Movements of God - Your opinion with Love (welcomed)

Just resently, I've been downloading popular podcasts from 'big-named' ministries, avoiding some with questionable character (such as how they manage their money). I've been downloading people such as, Bob Coy (Calvary Chapel Ft.Lauderdale) and numerous people on the Catalyst conferences (some are apart of the emerging movement, others are mainline denominations seeing people come into the kingdom; baptist, assembly of God, presbyterians, etc)

I am a young man but I've also listened to hundreds of revival sermons from this website. Listening to David Wilkerson, Leonard Ravinhill, Ray Comfort, and even some actual accounts to recent revivals. (Revival on Isles of Lewis by Duncan Campbell)

I say all of this because even though I'm hungry from hearing different people express the word of God. I see a major problem.

The problems are the rifts in the body of Christ. Now, before you go shouting 'amen' keep reading.

The rift starts with YOU. Jesus says, 'Take out the log in your own eye FIRST and then, only then, take out the speck in your brothers eye.' (Matthew 7)

What do I mean by this?

Well, looking back in church history, the limited knowledge I've seen and heard, reformation, holiness, unity, pentacostal, charasmatic, and now 'emerging church'. I've seen tremendous problems. Problems of pride and perfectionism.

On one hand you have pride. Those that aren't willing to change. That think they have it 'all right'. Then, God splits the church (luther....wesley....wimber...smith...etc) And now because of this pride, some of the 'church' is left back in the stagnant water where God isn't moving. But then God moves again, and bam, even 'more pure' doctrine people (lutherans) get left in the stagant water by the next generation.

But, on the other hand. Those that WANT to change and don't because they feel the need to have it be perfect and clear. As if, they want a map or an outline of what it's going to look like. And when it's not 100% perfect (in their mind) they reject it as a move of God because it's 'messy'. (As if you were clean..... :-P )

Each 'split' that GOD guided the past few centuries. God gave both sides a measure of truth. And it's a balance between the two, that I believe, will sustain a revival.

Some churches are helping peoples 'physical needs' but on the other hand they aren't meeting their spiritual needs. Vica versa.

Some churches are preaching from the Word but don't wait on the Spirit to give unction. Vica versa. (Some have fire but no eternal truth; they might just preach empty philosophy)

Some churches might preach good works but others forget that it's by FAITH. Vica versa.

Some churches say 'damn the sinner' but yet don't love them or spend time with them and embody Jesus. (Problems with speaking the truth IN LOVE) Vica versa (all love, no holiness)

When will the Church of Christ, stop pointing fingers of anger and hatred and start being Christ-like?

When will the Church stop wasting time over light and small doctrines and start spending more time on people's ETERNAL destinations?

When will YOU lay down your pride of saying 'I know this' and start loving people past their apperance?

When will the Church be holy lovers of God and man?

My question (rhetorical) is when will you do something about it?

I just thought of an illustration concerning the 'movements of God' and how I view them.

It's like the art of taking up a new hobby. No matter what the hobby is, it's how you view taking on the new hobby that matters on how long you'll keep it.

For example. Golf. If your expecting to be a pro like Tiger Woods (or they new guy who keeps beating him :-P ) after your first swing. Your looking for a lot of fustration.

But, on the other hand, if you feel that your amazing at the game and prejudge (being of your pride of superiority) your next competition and bet against this person without even looking into his abilities. You have a strong chance of looking like Tiger Woods today, getting beat by a younger, more novice golfer.

Don't 'puff' yourself up with pride and lose. Humble yourself and judge accurately by the love, grace,and truth of God. But! Also, don't expect it to be perfect in the getgo.

I know this is all 'philosophy' so if you know any Scriptures. Please share.

yes I agree CE4. Before I read your post, that's where I was going with my answer to CoreyH . The answer lies in total devotion to live out our lives in the "whole counsel" of God's Word--not looking to man for the answer to anything, but God only.

Hi everyone.

Lovegrace, reading through your post brought something to mind that I read here on SI.

[url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/index.php?view=article&aid=2481]Seeds of Revival[/url]

Here are a few qoutes from the article:

'Evan Roberts, while reflecting on the problems of The Welsh Revival of 1904, once wrote, "The mistake was to become occupied with the effects of the revival and not to watch and pray in protecting the cause of the revival."'

'Surely we had enough separate rival church organizations already on our hands. Each working largely for its own interest, advancement, and glory. The New Testament Church seemed to be drifting toward intellectualism. I became much burdened for it. I felt the New Testament Church was failing God, and I was looking to see where the Spirit might come forth. The curse everywhere was spiritual pride. Hiding their nakedness from God. The oil (The Holy Ghost) ceases to flow, as in Elijah's time when there are no more empty vessels to be filled . People do not sense their need of God. But wherever there is a hungry heart, God will fill it. 'The rich or (full) He has sent away empty.'"'

"Within nine years of the Azusa Street Revival, Frank Bartleman was expressing deep concern for the future of the Pentecostal movement. He recognized that many of the revival participants had become distracted by the effects of the revival and thus lost sight of God's primary purposes for revival."

I hope it will be usefull.

Chris

I also pondered over the question why so many movements have been blessed so much in the past only to loose their edge and eventually become sidelined.
What happened to the great movements of the past?

I think that God does not allow himself to be put in a box and feels compelled to be associated with any movement. The Holy Spirit moves on and constantly reveals lost truths to the church.
The Pharisees were the most godly people in the centuries preceeding the birth of Christ. They brought great sacrifices and refused to recant their faith under severe persecution. Their problem is that they stubbornly held fast to their legacy and wallowed in their former glory. Eventually they became God's greatest enemies to the point of killing God. Few people have the humility to die to their former acchievements.
I think this is why Christ said that everyone who lays the hand to the plow and looks back is not worth the kingdom of God. What a sobering truth. May this not happen to Sermonindex.

Many of the Welsh Christians are so proud of their past Revival. When you go to Wales you see many churches that either became Mosques or are converted into restaurants or have their stained glass lined with plywood to protect it from vandalism. I could sob about that.

God has no grandchildren
narrowpath

Great posts. I really enjoyed looking over the quotes from 'seeds of revival'.

Let us press on to what God, instends His church to look like (pure and spotless, without blemish)