CHURCH OF CHRIST JESUS

CHURCH OF CHRIST JESUS,   “WORTH CONSIDERING” 3/26/20

Today’s Scripture   (In my emails yesterday from a big mega church in Texas.)
“…Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well…”  (1 Thessalonians 2:8, NIV)

Become a Miracle
Many people are praying for a miracle. “God, please send me a friend. God, I need help with my children. I need training. God, I need a good break.” We have to realize that we can become the miracle they need. God uses our lives to touch and encourage and bless others. God will bring people across our path so that we can be the answer to their prayers.

Take time to become the miracle. You can’t help everyone, but you can help someone. Be aware of who is in your life. Listen to what they’re saying. Is there any way that you can help? Those are opportunities to become their miracle. God put them there on purpose. It’s because you are full of miracles. There is healing in you. There is restoration, there’s friendship, there are new beginnings. You can lift the fallen. You can restore the broken. You can be kind to a stranger. You can become someone’s miracle.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You bring people across my path so I can be the answer to their prayers. Help me to listen to what they’re saying and to be available and do what I can to help. I believe that I am a miracle waiting to happen for someone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts:
What we also need to realize is,  there is a spiritual growth factor.  When we were born our parents were responsible for finding out what our needs were when we cried.  With my kids it was cold/hot, dirty diaper, gas or hunger.  All from the same disruptive cry.  Then the parents started noticing the different cries.  But after awhile words started to set in and the child, hopefully, started saying the word that indicated what was needed like potty, hungry, wet, cold, tired and so on… And the parents no longer responded to the crying as a form of communication.  Then of course there was school and grades and testing for us to know, and everyone, on how we were doing.  Personally, I was not good at school and twice had to go to summer school to catch up and I think I graduated high school because they did not want me there for another year.  

Our Heavenly Father has us, as we make Jesus Lord, in a Sanctification School and there are grade levels.   Humility and Obedience in spiritual learning receives God’s Grace, Mercy and support.   However if we allow for pride and disobedience things dry up and we get tough love.
And there are different grade levels.  If I still talk like a 3 yr. old when in the 6th grade then spiritual blessing may dry up as well.  The original vision of our Creator is to help us to become like HIM or like Christ Jesus because we want to be with HIM.  So there are plenty of times for us to be on Holy Ground and see the power of God through the whole process.  But there is always the need for a new wineskin for the new wine of the Holy Spirit.  So don’t expect to get earthly comfortable in this life.  The Holy Spirit when aloud to take over in a life or a gathering is never boring.  And when really in control is rarely traditional.  In fact HE can be rather embarrassing at times especially for introvert and folks use to a safe traditional theater church..

So we are all in school to learn how to walk on the water and to do what Jesus did by choice.  And in fact Paul taught us that if there is no evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit in a gathering to keep looking.  That when the Holy Spirit is in charge the Word of God (logos) will be confirmed by the Power of God or the (rhema) of God.  2 Tim. 3 with signs following.   The Holy Spirit will attach us to Christ Jesus as LORD and not to a building, fellowship or denomination. 

I use this expression a lot on my emails:  There is but one church of Christ Jesus and all who Truly Love & Obey HIM are members.  It is not the church that saves us, it is Christ Jesus.   And it is difficult to get our needed vitamins and minerals all in one food or one bottle or one church today.  From the Evangelicals I learned to love my Bible and respect it.  From the Liturgical folks I learned a lot about the feeling and need of holiness.  And with the Charismatics I was introduced into the power of God.   Of course, each by themselves can become indulgent, sanctimonious or even a carnival.   But Jesus is a balance of Love, Holiness & Power for the Glory of God.   Often our church buildings are built for and become the glory of man.  And those dead monuments to man’s ego are all over the world today.  Actually there is not one word in the New Testament about building anything physical for God in the New Testament.  Nor was there a collection for the building any buildings.  The gifts and offerings went for evangelism and to help the poor.  The Church in the home was the New Testament standard with the Elders getting together to keep the unity of the faith in the bond of peace.  Buildings are comfortable but think of what the same funds could have done for missions.  Back in 1975 I tried to duplicate the traditional theater church and filled it up seeking souls but in short order the maintenance and stresses of the property caused a burn out in me and the Holy Spirit moved on.  In 1979-80 the property was sold, became a restaurant and is now a medical center.  So much for that traditional theater church.  And after I resigned due to my burn out, the cash equity of nearly a million dollars just totally disappeared with the new Presiding Elder.

Seems to me that most Traditional Theater Churches are more prone to make Church Members rather than help make disciples who grow up to be in the image and likeness of Christ Jesus.  I have been given all kinds of church excuses of why I should not expect to become a Holy Man or become like Christ Jesus.  But in checking this out for myself.  It is written all over the place in our Bible that God wants to help us become like HIM.  Of course it is up to us as to whether or not we will from the heart believe the Great & Precious Promises to be changed into having God’s Divine Nature or not.

It is difficult to give up traditions even when they are vain.  Or to give up our status quo comfort zones.  It is easy to go to “church” once a week or so and really not get to know hardly any one’s name much less even know about them.   And leave believing that we have pleased God.   The Early Church was a lively forum and the saints were all active.  It was a work of the people.  Deeply study 1 Cor.14:21-33, only a very few times in my life have I ever seen any ministry that came close to looking like this.  But I believe it will be the church of the rapture, that the Church/Bride will be taken home when she shines with the Glory and Power of Christ Jesus.  She goes home to purge the heavens of the remaining darkness, Rev. 12:11 for the Glory of God.  We in Adam let lucifer be the god of this world,   in Christ Jesus we enjoy the victory in booting lucifer out,  Ezek 28:18.  The Church of Christ Jesus is the fire of God.