Please Help, I Need Advice

[nadroj15]

Hi, I'm Jordan, and I suffer from homosexuality.

I posted here last year, tried to start living the Christian life, and failed. I went back to my normal habits of masturbation, homosexuality, and pornography. I need help to break free of these addictions.

A couple weeks ago, I went to a youth service (I'm 15, gonna be 16 in a few months) with a guest speaker (our youth pastor was called elsewhere, we are currently searching for a new person to take the job.) The speaker was called by God to preach about hidden sin and addictions instead of what he had planned to preach (and this hit right home.) The one line I remember and I think will always stay with me from this service is "If you need Jesus, come runnin'". He gave his testimony about another preacher saying something similar and him doing a complete 180 with his addictions to drugs and alcohol. I went to that altar and prayed hard, but what I felt was not what I thought freedom from it would feel like. I felt . . . lighter than normal, and I tried to live without my addictions, but I gave into temptation again.

I need help. I know that homosexuality is wrong, but I don't know how to beat it.

[baxpack7]

Hi, I'm Jordan, and I suffer from homosexuality.

I posted here last year, tried to start living the Christian life, and failed. I went back to my normal habits of masturbation, homosexuality, and pornography. I need help to break free of these addictions.

A couple weeks ago, I went to a youth service (I'm 15, gonna be 16 in a few months) with a guest speaker (our youth pastor was called elsewhere, we are currently searching for a new person to take the job.) The speaker was called by God to preach about hidden sin and addictions instead of what he had planned to preach (and this hit right home.) The one line I remember and I think will always stay with me from this service is "If you need Jesus, come runnin'". He gave his testimony about another preacher saying something similar and him doing a complete 180 with his addictions to drugs and alcohol. I went to that altar and prayed hard, but what I felt was not what I thought freedom from it would feel like. I felt . . . lighter than normal, and I tried to live without my addictions, but I gave into temptation again.

I need help. I know that homosexuality is wrong, but I don't know how to beat it.

Hello Jordan. I've been reading your post and I can understand your frustration. Here are a couple of things that I think will be helpful.
First of all, you MUST read your bible and remain in prayer. Going down to the altar and getting down on your face in forgiveness is a good step, but as a babe in Christ, you can't stop there. When you get married and your wife gives birth, you can't just feed that baby one time and expect him to survive. In that same way, as a newbie Christian, you've got to continue to feed yourself to survive.
Second, you Have to remove all those things that lead down that road. As a former drug addict, when I accepted Christ as my Savior, I not only had to stop taking drugs, but I also had to stop hangin' around with some of the people that I considered my friends. I just wasn't strong enough to resist the temptation of the drugs. After a good long while, I was able to go back and share the gospel with those friends because I was a much stronger person through the Holy Spirit.
Third, you've got to keep busy. That was a very effective tool for me. I got so involved in the church and the activities that were presented to me, I didn't have time to even think about my struggles. Many churches offer bible studys, prayer meetings, dinners, children's (and youth) ministry opportunities, even things like athletic teams(softball,basketball etc...), and even choir rehearsals and performances. There are many things to do thaat can keep your mind off of your struggles.
Get others to pray for/with you. When I confessed my sin to everyone(friends and family alike) I felt a HUGE weight lifted from my shoulders. It was then that I knew how many people truly cared for me. To this day, I am truly thankful for all of those prayers of support from those who knew.
I am by no means a perfect person-far from it! But I have plenty of experience with addiction and I just wanted to offer up this two cents worth.
May God bless you my friend.:hug:

[Tonton]

Jordan,

Please go here: http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/ and check out their free bible-based courses in purity.

God bless,
Anton

[Gregg]

Jordan,

Thank you for your honesty. May God heal you and bless you in your walk in Jesus name I pray Amen.

satan is going to tell you the journey is too hard or that you are not worthy or that the Christian life is not worth it or many other negative things. Keeping seeking Jesus Christ and you can expect healing.

God bless you and yours.

[lbeaty1981]

Jordan, thanks for coming forth and sharing. Have you shared this with anyone in-person? If there's a youth leader or pastor who you feel comfortable with, I would highly recommend it. Coming before God is an excellent first step, but telling someone face-to-face what you're facing can do wonders for your healing. I know there are several of us on here (myself included) who have received great healing through confession and prayer with others. I'm praying for you, brother, it can be a tough road to walk down. In the end, the results are well worth it, though. :)

[livingwaters]

I am praying for you Jordan...the devil would love nothing better than for you to lose your soul to him....but, I say but, OUR GOD has something to say about that!!!!!!!!! Read the following piece I'm posting....read it everyday.....read it every night.....read it when you wake up.....read it before you close your eyes......keep the Word of God flowing always, in your music, in your reading, in your tv programs, in all that you do......OUR LORD is a very loving God.....after all, who else do you know would have given their life to be nailed to a tree for your sins....who????? NOBODY, that's who!!!! Just know that God is still trying to allow people to be saved so they can avoid the alternative.....GOD ALWAYS DOES HIS PART.......do we always do ours? NO....God knows us better than we know ourselves....yet, HE still loves us....when you were born-again, you became a new creature in CHRIST!!! HE bought and paid for you.....you no longer belong to yourself.....HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside of you, cause HE knew we could not fight the forces of evil alone......but remember: HE WHO LIVES IN YOU, IS GREATER THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD....YOU MUST READ YOUR BIBLE EVERYDAY!!!! NO EXCUSES!!!!

God bless you, my young brother-in-Christ....where God is, there is HOPE!!!
See the attachment, print it, and look up the scripture that goes with each item~~~~:hug:

[nadroj15]

Jordan,

Please go here: http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/ and check out their free bible-based courses in purity.

God bless,
Anton


This is interesting. I just enrolled in it.

Thank everyone for praying for me and giving me encouraging advice. I will try to give updates on a regular basis, and I am motivated to beat this thing once and for all.

[Tonton]

WOW!

May God give you the strength to fight all temptation. May He bless you through this course!

Anton

[blessedmommyuv3]

Edit by Slug1 - Deleted a privious post that this was a reply to... still great scripture in this post so the rest stays:


God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It is very dangerous to be giving advice such as this. It is contrary to what the bible clearly states:

Romans 1:
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

1 Corinthians 6:
9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

But Jordan, this is the good news:

1 Corinthians 6 goes on to say:
11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

There is nothing God cannot do, no sin He cannot remove, no temptation He cannot provide a way out of. Abide in Him. Submit your life fully to Him and His leading. He will give you strength to endure.
We will be praying alongside you for deliverance.

In Christ's love,
Jen

I want to leave you with this scripture of encouragement:
John 8:
34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.


He has set me free: He can set you free, as well. :hug:

[nadroj15]

Edit by Slug1 - Deleted a privious post that this was a reply to... still a needed post so the rest stays:

I'm not much of a theologian . . . if I get involved in a deep discussion about Old Testament laws and prophecy, I'm lost from the start.

But I can speak from personal experience:

I've grown up in an Assembly of God (Pentecostal) church. All my life I have seen people worshipping God with reckless abandon. I've seen God touch people and I've seen people filled with the Holy Spirit . . . all from the sidelines.

If you looked at me, you wouldn't know it. On the outside, I go to church every Sunday morning and my youth group every Wednesday night. I volunteer to help out at church functions, try to be kind to others, know my Bible, and generally try to be a good person.

But on the inside, I'm dead. I'm like a radio controlled car with no batteries. You can press buttons on the controller all you want . . . but I'm not going anywhere. I've genuinely tried to worship God, but I've never felt a thing. My hidden sexual sin, in my humble opinion, is what has been separating me from truly experiencing God's power in my life. Even if I can be saved and be homosexual . . . I don't want that. I don't want to be dead weight in my church, or a lukewarm Christian.

Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

I want to know all that God has planned for me . . . and I don't think that I will ever know that if I continue being bound to secret sin. I want to be a 100% sold out on fire for God Christian . . . and if I'm serving two masters (God and homosexuality), that's not going to happen.

--------------------------------------------------------

So far, I've remained free from pornography, self-gratification, and homosexual feelings. Any time I find myself remotely tempted I remind myself of the following verse:

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

(I lost the reference, but I know its from Mark 8.)

I believe that for every person, the phrase "taking up your cross" means something completely different, because everyone has their own unique struggle. Some have to deal with alcohol and drugs, some have to deal with swearing, some (like me) have to deal with sins of a sexual nature such as homosexuality or pornography.

This is a daily battle. Every day I must remind myself that I have to take up my cross to live for God., and the way I do this is by trying to avoid homosexuality and it's temptations for me.

[blessedmommyuv3]

I'm not much of a theologian . . . if I get involved in a deep discussion about Old Testament laws and prophecy, I'm lost from the start.

But I can speak from personal experience:

I've grown up in an Assembly of God (Pentecostal) church. All my life I have seen people worshipping God with reckless abandon. I've seen God touch people and I've seen people filled with the Holy Spirit . . . all from the sidelines.

If you looked at me, you wouldn't know it. On the outside, I go to church every Sunday morning and my youth group every Wednesday night. I volunteer to help out at church functions, try to be kind to others, know my Bible, and generally try to be a good person.

But on the inside, I'm dead. I'm like a radio controlled car with no batteries. You can press buttons on the controller all you want . . . but I'm not going anywhere. I've genuinely tried to worship God, but I've never felt a thing. My hidden sexual sin, in my humble opinion, is what has been separating me from truly experiencing God's power in my life. Even if I can be saved and be homosexual . . . I don't want that. I don't want to be dead weight in my church, or a lukewarm Christian.

Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

I want to know all that God has planned for me . . . and I don't think that I will ever know that if I continue being bound to secret sin. I want to be a 100% sold out on fire for God Christian . . . and if I'm serving two masters (God and homosexuality), that's not going to happen.

--------------------------------------------------------

So far, I've remained free from pornography, self-gratification, and homosexual feelings. Any time I find myself remotely tempted I remind myself of the following verse:

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

(I lost the reference, but I know its from Mark 8.)

I believe that for every person, the phrase "taking up your cross" means something completely different, because everyone has their own unique struggle. Some have to deal with alcohol and drugs, some have to deal with swearing, some (like me) have to deal with sins of a sexual nature such as homosexuality or pornography.

This is a daily battle. Every day I must remind myself that I have to take up my cross to live for God., and the way I do this is by trying to avoid homosexuality and it's temptations for me.

Jordan,
I think you have got a really good head on your shoulders. :D
Our sins absolutely do serve to separate us from God.
But He extends His grace to us. His prevenient grace calls to us while we are still sinners.
He loves us and offers us a new life in Him.
He calls us to die to ourselves, our sinful fleshly "old man" and our desires, and abide in Him, and He will transform us into new creatures.
Continue to immerse yourself in scripture and cry out to Him in prayer, He can remove these desires from you.
I know this, because he did it for me. The sins I once loved, I now hate, the thought of committing them repulses me. But it was through the working of the Holy Spirit that my chains were broken. Once I was willing to give God access to every bit of me--my heart, my tongue, my mind---I kept nothing back to rule over for myself, then He began to set me free. I am no longer a slave to sin, but a slave to Christ.


You are in my prayers.

In Christ's love,
Jen

[nadroj15]

Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement!

[lbeaty1981]

My hidden sexual sin, in my humble opinion, is what has been separating me from truly experiencing God's power in my life.

I believed this for a long time in my own life too. What God eventually revealed to me is that it wasn't the sin itself that was separating me from Him, but the act of hiding itself. When we're battling a sin alone, it's so easy to convince ourselves that it has more power over our lives than it really does. I'm not saying you can't overcome this without opening up to others, but I believe it'll be a lot easier if you at least consider the option of talking with a pastor or youth leader about this.

[nadroj15]

I believed this for a long time in my own life too. What God eventually revealed to me is that it wasn't the sin itself that was separating me from Him, but the act of hiding itself. When we're battling a sin alone, it's so easy to convince ourselves that it has more power over our lives than it really does. I'm not saying you can't overcome this without opening up to others, but I believe it'll be a lot easier if you at least consider the option of talking with a pastor or youth leader about this.

We currently don't have a youth pastor. Our old youth pastor was a huge blessing to our church, but he got called back to his home state of New Jersey recently.

And I don't feel close enough to our actual pastor . . . just because I haven't spent that much time with him outside of hearing him preach every Sunday morning.

[nadroj15]

Also, as a little bit of an update: I've been pure ever since I started this thread, but impure thoughts are starting to invade my mind. Today they've hit harder than they have since I started this thread. I've tried to quit my habits cold turkey in the past, and typically Wednesday's have been the days I've fallen. I think this is because Satan knows tonight I am going to my youth group, where I believe I can have an encounter with God through worship and prayer. An encounter with God is exactly what I need . . . so I don't think it's any coincidence that I'm being tempted harder than ever before today.

Please pray for me that God will touch me tonight like He has never touched me before. I currently know about God, which is good, but I would rather know God than just know about Him.

[nadroj15]

Sorry for the back to back posts, but I have some very exciting things to share! :D

As I was typing my earlier post, I was listening to a contemporary Christian radio station called KLOVE. The song that was playing was "He's My Son" by I think Mark Schultz, but I'm not sure, and that's not important anyway. Later, my mother came home from work. She was listening to the same station at the same time as me, and she had an interesting story. She said that right as the song started playing, her radio changed to a different station, and she could not get KLOVE to return until well after the song was over. I'm taking this as a sign that Satan does NOT want me to win this battle, as a song that was written as a prayer for a son was blocked out for my mom at the same time I was typing about Satan tempting me.

Another sidenote - I'm big on music, and I found myself singing "Lead Me to the Cross" by Chris & Conrad (great song) whenever I felt tempted because it took my mind off of what I was facing. During our time of worship, we sang one song, and then our worship leader said "For our next song, I was going to do something else, but my daughter told me to do this instead." The song was a slowed down version of "Lead Me to the Cross." Needless to say, I was able to worship, and while I can't say it was what I thought it would feel like, I know that things are looking up.

Afterwards, one of our youth leaders felt drawn by the Spirit to pray over the youth. Some things included in the prayer were that Satan has put a veil over the hearts and minds of our nation, and she prayed for that veil to be ripped off and for us to experience the presence of God like we had never done before. The veil on me is homosexuality . . . and right now, I don't feel as pressured by it as I did before I went to church tonight.

Our worship leader gave the sermon, and his main point was that we need to be united as a youth group to win souls for Christ, and we need to be so closely-knit that ANYONE can come to each other with ANYTHING. He asked if anyone had any needs that they needed prayer for . . . but I chickened out. :( But now I absolutely know that I am on the right path, and I am asking God for a hunger that will drive me to know Him like I've never known Him before.

God is good. Amen. :D :D :D

[SFASH]

That's a good thing to ask for and it sounds like the Lord is moving mightily in your life.
Your involvement in fellowship is obviously bearing much fruit for your.

Indeed, He is good! Thanks for sharing this and I will certainly remember you in prayer this evening.

Please don't hesitate to keep us updated on how you are doing, and by all means keep asking for help,
when you need it.

Lord Bless...:)

[Lordistruth]

God only has 2 rules.
Love God above all else.
Love your neighbor as you would love yourself.

[Desperaux]

Jordan, I see you are doing all the right things and your heart is after God--and he is leading you!

I love the fact that you sing a particular song as a distraction to your temptation. It follows the scripture that tells us that God will provide a way of escape. I often tell people who are dealing with temptation (not excluding myself!) to literally LOOK FOR the escape, because it is a promise of God and it will come!

You have found your escape and you a e being obedient to avail yourself of it! praise God--you are an overcomer in Christ!


1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Revelation 3:5
All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.

[nadroj15]

I just fell . . . hard. :cry:

It seemed like all of the temptation gripped my mind until I couldn't think about anything except for my old habits. Please pray for me that this won't happen again. :cry:

[lbeaty1981]

Definitely will be praying for you, brother. Lust can be a difficult battle to win, especially in our teenage years. The great news is, there is victory in Jesus from all of our sins, no matter how great or small they may seem! :pp

Just on a side-note, I hope you're not beating yourself up with guilt over this. It's so easy in these situations for the enemy to get a grip on us and make us feel like we're less of a person because of what we're facing. Not only is that not healthy, it's not what God's will is for us. Christ died for the forgiveness of all of our sins, and God knew every sin we would ever commit before we were even born, yet still gave us salvation. That's how much He loves us. :)

[SFASH]

Yes, we keep it before the throne of God, looking to the cross, and by His strength we get the victory.

Peace and Blessings:)

[Sold Out]

You are doing an amazing job of sharing your struggle and coming to terms with it. Everyone has their secret sin...yours just happens to be homosexual tendencies. We all have that ONE sin that will plague us our entire lives:

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us," Hebrews 12:1

In this race we call Christianity, there are going to be 'snares' waiting to take us down. Just be aware that your greatest enemy is yourself, and following behind in 2nd and 3rd places are the world & the devil. Pray for protection every day from these 3 things.

[nadroj15]

I need help.

Right now I'm not struggling against any of my normal things, but I'm very apathetic. I just don't want to do anything, I'm not motivated enough. Please pray that I can snap out of this and continue my walk with Christ.

[blessedmommyuv3]

Praying for you, Jordan.

Some ideas for getting out of the "slump":

Immerse yourself in the bible reading a book you haven't read before or studied in a while. Job is a wonderful book to read, if you haven't read it yet or in awhile. Psalms is great, too. Hurting men crying out to God for strength, perseverance, and shelter.

Listen to some inspirational sermons on YouTube. My favorite preachers to listen to are: John Piper, Paul Washer, and Ravi Zacharias.

Read some classic literature of men with a passion for God: Charles Spurgeon is one of my favorites.
Jude has a wonderful thread in the devotionals section of the board on Spurgeon.

Listen to worship music that focuses on God and His power to save and restore us.
There is a wonderful thread right now in our Praise forum with inspirational YouTube music videos.

Get on your knees and cry out to God. Tell Him everything...hold nothing back.

Continue in prayer.

And, please know, we are praying alongside you.

In Christ's Love,
Jen

[nadroj15]

I think God just sent me a wakeup call.

One thing I love to do is sing, and at my grandma's church, every three months they have a service where one person comes and ministers through music the entire time, and then they have a dinner afterwards. This is an EXTREMELY small church (today they had 27 people in the congregation, and that was a lot for them.)

Well anyways, afterwards, their pastor approached me. He wants to get a youth group started, that would meet on a weekday night (not Wednesday). He wants to work with me to start this thing up. Now I've NEVER done anything like this before, and it was pretty sudden. But the more I thought of the idea, the more I liked it, and I felt like I could use this to be God's servant.

Flash forward a couple hours. I'm at home, I get a phone call. I sometimes run the computer (lyrics on a screen) for my home church during some services. Someone backed out for personal reasons on doing it tonight, and the person in charge of it asked me to fill in. I didn't have anything going on, so I said yes. Tonight was not our pastor preaching, it was a missionary from India. He preached about God using people to reach people, and afterwards there was a powerful time of prayer. Our normal pastor spoke in tongues and there was an interpretation. Afterwards, he said he felt like someone in the room was being called into full time ministry.

I am wondering if God is truly calling me to do this. I didn't feel anything major, like a voice filling my head telling me to do this, and I really didn't fill any different, but all these things can't be a coincidence. What do you think?

[nadroj15]

I'm kind of really interested to hear someone's response to the above post . . .

[Desperaux]

I'm kind of really interested to hear someone's response to the above post . . .

If you already have a home church, then let the Lord use you there. That is the place you will receive your gifting, your training, encouragement and correction and your ministry.

[nadroj15]

If you already have a home church, then let the Lord use you there. That is the place you will receive your gifting, your training, encouragement and correction and your ministry.

Why would I confine God to a church? I would still attend my home church, but be involved in a ministry at another church.

[Desperaux]

Why would I confine God to a church? I would still attend my home church, but be involved in a ministry at another church.


The church where we are members is where we need to base our ministry from. That is our "family"--where we receive teaching, correction, fellowship, and where we are sent out from. If it is your home church then let it be home.

Would a person move from family to family? No--a person belongs in one family, and God wants to use us in that family where HE has placed us.

I know for a fact that a good church wouldn't want to use someone who has membership elsewhere. We will only use our own in ministry--people we teach and serve, and who we know that God is equipping for use in the church.

[lbeaty1981]

Personally, I see nothing wrong with being involved with more than one church, and can see it as an opportunity for giving/receiving blessing in both. You'll need to be careful not to spread yourself too thin, but if this is something God's called you into doing, He will ensure that doesn't happen. One thing that I've learned in my 28 years on this earth is that I tend to be blessed abundantly when I step out and help others, regardless of how equipped I may or may not feel in the situation.

I'd express any concerns about this to the pastor of the church beforehand, but it sounds like he's willing to step in and help along the way. The only way you'll know for sure if this is a calling in your life or not, though, is to give it a shot. You're young, so why not try it and see how God can use you? :)

[Desperaux]

I think that churches that will use people in ministry whose home churches are elsewhere are unwise. It appears to be grasping for numbers. Why can't they raise up people within their own membership to minister where needed? That is their job under God.

It is such a blessing to be used in the house of the Lord where we have membership and belonging. It is family.

[Brother Mark]

I know for a fact that a good church wouldn't want to use someone who has membership elsewhere.

Was Paul a member of the Corinthian church? Or the galatian church? Was Peter a member of the church at Joppa?

Acts 9:36-40

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37 And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to us." 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
NASU

[Brother Mark]

I need help.

Right now I'm not struggling against any of my normal things, but I'm very apathetic. I just don't want to do anything, I'm not motivated enough. Please pray that I can snap out of this and continue my walk with Christ.

Do you have anyone you talk to about this? It would be a good thing for you to get some counseling from someone that understands how to help people overcome. There is healing that comes from confessing our faults to one another. Having a safe place to talk it out can really help.

[Desperaux]

Was Paul a member of the Corinthian church? Or the galatian church? Was Peter a member of the church at Joppa?

Acts 9:36-40

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37 And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to us." 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
NASU

Apostles have ministry to many churches under them, and thank the Lord, Peter was there to be used to raise this woman up!

[Brother Mark]

Apostles have ministry to many churches under them, and thank the Lord, Peter was there to be used to raise this woman up!

As do evangelist, and others. Stephen, a deacon, was used in a mighty way outside his local church. The main point, our ministry is not limited to our church membership. As the scripture shows with Peter, when a church lacks a gift, there's nothing wrong with asking another local body for help. That church sent for Peter because he had something they didn't but they needed.

[Desperaux]

As do evangelist, and others. Stephen, a deacon, was used in a mighty way outside his local church. The main point, our ministry is not limited to our church membership. As the scripture shows with Peter, when a church lacks a gift, there's nothing wrong with asking another local body for help. That church sent for Peter because he had something they didn't but they needed.


You are so right! Our ministry extends to the world around us, 24/7! But it is based and it is fed and advanced in one's church family. That is where we are sent out into ministry with blessing, and where we receive our good teaching, and grounding in the Word of God. It is where we receive our encouragement and our correction when we fall into error. It is where we receive our loving fellowship that spurs us on. It is where we receive and discover the good gifts that God has bestowed upon us.It is the place where we give of ourselves and we receive from the Lord. It is our base--and it is where we pay our tithe. Thank God for it!

[Brother Mark]

You are so right! Our ministry extends to the world around us, 24/7! But it is based and it is fed and advanced in one's church family. That is where we are sent out into ministry with blessing, and where we receive our good teaching, and grounding in the Word of God. It is where we receive our encouragement and our correction when we fall into error. It is where we receive our loving fellowship that spurs us on. It is where we receive and discover the good gifts that God has bestowed upon us. It is our base. Thank God for it!

Of course. We know that good churches will accept ministry from other churches.

I think that churches that will use people in ministry whose home churches are elsewhere are unwise.

I figure the church at Joppa was pretty wise in sending for Peter.

[Desperaux]

Of course. We know that good churches will accept ministry from other churches.



I figure the church at Joppa was pretty wise in sending for Peter.

It isn't the same thing at all. I think you know that.

[Brother Mark]

It isn't the same thing at all. I think you know that.

Sure it is. We are in a single kingdom. Not multiple kingdoms that are to be an island to themselves. I see no prohibition or even encouragement in scripture to avoid having people from other congregations minister to one another. The example we have is that when one congregation lacked, they sent for help to those that could help.

Peter was not a member of the church at Joppa and they sent for him because he had a gifting they needed. It was a wise thing for them and Dorcus was raised up and able to serve again. Not every congregation is guaranteed to have all parts of the body of Christ present. The gifts are not sent to one congregation but to all.

Is there an authority structure? Sure. But it would be entirely unwise for a group of believers to not ask someone with the gift of healing to come pray for the sick in their church in hopes they could raise up that particular gift.

[Desperaux]

Sure it is. We are in a single kingdom. Not multiple kingdoms that are to be an island to themselves. I see no prohibition or even encouragement in scripture to avoid having people from other congregations minister to one another. The example we have is that when one congregation lacked, they sent for help to those that could help.

Peter was not a member of the church at Joppa and they sent for him because he had a gifting they needed. It was a wise thing for them and Dorcus was raised up and able to serve again. Not every congregation is guaranteed to have all parts of the body of Christ present. The gifts are not sent to one congregation but to all.

Is there an authority structure? Sure. But it would be entirely unwise for a group of believers to not ask someone with the gift of healing to come pray for the sick in their church in hopes they could raise up that particular gift.

Peter was an Apostle. His ministry included being available to various congregations.

There is much dilution in the churches of today and I believe it is because of unwise decisions to allow people the platform to teach who are not part of that body. If a church is going to invite someone to pay a visit to teach or use a ministry gift such as healing, then he must be well-known and a person of good repute in the Lord before an invitation is given.

Someone who is ministering to one church and extending oneself to another church down the road is not being fair to either church or to himself.

We don't go around the neighbourhood and live with different families from time to time. We don't eat at the Smith's and then go and sleep at the Brown's, and then have a bath at the White's! No--we remain in our own family and we pay visits to neighbourhood families. Our love and allegiance is to our own family--that is where we have our identity and where we receive unconditional love, encouragement, correction and teaching. It is from home that we leave, mature and ready for the world.

It is the same thing with the local church--it is the base from which we spring forth into mature ministry.

[Brother Mark]

Peter was an Apostle. His ministry included being available to various congregations.

There is much dilution in the churches of today and I believe it is because of unwise decisions to allow people the platform to teach who are not part of that body. If a church is going to invite someone to pay a visit to teach or use a ministry gift such as healing, then he must be well-known and a person of good repute in the Lord before an invitation is given.

Well known by whom?

Someone who is ministering to one church and extending oneself to another church down the road is not being fair to either church or to himself.

Based on what scripture? Where does scripture tell us not to share our gifts with another body of believers?

It is the same thing with the local church--it is the base from which we spring forth into mature ministry.

Sometimes that ministry involves another local church.

[Desperaux]

Well known by whom?

At least well-known by the leadership--they are the shepherds of the flock God has given them. It is due to their God-given wisdom and discernment that should allow or disallow the sharing of their pulpit, or the ministry of a person to the flock. If he or she is not one who has good repute and is known to them, he or she will not be invited to use their gifts among the flock--unless he or she wishes to become a part of the congregation and to come under the authority there.



Based on what scripture? Where does scripture tell us not to share our gifts with another body of believers?Scripture doesn't tell us not to share with other believers. But it does speak of wise leadership of congregations. It speaks of not being too hasty to offer blessing in ministry to others--which reveals to me that much discernment is required by our shepherds in giving someone a platform to minister and ESPECIALLY if not part of that congregation. It can bring dilution, which is a common problem in many Christian churches.

1 Timothy 5:22
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.



Discernment is so important...

1 Timothy 5:24-25
The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.



Our pastors have a formidable job to do to spare us false teaching...we are warned about wolves, aren't we?

1 Timothy 6:20a
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care.


Sometimes that ministry involves another local church.It starts with one's own, being used mightily of God there.


As we seem to have veered away from the OP, I am not going to be responding in this thread further. God bless.


So, finally, to Jordan the OP, I offer you that if you are struggling with homosexuality, then you need to stay put and get victory over it with the help of those who are over you in the Lord in your own home church. Get free, get strong in the Lord and allow HIM to move you out into ministry for Him. Do not dilute other churches by ministering to them while you have this stronghold in your spirit--and do not runt he risk yourself of becoming diluted yourself by listening to other leaders who may not have right teaching.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY--and then LISTEN to Godfor Hiswise answer.

[Brother Mark]

At least well-known by the leadership--they are the shepherds of the flock God has given them. It is due to their God-given wisdom and discernment that should allow or disallow the sharing of their pulpit, or the ministry of a person to the flock. If he or she is not one who has good repute and is known to them, he or she will not be invited to use their gifts among the flock--unless he or she wishes to become a part of the congregation and to come under the authority there.

Since the shepherd has watch over the souls of his flock, then he is the one that should know the one speaking. In this, we are agreed.


Scripture doesn't tell us not to share with other believers.

My point of contention all along.

But it does speak of wise leadership of congregations. It speaks of not being too hasty to offer blessing in ministry to others--which reveals to me that much discernment is required by our shepherds in giving someone a platform to minister and ESPECIALLY if not part of that congregation. It can bring dilution, which is a common problem in many Christian churches.

It can bring great blessing or great problems. But, scripture doesn't discourage it and examples can be found of folk ministering outside their local bodies.


1 Timothy 5:22
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Of course, this particular verse has to do with laying on of hands of those IN your local body. ;)

Our pastors have a formidable job to do to spare us false teaching...we are warned about wolves, aren't we?

No one is saying to let the wolves in. Had you just said "Don't let wolves in and be careful" that would have been fine. But to go further than that and say it shouldn't happen, then to lessen it to "it's unwise" to allow someone outside the church in, just doesn't fit with scripture. What does fit is to test the spirits to see where they are from. If from God, then let them bring their gifts to bear. Bring in a
"revivalist", or an evangelist, or a teacher, apostle, etc. Let them teach the flock things the local elders cannot.

[Desperaux]

By all means minister outside your church--just not other people's churches. Your home church deserves an undivided servant. We aren't part-time family members in our natural families and so we mustn't be in our spiritual families.

God plants us where he wants us to put down roots, grow, and bear fruit...in our home church.

Of course, this particular verse has to do with laying on of hands of those IN your local body.Yes, and any church worth its salt will not be laying hands of blessing on a person whose membership, first allegiance, and whose shepherd is somewhere else.


I do not believe for one minute that any testing of spirits has been done in the OP's case, who struggles and fails with homosexuality---which is why I have given the advice I have.

[Brother Mark]

By all means minister outside your church--just not other people's churches. Your home church deserves an undivided servant. We aren't part-time family members in our natural families and so we mustn't be in our spiritual families.

Again, I can show examples where people ministered outside their churches in scripture. I am a member of the family of God. The local church is not my entire family. It is only part of the body not THE body. If a local church is lacking in an area, we have scriptural examples of them requesting help outside of their local body.

God plants us where he wants us to put down roots, grow, and bear fruit...in our home church.

Of course we are to bear fruit in our home church. As well as minister to all those the Lord calls us to whether lost or saved in other areas.

Show me ONE verse that limits our ministry to believers to a local congregation. I can show many that all believers are a part of the body of Christ.

Yes, and any church worth its salt will not be laying hands of blessing on a person whose membership, first allegiance, and whose shepherd is somewhere else.

Unless the Holy Spirit leads otherwise. Want me to show you scripture where hands were laid on people that were not part of the congregation?

I do not believe for one minute that any testing of spirits has been done in the OP's case, who struggles and fails with homosexuality---which is why I have given the advice I have.

Then speak to the OP's case. But as for limiting a gift to a local congregation, that doesn't seem scriptural to me.

[Desperaux]

Again, I can show examples where people ministered outside their churches in scripture. I am a member of the family of God. The local church is not my entire family. It is only part of the body not THE body. If a local church is lacking in an area, we have scriptural examples of them requesting help outside of their local body.By all means, get help if lacking! But go through proper channels and test the spirits. Mature believers are what is needed, and those who are willing to be faithful members of that body. A good church will not "rob" from another church.

We must serve faithfully in our own local church first.

[baxpack7]

I have, in the recent past, been a member of one church, yet used by God to minister in another. You can see in many cases that churches loan and lend out people of authority in the church to do God's work in other congregations as well. I was the director of music and youth at my home church, yet I was tapped to teach the middle school kids (last Sunday of the month) at another church. My home church didn't suffer adverse consequences in my absence, so it's ok to minister in 2 different churches. The best biblical example is Paul, who ministered in many churches. Also, look at the disciples and how they went about their ministries. Jesus' earthly ministry was not limited to one church, or one race,creed or color. Jesus came to minister to ALL people, and likewise we shouldn't place limitations on ourselves. Now, if you are doing a ministry, and you are asked to contribute to the ministry of another congregation, then you should:
Pray about it-Only God truly knows what's best for you, and what you should do. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in your decision.
Speak with the pastor of your home church-He may not really want you to be splitting time between the two ministries. Even if you think that you could handle both jobs, he may need someone to give their full attention to the job within his ministry. Ultimately, the decision is his, because he is the anointed leader of his church, and you must abide by his decision.

Having said all this, I also believe that we've strayed way off the original topic. I think that we need to stay on-topic, or I may have to split this thread into two topics. One about the original post and another with a different title. This isn't a threat, just a warning.

God bless you all