Where Fellowship ?

[Joian]

I accepted that I was called out to be alone with Him, for many reasons, including cutting the soul ties that we are used to depending on for comfort. After we come out from under the moon/law, the stars still have to fall from the sky (the people we've looked to as light in the darkness of the night time of our souls), so that we'll look within for the light of the Son to guide us.

Rebecca,

This above is why you always have my ear..........you seem to be calling back to me what you have been experiencing just ahead of where he is taking me............it always makes sense after you speak it........not just for me but for so many..........Praying for you.....and yours......

Joian

[Cardinal]

  Thanks Joian........I/we need it........

[noreputation]

I believe that it is by design that God has scattered His little flock.  He is teaching us to drink from the life spring within. Here is an article that sheds light on what happens when fellowship is manufactured by man. http://www.theinwardjourney.net/blog/2007/02/12/the-corporate-body-of-christ/

I came out of organized religion over thirty years ago. I have had fellowship though.  For many years we would drive an hour and a half to fellowship with another couple.  Sometimes others would show up too.  I have found that with some I have known for a long time in this walk that God will bring us together for a time of conformation and then we are back in our caves, so to speak.

Once when we were really needing some encouragement through a difficult trial I wrote to a writing ministry, Bill and Elaine Cook, and asked them if they had anyone on their mailing list near us.  They put us in touch with a precious older couple who became a tremendous encouragement to us.  They lived 2.5 hours away so we only saw them every couple of months.

Bruce,  if there are any writing ministries that are a blessing to you perhaps you can contact them and ask if they know anyone nearby your area. 

Douglas B. Clark
www.theinwardjourney

[Loveroftruth]

Hello my friend NoReputation

I agree with you!

He is drawing us unto Himself minus the Props

I was speaking with a friend who is really into the church and his "youth leadership" and it was clear that this "thing" had become his idol, his goal, it was not God that was the goal, it was the "club or thing" that was the goal in the name of God.

I asked him how he would feel if tomorrow he could no longer go to church.
I guess that is what I see......... Church makes the goal "IT". "It keeps us safe" "Its strengthens us" "It gives us fellowship" "Its gives us good feelings""It teaches us".... Yet the true goal is that we grow to get all these things from HIM not an organization.

Over the years, God has always been faithful to bring into my path just the right  brothers and sisters to walk with for the season I am walking in. He has never failed.

I think the idea about us needing to always be around other Christians and it large gatherings in not necessary an idea that originated with God but the IC.

God is faithful to bring just the right one or two people into your life

PEACE and 

[noreputation]

Over the years, God has always been faithful to bring into my path just the right  brothers and sisters to walk with for the season I am walking in. He has never failed.

Hey Loveroftruth,

And what a blessing that fellowship is when it is brought together by divine appointment!

[Loveroftruth]

Over the years, God has always been faithful to bring into my path just the right  brothers and sisters to walk with for the season I am walking in. He has never failed.

Hey Loveroftruth,

And what a blessing that fellowship is when it is brought together by divine appointment!

Yes! yours and mine has lasted a few seasons so far

[hopeful]

I think the idea about us needing to always be around other Christians and it large gatherings in not necessary an idea that originated with God but the IC.

Hi, Christine   

I'm not sure where the idea originated but I agree
that it did not originate with God.
The idea flows along the lines of weak people
who serve a weak Jesus.
That idea says- We better be careful or we'll fall away!    
That leaves it all up to us - and that is religion at it's worse.
What a burden! And not a light one!

To add some balance to my statement above I must add this:

One thing that the Lord has taught me over and over
the last couple years is that there is not a blanket "Rule"
to cover everyone's lives. 
Maybe that person over there does need
to be with other Christians a lot right now. 
But that doesn't mean that I do. 
And just because I don't need to be around other Christians
right now- doesn't mean that no one else does.

I believe the secret is to walk in the Spirit
according to the way He has shown each of us. 

 
Holly

[Kratos]

It started with the Tower of Babel. When men came together to create a name for themselves to keep men from being scattered throughout the earth. This is why it is called Mystery Babylon because it had its roots in Babel.

We have been called out of the world and unto Christ. The church are the ones who are called out, but when you end up called back into something other than Him, you have left the church to go to church. IMHO

John

[Hennessey]

I shared a few thoughts with my friend Charlie this morning about a message where he defined church. This is part of my discourse. The first part came from an unknow source and an old file of mine.

 
The word church does not come from the Greek work ekklesia. The word 'church' is a direct decedent etymologically of the Greek word 'kirke'. In Anglo Saxon it's the word 'Circe'; she was a character of Greek mythology who was the daughter of the sun god, who was banished to the island of Aeaea. She had the power to turn men into animals and if you look at church history for the last 2000 years ........... (well, you fill in the last part. LOL)


Charlie, I had to throw the entymology in here as I was reading this I shared above from an old file of mine last night. That aside, I appreciated your definition of "church" and these thoughts of yours blessed me! 


"I'd like for us to consider for a moment the word "church" here as a verb rather than a noun." 


"It's saints who are living out an intimate relationship with the Lord personally."

"love/worship with God (vertical fellership)"


"Church is not a place, it is a state of being which God has wrought in us that should be changing from glory to glory by the Lord Spirit."


"......the dynamic of the Spirit (wind blowing) functioning in us as He wills."


Charlie, I believe like everything with God, as we go deeper(vertical), "church" becomes quite mystical and nigh impossible to measure and define.

Jack
 

[hopeful]

Charlie, I believe like everything with God, as we go deeper(vertical), "church" becomes quite mystical and nigh impossible to measure and define.

H-m-m-m.  Kinda like trying to define God, huh?

Good to see ya, Jack.    

[Hennessey]

H-m-m-m.  Kinda like trying to define God, huh?

LOL ............. that's good 

[AbbasChild]

Thanks for sharing this Jack  This sounds so true to my spirit.
Just as mystery babyon is a spiritl thing, so maybe the 'church' is a spirit. The spirit of the mystical Bride and Body of Christ.

[Loveroftruth]

Hi, Christine   

I'm not sure where the idea originated but I agree
that it did not originate with God.
The idea flows along the lines of weak people
who serve a weak Jesus.
That idea says- We better be careful or we'll fall away!    
That leaves it all up to us - and that is religion at it's worse.
What a burden! And not a light one!

To add some balance to my statement above I must add this:

One thing that the Lord has taught me over and over
the last couple years is that there is not a blanket "Rule"
to cover everyone's lives. 
Maybe that person over there does need
to be with other Christians a lot right now. 
But that doesn't mean that I do. 
And just because I don't need to be around other Christians
right now- doesn't mean that no one else does.

I believe the secret is to walk in the Spirit
according to the way He has shown each of us. 

 
Holly

Holly that was so darn Good!!
___________________

John Wrote

We have been called out of the world and unto Christ. The church are the ones who are called out, but when you end up called back into something other than Him, you have left the church to go to church. IMHO

Very well said John!
_________________

Organized church is a "THING" and they serve "it" all the while thinking they are serving God. I have a teaching on this, maybe if I get time I will write something up and post it

_________________

Jack Wrote

"Church is not a place, it is a state of being which God has wrought in us that should be changing from glory to glory by the Lord Spirit."

WOOOOHOOOO

[rockclimber]

This came from a commentary that i read. Your thoughts please.

My Circle Includes YOU


Life is full of special interest groups. There are all manner of civic and social clubs you can join- some with secret vows. Many groups have stiff membership qualifications, while others are more inclusive. Of all such groups, I find it odd that the one entity that should be the most inclusive, is not. Denominations and churches in America particularly are always drawing LINES, and setting up standards for who is IN and who is OUT! Here's my take.

 

The man that I am trying to model my life after didn't draw any line, he didn't leave anyone out. In fact, it was to those that were looked upon as "outcasts" that He was always socializing.

If there were any that Jesus had a problem with, it was the church; however, with them, he still kept within His circle. Jesus did not exclude, He did not excommunicate, and nether did He withhold His love from anyone. In fact, I think it impossible for Him to do so.

Which is another reason an eternal hell doesn't seem to work. 

God is LOVE and He is a God of restoration (Acts 3:211) and in the redemption process- always. Splitting hairs, being heavily preoccupied with definitions, and separating US from THEM (and there are a lot in that category) is not an example of agape love. Neither is it some sort of pollyanna, relativist philosophy.

Decisions of life have consequences!

And though a person makes a wrong decision, takes a wrong turn, walks in a lifestyle I disagree with, none of that will keep them from being loved by me. I don;'t have to like them, I don't have to spend a lot of time fellowshipping with them, but I certainly won't disparage them or speak evil of them.

We are ALL ONE with the Spirit of God, not as we should be which is why the hope of Jesus in John 17 was that we were, would be. And one day- we will!

Why not get in some practice now?