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Author Topic:   Profitable Christian Meetings
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1940 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 16 of 52 (781267)
04-03-2016 5:07 AM


quote:
But "all" can only refer to those who have the gift, not all in the congregation.
Scripture itself tells us that ALL don't prophesy and didn't then, as it was a special gift and only some had that gift. "Do all prophesy?" Paul asks elsewhere, "Do all speak in tongues?" No, God gifts individuals as He wills and it's never ALL who receive a particular gift. Now, again, perhaps you don't mean to imply this, but it sounds like it.
This is true that he does say that. But rather than get too introspective about what my gift is, I should "make mention that His name is exalted." (Isaiah 12:4)
One of the problems with charismatic meetings is that there is over introspection about who has what gift. We do not have to spend that much energy to discern if a believer has a certain gift. How about we make mention that Jesus is Lord? How about we praise the Lord without worrying if we have the gift of prophesy or not ?
In the previous chapter Paul said that when he was a child he thought like a child. But when he became a man he put away childish things.
As divine life grows in the believers we may be less self conscious about the particular identifiable spiritual gift, as if we need to carefully catalog every action in the gathering.
We would not want a saint to be dumb because they are afraid that they may not have the "gift of prophesy". The main gift is Jesus Christ Himself. If we are in love we may earnestly desire to speak forth Jesus Christ. We can speak forth God - and make mention that His name is exalted. We can all at least say five words to impart life into the gathering.
The tendency in degraded Christianity is usually the opposite today. The participants come after a long week of working. They expect not to have to say anything. They come to sit passively in the pew to be entertained by a good choir and hear an eloquent sermon from a clergyman.
The result is that after years and years, the members do not function and the Body seems to have atrophy. If only your finger can move and your whole body is paralyzed that is sad and abnormal.
The Lord is recovering the normal function of the members of the Body. And a big part of this recovery is the encouragement for all to prophesy. And by that I mean to speak forth the Lord, to speak the Lord into people, to speak out the Lord and to speak from the Lord to one another in love.
Not any kind of speaking is acceptable in the meeting. But the Apostle said we may LEARN. So we should not quickly be too judgmental, but be patient - meeting after meeting. The saints will LEARN love, LEARN to speak what is truthful and healthy in terms of teaching.
I realize that there are differences between a testimony, a teaching, and perhaps a prophesy. I realize that there is a word of knowledge and a word of wisdom. We need not be too overly self conscious about how to catagorize the function that is being exercised.
Rather than be too speculative - "Is that a prophesy or is that a word of wisdom or is that a word of knowledge? Which charismatic gift is that? Which slot do we put that in and say this person has THIS gift and this person has THAT gift ??"
All we really need to discern is whether Christ is the focus and center. We need to sense the love and taste the spiritual life. We do not need to compartmentalize overly, categorize overly, label overmuch.
We give room for the LEARNING of the saints. And seek to build up one another in love and in spiritual life as functioning members of the Lord's Body.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

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 Message 17 by Faith, posted 04-03-2016 1:39 PM jaywill has not replied

  
Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 17 of 52 (781278)
04-03-2016 1:39 PM
Reply to: Message 16 by jaywill
04-03-2016 5:07 AM


deleted. Just saw earlier posts I want to answer first.
Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

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Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 18 of 52 (781283)
04-03-2016 2:44 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by Faith
04-03-2016 2:44 AM


Re: Something Like "Jury Duty"
Faith writes:
God gifts individuals as He wills and it's never ALL who receive a particular gift.
Logically this makes sense as genetics is similar. Arnold Schwarzenegger was gifted with particular genetics that made it possible for him to become a premier bodybuilder. Most of the rest of us could train till the cows came home and never approach his size due to us having less God given genetics.

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

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jaywill
Member (Idle past 1940 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 19 of 52 (781286)
04-03-2016 4:50 PM


There is much ground in the New Testament to view prophets as not restricted to supernatural prediction. We see that to speak encouraging and confirming words in the Holy Spirit is also a function of the NT prophets.
Here are example of both kinds of prophets from the book of Acts:
1.) A FORETELLING
Acts 11:27,28 - "And in those days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
And one of them named Agabus rose up and signified through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over the whole inhabited earth, which occurred in the time of Claudius."
We may consider this something of miraculous prediction. But here is another instance when prophets performed a vital function to simply speak non-miraculous words of encouragement to the weak saints.
2.) EXHORTING AND ENCOURAGING
Acts 15:22, 30, 32 - "It then seemed good to the apostles and the elders with the whole church to choose men from among them to send to Antioch together with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, who is called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. (v.22)
So when they had been sent away, they went down to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they handed them the letter. (v.30)
And Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, exhorted the brothers through much speaking and confirmed them. " (v.32)
These "prophets," Judas and Silas, speak much when they prophesied, in the way of exhortation and confirming. There were no "Thus Saith the Lords" probably. There were no predictions of a miraculous nature. They did speak much. They strengthened the believers in Antioch.
Acts points out that they were "prophets". Acts points out that they were ALSO ... prophets. The word also probably points to Paul and Barnabus who were were told were prophets back in chapter 13.
" Now there were in Antioch, in the local church, prophets and teachers: Barnabas ... and Saul (Paul)." (Acts 13:1)
So we have strong ground to consider the exercise of being a prophet in the church meeting certainly includes speaking words of exhortation and uplifting to confirm and strengthen believers.
" But he who prophesies builds up the church." (1 Cor. 14:4b)
So we need not consider the only kind of New Testament prophet is one who miraculously predicts things.
Barnabas, Paul, Judas, and Silas spoke many words in prophesy to encourage Christians.
The Apostle Paul says all things (including all kinds of SPEAKING) in the meeting of Christians should be done for building up. It is secondary that we be able to identify exactly what kind of gift is being exercised that we may pigeon hole it in a specific charismatic category.
If it is a building up speaking, a building up release of life into the meeting, that is the most important thing to know.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

Replies to this message:
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Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 20 of 52 (781287)
04-03-2016 6:32 PM
Reply to: Message 14 by jaywill
04-03-2016 5:00 AM


Re: charismatic gifts
Jaywill, I like the meeting itself, it sounds like a good time in the Lord and good things happening. I just keep getting thrown by what seems to me to be a very strange use of terminology, such as "prophecy" and "prophesy." You just aren't using them the way scripture uses them. Not everything Biblical that's said is prophecy and it seems confusing to use that term. Then you also say something I find odd when you use Paul's reference to the former worship of "dumb idols" by the Gentiles in the church to mean that he's talking about the ability to speak in the meeting. I see no connection.
I don't think I've said anything about needing to know what everybody's gift is, or anything about legalism either. I have just been having trouble with the way you seem to call everything everybody says "prophecy" and sometimes when you talk about "encouraging" this or that it sounds more like requiring it. All the particular things you describe being said sound fine if they are spontaneous and I'll take your word for it that they are.
The way you use "prophecy" particularly keeps throwing me and I believe you are wrong to use it the way you do, but I don't want to continue discussing it. As I said, it sounds like overall a good Christian gathering and I wish I had a similar group I could participate in.
Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 14 by jaywill, posted 04-03-2016 5:00 AM jaywill has replied

Replies to this message:
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Coragyps
Member (Idle past 734 days)
Posts: 5553
From: Snyder, Texas, USA
Joined: 11-12-2002


Message 21 of 52 (781288)
04-03-2016 6:35 PM
Reply to: Message 19 by jaywill
04-03-2016 4:50 PM


Re:
Profitable Christian meetings might jeopardize your tax-exempt status, Jaywill.
Do you have any corroboration for the occurrence of a world-wide famine between 41 and 53 CE? Mongolia, 46 CE, is not quite worldwide.

"The Christian church, in its attitude toward science, shows the mind of a more or less enlightened man of the Thirteenth Century. It no longer believes that the earth is flat, but it is still convinced that prayer can cure after medicine fails." H L Mencken

This message is a reply to:
 Message 19 by jaywill, posted 04-03-2016 4:50 PM jaywill has replied

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Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 22 of 52 (781289)
04-03-2016 6:36 PM
Reply to: Message 19 by jaywill
04-03-2016 4:50 PM


Re:
If Silas and Judas exhorted and encouraged in a way that is called prophecy in scripture then it came directly from the Lord because that's how the term prophecy is used in scripture. Yes, that's miraculous. I don't use the term to mean predicting the future though that is part of it, I use it to mean receiving and imparting direct communications from God.
I'm not sure where today's common use of the term comes from that applies it to Bible exegesis.
Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

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jaywill
Member (Idle past 1940 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 23 of 52 (781290)
04-03-2016 7:11 PM
Reply to: Message 20 by Faith
04-03-2016 6:32 PM


Re: charismatic gifts
I will set aside the troublesome words prophecy and prophets for the moment. I will simply refer to speaking.
There is speaking in praise.
There is speaking in prayer.
There is speaking in singing and reciting the words of the song as poetry.
For now let us put aside the problematic term and say a bit more about "speaking".
" And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in spirit,
SPEAKING to one another is psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your heart to the Lord,
Giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father,
Being subject to one another in the fear of Christ." (Eph. 5:19-21)
Every Christian should feel he or she has the perfect sovereignty and right to open their home for a regular meeting. This is quite healthy spiritually.
Such a small home meeting should have SPEAKING in the Holy Spirit. What can we speak? Paul says "Speaking to one another in Psalms ..." .
We all know where the Psalms are in the Bible. There is no need to speak to one another the entire Psalm. To speak to one another a portion of a Psalm is good. Suppose you come together in the living room. Someone says "The Lord is my light and salvation. Whom shall I fear?" That is a portion of a Psalm.
Then someone else continues "The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid." We are speaking to one another verses of encouragement from the Psalms. This is good.
Now, when Paul wrote this the only Scripture they had was the Old Testament. But the same principle should apply to the New Testament. That is we can SPEAK to one another portions or whole New Testament verses as well as Psalms.
Paul also says speaking to one another in HYMNS. After you sing a hymn you man SPEAK the hymn. You favorite lines you can SPEAK forth with the release of the spirit. Let us say after singing or even before singing or just as a poem one speaks from the Hymn "Just as I am".
"Lord I come to you JUST AS I AM. Oh Lamb of God, I COME." Then another person replies "Amen Lord! We ALL come!" Then another replies - "Praise the Lord. We Come, We Come" .
Then two at a time look at the line together and proclaim "Oh LAMB OF GOD, We COME !!" Then someone offers a short prayer saying they THANK the Lord that He is the Lamb of God.
"Lord Jesus, WE COME! Lord Jesus WE COME!" proclaim the few people in the room.
This is SPEAKING to one another is Psalms and Hymns. There are spiritual songs. Good healthy spiritual songs can be spoken as well. This kind of speaking out causes the saints to be filled in spirit. And this kind of speaking also comes from the overflow of the Holy Spirit in our born again human spirit. And it builds up the participants in the meeting. The very speaking and hearing imparts life and builds up the believers.
Paul also mentions "Giving thanks" . When you gather together with worldly people you can see how prone everyone is to complaining. The fallen man is always complaining and finding fault. The small gathering of Christians in the home should have much giving of thanks. Giving of thanks is edifying and strengthens faith.
" ... Speaking to one another ... Giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of our God and Father."
When we offer "the sacrifice of praise" giving THANKS for all things, in spite of many troubles, our own faith is empowered. And others are empowered. The meeting will be filled with the glory of God simply by the much thanksgiving.
Circumstances may be difficult. But we stand in faith and give thanks. We speak to one another in thanksgiving. Such offering of praise and thanksgiving will also cause us to be filled in spirit with the Holy Spirit.
As you can see the Apostle left us much to SPEAK in the gatherings. And we should feel 100% qualified to open our homes for meetings of this kind of speaking. By practice and repetition we will LEARN. We may start with a meeting of two. We may add a third person and a fourth.

Speaking is Psalms.
Speaking in Hymns.
Speaking in Spiritual Songs.
Singing.
Giving thanks for all things.
A one half hour meeting of these things will help us to grow and also to be built up together in Christ.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 20 by Faith, posted 04-03-2016 6:32 PM Faith has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 24 by Faith, posted 04-03-2016 8:26 PM jaywill has replied

  
Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


(1)
Message 24 of 52 (781294)
04-03-2016 8:26 PM
Reply to: Message 23 by jaywill
04-03-2016 7:11 PM


small group meetings
The idea of a spiritually focused meeting like that is very appealing to me as long as it truly is spontaneous and guided by the Spirit. We don't need to call it anything in particular like "prophecy."
I have no way to have such a group. I haven't even been to the church I consider mine for a long time, for many reasons. I'm pretty much a recluse and there are many reasons for that, including physical problems that make it hard to get out. Also this church I belong to rejects the idea of small groups as too easily promoting heresy. I think that's a mistake but the church itself is better than others in other ways.
I have my Bibles and a large collection of Christian literature, and I listen to local Christian radio which is unusually good I think at programming the best preachers around the nation and the world, including my own pastor; but I also listen to Sermon Audio where all of these same preachers and others can be found. So I'm never at a loss for good teaching, though I do miss Christian fellowship. The thing is I can't say I actually had much fellowship IN the church anyway.
My own place isn't really available for meetings, too much clutter that's accumulated -- that I'm trying slowly to dispose of. Only three functioning chairs too, but also I don't know where the Christians would come from if I did get the place in shape for such a gathering. I've often prayed for a meeting to be started somewhere in this apartment complex but it hasn't happened.
So this discussion is academic for me at the moment.
Edited by Faith, : No reason given.
Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 23 by jaywill, posted 04-03-2016 7:11 PM jaywill has replied

Replies to this message:
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jaywill
Member (Idle past 1940 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


(1)
Message 25 of 52 (781339)
04-04-2016 7:32 AM
Reply to: Message 21 by Coragyps
04-03-2016 6:35 PM


Re:
quote:
Profitable Christian meetings might jeopardize your tax-exempt status, Jaywill.
Loss of tax exempt status is not what we fear. To miss the move of the Holy Spirit is more our fear. Should Christians let fear of tax policy govern their cooperation with God ? Jesus said that we cannot serve God and mammon. And we ought not to try to serve mammon first and God second.
The anxiety over tax status cannot overrule the local church concerning gaining a profit for the Lord's interest. Jesus said to seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And then all things will be added to us. This is not all things we may want but all things that God deems that we need.
"And if God arrays the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is cast into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, you little faiths?
Therefore do not be anxious, ... For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. " (See Matt. 6:29 - 33)
We include God in our reasoning process. We do not exclude God in our reasoning. We include God's Person, God's power, and God's faithfulness WITHIN [edited] our reasoning and consideration of things. At each stage of our thinking things out, we church-ing people include the reality of God and His faithfulness and love in our analysis.
The profitable meeting is needed by Him for His eternal purpose. It is not simply for man's neediness. He will take care of His need for His people to come together for vitality and benefit. Tax policy will not halt His move through the earth.
Some of us will overcome the fear of tax policy dictating how we can minister to the need of God in His will.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

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jaywill
Member (Idle past 1940 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


(1)
Message 26 of 52 (781341)
04-04-2016 8:20 AM
Reply to: Message 24 by Faith
04-03-2016 8:26 PM


Re: small group meetings
quote:
The idea of a spiritually focused meeting like that is very appealing to me as long as it truly is spontaneous and guided by the Spirit. We don't need to call it anything in particular like "prophecy."
Two people can have a spiritually focused gathering. Two or three gather together in His name are promised His presence.
TWO ... or THREE. So be encouraged that one can first meet in focus with himself and the Lord Jesus. Then one other person can be added and you have TWO.
You may have a focused meeting with your self and the Lord Jesus. And latter you may add one other person for a focused meeting with two. We call this a vital group meeting.
quote:
I have no way to have such a group. I haven't even been to the church I consider mine for a long time, for many reasons.
I understand. This is one problem in the modern Christian mindset. We often do not consider that the Christian life should start from home. We very easily assume spirituality only starts by "going to church". We should consider that the spiritual life begins at home. And it is nourished in the home.
No pastor, no elder, even no apostle can usurp your authority over what goes on in your home. The lines of influence of offices of a church do not extend to an indefinite length. Your home and the homes of each Christian are the domain of spiritual nurture as well as the larger gathering.
quote:
I'm pretty much a recluse and there are many reasons for that, including physical problems that make it hard to get out. Also this church I belong to rejects the idea of small groups as too easily promoting heresy. I think that's a mistake but the church itself is better than others in other ways.
I understand the concern. However, where I meet no one would ever imply that you have no right to have a home meeting. We remain in the teaching and the fellowship of the apostles.
If we would depart from the teaching and fellowship of the apostles then there may be cause for concern. However, that concern still does not trump a Christians right to gather in his or her home for a meeting for mutuality and profit.
Isn't there quite a lot of teaching and prayer two people can do without getting into major doctrines which are controversial? The needs to pray do not always involve teaching at all. But to pray is vital and profitable.
There is much enjoyment of Christ that can be had without having to define doctrines all the time.
quote:
I have my Bibles and a large collection of Christian literature, and I listen to local Christian radio which is unusually good I think at programming the best preachers around the nation and the world, including my own pastor; but I also listen to Sermon Audio where all of these same preachers and others can be found. So I'm never at a loss for good teaching, though I do miss Christian fellowship. The thing is I can't say I actually had much fellowship IN the church anyway.
I am glad you are getting some nourishment in the spirit from these things.
Praise the Lord.
quote:
My own place isn't really available for meetings, too much clutter that's accumulated -- that I'm trying slowly to dispose of. Only three functioning chairs too, but also I don't know where the Christians would come from if I did get the place in shape for such a gathering. I've often prayed for a meeting to be started somewhere in this apartment complex but it hasn't happened.
This is not "THOU SHALT HAVE A HOME MEETING!"
This is simply some encouragement that it is profitable to gather in your home. And maybe our fellowship is an answer to prayer. I am glad that you do receive some spiritual nourishment from the sources you have. And your coming to the forum gives a Christian like me some benefit from what you have received.
In a sense, our fellowship over this medium is kind of a small gathering in your home and in mine. But face to face is also good.
quote:
So this discussion is academic for me at the moment.
OK. I'll try to remember this. But I would say that a home meeting is just one kind of profitable Christian meeting. And a larger meeting should also be profitable.
I would encourage you not to be discouraged about petitioning the Lord Jesus for the possibility of having such a meeting, if not at your home perhaps at another's whose place you both decide is more suitable.
But if TWO brothers really love the Lord Jesus, the clutter around the room should not be so much of a factor that it forbids them to meet.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 24 by Faith, posted 04-03-2016 8:26 PM Faith has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 27 by Faith, posted 04-04-2016 12:43 PM jaywill has replied

  
Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 27 of 52 (781368)
04-04-2016 12:43 PM
Reply to: Message 26 by jaywill
04-04-2016 8:20 AM


Re: small group meetings
In my case, if you weren't aware of it, we're talking two sisters rather than two brothers. Yes, I continue to pray, off and on at least, that some kind of fellowship will become possible here.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 26 by jaywill, posted 04-04-2016 8:20 AM jaywill has replied

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jaywill
Member (Idle past 1940 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 28 of 52 (781495)
04-04-2016 6:04 PM
Reply to: Message 27 by Faith
04-04-2016 12:43 PM


Re: small group meetings
Two sisters is fine. However, if it were me I would make sure that both are able to participate. I would not advise you meet if only one is available. That is unless some other participant is there.
That is if you are of the opposite sex. If you are a sister yourself then of course there is no problem is one sister comes.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

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 Message 27 by Faith, posted 04-04-2016 12:43 PM Faith has not replied

  
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1940 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 29 of 52 (781537)
04-05-2016 2:43 AM


Another passage on speaking is Colossians 3:16.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God."
Ephesian 5:19 said "Speaking to one another ..." . Colossians 3:16 said "teaching and admonishing one another ..."
Colossians 3:16 mentions " ... the word of Christ" which would of course mean the New Testament. But we can consider the whole Bible as "the word of Christ" because Christ is God incarnate.
We should not underestimate what rich content for a Christian meeting is furnish by the word of Christ, by the word of God.
Today's degraded Christianity depends entirely too much on gimmicks, entertainment, and preoccupations with artistic performances of different kinds. These things replace Christ and often quench the Holy Spirit. These things often exalt something other than God.
Colossians speaks of a teaching and admonishing out of the word of Christ which is dwelling in the speakers richly. This does not mean simply they have memorized many verses. Rather the words of Christ have had a dwelling place in their daily living. The words of Christ have a place in their hearts richly supplying us with nourishment to our innermost spiritual being.
Then when we come together, the rich word of Christ that we have live through we speak out in the Holy Spirit - teaching and admonishing one another. Needless to say the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs should be songs centered upon and exalting God and Christ.
The participants in the meeting may also READ aloud together and in turns "the word of Christ". Paul told Timothy to attend to the public reading of the Scripture.
" Until I come, attend to the public reading, to the exhortation, to the teaching." ( 1 Timothy 4:13)
This implies reading of the Scriptures together. And this reading should be done with a praising and prayerful spirit so that the very breath (so to speak) of God is inhaled. The living God breaths His essence into the word of God. So we should read together to breath in the Spirit of God, as thought of as inhaling the breath of God. All Scripture is "God breathed".
"All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable ..." (See 2 Tim. 3:16a)
So the reading together of the Scripture and of "the word of Christ" with the exercise of the praying innermost being is extremely profitable to the meeting.
It is not the volume of verses one has remembered in the mind, which is that profitable. But it is the inhaling of the divine life breathed into the Scripture, the "God breathed" essence of the word which is profitable. ALL Scripture is profitable when taken as the breath of God -
" All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
That the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16,17)
We can come together to READ aloud the Scripture as breathing in God.
We can EQUIP ourselves with the rich Spirit filled word of Christ.
The word of God is not only the living breath of God but the feeding milk of God to nourish for spiritual growth.
So Peter says to LONG FOR that word of God as a babe longs for milk for feeding.
" As newborn babes, long for the guileless milk of the word in order that by it you may grow unto salvation." ( 1 Peter 2:2)
Here it is the FOOD of the word of God which is emphasized. Even TASTING the living God deep within is mentioned.
" As newborn babes, long for the guileless milk of the word in order that by it you may grow unto salvation,
If you have TASTED that the Lord is good."
We know how to TASTE the Spirit of God when we pray. We should also TASTE the Spirit of God when we read aloud the Scripture. If we do not know that well how to TASTE God, then we should mix our reading of Scripture WITH prayer.
I will speak about mixing the word of God with prayer latter.
But you can see that gimmicks and entertainment are not needed in a Christian meeting. We are not coming together to feed the flesh or the natural man. We are coming together to feed the spiritual man and to "eat" the words of God.
Jeremiah said he found the words of God and did EAT them.
" Your words were found and I ate them, And Your word became to me the gladness and joy of my heart,
For I am called by Your name, O Jehovah, God of hosts." (Jeremiah 15:16)
God's word were "eaten". He said he found God's word and ATE God's words. And Peter said to long for the word of God as a babe longs for milk. And Peter says we should have TASTED God. That is tasted that the Lord of GOOD. God is good for food. God's word is good for nourishment, for growth and for making the man of God equipped for every good work.
The word of God therefore is profitable to read in the Spirit with and exercised regenerated spirit by Christians when we come together.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

  
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1940 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 30 of 52 (781643)
04-06-2016 8:14 AM


All Believers Speaking Meetings
There are times when a experienced or gifted Christian needs a longer time to speak in a Christian meeting. But the strong tendency in today's degraded Christianity is that this is the weekly norm.
People work hard all week and come on Sunday tired, only wanting to passively sit and receive entertainment and an eloquent sermon. In church history the Quakers saw the problem with this and attempt to practice all participants speaking meetings.
I have been to Quaker meetings. One problem with the Quaker meetings I attended was that you can sit in silence for up to eight to ten minutes before someone feels the enlightened urge to stand up and speak. Sitting in silence like this, IMO, is inadaquate. Whether it is as bad as a one man's or one woman's eloquent sermon week after week, is hard to tell.
But here is what is better. The Christians have so enjoyed Christ during every other day of the week that they come OVERFLOWING with goodly matters to share about Jesus Christ. There is so much to say that believers are not self conscious or waiting for a special inspiration. Rather they are more bubbling over with thanksgiving, praise, exhortation, encouragement, prayer, singing, and clear reading of the Word of God in spirit.
Again, no once comes to the meeting empty. This is a goal towards the "learners" move. All may learn and all may be encouraged, is what the Apostle Paul said.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

Replies to this message:
 Message 31 by Stile, posted 04-06-2016 9:12 AM jaywill has replied
 Message 32 by Faith, posted 04-06-2016 9:13 AM jaywill has replied

  
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