(This is the final paragraph for 90&9's Cover Story)
It’s long overdue for us to get our graduates off the graduation platform and into their specific callings. It’s time we taught our best and brightest how to shine for Christ outside of the Pentecostal movement. It’s time we grew in crazy, Acts-like proportions because all of our graduates are working overtime to get outsiders into the spiritual graduation program while the church kept working overtime to get them trained to master their callings to go back into society. It’s time we stopped cheering about the same people re-receiving the Holy Ghost and got outside to turn our world upside down.
Agree? Disagree? Undecided? Comment now!
Monday, May 04, 2009
The Holy Ghost Can't Be It: 90&9s Cover Story
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15 comments:
The Holy Ghost is crucial and there's not doubt about that. So many of us seem to have tunnel vision and look at our four and no more. It's okay for us to have a conversation with a prostitute. Let's get really radical and talk to someone who's gay. And how about visiting someone in prison. Jesus would! Let's get up, get out, and win our world!
I could not agree more with you on this article.
The real reason is that someone is "keeping score" at the conference or whereever it is held and those "bigger numbers" look really good on paper.
I fear we are all about numbers more than getting out the message that Jesus saves and loves us and all the world.
Yes, there is more to life than just being born. AEM
Truth. While the Holy Ghost is essential, it is just part of the new birth that allows us to see and enter the Kingdom. Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of heaven was at hand: not repent and get ready to go to heaven.
Over emphasizing the infilling diminishes the true message of good news. There is a spiritual dominion that has come to man and we can live a transformed life; demonstrating the power of this Kingdom daily.
It is time the apostolic movement shift emphasis to teaching how to reveal the image of Christ in our lives. This is beyond keeping ourselves "holy" and involves living and operating as His representatives.
Thanks for the challenging words
The reason that there is so much focus on people receiving the HG is that w/o it true evangelism isnt possible. But you are right once we get it we have to use it for the glory of God.
My 2 cents,,, granted theres Tons of Folks Who NEED to get up there and be refilled , heck even often,[1 Corinthians 14:18],and granted theres tons who need the experience for the first time ....but yea,, I wholeheartedly agree...its all kind-of moot if you HAVE recieved and dont live the remainder of your life-- "as if you have recieved" with visible fruit and conscious effort to do whats is asked of you...[Matthew 28:19][James 1:21-27][Romans 7:15-20] so there nah my 2 cents...
With that said....
if ya have a second.... my job & finances are driving me insane if anyone else out there prays over their breaks at work... mention my concerns please - thanks & have a great day ... live it like it were your last .. it might be :-)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage
Spot-on article. I have always felt this way and you put it into eloquent words. The Holy Ghost, though essential, is just the beginning of the journey. The point isn't "getting it," it's allowing it to empower you, to lead you into your calling, and to inspire you to share the experience and the gospel with others.
Church sermons are often evangelistic ... while the need for repentence and infilling of the holy ghost is stressed for those who haven't gone through it, saved Christians often think the sermon is also for them. It's not.
Biblical discipleship and spiritual growth goes by the wayside for a Christian who only receives nourishment from church services.
Individuals have a responsibility to grow in their spiritual knowledge and experience outside of the church. And church leaders would do well to encourage and equip the saints to do that -- so they can BE the church instead of just go to church.
Cara makes a solid point-I am not sure many are nourishing themselves outside of church. If you dont do this you will not be able to grow and share with others.
Carandavis seems to have a good point and it would explain a few things.
There also seems to be quit abit of spiritual junk food; a diet high in hate and anger can't be good.
Very good article, Kent. We have forgotten the great commission was to "go and baptise in the Name...TEACHING THEM TO observe all things...". Discipleship is part of the great commission, too!
Kent - as Pastor Tracy said a few weeks ago - salt does no good when it's in the box. Neither does the church while contained within the four walls.
As Bro. Littles said tonight in class - discipleship ends when you do. 'Nough said.
AA
Oh yeah- and there's always Isaiah 61:1-3 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me...." It doesn't say we're given the Holy Ghost to be saved! Surely we must have it to be saved, but as Chantell said - it's give to EMPOWER us to continue the work of reconciliation - to be God's mission to the world!
AA
If you look up 'christian' in the dictionary, it means to be a believer in Jesus. If you look up 'disciple' in the dictionary, it means to be a follower of Jesus. Sometimes I think we have a lot of Christians, but not always a lot of followers. I don't just want to believe in Jesus, I actually want to go the next step, and follow him! Great article.
Thus you have the tag for most Pentecostals, "eternal insecurity"....have to keep going back to "graduation" instead of "putting clothes on Jesus and walking Him down the street"....THE Great Commandment is about "Loving God" AND "Loving Others"...it's relational living that gives the conduit for channeling the power of the Holy Ghost! THAT enlarges the capacity! Continuing to go back for a refilling just keeps the container "baby size"...
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