Azusa Street Testimonies

[jediwill83]

That had to be frustrating as heck.

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

That had to be frustrating as heck.

I have almost always shunned confrontation, taking a "lamb led to the slaughter" approach to most situations. There was great frustration and disappointment, with some anger in me. My wife was furious, and really hurt.

It took some time and patience to allow God to work out of us what He needed to, to help us mend and keep going forward without a bitter edge left in us.

So much came out after we were gone, that helped us realize we weren't the knuckleheads causing the problems. The story itself could go on for another dozen pages of posts to tell it all, but that is superfluous.

So, despite what happened, the reality is this:

In our third or fourth meeting with the new group, my mom and step-dad came to visit.

There was a diverse tongue. God gave me the interpretation. It was about "little strength" from the verse in Revelation 3 regarding the church in Philadelphia.

My mom started weeping. I didn't know what had really gone on with her and my stepdad over the years, since they had left the same church years before we did, but she spoke about feeling like she was just barely hanging on because there had been so much hurt suffered on their part by abusive leadership, not just in the church mentioned above, but in their next and next.

So, my mom and stepdad have finally found, after many years, a place they can unequivocally call home, and are standing stronger and in more confidence in the Lord than ever.

In that same meeting, a prophetic fellow shared how he had been given a vision of a tornado tearing through, that at first looked like it was sent to destroy, but rather, instead caused a path to be created in its wake for people to follow, so the Lord could lead His people out of the places He no longer desired them to be.

The fruit that God is giving is not what might be normally expected, but it's much sweeter and of a greater, lasting quality.

[jediwill83]

given a vision of a tornado tearing through, that at first looked like it was sent to destroy, but rather, instead caused a path to be created in its wake for people to follow, so the Lord could lead His people out of the places He no longer desired them to be.

The fruit that God is giving is not what might be normally expected, but it's much sweeter and of a greater, lasting quality.[/QUOTE]


Im right with you on being non confrontational.

One thing I've learned is that sometimes it isn't enough to simply want to leave the situation you're in to somewhere else God wants you...That in itself isn't enough to achieve "escape velocity." You must sometimes in addition to wanting to leave be ejected.

Think Moses and Israel leaving Egypt....When it was all said and done they left but they were ejected by Pharoah*probably a typo* as well.

I think it may have to do with sometimes things getting so bad that when we leave we get as much distance as possible from what we are leaving that we don't come back.

Just my thoughts...

[Amanah]

Aaron, are you doing house church now? and if so how is that going?

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Aaron, are you doing house church now? and if so how is that going?

We have been a part of an independent Apostolic assembly that meets home to home, for a few months more than two years now.

It is is the right path for us. I know it is not for everyone, even though I personally think it should be (but am not militant with others about it), but for us, under the conviction of truth we believe we have, there no longer is another way but this.

As far as the meetings go, they are some of the most fantastic times in the Lord I've ever had. My wife and I have been married now for going on ten years, yet it feels like there has never been a time in our lives that we didn't have each other.

It is the same with meeting house to house. We've only been doing so now for just over two years, and yet it feels like that's what we've had our entire lives, without that actually being the reality.

I think that if more people would consider the purpose for it, for why it is Apostolic (meaning of the Apostles, not just the current Apostolic Church, as is) doctrine to do so, and if they'd give some time to patient prayer and fasting with meditation upon the Holy Scriptures, the only thing that would hold them back is fear.

There is nothing in me that says God won't meet with His people if they are not meeting house to house. But many people can't seem to conceive of the idea that God will meet with His people just as much anywhere else as in a building owned by a local assembly.

There is something about the feeling of safety when there is a building owned by a local assembly, where all can meet for service as scheduled, on a regular basis, with liturgy and pre-planned, even pre-packaged agenda.

Meeting house to house at first can feel like stepping out on the boat and walking on water (for some, at least), and the call to do so, requires great faith(fulness).

It may feel like it's not really "church" at first, but the un-Biblical trappings, when they are finally realized to be just that, un-Biblical, slowly fade into the background and become more and more unnecessary as time goes by.

The key is to have someone educated and discerning and gentle and apt to teach, who can give an account to the believers, who has been there, done that, and knows that of which they speak.

Too many times, "house church", as it's called (a term I do not use or like) is equated with un-accountability, heresy and dogmatism, and other profane things, all of which all too often do happen in some "house churches", because they went house to house for the wrong reasons, and by beginning in their flesh, they finished in their flesh and found no harvest from the Holy Spirit.

My dad lives with us and he has been in the Apostolic Church for almost as long as me (he was my second convert), and he won't come to the meetings we host at our home. He attends a different "church" and while he's not against anything we do (though he did have some questions), he has not expressed any interest in being a part of it, even when it's happening in the very same home.

I'm not bothered by this. I just wait and pray for the day when things will change (not just with him, but with the brethren as a whole, who can't seem to find unity but rather divide over the smallest stuff, like, for example, whether meeting house to house is an acceptable form of Body life and ministry).

[peter83]

[QUOTE=votivesoul;1468705]We have been a part of an independent Apostolic assembly that meets home to home, for a few months more than two years now.

Hi can you tell me the basic doctrines in a few lines..if possible?
Except the standards like : God is one,baptism with water and spirit living a holy life ,do you have any different dogmas about the church?

[votivesoul]

[QUOTE=peter83;1468740]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

We have been a part of an independent Apostolic assembly that meets home to home, for a few months more than two years now.

Hi can you tell me the basic doctrines in a few lines..if possible?
Except the standards like : God is one,baptism with water and spirit living a holy life ,do you have any different dogmas about the church?

You can start here:

http://www.abundantlifejanesville.com/page/info_center

[peter83]

[QUOTE=votivesoul;1468768]

Originally Posted by peter83

You can start here:

http://www.abundantlifejanesville.com/page/info_center

AMEN!
I ask because in Greece church is a little different .And in this situation your opinion can count for me.
For example the "greek oneness apostolic" church believes that salvation,new birth is something distinct from the holy spirit baptism.There for they believe that if a person repents and be baptize in Jesus name then is "saved" and new born. And only after that he can ask for the holy spirit.
Ok there are some upci also and some people who only meet at homes.
But general in Greee all the churches who came from a "mother" USA church trinitarians and oneness all teach the same doctrines about ..profesional preachers,tithing,woomen preaching,help of music for worship,prewriting messages, etc .Things that i do not agree (because i do not see this in bible)
I attent a trinity church last months (baptize both titles and Jesus name) and except that all the rest are biblical.
I pray to God to meke me know His will.But also i have a strong faith that the gospel in Greece must be and will be only about the cross with the power of the holy spirit , not with human wisdom and of course free for all without money or any deceit.
This church i found is biger than all the evangelical,trinitarian and oneness together with not any profetional paid pastor.this was that gave to me a question..how is this possible and then when i was thre and all was filling with the holy spirit without any helps but with a simplicity,that make me to think about ...where i stand until now and what was my faith about.
After that i loose any interest for "make an atmosphere" emotional humping screaming and all that.(i do not judge them ,but this is something cultural i think that dont and will not have an upplication in greek culture).And from onw side i thank God for all that,from the other i cry about the shredded body of Christ.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

We have been a part of an independent Apostolic assembly that meets home to home, for a few months more than two years now.

It is is the right path for us. I know it is not for everyone, even though I personally think it should be (but am not militant with others about it), but for us, under the conviction of truth we believe we have, there no longer is another way but this.

As far as the meetings go, they are some of the most fantastic times in the Lord I've ever had. My wife and I have been married now for going on ten years, yet it feels like there has never been a time in our lives that we didn't have each other.

It is the same with meeting house to house. We've only been doing so now for just over two years, and yet it feels like that's what we've had our entire lives, without that actually being the reality.

I think that if more people would consider the purpose for it, for why it is Apostolic (meaning of the Apostles, not just the current Apostolic Church, as is) doctrine to do so, and if they'd give some time to patient prayer and fasting with meditation upon the Holy Scriptures, the only thing that would hold them back is fear.

There is nothing in me that says God won't meet with His people if they are not meeting house to house. But many people can't seem to conceive of the idea that God will meet with His people just as much anywhere else as in a building owned by a local assembly.

There is something about the feeling of safety when there is a building owned by a local assembly, where all can meet for service as scheduled, on a regular basis, with liturgy and pre-planned, even pre-packaged agenda.

Meeting house to house at first can feel like stepping out on the boat and walking on water (for some, at least), and the call to do so, requires great faith(fulness).

It may feel like it's not really "church" at first, but the un-Biblical trappings, when they are finally realized to be just that, un-Biblical, slowly fade into the background and become more and more unnecessary as time goes by.

The key is to have someone educated and discerning and gentle and apt to teach, who can give an account to the believers, who has been there, done that, and knows that of which they speak.

Too many times, "house church", as it's called (a term I do not use or like) is equated with un-accountability, heresy and dogmatism, and other profane things, all of which all too often do happen in some "house churches", because they went house to house for the wrong reasons, and by beginning in their flesh, they finished in their flesh and found no harvest from the Holy Spirit.

My dad lives with us and he has been in the Apostolic Church for almost as long as me (he was my second convert), and he won't come to the meetings we host at our home. He attends a different "church" and while he's not against anything we do (though he did have some questions), he has not expressed any interest in being a part of it, even when it's happening in the very same home.

I'm not bothered by this. I just wait and pray for the day when things will change (not just with him, but with the brethren as a whole, who can't seem to find unity but rather divide over the smallest stuff, like, for example, whether meeting house to house is an acceptable form of Body life and ministry).

So thankful that the Lord has blessed you with a group of people to meet with. Praying that revival fires break out in your midst! And would appreciate your prayers for our little group too