1. thos
   Member

   Friends,

   I have been pondering about the forum.

   Last night I felt quiet and expectant as if He was about to speak.

   Can a group of individuals from various countries be used of Him in a significant way?

   We have been told we cant be church.

   At the moment then our level of communication is like a gathering of elders at the city gate, musing on the state of His people and their ways.

   Well this morning I read Ezra 9 through to Nehemiah 2.

   I noticed that the story transitions beyond discussion to being prostrate before Him. This is a prophetic function.

   There are very strong parallels in these chapters to our concerns about the modern church.

   This made me think that the forum could be closer to a fellowship of prophets than a church.

   I wondered about whether I should sit in front of my PC and make a Utube video of what I gleaned from this passage of scripture.

   Not that my appearance is anything, but it would be easier to communicate with passion.

   This might go some way to being a more face to face exchange with you all.

   I could just continue to type but I would like feedback on us becoming more connected face to face in this way.

   I see no reason why we cant transition beyond words at the gate to being prostrate before Him as a group of friends under His prophetic mantle and see some genuine change, the tearing down of the rotten and the building unto Him.

   Is this realistic? Do we have to be physically together to achieve this?

   You feedback is very much appreciated.

   Blessings,

   Carl Emerson.

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. Jeremy
   Member

   Carl, this is something to be praying about, for sure. It will be interesting to see others' responses and to start hearing what we all believe the Lord begins to say. I imagine there may be others who have been sensing this same call to pray about "what next?"

   One thing that is obvious is that we have the burden for the church to be what it is supposed to be. This, along with the understanding that we are in the last days, seems to call for us to find out if there IS anything the Lord would have us do, as a portion of His body.

   Posted 1 year ago #

3. Lucinda
   Member

   Carl,

   I may be misunderstanding your word that you gave, that you would like to see this site become other than Andrew Strom's stated purpose. Again I may be misunderstanding what you are saying. Would you please clarify this for me? Thank you.

   Delegated authority is important to me and as I see it, I come here by my choice putting myself under Andrew's authority.

   He's explained numerous times his intent for his site, being a discussion board and made it plain to us, it is not a church. I accept his intended purpose for this site and try to abide by his guidlines for this discussion board.

   For someone to try to change his intended purpose is in my opionion, trying to ursurp his authority which I cannot come into agreement with.

   Again I may have misunderstood the title of your post and this is not what you are trying to do.

   Since we aren't able to have face to face communication it's hard to discern your spirit and where you are coming from.

   Maybe you could clarify a little more for us what you mean, so, for right now, I cannot come into agreement with what you are suggesting.

   This is only my opinion.

   God bless,
   Lucinda

   Posted 1 year ago #

4. kpublbu
   Member

   Neh1 was given to me to being the "call to rebuild?" thread. I witness that the motion of God in bringing forth the small part that He revealed in that still continues, slowly, like a dripping faucet. But I also know that what you share is His heart, Carl. I know this. I do not know how He will perform it, but I do bear witness of it even now, and have been praying.

   Lucinda
   I believe what he means is that through the connections that the Lord has made using this forum, something more substantial can be built (by God), not necessarily with reference to this forum, although bless God for how He is using it and continues to do so. I don't mean to presume upon Carl's response, just sharing my own understanding of when I read his post.

   Cory

   Posted 1 year ago #

5. Lucinda
   Member

   Thanks Cory.

   Like I said, I may have totally misunderstand what he meant. I'm sure Carl will come back and bring further clarification for us.
   * * * * *

   Here is Andrew Strom's stated purpose for his site.

   Andrew said, "The fact is - this Forum is not a "church". We cannot see or totally "fellowship" with people without knowing them in their homes and face-to-face.

   This is a "discussion board". And the reason it works is that it is FREE for people to bring their opinion - so long as it is not harsh, nasty or truly "heretical". We encourage godly engagement - and even disagreement is fine as long as people post in love - and not nastiness.

   It is a DISCUSSION BOARD.

   If I "clamp down" and "sit on" everything that I do not like or do not agree with, then it is no longer "FREE". And it is not longer a Forum - but a dictatorship.

   The Mods on this site only act when we feel things are going too far. The give and take of heated opinion can be a bit unpleasant at times. It is the nature of a "Forum". I dare not take it away without destroying all."

   Lucinda

   Posted 1 year ago #

6. dagazz
   Member

   Thanks Carl, I also feel the constraint of the internet as a place to gather, and have also been pondering ways for this to be a more "living, breathing" experience. I do believe God is speaking in this area to many, but though we can improve, I think the limitations of the Information highway we connect in may be a limiting factor.

   Having said that, books, ie The Bible can be used to impact and communicate powerfully, but I think one key problem is that christianity has at times become a religion of facts, theories, words and doctrines, rather than communicating life. This is another hurdle we face in bringing any real community, creativity, honest expression and true prophetic impact.
   Perhaps this needs to be happening more in our lives and churches, then bring that expression here.

   Posted 1 year ago #

7. kpublbu
   Member

   My own take is that the Spirit is moving God's people, stirring their hearts up to a solemn assembly of sorts, as mentioned in Ezra, and that this would entail a crying out for mercy because of the sins of ourselves as a people as well as for those of our world, beginning with the countries we live in. That is the burden I bear from the Lord, that I feel He desires to bring forth. That somehow, some way, His people will cry out to Him in unison... Carl used the word prostrate... in full-on repentance and surrender. God would move the very earth to respond to such a cry.

   Posted 1 year ago #

8. Anonymous
   Unregistered

   Oh dear Carl,

   I feel your anguish for more than just words on a forum... Go for it. You will soon find out if it's the way or not.

   I pray that those who watch will catch your vision.

   I can't help but feel that we communicate in the spirit here. It doesn't matter that we are not 'face-to-face' - we are surely tested to see with our hearts by the Lord in this world anyway.

   It's up to you... I believe that the Lord will answer prayer.

   God bless you and keep you and provide the desires of your heart.

   Love Varienne

   Posted 1 year ago #

9. thos
   Member

   Hi Lucinda,

   I appreciate your concern.

   I welcome any response from Andrew and willingly remain within his guidelines.

   I stated clearly that we cant be church.

   What I am proposing is something quite different.

   I feel that it is critical to move beyond words and be motivated to serve Him.

   That is already happening, the Storehouse is a case in point, this is up and running without any comment from Andrew.

   If He had some objection He would have voiced some concern.

   I think Church life has taught is some wrong principles when it comes to authority.

   Some think that we must ask permission of the elders in all that we propose to do spiritually.

   Others see that the elders keep watch and don't need to be approached for the royal nod on everything we do.

   I am sure that if my suggestion get legs that Andrew will bring a word of caution if he has concerns.

   Thanks for your caution.

   Blessings,

   Carl Emerson.

   Posted 1 year ago #

10. Lucinda
    Member

    Ezra is one of my favorite books of the Bible.

    As He was a man who experienced what it meant to have the “hand of the Lord his God upon him”. (Ezra 7:6)

    As we experience the of hand of the Lord our God upon us He will lead us and it will not be a work of the flesh.

    Ezra 7:6 KJV) This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

    (Ezra 7:27-28 KJV) Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem: {28} And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

    {17} …that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. {18} And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah …

    May we all know from experience the hand of the LORD our God upon us and be open to who he's bringing along side us. What a joy to walk with others who know the hand of the LORD!

    I'm not sure this can happen on a disscussion forum though.

    Blessings,
    Lucinda

    Posted 1 year ago #

11. motherofnations
    Member

    This is all vanity of vanities. God is not building a church on the internet.

    Perhaps perverted people get on here, make nice looking spiritual names for themselves, live like the devil behind their pc screens,perhaps steeped in porn, and then they involve themselves in these discussions, steering the discussions towards deception.

    Jesus says we will know them by their fruits. To know by your fruits you have to show a life to some people with skin and some breath that is evident.

    I am not aiming this at any particular individual so please do not misconstrue what I say or reckon things to myself.

    Love,
    Sarah

    Posted 1 year ago #

12. motherofnations
    Member

    Just one more thing. To think that we are all prophets on here is a little far fetched, and somewhat haughtily heady.

    Oh brothers and sisters, let us then make tabernacles for ourselves, one for me, one for Carl, one for dagazz.....

    Get the drift,

    Sarah

    Posted 1 year ago #

13. Jeremy
    Member

    We are here to discuss things, but this does not mean that anything we might do in a group or groups would be a JTBtv activity. We are individuals separate from this site, and might just share things here that we feel pertain to Carl's thoughts, pray about such, and see what God would lead, and then do that, totally independent of anything to do with the site. Does this make sense, Carl?

    Also, we can remember that Andrew has not taken the place of an elder and is not such to the people who discuss here (by his own words). So, there should be no need for permission from him about something the Lord might lead any to do, except he might prefer that very specific plans for anything not be made on his site(?)

    Posted 1 year ago #

14. kpublbu
    Member

    motherofnations

    I think it is possible you may have misunderstood. The desire is not to build a church, but to ask the Lord if there is a way to communicate more face to face with people we have built relationships with through this forum. The bad side of that being...??

    Also, please understand, no one stated that this is a gathering of exclusively prophets (for instance, I myself am definitely not). But this does not rule out the fact that those who serve God in this capacity do post here.

    Just wanted to share that in the event that maybe you misunderstood.

    God bless you,

    Cory

    Posted 1 year ago #

15. 4Jesus
    Member

    Or perhaps Carl, the Lord is telling you to share on utube yourself, apart from the forum here entirely. As many are doing this today.

    Myself, I am not called to do such myself. Nor do I claim to be a prophet either. But I do claim to be one of HIS born again disciples only. Whatever else I am doesn't matter to me. I have actually been anointed to wash everyones dishes at one time, if you can believe that. And I actually learned to love to do them too.
    I know that sounds corny somewhat. But I am serious. I always seemed, and still do seem to end up doing other peoples dishes for them wherever I do go. As when god gives us another talent, he told me he only adds to that talent that we already had before. And mine is and was washing dishes.

    But as for me getting on utube, or getting up in a church preaching, not what God has called me to do at all. That's my husbands job. Not mine. :-) But it could be God is telling you to do so none the less. We are all different, having different callings as well as gifts. So if that is what God is telling you to do, go for it. Because it does not have to be done here at all.

    But if you do, please come and share where they are at, when you do so of course. As Sarah is right, JTB shouldn't be involved directly with what your talking about doing either. But you never know. Andrew might end up sending some of them out in his NL's.

    Love,
    Sandy

    Posted 1 year ago #

16. kpublbu
    Member

    Sandy

    If ever you are in my neck of the woods, I will let my kids know to hold off on doing the dishes for a few days. They would be thrilled.

    LOL

    I do know exactly what you mean though, and God does do that.

    God bless you :)

    Cory

    Posted 1 year ago #

17. Lucinda
    Member

    "But you know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he has served with me in the gospel. Philippians 2:22

    A leader I know teaches that:

    But ye know the proof of him,.... They had had an experiment of him, a trial of his spirit, and a proof of his gifts and ministry, when he was among them with the apostle at his first preaching the Gospel to them, to the conversion of Lydia, and of the jailer, and their households, which laid the foundation of a Gospel church state among them, see Acts 16:3. The Vulgate Latin version reads in the imperative, "know ye the proof of him";

    In my opinion there is no way we can know the proof of someone behind a pc. In the same way you cannot know the the proof of me eventhough I tell many things about myself on this forum.

    The only way to know the proof of someone is being with them face to face.

    Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary says:
    served with me-When we might expect the sentence to run thus. "As a child serveth a father, so he served me"; he changes it to "served with me" in modesty; as Christians are not servants TO one another," but servants of God WITH one another (compare Php 3:17).

    When we are servants of God WITH one another we can quickly discern if one has a proven ministry.

    If the hand of God is on each of us, we need to be free to hear God for ourselves and act on His word to us.

    Blessings,
    Lucinda

    Posted 1 year ago #

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