tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post3380257022010825484..comments2024-02-27T10:27:03.841-05:00Comments on The Double Edged Sword: Just Who Do You Think You Are?Joel Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02474230869182287895noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-84145003882797718282008-11-25T10:16:00.000-05:002008-11-25T10:16:00.000-05:00I was hoping after the red letters input of being ...I was hoping after the red letters input of being born again you'd finish the verse. I blogged this after the 1st comment and before reading this, but the rest of it says,"Ye must be born again,of the water and of the spirit,to SEE the kingdom and to understand the things of it"...And he referred to Acts 2:38 of the salvation plan Peter taught. The spirit saves us after obeying Peters commandment.We are not able to be fruitful,the spirit is God that is good unto all things, we accept and allow HIM reign over our lives,submitting all to HIM!..AMENAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03136181089876295658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-60091518258974761622008-11-07T00:53:00.000-05:002008-11-07T00:53:00.000-05:00This came out about 2 weeks ago. If you haven't se...This came out about 2 weeks ago. If you haven't seen it already, please take the time to watch it. It's long but worth it.<BR/><BR/>10 Indictments Against the Modern Church<BR/><BR/>http://www.tenindictments.com/Michehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18326406973041390454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-22071902243050014602008-10-25T05:45:00.000-04:002008-10-25T05:45:00.000-04:00Nadine: Words cannot express how elated I am to he...<B>Nadine:</B> Words cannot express how elated I am to hear from so many people that are confirming what the Spirit is saying. Our identity in Him must be discovered!<BR/><BR/><B>Sue:</B> Thanks for stopping in.Joel Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02474230869182287895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-55664946670819802802008-10-24T09:22:00.000-04:002008-10-24T09:22:00.000-04:00Thank You Joel! xox, Sue(suzanne7)Thank You Joel! xox, Sue<BR/>(suzanne7)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-1793486112606754122008-10-24T09:12:00.000-04:002008-10-24T09:12:00.000-04:00Amen and amen. This, my friend, is full of...no.....Amen and amen. This, my friend, is full of...no... IT IS tje WISDOM of THE AGES. IT IS what God wants his children to know, his church to know. But, I know you know that already; You didn't need to hear it from me because when God wants His truth imparted, the messenger needs no confirmation from a human soul. Thank you for being obedient to the Holy Spirit's leading. God spoke to me in a strong way. <BR/><BR/>nadineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-91581571319844582172008-10-24T07:07:00.000-04:002008-10-24T07:07:00.000-04:00Leon: I'm glad the piece spoke to you. May we all ...<B>Leon:</B> I'm glad the piece spoke to you. May we all seek to grasp the fullness of who we are in Christ.<BR/><BR/><B>Mattiyahu:</B> I'm glad to see you sticking around. It is encouraging to edify one another and let each other know that their is a part of the Body that is desiring true identity and unity.<BR/><BR/><B>Like a Mustard Seed:</B> That's some story Daniel. It always amazes me that many church-goers feel the need to stand up for their church far more than their Christianity. I pray that you continue to walk in forgiveness and assurance that, as stated in the blog, you are carrying out your responsibility as part of the Body. I praise God that He has opened our eyes to see the way out of the "leadership and laity" mindset.Joel Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02474230869182287895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-91730147305327868532008-10-23T13:45:00.000-04:002008-10-23T13:45:00.000-04:00Dang... This post really connected with me, and w...Dang... This post really connected with me, and with our story, in a pretty personal way. <BR/><BR/>As soon as I read the title, it sent me back to an instance several months back, when a pastor of new church plant we had been meeting with a few times was standing in our home, pointing his finger at me (just like in the picture), and asking me, "Just who do you think you are?"<BR/><BR/>He was very angry. He and his wife had come to our house for dinner, and he had come prepared, (with a notebook and everything), to rebuke us for some posts we had done over the previous couple of weeks, in which we had examined the whole question of who is minister, and the matter of pastor's pay, etc. He started out composed, but after a few minutes, he was livid, and couldn't restrain his anger any longer. We tried to calmly bring the conversation back to the specific verses we had been pondering, which had brought us to these conclusions, however, every time he would divert the 'conversation' away from that, and make it all about how hurtful and condemning our writings were to anyone in the (professional) pastorate.<BR/><BR/>When he said, "Who do you think you are", he said it in reference to our blog. "Who do you think is even going to read it?" He continued, "Who are you trying to reach?" Who were we to say such things? Nobody was going to pay attention to us and are dumb little blog. We were just 'laypeople'. Oh, he didn't actually use that word, but it was clear as a bell in the way in which he was talking down to us, like naughty little children who had disobeyed. Eventually, my wife couldn't take it any more, and had to ask them to leave. (I wish I had taken the initiative and done that...)<BR/><BR/>The truly sad part is that we had meeting with this man and his family, and he had talked a great deal about not wanting to be like the big, coorporate-style churches, but instead desired a more intimate, relational setting for fellowship. They had hosted a house-church in their home for a few years before, and were looking to start a church that had that kind of 'feel'. With an emphasis on weekly in-home meetings, while still having an informal Sunday service. <BR/><BR/>In the end, despite all the talk which on the surface led us to believe that what this guy was longing for was a return to what the scriptures describe and teach, the differences were only skin deep. Ultimately, he did not regard everyone as an ambassador for Christ, as someone who could read the bible and understand it through the light of the Spirit. This is what is truly at the heart of what people need to grasp. When his authority, (or the idea of a pastor getting a paycheck) was called into question, he resorted to the tried-and-true tactic of trying to make us feel small, insignificant, and uneducated. The bullying tactic was used in full force. But, God used that encounter to prompt us to cling to him all the more, and to learn to not be intimidated by those who would like us to just keep silent. <BR/><BR/>When I look at blogs like this one, and we are finding more and more of them all the time, we see that God is indeed up to something. We aren't the only ones saying these things... He really does want his bride to know that we are all ambassadors of Christ, we were all purchased by His blood, and we all of the Spirit of Christ within us, if we truly put our trust in Him.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for having the courage to speak for Truth.<BR/><BR/>In Christ, DanielLike a Mustard Seedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042371209325559952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-66811301656144999182008-10-23T13:16:00.000-04:002008-10-23T13:16:00.000-04:00Thanks Brotha...I needed that. I am loving your bl...Thanks Brotha...I needed that. I am loving your blogs. Look forward to reading whenever they come out. It is always refreshing and inspiring to see members of His Body so passionate about Him and unveiling Truth. Give Thanks. <BR/><BR/>peace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-25975992044607639862008-10-23T12:25:00.000-04:002008-10-23T12:25:00.000-04:00Joel, I'm practically speechless..and that's a rar...Joel, I'm practically speechless..and that's a rarity. I'll post again soon to throw my 1/2 cent in with more detail but for now all I can say is WOW! I was truly moved, and touched by this blog.<BR/><BR/>I would not be able to argue, or debate a single thing from this detailed, and well presented work. It's very obvious to see the Holy Spirit of God Moved you in this effort..which really says it all.<BR/><BR/>Jesus Christ MUST be at the FOREFRONT of EVERYTHING we do in this life as His Ambassadors...why do many not understand that?<BR/><BR/>"(Sigh) OK, let me calm down a bit here"<BR/><BR/>No WAY brother..you are on FIRE for The Lord Jesus..no need to calmn down from that! :)<BR/><BR/>Leon IIIAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17584098445415613110noreply@blogger.com