where's the fire

[spikenard]

I am longing to see revival spread through America. I go to Church every Sunday and see people bored. I go to Bible studies and see people bored. I can't seem to find anybody exited about Jesus. No one smiles no one cries no one shows any kind of emotion whatsoever. Why is this and How can I change it? I lead music and I give messages. Please give some advice.

 

[Peter]

Remember that you can do nothing to change the hearts and minds of men. However, "the fervent prayers of a righteous man does much good."

It's good to have the zeal to see others grow in their faith, but trust God for any turn arounds. You must be faithful to your calling too. Keep in mind that God had a prophet whom He told ahead of time he would have no converts. The prophet was faithful any way.

As an EO christian, we pray every week that those who have turned away from the truth would be brought back. Does it work? God knows.

Peace.

Peter

 

[water_ripple]

Well I really do not have any advice, but I do have something to add. I am a crier. The beauty and truth of the word of God always brings me to tears. Even if I am just reading scripture I will cry. One time while I was in church the preacher was giving a sermon on the importance of mothers and how God views mothers. The preacher asked all of the mothers to stand. (It was mother's day) I stood while I was listening to the sermon and the beauty of God's word touched and humbled me. I began to cry. Big teardrops ran down my face. I could feel the presence of God all around me, and I was moved. Nobody else was showing anything at all except for maybe that they were getting tired of standing b/c most of them were fidgeting. At the end of the service everybody even the preacher was asking me what was wrong with me. I told them nothing was wrong with me that the sermon had touched me. They all reacted like I was weird. They were talking about me. I was not embarrased, but since I have not gone back to chruch. I have recently been going to bible study though. The preacher still treats me like I am wrong about the way I feel about certian issues. So now I feel as if I need to seek another church. I feel like I should not be made a specticale b/c I cried in reaction to the words of God. I dunno maybe it is just me.

 

[hotarugari]

Maybe this sounds goofy but people typically only get what they put into something. If all they do is attend service you shouldn't expect them to be crying or especially moved unless you have caught them off guard.

If you lead a group where they have to individually go through the Bible and pray and seek, then I think you will see a greater amount of change if for no other reason, because thier own investment in the gospel is higher.

 

[Galadriel]

Well, just because people don't cry or show outward emotions does not necessarily mean that they are bored and not being affected. Some people just do not show it outwardly like others do. I am like this, and do not cry or anything, but it does not mean that I am lax or anything, I just don't get emotional like that.

 

[Blessedone_74]

water_ripple it's sad that the people at your church made you feel that way. It sounds like they don't understand what it is truly like to have the Holy Spirit working inside them. No, not everyone has to show outward emotions, but no one should make some one feel bad because of it. I hope and pray that you find another church that will embrace you fully. Good Luck!!

 

[hotarugari]

I was not embarrased, but since I have not gone back to chruch. I have recently been going to bible study though. The preacher still treats me like I am wrong about the way I feel about certian issues. So now I feel as if I need to seek another church. I feel like I should not be made a specticale b/c I cried in reaction to the words of God. I dunno maybe it is just me.

Don't worry about it Ripple. You are His. That's what matters, right?

It's like when David danced before the Lord when he was not totally clothed. David saw past all the people to honor God with what he did. His wife didn't feel the same though.

 

[SAVEVERYONE]

Dont worry spiknard the Power of God is going to hit america and the world so hard there not going to know what to do, I see america being shaken by the power of GOD wether they like it or not as well as the whole world the world is not going to Know what to with us christians who are possesed by the Holy Spirit hallelujah, Be ready its intensifying even more theres so many people not even aware of what is going on, the spirit of God is pouring out his spirit on all flesh.

 

[jbarcher]

Do all that God has told you to do...in other words, simply serve.

I know it hurts knowing that there are so many people that need to be saved, so many that need to be reached...but we can only do our part. And do our part we shall..

 

[Rafael]

Go out and help people..... become a leader of good works as that is one of the reasons we come together:
Heb. 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
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.

Food banks, visitation of the elderly and poor, community projects. Become doers instead of hearers.

JOHN 17:3 And this is the way to have eternal life--by KNOWING you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth!

Jeremiah 22:16 He defended the cause of the POOR & NEEDY, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to KNOW me! declares the Lord.

I JOHN 4:7-3 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and KNOWS God. Whoever does not love does not KNOW God, because God is love.

I JOHN 3:16-19 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can. the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with ACTIONS and TRUTH. This then is how we KNOW that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us.

 

[leastone]

I go to Church every Sunday and see people bored. I go to Bible studies and see people bored. I can't seem to find anybody exited about Jesus. No one smiles no one cries no one shows any kind of emotion whatsoever. Why is this and How can I change it? I lead music and I give messages. Please give some advice.

Hi Spikenard:

For many reasons I have had to move a lot in my life, and so I have attended a lot of churches. And quite honestly, unless the Spirit of the Lord is there I find church to be quite boring. "Churchy" stuff just holds no interest for me and I find that many churches try to substitute emotional stimulation and man-inspired works for the true movement of the Holy Spirit.

Some years ago the Lord began to teach me about allowing Him to lead me on both where to attend and how to "prepare" the church and myself to attend the church He chooses.

In fact, since we just moved again to a new town, He has had me do this every day for the past couple of weeks, in preparation for attending yet another church: He has me stop by the church at least once a day and pray for the church in the following manner: I usually pray in the Spirit as I drive there (right now I work an hour's drive from where I live - so I am "built up" right nicely by the time I get there). Then He leads me to ask the Father to pour out His blessings upon the building and the property, so that every person who even walks on the property would sense His Presence and be drawn there; that the Holy Spirit would fill the place with His Peace - the Peace and Love and Joy found only in Christ - and that again, every person who walks in the door would sense His Presence there; that Christ Jesus be glorified and lifted up there; that the Father be glorified in Him; that all would hunger to know Him and His Righteousness in Christ. And whatever else He leads me to say.

Doing this quietly as He leads, without telling anyone else - I do not even mention it to my wife - and being diligent about doing it (whether I feel like it or not) makes a tremendous difference in the church and especially in myself.

I am a very shy person normally - I am much bolder in these posts than I ever am in person - so most times, no one else knows. But the more sensitive ones sense the freedom in the spirit, and often make mention of it in their conversations and even from the pulpit. I once watched a dead church grow from 15 bored people to over 100 in just a few weeks!

Jesus came to set us free, and the Freedom He alone gives is only found in the Freedom of His Spirit. All the good works in the world are fruitless apart from His Spirit - they are dry and worthless without His Life in them. For there to be revival, there first must be something living to revive. And any real revival begins in your heart and mine.

Hope this speaks to you...

LeastOne

 

[Peter]

Funny, but what first brought me to this post was the title, "Where's The Fire?". I was going to say, "In Jerusalem, every Pascha." You see, every Pascha, Western christians call it Easter, the Patriarch of Jerusalem descends into the tomb that once held the body of our Lord. He goes in with two unlit candles. Local officials, non-christians, search him thoroughly for any fire making devices, making sure he has none. However, it's not long until the tomb is blanketed with light and the Patriarch emerges with two lit candles.

What makes this even more astounding is that some of the faithful who gather to watch, and who are holding candles themselves, suddenly find their's lit as well, and can bathe in it's flame without being burned.

(This always reminds me of Pentecost and Moses)

This miracle was first recorded c. 600. (However, we know that just because something isn't written about is no evidence that it didn't happen.) This has happened every year on Orthodox Easter since.

So, when I read the title for this thread, this is what I thought of.

Where's the fire? It's in Jerusalem on Pascha!
http://www.holyfire.org/eng/video.htm

Peace.

Peter

 

[Knarf188]

Maybe this will help??? Being on fire... I think of being filled with the spirit... this comes by 4 things... Christ Centered, Reading The Word, Being Submissive, And Being Confident... In Matthew it says to be Lights to the world... shOW THEM WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE ON FIRE... and if YOu ARE NOT, JUST IMAGINE THIS... You are sitting at those Pearly Gates... And Jesus is just SMILING AT YOU.... and shaking his head... and he will probably say "WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT"... you will run toward your savior... and GIVE HIM THE BIGGEST HUG EVER... there is literally going to be a line haha... because you won't let go... Or in John it says that Jesus prays for us.... Kan you imagine... think about it... Jesus is nudging his father in heaven with an elbow... and pointing in your direction saying look at my Child dad... look at HIS GREAT FAITH... look how he sings for you... That is what keeps me going... Knowing the great Love that Jesus Bore on the Cross , it is not fake it is as real as anything... I am currently at that stage, Giving all that Glory to God...for without him I wouldnt even be here, People say I'm on fire... but I just smile and say I just realized what Jesus has done for me and it moves you to tears... you really have to build that relationship with your savior Jesus Christ... talk to him all day... SIng praises to him all day.. IT iS POSSIBLE... surround yourself with him and he will be in your midst I pROMISE =)... hope this helps... and Just remember Jesus Loves all of US!!!!!

God Bless
Your Brother in Christ,
Frank