Comments on: Spiritual or Soulish: Deception in the Ranks http://joestallard.com/spiritual-or-soulish-deception-in-the-ranks/ Notes from the journey of a ransomed life. Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:52:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joe http://joestallard.com/spiritual-or-soulish-deception-in-the-ranks/#comment-45 Joe Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:39:41 +0000 http://joestallard.com/?p=182#comment-45 Christopher, I couldn't agree more with your observation. And for those that do claim to be spirit-led, I would ask - "Yes - but <i>which</i> spirit?" Christopher, I couldn’t agree more with your observation. And for those that do claim to be spirit-led, I would ask – “Yes – but which spirit?”

]]> By: Christopher http://joestallard.com/spiritual-or-soulish-deception-in-the-ranks/#comment-44 Christopher Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:36:54 +0000 http://joestallard.com/?p=182#comment-44 Excellent article. There are too many soulish church leaders, and theologians. We need those who are truly led of the Spirit. Excellent article. There are too many soulish church leaders, and theologians. We need those who are truly led of the Spirit.

]]> By: Joe http://joestallard.com/spiritual-or-soulish-deception-in-the-ranks/#comment-43 Joe Sun, 24 May 2009 04:19:38 +0000 http://joestallard.com/?p=182#comment-43 Randy, those are excellent and very perceptive points you've made. Far too many of today's churches have so grieved the Holy Spirit that he has left their midst. The fruits of this departure are being manifest in the earthly & soulish definitions of sanctification and discipleship that are all too commonplace. And it hurts to see how much territory we've surrendered to the enemy. Randy, those are excellent and very perceptive points you’ve made. Far too many of today’s churches have so grieved the Holy Spirit that he has left their midst.

The fruits of this departure are being manifest in the earthly & soulish definitions of sanctification and discipleship that are all too commonplace. And it hurts to see how much territory we’ve surrendered to the enemy.

]]> By: Randy Calaway http://joestallard.com/spiritual-or-soulish-deception-in-the-ranks/#comment-42 Randy Calaway Sat, 23 May 2009 19:03:09 +0000 http://joestallard.com/?p=182#comment-42 Very good post. We have made so little of the "santification" process that Christ has for us. There is a suffering that must take place in the flesh, a discipline towards Christ, to be Holy even as He is Holy. The problem is quite simple. We still "today" want to build our tower of Babylon to God- Thus invoking only the fruit of self effort, lending to pride. The result is the confusion of languages, even those confined within Christianity, and the end result is a lack of unity, religious confusion, and no vision for the one church, the body of Christ. 1. In that santification has been reduced to conformity issues at the local church-giving no thought to the universal church or cleansing process-that of answering to Christ. (Or the modern religious term, accountability.) If our accountability is before men and not Christ-then men we serve. 2. Suffering has been reduced to working extra hours and projects at the local church- Not the suffering that comes from deep prayer, intercession, and longing for Christ, which will always result in rejection from the world and religious leaders. We then repond in obedience to Christ, not to the motivation of pleasing church leaders. 3. Discipline has been reduced to "memorizing all the quirks" of the local church and defending the church building, not Christ in particular. In the discipline of Christ, through a dedicated love to Him, we are changed, challenged, broken. In this process, our soul is deeply affected, deep emotional change, a discipline to love Christ, a hungrer towards purity, drastically aware of our failure and sin, drinking deeply and freely of His mercy, forgiveness, and grace. We learn and KNOW all things are possible in Christ and nothing is good of our own merit. I would call this the footprint of faith. Very good post.

We have made so little of the “santification” process that Christ has for us.
There is a suffering that must take place in the flesh, a discipline towards Christ, to be Holy even as He is Holy.

The problem is quite simple. We still “today” want to build our tower of Babylon to God- Thus invoking only the fruit of self effort, lending to pride. The result is the confusion of languages, even those confined within Christianity, and the end result is a lack of unity, religious confusion, and no vision for the one church, the body of Christ.

1. In that santification has been reduced to conformity issues at the local church-giving no thought to the universal church or cleansing process-that of answering to Christ. (Or the modern religious term, accountability.) If our accountability is before men and not Christ-then men we serve.

2. Suffering has been reduced to working extra hours and projects at the local church- Not the suffering that comes from deep prayer, intercession, and longing for Christ, which will always result in rejection from the world and religious leaders. We then repond in obedience to Christ, not to the motivation of pleasing church leaders.

3. Discipline has been reduced to “memorizing all the quirks” of the local church and defending the church building, not Christ in particular. In the discipline of Christ, through a dedicated love to Him, we are changed, challenged, broken. In this process, our soul is deeply affected, deep emotional change, a discipline to love Christ, a hungrer towards purity, drastically aware of our failure and sin, drinking deeply and freely of His mercy, forgiveness, and grace.

We learn and KNOW all things are possible in Christ and nothing is good of our own merit. I would call this the footprint of faith.

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