It has been a powerful time in the Spirit here at the New Life Center. So excited to see what God is doing in my life and in the lives of all the people. I'm also looking forward to seeing all of the fruit of what God is doing in people, as we are revived and renewed by the Holy Spirit to carry the Gospel to the world in power. Look out Ford City and Kittanning!
I wanted to share some thoughts that have been on my heart. They deal with who we are and what we do as Christians. Here is a quote by Francis Chan, pg. 32-33, from his book "Forgotten God":
"Churchgoers all across the nation say the Holy Spirit has entered them. They claim that God has given them a supernatural ability to follow Christ, put their sin to death, and serve the church. Christians talk about being born again and say that were dead but now have come to life. We have become hardened to those words, but they are powerful words that have significant meaning. Yet when those outside the church see no difference in our lives, they begin to question our integrity, our sanity, or even worse, our God. And can you blame them?"
I believe as Christians, what we watch on television and movies, how we act, and what we listen to are very important, because the world is watching us. We need to quite being a little less carnal than the world and begin living by the Holy Spirit.
I recently heard this testimony from two Christians and their non-Christian friend. The one Christian is careful in what they say, do, listen to, and watch on television or movies. They live that out in front of their non-Christian friend which has brought about great conversations and witnessing opportunities. The other Christian is careful in some areas but very carefree in others even in front of their non-Christian friend. Do you know what? The non-Christian watches what they say and how they act around the first Christian, in a comfortable way, not in a wierd way (if you know what I'm saying). But the non-Christian could care less how they act around the second Christian. Why? Because there is a Holy Spirit change going on in the first Christian that intrigues the non-Christian. The first Christian is still having fun, joking and goofiing around, but when it comes to the things of this world, they are truly dying to it to live for Someone greater, Jesus Christ. The other Christian not so much.
As Christians, it's not about what I think or what I want to watch or listen to, or even why I think I can. The more important point is everyone around us. We forget about those around us who are looking to overcome the world and the movies and television that is harmful and music that tears down. People are coming to church looking for answers from people who have found the answers in Jesus Christ. No they don't want to be told what to watch, listen to, etc. They want to see it lived out in all of our lives.
So instead of thinking about what "I" can watch, listen to, do, etc., let's think about those around us who struggle with those very things. The church is supposed to have found freedom from all of that in Jesus Christ. Why bog ourselves down again with all of that garbage?
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6 comments:
I agree with you 100%. But I have to admit that I do still struggle in some area's. The more I pray about it the easier it gets. I think there is always going to be struggles against worldly things. As Christians we know in our hearts what is right and wrong and we need to make the right choices. We need to do what pleases our Lord.
Craig do you think that people who blame other for their sin are wimps?
Example: The alcoholic blames the person enjoying a beer for his sin? Because the alcoholic stumbles and drinks if he sees someone else sinning?
I think that the alcoholic should trust in God to deliver him from the addiction. And that he should grow up in the Lord and know that what might be a sin for him, might not be for someone else.
Thoughts? Great post by the way! Glad things are going well in FC!
Thanks Kathy for your thoughts. I appreciate your insight on everything.
Thanks Ben for reading. I don't know if I would call anybody wimps. I look back to Paul who said if there was anything he did that caused someone to stumble, he would quite doing it. We as Christians, were called to serve. How can we serve? By doing all kinds of things, including watching what we do.
I don't know about you but I wouldn't sit down with the men and women from PCO who have been delivered, with a beer in my hand, and tell them that if they stumble it's not because of me but because they are not letting the Holy Spirit help them grow up. Satan came to steal, kill, and destroy. Even when we have been set free for many years, Satan can still throw a jab at us. I think it would be rather unChristlike on my part to be the jab that Satan uses to trigger someone down a slippery slope.
And if you think of the story mentioned, the Christian who had set themselves apart from the world was having more of an effect on the non-Christian than the Christian who was living however they felt like.
Remember, we are not only looking at how to be an example for Christians but also an example to the world.
I think of my wife and children, if there was something that I was doing that became a stumbling block for one of them in their lives, I would not hesitate to get rid of it. I would pray for them as well and encourage them in the Lord, but you would never see me promote it or have it in my house. Whatever "it" maybe. My family is to important. And so is the body of Christ, and those who have yet to become a part of the body of Christ. May I never be an instrument of Satan.
I pray I don't sound harsh, just trying to bring out some different points.
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