I agree with you post. God can and will use any person who will surrender to
Him. God has a special place for every person to serve in. We can refuse to
serve or we can disqualify yourself for service when God planned to us .
But He will use us in another place. I believe that the Bible teacher that a
Pastor and Deacon have higher qualification place on them that any other and
we can disqualify ourself for service in these offices.
----- Original Message -----
From: "J" <jelewis@...>
To: <pastorsforum@...>
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 8:26 PM
Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] backsliding
> jok,
>
>
>
> Why do church people not understand that divorce is NOT listed in the
Bible
> as the "Unpardonable Sin????" Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the
> ONLY unforgivable sin, not divorce, or even divorce and remarriage.
>
>
>
> God FORGIVES !!!! GLORY!!!! God CLEANSES !!!! Hallelujah!!!!
>
>
>
> If God forgives the sinner of his sin (divorce, adultery, marrying a
> divorced person, etc), WHO ARE WE TO HOLD IT AGAINST THEM????
>
>
>
> If God can use a sinner (of any type of sinful life è gossip, abuse of
body
> through overeating or lack of rest, lying, stealing, immorality, drug
abuse,
> murder, etc.) who has been saved and forgiven, He Can Use a Forgiven
> Divorced Man or Woman. All of us have sinned in various ways and all of
us,
> I hope, have been forgiven of our sins.
>
>
>
> Of course, there must be a time where the candidate (forgiven person)
> proves himself by demonstrating that he or she is living a "redeemed life"
> and has truly changed from the sinful way of living, and is NOW living in
> and Walking in Victory.
>
> Paul, who had abused the church and murdered innocent Christians, had to
> prove he was real in his faith before others in the church would receive
his
> ministry. His ministry was not discounted because he had committed
> grievous sin. He was not a "second class Christian" because of his shady
> past life.
>
> Neither should we discount the Grace of God in the lives of people who
have
> been forgiven and who demonstrate by holy living that they are changed by
> the power of the living Christ.
>
>
>
> Thank God for His abundant Grace and Mercy in Christ!!!!
>
>
>
> Jerry Lewis
>
> Southside Baptist
>
>
>
> PS: There are innocent parties to divorce. They should not be treated
> badly because of the wrongdoing of their spouse.
>
>
>
> PSS: May God have mercy on those hard - hearted "Pharisees" who condemn
and
> offend "God's little ones." There are many "lost sheep" who are strewn by
> the wayside, cast away by unloving church people who could not reach out
to
> them in their time of hurt. May the church Grow Up and love like Christ
> loved!!!
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "john okeefe" <jxpxus@...>
> To: <pastorsforum@...>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 12:37 AM
> Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] backsliding
>
>
> > jerry -
> >
> > you are a very insightful man - very cool :) i would
> > say i agreed with you - but then you might be put on a
> > "bad list" of some kind :) LOL -
> >
> > one of the things we are looking for is a honest and
> > transparent relationship with people who are our
> > leaders :) i have been getting a hard time from
> > people who think i should not be a pastor because i am
> > divorced - and to be honest, i am very comforatble
> > with the decision i made concering that part of my
> > life and i have no problem being a pastor - and God
> > has no problem also - because i bring with me what God
> > is looking for in people he is calling to minister to
> > this generation - honest, transparent, open leaders
> > who are not perfect, but who are forgiven :)
> >
> > pax
> > jok
> >
> >
> > --- J <jelewis@...> wrote:
> > > David W,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I know the estimate seems high, but 95% of church
> > > members fit either one or more of the points listed.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The SBC (of which I am a part) claims 16 Million
> > > members, however, on any given Sunday, only a little
> > > over a third will be in attendance at Sunday morning
> > > worship. Where are the other two thirds???? Why
> > > are there always many members that are never in
> > > attendance?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > What percentage of your church members can you say
> > > are dedicated, loyal, faithful, and committed to the
> > > program of God???? What percentage of your church
> > > members are consistently witnessing and winning
> > > souls to Christ? What percentage are faithful
> > > tithers? How many diligently seek the Lord before
> > > making decisions? How many never compromise in
> > > their moral standards? (Even many Christians
> > > justify cutting corners with tax returns, driving
> > > speed limits, etc.) How many are moved more by
> > > their feelings than they are by the Word of God?
> > > How many have a real heart hunger and passion for
> > > the things of God?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Bottom line . We are desperately in need of REVIVAL
> > > in the church today!!!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I like Charles G Finney's definition of revival
> > > .."Revival is a new beginning of obedience toward
> > > God."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Loving Christ the Captain of our Salvation!!!
> > >
> > > Jerry Lewis
> > >
> > > Southside Baptist
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Pastor David Warner
> > > To: pastorsforum@...
> > > Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 8:06 PM
> > > Subject: RE: [PastorsForum] backsliding
> > >
> > >
> > > AMEN. We all need to get right and be right with
> > > God. I think maybe the 95% is a little high, but
> > > only a little!
> > > David W
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: J [mailto:jelewis@...]
> > > Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 4:50 PM
> > > To: pastorsforum@...
> > > Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] backsliding
> > >
> > >
> > > Pastor Hughes,
> > > According to your criteria, 95% of all
> > > evangelical, Bible - believing, Baptist church
> > > members (both Independent Baptist and SBC) are
> > > backslidden.
> > > The church is spiritually sick and needs
> > > REVIVAL!!!
> > > Jerry Lewis
> > > Southside Baptist
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Pastor Hughes
> > > To: pastorsforum@...
> > > Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 12:10 AM
> > > Subject: [PastorsForum] backsliding
> > >
> > >
> > > anybody backslidden out there......
> > >
> > > here we go....hang on....
> > > Pastor Hughes
> > > East Mesa Baptist Church
> > > http://www.azboss.net/~embc/
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Pastor Hughes
> > > To: embc@...
> > > Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 3:10 PM
> > > Subject: backsliding
> > >
> > >
> > > The Ways of a Backslider Pro. 14:14 with II
> > > Pet. 2:6-8
> > > The life of Lot offers many "ways" of a
> > > backslider. You're probably backslidden if:
> > >
> > >
> > > 1. You walk by sight, rather than faith -
> > > Gen. 13:10
> > > 2. You make decisions without praying - Gen.
> > > 13:11
> > > 3. You are comfortable around worldly and
> > > wicked people - Gen. 13:12; 19:1
> > > 4. You are a continual burden to God's
> > > people - Gen. 14:11-16 (Lot was always a burden to
> > > Abraham.)
> > > 5. You seek to honor men rather than God -
> > > Gen. 19:1
> > > 6. You have experienced a compromise in
> > > moral standards - Gen. 19:8
> > > 7. Your testimony is not taken seriously -
> > > Gen. 19:14
> > > 8. You are not trying to win souls - Gen.
> > > 19:15; 18:32 (Lot had won no one outside of his
> > > family.)
> > > 9. You linger about obeying God's word -
> > > Gen. 19:15-16
> > > 10. You deny God's word - Gen. 19:18-20
> > >
> > > Pastor Hughes
> > > East Mesa Baptist Church
> > > http://www.azboss.net/~embc/
> >
> >
> > =====
> > john o'keefe
> > http://www.ginkworld.net
> >
> > __________________________________
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> >
> > --
> > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to:
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> >
> > "In essential things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; and in
all
> things, charity."
> >
> >
>
>
>
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> "In essential things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; and in all
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>