Teaching on Calling on the Name of the Lord

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Of course being born again is different to being filled with the Spirit. But surely you understand that a person who is filled with the Spirit cannot be, unless they are first born again. How can an unregenerate or unsaved be filled with the Spirit?

If being born again is a requirement to enter the kingdom of God, then how does John the Baptist enter the kingdom without being born again? Every person whether old testament or new testament cannot enter the kingdom without being born of the spirit.

The Bible does not directly address these questions, so your statements are pure speculation.

The Bible does say, however, that Jesus did preach the gospel following His crucifixion. He announced salvation to all those awaiting the hope of the promised Messiah.

[TLFisher]

On the practice of calling on the name of the Lord, why call three times? Usually in personal interaction, you just need to say a person's name once to get a response.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Terry

On the practice of calling on the name of the Lord, why call three times? Usually in personal interaction, you just need to say a person's name once to get a response.

Calling the Lord's name is also worshiping Him.

If we call from our lips only, one time is too much.

If we call on His name from our hearts, there is no such thing as too much or too often.

[OBW]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Calling the Lord's name is also worshiping Him.

If we call from our lips only, one time is too much.

If we call on His name from our hearts, there is no such thing as too much or too often.

I understand you. Yes, from our hearts. Not from a directive that it is time to say those words.

But too many of those "let's call on the Lord" challenges somehow come across to me like crank calls. You pick up the phone, someone says your name, and hangs up. Then does it again.

And again.

And again.

Never says anything else. Never talks about the day, or asks a question.

And if we just keep doing it and never really interact with the God at the other end, it eventually is not much of a prayer. I can't constantly claim that it is the Spirit praying what I don't know what to pray. I must never know what to pray.

And if the goal is to get "refreshed," is it much different from some kind of chant? Getting a feeling from saying words over and over? I know Lee declared that this was not like that.

But if your goal is your (meaning my) improved condition, then I am not sure that we are calling on the Lord as much as saying words that we expect will improve our condition.

And I am all for praying that God will work with us on our demeanor and state of mind. But is a chant with no words really doing that? Is it possible that despite the "correctness" of the words spoken that we too often are expecting something like (though not as extreme as) the prosperity gospel presumes to provide? That we can just repeat this phrase and God has to fix our state of being.

All we need is Joel Osteen and we have the prosperity gospel. Or Benny Hinn and we have a faith-healing meeting. (Someone referred to Kathryn Kuhlman somewhere else in the last day. She was one of those "knock you down in the Spirit" preachers.)

Are we yanking on God's chain by just saying three little words over and over and expecting a response? Do we think that we always get a response? I am not certain that this is a reasonable assumption (that we do). And if that is correct, then when we always feel better, then what was it?

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by OBW

Are we yanking on God's chain by just saying three little words over and over and expecting a response? Do we think that we always get a response? I am not certain that this is a reasonable assumption (that we do). And if that is correct, then when we always feel better, then what was it?

OBW, have you never sung that song,

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest name on earth,
How can I, a sinner, Come to know thy worth?

God's children have been worshiping His Beloved Son for decades with that song, and you would take that away from them?

I just can't believe you would do such a cruel thing like that!

[OBW]

Originally Posted by Ohio

OBW, have you never sung that song,

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest name on earth,
How can I, a sinner, Come to know thy worth?

God's children have been worshiping His Beloved Son for decades with that song, and you would take that away from them?

I just can't believe you would do such a cruel thing like that!

First, when I am speaking of worship, I am talking about corporate worship. A person's private worship is not the same as the corporate worship. But in all honesty, based on the two lines, it is not a song that I am familiar with. But also based on those two lines, I would not have a problem with it as part of worship.

But with or without commenting on your song, it is clear that you didn't read all of my post, did you? Almost seems as if you found a word or a phrase and quit reading. Sort of like Lee did when reading 1 Cor. 15:45.

Don't just bristle at the comparison. I don't use it to make you like Lee, but to point to an analogy that we all understand.

I did not say absolutely no "me" in worship. But a lot less. What I see so many places is that even what is about God is tied to "me" and what he's done for me is the most important part. Like we are looking the wrong direction. Sort of a "look at all the stuff Santa brought me this year." God is in it but when you take it as a whole, it's really about me.

Those songs are fine as something to listen to and sing along with on the radio. But they have little place in the corporate worship. (Not absolutely no place, but little place.)

And I specifically referred to songs like the one you are crying about. It is referring to Jesus. The "I" is observer desiring to know more of God.

Again, not saying there should be none of that. But there needs to be a reduction in me and an increase in Him. I must decrease . . . .

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by OBW

Again, not saying there should be none of that. But there needs to be a reduction in me and an increase in Him. I must decrease . . . .

I agree with the part about you decreasing. And me too!

This thread is about "Calling On The Name of The Lord, Pray-Reading and Prophesying," three prominent practices in the LC's. Because the GLA had some more spiritual men, we attempted to practice these spiritually. In other words, we struggled to keep these real, in the Spirit, and not deteriorate into robotic forms.

The Bible speaks of Calling On The Name of The Lord, Praying the Word of God, and Prophesying in meetings, so we should not entirely discard these practices just because they were morphed into something totally unrecognizable to scripture. Personally I would not participate in public "Oh Lord Jesus" chants at trainings, like I witnessed in that Whistler Kangaroo Court video. That was vain babbling at best.

Too much of LSM sponsored activities are man-pleasing "showmanships." They are merely public performances no different than the Pharisees displayed to the Lord Jesus.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by Terry

On the practice of calling on the name of the Lord, why call three times? Usually in personal interaction, you just need to say a person's name once to get a response.

The answer is found in 2 Kings 13:14-19. If we are willing to pray only once, we don't understand prayer.