Gift or Curse?

[HimAll4]

You know, my brother and I had an experience with and Ouija board that my parents got thinking it was nothing more than a toy, and allow me to reiterate what's already been said, THEY ARE NOT TOYS!  This needs to be taken seriously.

Okie - I would think if you're not scared about your visions and all, and you have them under the subjection of Christ, then what others say who don't understand it shouldn't really matter.  The important thing is you being in line with God.  He'll reveal whether it's something that needs cleansing or if it is something that He is pruning in order to use that "gift" for some good. 
Like I've said, I wish Christians were more aware of the reality of the spirit world.  I truly believe lukewarmness vanishes when the reality of our need to be cleansed by the blood of the Holy One and being "on His side" is experienced in this way.  Too easy to sit in our fleshly "easy chairs" and not even think twice of the spiritual battles already taking place.

I, too, am glad you've brought this up.

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

I'm absolutely certain there are spiritual battles going on around all of us every day. We can impact many of those battles by continually praying that GOD helps us, our families, our friends, and people we don't even know. We can and should use all of the opportunities that GOD gives us. If we carefully watch, GOD does give all of us many opportunities to serve HIM in hundreds of ways. Our health and other circumstances don't make any difference when GOD gives us an opportunity. It's TRUE that GOD even gives Christians opportunities on their death beds, and every opportunity should be treated as an honor and privilege to know that GOD wants to work in us and through us. Even the smallest task should give us JOY to yield and serve.

May GOD get all of the Glory!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 111:7-8 NASB  The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure.  They are upheld forever and ever; They are performed in truth and uprightness.

[Debp]

Like I've said, I wish Christians were more aware of the reality of the spirit world.  I truly believe lukewarmness vanishes when the reality of our need to be cleansed by the blood of the Holy One and being "on His side" is experienced in this way.  Too easy to sit in our fleshly "easy chairs" and not even think twice of the spiritual battles already taking place.

Hi, I definitely believe in the reality of the spirit world....that is why I believe it is dangerous to delve into books on the occult.  The Bible also says to try the spirits to see if they are from God.

love in Christ, Deb

[Debp]

No, I do not have the occult books, haven't had one for over 30 yrs. I don't read horescopes,carry a rabbits foot or throw salt over my shoulder either.

I do not attend a Church regularly. The Churches around this area seem to have waxed cold. I attended every Sunday for two years and never heard Hell mentioned at all. My daughter and I are home schooling her 4yr old daughter and 12 yr old step daughter. Bible Study is part of the Schooling. I usually spend and hour or more reading the Bible everyday and visit 6 different Christian Forums.

Hi Okie, glad to hear you don't have those books anymore.  I hope you can find a good church where you can worship and have fellowship with other believers.

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

I know there are place now where it might be difficult to find a good church with a priority of worshiping GOD. Please remember that Christians can have church wherever we want to. Wherever two or three are gathered in HIS Name, GOD is with them.

Assembling together is important for encouragement, strength, and prayer. This is one of the purposes of Christians Unite, and I'm certain that GOD is with us. I just wanted to point out that we can't let the devil discourage us from getting together to worship GOD and have fellowship. We can have church in our homes, with friends, with neighbors, and in many ways that are helpful to others maybe in the same circumstances of looking for a church. In fact, many Godly churches are very small. Being big, fancy, and with huge membership roles has nothing to do with worshiping GOD.

We really don't need a building. We can have church in a back yard or under a tree that is just as honoring to GOD and maybe more so. I am somewhat biased in my feelings that very small churches are many times the best. Biased or not, that's all I've ever known during my life, and GOD was the priority. In fact, I'm familiar with many very small churches with wonderful involvement in glorifying GOD. Everyone has a part in many of these small churches, and there is very little or almost no money to do anything. GOD provides a way for what HE wants done, and HE equips those HE calls for the work HE wants each person to do. The task might be small or large, but everyone works together. There's a lot of joy in the small places I'm thinking about.

I can tell you for sure that GOD doesn't need 400 foot stained-glass windows and other big or fancy things. GOD is just as Powerful and Real under a tree or a tent.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 1:17 NASB  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

[Debp]

True, Tom, we can meet under a tree or in a tent, but the important thing is that we do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.  Okie, I hope you will find some other Christians to gather with for worship.

The church I attend is in a large building....when it was built about 1929, it was filled and overflowing, so a large building was needed then.  Now the congregation is small, but the sense of worship there is overwhelming.  Also, the pastors are very good and always stick to the Bible.

[nChrist]

Hello Debp,

You mentioned that you attend a church that sticks to the Bible, and the congregation has gotten much smaller over the years. Sister, it's not a matter of imagination that churches that believe and preach the Holy Bible are becoming pretty unpopular. The Bible told us this would happen, so this shouldn't be much of a surprise for people who study their Bibles.

I'm positive that GOD doesn't have much use for preachers who tries to please the world and be popular. Large numbers in a brick and mortar church aren't important, but the message given there is. Many people do have itching ears, and they are unwilling to endure sound doctrine.

It's sad but true that many churches have stopped preaching the truth about Salvation to remain popular and keep the pews filled. Many people just don't want to hear about sin, death, JESUS and the CROSS these days. GOD cares about the TRUTH of HIS WORD - not about being popular to the world. In short, it's better to be with a few concentrating on GOD'S WORD than many concentrating on the world.

I might be naive, but I'll say it anyway - I think that Christians can still find many assemblies that worship GOD in this part of the world. I know this becomes pretty difficult in portions of the world where it might mean a death sentence to possess a Bible. Thankfully, we don't have that problem in this part of the world - YET!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Matthew 6:19-21 NASB  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

[Debp]

Hello Debp,

You mentioned that you attend a church that sticks to the Bible, and the congregation has gotten much smaller over the years. Sister, it's not a matter of imagination that churches that believe and preach the Holy Bible are becoming pretty unpopular. The Bible told us this would happen, so this shouldn't be much of a surprise for people who study their Bibles.

I'm positive that GOD doesn't have much use for preachers who tries to please the world and be popular. Large numbers in a brick and mortar church aren't important, but the message given there is. Many people do have itching ears, and they are unwilling to endure sound doctrine.

It's sad but true that many churches have stopped preaching the truth about Salvation to remain popular and keep the pews filled. Many people just don't want to hear about sin, death, JESUS and the CROSS these days. GOD cares about the TRUTH of HIS WORD - not about being popular to the world. In short, it's better to be with a few concentrating on GOD'S WORD than many concentrating on the world.

I might be naive, but I'll say it anyway - I think that Christians can still find many assemblies that worship GOD in this part of the world. I know this becomes pretty difficult in portions of the world where it might mean a death sentence to possess a Bible. Thankfully, we don't have that problem in this part of the world - YET!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Matthew 6:19-21 NASB  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What you said is so true.  Actually, in the "old days" this church had about 5,000 members I think...they had to put them in separate rooms with the service piped in from the sanctuary!   About 4 years ago half of the church (about 76 people) wanted a particular pastor to become the permanent pastor.  When he didn't get voted in, most of those people left this church.  I also liked his preaching very much, but I stayed along with a few others that liked him.  The rest of the people remaining are very elderly.

Now we do have another good Senior Pastor and have been getting several new members (even some younger people) every few months since he's been here.  There is a Presbyterian church (USA) down the street (extremely liberal about the gay stuff, etc).....sometimes we get someone who transfers over from that church, who wants to hear the Bible and have a worship service.....not have a "gay" agenda pushed on us (I came from there, too).