Myer:


I guess the question becomes what is the difference between those with the outpouring of the Holyspirit and those without?

bixton:



If you're a believer and christian then you can search it out from the Scriptures.
It's to numerous to mention.

Myer:


If you followed this thread then you'll know it wasn't about theory in the Bible but the practical observation of the Christians.

As a spirit-filled Christian what is the difference between yoi and non Christians?

Cos if Christians were anything like the biblical theory then we won't be having the Nigeria we have today considering we probably have the highest number of Christians in 6he world.

Myer:


If you followed this thread then you'll know it wasn't about theory in the Bible but the practical observation of the Christians.

As a spirit-filled Christian what is the difference between yoi and non Christians?

Cos if Christians were anything like the biblical theory then we won't be having the Nigeria we have today considering we probably have the highest number of Christians in 6he world.

bixton:



Christianity is 2 fold. There is a "We" as collective and "I" as individual. God is most important about the I as an individual.

If you have been reading/studying the Bible as a Biblical theory then I don't see how I can explain spiritual things to you.

Some things are best left to be experienced by an individual than to be explained.
If you study the Scriptures rightly with a good desire you'll get to that level.
Christianity is not about having a head knowledge of what is read but an application of what you have understood.

Let me give you a verse....

Matt.13.8 - But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty
There are various interpretations of the bolded....
The 100, 60, 30 is what i refer to levels of understanding based on belief and faith process.

I have given you the definition of what a Christian is in another post. I'm sure you still remember them.

To answer your question you'll need to use Jesus Christ as your role model.

Others are Prophets Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, Joseph the dreamer, Daniel, Apostles/Disciples Peter, Paul, Stephen, Timothy...........how different are their spiritual lives as compared to the rest of the Jews.

hoopernikao:


Brotherrrrr Myer.
Trust you are good.

The Bible Christians can't be referred to as theoretical. In fact they were as practical as what you see today.

There is no difference in what you see in bible days than what you see in a bible believing church today.

The Bible days believers weren't perfect people, likewise today's believer must be under continual training to maturity.

Myer:


Seems you haven't read your bible thoroughly. The way he expresses his love is to make you suffer through chastising. To the extent of having to give your life and all you have in return if he requires it.

A true Christian should actually:

1. Abandon his family and take up his cross.

Matthew 16: 24-25
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

2. Follow the Spirit any where he is led.
John 3: 5-8
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

3. No longer be entangle with worldly affairs.
James 4:4-5
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

That said, the kind of love that demands you abandon your loved ones and passions, sounds more like a hostile relationship.

Myer:


Some times i find it hard choosing words due to easy misconceptions and communication lacuna.

When I said theory, I meant what is written and studied in the Bible.
When I said practical, I meant how it is practised in our time.

I didn't say the early Christians in the Bible were perfect. But answer this simple question

The response to your question is simply, no I'm not operating on the same level. But by God's grace I'll get there .


. Are you operating in the same level of wisdom, love, power, faith (fearlessness) of the Holyspirit as the Peter or Paul? As Stephen or Philiip? As Apollo or Barnabas? Even as the ordinary brother Ananias through who God healed Paul's blindness?

The Bible speaks of spiritual gifts which was manifest and all could distinguish the Christians because of the Grace of God working in them and through them.

You've been "ministering" on NL for some time now , what testimony can you share concerning the lives you have touched either through spirit-led generosity or healed someone's infirmity?

Have you left your family behind to take up missionary work in another state or even country?

I double as a Sunday School Teacher/Instructor and House Fellowship leader.

Can you share any of your practical experiences that confirm your Christianity is in the likeness of that which was written and documented in the Bible? That was my question of this thread.

Myer:


Some times i find it hard choosing words due to easy misconceptions and communication lacuna.

When I said theory, I meant what is written and studied in the Bible.
When I said practical, I meant how it is practised in our time.

I didn't say the early Christians in the Bible were perfect. But answer this simple question. Are you operating in the same level of wisdom, love, power, faith (fearlessness) of the Holyspirit as the Peter or Paul? As Stephen or Philiip? As Apollo or Barnabas? Even as the ordinary brother Ananias through who God healed Paul's blindness?

The Bible speaks of spiritual gifts which was manifest and all could distinguish the Christians because of the Grace of God working in them and through them.

You've been "ministering" on NL for some time now , what testimony can you share concerning the lives you have touched either through spirit-led generosity or healed someone's infirmity?

Have you left your family behind to take up missionary work in another state or even country?

Can you share any of your practical experiences that confirm your Christianity is in the likeness of that which was written and documented in the Bible? That was my question and point of this thread.

KNOWMORE56:


Hehehe,�, I have asked you to tell me how you got into the faith and how you walked out....

There is more or less errors in your interpretation of each verse.

The summary of the things Jesus is saying there is DON'T PRIORITIZE ANY THING, including your own life.

If you make anything/anyone 1st in your life instead of God, you are an idol worshiper!

How this is practiced: if personal opinion or parental subjections, etc, go against the WORD, you must cling to the Word.

This action or decision have often than not brought displeasure, sufferings and rejection... but it is the will of God that it should be so. God bless you!

hoopernikao:


Okay Bro.

Like i said earlier, there is nothing different from what you see in the early church that God is not doing in his church today. We mustnt see God's work within what our limited eyes can see. You and I are just 2 out of billions of people who call on God daily, so you do make a lot of assumptions in your words by speaking for many.

Just because you cant see things around you doesnt mean its not happening. A change of location or change of mindset might do.


I will give you a simple clue you must always hold when judging from biblical view. And that is the fact that if God/scriptures says something will or can or is happening in our time, i have no reason to doubt it as i believe totally that God's word transcend my limited sight and knowledge. If you have issues with this, then we may have to start from point of preaching faith again.


So, are all these you listed happening today? Yes surely.

Have i seen then happened, Yes surely.

Can i or have i worked in such wisdom? Yes i have as much as every believer can. Its Christ abilities not early church abilities.

Should i start a testimony series here for you to believe? No, we are not taught as such from the scriptures.


If the scriptures isnt enough for someone to believe the power and work of God on earth today, no testimony, telemony or television will change the person even if he is a very eye witness of it.


So, if there be any sacrifice, commitment, persecution, demonstration of God's power, influence of the spirit at work through me or in me, i will be the most foolish person on earth to come here on social media and speak about it. unto what end Bro? For men to be saved? Is the preaching of the gospel now impotent to save the lost?


If you cant see "practical" Christianity around you Bro, its either you arent getting your definition/expectation of Christianity right, or its high time you change that your location and escape the "unchristianed" environment.

But take this to the bank: There are people in our days who have made and still making greater sacrifices than what you saw in Acts.

So, If you cant see the influence of the spirit of God on his church today, Bro, issue dey ni yen o.

Myer:


I would have loved to answer this and share my experience and journey into and out of the Christian faith. In fact I was going to share my former acct/moniker with you from when I was a completely devout Christian. When I was preaching and evangelising even here on NL.
Until I couldn't help but find the contradictions in the Bible which could not be explained away except if I wanted to blindly defend the Bible. How can God's word contradict itself? Then I met various factions of Christian doctrines with each one truly laying claim on God's word even when they were directly opposing each other.
There are the Hyper Grace Christians, there are the SU Christians and there are those in the neutral grounds. I started to question my theology.lol

But I had a rethink about sharing it cos it could affect the faith of some others. That a devout Christian can actually still fall away.

My intention has never been to jeopardise people's faith. I respect Faith. Be it religious faith, motivational speeches faith, self belief faith, etc.
I think faith is truly the most important thing. Which ithe Bible also confirms that it is our Faith that conquers the world.

I've met non-reloigous and religious people who excel in their fields by sheer faith either in themselves or their God respectively.

KNOWMORE56:



Hmm! so it's in nairaland that the enemy set the traps that finally caught you.

Well, personal experience is one of the best things that keeps me. Actually when I started reading all the posts on nairaland, I was shaken.

But, I quickly muttered some words of prayer to my ever loving Master.

1st, He made me remembered who I was b4 my conversion and many wonderful things that happened to me.

Like, I'm very sure of the things that were in me then but now, they are no longer there. If some people doubt it, should I also doubt it? No! I won't.

The 2nd thing He did was to use one Hausa man, born and bred as a Muslim, to share his testimony of conversion...

after I listened to that overwhelming testimony, my faith was strengthened beyond measure!

Baby Christians supposed to keep away from nairaland ethiests and pray more for personal encounter with Jesus.

I pray that the One who rescued me will come to your help, in Jesus mighty name!

Myer:


I would have loved to answer this and share my experience and journey into and out of the Christian faith. In fact I was going to share my former acct/moniker with you from when I was a completely devout Christian. When I was preaching and evangelising even here on NL.
Until I couldn't help but find the contradictions in the Bible which could not be explained away except if I wanted to blindly defend the Bible. How can God's word contradict itself? Then I met various factions of Christian doctrines with each one truly laying claim on God's word even when they were directly opposing each other.
There are the Hyper Grace Christians, there are the SU Christians and there are those in the neutral grounds. I started to question my theology.lol

But I had a rethink about sharing it cos it could affect the faith of some others. That a devout Christian can actually still fall away.

My intention has never been to jeopardise people's faith. I respect Faith. Be it religious faith, motivational speeches faith, self belief faith, etc.
I think faith is truly the most important thing. Which ithe Bible also confirms that it is our Faith that conquers the world.

I've met non-reloigous and religious people who excel in their fields by sheer faith either in themselves or their God respectively.

Myer:


My ever evasive brother.
I didn't say you should point at others, rather tell me how you are operating in that capacity.

You cannot claim to be operating in the same level of wisdom when you're not working in the same level of power.

Yes it is not about the the apostles who are but vessels. It is about Jesus through the Holyspirit working through even the Apostles and every Christian, so show us how He is operating through you. How many NLDers have been healed through you?

hoopernikao:


Bro, trust you are good.
Apologies for delayed response.

---

Ministry is not Nairaland o. And get this also that I neither preach on Nairaland nor have disciples or followers. I neither have such interest too.

Ministry is local Bro.

Also, note, like I told you before, God works and still works through and in men today as in the days of Bible. Speaking, writing about or elevating it is inconsequential as you should know that even scriptures never admonish to put such as priorities. I guess you are used to hearing testiphonies.


Well, the truth is, you must learn to trust God's word to the letters. If it says, you can heal the sick, that settles it. It's the same word that says you are saved, that also told you you can heal the sick, that the power of God is at work in you. It's now left you to how much of that you believe.

But for me, I BELIEVE GOD and his word and that's enough for me to function in all He has said concerning me through His word.

Myer:


Ministry is where ever you're commissioned to.
And the evidence is in the Power of the Holyspirit backing you and confirming the Word in signs and wonders.
It's not in words.

hoopernikao:


Well you are correct that ministry is where ever you are commissioned to. Sadly I am not commissioned to online or random post on a forum. So I don't do ministry on Nairaland. Do you? Then you will be the one to show me your converts and disciples here. I intend not to have any here.

So either in words, signs, wonders or demonstration of power, it's all ours and we walk in it. If you don't, we should ask why.

Myer:


You're walking in it by faith only, not in reality though. Otherwise the signs would have followed you even here on NL.
Even when Jesus was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel he still healed gentiles, samaritans, Romans, etc.
Likewise Paul who was sent to gentiles also healed Jews.

So whether your ministry is online or offline, the signs should be evident. Mark 16:17

hoopernikao:


Bro, I don't know why you decided to speak for me. I said I don't have online ministry. Is that what you should argue again? I speak about myself not you. Why are you tensed with that

Judybash93:
I've not met a murderous atheist yet. Most people incarcerate here in the US are religious. It takes more than religion up make a good person.

MaxInDHouse:


Religion is not the cause of murderous acts but Politics. There are many instruments of mass mobilization in the hands of Politicians: Money, Eloquence, Weapons, Philosophical theories, Racism and the last but not least is false RELIGION!
The instrument that's fast and most effective is false religion because it sink down into the brains of their hypnotized victims leading to the hatred of their political rivals and finally murder is the result!
So Politicians makes use of so many instruments but all their instruments failed woefully in the face of True WORSHIP, therefore real Politicians hate true Christians (Jehovah's Witnesses) with passion!
Atheism gives no room for mind controlling tactics because each person is free to live as he wish so far you're not going to hurt anyone whereas Politics involves ruling over others. That's why it seems as if atheists are guiltless but when you look critically at the issue you'll see that in lands where religion has no grip on people Politicians result to Philosophical theories which atheists can't decipher, so they will also motivate atheists to join in killing their fellowmen!

Judybash93:

You hit the nail on the head sir. #respect

Myer:


You and your evasive tactics.
Did I say you have an online ministry?
I said whether or not you have an online ministry, the signs should follow you nonetheless both offline and online.

Your excuse of not having an online ministry is rather not tenable. Imagine Jesus saying he couldn't heal the centurions servant because he's only sent to Jews?
Or Paul saying he can only heal Gentiles?

Well, I know you get my point, I'm only curious what excuse you'll make yet again to justify why you have no testimony here on nairaland. Of course you know the gospel is not in words but power.

hoopernikao:


Bro, are you with an ailment and in need of the power of God to heal you? Please answer this as this is important so as to know what is the issue exactly.

Myer:


I was a bit confused by this statement and even considered it an insult until I understood your import.

You believe I'm angry with God maybe cos I have an ailment right?

Well, "thank God I do not have an ailment." However I while I was a Staunt believer I had Christians with ailment come to me for healing and after praying with faith, no healing happened. By the way those Christians are still battling with their ailments. Maybe I should forward their numbers to you and who could also try your luck.

That said, my present dsiposition is simply from someone who consummately took the Bible verbatim as the word of God and did every thing by the book knowing it is also simply by Grace and the Spirit.

Yet no results.

I have concluded hence that Christianity is just another religion just like Islam.

If you do not see anything wrong in a Muslim leaving Islam for Christianity then you shouldn't see anything in a Christian leaving Christianity for anything else.

Both have proven only to be religions.

While the bane of Islam is how it still promotes killings in defense of their God.
Christianity promotes judging anyone that is not a Christian as hellbound. Because scriptural Jesus said he's the way, the truth and the life and no one come through the father except through him.

That said, Christianity would have been valid if only the powers that go with it were genuine and testable. However it has only created an environment where 0astors and prophets claim God said this and that only for the gullible congregants to part with their properties in hopes of entering the kingdom of heaven.

Thats why I've always quizzed you regarding the gifts and fruit of the Spirit. Cos with this you can confirm that you are a true Christian. Absent the gifts and fruit, I can't take you seriously as a Christian.

After all the bibke says in the last days there'll be false prophets, so we can only confirm true prophets by their Fruit and the signs that follow.

hoopernikao:


Bro, leave this eisegesis. I asked if you have ailment and in need of gods power because of your consistent effort to see healing online. It is not abusive neither am I assuming you have an ailment hence your reactions to the scriptures. You are the one reading that likely due to restlessness of the heart towards God and his words.

Calm down Bro. You really need to.
Your experience and inexperience cannot invalidate God's word neither can your restlessness works God's righteousness.

Myer:
The whole idea of Christianity is all about how Christians are to be identifiable by the grace of God upon them, their relationship with the Holyspirit and living in victory over enemies and challenges through faith in Christ.

I have been a Christian but this was not my reality. Which made me question the bible.

Recently a christian pastor murdered his own wife just like an unbeliever could. Which makes me question, is there even any difference between a Christian and others?