Christian Fellowship Community Group
A safe place for Christians who Love Jesus Christ to meet and ask for prayer and share scriptures from the bible. We value the posting of Christian music, poems, stories and also personal testimonies. Please let us know your needs, concerns and have some fun getting to know each other. We treat each other with respect.
I believe as a Christian that we all support each other in our ministries. Yeah, most of the time this is done, but I see a lot of Christians who don't encourage and who either sit on the sidelines and be nothing more than pew potatoes to others who are worse and will discourage those Christians.
I've got to get this off my chest because it pains me so much! I love this group and this is NOT a direct attack on anybody, just on how many Christians in America are not growing. This has been a frusteration that has been building up inside me for months and I need to say that many Christians are not arming themselves against Satan. They lead defeated lives as if Satan won the actual war and they don't produce anything down here on earth.
That's not how God intended us Christians to do! ALL Christians must stand up and stop letting Satan have the upper hand. Christ prayed for us in John 17. He wants us to be in the world but not of the world. I'll give you an illustration that my pastor gave us. We are the boat, the ocean is the world. Now, we have some Christians that are on dry dock, perhaps in the driveway somewhere, miles away from anyplace where the boat can be used. This kind of boat represents the Christians not having anything to do with this world and who shut themselves away from any non-Christians. Thus they are very ineffective and churches that practice this stagnate.
Next, we have the boat in the ocean that is taking on water. Thus the water is INSIDE the boat and it's starting to sink! This kind of boat represents the Christians whom the world has a hard time differentiating them from the rest of the world. They act like the world and bear no fruit. In other words, they live as if they're not saved. Eventually, this boat will sink just like a regular boat will dissapear under the surface and not ever be noticed.
So, then a Christian needs to live their life like a boat is used in the ocean. It's on the water and the water is not on it! So, a strong Christian needs to live in the world and be a great testimony for the Lord. Bear fruit and others will see and want some of what we have. That's our chance to reach and teach them. Perhaps, that's one of the reasons I respect the mission field so much. They do just that! Reaching and teaching, along with encouraging!
I've got to get this off my chest because it pains me so much! I love this group and this is NOT a direct attack on anybody, just on how many Christians in America are not growing. This has been a frusteration that has been building up inside me for months and I need to say that many Christians are not arming themselves against Satan. They lead defeated lives as if Satan won the actual war and they don't produce anything down here on earth.
That's not how God intended us Christians to do! ALL Christians must stand up and stop letting Satan have the upper hand. Christ prayed for us in John 17. He wants us to be in the world but not of the world. I'll give you an illustration that my pastor gave us. We are the boat, the ocean is the world. Now, we have some Christians that are on dry dock, perhaps in the driveway somewhere, miles away from anyplace where the boat can be used. This kind of boat represents the Christians not having anything to do with this world and who shut themselves away from any non-Christians. Thus they are very ineffective and churches that practice this stagnate.
Next, we have the boat in the ocean that is taking on water. Thus the water is INSIDE the boat and it's starting to sink! This kind of boat represents the Christians whom the world has a hard time differentiating them from the rest of the world. They act like the world and bear no fruit. In other words, they live as if they're not saved. Eventually, this boat will sink just like a regular boat will dissapear under the surface and not ever be noticed.
So, then a Christian needs to live their life like a boat is used in the ocean. It's on the water and the water is not on it! So, a strong Christian needs to live in the world and be a great testimony for the Lord. Bear fruit and others will see and want some of what we have. That's our chance to reach and teach them. Perhaps, that's one of the reasons I respect the mission field so much. They do just that! Reaching and teaching, along with encouraging!
Born Again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m_dP2n-5W8
Praying for the well being of all at ds,
BrokenInside
As we are one body also the members of this body are all at different levels of spiritual maturity. I do not feel angst over members of the body who are less spiritually mature than i am, I consider meeting them to be an opportunity for God to use me to increase them spiritually. It is something that I often teach, and will be teaching here again...many of us recieve burdens that we do not know what to do with. It has been my experience that God burdens me to pray. Often when God burdens me to pray for some person or group of people, the outcome is that God is teaching me something.
From phillippians 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableâif anything is excellent or praiseworthyâthink about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in meâput it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Your post is entitled in angst. the word angst refers to a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity. From phillippians 4:6 we see clearly, do not be anxious, but pray...with thanksgiving...and we are promised Gods peace. So this is my answer to you. God is burdening you to pray.
Many times we pray without thanksgiving. It is difficult to thank God for things we do not like, but I thank God for all things(ephesians 5:20) because I trust God(isaiah 26:3) and because he tells us he will use all things for our good(romans 8:28).
God has burdened my heart too for all those who suffer particularly members of the body who do not have the same JOy and Peace and abundant Love and perfect comfort that I now enjoy. This burden from God does not give me angst because I understand it is God calling me to pray, which i do.
It is my understanding that we can not teach by words but must teach by providing an example. We can only teach others to live empowered lives as we ourselves walk in the power that comes to us from the spirit of God. This is to walk in humility before God and others.
Thank you for your post. It is my prayer that Gods spirit move in you and empower you as he has me.
To God our father be all glory and honor and praise forever.