Help Please. | SermonIndex

T

timothyb Aug 13, 2007

Dear brothers and sisters, I was baptized a week ago (praise the Lord!) and during the time that my pastor was discussing the meaning of baptism, the importance of it, etc. there was another young boy about 9 years old that had responded at the invitation during the service that morning. As our pastor told us the meaning of baptism, he asked the question, "Have you been saved?" to the little boy. And his reply was "Yes." And our pastor asked "How do you know you've been saved?" And the little boy answered, "Because I said the prayer." At this moment my heart sank and I could barely hold back the tears as I stared at my pastor waiting for correction that never came. The young man was baptized along with me that night and I have been deeply troubled for his soul since. I have no doubt that this is what is happening to all those that walk down the aisle at our church. I have to talk with my pastor about this but honestly I am afraid. I understand biblical assurance and biblical conversion, but I don't know everything by any means and I want to be able to discuss and show him scripturally that what is happening is wrong, but am afraid that he may be able to superficially justify his stance on this with distorted scripture references and further justify in his mind that there's nothing wrong with what is happening. Any help would be greatly appreciated and above all please pray for those deceived into a false sense of salvation, my church, my pastor, and myself that God will help us. In Jesus' name.

sermonindex Aug 13, 2007

Timothy,

When I was growing up my pastor always said, "The sheep only go as high on the mountain as the shepherd takes them."

And this is the sad state of affairs in the church today. If I ask you for directions to someplace you've never been, you cannot explain to me how to get there, you might know the general area but I will not get concise directions from you. But you CAN give me precise directions to someplace you've been and even possibly continue to go to on a regular basis!!

I have to talk with my pastor about this but honestly I am afraid.

You do NOT have to be afraid of confronting someone older in the Lord than you. David was a child when God called him!! If you do speak to him, then many blessings to you and I hope you get the answers you are seeking but those usually only come from spending time on our knees before our first Love!!

N

Nile Aug 13, 2007

I grieve with you Timothy =(

The Christian road is a lonely one; something we must be prepared to face. Jesus told us, "Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

I encourage you to talk with your pastor and be as honest as you can. Be prepared for what they might tell you.

Here is some ammunition for you bro:

1 John 2:3-6
~~[b]~~Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.[/b] He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ~~[b]~~He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.[/b]

"Now by this we know that we know Him, ~~[i]~~~~[b]~~if we keep His commandments[/b][/i]." - NOT because we said a prayer!!!

God be with you, and He surely will, if you only have faith to believe it.

Nile

M

Mirac Aug 14, 2007

Brother, I feel your heartcry for God's church..I know it all too well.....

Some simple things Jesus has taught me in this realm. What He lays on your heart, listen to, pray to Him about, seek the motives of your heart and test them by the fire to see if they stand.

Second, do what Jesus has told you.

Whenever you walk or speak for Jesus, please make sure to approach it in humility and just share what you feel God has laid on your heart. Speak in love as Jesus commanded. Don't break out the rule book and beat them over the head with judgement.

Finally, one thing I have found, the more knowledge one has, the more dangerous he can become to himself and to others. True wisdom comes from realizing that in actuality we really aren't as wise as we think and often find there is more we do not understand.

I have had many discussions "in love" with fellow brothers, that after they happened I realized, I went about it all wrong. When I was first in the faith, I thought I had it all together and was going to bring everyone up to my level. But that is pride and that is not loving my brother and being humble.

Just something to meditate on as you pray about this situation......

T

tjservant Aug 14, 2007

praying.

sermonindex Aug 14, 2007

Many can hardly grasp any deep spiritual truth at that age in these times. We can only react to that which calls us, and unfortunately it is religion that usually does. But I do feel you in general for people who are missing the real point of it all, not truly walking with Him. But I believe the whole Body of Christ is needing to walk deeper in and with Christ. We need to get free of religion, knowledge and works and step into the deeper things of God. I personally believe the body of Christ has greater knowledge than ever before in their hands, but a way of thinking, or something to be taught or corrected, is not good enough. And reaching out and showing the true way to the children and everyone, that is not just a pastor’s job, but all of our responsibilities to live out. We need to know our God and believe him on a greater scale, not just inside knowledge that of the tree of good and evil, we need to walk with the lord like Enoch. I say great for that little boy, and good for you. These I believe are good steps towards living and seeing a higher calling. In America, we are a generation that needs to make the Word of God a living reality, then ones even like this child will see the true way. I pray in hopes for us all to see our full potential in Jesus, that through Him all things are possible. It’s time for us all to rise up believe and do everything the Bible says we can, stepping in the fullness of that which the word of God says we can live. Time. It is this time. It is our time. You have good hearts my friends, let’s keep movin and never stop into this closer walk with our God, through Jesus.

M

Mirac Aug 15, 2007

Keep in mind too,

Jesus said, unless you come like one of these children...you will not enter the kingdom of God

There is something to that childlike faith...Sometimes as "adults" (I use that term loosely!;-) ) we think too much into things, rather than having a simply childlike understanding.

sermonindex Aug 17, 2007

Timothyb wrote
[size=xx-small]I understand biblical assurance and biblical conversion, but I don't know everything by any means and I want to be able to discuss and show him scripturally that what is happening is wrong, but am afraid that he may be able to superficially justify his stance on this with distorted scripture references and further justify in his mind that there's nothing wrong with what is happening. Any help would be greatly appreciated and above all please pray for those deceived into a false sense of salvation, my church, my pastor, and myself that God will help us. In Jesus' name.[/size]

moe_mac
If the 9 year old indeed had a true conversion, when you observe him, it will be present even at his age. Not in perfection, but a change. If you do not see any fruit. You might want ask him to want to ask him to study 1 John with you so that he may know.

1 John 5:1-5
5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.