We cannot expect the same results until we move beyond the stage of divsion. The brother here who stated over and over again, "the UPC needs a Healer" had a point. But he, like the rest of us missed the mark. The UPC doen't need a Healer. The Body needs a healer. We need a healer. And that healer is found in the prayer of Jesus. "that they may be one..." Until we deal with how that can be accomplished we will continue to be a facade. A shell. No matter how much we splash around in the waters of water baptism. No matter how much we speak in tongues and debate all this doctrinal... we will continue to be wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: Rev 3:17
Hijacking in progress.
Unity is a very key issue. They know that we are His disciples because of our love one for another... and in Christiandom today there are a hundred different groups with a hundred different teachings. (more actually)
So, One God, Jesus Name Baptising, Holy Ghost filled, Holy living people, how do WE, the ones who hold to the original teaching and pattern of the Apostles, strike the balance? How do we hold to the doctrine that is extremely important, while showing the love of God to our fellow "believers".
So that those in our communities and cities can believe and be baptised?
I asked my husband this... his answer was that we not fight with the other denom's but that we continue to preach, and continue to teach home Bible studies, continue to show love and light at the same time.. and God will look after the disunity or perceived disunity.
One thing I know One Accord... Unity is key, but so is Truth. And you've got to have both. But we can't walk together for very long unless we agree.
__________________ Mrs. LPW
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
A lot of good post, but I have to throw my two cents in. I believe the problem is love or rather the lack there of.
When we have LOVE for one another we can have UNITY.
When we have LOVE for God we will want to KNOW HIM.
When we KNOW HIM we will want to be like Him.
When we have LOVE for one another we will pray for them with compassion. COMPASSION moves God.
When we have COMPASSION we will have healings.
When we LOVE God move than ourselves we will commune with Him. (PRAYER)
When we pray more we will read His WORD and know the TRUTH.
When we really, really LOVE HIM we will lose our love for the world.
Yes we have love now. Love for wealth, love for power, love for fame, we are full of pride. The down fall of satan was PRIDE.
To KNOW HIM is to be like Him as much as possible.
LOVE was born in a stable. Humble.
LOVE went to the cross. Sacrafrice.
LOVE rose in triump and power.
LOVE will catch you on fire.
Again, there are a lot of good post on this thread, but I had to add my thoughts.
Thanks and Lord Bless.
__________________
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
I know this is going to go against a lot of folks thinking, but Love is the "fruit". The problem is in the "root". When we get the "root" right, the fruit will grow and mature naturally.
One of the commandments is that we are not to have any other gods before the One True God. Jesus summed this up when he states that, "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment." As long as we love the world more than we love him, we will not see the Glory. As long as we refuse to give our whole selves to Him, and sow Spiritual things into our lives instead of natural, we will remain a carnal church, and see little of Gods power manifested in our meetings.
I know this is going to go against a lot of folks thinking, but Love is the "fruit". The problem is in the "root". When we get the "root" right, the fruit will grow and mature naturally.
One of the commandments is that we are not to have any other gods before the One True God. Jesus summed this up when he states that, "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment."As long as we love the world more than we love him, we will not see the Glory. As long as we refuse to give our whole selves to Him, and sow Spiritual things into our lives instead of natural, we will remain a carnal church, and see little of Gods power manifested in our meetings.
This statement is so true.
We also should remember God is Love.
__________________
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
Unity is a very key issue. They know that we are His disciples because of our love one for another... and in Christiandom today there are a hundred different groups with a hundred different teachings. (more actually)
So, One God, Jesus Name Baptising, Holy Ghost filled, Holy living people, how do WE, the ones who hold to the original teaching and pattern of the Apostles, strike the balance? How do we hold to the doctrine that is extremely important, while showing the love of God to our fellow "believers".
So that those in our communities and cities can believe and be baptised?
I asked my husband this... his answer was that we not fight with the other denom's but that we continue to preach, and continue to teach home Bible studies, continue to show love and light at the same time.. and God will look after the disunity or perceived disunity.
One thing I know One Accord... Unity is key, but so is Truth. And you've got to have both. But we can't walk together for very long unless we agree.
There is no unity outside of truth. Unity that is based on anything but truth is... denominationalism and ecumenalism. They require a departure from truth rather than a movement toward truth. But, and this is important to understanding unity, that doesn't necessarily mean we will always believe everything exactly alike, nor will we all say the same thing. Oh, I know, 1 Cor tells us "that you all speak the same thing..." but a close look at those passages show that the basic message of the church has to be centered on one thing. "The preaching of the Cross..." We talk here of the "root" and getting back to "the Apostles Doctrine". It all stems from the Cross. The central message of the Apostles Doctrine isn't baptism or Godhead, it was the Cross. Baptism and Godhead are importnat, but they should not be our Central Message. That should be Jesus and His sacrifice to purchase our salvation.
Look at history. Azusa Street happened because of UNITY. The UPC came into being, because of UNITY. Every move of God is based on a unified spirit. Without it we are but a "form of godliness" preaching a message that will win few, if any, to the Lord. Until we begin exploring what Jesus meant when He spoke of our being ONE, the world will continue to ignore us as a bunch of people who can't get along among themselves. Thats what Jesus said: Jhn 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
But, its obvious.... there is little to no, interest in UNITY, even though it is the very hallmark of God's true church.
__________________
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him...." -Psa. 37:7
Waiting for the Lord is easy... Waiting patiently? Not so much.
There is no unity outside of truth. Unity that is based on anything but truth is... denominationalism and ecumenalism. They require a departure from truth rather than a movement toward truth. But, and this is important to understanding unity, that doesn't necessarily mean we will always believe everything exactly alike, nor will we all say the same thing. Oh, I know, 1 Cor tells us "that you all speak the same thing..." but a close look at those passages show that the basic message of the church has to be centered on one thing. "The preaching of the Cross..." We talk here of the "root" and getting back to "the Apostles Doctrine". It all stems from the Cross. The central message of the Apostles Doctrine isn't baptism or Godhead, it was the Cross. Baptism and Godhead are importnat, but they should not be our Central Message. That should be Jesus and His sacrifice to purchase our salvation.
Look at history. Azusa Street happened because of UNITY. The UPC came into being, because of UNITY. Every move of God is based on a unified spirit. Without it we are but a "form of godliness" preaching a message that will win few, if any, to the Lord. Until we begin exploring what Jesus meant when He spoke of our being ONE, the world will continue to ignore us as a bunch of people who can't get along among themselves. Thats what Jesus said: Jhn 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
But, its obvious.... there is little to no, interest in UNITY, even though it is the very hallmark of God's true church.
Again, I know I am going against the tide, but UNITY is the "fruit". The problem is in the "root". When we get the "root" right, the fruit will grow and mature naturally.
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