Rich and Famous Pastors
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S
Honestly, it could be that the Lord has laid this on your heart for you to take up the cause. You may be seeing the need to feed the hungry so much because God has given you a heart for this issue. A different person may give to the hungry but possibly God has laid missions to foreign countries to preach on their hearts. That person puts more effort into missions.
God gives each of us different gifts and callings. We are to work together and not criticize another because we feel their calling less important than ours.
God gives each of us different gifts and callings. We are to work together and not criticize another because we feel their calling less important than ours.
"Whoever has the World's goods and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth." 1 John 3:17,18.
In other words we all need to resolve to a higher order of spiritual truth in the things we value. A tender heart for people should be the rule not an exception to the rule..... I applaud Patnubay for such a heart--God bless you and may God provide for you as well. But most would agree with that.
But when God says it is the rule and not the exception to give when anyone needs period, we say, "Well God what about the, other things you say we can save for? Like,the 90% of our gain, I have given my 10% with glee, or the saving for the future, you say this is of good stewardship, or the taking care of family, after all you don't want my kids to look sickly do you? Priorities God Priorities!! Or even the need to spread your Word thru gifts to missions? You don't want your Word to stop here do you? You have said this is honorable....
I can hear God saying, " Oh ye of little faith." These things you say are indeed OK for all to do, and as long as you are not spending foolishly, or using your funds for things outside of my teachings, or hoarding it, or making it your god, or letting it in anyway replace or damage your relationship to Me, it is fine to be of sound mind in your provisions. But what is sound mind?
... Know that the 90% is also mine, know I can give to you a bounty of retirement if you honor me in faithfulness toward my standards of love for people, know I am the author of security, not financial gain that can be gone in an instance, know I will provide for your family for I am capable beyond your dreams, know I have sent you out into the world to preach the gospel of my truth, so I too will provide, for if you give in honor of my heart, I will give in the way of that heart I have placed in you. You can not out give me, for I am all and in all. Money is not a concern of mine, only your heart is, and your willingness to give and the act of giving shows of such a love for me.
He wants us to see thru His eyes, which is different than a concerned humans eyes. "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." We are to see His example of service and love for others as our own.Not as a hallmark idea, but as our own. To let God provide for us and for us to provide for who we can faithfully. God will not let you become foolish in your giving, He will tell you when it is better to do this than that.He just wants you to say, "OK God I am willing here I go..." Followed by "OK, God can I, I need to...." The life of a person in the Spirit is different than simply a life. Spiritual truth is different than simply rational choices.
In other words we all need to resolve to a higher order of spiritual truth in the things we value. A tender heart for people should be the rule not an exception to the rule..... I applaud Patnubay for such a heart--God bless you and may God provide for you as well. But most would agree with that.
But when God says it is the rule and not the exception to give when anyone needs period, we say, "Well God what about the, other things you say we can save for? Like,the 90% of our gain, I have given my 10% with glee, or the saving for the future, you say this is of good stewardship, or the taking care of family, after all you don't want my kids to look sickly do you? Priorities God Priorities!! Or even the need to spread your Word thru gifts to missions? You don't want your Word to stop here do you? You have said this is honorable....
I can hear God saying, " Oh ye of little faith." These things you say are indeed OK for all to do, and as long as you are not spending foolishly, or using your funds for things outside of my teachings, or hoarding it, or making it your god, or letting it in anyway replace or damage your relationship to Me, it is fine to be of sound mind in your provisions. But what is sound mind?
... Know that the 90% is also mine, know I can give to you a bounty of retirement if you honor me in faithfulness toward my standards of love for people, know I am the author of security, not financial gain that can be gone in an instance, know I will provide for your family for I am capable beyond your dreams, know I have sent you out into the world to preach the gospel of my truth, so I too will provide, for if you give in honor of my heart, I will give in the way of that heart I have placed in you. You can not out give me, for I am all and in all. Money is not a concern of mine, only your heart is, and your willingness to give and the act of giving shows of such a love for me.
He wants us to see thru His eyes, which is different than a concerned humans eyes. "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." We are to see His example of service and love for others as our own.Not as a hallmark idea, but as our own. To let God provide for us and for us to provide for who we can faithfully. God will not let you become foolish in your giving, He will tell you when it is better to do this than that.He just wants you to say, "OK God I am willing here I go..." Followed by "OK, God can I, I need to...." The life of a person in the Spirit is different than simply a life. Spiritual truth is different than simply rational choices.
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L
It is such a waste of time and energy to be looking at other people. To think we can judge what they are thinking when they talk or worship the Lord. Their singing style., their preaching style.,hairstyle., clothes., That is why it gets my dander up when Christians start condemning tv preachers and their life styles and what they do or don't do with their money.
There are tons of believers who are not perfect and their lives are not perfect and yet they are truly loved and lead by the HolySpirit. (just look at yourself) It is really a sad thing when believers take apart a person based on what they see. This is a major error and something I have to actively fight within myself. Finding chinks in someone's armor is very easy to do. Finding the best in someone is not so easy. Love is the higher calling.
Haven't we all seen it is a natural inclination for humans to judge each other? People often vote for someone based on how they look and carry themselves. The clothes they wear and the cars they drive. When we meet people we notice how clean their houses are, how obedient their kids are.,etc.. how disciplined they are as a person.
There is a ton of stuff in us that God shows us over a period of time. Not all at once (thank YOU Lord for that) it is a progressive revelation to see by the washing of the Word how to think right. It is impossible to know what needs changing until we are beginning to change and how our old mind sets are in need of renewal. Just when we think we have arrived we see a new wrinkle and God assures us He knew it all along and now it is our turn to see it and be rid of it.
This obvious struggle we all have has got to make us stop before we start criticizing other people. When you think of the grace shown to us by God in Christ, how can we so flippantly find fault with other believers who preach the gospel?
Another reason to realize we are forgiven of all sin...past....,present.....and future when we received Jesus as Savior.
There are tons of believers who are not perfect and their lives are not perfect and yet they are truly loved and lead by the HolySpirit. (just look at yourself) It is really a sad thing when believers take apart a person based on what they see. This is a major error and something I have to actively fight within myself. Finding chinks in someone's armor is very easy to do. Finding the best in someone is not so easy. Love is the higher calling.
Haven't we all seen it is a natural inclination for humans to judge each other? People often vote for someone based on how they look and carry themselves. The clothes they wear and the cars they drive. When we meet people we notice how clean their houses are, how obedient their kids are.,etc.. how disciplined they are as a person.
There is a ton of stuff in us that God shows us over a period of time. Not all at once (thank YOU Lord for that) it is a progressive revelation to see by the washing of the Word how to think right. It is impossible to know what needs changing until we are beginning to change and how our old mind sets are in need of renewal. Just when we think we have arrived we see a new wrinkle and God assures us He knew it all along and now it is our turn to see it and be rid of it.
This obvious struggle we all have has got to make us stop before we start criticizing other people. When you think of the grace shown to us by God in Christ, how can we so flippantly find fault with other believers who preach the gospel?
Another reason to realize we are forgiven of all sin...past....,present.....and future when we received Jesus as Savior.
P
I catch Tony evans on the radio frequently. Love the guy. One night he was preaching and I blurted out "Tony,Tony,c'mon that is way,way off. I turned off the radio.
I still like listening to him. He has been spot on lately.
This crucifying of preachers over salaries and perceived error is a little immature.We can eat the fish in spite of the bones?
Ya?.......maybe spit the bones out instead of burning down the restaurant?
I still like listening to him. He has been spot on lately.
This crucifying of preachers over salaries and perceived error is a little immature.We can eat the fish in spite of the bones?
Ya?.......maybe spit the bones out instead of burning down the restaurant?
It's true, Ladylynn, we all do have the tendency to judge others. A natural inclination. The very reason though why I opened this OP. I was a bit concerned that I was beginning to feel contempt towards these Pastors. And being in that state, where else should I go for help other than to my fellow believers. My contempt though not acceptable is understandable
and I'm sure a lot of people would agree with me that it is for good reason ( ). Anyway, I had all the comments and edification I need. Because of it, I am now happy and have a better perspective on how to focus my mind and mellow down my passion. Cheers...LadtLynn...If you are faced with a question of whether or not to surrender vs. submit, make a determination to go on thru the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you and give you peace over even the answer that grinds you, But yet requires.
This issue like all of the CC topics has a grind on all sides of the different versions of answers. Depending on what camp you live in you will suffer accordingly. But the camp we need to be in is the Jesus Christ camp. The Gospel of God camp. The will of God camp. And never our own, nor even our version of His, which tilts to our comforts..
The point is in making the determination and conclusion within us to not react with arrows or with ineffectual cotton candy, but simply sit thru the crisis yet and wait upon the Lord for His spirits answers to seat us in the truths of Scripture [not grab Scripture for our points] and seat us in the examples of Jesus, to understand the whole of our stand which is not our stand at all but His higher revelation. This is a balancing act of grind on us, and loving beyond us, both are beyond us unless we are becoming Christ-like unto Sanctification.
There is an essential difference between' Submission' and 'Surrender' in our conclusions on a issue like this one... The former is the conscious acceptance of reality. There is superficial yielding, but tension continues...it is halfhearted acceptance; the , "Fine, whatever...." compromise. It is described by words such as, resignation, compliance, acknowledgement, concession. There remains a feeling of reservation, a tug in the direction of non-acceptance. But this is not peace.
Whereas Surrender on the other hand is where God wants us to finally hang our hat in peace with His way leading us to truth which sets us free. death of our old stirrings is what we experience when we have a crisis .. It is the moment when my forces of resistance cease to function, when I cannot help but respond to the call of Gods conclusion on the matter at hand, as the spirit is actively involved in use afoot.
My point being, however eagerly we may desire a conclusion, however diligently we may strive to require it, surrender cannot be obtained by personal endeavor.
Our grind... must be buffeted by God Himself thru the Holy Spirit in us delivering Gods ways and submitting approval and disapproval, both equally accepted.. This mismanagement of Gods purposes seen in these men is real to the judgement of God, and there are some. like it or not God will let truth always show itself.. But the truth of the way we conclude anything and the truth of grace vs. judgement is also in the balancing act of God in our being.
The answers to any thread topic is found in Christ not in lew of Christ. It can only be found in us because Christ is in us thru His Spirit. The people who want to yell "Yes!, see it is God in me that is pointing my fist at you..." is in trouble of the Character of God, that came with Him when He entered you. To not see that in you is to conclude your relationship with Jesus [not your points] is suffering. God is interested in the relationship more than the point, so as to instill balance in you to arrive at the point[ which always had it's value] with surrender not submission to Jesus Christ your Lord. But submission is a street of many paths of our grind...
Grace is always more comfortable, more pretty, more of what we desire, yet in lew of the truth ." This simply is not realistic enough in God.. He is many things, both grace and judgement-- Balance! with God doing the coaching and deciding in real- time with real immersive people found in Him we will love so unconditionally people will be shocked and convicted at the same time. Sinners both crave what God has in you and hates you for showing what they don't have in them in way of it. This is what God must contend with in our relationship with Him.
This issue like all of the CC topics has a grind on all sides of the different versions of answers. Depending on what camp you live in you will suffer accordingly. But the camp we need to be in is the Jesus Christ camp. The Gospel of God camp. The will of God camp. And never our own, nor even our version of His, which tilts to our comforts..
The point is in making the determination and conclusion within us to not react with arrows or with ineffectual cotton candy, but simply sit thru the crisis yet and wait upon the Lord for His spirits answers to seat us in the truths of Scripture [not grab Scripture for our points] and seat us in the examples of Jesus, to understand the whole of our stand which is not our stand at all but His higher revelation. This is a balancing act of grind on us, and loving beyond us, both are beyond us unless we are becoming Christ-like unto Sanctification.
There is an essential difference between' Submission' and 'Surrender' in our conclusions on a issue like this one... The former is the conscious acceptance of reality. There is superficial yielding, but tension continues...it is halfhearted acceptance; the , "Fine, whatever...." compromise. It is described by words such as, resignation, compliance, acknowledgement, concession. There remains a feeling of reservation, a tug in the direction of non-acceptance. But this is not peace.
Whereas Surrender on the other hand is where God wants us to finally hang our hat in peace with His way leading us to truth which sets us free. death of our old stirrings is what we experience when we have a crisis .. It is the moment when my forces of resistance cease to function, when I cannot help but respond to the call of Gods conclusion on the matter at hand, as the spirit is actively involved in use afoot.
My point being, however eagerly we may desire a conclusion, however diligently we may strive to require it, surrender cannot be obtained by personal endeavor.
Our grind... must be buffeted by God Himself thru the Holy Spirit in us delivering Gods ways and submitting approval and disapproval, both equally accepted.. This mismanagement of Gods purposes seen in these men is real to the judgement of God, and there are some. like it or not God will let truth always show itself.. But the truth of the way we conclude anything and the truth of grace vs. judgement is also in the balancing act of God in our being.
The answers to any thread topic is found in Christ not in lew of Christ. It can only be found in us because Christ is in us thru His Spirit. The people who want to yell "Yes!, see it is God in me that is pointing my fist at you..." is in trouble of the Character of God, that came with Him when He entered you. To not see that in you is to conclude your relationship with Jesus [not your points] is suffering. God is interested in the relationship more than the point, so as to instill balance in you to arrive at the point[ which always had it's value] with surrender not submission to Jesus Christ your Lord. But submission is a street of many paths of our grind...
Grace is always more comfortable, more pretty, more of what we desire, yet in lew of the truth ." This simply is not realistic enough in God.. He is many things, both grace and judgement-- Balance! with God doing the coaching and deciding in real- time with real immersive people found in Him we will love so unconditionally people will be shocked and convicted at the same time. Sinners both crave what God has in you and hates you for showing what they don't have in them in way of it. This is what God must contend with in our relationship with Him.
Let's just love each other is different than let's love each other regardless of what we must go thru. These men are in error in many ways, yet I understand too that it is Gods role to correct and rebuke. But we need men to give that message thru His Word. This is not a room or thread that travels so we will not be doing that which is too bad. But, I get how the ping pong slapping turns to useless endeavors... to the point of simply making us see how the conviction of love will win out not torture. I agree with that.
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K
Wrong again as internet now days is not unnecessary !!!
95% of jobs (at least in my area) do not have paper applications any more, so in order to find a job you have to have internet. Then on top of that some jobs require internet so you would have to have it to make a living to take care of your family.
Third if anybody has kids in school now days they are sent home a lot with homework that requires internet.
Internet has become a needy tool in society now days !!!
95% of jobs (at least in my area) do not have paper applications any more, so in order to find a job you have to have internet. Then on top of that some jobs require internet so you would have to have it to make a living to take care of your family.
Third if anybody has kids in school now days they are sent home a lot with homework that requires internet.
Internet has become a needy tool in society now days !!!
L
When I went into a AOG church last year and they were speaking in tongues and worshiping with hands raised and singing new songs and not the old hymns I'm used to., it was quite a shock to my fundamental upbringing. While sitting in the church chairs., as the praying was going on during the worship service and the tongues were being spoken I was at a loss as to how to still be me and yet not stand out as this silent non demonstrative Christian woman. Would I be able to come to this church and become part of the fellowship?
Even today it dawns on me that I will not be like some other Christians but that is ok. Some things I want to change but have not been bold enough yet. But the tendency to judge people comes from something inside and when it starts to happen like in a church service, I remember the reasoning process I went through. These believers have been raised in a different kind of church and yet they are just as ok as the church I was raised in. God is pleased with them and who am i to find fault with the Father's other children? It may not be my cup of tea but whose tea is better? Like you said slave, God's way is the best way and each of us have to first be in the "Jesus camp"
So even when people are so different in their culture and how they worship the Lord in their singing and body language I am not to judge God's people. I'm one of them although not outwardly in mannerisms but inwardly having the HolySpirit. Just as with different denominations, it also goes with Christians with more money. It's all part of the same judgement issue of how we can't read someone's heart or how God is dealing with their lives despite how different they are from us. Differences surely can divide but they should not in Christ. That saying "get over yourself" sure is appropriate in this issue for me.
Getting past our own religious traditions and putting Christ a head of them has to translate on more levels regarding differences with each other. A big obstacle is not so much other people but my response to their differences. Not what they do and what that means to me. They don't answer to me and vs/vs. God has to be the only one who judges another believers motives. That is not our territory.
While listening to tv preachers., letting God be the final authority had to be the criteria and not my opinions and personal
tastes. Now I thoroughly enjoy a few favorite tv preachers and teachers and have learned so much from their ministries.
Someone said we have to be as smart as the old cow in the barn., learning to take the hay and leave the straw. Don't look for the wrong in everyone., take the good they have and leave the rest. It really works.
L
How can you guys not see the difference between judging what someone is wearing, or the style of songs they are singing,
and recognizing a false teacher? CONTENT VS CONTEXT.
Are we to not correct other believers, and keep them from error?
If we see hypocrisy within the Church, should we turn a blind eye?
There are wolves in the fold! and several sheep even among this group of ours, are being led off by them. Are we not to pull these ones back? Promise of comforts and earthly gains, and they're losing their souls over FEELING spiritual instead of BEING spiritual.
It's not about me or you or them being perfect. No one is, but Christ.
But teaching people blatant apostacy is NOT OKAY. And defending blatant apostates is also not okay, but is understandable. The deception is strong.
and recognizing a false teacher? CONTENT VS CONTEXT.
Are we to not correct other believers, and keep them from error?
If we see hypocrisy within the Church, should we turn a blind eye?
There are wolves in the fold! and several sheep even among this group of ours, are being led off by them. Are we not to pull these ones back? Promise of comforts and earthly gains, and they're losing their souls over FEELING spiritual instead of BEING spiritual.
It's not about me or you or them being perfect. No one is, but Christ.
But teaching people blatant apostacy is NOT OKAY. And defending blatant apostates is also not okay, but is understandable. The deception is strong.
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L
What I used to call wrong about other believers I no longer do now. When you begin to meet other believers and see how they are not exactly like you it sort of knocks you off your pedestal. Words like heretic, wolves and hypocrisy do not fly out of your mouth so fast because you are learning to let God be God and every man a liar sort of speak. We do not know the heart of people. God does. Only God knows hearts and motives enough to speak out with condemnation. Not me. What that verse says to me in this is we humans do not have the ability to be right in all things like God so we agree that man is not perfect but God is. That we know for sure.
If someone spends money easier than me who am I to decide to answer for them? That is their business. If someone sings an upbeat Christian song and it is a bit to snazzy for me., does that mean God is offended by them or pleased? God is bigger than our opinions and tastes in this life.
If someone is going against God's Word of course we do not support them. But more often than not they are just being attacked for a view point or a doctrine or lifestyle that is different than ours. Not something that calls for denouncing as evil and of the devil as it quite often is done now. a wealthy lifestyle is not sinful. A homosexual lifestyle is. These are obvious differences imo, but some would disagree. If someone is blessed by God with financial blessings who are people to denounce the blessed brother? Let God bless who He pleases., God can bless anyone He wants.
Not sure LT who you are referring to here who is a wolf but you have to agree you would feel pretty bad if you found out you accused someone who was not guilty. I used to think people who spoke in tongues and believed in healing were of the devil and or were "blatant apostates" Now I am speaking in tongues and believing in healing and the gifts for today. We live and learn. There is more to life than what we can understand. Just because we know something about someone does not mean we know all there is to know about someone. Only God knows it all.
Only God knows the CONTENT of someone's heart. And very often we take what they do and say out of CONTEXT.
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Yes you are right. But God is even more right. There are things you cannot understand as a human, regardless of being pure before your Lord. God sees the crisis Ladylynn is in is right as well, for He knows the details of her growing pains. When I say crisis I mean God working thru us, so keep that in context.
LT your crisis is the understanding of the authority of Christ to show others the truth thru the unabashed Word of God. Your crisis is a passion of desire to serve Him. This is what God is doing in you. And Gods Word tells us you are right in this thirst to do. Basically God bless you! But we must always sit and wait on God as to the events of the moment in other people.. His authority is in a different timing than run and gun us, and naturally so, that is not to rebuke you at all. God is simply saying, "I'm in control, I am the one which is all knowing, simply act with people positioning yourself with that understanding and we are good."... "The way I do it is as important as the doing of it." "Which is not to say you can't do it, but I must be in you first to do it right" Then, I will have you do it in my name. Just always remember it's alway's ...always...always about me first.. But here is a moment to let Ladylynn go thru the reality of the point God is on with her. The point is let everything go in God's directives. In this way tomorrow LT will not be the same as today but further toward God. Ladylynn will also be one step closer to the finishing work of God, patience and love with one another people, patience and love!
As long as we are not running into Satan and still headed toward God, Patience and love people , patience and love. God will bring the details along as He will. If someone is headed south from God LT then is when God has called you to do your work He has done in you, but do it with a commission from God not for God.Carrying with you the demeanor of Christ in you as well. it is His fight then, not yours to conquer... When someone needs nurturing in the faith toward God Ladtlynn has an experiential connection to that and can be affective in that service over LT [not to say LT couldn't be patient, it's not an either or, but a realization of what favor God has in our maturity as we go in real time].
None of us have arrived. But God will always move us forward. If we say 'no' to him, even in the little things to us, and He asks us to move to a place we don't like...sorry, it's time you move to that place. If He talks about testifying even tho you faint, get up there He'll hold you up, or have your testimony mean more for falling down. If you need to lose 20 lbs, don't say, 'That ain't in the bible!' Cuz He will take the time to show you. Just get busy with it..it's all about what He wants and when He wants it.
Of coarse He has already said "Today is the day of Salvation." So we are to do our surrendering right now if not in Christ. But this is God calling not us based on message content. Gods timing is important on life development, both in the context of us dealing with people already knowing that, and us understanding that when God speaks or calls-- "no" will cost us.
Ladylynn God is stretching you just keep putting one foot in front of the other in 'yeses'. He will ask you to do things that are impossible in your understanding of yourself. Not for punishment but out of love to empower you. LT you being faithful He will reward, but don't be surprised if it costs more than you bargained for. He likes to stretch all His children in love. This life of Christ is one experience after another in growth. It will be the revelation of Jesus' value on a cross for you that will be the difference in growth or decline. We need to always look at our example. And follow as He did with the Father. This is not a human thing to do, so we will be stretched, regardless of the death of sins control. This is a relationship....
LT your crisis is the understanding of the authority of Christ to show others the truth thru the unabashed Word of God. Your crisis is a passion of desire to serve Him. This is what God is doing in you. And Gods Word tells us you are right in this thirst to do. Basically God bless you! But we must always sit and wait on God as to the events of the moment in other people.. His authority is in a different timing than run and gun us, and naturally so, that is not to rebuke you at all. God is simply saying, "I'm in control, I am the one which is all knowing, simply act with people positioning yourself with that understanding and we are good."... "The way I do it is as important as the doing of it." "Which is not to say you can't do it, but I must be in you first to do it right" Then, I will have you do it in my name. Just always remember it's alway's ...always...always about me first.. But here is a moment to let Ladylynn go thru the reality of the point God is on with her. The point is let everything go in God's directives. In this way tomorrow LT will not be the same as today but further toward God. Ladylynn will also be one step closer to the finishing work of God, patience and love with one another people, patience and love!
As long as we are not running into Satan and still headed toward God, Patience and love people , patience and love. God will bring the details along as He will. If someone is headed south from God LT then is when God has called you to do your work He has done in you, but do it with a commission from God not for God.Carrying with you the demeanor of Christ in you as well. it is His fight then, not yours to conquer... When someone needs nurturing in the faith toward God Ladtlynn has an experiential connection to that and can be affective in that service over LT [not to say LT couldn't be patient, it's not an either or, but a realization of what favor God has in our maturity as we go in real time].
None of us have arrived. But God will always move us forward. If we say 'no' to him, even in the little things to us, and He asks us to move to a place we don't like...sorry, it's time you move to that place. If He talks about testifying even tho you faint, get up there He'll hold you up, or have your testimony mean more for falling down. If you need to lose 20 lbs, don't say, 'That ain't in the bible!' Cuz He will take the time to show you. Just get busy with it..it's all about what He wants and when He wants it.
Of coarse He has already said "Today is the day of Salvation." So we are to do our surrendering right now if not in Christ. But this is God calling not us based on message content. Gods timing is important on life development, both in the context of us dealing with people already knowing that, and us understanding that when God speaks or calls-- "no" will cost us.
Ladylynn God is stretching you just keep putting one foot in front of the other in 'yeses'. He will ask you to do things that are impossible in your understanding of yourself. Not for punishment but out of love to empower you. LT you being faithful He will reward, but don't be surprised if it costs more than you bargained for. He likes to stretch all His children in love. This life of Christ is one experience after another in growth. It will be the revelation of Jesus' value on a cross for you that will be the difference in growth or decline. We need to always look at our example. And follow as He did with the Father. This is not a human thing to do, so we will be stretched, regardless of the death of sins control. This is a relationship....
The issues of the Rich and Famous Pastors isn't about being rich at all, or famous, but in the responsibility to God as being His representative to the better ways of God. We are free, but not all things we are free to do is good for us. The ministers we speak of show fault in some of the lifestyles based on their choices of faithfulness to this message not whether or not money can be good or evil. God does speak of money, but the threads that speak on this are many. This is whether or not these people are misleading people away from Christ or not in what God wants.
God will hold them accountable at a different level than those who are not pastors, not to say He doesn't hold us accountable to every word uttered by all of us.. They do need to heed Gods purposes as do we, and there are many more issues other than just money and fame. The truth is in the details. But we need to be careful how we, as His church react to such men. are we a church that is no different than the world in how we treat wrongdoers? Or not quite right Christians? Are we as Christians ever to tag team anyone in spiteful attack? No Never! Wrong is wrong but wrong is wrong continuously, not to escape the retaliation of wrong. God calls for diligence and steadfastness, we are right to see the wrong in Scriptures gain, but not to excuse the wrong in a God Posse' mentality.
God will hold them accountable at a different level than those who are not pastors, not to say He doesn't hold us accountable to every word uttered by all of us.. They do need to heed Gods purposes as do we, and there are many more issues other than just money and fame. The truth is in the details. But we need to be careful how we, as His church react to such men. are we a church that is no different than the world in how we treat wrongdoers? Or not quite right Christians? Are we as Christians ever to tag team anyone in spiteful attack? No Never! Wrong is wrong but wrong is wrong continuously, not to escape the retaliation of wrong. God calls for diligence and steadfastness, we are right to see the wrong in Scriptures gain, but not to excuse the wrong in a God Posse' mentality.
I have heard this statement from a lot of christians: "eat the meat, & spit out the bones", meaning take the good, & refuse the rest.
Which one of you would feed a baby regular chicken or fish with the bones in it, knowing they could choke and die? Hopefully none.
Baby christians choke on the "bones" of these messed-up messages. Be careful what you feed them.
Which one of you would feed a baby regular chicken or fish with the bones in it, knowing they could choke and die? Hopefully none.
Baby christians choke on the "bones" of these messed-up messages. Be careful what you feed them.
L
My experience has been that the HolySpirit is able to grow the believer in spite of the imperfect world we live in. To expect preachers and teachers to be perfect is a wrong expectation for anyone to have. Sooner or later the people fail us and we are devastated for a time. We have all gone through this at one time or another. It magnifies the perfection of Jesus and how He is the only one we can truly count on to always be right and all good at all times.
Our family was in a legalistic church that had a bunch of "bones" that we choked on but we survived and moved on. Some people argued that Billy Graham was not good because he didn't always send new Christians to a church after they got saved so they could grow in the faith., Billy Graham did the work of an evangelist and he did it very well and many people were saved and are still being saved because of this man.
There is no way to avoid imperfect people especially when we expect perfection. To think there are perfect people is just setting yourself and others up for a fall. If Billy Graham isn't good enough for some., how high are our expectations for people? Only God can meet our expectations for perfection. P.S. and don't look in the mirror!!
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