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Mattie Member
Joined: 2004/7/23 Posts: 210
| Re: | | Friends,
God IS moving in America. I am seeing a stirring in the prayer meetings here in NYC. Once a month in NY pastors are getting together at Times Square Church to pray for revival.
Prayer meetings among college students and young adults (sometimes at my own home once a month) there is a great stirring. People are hungry and crying out for God.
While I agree there is an apostasy, a need to repent, and sin rampant in the church around hte states - I also know firsthand that God is stirring people.
Revival starts with our hearts. Are we mature enough and revived enough in God to rebuke? If so then by all means do so. But otherwise seek God to revive your own heart.
Revival starts individually before its corporate. |
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2007/1/9 22:49 | Profile |
Meriwether Member
Joined: 2006/8/13 Posts: 33
| Re: | | I only see two classifications of people in the Bible: saved and unsaved.
1 John. 2:4 "He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." A hypocrite isn't saved.
In any given church building, there are saved and unsaved mingled together like the wheat and tares or sheep and goats. Of course, God isn't fooled. He'll sort us all out at the end of the age. The wheat, sheep, and wise virgins represent the true church.
"Hell's Best Kept Secret" by Ray comfort informed my thinking greatly on this topic.
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2007/1/9 23:37 | Profile |
death2self Member
Joined: 2006/9/28 Posts: 192 Washington DC area
| Re: | | Quote:
I think part of the reason for the carnality in the church in the USA is because it costs us very little in comparison to the church in other countries, many of which can cost them thier lives.
Amen. Some other excellent thoughts in this thread as well.
In my own understanding, I see that confronting the sin in the church in love through the power of the Holy Spirit is something the prophets of old did time and time again. Their hope was not condemnation but rather repentance. I agree with Habakkuk who said "In wrath, remember mercy." _________________ Ed Pugh
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2007/1/10 6:52 | Profile |
searchin Member
Joined: 2006/10/18 Posts: 125 u.s.a. /
| Re: The wicked church in America | | there has always been two forces at work within the church.
the old testament shows the nation israel against the prophets.
even in the early church you had annanias and saphire.
Paul addressed the corinthian church with love and yes rebuke...but not leaving them hopeless and condemned...but admonished with correction.
Jesus addressed seven churches in the book of The Revelation Of Jesus Christ and pointed out there many faults and sins....but with love instructed them to repent and gave them hope and confidence in his grace if they would.
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2007/1/10 7:33 | Profile |
InTheLight Member
Joined: 2003/7/31 Posts: 2850 Phoenix, Arizona USA
| Re: | | Quote:
God IS moving in America. I am seeing a stirring in the prayer meetings here in NYC. Once a month in NY pastors are getting together at Times Square Church to pray for revival. Prayer meetings among college students and young adults (sometimes at my own home once a month) there is a great stirring. People are hungry and crying out for God.
Yes, there is a strirring here also! Oh brothers and sisters, lets feed the flame and pour ourselves out in intercession for the name of the Lord to be glorified in our generation.
In Christ,
Ron _________________ Ron Halverson
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2007/1/10 8:19 | Profile |
Mattie Member
Joined: 2004/7/23 Posts: 210
| Re: | | "A hypocrite isn't saved"
While being hypocritical sure isn't fitting for a saint, I would be careful in saying someone who's hypocritical ISN'T SAVED. That's a radical statement that needs careful examination of the Word.
Peter acted hypocritically in Galatians 2:11, when Paul confronted him regarding his attitude towards the Gentiles when he wanted to impress the Jews. Does that mean Peter wasn't saved?
I'm not excusing hypocritical behavior - it's a grievance to the Lord and God hates all pretense. However, let's weigh our statements.
Words carry weight. |
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2007/1/10 10:46 | Profile |
dohzman Member
Joined: 2004/10/13 Posts: 2132
| Re: | | hypocritical behavior >>>>I posted this somewhere I forget where now, that the term was used as one who was [b] A play Actor [/b] , some who showed one thing to the collective body of believers and was entirely something different at home in front of thier spouse and children, and could altogether something different at work. I just added this to what you guys/gals were saying to add some color I guess to what has already been said. God Bless _________________ D.Miller
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2007/1/10 11:16 | Profile |
BenBrockway Member
Joined: 2006/5/31 Posts: 427
| Re: | | Quote:
JaySaved wrote:
Quote:
I know a couple that claim to be Christian because they voted for Bush. It doesnt matter that he looks at porn or is an alcoholic. As long as he and his wife go to church on Easter and Christmas and send a number of Christian email fwds. every few months, then he knows he is heavenbound.
These people do not constitute the Church of Christ. God does not factor these people in when he is dealing with the Church. These are lost people who claim salvation but they are under the wrath of God. It is not right to say that God will punish the Church for the sins of the world.
Honestly, why would God punish the Church for the world's sins?
I was merely reflecting upon the statistic falicy that 85% of America claims to be Christian.
However, I will say that there a mass number of "Christians" who think in a slite similiar fashion, in that they can get away with pretty much anything and still go to heaven because of God's grace. Basically it is radical abuse of God's grace. |
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2007/1/10 11:21 | Profile |
JaySaved Member
Joined: 2005/7/11 Posts: 1132 Missouri
| Re: | | God is blessing the church in America.
God is individually correcting and disciplining Christians who need it (Find myself in this position too often), but He is pleased with and loves the true church that is made up of Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Church of Christ, Non-Denominational, Inter-Denominational, etc. people who love the Lord Jesus and are committed to bring glory and honor to his name.
God will judge the secular, godless American society but He will not punish the church because of said society.
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2007/1/10 11:24 | Profile |
BenBrockway Member
Joined: 2006/5/31 Posts: 427
| Re: | | Quote:
JaySaved wrote: God will judge the secular, godless American society but He will not punish the church because of said society.
Quote:
Honestly, why would God punish the Church for the world's sins?
You're right in that God won't punish "the Church" for the world's sins. My point is to only say that much of "the church" (not capatilized on purpose) has become worldly. I can think of numerous pastors and congregations that delight in feeding upon their own ideologies and false philisophical understandings and interpretations instead of the Truth (i.e. Jay Baker for example. He's a smoker and an alcohol drinker at the pulpit, while preaching, and is also pro-gay; He professes that God created them that way, and that nowhere in Scripture does it say that God is against the gay lifestyle.) Jay is just one of many examples I believe much of "the church" has become no different then the world. |
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2007/1/10 11:43 | Profile |