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Post by underoath13 on Jan 21, 2005 1:46:05 GMT -5
i know there's not many of us here but God hears our prayers...for like 2 or 3 weeks now God has been placing in my pastor to preach some messages of revival and a need for the church to devote more to prayer...the messages are powerful, not because the pastor preaches but because it's all from God's word...the problem is that some ppl have been getting offended because the pastor has been trying to make us realize that we can't be satisfied the way we're living and we just need to seek God more and stop being so hypocritical sometimes...like i said, the messages have been powerful but they have been so true at the same time....the pastor really feels the need for revival in the church and God has been so awesome and has been doing so many wonderful things lately....more people are starting to be more faithful and more devoted to prayer and worship....at the same time satan is also working and some ppl don't want to come anymore and have ignored calls from the pastor and someone has even said that the pastor put the church under a curse....pastor is really afraid that ppl are gonna leave but he wants everyone to be true Christians that truly pray and worship....he wants to draw a line and he doesnt want to offend anyone and i truly believe that he has been doing what God really wants...i want you guys to pray for the pastor and other church leaders for wisdom and guidance....and for ppl who feel offended and stuff to take a look in the mirror and feel convicted if they're not truly serving our Lord...just as God is working in our lives satan is also attacking us and i would really appreciate your prayers...our church is Emmanuel Baptist Church in vineland, NJ..the pastor is Pastor Tony Cuellar.....thank you all for caring for you brothers and sisters in Christ....God bless you all
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Alan
New Member
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Post by Alan on Jan 21, 2005 4:35:27 GMT -5
I am praying for this, I am sure its hard on your pastor.
Keep your faith in everything coming back together, better then before.
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Post by Laura on Jan 23, 2005 1:14:38 GMT -5
I'll also be praying. That's a hard situation, but I think your pastor knows that doing God's work is not ALWAYS easy. He's going to offend people, people (especially self-proclaimed Christian people) don't like to be told that the way they're living their lives isn't necessarily pleasing to God. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not perfect, I know I mess up....I'm just saying, if my youth pastor or something started preaching messages like that, I'd take them seriously and know that I could do something to change. Let your pastor know that there are people praying for him, and like Alan said...don't lose your faith in this. Satan is working against this type of revival, and you may actually lose some church members, but you'll keep the ones who are really strong and you'll be able to witness more efficiently to others.
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Post by Solid on Jan 25, 2005 0:41:20 GMT -5
What Laura just said reminds me of a story in the Bible. I forgot where it is exactly; I think it's in the book of John. Remember when Jesus was talking to the crowds. The crowds, in the beginning, followed Jesus mostly cause He did all kinds of awesome miracles and said a lot of interesting stuff. He then, one day, gave a sermon on how they need to drink His blood and eat His broken body. Obviously, the crowd was confused and disgusted. All of them left, thinking Jesus was serious about it. Only the disciples stayed. This story tells me what Jesus did sorted out who would really follow God, and who only wanted to live life perfectly (which is impossible becuase no one is perfect). I feel like I'm getting a little preachy, sorry, but I am praying for you, your pastor, and your church. God will have amazing things happen in your life, so be patient and pray.
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Post by Justincredible on Jan 25, 2005 0:45:25 GMT -5
I'd say if people are getting offended by a pastor telling them that they need to pray more and follow Christ... basic stuff for Christian growth... then they probably aren't believers, and need to hear the gospel.
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Post by underoath13 on Jan 26, 2005 14:01:21 GMT -5
thank you all...you guys are truly amazing...i'm new to this boards but it's awesome to already feel the love from other Christian brothers and sisters...i really appreciate all your prayers and i will let my pastor know that there are more ppl praying...and God recently spoke to me through His word about the situation that the church is going through...i'll post the verses:
2 Timothy 4:3-5
3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
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God bless you guys
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Post by Laura on Jan 26, 2005 17:11:30 GMT -5
Hey, we're all here to help lift each other up. I don't think that there is one person on this board that would just....ignore someone who needs them. That's not how we are. Besides, it's God's love shining through us all.  |
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Post by SqwirL on Jan 27, 2005 0:36:57 GMT -5
Ignoring is now a word used to describe what God has told us how to act to other Christians.
I've heard of some people leaving various church because of that. It's just no right. You have my prayers
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Post by Justincredible on Jan 27, 2005 1:16:06 GMT -5
hey underoath13, I love that verse.
2 Timothy 4:2-5 is one of my favorite verses to use to encourage my pastors and co-staff of Campus Crusade for Christ. As ministers, it is their job to do the hard thing sometimes, which includes rebuking people and realizing that people will follow bad doctrine sometimes. But they are to "Endure hardship... discharge all the duties of your ministry".
If your pastor is preaching the Word of God, he can NEVER go wrong. And the Word of God will always be offensive to nonbelievers.
On that note, I would like to encourage ALL of the people on this board to regularly start praying for the pastors of their churches. There are four guys who are pastors at my church who I love to death, and I want to bathe them in prayer because they work SO hard and put up with so much. These guys devote their lives to pouring out to others and rarely receive any encouragement and prayer themselves. So PRAY FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS!
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Post by Laura on Jan 27, 2005 13:17:35 GMT -5
I'll definitely start praying for my pastor.
Also, my church just hired a full-time Youth Director. His name is Brian Jones. I wanted to ask you guys to keep him in your prayers as well, I'm going to try my hardest to make him feel welcome, so hahaha pray for me as well that I don't put my foot in my mouth.
On a different note, another prayer request for myself. I'm going through a sort of..difficult time right now. Keep me in your prayers that I get through it and not let it get me down too badly.
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Kyle
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Posts: 140
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Post by Kyle on Feb 3, 2005 20:58:12 GMT -5
yea i hope our new youth pastor is as cool as scott
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Post by underoath13 on Feb 3, 2005 21:10:51 GMT -5
thank you guys so much...you guys are awesome, seriously...and God has been answering many prayers and people are being broken and revival in our church is evident...although we'll never be perfect until His return, many lives are being changed , including myself... many of us have taken many steps things have been going great but satan has been working a lot as well.....i also pray for all you guys and will include the prayer requests you guys posted in my prayers....thank you so much again guys and God bless you all!
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Post by Laura on Feb 4, 2005 16:55:36 GMT -5
thank you guys so much...you guys are awesome, seriously...and God has been answering many prayers and people are being broken and revival in our church is evident...although we'll never be perfect until His return, many lives are being changed , including myself... many of us have taken many steps things have been going great but satan has been working a lot as well.....i also pray for all you guys and will include the prayer requests you guys posted in my prayers....thank you so much again guys and God bless you all! Man, that is so awesome. But don't thank us, it's all God's doing. All we can do is be sort of....well, messengers for Him. I'll keep praying for you guys though. Kyle--From what I hear from like Kristen and all them that have actually met the guy, I heard he's really nice and laid-back. I think we'll still be able to contribute our own input and have discussions like we always have. But we do need to be praying about that situation still. |
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Kyle
Full Member
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Post by Kyle on Feb 7, 2005 22:52:10 GMT -5
yea i know ill like him....
lol i just hope he lets us listen to hardcore before church starts .......
God Bless..
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