I don't want to violate any copyright laws but I must vent some of the things I've read.
These words are written by the author in this novel.
"All my Christian life I was taught, both directly and indirectly, that a preacher should be an authority, and that he should clearly, and forcefully if necessary, display the attitude of an authority. No one should ever develop the idea that the preacher is weak or doesn't know the answers.
I am now convined that there are few things more counterproductive, self-defeating, and utterly destructive than a mortal preacher with an authoritarian attitude."
......(coming from the pastor in the novel who was once a legalistic pastor, he continues to write)..."For as long as need be, I will purposely work at suppressing that kind of flagrant attitude and will work at cultivating a student attitude in its place.
It's now clear that I actually know very little. Therefore I've resolved to open my mind and let the world be my classroom. So I don't swing to the other extreme and become a philosophical anarchrist, I'll let the Bible, objectively interepreted, be the filter that governs what I soak up in my quest for true wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and insight."
And he goes on to write about the Pharisees who "with their authoritative attitude prevented Jesus from penetrating their minds with facts. Jesus was fed up with their know-it-all attitude. They had closed their minds to learning because they already 'knew it all.' "
And later in the book, "Diversity in churches is so needful instead of a uniform congregation. Christians too often run away from diversity.
A Christian can shop around until he finds a church that's totally compatible with his preferences and personality - robbing himself of a diverse environment and all its benefits. After all, Jesus himself made this diversity a necessary part of following Him when He chose His team of disciples - and yet we in America go out of our way to prevent the very thing Jesus made compulsory."
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Truly where we're attending now is different than our 'preferences'. But God is teaching us so much with diverse believers. We need to be willing to learn. We are in total peace.
The past two Sundays we've enjoyed having several Spanish speaking families attend, and only about half of them speak English.
Last Sunday we heard the powerful testimony of the Spanish pastor who was into drugs and alcohol for 14 years, but praise the Lord, God changed him. We had a special prayer for him. He also mentioned that he understood part of the sermon. I was praying and I'm certain others were too, that God would allow something in the message to penetrate their souls.
Interesting enough, part of his testimony was some exact words of the message of the sermon. God is powerful. My faith was strengthened just seeing the Spirit of God work.
Today a Spanish couple sang two songs with the man playing keyboards fast. I wish so bad I could speak or understand Spanish for this very reason. Even though I couldn't understand the words of their songs, I knew that the words touched the heart of the woman singing. I was moved to tears.
Talk about diversity, we've got it. And we love to see the Spirit of God move in the hearts of His children. It is AWESOME!
Sermon recap:
Romans 9:35-39 - You are of greater value than the life blood that was shed on Calvary.
11 Corinthians 12:1-5
Revelation 4:1 - Death is a separator.
But nothing can separate us from the love of Christ - this passage is written for the believers.
Church denominations are a thief and a robber. They have perverted God's Holy Word.
(What he was saying is that denominations should not come between the universal body of Christ. But too many times it does. And that's why they are thieves and robbers, perverting God's Word.)
The whole sermon was on the seed, rapture, and predestination.
1 Thess. 4:17 - talks about the rapture
Ephesians 1:4,5 - Once you're born of the Spirit of God, you will live holy, sanctified unto God.
Predestinated means to foretell, foreordain by divine decree.
Romans 8:28 - God has a purpose in your life, your calling, your will to live.
Romans 9:17 -
Take Pharaoh, God allowed him to afflict Israel that God's name may be declared upon the earth!
There is no evil in God.
If you're not crying about the sins of the world, then you must be happy in the sins.
Not everyone on the sea of this earth is of God.
God allows those like Pharaoh, Judas, and Esau to bring seed upon the earth.
Only God knows who the seed of God is.
God brought a woman out of Adam. Your wife is not your doormat. She is your sweetheart!
She's queen of your home, your helpmeet.
When Eve took the fruit, she walked out of the headship of Adam and listened to a differnt voice.
The voice of Adam was her protection.
The voice of God was the fortified Word.
Now we have two seeds: the seed of Adam and the seed of the serpent.
Cain despised Abel. There was a separation of the blood line.
Abel's blood speaketh. There was still life, his blood was crying out.
It's not the blood of turtle doves and lambs that saves us, it's the blood of Jesus Christ.
Romans 9:8-11 - How can I know that I'm predistinated of God and one of His seed?
1. Has God called you?
2. Have you respnded to every call of God?
It's based on people coming from repentance to a sanctified life, being filled with the Spirit of God.
There's nothing you or I can do to get to glory. It's based on what Jesus has done.
No one comes to the Father except He draw him.
The wrong idea of coming to God is to see your Mama in heaven or stay out of hell.
But rather give God your life because you love Him!
The purpose of coming to God is to edify Him.
Who can come to God? the seed of God
In the parable of the sower, it was ALL GOOD SEED that fell.
The seed is the Word of God. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
Job was perfect and upright in all his ways. When Job got through the fire, he was still perfect.
After you've been through the fire, you can be perfect.
Job was perfect before the fire!
Satan will whip you through this flesh.
Most men and women fall in love.
But when their life is filled with God, they will know it's agape love, not phileo love.
Prophet Jeremiah - Before you were formed, God knew you!
There were testimonies and prayer. Several went up front for prayer. I was one of them. You know my body has been really acting weird - these crazy hormones are wacky if they're out of balance. I've been really low in iron. Yesterday I got to thinking of the service several weeks ago when they had an altar call like this, and I resisted the urge to go up front, thinking that I can pray about this on my own.
God reminded me that there is strength in numbers of people praying. Why not make it public and ask for public prayer?
Today was my chance. I was shaking. But I know God called me. The pastor layed his hands on my head and prayed for God to heal, for Satan to have no part of this. He mentioned the woman who had an issue.
Right then and there, publicly, I claimed the healing power of God in my life. No, it may not be instant.
A while back, one brother had warts on his legs and asked the church to pray. A month later, they were GONE!
We heard so many stories of saints excercising their faith in God.
Too many times God doesn't heal because we don't ask.
I've been praying about this for months. But presenting my need before the church has lifted my spirits!
And that alone is a step of faith. Maybe I have been trying to present a perfect life. Guess again, I'm far from it. Just asking for prayer seemed to open the lines of communications between me and the other sisters.
Am I that hard to know? I think I've been holding people at arm's length without really realizing it. Am I scared to get hurt again? I don't know. I know it takes me a little to get to know people. Once I feel comfortable, I'll talk. Hmmm, just some things God has been showing me.
Am I that hard to know? I think I've been holding people at arm's length without really realizing it. Am I scared to get hurt again? I don't know. I know it takes me a little to get to know people. Once I feel comfortable, I'll talk. Hmmm, just some things God has been showing me.
God is a healer. He will do anything you ask, if you ask in faith, nothing wavering.
And yes, this is a different approach from the way we've been brought up with in a legalistic church.
Don't get me wrong. We learned many important truths.
But this kind of church is not the God-in-a-box type like what was written in the book I wrote about at the beginning of this post.
I was extremely blessed today. Worshipping with believers in Christ. Excercising our faith.
And no one looks at you weird or wonder what your need is when you go to the altar, because God knows.
We are beginning to feel the effects of a Shepherd leader!
It makes us want to draw nigh to God!
The children sang The Crayon Box Song with the boys singing the first and second verses on their own.
They did a wonderful job, excercising their gift. It takes work to practice during the week and we incorporate it with music for school.
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