God's Promises and His Imminent Return

Post by **_AARONDISNEY** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:02 am

The Lord has revealed to our Church that we will be building a new building and we have began to get plans together for it. He put it in my pastor's heart to do and has confirmed it by speaking to different people in and out of our Church about it.
Here's the question.
If God has made a statement like this to us, then can we be assured that He will not return until His word about this happening comes to pass?
If He returns first and the Church building is never built is it that He has just given us a goal to focus on and is excused from this promise that will never come to fruition? I know God cannot lie so I have a hard time thinking that way.
When it is near that time will there be no more Words from the Lord to each of us about what He will do in our lives and in each of our Churches?

Post by **_Allyn** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:32 am

Its a great question and the simple answer is that God wants to find us doing His work when He returns. Matthew 24 illustrates this in the parable of the wicked servant.

It is a fact that we will be at different stages of work and maturity when Christ returns. Some will have known salvation for only minutes while others for decades. Some will have just stepped off the plane to begin their ministry as a missionary having never really converted one soul when Jesus suddenly comes. Others may be at the doorstep of conversion and being born again but waited too long.

This is a mystery and hard to understand but it is the way life is. Lets not wait. do those things God has placed on the heart now. waiting may leave us wanting.

Post by **_Les Wright** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:31 am

AaronDisney,

If God has made a statement like this to us, then can we be assured that He will not return until His word about this happening comes to pass?

I wouldn't personally trust any 'words' or future direction/leading from the Lord as indicating that His 2nd coming will be delayed.

Firstly, the 'word' might not really be from the Lord. Secondly, I suppose one could assume that personal direction from the Lord is conditional upon His not returning first. I'm not sure that this is a great thing to assume, but its better than figuring you'll never start anything because Jesus might come back before you finish it.

What about the case where one feels the Lord calling them to marry another? I'd say, if the Lord comes back prior to the ceremony, or even between the ceremony and first night together, they are both better off being with the Lord anyhow.

Thats my 2 cents.

Les

Post by **_livingink** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:30 pm

.

If God has made a statement like this to us,

First, I might suggest that you test whether this instruction is congruent with other statements made by Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. Also test whether this type of instruction is given to or by the apostles. Is there an instruction to build prayer houses anywhere in scripture ? How was the message revealed to your shepherd, your group of believers, and to those who don't attend your prayer house but who were apparently given a message by God for you to do something? Once you can answer this first part of your question, then you can also see if scripture answers the second.

livingink

Post by **_Allyn** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:57 pm

You know what, I just reread the original question, and I must have eaten some fermented grapes because I was answering what I thought I had read. Sorry

Maybe my answer fits with a question someone else may have had.

Post by **_AARONDISNEY** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:00 pm

livingink wrote:. Is there an instruction to build prayer houses anywhere in scripture ? livingink

What?
Why would that have anything to do with anything?
Just because God didn't ask them to build specific houses at that time doesn't mean we shouldn't now.
Do you think Church houses are unscriptural? Seems crazy to me.
If you must base everything done by Christians on whether or not the first Christians were told to do it, you'd have to exclude a lot of things from Christian life now.
I think I've heard others on here mention something about how we shouldn't mess around with Church buildings or some sort of arguement like that. It makes very little sense to me.

To answer your other question. It has been revealed to our pastor, an evangelist that visited our Church said the Lord spoke the same thing to him. We are beginning small group ministries and our Church is growing as it was said it would.

Post by **_AARONDISNEY** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:02 pm

Allyn wrote:You know what, I just reread the original question, and I must have eaten some fermented grapes because I was answering what I thought I had read. Sorry

Maybe my answer fits with a question someone else may have had.

I thought it kinda fit anyhow, and it sorta helped Allyn so no harm done, bro

Post by **_JD** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:49 pm

Hi there,

These "God told me to..." issues are always fun.

I would ask two questions. Why does God have a need for a building? Will you be going into debt to do so? Is there something you are not doing now as far as fellowship, ministry and outreach that cannot be done until the building is erected? If you're doing it now, why the need for a building? If you're not doing it now, why would God want a memorial to disobedience? Will the building be open 24 hours a day, or only when God is there? Is the completed building a sign of His return?

Ask some of those questions publicly, and God might be telling your pastor some things He knows about you.

And I was kidding in some of those questions. I'll leave it to you to guess which ones.

JD

Post by **_livingink** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:58 pm

I wasn't really meaning to be contentious. I'm just learning to look at scripture to see if it sets a precedent for the way God gives instruction either generally or specifically. I believe that's what it has to do with in regard to your question, Aaron.
No. I don't find scriptural backing to build a prayer house. On the other hand, Jesus and Paul taught in prayer houses used by the Jewish synagogue. So, I assume that they believed that a portion of the remnant could be found and instructed there.
This is a question that I have been contemplating for some time now since its practicality strikes very close to home. The early disciples met in public buildings, by the river, in private homes, etc. Well, my wife uses a wheelchair, a ventilator to breathe, gets ill in cold temperatures very easily--but does like to meet together to study scripture and has a bad habit of putting the teacher on the spot with some of her "why" questions that take 30 minutes to answer. In her case, I can't get her to the river nor inside many public buildings and going into someone else's home is virtually out of the question. So, what does she do, sit at home and starve spiritually? Or, would it be the leading of the Spirit to build an accessible prayer house with heat to keep her warm, electricity to run the machines and level floors for her to enter and exit safely? As you see, I'm not likely to condemn the building of prayer houses but I am likely to continue to suggest that we always consult scripture to see if it agrees with the actions we plan to take.

livingink

Post by **_AARONDISNEY** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:20 am

JD wrote:Hi there,

These "God told me to..." issues are always fun.

I would ask two questions. Why does God have a need for a building?

Our current building is small and with the small group ministries we will be starting soon more room will be needed for when we all meet together.

Will you be going into debt to do so?

Not as much as you might think, each member's family has given a great deal of money to the project. We aren't rich but we've given as much as we can. A Cable salesman for instance in our church gave $6,000.

Is there something you are not doing now as far as fellowship, ministry and outreach that cannot be done until the building is erected?

Children's ministries are hurting in our church because of space. The sanctuary is bulit for around 120 people and the downstairs is for them. They are crammed into the classrooms. Also the Church will be growing with our new small groups. We are going around work, neighborhoods, family,friends...and inviting them into our homes for Bible Study and various activities.

If you're doing it now, why the need for a building? If you're not doing it now, why would God want a memorial to disobedience? Will the building be open 24 hours a day, or only when God is there? Is the completed building a sign of His return?

I hope these are the ones you're kidding about.