A Prophetic Word

[TRFrance]

OK. Well...seems like it's pretty well established then, that this S.Chittum is a former UPC guy who is no longer apostolic. I hate to see when Apostolics decide to turn charismatic/evangelical/whatever... but anyway...

----

That said, my 2 cents simply is that, though Paul encouraged the church to earnestly covet the gifts, particularly the gift of prophecy (1 Cor 12, and 14), I think the gift of prophecy (and other gifts) is nowhere near in operation in the church as much as it should be.

I'm believing God that that will change soon; but in the meantime, I'm praying God will awaken an awareness of the issue in our churches, and particular in the pastors who seem to not be in tune with the the importance and necessity of the operation of all the spiritual gifts in the Apostolic church. I get the impression that in many Apostolic churches theres a high level of skepticism and cynicism concerning the gifts, and a relatively low level of faith in the power of God.

To me, Apostolic should be more than Acts 2:38. Apostolic refers to the doctrine and practice of the apostles and the first century church. We've got the basic doctrine down. Now lets maintain that, but also take it to the next level; in Jesus' name.

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by Falla39

Bro. Phil,

I have had more "good" connections with the C of Christ than other

groups. I wonder if some do not have a problem with other groups

because they feel threatened because they can't dialogue with them

and the only way to deal with it is to get angry or defensive, and

vice versa!

Mature people should be able to discuss or at least agree to disagree

without wrath and doubting. Hey, there is something about just saying,

I really don't know all there is to know about that but I am studying,

and do it.

My dad studied the Jehovah Witness teachings for many years as he

didn't want them to "show him up" like he saw two of them do, two of

his uncles who loved to argue for argument sake. He, as a young boy

(14-15 yrs), received the Holy Ghost and his mother and he studied the

Bible together and it became a lifetime project. He loved for the JW to

come to his door with their little blue books. He had one too. He studied

it to know what they believed so he could understand where they were

coming from. He studied the Word of God from their little "Bible" so they

could relate. Dad said he wouldn't recommend everyone to do that unless

they were prepared. If we can't discuss the Word of God with someone,

we need to get back into it until we know it like the back of our hand.

Dad knew HIS Bible first before he attempted to teach anyone from theirs.

It might take only take one person (like Peter (Jews) or Paul (Gentiles)

to convience a whole movement to obey that missing "link". That piece of

truth they might not know, might be the very piece of the "puzzle" we are

holding in our hand. God knows! They might be holding a piece of prophecy,

or other truth that would clear up our understanding on something also! God

knows!

Blessings,

Falla39

The JW's are a tough nut to crack.
Was he able to win any to the Lord ?

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by TRFrance;305317[B

]The JW's are a tough nut to crack.
Was he able to win any to the Lord ?

[/B]

Bro.France,

Just saw your post here and wanted to respond.

In later years an older JW husband and wife came to my late

father and mother's door with their little magazines. Dad invited

them in and for nine consecutive weeks (while Mom would serve

homemade cake and coffee), they studied the Bible (also using their

little blue book). After nine weeks they told Dad, "Mr. Blakey, it seems

that you are pretty satisfied with what you believe, so we will go on

to others". God's Word will not return void. I believe after nine weeks,

and I know my Dad's teaching, they had enough to be saved if they

chose to be. I have no idea what decision they chose. Perhaps on down

the road God would open their understanding, if they would allow it.

Ultimately the decision is up to the hearer. Then again, one sows, another

waters, but God gives the increase!

Blessings,

Falla39

[TRFrance]

Wow.
Thats some serious mental and spiritual bondage those people are under.

I've spoken to a few JW's myself, and it was like talking to a robot. Your words go in one ear, out the other, and it seems to have little if any effect.

I've heard of JW's coming to the truth, but none that I've ever known of personally.

It can get a little discouraging at times, but we just have to go on and present the Word to those who will receive it.

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Wow.
Thats some serious mental and spiritual bondage those people are under.

I've spoken to a few JW's myself, and it was like talking to a robot. Your words go in one ear, out the other, and it seems to have little if any effect.

I've heard of JW's coming to the truth, but none that I've ever known of personally.

It can get a little discouraging at times, but we just have to go on and present the Word to those who will receive it.

Bro. France,

The bolded is so true. We have to go on and trust that the seed that was

sown will be fruitful and grow. God's Word will not return void. It is that

POWERFUL!!! You may be carrying a container with seed, taking it to a

place, garden, etc., and accidentally drop some along the way. There is

every possibility that that seed may come up where it was dropped if not

hindered in some way. We are vessels (God's) and as we carry His Word

(seed) inside us and some are dropped (spoken) along life's way, that seed

is powerful and can grow into a harvest. One of my sisters in law tells me of

words I spoke to her many years ago that she could not forget. She said

she had not heard them before and saw them in the Bible for the first time

and was so miserable until she obeyed them. I didn't know at the time they

had such an effect on her. But not long after that she came and obeyed

the gospel. The nine weeks my Dad and Mom "planted" seed into the hearts

of that older JW couple was not in vain. I don't know where it led to from

there but knowing that they were willing to listen for that long tells me

something about them. You don't eat that many meals unless you are

hungry. Why did they keep coming back! God knows and He knows the

results of that "sowing", although my parents never saw them. But the

Word of God tells us that our labour in the Lord is not in vain! His Word

is true!!

Blessings,

Falla39

[TRFrance]

Falla 39...
Amen and amen! I appreciate those words.

We are vessels (God's) and as we carry His Word

(seed) inside us and some are dropped (spoken) along life's way, that seed

is powerful and can grow into a harvest.

On that same topic of the power of the word of God... I'm reminded of a testimony a I once heard a preacher give.

As I remember it... He and his wife were unsaved, and were having serious marital problems. His wife was in a public restroom somewhere and someone had left a tract right beside the sink. It had a picture on the front, of a heart split down the middle, and the tract's title was something like "Let God Put Together the Pieces of Your Heart". His wife read it, was touched by it, and eventually came to God. Her husband later followed, and later became a pastor, and founded 2 Apostolic churches in New York, and he and his wife led many to the Lord. God is good!!

(That's one reason I make it a point to always have tracts with me, either in my car, or 1 or 2 stuck in my bible. You just never know what God might be looking to do on any given day.)

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Falla 39...
Amen and amen! I appreciate those words.



On that same topic of the power of the word of God... I'm reminded of a testimony a I once heard a preacher give.

As I remember it... He and his wife were unsaved, and were having serious marital problems. His wife was in a public restroom somewhere and someone had left a tract right beside the sink. It had a picture on the front, of a heart split down the middle, and the tract's title was something like "Let God Put Together the Pieces of Your Heart". His wife read it, was touched by it, and eventually came to God. Her husband later followed, and later became a pastor, and founded 2 Apostolic churches in New York, and he and his wife led many to the Lord. God is good!!

(That's one reason I make it a point to always have tracts with me, either in my car, or 1 or 2 stuck in my bible. You just never know what God might be looking to do on any given day.)

Bro. France,

What a beautiful story of God's love and mercy. I could relate many

such testimonies which show His Mercy, Grace and Love!

And having tracts are great as you cannot hand everyone a Bible

like you can a tract. It would overwhelm them. It would be too much

at once, as giving a baby a piece of steak. It would choke them to

death. But a small piece of God's Word, in small bites is so beneficial

one bite at a time and God knows just what that person is needing

at the time.

Blessings,

Falla39