stovebolts
Member
I concur! So glad he puts these together and posts them.seriously...thanks for this. Scripture alone is powerful, but...coupled with helpful commentary and summary....helps, tremendously. thanks again.
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
Strengthening families through biblical principles.
Focus on the Family addresses the use of biblical principles in parenting and marriage to strengthen the family.
Read daily articles from Focus on the Family in the Marriage and Parenting Resources forum.
I concur! So glad he puts these together and posts them.seriously...thanks for this. Scripture alone is powerful, but...coupled with helpful commentary and summary....helps, tremendously. thanks again.
Very good article. I think it applies across the board to both believers and non believers.Scripture Of The Day - View attachment 6288DISPLAYING GOD'S LOVE TO THE UNLOVABLE
Acts 8:12 - "But when they believed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and women."
A popular belief among Christians is that God wants to use us to help people see their sins and give them the choice of whether or not to receive Jesus. If we look more closely at what the Bible really declares as Jesus' message, we will have a plumb line to see just how off track we have veered with this sort of thinking.
Jesus states clearly in John 16:8 that the Holy Spirit will come and convict the world of guilt in regard to sin. God's task is to convict people of sin, and ours is to love people. "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). And when we do love people, and also love one another, they will know that we are true followers of Jesus (John 13:35).
When we use guilt-inducing methods to communicate Jesus' message, people usually respond by erecting walls and closing their minds to what we are saying. On the contrary, if we treat people in a kind and loving way, they generally tend to be very open and their walls recede. It is not for us to bring them to repentance; that's the Holy Spirits domain, and He accomplishes it much better than we ever could!
Counselors are advising people today that guilt is negative, unproductive, and even detrimental to their health, and they need to release these feelings. Thus, guilt is not an effective means of evangelizing and it actually obscures God.
As we learn to display God's love to the unlovable and His acceptance to the outcasts, we will see divine intervention in people's lives. There's incredible power in the simple act of unconditional love and acceptance. Jesus demonstrated this repeatedly by His works among the nonreligious multitude.
John 8:5,10,11 - "Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such women shall be stoned to death. But what do You say? When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more."
Observation:
In ministering to non-believers I seek to understand their values and perceived needs, and as much of their background and frame of reference as I can; Then I will know better how to relate to them and lead them to Christ when the time is right.
I realize that every human being not only wants but needs to be loved, accepted, and wants a God who has real power -- one who can identify with their pain while bringing them a higher, more abundant life here and now.
Guilt inducing messages will turn people away. They already know they are guilty and they also know that the person speaking to them is just as guilty, although not necessarily of the same sins.@Jim Parker , what are your thoughts?
YES!!! We need that kind of prayer. Very good point.We are covenant people, and as we are covenant people we have a legal right -- a Body of Christ right -- to go into the Presence of God the Father with the same confidence and assurance that Jesus has.
I think you hit it spot on.Scripture Of The Day - THE EMERGING CHURCH
John 13:13-15 -- "Jesus said, 'You call me 'Teacher and Lord' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I , your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. You also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.'"example that you should do as I have done for you.'"View attachment 6306
John 20:21 -- "Just as the Father has sent me forth so I am sending you."
This is certainly a command of Jesus for the Body of Christ to meet the needs (both temporal and spiritual) of new believers so they may indeed advance in the faith.
The humbling service of DISCIPLING a new believer into:
who he/she is in Christ,
his/her right standing with God, and
walking in the Spirit
is the most valuable Christian service someone can minister to someone who has just had the "born again" experience.
OLD THOUGHT PROCESSES
In order for the church to advance into her destiny there are old thought processes that need to be dismantled:
1. The idea that higher spiritual advancement and development is reserved for the clergy.
2. The idea that spiritual training and discipling is the sole responsibility of the pastor and/or elders.
3. The idea that it takes years in the faith to be able to DISCIPLE other believers.
4. The idea that the only thing the laity is to be involved in is Church programs and listening to sermons.
Submitting to DISCIPLESHIP training develops a "personal ministry to others consciousness" in the believer as well as promotes unity and brotherly love in the fellowship of the Body of Christ.
Scripture Of The Day - THE EMERGING CHURCH
John 13:13-15 -- "Jesus said, 'You call me 'Teacher and Lord' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I , your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. You also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.'"example that you should do as I have done for you.'"View attachment 6306
John 20:21 -- "Just as the Father has sent me forth so I am sending you."
This is certainly a command of Jesus for the Body of Christ to meet the needs (both temporal and spiritual) of new believers so they may indeed advance in the faith.
The humbling service of DISCIPLING a new believer into:
who he/she is in Christ,
his/her right standing with God, and
walking in the Spirit
is the most valuable Christian service someone can minister to someone who has just had the "born again" experience.
OLD THOUGHT PROCESSES
In order for the church to advance into her destiny there are old thought processes that need to be dismantled:
1. The idea that higher spiritual advancement and development is reserved for the clergy.
2. The idea that spiritual training and discipling is the sole responsibility of the pastor and/or elders.
3. The idea that it takes years in the faith to be able to DISCIPLE other believers.
4. The idea that the only thing the laity is to be involved in is Church programs and listening to sermons.
Submitting to DISCIPLESHIP training develops a "personal ministry to others consciousness" in the believer as well as promotes unity and brotherly love in the fellowship of the Body of Christ.
Wow that is some calling. Much faith is needed to go ahead with that.Scripture Of The Day - TAKING GROUND IN THE SPIRIT
Ephesians 6:10 - "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might."
The fifth place where Jesus shed His blood was where they drove the spikes through His feet, nailing Him to the cross. The bloodshed from His feet also redeemed us from our loss of dominion and authority.
The Greek word "Kratos," relates to God's manifested dominion and therefore our outer strength. Kratos speaks of dominion, power, and strength.
Acts 19:20 - "So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing."
The scripture tells us that in the days of the early church, "the word of the Lord grew mightily (Kratos) and prevailed."
When Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, he lost spiritual dominion and authority, and at that moment, satan became the god of this world. But through Jesus' shed blood, we don't have to be trampled by satan. God said to Joshua "every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you.," (Joshua 1:3)
There is something about taking ground in the spirit--there is something about taking land.
HOW DO WE PROPHESY OVER OTHERS?
We speak the Blood of Jesus over their lives.
We speak health over their lives.
We speak destiny over their lives.
We have been commanded to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15)
Wherever we go, we're to tell people "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). This would be impossible unless we had the AUTHORITY to take DOMINION of satan's earthly kingdom. Spiritual DOMINION over this earth is ours again because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and wherever we are, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
As believers, we have the authority to walk around our neighborhood and say, "I bind the devil in my neighborhood. I bind the drug addicts and the dope dealers." We can walk through schools and say, "I bind violence, I bind perversion, and I bind New Age teaching," Because every place where we set our foot will be ours. (Deuteronomy 11:24)
When we bind the devil, our next step is to loose the peace of Jesus in our streets--loose the righteousness of Jesus in our cities.
Matthew 18:18 -- "Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven: and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."
QUESTIONS TO ASK MYSELF:
How am I creating an opportunity for God to act through my faith?
What incredible acts of faith am I capable of?View attachment 6317