I've seen pre-service prayer meeting turn into a chest beating contest among men entirely too many times. Brother So and So gets a little loud and then Brother Whathisface decides to pray louder. Soon it turns into a shouting match and everyone walks away feeling like they've "touched God". Yeah right! No thanks! I tried the prayer rooms and found that praying at my pew was much better. I don't come to church to compete with anyone on getting in touch with the Lord.
I've seen pre-service prayer meeting turn into a chest beating contest among men entirely too many times. Brother So and So gets a little loud and then Brother Whathisface decides to pray louder. Soon it turns into a shouting match and everyone walks away feeling like they've "touched God". Yeah right! No thanks! I tried the prayer rooms and found that praying at my pew was much better. I don't come to church to compete with anyone on getting in touch with the Lord.
But you have to show God that you are serious! (TIC)
Hey, I don't like when they stand and clap.. and chant "Jesus.. Jesus"
In the OT, the high priest could only enter the holy of holies once a year, but had to follow certain steps before doing so such as (may get some of these wrong or in the wrong order or may forget some)...
- sacrificing at the brazen altar (type of repentance and/or crucifying the flesh)
- washing at the brazen laver (type of baptism)
- burning incense at the golden candlestick before the veil (type of offering up praise - i.e., worship)
The point was that he HAD to do these things BEFORE he was ready to enter into the presence of God and HEAR from God's word.
Sometimes apostolics ask, why do we do the things in a church service that we do? Is it just tradition or is there a bible example?
Pre-service prayer is like crucifying the flesh and getting the flesh under subjection. My personal experience is that when I go to pre-service prayer, I find it easier in the service. During worship my flesh does not feel so heavy and worship is easier and I also get more out of the preaching of the word of God. Also the word of God teaches us that no flesh shall glory in his presence. The flesh and Spirit war against each other, but by prayer we give the Spirit the upper hand.
Worship is like offering up the incense which was another step that had to be done BEFORE being ready to hear the word of God.
We are priests now in the NT.
If you wait until you get to church to crucify your flesh and get your flesh under subjection, you are completely wasting your time.
Just as affective as prayer before service is to have a "prayful" atmosphere in the auditorium before service.
Dimmly lit lights, soft music and hushed talking. Those that want to pray in there can or just sit and gather your thoughts and focus on the service that is about to start.
One thing that I HATE is walking into a service and the whole place sounds and looks like a convention. Laughing, kids running around, talking about any and everything!
Sometime walk in your service and pretend you know no one and are a visitor and see how YOU would feel.
Renda,
I agree with you. I enjoy walking into the sanctuary before church to prayer and setting the mood for the service with worship and praise. I have been in services that began with prayer 30 minutes before church in the sanctuary and it was so good it just kept right on going through the service.
I am a bit Bapticostal in my thinking we should enter into the sanctuary with respect and awe and the less commotion the better.
Just as affective as prayer before service is to have a "prayful" atmosphere in the auditorium before service.
Dimmly lit lights, soft music and hushed talking. Those that want to pray in there can or just sit and gather your thoughts and focus on the service that is about to start.
One thing that I HATE is walking into a service and the whole place sounds and looks like a convention. Laughing, kids running around, talking about any and everything!
Sometime walk in your service and pretend you know no one and are a visitor and see how YOU would feel.
People don't know the meaning of "reverance in the sanctuary" or they wouldn't use pre-service time for gossipping and letting their children run wild.
I've seen pre-service prayer meeting turn into a chest beating contest among men entirely too many times. Brother So and So gets a little loud and then Brother Whathisface decides to pray louder. Soon it turns into a shouting match and everyone walks away feeling like they've "touched God". Yeah right! No thanks! I tried the prayer rooms and found that praying at my pew was much better. I don't come to church to compete with anyone on getting in touch with the Lord.
I seriously don't get this at all... I have never seen this in my entire life. I've heard loud people, who have little to say, but I've never in my entire life seen a contest... and like I said, I've been in many churches.
You Americans...
That said, you don't throw out the baby, because the bathwater is dirty.
__________________ 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.
If you wait until you get to church to crucify your flesh and get your flesh under subjection, you are completely wasting your time.
Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by theoldpaths In the OT, the high priest could only enter the holy of holies once a year, but had to follow certain steps before doing so such as (may get some of these wrong or in the wrong order or may forget some)...
- sacrificing at the brazen altar (type of repentance and/or crucifying the flesh) - washing at the brazen laver (type of baptism) - burning incense at the golden candlestick before the veil (type of offering up praise - i.e., worship)
The point was that he HAD to do these things BEFORE he was ready to enter into the presence of God and HEAR from God's word.
Sometimes apostolics ask, why do we do the things in a church service that we do? Is it just tradition or is there a bible example?
Pre-service prayer is like crucifying the flesh and getting the flesh under subjection. My personal experience is that when I go to pre-service prayer, I find it easier in the service. During worship my flesh does not feel so heavy and worship is easier and I also get more out of the preaching of the word of God. Also the word of God teaches us that no flesh shall glory in his presence. The flesh and Spirit war against each other, but by prayer we give the Spirit the upper hand.
Worship is like offering up the incense which was another step that had to be done BEFORE being ready to hear the word of God.
We are priests now in the NT.
Rico,
I think I will have to agree with Old Paths on this one: I think we need to come into God's presence with thanks and praise, then repent and cleanse our hearts and minds, wash them through regeneration of the Spirit to allow us to usher in His holy presence and allow Him to have His way in the service.
I seriously don't get this at all... I have never seen this in my entire life. I've heard loud people, who have little to say, but I've never in my entire life seen a contest... and like I said, I've been in many churches.
You Americans...
That said, you don't throw out the baby, because the bathwater is dirty.
I just assume not get in dirty bathwather, Sister. I prefer praying at my pew. As loud as I can get any other time, I just can't see the benefit getting into a praying contest with a bunch of carnal men.
I just assume not get in dirty bathwather, Sister. I prefer praying at my pew. As loud as I can get any other time, I just can't see the benefit getting into a praying contest with a bunch of carnal men.
Is that what goes on in your church?
And I wasn't saying get into the bathwater Bro... I was saying you don't throw out the baby with the bathwater...
You don't get rid of corporate unified prayer, because there are people who are in some kind of contest with each other. (something I can't even imagine)
__________________ 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.
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