Is the church spiritually dry?

[Blain]

I have been to many churches in my time of being saved from the day I was saved in 2012 to now there is a pattern I have seen in every church well almost every church I have been to and that is how it just seemed to be spiritually dry not dead not exactly but dry.

The sermons are nice the lessons are good but when I looked around all I could ask myself is where is the spirit? where is the life? Think of worship for instance, true worship will have you raising your hands to the sky as if you cannot reach high enough it will have your body unable to stop moving and dancing it will have your spirit and soul trying to praise him in such a way that it seems you cannot muster the words to describe your praise to him to honro him to worship at the very throne of God.

But many simply sing along and there is a vast difference between true worship and just singing along. then there is the lack of the spirit perhaps the most troublesme thing I have encountered one church I went to the spirit was so rich there the second I walked in the doors the spirit hit me like a wall his presence was thick and rich in that place and I have not encountered this in any other church save for that one time I was able to go to that specific church

Every other church if you use what I call your spiritual radar you cannot feel him you cannot sense him he is not tangiable in many churches and many churches teach milk when meat is needed
in the season of hunger one needs meat to satisfy their souls but many churches have watered down the gospel many have unknowingly fed milk instead of meat.

Is this just me or is the church just spiritually dry? am I being to critical or has anyone else experienced this when going to a church?

 

[Brasspen]

They are spirtually dry, if not dead. Some of them are dead. There are some churches they are with it, but not as many as the dry ones.

 

[Blain]

They are spirtually dry, if not dead. Some of them are dead. There are some churches they are with it, but not as many as the dry ones.

Yes this is true and for me if I want to test a church if they are spiritually dry or not I focus on the worship I can tell when people are praising him with all their hearts and souls and when they are just singing along

 

[2ndTimeIsTheCharm]

I have been to many churches in my time of being saved from the day I was saved in 2012 to now there is a pattern I have seen in every church well almost every church I have been to and that is how it just seemed to be spiritually dry not dead not exactly but dry.

The sermons are nice the lessons are good but when I looked around all I could ask myself is where is the spirit? where is the life? Think of worship for instance, true worship will have you raising your hands to the sky as if you cannot reach high enough it will have your body unable to stop moving and dancing it will have your spirit and soul trying to praise him in such a way that it seems you cannot muster the words to describe your praise to him to honro him to worship at the very throne of God.

But many simply sing along and there is a vast difference between true worship and just singing along. then there is the lack of the spirit perhaps the most troublesme thing I have encountered one church I went to the spirit was so rich there the second I walked in the doors the spirit hit me like a wall his presence was thick and rich in that place and I have not encountered this in any other church save for that one time I was able to go to that specific church

Every other church if you use what I call your spiritual radar you cannot feel him you cannot sense him he is not tangiable in many churches and many churches teach milk when meat is needed
in the season of hunger one needs meat to satisfy their souls but many churches have watered down the gospel many have unknowingly fed milk instead of meat.

Is this just me or is the church just spiritually dry? am I being to critical or has anyone else experienced this when going to a church?

Ive been to church since I was a teenager beginning in the latter part of the 80s. I think New York City has a good handful of godly, on-fire churches - it would need them because of the challenges New York City Christians face.

Long Island had even more.

I'm in another state and I haven't seen the churches in my area as on fire as it was in New York and on Long Island.

God is telling me my family and I will buy and move to a bigger house, so I'm praying a lot and constantly, that we move to an area with really godly, on-fire churches. I tend to like going to several churches, with one being my main home church.

 

[Blain]

Ive been to church since I was a teenager beginning in the latter part of the 80s. I think New York City has a good handful of godly, on-fire churches - it would need them because of the challenges New York City Christians face.

Long Island had even more.

I'm in another state and I haven't seen the churches in my area as on fire as it was in New York and on Long Island.

God is telling me my family and I will buy and move to a bigger house, so I'm praying a lot and constantly, that we move to an area with really godly, on-fire churches. I tend to like going to several churches, with one being my main home church.

Well I pray that you will be able to buy a bigger house and find a church that is truly on fire for God

 

[Gideon300]

I have been to many churches in my time of being saved from the day I was saved in 2012 to now there is a pattern I have seen in every church well almost every church I have been to and that is how it just seemed to be spiritually dry not dead not exactly but dry.

The sermons are nice the lessons are good but when I looked around all I could ask myself is where is the spirit? where is the life? Think of worship for instance, true worship will have you raising your hands to the sky as if you cannot reach high enough it will have your body unable to stop moving and dancing it will have your spirit and soul trying to praise him in such a way that it seems you cannot muster the words to describe your praise to him to honro him to worship at the very throne of God.

But many simply sing along and there is a vast difference between true worship and just singing along. then there is the lack of the spirit perhaps the most troublesme thing I have encountered one church I went to the spirit was so rich there the second I walked in the doors the spirit hit me like a wall his presence was thick and rich in that place and I have not encountered this in any other church save for that one time I was able to go to that specific church

Every other church if you use what I call your spiritual radar you cannot feel him you cannot sense him he is not tangiable in many churches and many churches teach milk when meat is needed
in the season of hunger one needs meat to satisfy their souls but many churches have watered down the gospel many have unknowingly fed milk instead of meat.

Is this just me or is the church just spiritually dry? am I being to critical or has anyone else experienced this when going to a church?

I wish I could disagree with you. The church my wife and I attend is Anglican. If you'd told me 50 years ago that would be the case, I would have laughed at you. I don't agree with some of the doctrines, but the pastor (his term) loves Jesus and the brethren. One of the problems is the definition of "Christian". The reality is that something like 4% of those who attend church are born again. This is according to surveys. I'm not making it up. I do agree though. The actual number may vary from fellowship to fellowship, but the fundamentals are right.

About 50 years ago, I was going to Pentecostal church. The denomination had an evangelist who did the rounds of the churches. The pastor asked why he preached in churches. The answer was painful. "It's the easiest way to get 300 unbelievers in one place."

 

[timf]

Churches can have problems with doctrine, personalities, and structure. Most people do not consider the structural problems with modern churches. First they usually operate as an organizational system. This tends to inhibit relationships which is what Christianity was supposed to be about (us with God and each other).

Even smaller churches seem to saddle themselves with a conveyor like processing of people. It seems efficient, organized and what people expect. Relationships can be difficult and this difficulty can be avoided if people are processed at a distance.

Most churches have a package of doctrine which the members are asked to accept. This is not the same as each person exploring, questioning, and even getting things wrong. When you protect people from :error" you often isolate them from learning.

Most people look at church as having criteria that have to be met to get a "ticket to heaven". The idea that we should all be coming to Christ-likeness in this life can seem alien to most.

Usually to make spiritual progress today, it has to be done outside the church.

 

[GWH]

I have been to many churches in my time of being saved from the day I was saved in 2012 to now there is a pattern I have seen in every church well almost every church I have been to and that is how it just seemed to be spiritually dry not dead not exactly but dry.

The sermons are nice the lessons are good but when I looked around all I could ask myself is where is the spirit? where is the life? Think of worship for instance, true worship will have you raising your hands to the sky as if you cannot reach high enough it will have your body unable to stop moving and dancing it will have your spirit and soul trying to praise him in such a way that it seems you cannot muster the words to describe your praise to him to honro him to worship at the very throne of God.

But many simply sing along and there is a vast difference between true worship and just singing along. then there is the lack of the spirit perhaps the most troublesme thing I have encountered one church I went to the spirit was so rich there the second I walked in the doors the spirit hit me like a wall his presence was thick and rich in that place and I have not encountered this in any other church save for that one time I was able to go to that specific church

Every other church if you use what I call your spiritual radar you cannot feel him you cannot sense him he is not tangiable in many churches and many churches teach milk when meat is needed
in the season of hunger one needs meat to satisfy their souls but many churches have watered down the gospel many have unknowingly fed milk instead of meat.

Is this just me or is the church just spiritually dry? am I being to critical or has anyone else experienced this when going to a church?

Some are dry and some are wet, but all should learn about prayer from GW/Scripture.
Here is some of what I have learned:

In Eph. 6:18 Paul instructs believers to “pray in the Spirit”, so the doctrines of the HS and Prayer are closely related. Jesus taught believers to pray to God “our Father in heaven” (in Matthew 6:9a, cf. Luke 11:2-4). Addressing God as our heavenly Father connotes that we who pray are children of God, reborn of the Spirit (John 3:3-8) through union by Faith with God’s Son (Rom. 8:9-17, 1John 5:1-6). James 2:19 says demons or ungodly souls may believe in God’s existence, so perhaps they might address God in order to curse Him (Job 2:9, cf. John 17:1).

Jesus prayed for the Kingdom of God (KOG) or God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, referring to the reign of His Spirit in the hearts of believers (Luke 17:20b-21). The KOG is manifested in the world as salt and light or as love and truth (cf. TOJ #19), which is the HS (Rom. 5:5, 1John 5:6). Examples of reflecting the HS’s love are mentioned in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matt. 25:31-46, TOJ #35). In the writings of Paul, the KOG is called the body (1Cor. 12:13, Eph. 1:23 & 5:30) or church of Christ (Col. 1:13 & 18, Eph. 2:22, 3:10 & 5:23), into which believers are baptized by the HS (1Cor. 12:13).

The sign of being filled with the HS is love, which includes admitting one’s faults and forgiving others theirs (Matt. 6:12//Luke 11:4 a) [TOJ #36, cf. TOJ #14]. Genuine saving Faith is manifested by the fruit of the HS, especially loving forgiveness or a concern for spiritual unity. Confession is the key to having a right relationship with God (1John 1:9) or being Spirit-filled, which is manifested by mercy (TOJ #148). {Mark 11:25. Matt. 18:15-17}.

When we pray for power to resist temptations (Matt. 6:13//Luke 11:4 b) [TOJ #37], we receive empowerment via the HS. Jesus reiterated this teaching on the Mount of Olives before He was betrayed. {Matt. 27:41//Mark 14:38//Luke 22:40 & 46} We know that God will always grant this prayer request (1Cor. 10:13). This prayer seems equivalent to protection from the evil one {John 17:15}. This also was a major theme of James (Jam. 4:2, 1:5 & 12-13) and of Paul (Eph. 1:17-19, Phil. 1:9-11, Col. 1:10-12).

Paul associated prayer with the HS in Eph. 3:16-19, saying “may God strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and that you being rooted and established in love may have power and… be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” In 1Cor. 2:4-16 Paul associated the HS with God’s wisdom and the mind of Christ (cf. Col. 1:9b).

5. A main purpose of prayer should be moral improvement (Col. 1:10). Moral perfection should be the life-long goal of every believer. The fruit of the HS includes all good works.

Like in Colossians, Paul began his prayer in Ephesians 1:16-17 by thanking God the Father for the faith of the recipients of his epistle and by asking God to give them the Spirit of wisdom/spiritual wisdom, and “revelation” surely refers to “knowledge/understanding of His will”. The word “so” is equivalent to “in order that”, so it is likely that “knowing God better” is another way of saying living “a life worthy of the Lord”.

6. We should pray for enlightenment (Eph. 1:18a). The continuation of Paul’s prayer refers to the “eyes of the heart”. The heart in Scripture refers to the human spirit (2Cor. 1:22, 3:2-3, 4:6, Eph. 3:17, Col. 3:15), and “eyes” refers to the human will (MFW, Matt. 13:14-15). Enlightenment is akin to edification, which occurs as a believer learns God’s Word (Psa. 119:105), and it is in the same vein as “growing in the knowledge of God” (in Col. 1:10).

7. A main purpose of Paul’s prayer and aspect of learning is understanding the hope of heaven and experiencing it in part during one’s earthly sojourn (Eph. 1:18b). Paul compares spiritual blessings to physical wealth and calls them “glorious”, as he did the Father in v.17, which indicates that desire for heaven is the proper motivation for wanting salvation.

As in Eph. & Col., Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1:3-4 begins with thanksgiving (cf. Phil. 4:6). This sounds like Paul took time to pray for each individual believer.

8. Pray with joy (Phil. 1:4a). In this epistle “joy despite suffering” seems to be the major theme (cf. Phil. 2:2, 3:1, 4:1, 4 & 10).

Paul continues his prayer in Phil. 1:9-11 in a way similar to Eph. 3:17-19, and it also is in the same vein as Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians and the Colossians to understand God’s Word and become morally blameless, “filled with the fruit of righteousness” (Phil. 1:11a, cf. Gal. 5:22-23).

9. Keep on praying and learning to love “until the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:10b). This refers to the Second Coming of Christ (cf. Phil. 3:20-21). Sinlessness is not merely being devoid of sin, but rather filling the void with the Christ’s Holy Spirit (cf. Matt. 12:43-45).

10. Prayers should glorify God (Phil. 1:11b). This is akin to gratitude/thanksgiving, and so is an apt bookend to this prayer.

11. Pray for God to sanctify souls completely, so their “whole spirit, soul and body may be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord”(1THS 5:23). We see this prayer reiterates Phil. 1:9-11.

12. Pray for divine power to enable good intentions and faithful acts (2THS 1:11-12). We note another reference to praying for others “constantly”, that God may continue to count them worthy of his calling (cf. Rom. 4:1-25). The request for divine strength is repeated in 2THS 2:16-17, with for good words added to deeds.

13. Pray for perseverance (2THS 3:5). For increasing love (Eph. 3:17b-19) and enduring suffering like Christ (Heb. 5:7-9).

Hope this helps.

 

[ResidentAlien]

I have been to many churches in my time of being saved from the day I was saved in 2012 to now there is a pattern I have seen in every church well almost every church I have been to and that is how it just seemed to be spiritually dry not dead not exactly but dry.

The sermons are nice the lessons are good but when I looked around all I could ask myself is where is the spirit? where is the life? Think of worship for instance, true worship will have you raising your hands to the sky as if you cannot reach high enough it will have your body unable to stop moving and dancing it will have your spirit and soul trying to praise him in such a way that it seems you cannot muster the words to describe your praise to him to honro him to worship at the very throne of God.

But many simply sing along and there is a vast difference between true worship and just singing along. then there is the lack of the spirit perhaps the most troublesme thing I have encountered one church I went to the spirit was so rich there the second I walked in the doors the spirit hit me like a wall his presence was thick and rich in that place and I have not encountered this in any other church save for that one time I was able to go to that specific church

Every other church if you use what I call your spiritual radar you cannot feel him you cannot sense him he is not tangiable in many churches and many churches teach milk when meat is needed
in the season of hunger one needs meat to satisfy their souls but many churches have watered down the gospel many have unknowingly fed milk instead of meat.

Is this just me or is the church just spiritually dry? am I being to critical or has anyone else experienced this when going to a church?

I think we have to be careful about judging a book by its cover. Remember the letter to Sardis:

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' " Revelation 3:1-6​

This is a very instructive passage. They have a reputation for being alive, yet Jesus tells them they are about to die unless they "wake up." You can't judge a congregation by the way they worship alone. Of course there are other things that may give a congregation a reputation for being alive, but certainly the way they worship is high on the list.

 

[homwardbound]

I have been to many churches in my time of being saved from the day I was saved in 2012 to now there is a pattern I have seen in every church well almost every church I have been to and that is how it just seemed to be spiritually dry not dead not exactly but dry.

The sermons are nice the lessons are good but when I looked around all I could ask myself is where is the spirit? where is the life? Think of worship for instance, true worship will have you raising your hands to the sky as if you cannot reach high enough it will have your body unable to stop moving and dancing it will have your spirit and soul trying to praise him in such a way that it seems you cannot muster the words to describe your praise to him to honro him to worship at the very throne of God.

But many simply sing along and there is a vast difference between true worship and just singing along. then there is the lack of the spirit perhaps the most troublesme thing I have encountered one church I went to the spirit was so rich there the second I walked in the doors the spirit hit me like a wall his presence was thick and rich in that place and I have not encountered this in any other church save for that one time I was able to go to that specific church

Every other church if you use what I call your spiritual radar you cannot feel him you cannot sense him he is not tangiable in many churches and many churches teach milk when meat is needed
in the season of hunger one needs meat to satisfy their souls but many churches have watered down the gospel many have unknowingly fed milk instead of meat.

Is this just me or is the church just spiritually dry? am I being to critical or has anyone else experienced this when going to a church?

Yes. Brother I have as well experienced this too. There was one particular Church I attended and it was on Fire. there were no Holy Rollers, no speaking in Tongues, no show and tell from the people at all. They each just glowed.
I knew too as soon as I was in there. Amazing when one anyone sees real worship of Father's Spirit and Truth too. Thank you
Now understand this in Hebrews 8:1-4. Understand the building was torn down in AD 70. People rebuilt it in the name of God. Is it truly in the name of God the Father of Son? Matters not why? Because Christ is still preached, I am elated contentedly in that. Father will draw the people to him to decide to believe him free choice still and has been always in play
Read
Psalm 82, it is not God that causes evil on anyone.
We each get to decide to not be taken away from the done work of Son for us to live through us in love and mercy to all, no more a few as only flesh knows how ro do. Only loves those tha t;loive them back. God went to that cross in Son for everyone to choose.

 

[Karlon]

I have been to many churches in my time of being saved from the day I was saved in 2012 to now there is a pattern I have seen in every church well almost every church I have been to and that is how it just seemed to be spiritually dry not dead not exactly but dry.

The sermons are nice the lessons are good but when I looked around all I could ask myself is where is the spirit? where is the life? Think of worship for instance, true worship will have you raising your hands to the sky as if you cannot reach high enough it will have your body unable to stop moving and dancing it will have your spirit and soul trying to praise him in such a way that it seems you cannot muster the words to describe your praise to him to honro him to worship at the very throne of God.

But many simply sing along and there is a vast difference between true worship and just singing along. then there is the lack of the spirit perhaps the most troublesme thing I have encountered one church I went to the spirit was so rich there the second I walked in the doors the spirit hit me like a wall his presence was thick and rich in that place and I have not encountered this in any other church save for that one time I was able to go to that specific church

Every other church if you use what I call your spiritual radar you cannot feel him you cannot sense him he is not tangiable in many churches and many churches teach milk when meat is needed
in the season of hunger one needs meat to satisfy their souls but many churches have watered down the gospel many have unknowingly fed milk instead of meat.

Is this just me or is the church just spiritually dry? am I being to critical or has anyone else experienced this when going to a church?

the northeast area has been spiritually dry for many decades. i haven't attended church regularly since 2020. 1 pastor told me that the reason is because if you pastor a small church, the pastor doesn't feel any pressure to perform a quality solid preaching-teaching sermon so his effort is minimal. then, you have the fact that if no one else is persevering with great effort then no one else will get started. so think this way, if a bunch of pastors in 1 area are giving their effort all they can, others will get the hint & desire to preach better. its just like a work atmosphere, when 1 or 2 work at a high level of ambition & quality, others will see it & psychologically, they will perform better. around here, mid n.y.s., there isn't even 1 pastor that's half as good as some of the top pastors on radio or tv.

 

[Just_A__Follower]

I have been to many churches in my time of being saved from the day I was saved in 2012 to now there is a pattern I have seen in every church well almost every church I have been to and that is how it just seemed to be spiritually dry not dead not exactly but dry.

The sermons are nice the lessons are good but when I looked around all I could ask myself is where is the spirit? where is the life? Think of worship for instance, true worship will have you raising your hands to the sky as if you cannot reach high enough it will have your body unable to stop moving and dancing it will have your spirit and soul trying to praise him in such a way that it seems you cannot muster the words to describe your praise to him to honro him to worship at the very throne of God.

But many simply sing along and there is a vast difference between true worship and just singing along. then there is the lack of the spirit perhaps the most troublesme thing I have encountered one church I went to the spirit was so rich there the second I walked in the doors the spirit hit me like a wall his presence was thick and rich in that place and I have not encountered this in any other church save for that one time I was able to go to that specific church

Every other church if you use what I call your spiritual radar you cannot feel him you cannot sense him he is not tangiable in many churches and many churches teach milk when meat is needed
in the season of hunger one needs meat to satisfy their souls but many churches have watered down the gospel many have unknowingly fed milk instead of meat.

Is this just me or is the church just spiritually dry? am I being to critical or has anyone else experienced this when going to a church?

There’s a big difference in singing a song to God and singing a song about God. Sadly we see many nowadays simply singing about God.

 

[homwardbound]

the northeast area has been spiritually dry for many decades. i haven't attended church regularly since 2020. 1 pastor told me that the reason is because if you pastor a small church, the pastor doesn't feel any pressure to perform a quality solid preaching-teaching sermon so his effort is minimal. then, you have the fact that if no one else is persevering with great effort then no one else will get started. so think this way, if a bunch of pastors in 1 area are giving their effort all they can, others will get the hint & desire to preach better. its just like a work atmosphere, when 1 or 2 work at a high level of ambition & quality, others will see it & psychologically, they will perform better. around here, mid n.y.s., there isn't even 1 pastor that's half as good as some of the top pastors on radio or tv.

How about these 2 verses below
Luke 21:14-15
Luke 21:14
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luke 21:15
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

 

[Watchman22]

I have been to many churches in my time of being saved from the day I was saved in 2012 to now there is a pattern I have seen in every church well almost every church I have been to and that is how it just seemed to be spiritually dry not dead not exactly but dry.

The sermons are nice the lessons are good but when I looked around all I could ask myself is where is the spirit? where is the life? Think of worship for instance, true worship will have you raising your hands to the sky as if you cannot reach high enough it will have your body unable to stop moving and dancing it will have your spirit and soul trying to praise him in such a way that it seems you cannot muster the words to describe your praise to him to honro him to worship at the very throne of God.

But many simply sing along and there is a vast difference between true worship and just singing along. then there is the lack of the spirit perhaps the most troublesme thing I have encountered one church I went to the spirit was so rich there the second I walked in the doors the spirit hit me like a wall his presence was thick and rich in that place and I have not encountered this in any other church save for that one time I was able to go to that specific church

Every other church if you use what I call your spiritual radar you cannot feel him you cannot sense him he is not tangiable in many churches and many churches teach milk when meat is needed
in the season of hunger one needs meat to satisfy their souls but many churches have watered down the gospel many have unknowingly fed milk instead of meat.

Is this just me or is the church just spiritually dry? am I being to critical or has anyone else experienced this when going to a church?

Hi Blain.
Ya I think we're all seeing it.

With Pentecost being the datum point of what a gathering of those who have received His Spirit looks like, you have to look far and wide to find a hint of it.

What i like about Pentecost is we always have that example of what happens when the Spirit of Christ is put into a faither. And that is, you will want to give everything you have away, period. If we don't have that same desire to give as they did at Pentecost, we can't be a Christian.

Over time, worship has become more of the raising of the hands, music, even speaking in tongues, and that can all be apart of it. But the real act of worship, the real understanding of the word worship comes from 2 Latin words, "worth ship" the shipping of worth.

And our worth in this world is measured by wealth, money, first and for the most part.
Our shipping of worth is all.about the giving of money. Thats where the tithes comes in. The tithes correctly taught are a governor on the giving so we don't give everything we have away. But if the Spirit of Christ isn't indwelt, it becomes a burden and eventually forgotten all together. The giving of money in secret to Him is one of the most spiritual acts of worthship we can do.

So as you said, that dryness, or hardening is prevalent today. I blame most of it on the teachers building a life of faith on the mistranslated words believe, instead of a continually surrendered life.

Goodbye Blain.

 

[Blain]

I think we have to be careful about judging a book by its cover. Remember the letter to Sardis:

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' " Revelation 3:1-6​

This is a very instructive passage. They have a reputation for being alive, yet Jesus tells them they are about to die unless they "wake up." You can't judge a congregation by the way they worship alone. Of course there are other things that may give a congregation a reputation for being alive, but certainly the way they worship is high on the list.

Using discernment is not the same as judging when you walk into a church that is full of the spirit you feel it but when you enter into one that is spiritually dry you also can feel it the spirit knows the spirit and so using our spiritual senses we are able to discern whether or not one is alive or not

 

[Blade]

Well this is silly... what Churches are we looking at? Since 68' (year) to now there have been a few hmm not alive very hmm peaceful? Lol But there are countless more as sis said spot on "on-fire". Were talking about GOD here.. I am just one of millions where.. haha its hard any place .. I start to think about Him.. that fire is on the inside and it wants out.. and when we meet together.. this world has even seen fire on top. He is alive and well. GLORY TO JESUS.

 

[Howdy]

Are you sure you want to judge a local church based on what YOU see and feel?
People respond to the presence of the Holy Spirit in different ways.
Just because everyone is not raising hands and dancing does nor mean a thing.
There are many so-called churches that are deceiving millions by presenting a program that pleases the flesh, the eyes and the feelings.

 

[Blain]

Are you sure you want to judge a local church based on what YOU see and feel?
People respond to the presence of the Holy Spirit in different ways.
Just because everyone is not raising hands and dancing does nor mean a thing.
There are many so-called churches that are deceiving millions by presenting a program that pleases the flesh, the eyes and the feelings.

It isn't just me many others say the same thing and for good reason in fact it is not about judging but discerning there is a difference some have the gift of discernment and when that gift is active when they enter in and listen to a church they can tell if it is spiritually dead or alive.

The messages are usually watered down quite a bit the praise and worship usually is nice but it is more like singing along than actual worship the prayers are nice but there is a lack of actual power in them

This isn't to say all churches are liike this but many are I got a taste of a truly on fire church and after that encounter seeing God being so very active and alive there it reminded me of the early church with the apostles but no we ae not judging anything we are discerning

 

[Howdy]

It isn't just me many others say the same thing and for good reason in fact it is not about judging but discerning there is a difference some have the gift of discernment and when that gift is active when they enter in and listen to a church they can tell if it is spiritually dead or alive.

The messages are usually watered down quite a bit the praise and worship usually is nice but it is more like singing along than actual worship the prayers are nice but there is a lack of actual power in them

This isn't to say all churches are liike this but many are I got a taste of a truly on fire church and after that encounter seeing God being so very active and alive there it reminded me of the early church with the apostles but no we ae not judging anything we are discerning

No, you are judging by what YOU see and feel.
You might want to look up the word worship.
There is no Scripture example for standing, raising hands and dancing.
How did Jesus and Paul conduct a gathering of Saints?

 

[Brasspen]

No, you are judging by what YOU see and feel.
You might want to look up the word worship.
There is no Scripture example for standing, raising hands and dancing.
How did Jesus and Paul conduct a gathering of Saints?

It's written psalms. There are history records of Israel, they came out in front of the enemy with a praise team. They danced, played tambourines and praised God. Sometimes the enemy would run away from it.