I have a hard time understanding some people and churches. Don't get me wrong, I am not a negative person and I am not on here to criticize. Someone was telling me about a church who had a dictitorial pastor. He did not want his people to visit other churches (even on nights there church had no services). He also rebuked his people for missing church even if it was worked related.
Now look each pastor/church leader has to do what they feel in there heart. However, scripture teaches it better to have a millstone around your neck than hurt one of God's children. Too many good people have left churches because they got hurt or ordered around. Look no man of God wants anyone to miss church or to leave there home church. However, if you rail on people, your not gonna to keep them.
The church's that have a controlling spirit, only end up hurting themselves.
May I be committed to love unconditionally. May I be certain that my church family will stick in my church, even if they visit other churches,
It is a pastor/church leader's job to encourage people and not make them feel inferior or inadequate.
Yes, there will be times of chastisement, but if administered in love it will work. If it is administered in arrogance it will only result in trouble.
May we learn to love and except people for who they are, and let God do the clean up.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
From then...too NOW!
I remember as a boy the power of God moving in our services. It was nothing to see people shout and give real praise to the Lord. Men and women would cry and fall under the power of the Holy Ghost. We would see people come of the streets under conviction, and repent of there sins. We used to say the church was on fire. I remember my Dad would preach and things would happen. It was not unusual to see the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. Sadly these things that was the norm in my childhood.........have turned into the rarely seen in most churches.
Churches that we would attend and visit as boy, now are closing. The older saints have died off, and there are no children to fill there vacancies. Those old praying grandma and grandpa are become few and far between. God is calling that older generation home....and someone has to stand in the gap and make up the hedge.
I look at the MISSION...and I can see a people hungry for God. We are not perfect and this is not a perfect church. However, God calls us to endure until the end. We don't see much endurance in the church world today. In the day of fast food and fast living, people want a fast service and a quick move of God. God does not move when we want, and it is not always quick. There are times God wants us to wait, so our faith can build up.
Sunday night I saw a new wave of the THEN...NOW. Don't get me wrong I have seen real moves of God. I have even seen the supernatural. Yet, God is pleased with a unified body. That what we have at the mission. We have learned that there are no big U's and little i's. Everyone is equal and entitled to take there liberty in the Lord (as long as it's in order). God moved in waves of Glory. A real power was viewed and I pray that those touched by God have continued to move in Him. I can't wait till tomorrow night to see what God is going to do next at the MISSION. Just watch and see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve
Churches that we would attend and visit as boy, now are closing. The older saints have died off, and there are no children to fill there vacancies. Those old praying grandma and grandpa are become few and far between. God is calling that older generation home....and someone has to stand in the gap and make up the hedge.
I look at the MISSION...and I can see a people hungry for God. We are not perfect and this is not a perfect church. However, God calls us to endure until the end. We don't see much endurance in the church world today. In the day of fast food and fast living, people want a fast service and a quick move of God. God does not move when we want, and it is not always quick. There are times God wants us to wait, so our faith can build up.
Sunday night I saw a new wave of the THEN...NOW. Don't get me wrong I have seen real moves of God. I have even seen the supernatural. Yet, God is pleased with a unified body. That what we have at the mission. We have learned that there are no big U's and little i's. Everyone is equal and entitled to take there liberty in the Lord (as long as it's in order). God moved in waves of Glory. A real power was viewed and I pray that those touched by God have continued to move in Him. I can't wait till tomorrow night to see what God is going to do next at the MISSION. Just watch and see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve
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