TRADITIONS

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TRADITIONS           “WORTH CONSIDERING”        7/15/22

When I do a word search on the word Tradition I find about 29 scriptures using the word and many more relating to the word.   And I find there can be Good Traditions and Bad according to Holy Scripture.  So in my latter years I have been wondering why if we do what God want’s us to do then why the absence of power as experienced by the Early Church.

So trying to be objective I have found some things that may be a problem.

1.)      Personal holiness,   God can not use an unclean vessel.  It must first be washed by King Jesus through repentance, restitution, forgiveness and restoration.   This is a life long process of sanctification to help us learn to be like Jesus.   1 John 4:16.  But it has a beginning when we ask Jesus to be our LORD & SAVIOR.

2.)    We have been taught it is OK in Church to ‘Agree to Disagree.   In love, of course.  But this is contrary to our Lord’s prayer of John 17.  especially verses 20-26.   Also we don’t know how to make solid connections,  like wires in a car.   A corroded connection can leave you stranded just when you need your car to run well.   Also we have learned with batteries that the more we have in series or parallel with good connections the brighter the lights that can be turned on.

3.)    Also what we sow, we will always reap.  If we coddle attitudes of fear, pride, lust, hate, greed, disobedience and take them with us and sow them into our homes and church and families, we will have no end of pulling weeds.   I have an ½ acre in So. Captain Cook and the weeds love it with all of the rain and sunshine.   And I know that if I don’t get them pulled early, they make another big crop of weeds, all by themselves.  Prov.6:16 is a good sampling along with the Big Ten in Exodus 20.

So what are some of the traditions that we do that are not in the Early Church…

1.    As Christians making Jesus LORD (king, boss, general) of our lives the authority that Jesus sent was the Holy Spirit to guide the Church Elders, Eph. 4:11 into lifting up Jesus.      So if the so called church lifts up anything other than Jesus, God will not confirm with power.  This can be way subtle.   Once had a guy give a Jesus testimony and used the word “I” about 150 times, long testimony,    So it was really, all about him, not Jesus.      Or it can be about the denomination or about the Church Building.  Listened to a lady one time just give a travelogue on her vacation to South America.  2 Tim.  3:5…..

2.    Not one word in the New Testament about tithing, As a Christian, we are into it for 100% or not at all.   In the New Testament we are to find out what the Holy Spirit wants us to give and do that.   We are not under a law, we are under God Grace in the New Testament.

3.    Not one word in the New Testament about building anything.  Not wrong to build something but the LORD’S CHURCH is the people not the steeple.  God does not need our money to do what HE wants to do.  But we need to learn to trust HIM with our money so that our money does not replace HIM.   Money is only frozen energy that can be used for the Kingdom of for the comforts of self.   It is God’s way of allowing us to enjoy being partners with HIM in the building of the Bride of Christ/Church/Body of Christ/Rod of Iron.  We are in the process of learning to be humble and obedient so that we can live with our Heavenly Creator in righteousness without blowing up the rest of HIS creation.

4.    If you are interested in finding a good home church, 1 Cor.14:26-33 would be a good start as an example of the forum, interactive, gathering that allows the Holy Spirit to take over and to guide the time of the gathering.  And it is exciting, you never know what is going to happen.  And it is not antiseptic and traditional at all.  Every gathering has a gentle overview as in Acts.2:41-47.    Now notice they went out evangelizing in the morning at the Temple or where ever and then on Sat. evening they would get together for a wonderful time of fellowship where ever there was space available.   They actually walked through the furnishing of the tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness as being prophetic.  Look it up in my book, “Keys To The Kingdom” free, on line,   OhanaChruch.Life.  link at bottom of page. OR  https://trinity-aloha.org/keys-to-the-kingdom/house-church/

5.    As we read the Book of Acts we are shown what the Early Church really looked like and it was an amazing Church started by the Holy Spirit.   In Acts 5:16 we find this interesting note,   “and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.   Paul Confirms this as the vision for our time as well in 2 Tim.3:5,   “ holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.”  1 John 4:17, “In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.”

There is so much and more that needs to change to get back to the Original Vision of Christ Jesus for HIS CHURCH….    Yours, in HIS great Love and wonderful Grace and Mercy,   Ken<><
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More INSPIRING QUOTES
“The testimony of the lips indicates the state of the heart.” – Harry Ironside.    “God never alters the robe of righteousness to fit the man. Rather He alters the man to fit the robe.”  – John Hagee.
“You can’t develop character by reading books. You develop it from conflict.” – Leonard Ravenhill.      “Earnestness is enthusiasm tempered by reason.”- Blaise Pascal.    “The seed dies into a new life, and so does man.” – George Macdonald.    “Doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life. It is worse than useless; it does positive harm. Something of ‘the image of Christ’ must be seen and observed by others in our private life,   and habits, and character, and doings.”  – J. C. Ryle.    “Character will take you further than knowledge.” – Jack Wellman.    “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.”
– Helen Keller

There is but ONE Church of Christ Jesus as LORD,
And all who Love, Honor and Obey HIM as LORD are eternal members

GOD’S PROMISES

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GOD’S PROMISES         “WORTH CONSIDERING”     7/13/22

Today’s Scripture   (From a Church in Texas, good thoughts for me today.)
Then Jacob said to Joseph, “I never thought I would see your face again, but now God has let me see your children, too!”  Genesis 48:11, NLT
    
Back from the Dead.  In the Scripture, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, brought his bloody robe to their father, Jacob, and told him that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Jacob was certain Joseph was dead and lived heartbroken year after year. When Jacob was an old man, those same brothers brought him the news that Joseph was still alive and in charge of the nation of Egypt. Jacob was overwhelmed to see not only Joseph again but to meet Joseph’s sons.

God is going to bring things to life that you thought were dead or too far gone. Dreams you’ve given up on—suddenly the right people show up, you get the break you need, the funding all of a sudden comes through. You better get ready. He’s already arranging the breaks you need, moving the wrong people out of the way, lining up the favor and advantages. God knows how to bring it all together, and when He does, it’s going to be bigger, better, and more rewarding than you ever expected.
    
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You will breathe life into the things that seem dead in my life and bring a great coming together. Thank You that You are arranging and aligning everything that I need now. I believe that You will bring it all together, and that it will be much better than I ever expected. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s notes.   “Traditions good and bad.  God will only honor HIS Truth with HIS  power.  We reap what we sow when we add our own vain traditions to try to do His work our way in pride or greed.

2 Thessalonians 2:14-16  “ It was to this end that He called you through our gospel [the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection], so that you may obtain and share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, [a] brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold [tightly] to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and encouragement and the good [well-founded] hope [of salvation] by His grace,

Mark 7:6-8 “He  replied, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders), as it is written [in Scripture],  ‘These people honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7 ‘They worship Me in vain [ their worship is meaningless and worthless, a pretense ], Teaching the precepts of men as doctrines [giving their traditions equal weight with the Scriptures].’  8 You disregard and neglect the commandment of God, and cling [faithfully] to the tradition of men.”

1 Corinthians 11:2 “I praise and appreciate you because you remember me in everything and you firmly hold to the traditions [the substance of my instructions ], just as I have passed them on to you.   2 Thessalonians 2:15    So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold [tightly] to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”

2 Timothy 3:15-17   “and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Hebrew Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus [surrendering your entire self to Him and having absolute confidence in His wisdom, power and goodness]. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the [a] man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

1 John 4:17 “In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.

James 2:14-26 “What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works.] If a brother or sister is without [adequate] clothing and lacks [enough] food for each day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace [with my blessing], [keep] warm and feed yourselves,” but he does not give them the necessities for the body, what good does that do? …

Romans 8:27 “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.    

Heb.2:4,   “[and besides this evidence] God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”

1 Peter 4:10, “Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].

So if we walk truly in God’s Traditions of HIS TRUTH there will be the evidence of HIS power, 2 Tim.3:5….   No power of God to confirm the word, something is wrong and, repentance and correction is deeply  needed.  There is much that we do in “church” today that is not according to the traditions as found in the Bible or the Early Church.   Church today should look like the Book of Acts.   We observe many vain traditions today that make the Word of God, ineffective and powerless.   And we have changed Truth of God,  our doctrine,  to accept being powerless. and in disunity.  

Yours in HIS great Love and wonderful Grace & Mercy,   Ken<><   www.OhanaChurch.Life

There is but on Church of Christ Jesus as LORD on planet earth,
All who Love, Honor and Obey King Jesus as Lord are eternal members.

PRAYER & SALVATION

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PRAYER & SALVATION   “WORTH CONSIDERING”     7/6/22
A man lost a valuable watch while working in an old ice-house. He searched diligently for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn’t find it. His fellow workers also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the ice-house during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch.   Amazed, the men asked him how he found it.  “I closed the door,” the boy replied, “lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.” (story taken from “Directions” by James Hamilton)   So often life can become so hectic that it becomes hard to find time to sit still and just listen to what the Lord is saying. But Jesus often secluded himself, so that He could commune intimately with His Father. In these days and in this hour it’s so imperative that we spend time in our own prayer closets, so we can clearly hear what our Father is saying to us, through His still small voice. If we do, we may find some wonderful and valuable things that we and others have missed.
CHINESE LEADER SPEAKS OUT – Part 3   -Brother Yun. The Great Commission has not changed. There are many churches trying to create a heaven here on earth, but until the Western Church obeys the Great Commission and takes the gospel to the ends of the earth, people are just playing with God and are not really serious about the truth.  Many churches look beautiful on the outside, but are dead where it counts, on the inside. If you truly want to see God move, the two main things you must do is learn the Word of God and have the obedience to do what God tells you to do.
In Finland in 1999 I was asked to be one of the main speakers at a conference attended by about one thousand church leaders. The main speaker was a well-known American preacher. Every time he spoke it was about the love and goodness of God. During the prayer time everyone fell down on the floor and laughed.     After I spoke I commanded people to kneel down at the foot of the cross of Jesus, and they wept! Tears always come first before the Lord truly moves. He will never pour his blessing out on unsanctified and selfish flesh. The cross of Jesus must be at the center of everything we do.   If you do these things you will see revival. Are you willing to give your all to God and to his service? “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” -Daniel 12:3.
Many Christians have also asked me why miracles and signs and wonders are so prevalent in China, but not so evident in the West. In the West you have so much. You have insurance for everything.  In a way, you don’t need God. When my father was dying of stomach cancer, we sold everything we had to try to cure him. When we everything was gone we had no hope but God. We turned to him in desperation and saw him mercifully answer our prayers and heal my father. We reasoned that if God could do that then He could do anything, so our faith grew and we’ve seen many miracles.      In China, the greatest miracles we see are not the healings or other things, but lives transformed by the gospel. We believe we’re not called to follow signs and wonders but instead the signs and wonders follow us when the gospel is preached. We don’t keep our eyes on the signs and wonders; we keep our eyes on Jesus.     Every house church pastor in China is ready to lay down his life for the gospel. When we live this way, we’ll see God do great  things by his grace. ~From the book ‘The Heavenly Man’, pg 298-300. So where do we go with this?   Many Christians think, “If God wants them, HE can save them.”  So we go on down the road with our love of this world only seeking to live in our own self made comfort zones. With some even trying to steal from others for their own nest.
Daniel said,   Daniel 12:3, “Those who are [spiritually] wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars forever and ever.   David says it this way:   O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;   For His compassion and loving kindness endure forever!  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,   And gathered them from the lands,  From the east and from the west, From the north and from the [a] south. Psalm 107:1-3    Jesus said it this way: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”  (Some think this was a message for the Disciples only, but consider, the command is to the end of this age.  So is inclusive of all of us.)  Matt.28:19-20.   And Jesus said it again in John 17:20 “20 “I do not pray for these alone [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their message, 21 that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me.    I have given to them the glory (power) and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one;     I in them and You in Me, that they may be  one, just as We are one perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given to Me [as Your gift to Me], may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.   “O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has never acknowledged You [and the revelation of Your mercy], yet I have always known You; and these [believers] know [without any doubt] that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them [overwhelming their heart], and I [may be] in them.”
There is no doubt in my mind that the sheep are called to give birth to the lambs, not just the shepherds.  If you consider yourself to be a Christian and have never helped another soul find Jesus as LORD and to be born from above, John 3,   I am doubtful of your salvation???    If you have no concern for the lost around you spending eternity in outer darkness, Jude 10-16 I really wondered what you were saved for?  If saved at all.   I have listened to miles and miles of sermons about being OK and in God’s Love, but really!   John 4:17,   “In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.    The most basic concern of Jesus was for folks being saved,  HE died for that cause,  is that your deep concern?
Yours, in HIS great Love and wonderful Grace & Mercy, Ken<><   www.OhanaChurch.Life
There is but ONE Church of Christ Jesus as LORD, All who Love, Honor and Obey HIM as LORD are Eternal Members.

IDENTITY

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IDENTITY           “WORTH CONSIDERING”       6/29/22

Identity is an interesting and continually changing factor in our lives.   Who are you?   When I was born on a cold September 22  midnight on a hillbilly farm in Kentucky in 32.   My first identity was -0- as all thought I was dead.   Deep forceps creases in my head, but then I started breathing and crying so they bundled me up and went back to saving my mother.  She could no longer have children after me and they gave me my dad’s name, Norman Kenneth Smith and just added a Jr.  So as he was Norman, I became a Kenneth….and started growing up into that identity as Kenny.  Then at about 19 month old they thought I needed a little help from God in my life and took me to church to get baptized.  I vividly remember the experience, I thought they was going to cook me after washing me over a big stone bowl of water, So I let out a big scream, they let me go, ran out of the church and threw rocks at the minister when he came out the front door.  My first God experience which somehow, did not work, just got wet.  Over the next 20 years, tried out many identities, none of them really seem to fit.  But when working in Long Beach I ran into a guy who truly had an identity in Christ Jesus as a Christian.  First time I had ever seen one of those kind of people before?  So followed Floyd  around for about 6 month and got caught.   Floyd and Dick took me into the Bible into 1 Cor.3:11-15 & John 3,   and for the first time it made sense and that change my identity has to be in Christ Jesus and to really become alive, but had yet to learn not to throw rocks.

The process has now been going for some 67 years.  Not easy to get ride of the identity of Adam in his pride and rebellion and put on the humility and obedience of Christ Jesus.  Lots of rooms in my house that needed cleaning out so as to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

Looking back over my life now at getting close to 90 and it is amazing as to how many rabbit trails I have taken out of the “WAY” of God in trying to allow the Holy Spirit to fill my heart with the presence of God.  There is such a bunch of seduction of counterfeit identities that are available.  There are so very many ways now to dress pride & disobedience up to look humble and obedient, especially in religious traditional circles.

When I was finally baptized as a Christian in 1955 and told that I needed to identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus.  That was nice…   Now some 67 years I am just starting to realize the explosive impact of that simple statement.   In my life now, it has become very simple, does it lift up Jesus or me.   Is the conversation to help the Kingdom of God or to make myself look good in lifting up myself.    Are my thoughts self centered or Jesus Centered?  Who is in control, The nature of Adam or the Spirit of God.

Often I share a meal with friends and family and most of the time the youthful energy takes over the conversation and it is only about this world and the things of this world.  In fact it seems almost impossible to bring the conversation around to anything spiritual.  Most of the time the conversation is taken over by some strong personality to elevate themselves with their version of there past conquests and events.   And I listen to their Adamic nature trying to stay alive when from God’s point of view the Adamic self centered, what about me, nature has to die in order for the Holy Spirit to really fill us and make us alive in Christ Jesus as LORD.    Otherwise as the children of Adam, we will remain as the Walking Dead , John 3.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   So what do we look for to know that we are really saved?
When we start to pick up the identity of being in Christ Jesus we will begin to rest in the LORD about ourselves.  Our interest will begin to be concerned about others.   We will become concerned about their salvation and pray to know how to reach them.   As we put on the mind of Christ Jesus and are really in HIM as Lord then the things that He was interested in will become the things that we are interested in. We will experience our salvation in the changes of where we place our time in life.  Is it for me or is it for Jesus.

Faith come by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.   We will find ourselves spending more time in searching the Scriptures for the Truth of God and in seeking the wisdom of the God about things than just trying to prove how much we think we know about the world..  John very clearly tells us:    “Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever. “    1 John 2:15-17.

We are encouraged to put on Christ Jesus,   “ Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. 3 For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, [a] appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.  5 So put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God]. 6 Because of these [sinful] things the [divine] wrath of God is coming [b] in the sons of disobedience [those who fail to listen and who routinely and obstinately disregard God’s precepts], 7 and in these [sinful things] you also once walked, when you were habitually living in them [without the knowledge of Christ]. 8 But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self—   11 a renewal in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [nor between nations whether] [c] barbarian or [d] Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all [so believers are equal in Christ, without distinction].  Colossians 3:1-11.
In prayer this morning I ask the Holy Spirit what I could write to be helpful.   I Pray that it works and helps you to have faith to put more of your life into HIS Kingdom rather than wasted on the stuff of this very temporary life and world.
 
Yours, in HIS great Love and wonderful grace & mercy,   Ken<><   www.OhanaChurch.Life  
 
                       There is but one CHURCH of Christ Jesus as LORD.   
               All who Love, Honor & Obey HIM are eternal members             

PERFECTION

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PERFECTION      “WORTH CONSIDERING”         6/25/22
    
Today’s Scripture (From a church in Texas.)
So he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.  Psalm 106:23, NIV
    
Be a Gap Stander
Today’s Scripture describes a time after God had delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, then miraculously parted the Red Sea and gave them food and water in the desert. Despite all He had done for them, they started worshiping a golden calf along with partying and being immoral. God was so angry that He would have destroyed them had not Moses fasted and prayed, asking God to have mercy on the Israelites. Because one man stood in the breach for them, God changed His mind and spared their lives.  Why don’t you do as Moses did and stand in the gap for family, friends, and coworkers who are off course and making poor choices. They know better, but they’re doing wrong anyway. It’s easy to stand in judgment against them and write them off. But you can be the one who makes a difference. Live your life as a gap stander. Be a people lifter. Make it your mission to take time every day to help pray people into their destiny.
    
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I can stand in the gap for the people in my life who are making poor choices and doing wrong. Thank You that I can cover them in prayer and ask You to be merciful to them. I will make it my mission to pray for them every day and see them reach their destiny. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ken’s Notes:
Sounds good, does it not?   Some truth but mixed with fiction, like some of our watered down vain messages of today.  First off, Our Creator God has an absolute perfect FOREKNOWLEDGE.  Jesus was already in prophesy in Gen. 3:15, Psa. 22 and in Acts2:23 so even prior to the universe being created, our Creator God knew what it would cost for or redemption.   With Abraham, God already knew what Abraham would do and had the sacrifice already caught in the brush for the offering.  But Abraham had to do it.  We are often shown where we are by our Creator in order for us to grow up in Him.  Sometimes it is our disobedience.  Sometimes our need to grow in faith, With Moses, his obedience to God’s word in the details.   To not add to what God has said.   God told Moses to speak to the rock for water as we need to speak to Jesus, Isa. 28 for living water.  But Moses to demonstrate his anger hit the rock a couple of times and destroyed the object lesson.   Numbers 20:1-13 give us a picture of the heart of Moses that God wanted to change and was prophetic of the power of God becoming the Word of God in Christ Jesus.    For this vanity he did not get to go into the Promised Land that he had spent 40 years of his life pushing a difficult people to find there way into.  Joshua and Caleb guided them in.   Moses was taken up on the mountain and buried.      Our Creator God never has to change HIS mind.

All through the Old Testament we see the “WORDS of GOD’S Perfect Foreknowledge, over and over God tells us what HE is going to do prior to it coming to pass.  HE knew before the first atom was created out of HIS unlimited energy that I would be sharing this with you today.   He already knows who HIS elect will be, but we don’t.   We are called to finish our course, learn what we can and endure or enjoy HIS Grace until the end of our life to graduate into HIS kingdom for our sakes.   For rewards and judgments to be valid they must be done in freewill.  For love to be valid, it must be totally of freewill.  If manipulated, then only a robot and invalid.   Thus our Temporary Body in a temporary dimension of time.

Our Creator God is helping us to learn to become like Jesus, Eph.4:11.   Please read to verse 16 and notice that the process is of GOD is to make us perfect in HIM.  If you are not open to the Holy Spirit changing you, you could become one of the foolish virgins in Matt.25.10-13.

OK, so I had pneumonia for about a month and now OK, P.T.L.   Still need to go through some healing for the bronchitis over the next few weeks, sure glad that is over.  And I learned that I need to take better care of my old house.  If you are really a Christian then you are also in a process of learning how to become like Jesus.   And if you don’t learn by loving faith you can check out Job for what happens otherwise.   You are in a school of sanctification and our Creator God is into making us perfect.  Just like any Good Father for HIS children.  If not, you are not HIS.

Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful Grace and Mercy,   Ken<>< www.OhanaChurch.Life

”More GREAT QUOTES
“We reduce discipleship to a canned program, and so many in the church end up sidelined in a spectator mentality that delegates disciple making to pastors and professionals, ministers and missionaries.” – Francis Chan     “The church is not a theological classroom. It is a conversion,
confession, repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness and sanctification center” – Paul David Tripp       “Discipleship isn´t a program or an event; it´s a way of life. It´s not for a limited time, but for our whole life. Discipleship isn´t for beginners alone; it´s for all believers for every day of their life.   Discipleship isn´t just one of the things the church does; it is what the church does.” -Bill Hull     “Only a disciple can make a disciple.”- A. W. Tozer     “Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self…” -C.S. Lewis     “When the church becomes an end in itself, it ends… When small groups ministry becomes an end in itself, it ends. When the worship service becomes an end in itself, it ends. What we need is for discipleship to become the goal, and then the process never ends. The process is fluid. It is moving. It is active. It is a living thing. It must continue to go on. Every disciple must make disciples.”  – Robby Gallaty,     “Thriving churches have the Great Commission as the centerpiece of their vision, while dying churches have forgotten the clear command of Christ.” – Thom S. Rainer,      “Most people in America, when they are exposed to the Christian faith, are not being transformed. They take one step into the door, and the journey ends. They are not being allowed, encouraged,  or equipped to love or to think like Christ. Yet in many ways a focus on spiritual formation fits what a new generation is really seeking. Transformation is a process, a journey, not a one-time decision.” – David Kinnaman

There is but ONE Church of Christ Jesus as LORD on Earth,
All who Love, Honor & Obey HIM are Eternal Members.

STORMS

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STORMS         “WORTH CONSIDERING”       6/20/22
His wife said, “Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and be done with it!”  Job 2:9, MSG

Storms   ( Received from a church in Texas today.)
When Job and his wife went through a series of very painful losses, and then Job suffered a crushing illness, instead of encouraging Job, she said, “Job, you’ve always done the right thing, and see what you get. Just curse God and give up.” Fortunately, even though he didn’t understand why it had happened, Job knew better than to make judgments based on one season of his life. He declared that God’s favor had been on his life, and that this storm was not permanent. By faith, Job weathered the great storm and eventually came out of it with double and lived a long, blessed life.   Every person has unfair, painful seasons. But you have to remind yourself that it’s just a season. It’s not the rest of your life. Don’t make a judgment based on a betrayal or a setback that’s temporary. Don’t give up on your dreams, lose your passion, or live bitter. The storm may be difficult, but what God is about to do is going to supersede anything you’ve ever seen.
    
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that the unfair, painful seasons, when I don’t understand why something is going wrong, are only for a season of my life. Thank You that the storms are temporary. I believe that Your favor will shine again, and You will supersede anything I’ve seen You do before. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Comments,
The above sort of kicked me in the butt today.   Going through a surprise divorce,   Caught walking pneumonia so difficult to get a good nights sleep, on antibiotics, which I hate and the last night pulled a ligament in my left shoulder which is very painful and make is difficult to use my left arm.  But you know,   God’s love is still here, Jesus is still on the Throne and all is well, this too shall pass and cause me to grow spiritually in the process if I don’t get into bitterness and resentment that could sink my boat.

Interesting story Job, actually the oldest book we have in our Bible as I understand it.  Seems Job was written about 2200 BC about the same time period as Abraham, Lot & Isaac.• He lived to marry and become “one of the greatest of all the men in the east (Job 1:3).
• He lived long enough to have sired ten children (Job 1:2).
• His children were old enough to have their own homes (Job 1:4, 13).
• After his tragic loss of everything, he lived long enough to father ten more children and amass even greater wealth (Job 42:10–13).
• He lived an additional 140 years after “all these things,” seeing his children and grandchildren to four generations (Job 42:16–17).   The Alexandrian Septuagint contains an addition to Job 42:16 stating that Job died at the age of 240.

In the story God ask satan what he had been up to….  Satan replied, “checking out the earth.”  And then God said a surprising thing, ““Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].”   Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not put a hedge [of protection] around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands [and conferred prosperity and happiness upon him], and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But put forth Your hand now and touch (destroy) all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that Job has is in your power, only do not put your hand on the man himself.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.   And we know the story, Job lost everything, his children, his wealth and his children.    So why did God do this?  It really does not sound like the God of the Sunday morning sermon, does it?  And if not true why still in our Bible?  

You will find the key over in Job 3:25-26:   ““For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me,
And that of which I am afraid has come upon me.  “I am not at ease, nor am I quiet,  And I am not at rest, and yet trouble still comes [upon me].”

It appears that Job was not enjoying the abundance of what God had given him and was very fearful that he would loose his wealth, children and health.   He was even offering sacrifices for he children in case they might have sinned.   And the more God Blessed Job, the more fearful he became.   So my understanding is that God allowed satan to strip Job so that Job would learn not to fear, as in Chapter 1:21 Job clues in his readers as to what this story is about.   Job.1:21,   “He said, “Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  And we see in Job 42:10 where when Job accepted all that had happen to him as being allowed by God and gave up any bitterness or resentments for his friends, it was over.  “The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

So the lessons from Job concerning the down times in our lives as for us is to consider them from God to help us grow spiritually.   So to not get into fear as God has not given us the spirit of fear but of Love, Power and a Sound Mind, 2 Tim.1:7.     And to not to harbor any bitterness, resentments or unforgiveness,   but to fully trust in God for the outcome to be good for those who are called according to HIS purpose,  Rom. 8:28.

Another, sort of humorous,  thought about this whole event was that Job had no fear concerning his wife, so she seemed to be mostly excluded from what Job went through.  Of course she gave him some very bad advice.

Thank you for your prayers, not out of the woods yet.  But trying to take Job’s lessons to heart.

Yours, In HIS great Love and wonderful Grace and Mercy, Ken,<>< www.OhanaChurch.Life

There is but ONE Church of Christ Jesus as LORD,
All who Love, Honor & Obey HIM are eternal members.

Worthy Brief <worthybrief@worthynetwork.com&gt;   (World news from a Christian Perspective.)

TESTIMONY

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TESTIMONY   “WORTH CONSIDERING”     6/18/22     

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives.   We can do nothing about yesterday and most of our plans for tomorrow will never happen.   Not only that but our earthly  life time is less than a second in the light of the fact that our Creator has given each of us an eternal soul.   But unfortunately you and I were born spiritually disconnected or dead in the pride and rebellion of Adam.   That is why Jesus was sent to save us, if we want Him to, and if so,  our understanding what Jesus said in John 3 is so very important.   It is obvious as the body in which we now live that it  is only good for a very short time,  considering eternity.   And why would the Creator want to  give us another body unless we line up with HIS commandments while in this temporary body?  And what does not having a new body look like for an eternal soul, Jude 13.

Speaking to the Pharisee, Nicodemus….Jesus said,  ”I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.” …“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior & Lord] shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one  has been convicted and sentenced], because [b] he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].

So from a Biblical perspective our solar system was created for the purpose of being the placenta for the birth of the Family of God, then to be recycled.   Jesus being the 1st of the new eternal God/Man species.   And the 1st of many to follow,  if they join in HIM.   John 10:7,   “So Jesus said again, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am [a] the Door for the sheep [leading to life]. 8 All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them.   Luke 13:23-25, “And someone asked Him, “Lord, will only a few be saved [from the penalties of the last judgment]?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]; for many, I tell you, will try to enter [by their own works] and will not be able.   25 Once the head of the house gets up and closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door [again and again], saying, ‘Lord, open to us!’ then He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you are from [for you are not of My household].’

Much of our evaluation of ourselves and others seems now,  to be on the basis of works.   In fact the art of self evaluation and our personal elevation of ourselves among friends and others seems a main factor in our conversations.   One guy that I remember in giving his testimony about Jesus used the word “I” about 150 times,  I actually counted.   It was a long testimony basically only about him for personal elevation and pride and not about Jesus much at all.

In Rev. 12:11 we are reminded of what our testimony should be: “And they overcame and conquered him (lucifer) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. “

So the testimony was all about Jesus, and HIM giving his life for us and our willingness to follow and obey HIM as Lord even if it might mean  physical death to us.   Nothing about any good works from us.   He is the only foundation for our salvation.   What we do because we love HIM will  have  nothing at all to do with our being saved.   It is our relationship with HIM alone that saves us.   What we do for HIM as built upon His foundation will come up later for rewards as in 1 Cor. 3:11-15,   In fact in 1 Cor.1:19-31 it shows  very clearly that our only testimony should be Jesus or none at all.   Not our Church, not our minister, not about ourselves.   “ For it is written and forever remains written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise [the philosophy of the philosophers],   And the cleverness of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify.”   20 Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? 21 For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the [a] foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior& Lord]. 22 For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense], 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].  26 Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many of high and noble birth. 27 But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]. 28 God has selected [for His purpose] the insignificant (base) things of the world, and the things that are despised and treated with contempt, [even] the things that are nothing, so that He might reduce to nothing the things that are, 29 so that no one may [be able to] boast in the presence of God. 30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin], 31 so then, as it is written [in Scripture], “He who boasts and glories, let him boast and glory in the Lord.”

I use to preach this to Hippies to show them that they were well qualified to become Christians…   That they were exactly what their Creator was looking for to make Christ Jesus as their LORD & Savior.   Really experienced a lot of God’s Grace when so preached.

Yours in HIS great Love & wonderful Grace & Mercy,     Ken<><      www.OhanaChurch.Life

Thanks for your prayers for me, 3rd day antibiotics, still on the endangered species list.

TIME & ETERNITY

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TIME  &  ETERNITY,     “WORTH CONSIDERING”    6/14/22

We grow up in a world of clocks and means of telling time.   When on the farm as a kid, it was not that important.   We saved lamp oil by going to bed around 8 and then early choirs began about 4 in the morning.   I don’t remember anyone having a watch.   Lunch time was easy, hunger and the sun was not making and east or west shadows.  But down town the folks had bells, whistles and time clocks to keep every one on track.  And you could set your pocket watch by the train if you had one.   One of my kids gave me a pocket watch to remind me that she loved me all of the time.   I still have an old family gold pocket watch.   

So in our little world, we are comfortable feeling we know what time it is at just about any time of the day.   I have a wrist watch and watch in my cell phone, at the bottom of my computer, at the top of my bed side just push the button and it lights up at night with the time.  Also there is a clock on the stove and on the TV and we are pretty secure in our little bubble of time.   But did you know that one day, our need of time will cease and time will be no more value.  So let’s take a look as God’s dimension concerning time:

Isa. 65:17,   “ “Behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth;  And the former things [of life] will not be remembered or come to mind.“     Rev. 21:4,   “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow and anguish, or crying, or pain; for the former order of things has passed away.”  

Actually, seems to me, that the need for time is the result of there being a need for death (due to pride and rebellion) and the need for communications to get anything thing done by gathering at the same time.    So in the ultimate eternal Kingdom of our Creator with no death and with perfect spiritual communications, the need for time would cease to be needed or even exist.  The concept of time was created for humanity by God in Genesis 1:14-19. However, God is love, spirit and light (1 John 4:8, 16; John 4:23-24; 1 John 1:5) and therefore, exists in/at the speed of light or beyond.  God is timeless in the sense of being outside of time altogether; that is, he exists but does not need to exist at any point in time.   The time process on earth is set up for us to have the opportunity to lean to be perfected to life with HIM in HIS dimension of timelessness.   Jesus is the first of a new eternal species and the door has been opened for us to join HIM if living in righteousness is our comfort zone.

God has given us this gym for a limited time on earth to secure some spiritual muscles if we will go for it.   But it is locked down in time so that the rebellion and pride will be contained and not contaminate the other aspects of HIS creation.   We are in a hot house of spiritual growth to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit to become like Jesus, if we are up for it.    And if we do, we will get a new eternal spiritual body to be able to live with our Creator in righteousness for eternity in HIS dimension of timelessness.   If we don’t then no new body, in fact, an eternal soul, with no body at all

In the resurrection of Christ Jesus on that very early Sunday morning Jesus went to the 3rd Heaven and back on the same day,   John 20:19 and extended God loving grace of salvation to his disciples, John 20:22.  Eight days later Jesus appeared in a locked door room with HIS disciples to bring salvation to Thomas, John 20:27-29.  This was the first time in four thousand years that salvation was a valid experience.  The sacrifice had been paid, it was a done deal but then it was only the beginning of the process of sanctification and perfecting to help us become like Jesus.  And as God never violates our freewill we always will have the choice of returning to the things of this world.   We are daily faced with the choice of either Jesus being Lord and feeding on those things which are spiritual and eternal.   Or we can feed on the things of this world where our flesh nature from Adam is more comfortable, Rom.7-8.   Who you feed, will eventually become your god or boss.  Often our conversation with family or friends and mostly about this world.   This is due to the Word of God being so corrupted with vain (prideful) traditions that it seems powerless and boring just like Paul Prophesied in 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

So I am in the quest for other souls out there who are really wanting to learn and grow with me into being like Jesus.   It seems to me that if a dozen souls came together in the John 17:20-26 unity that Jesus prayed for.   And we could see Jesus lifted up and the Holy Spirit confirming the Word of God with POWER.   Then the Book of Acts come alive again and gatherings would be powerful and difficult to find the space to gather.

Over the last week I have been experiencing the flue, difficult at my age.   Prayed for myself, others prayed for me, not much power in the church today????  If you notice in John 17:22, Jesus prayed, “ I have given to them (church) the glory (power) and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one;  I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me.   Of course the word Glory in the Bible means POWER,   John 2:11.   So where is the POWER that we need to bring the world to Jesus as LORD as Jesus prayed to begin with: “I do not pray for these alone [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their message, 21 that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me.

Seems to me that in the divided theater church of today we are happy to tell folks that they are OK just as they are.   Don’t make waves about differences and division.   Let’s just agree to disagree and let the LORD fix it later.   After all unity and power are not really that important.  And if we really focused on Unity and Power we would probably loose some of our membership.     Better a bit of compromise and be able to pay our church bills so to have a nice church and be comfortable on Sunday mornings.   We are here for a short time to help the world find Jesus as LORD and to get ready for the big move to live with our Creator for eternity.   Let’s get with it.    Only God’s TRUTH can give us power and set us free.   2 Tim. 3:5,   take a look…

Yours in HIS great Love & wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><   www.OhanaChurch.Life

There is but ONE Church of Christ Jesus as LORD,
All who Love, Honor and Obey HIM are eternal members

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/does-time-exist-182965/

JESUS, Son of man

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JESUS, Son of Man    “WORTH CONSIDERING”   6/11/99        From Ken Smith

In really understanding the Word of God about Jesus we must first realize that we are quarantined in a time dimension so we experience a past, present and future.   Whereas our Creator God lives in a timeless dimension with an absolute foreknowledge of all things, past, present and future.   So our Creator God knows exactly who HIS ELECT ARE even in the process of sanctification but we don’t and are going through the process, or not, of becoming HIS ELECT.  As an Architect the plans are already drawn but the building is now in progress.  He knows who HIS Elect are but we don’t.  Our Creator knew before the beginning of any creation what would come of what HE was creating.   He knew what Adam would do and what Jesus would do.  And in order for there to be responsibility and love there also  had to be absolute freewill in our dimension of time so that all would be valid without any manipulation.   So could Jesus have sinned, YES!   as otherwise nothing that HE did would undue what Adam did.   So we see the process, but God already sees the completion.  For God, Isa. 9:6 was done but for us, we are observing the process.  Much to yet happen in Rev. 19-22 which in time, yet to happen but from God’s perspective a done deal.  But can GOD sin, NO!,  a thing HE can not do.  Nor can HE be tempted, nor can HE die.  

In Luke 4:18 & Isa. 61, Jesus noted that God’s Spirit would be UPON HIM.   So as a Prophet of God, sometimes it was Jesus speaking and sometimes it was the Word of God speaking through HIM.  Moses prophesied that HE would be, “like him” Deut. 18:14, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a [a] prophet like me [Moses] from among you, from your countrymen (brothers, brethren). You shall listen to him.“   In Gen.  Moses also wrote about Jesus.  Gen.3:15, “And I will put enmity (open hostility) Between you and the woman, And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, And you shall [only] bruise His heel.”   

So when Jesus came in HIS fist advent He was a man whom God could speak clearly though or was HE actually the WORD OF GOD in the form of Flesh or both?    I was taught the latter, but now beginning to focus on the former.   More and more I am draw to the fact that except for the curse due to Adam’s rebellion, Jesus was just like Adam in HIS first 30 yrs.  That Jesus was totally limited to the same resources that are now available for us, today.   Only HE always choose to walk in the LIGHT.   Isa.52:13, “Indeed, My Servant (the Messiah) will act wisely and prosper;  He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted.”   Notice here that Jesus  had a free will as also did Adam.  Isa. 53:2, “For He [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender shoot (plant), And like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form or majestic splendor That we would look at Him, Nor [handsome] appearance that we would [a] be attracted to Him…  He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or esteem Him.”
 
1 Cor. 15:45:  So it is written [in Scripture], “The first man, Adam, became a living soul (an individual);” the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life].   Romans 5:15:  But the free gift [of God] is not like the trespass [because the gift of grace overwhelms the fall of man]. For if many died by one man’s trespass [Adam’s sin], much more [abundantly] did God’s grace and the gift [that comes] by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to [benefit] the many.    Rom. 5:18: “So then as through one trespass [Adam’s sin] there resulted condemnation for all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.”

If when Jesus was born HE was the Word of GOD, then HE would have known everything as being GOD.  But did Jesus know everything?  Or was HE a prophet, speaking for the Word of God, perfectly?   Jesus, “Son of Man.”     Matt. 24:36, ““But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone.”     Luke 22:41-43,  And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.”     Mark 15:34, “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”    John 4:54:  “If I glorify Myself, My glory is [worth] nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me.”     Heb. 5:8-9, Although He was a Son [who had never been disobedient to the Father], He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect [uniquely equipped and prepared as Savior and retaining His integrity amid opposition], He became the source of eternal salvation [an eternal inheritance] to all those who obey Him,

So, for me, I am persuaded that Jesus, as the 2nd Adam was body, soul and spirit the same as us except HIS birth was a new start and not contaminated by Adam’s sin.  Obviously he grew up having access to and loving the Old Testament Scriptures which contained all of the Messianic Prophesies.  By faith HE came to realize that HE was that “Lamb of God” mentioned in Holy Scripture and began HIS ministry at age 30, receiving the Power of God for what needed to be done for the salvation of mankind.   In HIS death and resurrection that power was given to HIM and now to HIS Church.    And in Rev. 1, 4, & 19 we see the completed work of God in making man (Jesus)  into HIS Image and Likeness, Gen.1:26.  Jesus is now the 1st Born of the New Creation (Species) that is now totally man and totally GOD as in 1 John 5:5-9, “Who is the one who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 This is He who came through water (body) and blood (soul) [His baptism and death], Jesus Christ—not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. It is the [Holy] Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [He is the essence and origin of truth itself.] 7 For there are three witnesses: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three are in agreement [their testimony is perfectly consistent]. 9 If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [that is, if we are willing to take the sworn statements of fallible humans as evidence], the testimony of God is greater [far more authoritative]; for this is the testimony of God, that He has testified regarding His Son.  1 John 4:17, “In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.”     So we have available to us every resource that Jesus had and more with also the Holy Spirit to join in the family of God.  But the requirement is to be willing to change to become like Jesus.   I could write a book on this but I tried to stay within a couple of pages….   But for me, this new understanding has a great impact concerning my motivation & faith to seek to become like HIM.

Yours in HIS great love and wonderful Grace & Mercy,    Ken@Trinity-Aloha.org

WORD OF GOD

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WORD OF GOD     “WORTH CONSIDERING”   5/29/22     From Ken<><

Today’s Scripture  (From a ministry in Texas.)
Give to everyone what you owe them…if honor, then honor. Romans 13:7, NIV
    
Give Honor,  in the Old Testament, God commanded His people to put down “memorial stones” as reminders of past national victories. Every time they or future generations passed by a memorial, they would remember the mighty things God had done and honor the people who gave their lives for others. All throughout the Scripture, we see that God blesses an attitude of honor. To show honor simply means that you give respect and recognition to others with your attitude, actions, and words.

Today, we recognize Memorial Day as a time when we honor all the brave men and women who have given their lives in service for this country. As we remember them, let’s honor the gift of freedom they have given us by saying thank you with our actions and choosing to love and honor others. Let’s also honor all those who are serving in our armed forces and their families who are sacrificing so much today. Let’s pray for God’s peace, protection, and provision over every area of their lives.
    
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for this special day to honor the men and women who have given their lives to secure and keep our freedom as a nation. Thank You that You are with our soldiers and their families wherever they go. Protect and provide for them, and help them to know Your peace that passes understanding. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Often, the Truth of God, comes to us in many ways.    We watched the old film “Legend” again last night with a very young Tom Cruse and I was amazed at how much Biblical doctrine I found this time woven into the story line.   And how very dark the film was in exposing the deceits of this world.

Many times the Truth of God comes through God’s Creation, our friends, a message in Church,   or even the very quiet voice of the Holy Spirit or the Word of God and is worth much Honor.  What we have difficulty in learning is the path of God may be “straight” but it does have hills and valleys in it.   What we know to do may take time to become part of us so that we really begin to do what we know to do.   Apostle Paul wrote about this in Rom. 7: 24-25,” For I joyfully delight in the law of God in my inner self [with my new nature], 23 but I see a different law and rule of action in the members of my body [in its appetites and desires], waging war against the law of my mind and subduing me and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is within my members.”   But then Paul shares the Victory in Rom. 8:12-13.  “So then, [a]brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]— 13 for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live.”   So here we see we are responsible to find the Great and Precious Promises of God and infuse our life with them and thus enjoy the victory.  Rom.8:28-39.  So the walk in the Holy Spirit requires for us to get 100% serious about finding and learning to Keep the commandments of God through Christ Jesus the LORD.   And it takes time for what we know in our heads to settle into our heart of hearts to really become a part of us.   We know this to be true in our lives when our little sponge gets squeezed and out comes Jesus.  When I got out of the Army, half of my communication skills were profanity.  Even at dinner with my mother it would sometimes spill over.  And it was always a issue just near the top.  But after being baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1968 things started to change in my life.   One day I was running full bore around my dozer and ran into the tread with my right knee cap and it spattered me on the cement floor in my shop.  And out came the words, “Praise The LORD” & “”Thank you Jesus and needless to say, I was shocked.  The pain left immediately and I became aware of the work of the Holy Spirit in my heart in the process of sanctification or to make holy.  I went away in the joy of the Lord for many days over that.  My heart had been changed by God’s Grace in something that it seemed that I would never be able to change in myself.  So as we generate faith by digesting the Word of God and in faith believe in HIS Precious Promises we become like HIM through HIS power.   1 John 4:17, “ In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.”

And this is what this temporary dimension of time is all about.   It is a gift from God for us to find HIM and to become like HIM so that we could enjoy living with HIM if we want to.  But it means that we need to become spiritually minded as HE is as per HIS vision in Gen. 1:26.

Yours, in HIS great Love and wonderful Grace & Mercy,   Ken<><   OhanaChurch.Life
( Add / Delete, OhanaChurch@ProtonMe “Worth Considering” library link, Homepage.)

There is but One CHURCH of Christ Jesus as LORD,
All who Love, Honor & Obey HIM are eternal members.

More INSPIRING QUOTES:    “Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.” – B. Graham     “Adversity is the diamond dust heaven polishes its jewels with.”- Robert Leighton     “If we cannot believe God when circumstances seem be against us, we do not believe Him at all.” Charles Spurgeon     “Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of.” – Charles Spurgeon     “Adversity is not simply a tool. It is God’s most effective tool for the advancement of our spiritual lives. The circumstances and events that we see as setbacks are oftentimes the very things that launch us into periods of intense spiritual growth. Once we begin to understand this, and accept it as a spiritual fact of life, adversity becomes easier to bear.”- Charles Stanley     “You will never find Jesus so precious as when the world is one vast howling wilderness. Then he is like a rose blooming in the midst of the desolation, a rock rising above the storm.”- Robert Murray McCheyne     “If we are intended for great ends, we are called to great hazards.”- John Henry Newman     “Circumstances which we have resented, situations which we have found desperately difficult, have all been the means in the hands of God of driving the nails into the self-life which so easily complains.”- Alan Redpath.