Is there anyone who is Apostolic anymore?

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Yes indeed. I pray for all AFF members who are searching, and haven't found, a place to at least fellowship other spirit filled believers. We have been without a place for quite a while, and it feels good to be a part of a group of people who believe and actively live out James 1:27.

If he has done it for us, I believe with great faith that He will do it for others!

Please ask your church to pray for us in this region [God knows where this place is] where there is a binding spiritual stronghold on all the churches.

To have a church that does all this is truly freedom of worship and ministering to the lost.

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by acerrak

i think the church would grow as he would be comming out of legalism..

You need to go visit a nice growing Home Missions work.

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

I too would love to hear the answer to this Bro. Joe... because this is no hypothetical question... your own pastor will tell you, I'm sure, that this happens all the time and the people he never thought he'd see do it... even many of the old time preachers, have 'gone charismatic!".

Yes, we preach about that.

And I've seen it with my own eyes many times over the years. A church relaxes it's standards... many breathe a sigh of relief, many who were gone return

The reason why the Church relaxes it's standards is because they think more people means more success. A number does not equal anointing with God.

I believe this down deep in my heart. The more consecrated a person is to God, the higher the level of anointing and the greater the presence of God is felt. You can't convince me otherwise, so don't even try.

but there are always the few who begin driving across town looking for the 'man of god' who will still make them wear long sleeves in 105 degree heat and make their wife wear her hair pinned to the top of her head. And the list is long and complicated in most places that have one... and it's different then the list of some other 'man of god' right up the road.

Hey...if you don't want to wear sleeves to the elbow, then don't. If you feel like it's a big enough issue to leave the Church over, then go.

I'm not made to do anything. I do it out of my own choice and free will. If I wanted to do something different, trust and believe I would be.

I am not poking fun, I swear... but I now have trouble fathoming the level of brainwashing it takes to convince a person that it is OK if we see a woman's legs from below the knee to the ankles but we should never see a man's legs because that would make him less holy

I agree with you here. I'm obedient in wearing only pants. Not to mention, I'm ministering more and more. Have you ever seen a professional wear shorts to a meeting? Nope. They suit up. You ever seen Tiger woods when golfing wear shorts on 105 degrees? Nope. Professional.

I'm keeping it professional .

... Or that God gave a man a beard with the intention that he get up every morning and spend 20 minutes shaving it off, making his face smooth like a woman's face to be on the platform
but we would never think of telling old Sister Smith to shave HER mustache to be able to play the piano Or that a woman would have to deal with hair that drags the ground (see my avatar) in order to make it into heaven.

My opinion. These are insignificant issues to me. Really. Honestly. I don't really care too much that they want me to shave to be on the platform. The presence of God is in that sanctuary and I'm staying in. My mind is made up.

Sadly all of this reminds me that for a time I also wanted to believe myself somehow pleasing God by doing the ridiculous instead of really doing the kingdom's work. I somehow let every bit of common sense be sucked out of my brain in order to fit in, stopped doing my own thinking, and blindly followed another hoping that somehow they had the key to heaven's door and if I just followed closely enough behind I'd make it in. And more sadly, they encouraged me to believe it to feed their own power hungry little egos.

Not my proudest moment and the reason I post in threads like this... just hoping that somewhere in what everyone is saying something will be said that wakes another and helps them connect with a God who is desperately seeking them.

I'm sorry you experienced some sour things in your life.

It's always been about getting the convictions for yourself. If people don't get it for themselves, they never last. They go charismatic. They go somewhere else where they feel better. Either way, they wash out of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Please ask your church to pray for us in this region [God knows where this place is] where there is a binding spiritual stronghold on all the churches.

To have a church that does all this is truly freedom of worship and ministering to the lost.

I have been and will continue to do so. Just don't only look for the words apostolic or pentecostal over the doorframe.... although you may find a congregation apostolic or pentecostal where you could fit in... or you might be surprised to find the heart of Jesus moving in the place you normally wouldn't look....

But I understand where you are coming from AYR, there are areas of spiritual darkness to be sure, and I have lived in the Memphis area myself, and know of what you speak.... so I will continue to pray, and lift you and your family up that the Lord will bring true spirit filled fellowship your way.

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by Jabez

Do you really know what rebellion is?

I sure do. .

Just because you obey what men in the church think, that does not mean that you are obedient to God.

You're completely backwards. I'm not obedient men to be obedient to God. I'm obedient to God, so therefore I'm obedient to men...

"Obey them that have the rule over you...for they watch for your souls."-
Hebrews 13:17

And who decides when you are released? Who gives you the say so? The blessings?

God will release me when the time is right. How will I know, God will speak to my heart. Then I will await for confirmation and pray for confirmation. "Out of the mouth of two or three..."

If God tells me to do something, it's wise to wait for confirmation.

You think God sent you to a man of God and you have got to be under his total obedience?

Yes, God sent me to the man of God. Or vice versa, if you think about it . I want to be obedient to him. He never told me I have to be obedient to him or I'm out of the church. .

You do not realize how unscriptural your statement really is. Paul says in Galatians 1: 10. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? For if I yet please men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

If you are trying to be a man pleaser, you are in rebellion to Christ and you are totally against what Christ has called you to be.

According to this verse of Scripture, your own statement has put you outside of Christ. You are not serving Christ, but you are utterly serving your pastor.

Romans 8:14 says if you be led by the Spirit of God, ye are the sons of God.
Galatians 4 teaches that as long as you are a child you are under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the Father. But when you truly know Christ like you should know Christ, you will be free to serve Him directly and not have to ask anybody what to say or do.


Now that is Apostolic because it is taught by an Apostle named Paul.

My above answers will suffice the rest of this.

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

I love this Scripture. Every time I see it, something leaps inside my heart. Love it.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by BroJoe

It's always been about getting the convictions for yourself. If people don't get it for themselves, they never last. They go charismatic. They go somewhere else where they feel better. Either way, they wash out of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church.

There...you said it.

It's not about being in Jesus Christ's church is it? It's about being in the Apostolic Pentecostal Church.

If one does not eventually adopt the "convictions" of the organizational rules, then they "never last".

[BroJoe]

Here's the piece I think a lot of us are missing.

We need to find a Man of God that we want to be obedient to.

I see where contention comes in. If I spent my entire Christian walk running into Churches and Pastors and forcing myself to submit, one day I'll break away. This has to be done because your heart is stirred to submit.

When I see my Pastor preaching, when I see his heart for people, when I see how Christ like he really is, my heart is stirred. I say to myself, "I want to follow that man. I want to have a hold of what he has a hold of."

My pastor is nearly 76 years old. Pastor A. Vince Kelley. Some of you old timers might have heard of him. Has traveled the world numerous times. He took 16mm film to parts of the world you only read about in books and made documentary films about the missionaries there. This man never took a tithe or money from the Church he pastored until his retirement. He started the church from the ground up over 35 years ago.

I could go on and on. But simply. I love my pastor with all my heart. I really do. Makes me emotional when I talk about him because of the impact he has had on my life.

If some of you had known where I was at when I came to God, you might understand the deep impact this man has had on my life. He's taught me how to pray. How to get a hold of God. He's taught me what it means to be a man.

I was so broken, and God is still putting me back together. I'm so glad I have a pastor that loves me.

I'm motivated to obey out of love.

God is amazing.

[BroJoe]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

There...you said it.

It's not about being in Jesus Christ's church is it? It's about being in the Apostolic Pentecostal Church.

If one does not eventually adopt the "convictions" of the organizational rules, then they "never last".

Acts 2:38, 1 God, and holiness is what it's gonna take to get to Heaven.

[Amanah]

BroJoe -
I found your church website by googling your Pastor, I really like that you have scheduled pre-service prayer. It makes a huge difference in the service.