God allowed Obama to be put in office yes. God allowed the natural disasters. God allows wicked things to happen. That doesn’t mean that God wanted Obama to be president or that God wanted Katrina to happen.
God will use the least severe means to cause the most hearts to turn.

I have only been following Christ for 6 years and have had most of my ideas formed by mainline presbyterian, evangelical, and most recently thinkers from the emergent church movement. Therefore, when I read certain phrases and choices of words I may be interpreting them differently and I want to understand.

I am going to think about what you have written and post in a few.

In Rev. 3:3 Jesus says if we’re not watching the day will come upon us unexpectedly. Bottom line is Jesus wants and will have a praying church (see rev. 22:17)

I also want to clarify I did not come from a “charismatic/pentecostal/vineyard/latterrain/prophetic background” So please do not attach labels to me that you most likely came across through wikepedia or a google search. In actuality I grew up in what you would consider a mainline evangelical church that was all about going. In fact they are a very successful church and have reached nations all over the earth with the gospel.

But to answer your question about “effective” laboring I would say lets use the bible. How about the book of Acts? How about the early church? I’m not advocating that we have to emulate everything they did but there was something about the quality and impact of their ministry that hasn’t been equaled since then. Then we should ask ourselves why. I believe this is because the majority of the church looks nothing like the church in Acts in quality and impact because our lifestyles (which in acts was pray first and go second) aren’t that.

I agree that the beginning point for being used by God is a willing AND also a humble heart. But what I’m seeking to do is call us to a biblical perspective on ministry not just opinions or systems that our denominations have developed.

I don’t care how many ministry activities we are involved in if we don’t know Jesus (intimate relationship, which ONLY comes from time spent which IS prayer then its a waste (see matt. 7:23)

Let’s stop making excuses for our prayerlessness and powerless christianity and cry out in humility and go as we are sent.

Interesting. Watching is certainly mentioned but it is sent out as a warning to not be caught sleeping when the master returns.

Mark 13:35-36 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ”
The watch we are keeping is so that we are not sitting on our hands when the master returns.

Nonetheless, I see your bigger point though is going “effectually”. This interests me. I must confess that I do not come from a charismatic/pentecostal/Vineyard/Latter Rain/Prophetic background. I have always thought that the only requirement for powerful service in the kingdom is a willing heart.

What qualifies as effective laboring?

I will hit on some of your questions after you answer the above question. I just want to be sure I am understanding what you mean.

Thanks for responding back Jake.

Jesus is NOT telling everyone to quit there jobs be lazy and wait for the rapture…Paul actually addresses believers in Thesslonica on these things they were doing. He tells them to get a job, continually pray and that they aint getting raptured just yet. He wants us in our comings and goings to cultivate a lifestyle of prayer that leads into an effective witness prior to the return of Jesus.

I’m not advocating everyone “sit around” and wait. We know that the Holy Spirit came to jewish believers at Pentecost and then to the Gentiles in Acts 10 with Cornelius’ house. This means that every believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of them…but does every believer access the fullness? No. Do you? When was the last dead person you or I raised? when was the last time you or I saw cancer healed? When was the last time you or I stood up to street preach and 3000 people were added to the kingdom in a day from a 30 second sermon?

I’m not angry. Please do not misinterpret my tone. There is a lost and dying world that needs Jesus and we have to reach them. I’m just trying to correct our (my) approach. Jesus said “the harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few, THEREFORE PRAY the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers.” Matt. 9:37-38

We have to have laborers. I want to see EFFECTIVE laborers. I want to see people go not only in the leading of the Holy Spirit but also in the POWER of the Holy Spirit. And people who go in the power of the Spirit are people of prayer period!

We’re all on the same team I just think our mindset (wrong) is to go first and then pray later. I’m not saying we stop going all together but I’m saying are we going in the most effective manner? And can we readjust as we go? I think everyone wants to see the Great Commission fulfilled I just think we should do it God’s way.

thanks

What has been debated and questioned is the best way to end abortion, or more realistically, significantly reduce it. This is not compromise, but a good discussion to be having when we consider the world we live in.

I feel your concern and share your heart, as I too believe that abortion takes precious life away.

Trying to find middle ground on a thing like if abortion is “ok” is pointless.

Abortion is murder. Murder is wrong. So abortion is wrong, its a little baby being killed very violently.

Now, I’m not mad when I say these things, I am heartbroken for little babys that never made it out of the womb, 50 million of them.

So yes, I am passionate about the church not compromising on this.