{"id":1330,"date":"2011-08-15T07:25:11","date_gmt":"2011-08-15T14:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/?p=1330"},"modified":"2024-07-22T07:11:37","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T13:11:37","slug":"we-are-a-first-generation-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/2011\/08\/we-are-a-first-generation-church","title":{"rendered":"We are a First Generation Church"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged. \u00a0I still have much I want to write about, but taking the time to blog hasn’t been making the list. \u00a0I do apologize for this, both to you and God. \u00a0There is much I want to rejoice about, share with you, and give glory to God.<\/p>\n

Some time ago I came across Jeremiah 6. \u00a0Much of the Old Testament writing of the prophets is pretty dismal to read, lots of warnings of what will happen to Israel if they do not return to God, sprinkled with some promises of God’s goodness and faithfulness. \u00a0One paragraph in Jeremiah 6 struck me as particularly dismal:<\/p>\n

27<\/sup>\u00a0\u201cJeremiah, I have made you a tester of metals,[c<\/a>]<\/sup>
\nthat you may determine the quality of my people.
\n28<\/sup>\u00a0They are the worst kind of rebel,
\nfull of slander.
\nThey are as hard as bronze and iron,
\nand they lead others into corruption.
\n29<\/sup>\u00a0The bellows fiercely fan the flames
\nto burn out the corruption.
\nBut it does not purify them,
\nfor the wickedness remains.
\n30<\/sup>\u00a0I will label them \u2018Rejected Silver,\u2019
\nfor I, the Lord, am discarding them.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are many places in the bible that mention the refining fires of God, a good thing meant to purify us and make us more Christlike. \u00a0What struck me about this passage was that it says the fires were ineffective. \u00a0When nothing good can be found, what does he do with the metal? \u00a0He labels them rejected and discards them! \u00a0What’s surprising here is he’s not talking about some heathen group of people, he’s talking about his beloved, Israel. \u00a0The idea that Israel, who time and time again experienced first hand the power and the love of God, had become so corrupt that God was telling Jeremiah that it didn’t matter how hot he stoked the refining fires, there is nothing left to refine!<\/p>\n

Wow, this is amazing to me. \u00a0If God’s chosen people are at risk of being labeled Rejected Silver and discarded, then how much more so are we who have been grafted into the family as Gentiles, and so distant in time from the miracles recorded in the bible, at risk of falling into this same corruption? \u00a0It means that every generation, no matter how well rooted in the Lord their ancestors may have been, is at risk of falling away from the Lord. \u00a0I was so moved with compassion and concern for the salvation of my own children that I felt moved to share this at a Prayer and Praise, essentially what I have shared here. \u00a0But also felt moved to lead the group in a corporate prayer. \u00a0This turned into praying in tongues, my first public tongue. \u00a0Paul tells us that if we give a public tongue we should also ask for the\u00a0interpretation\u00a0of the tongue, so that the body can be edified. \u00a0However, I wanted to test the Spirit and see if anyone else would receive the\u00a0interpretation, trusting that my spirit would discern whether it was a correct\u00a0interpretation, even though I did not know myself what the\u00a0interpretation\u00a0was. \u00a0I wasn’t disappointed. \u00a0A lady in the congregation, who speaks English as a second language, said she received the interpretation in Spanish and translated it to us as “”if you hear my voice, you will not be discarded.” \u00a0Very appropriate I thought, and much like the character of God to express love, peace, and assurance, and the same simple truth expressed to the Israelites time and time again.<\/p>\n

Afterward my pastor spoke with me and shared a comment that sums it up well. \u00a0He said “we are always a first generation church”. \u00a0Every generation must decide to accept God on their own, there is nothing we can do to assure their salvation for them. \u00a0This makes Deut 6:6-7 all the more important: \u00a0“And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.\u00a0Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” \u00a0This and prayer are the only hope we have to prevent them from being labeled Rejected Silver. \u00a0I intend to do my part.<\/p>\n

-Nate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged. \u00a0I still have much I want to write about, but taking the time to blog hasn’t been making the list. \u00a0I do apologize for this, both to you and God. \u00a0There is much I want to rejoice about, share with you, and give glory to God. Some…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16155,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[4294,4295],"class_list":["post-1330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faith","tag-1st-generation","tag-refine","wpcat-9-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p504YJ-ls","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1042,"url":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/2011\/02\/whats-my-name","url_meta":{"origin":1330,"position":0},"title":"What’s my name?","author":"Nate","date":"February 27, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"I received a word from God today during the praise and worship.\u00a0 I thought about sharing it with the church but decided not to because I remember hearing from others about the Sunday we missed on New Years.\u00a0 Basically the word I received was nearly the same message preached on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nate"","block_context":{"text":"Nate","link":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/cat\/nate-2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/testimony.jpg?fit=512%2C341&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5847,"url":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/2006\/11\/verses-about-helping-orphans","url_meta":{"origin":1330,"position":1},"title":"Verses about helping orphans","author":"Becca","date":"November 5, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Old Law: Deut 24: 19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Becca"","block_context":{"text":"Becca","link":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/cat\/becca-2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Adoption-Shaped-Heart-Logo-PNG.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Adoption-Shaped-Heart-Logo-PNG.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Adoption-Shaped-Heart-Logo-PNG.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Adoption-Shaped-Heart-Logo-PNG.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Adoption-Shaped-Heart-Logo-PNG.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":890,"url":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/2010\/10\/trust-in-god-not-the-world","url_meta":{"origin":1330,"position":2},"title":"Trust in God, not the World","author":"Nate","date":"October 29, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the last few years I\u2019ve been mentally compiling some verses that speak to me about trusting in God, not the world for the things I need, for love, or for affirmation of who I am or what my value is.\u00a0 If you put any hope in the world you\u2019re\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/cat\/faith"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Do-not-worry-Matt-6-birds.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Do-not-worry-Matt-6-birds.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Do-not-worry-Matt-6-birds.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Do-not-worry-Matt-6-birds.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Do-not-worry-Matt-6-birds.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5799,"url":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/2007\/07\/my-great-sister-in-law","url_meta":{"origin":1330,"position":3},"title":"My Great Sister-in-law","author":"Becca","date":"July 29, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"These are some verses that I have been receiving from my sister-in-law. She usually sends me one a day and its really great. :) Jeremiah 1:4-5 \"The word of the Lord came to me, saying, \"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Becca"","block_context":{"text":"Becca","link":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/cat\/becca-2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":725,"url":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/2010\/08\/mouthpiece-for-god","url_meta":{"origin":1330,"position":4},"title":"Mouthpiece for God","author":"Becca","date":"August 29, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"One Sunday two ladies in our church felt God stir them to go through each of the classrooms during Sunday School and pray for each child individually. These two ladies are amazing prayer warriors and are very receptive to the Holy Spirit. They sometimes give words of prophecy within our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Testimony"","block_context":{"text":"Testimony","link":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/cat\/faith\/testimony"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/testimony.jpg?fit=512%2C341&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5896,"url":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/2006\/08\/honoring-the-sabbath","url_meta":{"origin":1330,"position":5},"title":"Honoring the Sabbath","author":"Becca","date":"August 27, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently the topic of the 10 Commandments has come up in several of our small groups\/church things. I'm guessing God wants me to make a discovery here. So here they are: Exodus 20 - Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Becca"","block_context":{"text":"Becca","link":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/cat\/becca-2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/08\/SabbathRest4.jpg?fit=1000%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/08\/SabbathRest4.jpg?fit=1000%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/08\/SabbathRest4.jpg?fit=1000%2C563&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/08\/SabbathRest4.jpg?fit=1000%2C563&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themoehrings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/refining.jpg?fit=400%2C336&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1330"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1330\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27467,"href":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1330\/revisions\/27467"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themoehrings.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}