Well, I suppose I should introduce myself...

Hey, I'm Matt Peterson. I'm a 19 year old male from Victoria, Australia.I go to a mid-sized church called Heathmont Baptist, and serve there as part of the Youth Ministry, service bands, Audio/Visual team and whatever else ends up being on my plate. This, as well as my job and studies, keeps me fairly busy, but sometimes I wonder if I'm simply too busy and need to cut down to specialise in one area, so that I can have greater effect, but the positions need filling, and they're not being filled, so...Currently single, not quite sure if I'm looking or not - my attitude seems to change from day to day on this topic! Most of the time I'm content, but occassionally thoughts do slip into companionship...I have a passion for coming into a deeper relationship and understanding of God, and helping others to do the same. I am sad for the state of my church, and churches in general around my area, and have a growing burden to shake people out of their slumber, especially my contemporaries and Youth kids.I also long to see signs, miracles and wonders become the norm rather than the exception in our churches, because I feel in a lot of churches, there is a lot of talking, but little power in either word or deed, and I long to see God's will "on earth as it is in heaven".Why'd I join? Well, a friend pointed me to this site, so I checked it out, and found not only a valuable resource of sermons, but even more, a community of many like-minded people, and that attracted me here.SO yeah. Feel free to ask questions or whatever.

Welcome Eliel!In all honesty was praying and musing on the great hope and joy that so many of you at your age are coming to grips with what took some of us older folk quite a bit of time to come round to. It just encourages this middle aged fool tremendously, it very well may be that the Lord is raising up this generation to launch revival through, at the least to bring back the church to it's foundations. You are absolutely correct here;I also long to see signs, miracles and wonders become the norm rather than the exception in our churches, because I feel in a lot of churches, there is a lot of talking, but little power in either word or deed, and I long to see God's will "on earth as it is in heaven".There has been quite a bit of discussion in days past on this, but surely the summary would be that what is predominant is sub-normal and abnormal.Let us know if we may be of any help, very glad you are here.

Thanks for the recommendation. I downloaded it, and will get into it... after sleep, it's 3AM here!I was just talking to a dear brother about this theme last night. It is saddening me that everyone is wanting more power, signs, wonder, yet God wants us to be more Christ-like. Here is what I believe are the first major 3 witnesses to if a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit:1. Holiness of Life2. Fruits of the Spirit (Christ-like)3. Power for service (evangelism)Gifts of the Holy Spirit come after all 3 of these. Oh to be more Christ-like. So many people I know want the power onto of who they are but God will not allow it, he wants us to lose ourselves and our ambitions if we are going to be full of His Spirit. the Holy Spirit is not just power that we can add to our programs. Oh we have to realize if He comes everything changes.I would agree with you on all accounts here. I in no way want to fall into the same mistakes as the church of Corinth - I love to learn from the mistakes of others, rather than repeat them myself! I too long to see those develop more fully in my own and others lives around me first and foremost, because those are a sign of health of life. However, that does not exclude me from "desiring the greater gifts" also, or desiring to see God come and say "Amen" to his message in a very real way, and to see people changed not only spiritually but physically and emotionally.I hope I made sense there. It's late (or early), so I'm going to retire for the night. Thank you for your kind welcome, and good day.