Really and totally, sold out saved.....is there such a thing Church?

[Pastor Byron L. Sims]

I keep having these discussions over and over with several Believers. I will boldly say as a Pastor, now saved 26 years from the age of 12 that if it were up to me to get saved in the church today.....it probably...just probably would not happen based on the current things going on in and out of the church. I have seen that some people do not believe that to be saved actually means being saved and totally for the will of God. This does include preachers, pastors, and ministers alike. Why do I say such a thing? (1) opinion - what I do for God and what I do for myself is two different things, (2) opinion - if pastor. bishop, or reverend so and so can do it and still preach, it must not be anything wrong with it, and (3) opinion - you can still be saved and do somethings that aren't really sin....i.e. men wearing earrings, musicians playing at night clubs for extra money, listening/singing secular music, doing the latest dances off RB gospel, you know having a life that does not include church stuff. These are the current opinions that are interesting to voice ones opinion. I personally believe that Believers should do what pleases our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All things are lawful unto me but all things aren't expedient, all things are lawful, but all things do not edify the Body of Christ.

Separated, holy, different, light, set aside, godly, pure, sanctified, Christ likeness, chosen, ordained, new creature, clean, righteousness, and many other words of truth used in the Scriptures would be wonderful to truly describe what a real Believer, Christian, God-fearing person, Holy Roller, and Blood washed, bought child of God. Lets destroy the works of the devil with these truths! Just curious about the Body of Christ opinion in love.

[T.L. Hawkins]

Lol...Rev. Luckett...isn't it funny how WE decide what we will and won't do IN church? How we "quench" the Holy Spirit. Let it go..Let it Flow! I use to be lil miss prissy...to cute to get my praise on.. Ohhhhh but.when that FIRE gets up in you though! YOU HAVE TO MOVE!

[T.L. Hawkins]

Rev. Luckett, your situation of being called OUT of the bar is EXACTLY what I meant by " The spirit speaks to people in different places". God can call you out from WHEREVER. I myself was DRUNK and selling DRUGS when GOD called me out. I left and went straight to the church at THAT moment and gave my life to GOD. Plain and simple, it was TIME. That's one Saturday Night I will NEVER forget...lol...To God be the GLORY!
What I was trying to say is: for example...If I go to a club, not with the intention of sharing the Gospel, but with the intention of socializing, HOW can I hear from Heaven? We sometimes choose the flesh over Spirit.

That excuse " God is working on me" "God ain't through with me yet"..heard it before..used it before. What that means to me is "I'm not ready to SELL OUT".. Either we are in or we're out. We can't straddle the fence.
Matthew 22:37-38

37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart, and with ALL thy soul, and with ALL thy mind.

38) This is the first and great commandment.

[T.L. Hawkins]

AMEN Prophetess Newton...AMEN!!!!!

[T.L. Hawkins]

Pastor Sims, there IS such a thing as being SOLD OUT for the LORD!! People take and add what they WANT to GOD'S word. They look at people in "positions" (Pastors, Deacons, First Ladies etc) and say, like you said, "If so and so can do it, why can't I". Well, So and So will be receiving THEIR judgment, not anyone elses. We will ALL be judged accoring to what WE do! I go to secular places, but I go to share the WORD and move on. The places I go are places I "use" to hang. Why? To let my light SHINE!! Many times, I hear the same phrase "If YOU can get saved I KNOW God will forgive ME for MY sins". Meaning..I know you and the things you used to do and if God can bring you out of that into what you are now, I want to get to know him!

This opinion "what I do for God and what I do for myself is two different things" that so many Christians share cracks me up. WHY? You have to REMOVE self in order for GOD to get the glory. It's not about US and our desires. We are vessels and if God is to work through us, he needs us to be open! The Spirit speaks to people in different places, but if you are walking "the walk" and you're in a club, at a bar or wherever for social purposes, can you truly HEAR from Heaven? I don't believe so. You're not lined up at that moment.

True, we all fall short and must repent for our sins, those committed knowingly and unknowingly, but sinning just because is NOT an excuse. I don't believe there's ENOUGH of us sold out. There are some, but not many.

Now, this opinion: "opinion - if pastor. bishop, or reverend so and so can do it and still preach, it must not be anything wrong with it,"....is another HUMOROUS one!
Pastor, Bishop, Reverend whoever is HUMAN. They have flesh and just like ours...the flesh and the spirit ARE at war. Guess what folks? SOMETIMES the flesh wins! Does that mean God didn't call them? NOPE! Does that mean they shouldn't preach or teach? NOPE! What that means is WE should pray for their deliverance from WHATEVER it is that is hindering their ministry and NOT JUDGE them or compare our WRONG DOINGS to their situation. Their actions or the lack thereof does NOT justify "US" doing wrong or not doing "kingdom work"!
It breaks my heart when people tell me the reason they don't want to come to church is because of how the people IN the church (US) act or how we treat them. I hear too many people saying they don't want to be judged by the church members. I use to be one!

[Pastor Byron L. Sims]

Thanks Preacher!