A Christian Viewpoint

Every once and a while a little bug comes along and puts my wife and I on the sick list. Been that way for about a week or so. Silly me, I didn’t think to ask people if they would pray for Linda and I. We are likely over the worst of it but we still could use your prayers to make the recovery full and quick.

I am leaving this entry open to public comment. Would anyone like to see a prayer request page? Do you have a prayer request?

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Just thought I would drop in a line. I have been doing fairly well the last two weeks. I am thinking of adding another sub-section to my site that would be for my church. It may be password protected… or perhaps not… I am not sure how the layout is going to work. I could use a bit of prayer for guidance in this matter. I recently found out that Crossfire will be creating an official website and I don’t want to step on any toes when creating mine. It will certainly have to have a different purpose. Thanks in advance to those who will pray. If you are a church member and have some concerns drop me a line.

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My wife and I went with a friend to the Toronto Blessing. (I was going there because I felt the Lord asking me to go to the meeting. I asked him why? To sit and observe only, he said.) The three of us took our seats and the service began. Holy laughter, sobbing, roaring, and various degrees of enthusiasm. Praise, worship and speaking in tongues. Words of prophecy. It was a lively meeting.

Later in the evening I asked God what it was all about. Some of it was from God. Some of it was from the enemy. And of course, some of it was the flesh. Here is my understanding of what was going on.

Some people got together under the umbrella of the Vineyard Movement. God began to manifest his Spirit in the meetings. This was a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit. The people became children in the eyes of God and acted accordingly. Laughing, crying, roaring like lions with all the exuberance and passion of children at play. This was wonderful. This was great. Eventually Satan wanted to stop it. He began to counterfeit what was going on to bring disgrace on the movement. Other people appeared to watch the show. Still others got carried away by their own flesh and reached earthly realms of mental ecstasy. It was a circus when I went yet I know that the hand of God was moving. With time I believed they would mature and the devil and the mentally aroused would be reigned in.

I haven’t been back since that time. Have they matured? I do not know. Yet God is still moving and the Blessing has moved to other countries. Hopefully with more maturity but with no less power to set free.

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I remember an episode from the sci-fi show “Babylon 5” where one culture celebrated this type of holiday on one part of the ship. I don’t think too many people caught the significance that it was that planet’s Holloween.

As for the rightness of Christians celebrating this night? No, not really a good thing to do. Yet I know of many churches in Canada that have taken back the night and made it a time to remember the saints of old and have a fun celebration of our faith in a safe environment. Is this proper for a church to do? They feel it is. They take the profane and try to make it profitable for faith. More power to them for turning the night into light for that one evening.

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When Does Full Sanctification Take Place?

When this mortal shall put on immortality. When we see Jesus as he sees us (face to face).

There will be no greater level of sanctification after that point for we would have arrived at our destiny. It is totally the act of God.

In life however there are times when God sets us apart (sanctifies us) to join him in some work or calling. When we walk in that calling he sanctifies us (cleansing our thoughts and motives) so that we can become more suited to carry out the work. In our daily walk he cleanses our thoughts and heart, during and after reading the word, in all areas of our life outside of our calling.

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Personally I believe the office of apostle is being done by missionaries. It is simply a name change. I will admit though, that the diminishing of the spiritual gifts has weakened the work of the apostle/missionary.

The office of prophet has also suffered because of the diminishing of the spiritual gifts. Though the office of prophet seemed to disappear the work of the prophet did not. They just were not called prophets.

The “second coming” of the spiritual gifts at the beginning of the last century has opened the door for these offices to come back with power. There needs to be constant use of discerning of spirits to make sure we are dealing with the real article and not some falsehood perpetrated by con men and/or our spiritual enemy.

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In my church we have group called “Ironmen of Crossfire”. Crossfire is the name of our church. I attended my first regular meeting on Saturday. A member of our congregation, Jocelyn, is running the new program. He talked about what it takes to be a servant-leader. He did a good presentation. He also offered material to take home. I mention this in case some men from my church read this post. I encourage them to come to the meetings. They are at 8:00 am every Saturday. The location is the church.

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We have the words and life of Jesus as passed down by the gospel writers. We have the words of the Apostles that give insight to the church as to how they were guided. We have the Holy Spirit who will take these words and guide us moment by moment, day by day, into the truth that leads to eternity and glory. There is only one path, and that path is narrow, but the journey is as individual as each person who calls Jesus Lord. Do we at times seem to be in disagreement? Yes. Yet we all follow the same Lord, just differently, as He meets each individual’s need. Need of the individual and the group dictate the walk they will have. They will see the truths they need to make it to the next step of their journey.

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Last night I attended the start of the new session of the worship team. This was my first time attending. Twelve people showed up. We went through several songs of which I only new one. The session lasted for about 1 1/2 hours followed by a short prayer session. Overall it was too new to grasp. I did reasonably well for my first time, (I think?). Since there are only 2 sessions per month and we have the words and chords but not sheet music, it will be quite some time before I could even think to participate in a service.

The scripture says obedience is better than sacrifice…
The Spirit has lead me, in this case, to do both…
Go figure…

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I believe that OSAS (Once Saved Always Saved) is a happy fiction based on some scriptures.
I believe OSLA (One Sin Lost Again) is an unhappy fiction based on some scriptures.

I believe in the wonder of grace and a walk with God. Just a lump of clay on the potter’s wheel. What shall I be in the end? Depends on how well I yield myself to his hands. A vessel of honour or a vessel of dishonour? Good question.

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