On Fire For God??

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Malcyboy

Guest
#1
#1
I was unsure where to post this but... here's something I would like to discuss. I see this alot both locally and on here at Cc, and what that is, is alot of your young adults and teens proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, however, many of them are not living a life that reflects this...

What I'm seeing, as Young Adult/Teenager myself, is that we're raising a John 3v16-regurgitating youth church y'know, well God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever should believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life, and to be frank, this seems to be the only scripture they repeat at you or scarier, the only one they know and they seem to think, that because they've accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior that everything is totally a-ok. Now I know this doesn't define every young christian out-there however there is a frightening percentage of them are this way.

So I guess my point of discussion here is, is this down to the pastors preaching to them, or is this down to a lack of effort on young peoples part or perhaps even a mix of the two? your thoughts?
 
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FirePanther

Guest
#2
#2
Mhh well, a pastor who wants to serve God before serving men should surely preach boldly the Gospel, with pure doctrine and without changes, because if they don't do it, people will live an avarage life (in facts in His Word it's written: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4.6) but naturaly it stand to everyone of us to search God deeply, to investigate His scriptures and go deeper in His ways. We are not justified by our pastors, we are not justified from other brothers and sisters, our primary responsability is in front of God, and He has great plans for us. Do we want to keep sitted down or to live a real christian life? Untill we will look at grace as something that allow us to relax and stay sitted in our comfortable chairs, we may never experience what that grace is at it's fullest, and an avarage life is all we'll get..
 
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Gabriel777

Guest
#3
#3
To me it seems that there is a great delusion among churches and sucking up everyone quickly who is not on the true rock. It's like a state of ignorance or something. It also seems that young people nowadays don't care much about the spiritual or don't want to learn anything about it, or anything about anything for that matter. It literally makes me sick to hang around these people.

As the world strengthens its worldliness and attacks against Christianity, there won't be many genuine, world-free, bible-based churches.
 
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Malcyboy

Guest
#4
#4
I have to agree somewhat with both of yous, I mean, I feel called into youth/young adult ministry, and its something that's been on me that our generation, my generation is caught up in this John 3v16 ministry, where we preach that all we have to do is believe Jesus is LORD and there you go you've made you're booking in Heaven. However, we are asked to leave the old man behind, and take up our cross, as well as other scriptures saying similar things, now don't get me wrong, I don't believe in works programmes and instantaneous holiness etc. But I can say that a lot of the young Christians today play the John 3v16 card, but then they still continue to get wasted, to sleep around, to criticize their pastor and/or music ministry. I've heard one youth pastor say that, many pastor's preach us a message of God's love but then forget the whole point of the narrow way that leads to the narrow gate. I do not solely say that "oh this is pastors' faults!!" and I again don't solely blame the young people, I feel that we are lacking a connection with our young people that, we are in a society where sin is public and it is encouraged and accepted, and we need to connect with our young people in that we are showing them that God loves them and that Jesus died so that we might know grace and mercy everlasting, but that we need to rise out of the sin and shame and just be devoted and in love with God, because a relationship requires two people, God has already told us and shown us how great His love for us is, but its now up to us that we in turn love Him (1 John 4v19: We love Him, because He first loved us.)
 
shawntc

shawntc

Senior Member
#5
May 7, 2010
729
11
0
#5
We live in a post-modern society, which says that truth and morals are relative. And the church has done an insufficient job of reacting to this. It seems sermons are becoming less and less about Jesus and repentance and more about making you feel good (see: Joel Osteen). Youth need to be raised by parents. But parents also seem to be doing an ineffectual job. When you have such little emphasis on really exploring the Bible and what it means to be Christian, a lax generation of believers is the expected result.
 
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Livi94

Guest
#6
#6
Wow... i never really thought of this D: Interesting...

i might be back later to post something more relavent haha
 
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Nancyer

Guest
#7
#7
This is a subject that's dear to my heart. I, too, agree that a lot of people seem to quote the obvious scripture, but don't seem to know any of the meaning behind it, the scriptures that support it, etc. I hear a lot of Praise God! when something good happens and then back to gossip, judging others, criticizing or not wanting to help.

I so desperately want to Be On Fire For God! I don't feel like that yet. But I want to feel like that, if you know what I mean. I mean it's kind of like I know God loves me. I know it. But I don't feel it. I know He's there beside me everyday, I do know that. But I don't feel His arm around me or his love. And I know people who FEEL God with them, actually FEEL loved by Him. My pastor describes the moment he felt called to serve; a sudden warming of his heart. His heart actually felt warm, and he felt it all over but his heart most of all. I'm not saying I want to be "Called" into ministry (although I wouldn't say no, either), but I pray for God to help me feel His love. Really FEEL it.

Until then I will stay a student of His Word and a believer of His Glory and Might.
 
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Timofree

Guest
#8
#8
Malcyboy said:
I was unsure where to post this but... here's something I would like to discuss. I see this alot both locally and on here at Cc, and what that is, is alot of your young adults and teens proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, however, many of them are not living a life that reflects this...

What I'm seeing, as Young Adult/Teenager myself, is that we're raising a John 3v16-regurgitating youth church y'know, well God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever should believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life, and to be frank, this seems to be the only scripture they repeat at you or scarier, the only one they know and they seem to think, that because they've accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior that everything is totally a-ok. Now I know this doesn't define every young christian out-there however there is a frightening percentage of them are this way.

So I guess my point of discussion here is, is this down to the pastors preaching to them, or is this down to a lack of effort on young peoples part or perhaps even a mix of the two? your thoughts?
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I believe if someone has Jesus as their Lord and Saviour they are a-ok, as in they're on the way to heaven "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.". But if anyone stops there they are missing the point of life and eternity, it's not a case that we can earn more love or approval by doing more, it's not down to our works, but Jesus perfect finished work, praise God! :)

I became a Christian 2 1/2 years ago, and since then have wanted to serve Him, but recently when I learnt about there not being any more things I have to do for God, that I really felt a desire to seek God more, to know Him and do more in partnership with Him!

God is so good, in His presence is fulness of joy..........even though we've been forgiven of our sins, the last thing we should want to do is sin that brings counterfeit joy. Repentance is a beautiful thing that makes me feel good! People these days, everybody needs to know God's goodness which leads to repentance
 
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Malcyboy

Guest
#9
#9
Because I do believe the scriptures when they say "believe in your heart and confess Jesus is lord and you will be saved" however, we also see scripture say "that on that day, many will come to me and say "Lord, Lord, I have prophecied in Your name, cast out demons in your name, healed the sick in Your name" and I will say to them "begone from me, I never knew you" " - Today's generation really lacks the relationship with God, because in that scripture I just semi-quoted, the hebrew word for Knew there, is translated as "to know intimately" so its is saying "I didn't get to know you intimately". So when we come to know God intimately, we should then begin to lose the desire to sin and gain the desire to live for him more and more. So in that case, can we say that it comes down to, the young person themselves, putting aside insufficient teaching and parental guidance?? As it is up to them to know their savior intimately.
 
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Timofree

Guest
#10
#10
It's true there are people in this world who do things in the name of the Lord, without knowing Jesus as Lord and saviour! I believe now we are in Christ we are accepted as His children, and no amount of our own effort could bring us to a point of knowing God enough, for Him to say all right you've done enough come to heaven now, it's all because of Jesus and His righteousness that we stand in! Someones either in Christ or not.

But it's true, I do wish people would have more desire for God, it's saddening that people would rather watch films, play games than spend time worshipping the King and Creator of the universe, in Whose presence is FULNESS of joy :D hallelujah! I don't spend all my time with Him, but I know my time spent elsewhere is generally wasted.....even though I know I don't have to seek Him to gain His love etc. there's nothing else that can compare to Him
 
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Nancyer

Guest
#11
#11
Hi, again. I reread this thread because the sermon this morning was on Recharging Our Spiritual Batteries. Which is something my pastor speaks of often, that we can't just say "I came to the Lord x number of years ago" and that's enough. It's an ongoing, never-ending process. The more I study His Word the more I want to. There is a peace and joy when I do. Our pastor asked this morning "when was the last time a scripture jumped off the page at you, even if you've read it 50 times before?" I can't say one has ever jumped off the page at me, but I do make notes of passages that I especially like for whatever reason. Maybe I'm expecting too much of the fireworks, physical oohs and aaahhs, goosebumpy feelings to come over me. I don't know.

I do know I have no doubt where my faith is concerned, I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that He is always here, never changes, washed away my sins with the blood of His Son Jesus Christ, and that it is my job now to know and love His Word and do my very best to live as His will would dictate.
 
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Malcyboy

Guest
#12
#12
Nancyer said:
Hi, again. I reread this thread because the sermon this morning was on Recharging Our Spiritual Batteries. Which is something my pastor speaks of often, that we can't just say "I came to the Lord x number of years ago" and that's enough. It's an ongoing, never-ending process. The more I study His Word the more I want to. There is a peace and joy when I do. Our pastor asked this morning "when was the last time a scripture jumped off the page at you, even if you've read it 50 times before?" I can't say one has ever jumped off the page at me, but I do make notes of passages that I especially like for whatever reason. Maybe I'm expecting too much of the fireworks, physical oohs and aaahhs, goosebumpy feelings to come over me. I don't know.

I do know I have no doubt where my faith is concerned, I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that He is always here, never changes, washed away my sins with the blood of His Son Jesus Christ, and that it is my job now to know and love His Word and do my very best to live as His will would dictate.
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Nancyer - I totally know where you are coming from :) and you know sometimes as you say we want 10 angels singing and 20 angels playing trumpets as the Lord reveals a scripture to us lol. But what I have come to learn is, sometimes it is the simplicity of the Word that confuses us. God's word is so simple that is why man made religion is so confusing - because it is so complex, you must do X, Y and Z. As you study the Word and spend time with God, not in prayer, but in Fellowship you will feel His joy and his peace, people say we shouldn't be based on feelings - no we shouldn't live our lives based on feelings. However God has told us - that HE is our Joy and that the joy of the Lord is our strength. And Jesus said that He has left us peace [unshakeable, unlimited and unmerited] and not as the world gives us it [conditionally, easily broken and limited], so we should always be living in that place of being Joyful for the Lord and at peace during the calms and the storms :)

I will be praying for you sis!
 
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NodMyHeadLikeYeah

Guest
#13
#13
My opinion.

Teenagers are so fickle. One minute you guys are spoutin off scripture condeming everyone who isnt like you to hell. Then the next your lyin about this that and the other, rude as i dont know what, talkin about how you were just drunk last weekend.

I actually can't stand the term on fire for God, because just like every fire it always starts out in a blaze but it always fizzles out.

People seem to think Christianity is a race, lets see who can be the most spiritual the fastest! Slow and steady people. Slow and steady. You can only maintain this feeling of being "on fire" for God but for so long, after that feeling is gone whats left has to be a commitment, a habit of going to him day after day no matter what your feelings are telling you.
Some days i just simply dont feel like reading my bible, and praying. I do it anyways though because thats what our relationship with the father takes, talking to him through prayer and reading his word.


I think many people burn out because of the way there going about there relationship with God. There expecting there feelings to carry them through.
 
Deadtosin

Deadtosin

Banned
#14
Mar 18, 2011
2,540
22
0
#14
you should read "a normal christian life" by Watchman Nee.

God bless you for your vigilance
 
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mm

Guest
#15
#15
NodMyHeadLikeYeah said:
My opinion.

Teenagers are so fickle. One minute you guys are spoutin off scripture condeming everyone who isnt like you to hell. Then the next your lyin about this that and the other, rude as i dont know what, talkin about how you were just drunk last weekend.

I actually can't stand the term on fire for God, because just like every fire it always starts out in a blaze but it always fizzles out.

People seem to think Christianity is a race, lets see who can be the most spiritual the fastest! Slow and steady people. Slow and steady. You can only maintain this feeling of being "on fire" for God but for so long, after that feeling is gone whats left has to be a commitment, a habit of going to him day after day no matter what your feelings are telling you.
Some days i just simply dont feel like reading my bible, and praying. I do it anyways though because thats what our relationship with the father takes, talking to him through prayer and reading his word.


I think many people burn out because of the way there going about there relationship with God. There expecting there feelings to carry them through.
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I was that type of teenager.. And I am so agree with this..
 
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