need advice

[shiftyQ]

Five weeks ago without me asking for or wanting it, GOD made his presence known to me in an undeniable way, knocking me off the agnostic fence and into belief. In those five weeks, sometimes willingly, sometimes kicking and screaming I have been brought to a place where I need to find Christians to answer questions and clarify a whole lotta things. Before I pose my problem i'll say that I have had several experiences in the past with demons (literally), ranging from nuetral, to mischievious, to malevolent. so I am aware how thoroughly they can mask their intentions with goodness. My problem is, yesterday I asked GOD to put me in touch via whatever sign with a church that I could talk to and trust. Later that day a girl shoves a business card from a church in my hand. I do some research on this group and find a lot of disillusioned reviews. The thing that disturbs me is I see an article where the leader of this group publically giving positive affirmation to a well known world church. I have done some research on how thorough satanism is part of our society and this world 'church' seems to be a branch of satan. Would GOD really put me in touch with a church here in Australia tht supports such an anti christian organisation? Or considering that I am still a sinner, therefore have demons still around trying to influence me, am I being led astray? Can anyone endorse a Christian church in Brisbane that is good for a new believer? One that isnt about money, and allows freedom of thoughts and doubts. Thanks.

 

[timf]

Would GOD really put me in touch with a church here in Australia tht supports such an anti christian organisation?

You might want to consider the possibility that God let this happen to discourage you from a path in the Christian life defined by signs and portents which are often false or easily misunderstood.

God is truth. God draws us to Jesus who is truth. Jesus tells us, "all who are of the truth hear my words". When a person becomes a Christian, he is in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of truth.

God offers wisdom to all who ask. We should ask.

Jesus tells us that if we abide (live) in His word, we are His disciples and we will know the truth and the truth will set us free.

I would suggest a program of immersion in the word of God such that you grow in wisdom and truth and are less likely to be tricked.

I suggest reading through the Bible with a high-lighter so you can come back to the passages that that seem contradictory or confusing for later study. You may want to also consider downloading esword free Bible study software.

 

[Emmy]

Dear shiftyQ. I do not know much of different Churches, but I do know:
God would Never advise you to join anything to do with Satan or his followers.
Ignore it and keep on searching for a Church where God-Father, God-Son, and
God-Holy-Spirit dwell and rule. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[LilLamb219]

God is not the one who gave you that card. God did not tell you to attend that church. Nor was that an answer to your prayer. Satan on the other hand knows you're looking for a church and is very eager to lead you astray.

One good thing has come of this...you did your research and probably learned more about God and what Christians believe.

I'm not sure which churches are good ones to go to in your area. Don't give up...it might take a few visits to find the right one.

And yes, demons could still be pestering you...hold tight to God to ward them off.

 

[vjcoppola]

LilLamb is right. God will not direct you to falsehood. Australia has a good, biblical, branch of the Anglican Communion, one of the three historic churches. Anglican Churches, if they actually adhere to historic Anglicanism, are biblically sound, and are both evangelical and catholic. No strange or unusual beliefs just biblical faith in a traditional setting.

 

[parsley]

Here is a link for some churches. This denomination is not for everyone, but you don't have to commit to anything, just in visiting a church.

Vineyard Brisbane West

Once you get there, you might find people who can recommend something that fits what you're looking for. Also, you might try the regional forums here for people who lived in the area.

God is not the one who gave you that card. God did not tell you to attend that church. Nor was that an answer to your prayer. Satan on the other hand knows you're looking for a church and is very eager to lead you astray.

One good thing has come of this...you did your research and probably learned more about God and what Christians believe.

You will hear Christians talk about amazing coincidences, ways that God speaks to them. This is a good time to start honing how you hear things, and discerning truth by comparing God's written principles against what you are hearing. We all go through that, and even long-time Christians make mistakes in hearing from God. Since this one is a no-brainer, you can feel good about the fact that you did know, you did discern, and you researched sensibly with desire to find God's will. That's a good thing.

 

[Radagast]

Five weeks ago without me asking for or wanting it, GOD made his presence known to me in an undeniable way, knocking me off the agnostic fence and into belief. In those five weeks, sometimes willingly, sometimes kicking and screaming I have been brought to a place where I need to find Christians to answer questions and clarify a whole lotta things.

Glad to hear it. Feel free to ask questions here.

The thing that disturbs me is I see an article where the leader of this group publically giving positive affirmation to a well known world church.

Which "world church"? Anglican? Catholic?

There are plenty of good churches in Brisbane. When I'm there I attend this Presbyterian church in the city.

 

[thesunisout]

Five weeks ago without me asking for or wanting it, GOD made his presence known to me in an undeniable way, knocking me off the agnostic fence and into belief. In those five weeks, sometimes willingly, sometimes kicking and screaming I have been brought to a place where I need to find Christians to answer questions and clarify a whole lotta things. Before I pose my problem i'll say that I have had several experiences in the past with demons (literally), ranging from nuetral, to mischievious, to malevolent. so I am aware how thoroughly they can mask their intentions with goodness. My problem is, yesterday I asked GOD to put me in touch via whatever sign with a church that I could talk to and trust. Later that day a girl shoves a business card from a church in my hand. I do some research on this group and find a lot of disillusioned reviews. The thing that disturbs me is I see an article where the leader of this group publically giving positive affirmation to a well known world church. I have done some research on how thorough satanism is part of our society and this world 'church' seems to be a branch of satan. Would GOD really put me in touch with a church here in Australia tht supports such an anti christian organisation? Or considering that I am still a sinner, therefore have demons still around trying to influence me, am I being led astray? Can anyone endorse a Christian church in Brisbane that is good for a new believer? One that isnt about money, and allows freedom of thoughts and doubts. Thanks.

Greetings brother and welcome. I had the same exact experience as you did; I was formally agnostic but God tore down that fence I was sitting on and showed me that He is real. I was not looking for it, nor did I ask for it. I believe this is what predestination looks like.

As far as following signs, that is the way God used to lead me before I really got to know Him. After receiving more of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, you recognize that He is an internal witness who will tell you what to do and where to go. There will surely be signs, but you won't have to scratch your head very often if you are under the control of the Holy Spirit. Pray and ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit and to give you spiritual discernment.

One thing I'll tell you in regards to doubts..when I first became a Christian I wasn't sure what I could trust in the bible. I started doing a lot of research, and the more I researched in my doubt, the more doubt I found. I asked God to lead me to the answers, but because I was approaching Him in doubt, I only found more questions. Then I stumbled across this verse:

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

I decided then that I would stop questioning the bible and accept it as Gods word, and that I would trust God to lead me to the answers. When I did that, that is when God gave me the answers I was looking for, but not before then. This is what scripture says:

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

You won't get good results approaching God with doubts. He says we must approach Him in faith. Coming out of the world, growing up in a secular home, it was very hard for me to surrender this to God. We all want the answers right now, and we want it all to make sense right now. What God says is that He will explain it to you on His own time, and in the meantime He wants you to surrender your fears and anxieties about it to Him. What also really helped was this:

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

It says the Holy Spirit will guide us into *all* truth, and that really took a weight off of my mind. What an amazing statement that is. To me, the quest for truth was all important, so to know that the Holy Spirit will guide me into all truth was tremendously comforting.

If you can learn to follow Proverbs 3:5, you will have a much easier time of it. God wants us to surrender our intellect to Him, and give up on trying to figure Him out. Remember that your worldly wisdom never got you anywhere near God, which is the true and actual reality. He had to tap you on the shoulder so that you could see that He is there. So put no confidence in your ability to suss out Gods ways. As high as the Heavens are above the Earth, so are His ways higher than our ways. What we are called to do is not figure God out, but to trust Him, and believe His word.

btw..no, that sign wasn't from God. God showed you all the information you needed to understand that it wasn't. Just believe that God will answer your prayer, and lead you to the right church, and then keep yours ears open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God bless!

 

[ACTRAISEROtto]

Five weeks ago without me asking for or wanting it, GOD made his presence known to me in an undeniable way, knocking me off the agnostic fence and into belief. In those five weeks, sometimes willingly, sometimes kicking and screaming I have been brought to a place where I need to find Christians to answer questions and clarify a whole lotta things. Before I pose my problem i'll say that I have had several experiences in the past with demons (literally), ranging from nuetral, to mischievious, to malevolent. so I am aware how thoroughly they can mask their intentions with goodness. My problem is, yesterday I asked GOD to put me in touch via whatever sign with a church that I could talk to and trust. Later that day a girl shoves a business card from a church in my hand. I do some research on this group and find a lot of disillusioned reviews. The thing that disturbs me is I see an article where the leader of this group publically giving positive affirmation to a well known world church. I have done some research on how thorough satanism is part of our society and this world 'church' seems to be a branch of satan. Would GOD really put me in touch with a church here in Australia tht supports such an anti christian organisation? Or considering that I am still a sinner, therefore have demons still around trying to influence me, am I being led astray? Can anyone endorse a Christian church in Brisbane that is good for a new believer? One that isnt about money, and allows freedom of thoughts and doubts. Thanks.

I'm sorry to tell you that many new(old) age belifes and doctrines
have crept into the church.
I actually dont go to any church, because of so many false techers,
So I dont go because I dont want to be lead astray,and I also dont want to add to there punishment.To many people try to make the bible fit there theorys.
But I do know of some authentic christian teachers, I hope these guys help you out as much as they did for me.
Dr.Scott johnson(One of my top picks)
Russ Dizdar(He teaches about how todays churches have been infiltrated.
Sheildoftheson(By micheal Hurr check out his preaching on adam&eve.
The vigilant christian mario(or just ''Thevigilantchristian''
Greg dixon(HIs teaching titled :Ceasar calls in the chips''
All of these men and their videos can be found on youtube
and they provide insightful,l relevant information, as well as spiritual information, and whats christianty and whats not.
Hope this helps.

 

[thesunisout]

I'm sorry to tell you that many new(old) age belifes and doctrines
have crept into the church.
I actually dont go to any church, because of so many false techers,
So I dont go because I dont want to be lead astray,and I also dont want to add to there punishment.To many people try to make the bible fit there theorys.
But I do know of some authentic christian teachers, I hope these guys help you out as much as they did for me.
Dr.Scott johnson(One of my top picks)
Russ Dizdar(He teaches about how todays churches have been infiltrated.
Sheildoftheson(By micheal Hurr check out his preaching on adam&eve.
The vigilant christian mario(or just ''Thevigilantchristian''
Greg dixon(HIs teaching titled :Ceasar calls in the chips''
All of these men and their videos can be found on youtube
and they provide insightful,l relevant information, as well as spiritual information, and whats christianty and whats not.
Hope this helps.

It's not good not to go to church. Scripture tells us not to forsake the gathering together of the saints. We should all be connected to what God is doing in our local communities through the church, and be in fellowship with the brothers and sisters who take part in that. Surely, there are many false teachers out there, but this idea that all churches are compromised is ridiculous. I have been to several good churches that teach sound doctrine and have solid pastors. God gave us all spiritual gifts, not for ourselves, but to minister to others. You are depriving your brothers and sisters of the spiritual gifts God gave you to minister to them by not going. And if you feel that they are all deceived, then you should be there helping them, so either way Christians should be going to a church.

 

[ACTRAISEROtto]

Decived christians are the hardest group to witness to.
Most christians dont even belive in the nephilm in genese.

 

[thesunisout]

Decived christians are the hardest group to witness to.
Most christians dont even belive in the nephilm in genese.

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. It's not us who do anything, it is a work of the Holy Spirit that changes hearts. Christians should be part of a local body of believers according to scripture:

Hebrews 10:25

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

As far as the Nephilim, I believe the limited information that scripture gives us about them, but there are also many ways to interpret it. It really isn't at all important in the long run because Revelation tells us exactly how things are going to happen, and you don't see the Nephilim anywhere in Revelation. If the subject were that important God would have mentioned them, don't you think?

 

[ACTRAISEROtto]

I agree with you on what you have to say.
But I disagree with you on 2 points.
Daniel 2;verse 43:And Where as you sawest Iron mixed with miry clay,
THEY SHALL MINGLE THEMSELVES WITH THE SEED OF MAN;
But THEY shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.By using the word''THEY'' this implys something that is non -human trying to defile the human race.
And this verse: And as it was in the days of Noa, so too shall it be in the time of the end. There were such beings known as Flesh giants in noa's days.(Just one of the reasons why mens heart's will fail, them, cause lets face it people, when there is an 80 foot monster confronting you, and you dont know anything about the one true god, umm yea your going to bow down to him.)
Also this: Genesis chpter 3 verse16
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between THY SEED and HER SEED; It shall brusie thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel.
In the book of enoch it is said that these giants(the product of human&angel sexual relations) are chained in the earth for 70x70 generations awaitng to be released for the end times(And mens hearts shall fail them)
So you see The nephilim beings play a very prominate role in the end times.
Also the bible is written chroniclogical and sequentialy, in order.
However the book of revelations is not wrttien in perfect sequential order.It states some events twice.
And the bible is also left somewhat ambigoues by God himself just so that you will put your faith on him and not his words(some many christians worship gods words and not him, see that you dont do that)

 

[thesunisout]

I agree with you on what you have to say.
But I disagree with you on 2 points.
Daniel 2;verse 43:And Where as you sawest Iron mixed with miry clay,
THEY SHALL MINGLE THEMSELVES WITH THE SEED OF MAN;
But THEY shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.By using the word''THEY'' this implys something that is non -human trying to defile the human race.
And this verse: And as it was in the days of Noa, so too shall it be in the time of the end. There were such beings known as Flesh giants in noa's days.(Just one of the reasons why mens heart's will fail, them, cause lets face it people, when there is an 80 foot monster confronting you, and you dont know anything about the one true god, umm yea your going to bow down to him.)
Also this: Genesis chpter 3 verse16
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between THY SEED and HER SEED; It shall brusie thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel.
In the book of enoch it is said that these giants(the product of human&angel sexual relations) are chained in the earth for 70x70 generations awaitng to be released for the end times(And mens hearts shall fail them)
So you see The nephilim beings play a very prominate role in the end times.
Also the bible is written chroniclogical and sequentialy, in order.
However the book of revelations is not wrttien in perfect sequential order.It states some events twice.
And the bible is also left somewhat ambigoues by God himself just so that you will put your faith on him and not his words(some many christians worship gods words and not him, see that you dont do that)

The problem with your argument is that the book of enoch is not inspired, and it contradicts the scripture in a number of places. Please watch this video and see the evidence which proves that it is not from God:

The Case Against the Book of Enoch - YouTube

 

[ACTRAISEROtto]

If that's true I wonder why jesus christ allowed luke and all of his apostles to read and even quote from the book of enoch?

 

[Alive_Again]

I don't know what a "world church" is. You haven't told us who they are, so we can't judge for or against it. The web is full of critics against the real move of God (all in Jesus' name too). The church is NOT a place of the world. We are pilgrims in this world and are not of the world.

As always, I recommend a Spirit filled, charismatic church. Many denominational churches have a lot of traditional, dry form. The very reason so many join cults. A spirit DOES minister in Mormon and Jehovah's Witness churches. The problem is, is that that spirit is demonic. The whole dry form thing (to me) is like going to a funeral and many won't even step into a church now because of their familiarity with those churches. We are told we can KNOW GOD today intimately by His Spirit and bear supernatural fruit of Jesus in our lives. Anything less is just religion.

Many denominational churches have charismatic prayer groups, where the power of the Holy Spirit is preached and experienced. Many in the mainstream churches find out after years that they didn't even know the Lord. They just kept going to church, only later finding out when they finally committed their lives to Jesus themselves (not their parents supposedly doing it for them), but actually being born again, they look back on their dead life, exchanging it for a real walk.

The born again Holy Spirit experience, is relative to the Passover Feast of the Old Testament. The Spirit filled "Charismatic" experience is relative to the Feast of Pentecost. This is Jesus' perfect will for all church members. You can be a Christian and still go to Heaven without it, but you will not know the Lord like you can by entering into this feast and being filled. The gifts of the Spirit found in the early church are for today, and the reality of God in these fellowships makes life exciting and full of expectancy.

In addition to these denominational prayer groups, "Full Gospel" churches and many non-denominational churches are 'charismatic". This is where anointing power is present.

Go for it all!

 

[ACTRAISEROtto]

I have not used the phrase ''World church'' not once.
But no matter what the size of the church, big or tiny they ussualy got it wrong.

 

[thesunisout]

If that's true I wonder why jesus christ allowed luke and all of his apostles to read and even quote from the book of enoch?

Did you watch the video?

 

[ACTRAISEROtto]

I will later.

 

[asiyreh]

I suggest reading through the Bible with a high-lighter so you can come back to the passages that that seem contradictory or confusing for later study.

One of our pastors encouraged us not to do this recently. He says the next time you read it you have a tenancy to focus on the highlighted area and miss the rest. He called it the Christian Passover lol.