The "Good Feeling Church"

[Greatness4life]

Wow! What a nice thread with a good discussions. But do you want to know how I felt within and the answers i'm getting from the Lord? The answers are simple.
1. We've have left the place of the gospel of the Kingdom.
2. We have been deceived in believing in system than in Christ.
3. Most of our faith are hanging on what God can give to us forgetting that It's not about us but Him.
4. Let everyone of us find Christ indeed and all these matter will be settled.
But do you know our problem? We always see the wrongs, what is not properly done and what is not scriptural but few can provide the answers to those questions, why? Because "we have not so learn Christ", if we have, we will understand that they are not problem but, WE ARE THE REAL PROBLEM. Oh Lord open our eyes to see You as You are not as we think You are and make us understand that, it is not about us but You alone.

 

[Boanerges]

Man sees a mess, Jesus sees His glorious bride.
He is perfecting her.
He will judge her that she may be pure.
He will be glorified in her.
If God waits to use only that which is perfect He would have to wait until Christ Himself sets foot on the earth again to get anything done.
It seems He has always delighted in using the weak and foolish things to do His work that He alone may have the glory.
Selah.

 

[yort]

There will it seem always be those that by their action cause others to be looked apon in the same way when in fact they are the complete opposites, such as my pastor and Benny Hinn.

My Pastor-spends way more than a forty hour work week in the service of God as a Psator and simply put, a good christian man. He`s called as the poastor to certian duties that he`s held accountable for, very long list, you`ll just have to trust me on this, for I spend alot of time with him, and for this the church as a collective has elected to pay him a salary. He has other perks, a good office and the privalege of doing God`s work all the time, see he`s CALLED.

Benny Hinn-My opion lets get they out there before people start playing that judgment card that seems to be followed by the plank in my eye and the dust or speck in their`s.
His common and main themn is tell us how bad we are and how much it is going to cost us to be better with Jesus.See it`s profitable to be the middle man, you know kinda like the Pope, T.D Jakes, Joel Olstein, lets not forget our buddies Kennith & Gloria Copland.

Okay I know that at about this time someone reading this is ready to start slamming the keys and letting the how dare u`s fly, I`m not judgeing them them I`m just exercissing the right to be a

FRUIT INSPECTOR
Amen.

See I don`t believe all these people that proclaim the Gospel are truely called to be doing what they do.But if we can label it, well opportunist, now that sounds more according to what you see.

Now for the Feel Good Churches, Amen brother you are right on time, I`m the same way, wanting to feel enlightened and full of joy. That`s why both me and my wife Nancy knew that the church that we would decide to become members at, would be one the Holy Spirit would lead us to. And that is is exactly what happened.

C.H Spurgeon said this about the feel good church " If you entice them by excitting them to feel good about church, that`s what you`ll have to keep doing".

Great post Brother

Yort---------------------------------------------Troy

 

[Boanerges]

That's the spirit. I am sure you can find a fell bad church somewhere. Perhaps the church of the Frozen Chosen or the church of the Frigidaire! LOL.

I can't wait to go to church, it is a blast to worship my Lord, hear His Word and fellowship with the saints.
I leave so full of God I think I may burst, man that feels good.

 

[Mark of Faith]

There is a very important distinction to make: there is nothing wrong with "feeling good", but the "feel good church" (as opposed to the more wholesome variety) focusses on the temporal "joy" according to the World's standards. A healthy Church shouldn't be funereal, and yes! it should be filled with real joy, yet sometimes the Lord leads us into times of pain, and a "church" that has either a spoken or unspoken criticism of those not currently experiencing elation, is faulty.

Jesus, in the Beatitudes, said "Blessed are those who mourn."
I am currently reading through Jeremiah, and I'm reading in a prophetic manner. What I mean is that, though yes I am taking in the historic perspective of the message of the prophet, my main purpose is to let God use His Word to inspire and guide my prayers. And also to gain some insight into what God is saying to His Church today.
This reading and prayer is, in fact, quite painful at times, as I become aware of my sins, the sins of The Church, and the sins of this nation (UK).
Yet!!!! That pain and mourning is so, so tempered by a security and trust in our Lord Jesus. There is a real joy in this time of mourning. Just don't ask me to explain how that can be....

God bless,
Mark.

 

[amadeus2]

Is it wrong to feel feeling good about attending a church service? Certainly not, but what should our purpose be in gathering together with others in such a manner? Should it not in every case be to please God? If we simply want to feel good, the world is full of places designed to accomplish that. The gentler ones may the amusement parks and the sports arenas, but there are some others that nearly always will be an abomination to God.

So what then once a week or twice even three times should we gather together in a certain building at a certain time to feel good? Again there is nothing wrong with feeling good, but who is it that is to receive the glory? Who is it that does all of the real work toward accomplishing God's purposes? He may use you and me, if we are willing vessels, but the power and the Spirit are His.

Having said that then does not God who love us so much want us the highest creation in this creation of His to enjoy the things that He has made for us? Again, the answer is yes, but again, let us have first things first:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt 6:33

If we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, He will undoubtedly bless us with what He knows that we need and then some. Again, having said that we should not be too quick to decide what it is that we need. Our bodies need natural food and warm clothing for the cold winter months, but sometimes even when our bellies are full and our bodies and cozy and warm, we are needy... But what about God? What would He like to receive from us? Remember He has given us everything!

We eat 7 days a week and usually , at least, three times a daily. We wear warmer clothing and/or crank up the furnace or fireplace whenever we are cold, 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. Why is it we care so much about our own comfort, but we talk about serving God, someone asks the question, but do we 'feel good' when we do it?

Hopefully many people regularly ask the question what can we do to please God?

We all usually want to please ourselves 24/7, but when it comes to pleasing God how often do we even consider it? If we are truly gathered in His name, shouldn't the first thing to come to our mind be, what can we do to show Him that He is loved by us?

Glory to His name!

 

[Boanerges]

This scripture was fulfilled when Jesus read it aloud:
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isa 61:4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

Enter thou into what:
Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.



I know one can go to far in either direction on this but I have been in to many morgues to go back to one. Dead dry, lifeless churches that beat their members down preaching about their faults while never showing them the power of God to set them free; those must surely break Jesus heart.
If the joy of the Lord is our strength and we are without joy then we are without strength.

Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.



Psa 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Isa 29:18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
Isa 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Hab 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Zep 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Act 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.


Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isa 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
Isa 35:3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Isa 35:7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
Isa 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
Isa 35:9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

 

[Mark of Faith]

Where to find joy?

Joy in dancing....joy in clapping....joy in singing.....

These are all good things if done for the Glory of God.

But how do we obtain joy? It is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. We attain to it, not by dancing, not by clapping, not by singing, but by being with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The others are expressions of that joy, in their rightful place. The true joy comes from living in Christ, and He in us. That joy shall last should the dancing be stopped by illness, that joy shall last should the clapping be stopped with chains, that joy will last should the singing be hushed by torture.

Mark.

 

[Boanerges]

Where to find joy?

Joy in dancing....joy in clapping....joy in singing.....

These are all good things if done for the Glory of God.

But how do we obtain joy? It is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. We attain to it, not by dancing, not by clapping, not by singing, but by being with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The others are expressions of that joy, in their rightful place. The true joy comes from living in Christ, and He in us. That joy shall last should the dancing be stopped by illness, that joy shall last should the clapping be stopped with chains, that joy will last should the singing be hushed by torture.

Mark.

No doubt my friend. If we stay close to His heart our joy will be full and true joy is never dictated by circumstance.
Still if it is in your heart it is going to show.