It's very sad what's been happening on this forum of late.

Yep.

I agree.

I must say, I agree with what you have said.

I haven't posted or replied to any posts for weeks because of that reason.

The posts haven't been worth replying to. Something just seems 'off'.

To prayer, the Word and may God do in us what needs to be done for His glory.

God bless.

Could there is a spirit of contention to deal with?

I remember some time ago, beginning to see many problems with the people around me. I found that they didn’t pray enough, weren’t concerned with holiness enough, and weren’t spiritual enough. I found that others had similar feelings. So, we got together, and began to pray together, and to speak against the lukewarmness that was so prevalent in the church. Then, we felt that it was our duty to rebuke those who were lukewarm, and we often expressed our “righteous anger” against those “lazy hypocrites”. I felt convicted that I should confront the pastor, and I was prompted by others from this group to do so. So I did. Could you imagine, it didn’t go very well… I left the matter in a fury. I thought, “I’ll just find a real church, where people are really holy and devout and praying fervently”. That task turned out to be failure. I decided it was unwise to start my own church, though I was confident that if I did, things would be much better… In the meantime, God came down to discipline me. I have never felt the power of God so much as that day He crushed me under the weight of my sin. My sin was my attitude. My sin was my self-righteous attitude. I thought I was going crazy. I was trying to work, but couldn’t get this off my mind. I thought I should be stronger than that, because I had done “the right thing” in rebuking my pastor. But the more I resisted God, the more His hand was heavy upon me. Then, after two days, I couldn’t bear it anymore! I called my pastor, leaving a message saying that I wanted to repent of my sins and make things right. He called me back that evening. I said I would drive right away to meet him. I made the trip much quicker than I had expected… We reconciled. I have often thought that the pastor probably prayed Psalm 55 against me, or at the very least, God was speaking Psalm 55 against me.

Well, nothing drastic changed in the church. Just the normal tug and pull between the forces of good and evil. I thought if only I could find those “holy people” from various churches, and unite them together in prayer, that God would move powerfully. That task was also a failure. At that point, I began to see faults in this little group of mine; I was beginning to consider them unworthy as well. It took me a while to realize my folly. God was teaching me the importance of taking my rightful place within the local church. The local church! What good could there be in this body of weak, defective, and unworthy people? Should I bear their constant tendency to run to sin? Should I tolerate their sometimes off-base doctrines? Should I overlook the full weight of their offenses? Should I pour myself out for them, though the results would not be as glamorous as the romantic dream of spirit-filled passion and holy conviction?

Well, how does God deal with me? How does God deal with the church? Do I show contempt for God’s kindness, patience, and tolerance, not realizing that God’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance?

God has been teaching me the importance of the truth that “obedience is better than sacrifice”. Sacrifice… the spiritual endeavor of God’s people. Sacrifice… the higher duty of the pious. Sacrifice… seeking favor through acts of righteousness. Sacrifice… an addition to the common life. On the other hand, obedience… a product of salvation. Obedience… compelled by love. Obedience… the act itself is worthy, regardless of the outcomes. Obedience… which bears and forgives, and never forsakes.

If obedience is my aim, then I will bear with the “imperfect church”. If obedience is my aim, then I will be satisfied with Christ Himself. If obedience is my aim, then I will continue to serve the body of Christ, bearing their failures, forgiving sins, always giving freely without requiring anything in return. This affects my dealings with others. This affects my attitude towards the church. This affects my daily devotions. This glorifies God.

Have I fully learned this lesson? Not quite. There is still work to be done. Please bear with me, because this is just the tip of the iceberg; underneath lies Goliath. Rest assured, the lethal dose has already been administered.

I don't come here to much for the forum/forums, although sometimes, one might grab my attention. I come here for the other materials, Audio sermons, also some good text readings. If we depend on "man" to fulfill our needs, wants, desires we will almost always be disappointed. Probably 90% of what I have read in the forums, not including scripture, seems to be "opinions" and and also a lot of personal "interpretations". When you have a lot of opinions, no matter what the discussion is, you will have debate, that sometimes leads to arguments, and this is why I try to stay clear. If you want to come here to read, and be Blessed without the debates, read some of the text sermons, they will Bless you, and don't depend on the forums so much. I guess I don't personally see the "weird" going on, because what might seem weird to me, what I post "when I do post" might seem weird to others, I just try to read the surface of the posts, because if you try to read to deep into man's opinions, that can "sometimes" lead to confusion, or in this case, lead to "weirdness"

Neil, I do agree with you.
I got so frustrated and angered at the negativity and saw many Christians bound in joyless, legalistic, religious condemnation, not enjoying life, not realising who they are and what they have in Christ, that I came off SI for many months as it was affecting me. My husband said to me 'why keep going on when it only upsets you and winds you up'
I was deeply hurt and embarrassed months ago when after I responded to a man who had insulted me with a concordance of verses calling me a fake and a false prophet with a smooth tongue, and what did I know, I was a mere woman, aarrgh!! Yet I was the one told off for my attitude - not the man, with no response when I sent a private message to explain the situation! It seemed to me that it was okay to insult as long as you did it disguised through scripture!

I returned recently after many months only to then read a posting from someone who had a bad dream and saw that his activities with his wife and family seemed so futile and a waste of time! I was again shocked and saddened at this attitude towards his wife, and told my husband that I could see why I hadn't been on and was glad that he didn't view time with me as such.

I'm glad the Lord doesn't treat time with his church - which is represented as a wife with her husband - as futile and a complete waste - where would we be then.
I certainly would not be in a deep loving relationship for the last 25 years which God intended as a lesson to the world of how much he loves us! My dad also would do anything for time with my mam again, he misses her deeply.

I just wish some Christians would be more positive, carry such joy of the Lord in them that others question and desire to have!
My daughter is asked every day at work by customers 'why are so constantly happy?''you have such sparkling eyes what is it about you?' We've even had new folk coming into church saying that they know their check out girl comes here! She too Neil, lives in the Proverbs! and studies the scripture very day.

People of the world are not attracted to folk with clouds over their heads and full of thou shalt nots! they need to see and know that there is a difference in your lives and such joy, happiness and love that they so want!

Some Christians need an in-filling of the joy of the Lord, for it is our strength, move on from the man of Romans 7, live the man of Romans 8.
Lighten up and - dare I say it - have some fun and laughter in life!

After all the horrendous trials the Lord has brought me through, the chains of sexual abuse, shame, negativity, condemnation etc that He has broken in my life! I'm determined to keep living the life of positivity and freedom that He has given me. Get a hold of the promises in His word and live them!

Neil, we will not be standing before the throne in humiliation and shame with all our sins exposed, get a hold of it! We are a gift from the father to his son! He rejoices over us with singing! We are his treasure!
He's already given mercy - Because of Jesus all things are passed away and are made new. It's going to be a reward ceremony! We will hear the 'well done faithful servant'

If you were adopted by a King or our Queen wouldn't you feels so wanted and special in that you've been chosen? Well, you've been adopted by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the creator of the universe, so lift up your head and walk tall, stop grovelling in the dust, there is now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, you are an heir of the father and a joint heir with his son!

If folk only just realised how special and how loved they are to God it would change lives and attitudes and the tone to many of the postings on here, and that's what is needed in the hearts of many Christians.

Ceri said: I just wish some Christians would be more positive, carry such joy of the Lord in them that others question and desire to have!
____________________________________________________

I could not agree more, I really think some folks when they accept Jesus Christ into their lives, feel they should live a downtrodden life, walk around like smiling might break their face. We are to be the "LIGHT" how on earth are we to be any light, when we live like, and act like being happy is a sin.
Some people want to build a house of Love, but walk around with their hammer in their hand.

If a fire is going out, you lay more wood on it. God insructed the priests in Leviticus to lay new wood upon the altar each morning, so that fire wouldn't go out (Leviticus 6:12).

Brethren, our daily devotion to God is like the new wood which we as priests lay on the fleshy altars of our heart. This is how we "stir up" the gift of fire which was put in us by faith. If you have this fire, then share it with the rest of us, add your wood to the SermonIndex forum in the way of devotions, thoughts, meditations. Don't just huddle in the shadows and complain of the lack of heat, the lack of light. Instead, be a source of heat and light yourself.

Just make sure the wood you lay down is not fireproof. There is a lot of material in these forums that is not fireproof; that is, Holy Spirit combustible. Neil, you initiated this topic, and I agree with you. The forums have been cold as of late. I wonder though: have you contributed to it? Have any of us? Have I?

Think of the materials we discuss here, and the spirit in which we discuss them. Global politics is a topic of asbestos; Israeli politics, zionism, all of it. The Holy Spirit won't touch it. Friends, if you want the fire to go out here, discuss secular Israeli politics or Washington or United Nations garbage - there's no quicker way to put out a fire. Discuss Calvinism versus Arminianism, which is tantamount to a sectarian snowball fight. That will extinguish the fire pretty quickly too. But if you want to feed the fire, drop the world and flesh and take up Jesus Christ without any of the trappings.

Discuss Christ, discuss the grace and love and humility and blood of Christ without one ounce of the world or personal agendas or political bent, and you will have pure Holy Spirit petrol. That is the quickest way to get this place heated up. But we all need to contribute.

A lone buring coal or stick cannot be sustained very long. It needs the fellowship of other burning sticks and coals to constitute a fire.

"A lone buring coal or stick cannot be sustained very long. It needs the fellowship of other burning sticks and coals to constitute a fire."

Yesterday I went to the city to have dinner with a dear sister and her husband. While I was there, I decided to do some shopping and had a couple of stores targeted. Dividing my time, I knew how long I intended to be at each store. As I was about to leave the first store, a man wished me a "happy new year," and in return, I blessed him. His eyes sort of lit up and the conversation began to flow. It turns out that he had gone to sing at every nursing home in the state and continued in a singing ministry even at the age of 77. Needless to say that I was the one that was blessed as he happily sang in the aisles and I willing gave up some of my "shopping" time.

One of the things he mentioned, as we talked of gifts, was that we lose that which we do not use - and having questioned the LORD on the comment just before logging on, I assume that it was for just such a season as this as I have taken to becoming an observer rather than a participator.

Discuss Christ, discuss the grace and love and humility and blood of Christ without one ounce of the world or personal agendas or political bent, and you will have pure Holy Spirit petrol. That is the quickest way to get this place heated up. But we all need to contribute.

A lone buring coal or stick cannot be sustained very long. It needs the fellowship of other burning sticks and coals to constitute a fire.

Thanks for the reminder brother!! Awesome stuff indeed.

In Christ,
Earl J.

Just my two cents....

I think PaulWest's post was spot on regarding the solution to this matter of "dryness" in the forums.

I also think a balance from the Spirit is needed in the area of our attitudes toward others posts, and our attitudes in our posts.

I and others here tend to be very discouraged with so much compromise that we see within Christianity. We want to be careful that we don't just contribute to all the compromise and water down God's truths along with everyone else, giving only "feel good" messages of peace when there is no peace. Therefore it is easy for us to quickly cry out against all the compromise and have a tone of rebuke in all of our posts. I believe that kind of tone is sometimes needed and His Spirit will guide us if He wants us to post a hard message of truth that some may need to hear for their spiritual benefit.

That said, I believe the Lord has been convicting me of not having enough of that "fire" PaulWest mentions, and posting too rashly. And by "fire" I mean the type that not only rebukes at times but also graciously exhorts and encourages/builds up the Body. I believe I have been guilty of being imbalanced in recent posts, so I too apologize for any fleshly attidudes toward anyone here. I am praying that the Lord would give me more of His holy fire and a balance in my views and attitudes toward His precious Bride the Church, which He bought with His precious blood on Calvary's tree.

I love to uplift Jesus and to hear what the Lord is doing in everyone's lives. I also love to hear what the Lord is doing around the world. It seems there is so much happening in other parts of the world. And of a good message that will move us closer to Him and to pray together. And a Scripture that has touched someone's heart or a daily devotional shared. Giving God all the glory and praises for He is worthy. I am humbled to be here and so truly thankful for SI and each person here.

PS
And your my brothers and sisters for the most part and I am thrilled thinking of spending Eternity with you in glory! Hallelujah!