Amen brother! Keep that fire burning, and don't let anyone put it out. God has His hand on you. Mike
_________________Mike
When I was a young Christian, someone tried to confuse me with the last few verses of Romans chapter 7: "24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.". He tried to use those verses to support the idea that a Christian continues in a mixture of sin and godliness. When I got home, I read that scripture again . . . and then I kept reading:Romans 8:1 ¶There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.10 ¶And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.Chapter 7 was simply describing the condition of human flesh without the Spirit of God! Within ourselves, we CANNOT "no way, no sir, no how" live a righteous life. There is no righteousness to be found within human beings! But if Jesus lives within us, how can we not be victorious over sin? Did he not conquer our sin on the cross?
The Lord is faithful though and knows just what you need when you need it. He'll feed you with the ravens if need be (spiritually speaking here). When your thirsty it's not hard to find water but I know what your saying what we get is not always ideal. Sometimes I feel like it would be great to attend TSC but than do I want to live in NYC, nope!
AbideinHim wrote:There is a ministry out of Richmond Virginia called "The Christian Tape Ministry". http://www.christiantapeministry.com/. this ministry is out of Richmond Virginia and there is a fellowship of believers there. I know that this would be a pretty good drive for you, but there is a conferenece that takes place usually the last week of June, called "The Christian Family Conference". This conference has been going on for a number of years and many of the teachers at these conferences actually ministered with T.Austin Sparks. Brother Stephen Kaung ministers a lot at these conferences and he worked with Watchman Nee for many years, and actually translated much of Brother Nee's materials into English. Go to the Christian Tape Ministry website and you can find out more information on this ministry. Mike
ginnyrose wrote:Have you ever seen "Choice Book" racks around the city? You may want to contact them and ask them to direct you to a Bible Believing church. It used to be that Simon Schrock, who authored "One Anothering" supervised "Choice Books" in that area. Simon Schrock is a very godly man who loves the LORD. I think he lives at Fairfax; he would be delighted to assist you. BTW, he looks like Abraham Lincoln! and has also been mistaken for Dr. Evertte Koop! Blessings,ginnyrose
jimp wrote:hi, we are never going to find the perfect church..i would rather hear grace and love and joy all year because that exemplifies Jesus,who died so that all sin is covered or none. to pilot a ship upriver you do not need to know where the pitfalls(sand bars, bad currents etc.)are;you need to know where the channel is. Jesus' finished work and faith in this alone. pray for your pastor lest you grow hard and phareseeical can't spell...make a difference. jimp
Crossbearer8 wrote:Quote: The Lord is faithful though and knows just what you need when you need it. He'll feed you with the ravens if need be (spiritually speaking here). When your thirsty it's not hard to find water but I know what your saying what we get is not always ideal. Sometimes I feel like it would be great to attend TSC but than do I want to live in NYC, nope!Wow, that was so put so well, and it so depicts my life, in my hunger to know Him He has, with the ravens as you say, brought me all sorts of insight and food of the Spirit through sermons on websites from various sources etc... When you say TSC is that Time Square Church, does wilkerson still preach there? Might be worth the 3 hour drive from time to time.
Wow, thanks again Rebecca! God bless you
And as far as being a pharisee, well to tell you the truth I care more of people being broken to pieces and saved that people being comfortable, happy, untested and dead.
_________________Michael Strickland
Dear Crossbearer8,I would recommend Pastor Carter Conlon's Message " Run For Your Life " . He is the Pastor for Times Square Church in NYC.It is under Carter Conlon Audio Sermons page 7 here on SI.