brothered

These questions are update for our churches today. Men and women have taken to viewing **** and allowing their imaginations to rule over their flesh. Perhaps a slap on the wrist and a little understanding goes a long way for those who do the same things under-cover. This may be the reason for the boasting. Stern but loving correction is the order of the day. The process of correction has already been defined. The church must follow thru with it. This church had a value system that was not being applied. When correction and failure to apply God's value system is not in order, one has to wonder if the church is just a religious organization and the people have not the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9).

There is only one proper way todeal with differences in the church and the is theBiblical way. Go to the brother, if you see yourself as spiritual and tell him his fault in a loving way. If he dis-agrees with you and you see fit to carry it futher, get a couple of brothers and all of you go to visit him again. If that doesn't work, tell the bro to grow up of he will have to go before the congregation. Sadly sometimes it has to go that far but that is stupidty.

For too long church has been run by the clock. Start time-Stop time. Where is the Holy Spirits time? If the congregation goes to the church building for the right reasons, prayed up, everything else will take care of itself. It seems these days they are trying to change worship to make it better. Back to the basics people. Try studying the Bible and preach it in the service. I enjoy singing and listening to other singers but when that is 3/4 of the service I look for another building to worship in. Thank God for our pastor who wants to preach the solid Word of God. I just disagree with the congregation keeping him on the clock. That's my bag. If you wanna leave, leave,but let the preacher preach til he's empty.

For too long church has been run by the clock. Start time-Stop time. Where is the Holy Spirits time? If the congregation goes to the church building for the right reasons, prayed up, everything else will take care of itself. It seems these days they are trying to change worship to make it better. Back to the basics people. Try studying the Bible and preach it in the service. I enjoy singing and listening to other singers but when that is 3/4 of the service I look for another building to worship in. Thank God for our pastor who wants to preach the solid Word of God. I just disagree with the congregation keeping him on the clock. That's my bag. If you wanna leave, leave,but let the preacher preach til he's empty.

I have been a member of a non-denominational church for 25 years. I have many dear brothers and sisters who belong to all kinds of denominations. We never quarrel over silly junk. When I meet a new brother in a store or on the street I never ask him where he goes to church to determine my relationship with him. We are brothers in Christ and reconize that. I just don't have time to get caught up in the silliness of stuff that means absolutely nothing. If there were going to be denominations in heaven God would have taught us about that. I heard a story about a visiting evangelist whom as the people were leaving the church, an elderly lady told him that her denomination would be going first in the rapture to whom he agreed. You are right, ma'am he said, The Bible teachs that. It says; "The dead in Christ will rise first". I doubt he was ever invited back.

This has been a hectic week and have not had much time for this study but I have read all the statement and remarks from others. I am able to see my self way back from the beginning of my spiritual birth even up to this present time. My comment is: I'm not all God wants me to be but praise His holy name, I'm not near what I used to be.

1. My lifes verse is Phil. 2:5. 22 years ago I wanted the mind of Christ. I still seek the mind of Christ which has no ending nor a beginning. It is higher than high, wider than wide, and deeped than deep. The mind of Christ is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit as we pray and search the scriptures. 2. That is the mystery. The Holy Spirit is our confidence when He speaks to us. Occasionally but not often I hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in an audible sense. If you tell me He dosen't speak to men today as He did centuries ago, I must tell you, you are a little late with your information. I know what I know. When God called me into this present ministry, I complained that I was not qualified and that He may have chosen the wrong person. And during my prayer, I heard, "Just Go" and open your mouth. I will put the words there". Thus I went and He continues to put the words there 3 years later. I don't understand it but praise God He is using this embicil.

1. Paul was a well educated man who knew the ins and outs of the law. What good would it do a lost soul if you tell it everything you know? Stick with the gospel message, the same message that saved you will save others. 2. I'd be scared to death to repackage the message. I believe the Book of the revelation of Jesus Christ warns us about this. Scares me to death. Stick with the simple gospel. Who cares what you know? 3. Men can only be drawn to God by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we witness, He is all we have and need. The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts men of their sin and He is the only One who can enlighten their minds.

1. Christ is God, He is our all in all. All is all and that is all that all is. 2. As far as a soul will permit. Many are walking the wide road, desiring to go to heaven but unwilling to give up earthly pleasures.

1. Pride today may very well be the biggest downfall. Most believe they are good enough, even many of those I minister to in the prison believe their good works out-weigh the wrong they have done. 2. Regardless the cultural background man's heart is very evil and desperately wicked, and they themselves cannot even know it. Based upon this and personal deliverance I just be myself, and relate to them what God through the shed blood of Jesus has done for me. I show them love and concern and tell them the truth. "God has called you to 'repent', and if you answer His call He will teach you how to pray for repentance. 3. Anytime you tell someone to "Just say these words and you will be save" is a lie and watering down the truth. Jesus said; "Except you 'repent' ye shall all likewise perish" Luke 13"3,5. 4. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His message of salvation never changes. Stay with what was written. It is by the hearing of the Word that men are saved, not by the antics of men. That tension has always been there and is greatest in religious circles. Religion was the greatest problem Jesus faced when He preached.

1. Abortion is encouraged V. Childre are an hritage unto the Lord. 2. Homosexuality being promoted and protected V. God's plan for one man and one woman. 3. Legalization of drugs V. A sound mind. 4. Stock-pileing food V. Matt.6: 25-26.

I my congregation there are minor divisions such as you will always have when you are dealing with people. These are external things that show ones imaturity. In my community we have a multitude of diversity of churches. I have a prison ministry so have had opportunity to meet many Christians and christians? in our area. I have friendship with many from different churches and we have some minor disagreements but have agreed to agree disagreeably. The Lord will sort it all out in heaven. But the Lord also gives us discernment as to which churches to stay away from and there are plenty. The case of divisions today are pride and context lacking in love. If we love one another and agree together that we are saved by grace by faith and not of ourselves. It is the gift of God. We agree that Jesus is the only way to heaven and it is a narrow path to follow. All the other stuff in between means absolutely nothing.

Prayer, expectation, hope, fellowship and perhaps taking away a conscious of inferiority. The more we participate the more real becomes our belief system. My prayer life sucks as far as I am concerned. I pray everyday, it seems all the time, always being in an attitude of prayer but to me my prayers seem to be shallow. Pray for me.

I thank God for my enemies each time I am reminded I have them. I do not dwell on the negatives. I just pray for them. Thanking God for those who hated Paul showed a loving maturity in him. He thanked God always for His grace which was given to the corinthian believers. God told Paul His grace was sufficient for him. Paul learned that it was not his external circumstances that caused him to feel bad but it was the violation of his inner principles that caused him to feel bad. So it is with all of us. To grasp in a greater way the grace of God we must die to our own inner principles and replacethem with God's principles. This is what Paul learned to do.

A 1.Called to be holy or called to be saints is a call to those who are set aside by God to worship and adore Him. Those who are saved by grace, the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. The reason some do not believe they are saints is because of known sin in their lives. They have to come to realize that saints are not perfect but indeed they are working toward their perfection. A person who has been bought with the precious blood of Jesus is expected to sin, hear the conviction of the Holy Spirit about that sin, repent of it, that is to turn away from it and desire not to do it again. When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all our unrighteousness. Everytime! WOW! What a God we serve. When the world hears that we love Jesus they look for flaws in our lives and judge us by what they see. That in it self should help keep us on our toes.