I have a question. you said you are now a family without a church. does that mean you have been freed from structured time with the Lord or just a building?
Do you plan on holding regular devotion time at home? Do you plan on reaching out to those around you to join you in devotion/worship time?
Whats the plan dude!
Freed from a building. There will always be structured time with the Lord.
My life really will not change. If the Lord does not lead us to a "church", we will be the church wherever we are. We will have meetings and invite anyone to join us who would like to. We will be disciples and do our part to fulfill the Great Commission.
But what if you had stayed? Maybe you could have been the spark that led to a full blaze of revival fire in that church.
At every church we were at, we stayed until it was made clear to us that we needed to move on. We tried to encourage and exhort the brethren to press forward, to persevere in prayer, to seek God for a mighty revival, to just let God have his way with us... and in some places things began to move along... until it was shut down.
There is a reason Paul said 'quench not the Spirit'. I don't know if any of this makes sense to you, but we certainly did not take the attitude of going to a church, not finding everything to our liking, and then leaving in a huff. We literally laboured and travailed for every church we were at, until it was made crystal clear that we simply were not going to fit in whatsoever.
Again, not sure if this makes sense to you or if you can relate.
Imagine... you go to a church... in your spirit you perceive that the Spirit of God is not allowed full sway, as evidenced by every meeting going like clockwork with nothing SIGNIFICANT happening... milquetoast... so the burden is there. Not a 'gee, these people are lame' mindset, but a YEARNING FOR A MOVE OF GOD, an almost palpable sense that minds are clouded to the spiritual realities that await them if ONLY they would turn loose of their man-made programs and ideas and SEEK GOD.
So you pray. Before meeting, you are praying, for God to have his way, for blinders to be removed, for EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS in yourself to be exposed and removed, for EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS in others in the meeting to be removed, for ONLY GOD TO RECEIVE GLORY, for God to glorify His name by stretching forth his hand and SAVE SOULS and heal bodies. This is no ordinary prayer 'for revival', this becomes a TRAVAIL, literally like you are in labour in your spirit. The entire meeting you are constantly praying, quietly. Sometimes you spend the entire meeting on the floor under a pew seeking God, beseeching God to remove all flesh and carnality in you and in this meeting, earnestly, FERVENTLY praying for God to answer by fire, to fill this place with his GLORY...
Sometimes others get the burden as well, and I have seen a couple meetings ascend into full blown prayer meetings like old times... But then... as you can literally FEEL IT reaching a breaking point, where expectation begins to fill the air, when not only you but OTHERS AS WELL begin to pray on a new level in the holy Ghost.... SUDDENLY...
The preacher is at the microphone telling everyone what a wonderful time we all had and be sure to come back next week and don't forget the peanut brittle sale is starting up in a couple weeks... and even as you ignore the 'announcements' and try to PRESS ON in the Spirit, you feel it... you feel it lifting... the atmosphere of HOLINESS begins to depart... frivolity and 'business as usual' sets in, everyone leaves off praying... until you feel empty and depleted and it's almost like you can feel the Spirit of God being shoved out the door and hurry turn off the lights and can't wait to get to Pizza hut...
And you leave... and you pray at home, and the burden stays with you for days, weeks, months... and every single meeting you see this STRUGGLE, this WARFARE in the spirit, between the forces of carnality and MAN's glory on the one hand, and the Spirit of God who wishes to SHAKE THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE ASSEMBLED....
After several months, one time you come to meeting... and there is a difference. The burden is simply... GONE. You have a peace, albeit a sad peace. There is no burden, there is a significant assurance that people have chosen what they wish to have, the battle is over, and God has been placed on the shelf. Perhaps another time, perhaps another generation.
Perhaps Ichabod.
But in any event, you know in your heart, you cannot stay, lest you become like them - complacent, satisfied...
'I'm satisfied,
I'm satisfied,
I am satisfied, with Jesus!
But the question comes to me,
as I think of Calvary,
Is my master, satisfied, with me?'
You leave, not with a prideful arrogance, not with a 'ha, they are so spiritually dead, thankfully *I* am alive' kind of attitude, but just a sadness... sadness for them, sadness for yourself, sadness most of all for this generation that has not seen a REAL GENUINE MOVE OF GOD, sadness for how much God wants to do on our behalf, how much the Lord wishes and desires to show us his glory... yet we shrink back, we run from his presence, it's too much, too uncomfortable... and yet we claim to be 'pentecostal'.
A great many Pentecostals have no idea what Pentecost is like.
Freed from a building. There will always be structured time with the Lord.
My life really will not change. If the Lord does not lead us to a "church", we will be the church wherever we are. We will have meetings and invite anyone to join us who would like to. We will be disciples and do our part to fulfill the Great Commission.
Good for you O. I mean that. Ur path is not the one I would take but I am also. It walking I. Ur shoes. My only comment is to truly have structured weekly time of devotion and worship. And find some lost folk to bring to The Lord!
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
And believe me, I realise that *I* have probably been as much to blame as anyone. Perhaps if I pressed on one more time... perhaps if I had stood and spoke to the congregation (actually I have done that a couple times, the results were, eh, interesting...)
Perhaps if I was somehow walking closer to God. Perhaps this, perhaps that.
But I know the burden has lifted for denominational churches, from me at least. I feel a sadness more than anything else. If God desires me to return, I will.
But he'd have to make it CRYSTAL CLEAR to me.
I remember one time, family and I and another believer had been having nightly prayer meetings for several weeks. Intense, Holy Ghost prayer meetings. The Lord began to impress upon me I MUST go to the local UPC I had seen in town. We had no car. So I walked there one Sunday morning. Took me about an hour to get there. I showed up, the pastor and some others were unloading a vehicle with folding tables and coolers. I walked up to him, shook his hand, he said 'Hi there, praise the Lord!' I had been up for over 24 hours, had just come from a prayer meeting that lasted from sundown to the time I left in the morning to walk to this church. I was practically in an altered state of consciousness, I was trembling, my eyes were sore from weeping before the Lord all night...
So I says to him as he shook my hand, 'The Lord told me to come down here this morning.' I wasn't trying to be 'super spiritual' it's just that was what happened, God told me 'go to that church this morning'.
So he says 'well, praise the Lord, we're having hotdogs!'
I still laugh about it.
He's a good man, still pastoring a small home missions church (in another town now, though). My daughter stays in touch with his wife.
I might have to look him up one of these days.
I remember once, the Lord had been dealing with me strongly. The anointing was on me like back when I first came into this Truth. And I sat on my pew praying... and I just knew something was fixing to happen.
We sang some songs, then the pastor said 'Brother Esaias, the Lord told me just now that YOU were gonna bring the message for us today.'
I about had a stroke right there lol.
So I preached, first time.
Anyway, he's a good man like I said. Down to earth. We disagree on some things, but he's the closest thing to an actual 'pastor' I ever met.
I think I'm startin to ramble now, so I'll sign off for today. lol
Many people mistake a move of God as a confirmation of the direction they should go when in reality Hod may have had something else in mind.
people are being filled with the Holy Ghost,
baptized in Jesus' name,
lives are being changed,
people are being equipped to reach the city,
missions are supported around the world,
chuches are built in other countries,
dissaster relief sent,
daughter works being established in other parts of the county,
bible quizzing,
youth programs,
alcohol/drug rehab classes,
ministerial training classes,
home fellowship groups,
along with the Lord being worshipped,
and the choir being anointed,
the preaching being dynamic,
the gifts in operation,
I think this is what a move of God looks like,
people being saved and delivered,
Impacting, transforming, and affecting your world.
I can't imagine what other direction anyone would want to go.
Perhaps the problem is that most (I cannot say all) OP churches offer you an either/or decision when it comes to church. YOu can either come to church and assimilate entirely into what that churches Pastor views as appropriate levels of discipline and spirituality OR you can leave and go elsewhere. Heck, it is said from pulpits all over "you will never ascend higher spirituallythan the man of God". So like Esaias has said, you really are stuck if you think some spiritual matters are more important than your Pastor does.
Example: our church is a truly great church. It is mature. Stable. No craziness. Pretty conservative, but Pastor doesn't harp on standards every week (only once a year typically). However, for all our strengths...the gifts are a VERY rare thing. We had tongues and interpretation a few weeks back and it was the first time in many years it had happened. Now, our Pastor recognizes this and some have spoken to him about it. He doesn't see any problem with it being as scarce as it is. IN fact, he has said that if people are wanting more "wildfire" (his words) then they would be happier going somewhere else.
Now, what does that say to those who truly unger for more God and more fluency in the gifts as promised in Corinthians? It says you are out of luck. You might as well find another church b/c this guy isn't going to allow or encourage further delving into the gifts at this church. As I said, you are given an either/or decision.
People want more than the "traditional" church offers in many cases. They don't want to stay home and eat cheetos in a lazy boy. They just want something more than the performance and small taste of Jesus being offered in most church services.
Me? I'd just like to hear teaching and preaching about Jesus and the doctrines of the Bible without stupid stuff about tithes and men not wearing shorts.
Good for you O. I mean that. Ur path is not the one I would take but I am also. It walking I. Ur shoes. My only comment is to truly have structured weekly time of devotion and worship. And find some lost folk to bring to The Lord!
What in the name of all that is holy did i just say there?
I should not post from my stupid phone.
Let me restate.
Good for you O. I mean t hat. Your path is not the one I would take, but I am not walking in your shoes either.
My only comment is to truely have a structured weekly time of devotion and worship. And find some lost folk to bring to the Lord!
Be Blessed!
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
If this is a move of God the UPCI wouldn't be at less than 1 million members for 20 years.
All the stuff you mentioned are done successfully in other churches.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amanah
people are being filled with the Holy Ghost,
baptized in Jesus' name,
lives are being changed,
people are being equipped to reach the city,
missions are supported around the world,
chuches are built in other countries,
dissaster relief sent,
daughter works being established in other parts of the county,
bible quizzing,
youth programs,
alcohol/drug rehab classes,
ministerial training classes,
home fellowship groups,
along with the Lord being worshipped,
and the choir being anointed,
the preaching being dynamic,
the gifts in operation,
I think this is what a move of God looks like,
people being saved and delivered,
Impacting, transforming, and affecting your world.
I can't imagine what other direction anyone would want to go.
__________________
A religious spirit allows people to tolerate hatred and anger under the guise of passion and holiness. Bill Johnson
Legalism has no pity on people. Legalism makes my opinion your burden, makes opinion your boundary, makes my opinion your obligation-Lucado
Some get spiritual because they see the light. Others because they feel the heat.Ray Wylie Hubbard
Definition of legalism- Damned if you do. Damned if you don't. TV
If this is a move of God the UPCI wouldn't be at less than 1 million members for 20 years.
All the stuff you mentioned are done successfully in other churches.
I can't speak for the UPCI, only for my local church body, and we are having a move of God.
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