, worldly friendships, ect. so that we are hearing the voice of God and not the world.
* Acts of service/ministry, reaching out to others inside and outside the church. We have the precious Spirit of Jesus, not just for ourselves, but for others.
* Maintain an attitude of listening for the voice and direction of the Spirit throughout the day.
And now, finding ways to put myself in a place where God can use me to reach people.
I tried something crazy yesterday that has potential. Actually Bro Benincasa is the inspiration for my plan. I started at the park, took my bible and sat down at a picnic table, praying for people who were passing by, asking God to put someone in my path that I could share the gospel with.
I got impatient after about 30 minutes, and asked God if there wasn't something more radical I could try. The thought came to me that Walmart is full of benches in the store. there are benches near the front door, benches in the deli, benches at the pharmacy. What if I took my bible, my large leather bible, sat down in the middle of Walmart and read my bible, in plain sight! That resulted in people giving me surprised looks and some conversation opening up the door for me to engage people. I'm going to prayerfully do this every week until I either get kicked out of Walmart or God gives me another plan.
jediwill83
11-11-2018, 05:41 AM
Separation/Consecration. Protect our minds, eyes, ears, from what is contrary to God that comes to us via media, music, social media, worldly friendships, ect. so that we are hearing the voice of God and not the world.
Heres the deal....you are gonna get your hands dirty and you are gonna see and HEAR things that are NOT Godly in the least.
You arent gonna go out with blinders on and earplugs that filter everything but what God says.
Youre going to have to be witness to those things so that you can RESPOND to those things and you cant respond if you dont first see and hear what you will be responding to.
Thing is that you will be the influencer and not the influenced.
What YOU have to decide for yourself is are you going to walk and live as though Jesus is in you?
Hes not in you to get you dirty, He is in you to get them clean and when He gets in them they WILL be clean and when that Living Water rushes out of you and makea contact with them you will see lives changed by the power of Christ.
You are the influencer proportionate to how freely you yield yourself to Him.
Looking forward to hearing some awesome testimony.
Evang.Benincasa
11-11-2018, 06:06 AM
And now, finding ways to put myself in a place where God can use me to reach people.
I tried something crazy yesterday that has potential. Actually Bro Benincasa is the inspiration for my plan. I started at the park, took my bible and sat down at a picnic table, praying for people who were passing by, asking God to put someone in my path that I could share the gospel with.
I got impatient after about 30 minutes, and asked God if there wasn't something more radical I could try. The thought came to me that Walmart is full of benches in the store. there are benches near the front door, benches in the deli, benches at the pharmacy. What if I took my bible, my large leather bible, sat down in the middle of Walmart and read my bible, in plain sight! That resulted in people giving me surprised looks and some conversation opening up the door for me to engage people. I'm going to prayerfully do this every week until I either get kicked out of Walmart or God gives me another plan.
Holy Ghost prayer, study, and no fear of hard rejection. These are the ingredients which will catapult you to the next level. Any place there is a bench and tables, will be where you fish. But like any fisher you will do it for hours and catch nothing? Peter tells this to Jesus, and it is Jesus who instructs and leads where to find the catch. In Starbucks, Barnes and Nobles cafe you have to buy something in order to occupy a seat with an OPEN BIBLE. But you will notice the unseen rules of each business when it comes down to camping out at their places Dunkin Donuts, Whole Foods. Never EVER solicit, or be the first to engage. Always allow them to initiate the interaction. If you get individuals who want to play "stump the Christian" that has to be left up to the leading of the Holy Ghost. Also in that case you have to be extremely grounded in who you are, and that you cannot EVER get upset, angry, or discouraged by what they say or do to you. You may never see this, but there will be watchers. People who will watch everything you do. They may never approach you until years later (which is pretty amazing the first time it happens) but they are watching. Arguments are a NO NO. There are people who know how to get you removed from an area. They always look to make you into the religious nut job, or GeeHaw Witness wannabe. They even come as seekers and are good at pulling you in and then doing a heavy switcharoosky on you. Just know you aren't there to win an argument, because it isn't worth you loosing what you have gained. Just the other day in the Vitamin Shop I was dealing with an individual who was telling a group that Jesus spoke Arabic, that Abraham wasn't a Hebrew, and that the New Testament was originally written in Arabic. He was trying to pull the old Okey Doke on me. I let him talk, and then just asked questions. Allowing him to be the teacher (not expecting you to try this at home) but by asking questions you allow the other to show the class how the other doesn't know what they are even talking about. Also for a sincere challenger they can get a "eureka" moment and come over to your side. But, for old crusty religious individuals that is usually nonexistent. :heeheehee
Another thing having a sister with you for you to have interaction going is a huge plus. Jesus sent them out two by two?
But, have fun, enjoy it, and it is all about WAITING.
Just make sure you are prayed up and over. Because this never works out well if you leave the Holy Ghost at the house while you are out. ;)
jediwill83
11-11-2018, 07:16 AM
Holy Ghost prayer, study, and no fear of hard rejection. These are the ingredients which will catapult you to the next level. Any place there is a bench and tables, will be where you fish. But like any fisher you will do it for hours and catch nothing? Peter tells this to Jesus, and it is Jesus who instructs and leads where to find the catch. In Starbucks, Barnes and Nobles cafe you have to buy something in order to occupy a seat with an OPEN BIBLE. But you will notice the unseen rules of each business when it comes down to camping out at their places Dunkin Donuts, Whole Foods. Never EVER solicit, or be the first to engage. Always allow them to initiate the interaction. If you get individuals who want to play "stump the Christian" that has to be left up to the leading of the Holy Ghost. Also in that case you have to be extremely grounded in who you are, and that you cannot EVER get upset, angry, or discouraged by what they say or do to you. You may never see this, but there will be watchers. People who will watch everything you do. They may never approach you until years later (which is pretty amazing the first time it happens) but they are watching. Arguments are a NO NO. There are people who know how to get you removed from an area. They always look to make you into the religious nut job, or GeeHaw Witness wannabe. They even come as seekers and are good at pulling you in and then doing a heavy switcharoosky on you. Just know you aren't there to win an argument, because it isn't worth you loosing what you have gained. Just the other day in the Vitamin Shop I was dealing with an individual who was telling a group that Jesus spoke Arabic, that Abraham wasn't a Hebrew, and that the New Testament was originally written in Arabic. He was trying to pull the old Okey Doke on me. I let him talk, and then just asked questions. Allowing him to be the teacher (not expecting you to try this at home) but by asking questions you allow the other to show the class how the other doesn't know what they are even talking about. Also for a sincere challenger they can get a "eureka" moment and come over to your side. But, for old crusty religious individuals that is usually nonexistent. :heeheehee
Another thing having a sister with you for you to have interaction going is a huge plus. Jesus sent them out two by two?
But, have fun, enjoy it, and it is all about WAITING.
Just make sure you are prayed up and over. Because this never works out well if you leave the Holy Ghost at the house while you are out. ;)
Leaving your HolyGhost at home is almost as bad as leaving the stove on.
Amanah
11-17-2018, 06:33 AM
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVRofhQWk4oXtNnopp_JyOW4oQfEIpaza
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