Pentecostal Students Challenged to be More than Sunday Christians
Thousands of students from the Assemblies of God are in Charlotte, N.C., this week for a major youth convention, hoping to be "led by fire" and to go back to their homes without extinguishing that flame.
"This week we're on fire for God ... God's doing incredible things. Last month or the month before we were at youth camp. God impacted our lives ... but what about in between? Were you still led by fire or were you led back to sin?" Steve Pulis, national student outreach director for the Assemblies of God, posed to students Monday night.
"When the tough times come, too often it's hard for us to live out the commitment of being led by fire."...
Michael Hranek wrote: I have to believe many of what I would call "old timey" Pentecostals and Baptist knew what is was to be saved from sin unto the obedience of faith, and knew what is was to hunger and thirst for righteousnes and pursue holiness (NOT ecumenism ) and to pour out their hearts in prayer to God for those who were lost. They would most likey vomit at the modern day "evangertainment" the carnal worldly entertainment of goats and the starvation of the sheep that heartbreakingly goes on in far too many of our Churches today.
As a Pentecostal I have to agree. It was originally birthed out of the Holiness movement. There are few Pentecostals today who have even heard of praying through. My mom was one of them. She would get up in the wee hours of the morning and pray in the sunrise.
Nevertheless, there are still Pentecostal AOG people who are bombarding the gates of hell. I was mentored by a street preacher in Chicago who was ordained by AOG. The man had enough firey street preachers in his AOG church to barbecue the town. The man preaches in bars, supermarkets, witches' havens and even Christian fests. Many street bums and derelicts have been saved by the Gospel under this man's faithfulness.
I know, Michael. I was raised in the AOG and Foursquare. They have both been sucked into the drain of ecumenism and certainly are not what they used to be. Although it seems the Foursquare founder was quite ecumenical to begin with.
Shall I trust my soul's salvation To a fellow-creature's care? Can a priest, a saint, or angel, Save me in my dark despair? None but Jesus, none but Jesus, Hears a contrite sinner's prayer.
"Do I need a Mediator, Other than the Son of God? Can the Virgin Mary help me? Jesus shed for me His blood None but Jesus, none but Jesus, Intercedes for me with God.
"Is there aught of praise or merit Due to works my hands have done? Can a life of tears and penance For a single sin atone? None but Jesus, none but Jesus: He must save, and He alone.
"Can the waters outward washing Inward change of heart supply? Life and energy bestowing, Can it bid corruption die? Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Send Your Spirit from on high!
"Can the sacramental symbols- Emblems of a Savior's love- Can these satisfy the longings Of a soul born from above? None but Jesus, none but Jesus, Food for fainting souls can prove.
Tozer A 20th-century prophet" they called him even in his lifetime.
Faithful Remnant wrote: I thought Pentecostal people were the "full gospel" people and always "on fire."
FR Sadly there is an enormous difference between the Assemblies of God people who prayed for my dad to be healed in 1979 (although they were probably changing for the worst even then) and the far more Charismatic ones of today.
David Wilkerson who is famous for working with gangs years ago in NYC and his out spokeness against sin and his burden that God will bring His judgment upon the US for our sins just isn't the kind of preacher we would find in our denominations today. With the exception of Paul Washer (Not AOG) and a few like him there are few too few indeed who would preach repentance and faith in Christ and the absolute necessity of being born again of the Holy Spirit and of living holy and pleasing to God not merely comfortably religious.
Daniel Lee Ford Just read your post after mine. AMEN!!! To brother Tozer!
Wow! Did I just say that??? It is so staggering that I have the privledge of belonging to the family of God with such men...I simply do not deserve it in the least.
Faithful Remnant, Pentecostalism has went from bad to worse, as John MacArthur put it in a series of articles, the first one being, Charismatic Chaos - Part 1 or for a sermon by Gil Rugh which explores another aspect that was brought up in the MacArthur article, The Charismatics' Role in Ecumenism.
I thought Pentecostal people were the "full gospel" people and always "on fire." Apparently they are starting to fade. Of course a lot of Pentecostal jargon doesn't line up with the Bible.....things like being "on fire," initial evidence of tongues, etc. Apparently they are not really the superior Christians they seem to make themselves out to be. Likewise many penetcostal groups(like the Assemblies of God featured here) are in unbiblical ecumeical compromise with erroneous groups, simply because of a common experience of manifestations instead of sound Biblical doctrines.
My heart goes out to the youth under the influence of modern day "evangelicism" whether it be Pentecostal, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, or whatever.
I have to believe many of what I would call "old timey" Pentecostals and Baptist knew what is was to be saved from sin unto the obedience of faith, and knew what is was to hunger and thirst for righteousnes and pursue holiness (NOT ecumenism ) and to pour out their hearts in prayer to God for those who were lost. They would most likey vomit at the modern day "evangertainment" the carnal worldly entertainment of goats and the starvation of the sheep that heartbreakingly goes on in far too many of our Churches today.
I have been considering in my witness to those who are religious but lost, especially Roman Catholics, asking them this question:
"Will your religion fail to save you in the day of judgment when you stand before the Lord Jesus Christ?"
As I believe I have heard in a song: "He (Jesus Christ Himself) must save (me) and He alone!"
Led by fire - getting pumped up - Pentecostalism based on an experience of the "Holy Spirit" or fire just can't be sustained. You get pumped up, it fades, you get pumped up, it fades, etc. It's just a short-term fire that burns out. You can't sustain this sort of manipulation. When you're in the environment, you get pumped up, but when it all fades, it's gone.
You can't blame the kids. I don't like this aspect of it. You can't go to kids and make them feel bad because they can't keep an emotional peak going. That's impossible.
If you are a youth caught up in this, listen to a Godly pastor like Paul Washer or Andrew Quigley and learn what true Christianity is. I was ready to walk away from Christianity after seeing it was just pumping people up, taking an offering, and dumping them to deal with the disappointment.
Michael Hranek wrote: no comprehension of what it means to be saved
MT.7:13-23 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. LOST IN CHURCH
I have to think that at the heart of what it means to be more than a "Sunday Christian" is that so many today in not just Pentecostal churches but in Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist and certainly in the apostate false Roman Catholic Church have no comprehension of what it means to be saved, to be born again of the Holy Spirit, to be changed by God and for God.
1
There are a total of 10 user comments displayed | add new comment |
Dr. Alan Cairns | 12/29/2008
Denis Lyle | 11/7/2006
COMMENTS | 
) and to pour out their hearts in prayer to God for those who were lost. They would most likey vomit at the modern day "evangertainment" the carnal worldly entertainment of goats and the starvation of the sheep that heartbreakingly goes on in far too many of our Churches today.
bless god: "
precision
'after this manner...' does not mean using these exact..."
