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Author Topic:   Profitable Christian Meetings
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 46 of 52 (781995)
04-13-2016 11:07 AM
Reply to: Message 45 by jaywill
04-13-2016 1:07 AM


Re: What I Actually Mean't To Say
jaywill writes:
I would say that the MOST genuine one, the MOST sincere one, and the MOST real one is Jesus Himself. What we want to move toward is living in union with Jesus, the REAL one - the truth. Then when we come together, we overflow something of our enjoyment of living Christ.
I agree with you and will say that I have experienced the overflow of which you speak. Critics would deride the experience as a woo moment and might argue that Christians simply expect such emotional experiences to happen. And they have a valid point. the Toronto "Blessing" comes to mind. To them, I would only say that I believe--though do not know for certain--that I can discern the difference between hyper-emotionalism and a genuine communion with the Holy Spirit present. I know that they are going to ask me how I would test such a comparison.
jaywill writes:
Could that sometimes involve tears or sorrow? Yes. We may be in the midst of a sore trial. Christians are not exempt from any of the misfortunes which befall unbelievers. Our growth in life necessitates that we suffer things which drive us out of spending our own resources but being supplied by His (Spirit/wisdom/resources)
Jesus Himself...on His way to the cross..
quote:
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, Sit here while I go over there and pray. 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.
I notice two things.
  • Jesus has his disciples watching his back... and they seem to fail.
  • Jesus prays that Gods will be done...not his own.

    Chance as a real force is a myth. It has no basis in reality and no place in scientific inquiry. For science and philosophy to continue to advance in knowledge, chance must be demythologized once and for all. —RC Sproul
    "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." —Mark Twain "
    ~"If that's not sufficient for you go soak your head."~Faith

  • This message is a reply to:
     Message 45 by jaywill, posted 04-13-2016 1:07 AM jaywill has replied

    Replies to this message:
     Message 47 by jaywill, posted 04-13-2016 6:17 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied

      
    jaywill
    Member (Idle past 1941 days)
    Posts: 4519
    From: VA USA
    Joined: 12-05-2005


    Message 47 of 52 (782025)
    04-13-2016 6:17 PM
    Reply to: Message 46 by Phat
    04-13-2016 11:07 AM


    Re: What I Actually Mean't To Say
    quote:
    I agree with you and will say that I have experienced the overflow of which you speak. Critics would deride the experience as a woo moment and might argue that Christians simply expect such emotional experiences to happen. And they have a valid point. the Toronto "Blessing" comes to mind.
    I am concerned that what I am writing reminds you of the so-called "Toronto Blessing." What I am talking about has nothing to do with uncontrolled "Holy Laughter" or any of the excesses that I have heard were prevalent in that Toronto event.
    quote:
    (Spirit/wisdom/resources)
    Jesus Himself...on His way to the cross..
    quote:
    36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, Sit here while I go over there and pray. 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.
    39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.
    I notice two things.
    Jesus has his disciples watching his back... and they seem to fail.
    Jesus prays that Gods will be done...not his own.
    He recommended that they pray for themselves. To watch with Him I think was to pray they enter not into temptation as He also was praying.
    "And He came to His disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, So were you not able to watch with Me for one hour?
    Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matt. 26:40,41)
    Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 46 by Phat, posted 04-13-2016 11:07 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

      
    jaywill
    Member (Idle past 1941 days)
    Posts: 4519
    From: VA USA
    Joined: 12-05-2005


    Message 48 of 52 (782116)
    04-16-2016 7:16 PM


    Let Us Exhibit Christ
    A Christian meeting should be an exhibition of Christ and what He is doing in our lives as believers. This can be compared to the Israelites of the Old Testament laboring on the good land and bring the surplus of God's blessing to the Tent of Meeting for a feast to God.
    We Christians should consider that we come together with the top most surplus of what we have derived from living one with Jesus Christ Who is alive and can be known as the Holy Spirit. This is the surplus of our experience we come to offer to God as praise, thanksgiving, worship.
    This is as much a "feeding" of God as it is an enjoyment to us. God enjoys Christ. God enjoys to see man live by and in Jesus Christ. And God enjoys that we offer up back to Him in worship the surplus of our enjoyment of Christ.
    So as the Israelites were commanded, we too, as Christians, should not appear before the Lord empty handed. We should have a residue, even a surplus running over as a thank offering or praise offering. But the attendants are nourished in faith and God has His enjoyment to see His children live in oneness with His Son - Jesus Christ.

    Replies to this message:
     Message 49 by jar, posted 04-17-2016 10:21 AM jaywill has replied

      
    jar
    Member (Idle past 394 days)
    Posts: 34026
    From: Texas!!
    Joined: 04-20-2004


    Message 49 of 52 (782124)
    04-17-2016 10:21 AM
    Reply to: Message 48 by jaywill
    04-16-2016 7:16 PM


    Re: Let Us Exhibit Christ
    If you want to exhibit Christ you need to go hang out with non-Christians, make the beer run, be the life of the party, a glutton eating and drinking with the sinners.

    Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 48 by jaywill, posted 04-16-2016 7:16 PM jaywill has replied

    Replies to this message:
     Message 50 by NoNukes, posted 04-17-2016 2:10 PM jar has seen this message but not replied
     Message 51 by jaywill, posted 04-17-2016 6:51 PM jar has not replied

      
    NoNukes
    Inactive Member


    (1)
    Message 50 of 52 (782126)
    04-17-2016 2:10 PM
    Reply to: Message 49 by jar
    04-17-2016 10:21 AM


    Re: Let Us Exhibit Christ
    ... you need to hang out with non-Christians
    You do indeed need to hang out with non-Christians and sinners, although I would dispute that gluttony and drinking is required. However jaywill is still correct. Christians themselves need reinforcing and learning about Christ, and gathering together with other Christians is still important.
    Jesus did indeed talk about both gatherings of believers and among non-believers, but this particular topic focuses primarily on what might happen at gatherings of believers. Your reminder is well taken, but it is supplementary rather than in opposition to what jaywill posted.

    Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also in prison. Thoreau: Civil Disobedience (1846)
    History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people. Martin Luther King
    If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions? Scott Adams

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 49 by jar, posted 04-17-2016 10:21 AM jar has seen this message but not replied

      
    jaywill
    Member (Idle past 1941 days)
    Posts: 4519
    From: VA USA
    Joined: 12-05-2005


    (1)
    Message 51 of 52 (782131)
    04-17-2016 6:51 PM
    Reply to: Message 49 by jar
    04-17-2016 10:21 AM


    Re: Let Us Exhibit Christ
    quote:
    If you want to exhibit Christ you need to go hang out with non-Christians, make the beer run, be the life of the party, a glutton eating and drinking with the sinners.
    This thread is about "A Profitable CHRISTIAN ... Meeting " .
    In another thread I would be happy to discuss "A Profitable Gospel ... OUTREACH" .
    Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
    Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
    Edited by jaywill, : Editing

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 49 by jar, posted 04-17-2016 10:21 AM jar has not replied

      
    jaywill
    Member (Idle past 1941 days)
    Posts: 4519
    From: VA USA
    Joined: 12-05-2005


    Message 52 of 52 (782188)
    04-20-2016 2:48 AM


    The desire that all of God's people would be prophets was seen Moses.
    Numbers 11:29
    But Moses said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!
    Moses told young Joshua not to be jealous for Moses' sake. God had poured out the Spirit upon some select men. And they prophesied. But a couple had not come to the designated gathering, and were prophesying in the tents. Joshua was mad that they had not come to the meeting and wanted Moses to forbid them from prophesying.
    In effect Moses said he wished the WHOLE congregation would have the Spirit of God upon them and would ALL prophesy.
    This was, I think, a little window into God's heart. He desires (as Moses indicated) that the whole congregation of believers be able to speak forth from the Divine Life of God.

      
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