God calls us to close intimate relationship.
Many of us habitually and unconsciously avoid close intimate relationship.
This means that we will habitually and unconsciously avoid close intimate relationship with God.
Church is the institution many Christians turn to for their relationship with God.
Church is not God. Church was built by people who habitually and unconsciously avoid close intimate relationship with God.
This means that the church will systematically build in avoidance of close intimate relationship with God.
We will become addicted to church as a way of escape - a way of avoiding relationship with God.
An example: In our discussion about building community at Runnymede Baptist Church we were providing answers to the question: "How do we build a sense of community?" The question we avoided in that discussion was how do we become a real community.
Another example: At a live sports event men and women can be loud, emotional and expressive as they engage in the event. In 'worship' where we meet and submit to the one Who provides for us, Who created us and Who redeemed us from sin and invited us into a family covenant relationship, we are often quite unemotional, unengaged and not expressive.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Listening Prayer in the New Church Landscape
Prayer in the New Church Landscape does not look like it did in the church as we know it. In the church as we have known it 'prayer was good.' Since 'all prayer is good' in an unthinking 'religious duty' sense, then there were never any questions about our attitude in prayer, Biblical teaching on prayer, the Jesus example in healing, etc.
I knew a baptist pastor who was the son of a Baptist pastor and, therefore, thought like a baptist pastor. He never questions why he does things or whether they are effective. Prayer was one of these things. I once asked have you listened to God ab out this prayer need?" Have you sought for a 'word from above' as to how to pray? Has there been listening prayer? Is there any guiding vision, revelation or scripture to be the basis of prayer?
This pastor had a different view on prayer. He assumed that any and all prayer is good. For him you do not need to listen. Just pray!
Mine is listening prayer. Don't just pray; listen! We need to ask "What is prayer?"
I explain in faith of the heart prayers why my approach is effective. Miracles, mike, are not based on head knowledge - see Head vs heart faith in faith of the heart prayer. The method of listening prayer is explained as How to do Listening Prayer.
When you enter the New Church Landscape you need to be kings and priests and not dependent on pastors like Mike. You take responsibility for your own Christian identity and you are responsible for learning how to pray effectively.
The secret is simple. Don't pray for everything. Pray as the Lord leads and how the Lord leads based on listening prayer. You may listen as a group as Daniel did with his companions in Daniel 2:17, 18.
My web site on Listening prayer is under construction. At the moment there are articles on:
Faith of the heart prayers, Head vs Heart Faith in faith of the heart prayer, How to do Healing Prayer, How to break a curse, What is listening prayer?, how to do listening prayer, How to pray for protection, prayer with the human spirit, types of prayer - intercessory prayer, What is prayer?, What is the power of prayer? How to do healing Prayer, Healing prayer for cancer.
I knew a baptist pastor who was the son of a Baptist pastor and, therefore, thought like a baptist pastor. He never questions why he does things or whether they are effective. Prayer was one of these things. I once asked have you listened to God ab out this prayer need?" Have you sought for a 'word from above' as to how to pray? Has there been listening prayer? Is there any guiding vision, revelation or scripture to be the basis of prayer?
This pastor had a different view on prayer. He assumed that any and all prayer is good. For him you do not need to listen. Just pray!
Mine is listening prayer. Don't just pray; listen! We need to ask "What is prayer?"
I explain in faith of the heart prayers why my approach is effective. Miracles, mike, are not based on head knowledge - see Head vs heart faith in faith of the heart prayer. The method of listening prayer is explained as How to do Listening Prayer.
When you enter the New Church Landscape you need to be kings and priests and not dependent on pastors like Mike. You take responsibility for your own Christian identity and you are responsible for learning how to pray effectively.
The secret is simple. Don't pray for everything. Pray as the Lord leads and how the Lord leads based on listening prayer. You may listen as a group as Daniel did with his companions in Daniel 2:17, 18.
My web site on Listening prayer is under construction. At the moment there are articles on:
Faith of the heart prayers, Head vs Heart Faith in faith of the heart prayer, How to do Healing Prayer, How to break a curse, What is listening prayer?, how to do listening prayer, How to pray for protection, prayer with the human spirit, types of prayer - intercessory prayer, What is prayer?, What is the power of prayer? How to do healing Prayer, Healing prayer for cancer.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Do you go to church?
People ask: Where do you go to church?
How do you answer if you are the church?
You can't answer because you don't go to church if you are the church. The church gathers whenever 2 or 3 get together in the Spirit, Truth and Power of God.
Are words important? Is the issue of how you use the word "church" a non-issue?
Words are important because they reveal tradition and belief. They reinforce error or introduce truth. The truth will set us free.
Is the institution that calls itself "the church" really and truly the church - the Body of Christ - the Bride of Christ - the victorious, free, powerful, world transforming army of saints that have been given the kingdoms of this world?
To the extent that the above is NOT true; to that extent do NOT honour that which calls itself 'The Church' with the wrong name. If it is NOT the church, then do NOT call it the church. To do so would get you and others confused.
If truth is important then clear language is important.
The church is what Jesus is building not the institution that has grown up to perpetuate the religion of Christianity. The religion has openly suppressed healing and the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus open and blatantly confronted the religious establishment.
How do you answer if you are the church?
You can't answer because you don't go to church if you are the church. The church gathers whenever 2 or 3 get together in the Spirit, Truth and Power of God.
Are words important? Is the issue of how you use the word "church" a non-issue?
Words are important because they reveal tradition and belief. They reinforce error or introduce truth. The truth will set us free.
Is the institution that calls itself "the church" really and truly the church - the Body of Christ - the Bride of Christ - the victorious, free, powerful, world transforming army of saints that have been given the kingdoms of this world?
To the extent that the above is NOT true; to that extent do NOT honour that which calls itself 'The Church' with the wrong name. If it is NOT the church, then do NOT call it the church. To do so would get you and others confused.
If truth is important then clear language is important.
The church is what Jesus is building not the institution that has grown up to perpetuate the religion of Christianity. The religion has openly suppressed healing and the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus open and blatantly confronted the religious establishment.
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