REALITY CHECK:     “WORTH CONSIDERING”    3/7/20     by Ken Smith<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org

Ken’s thoughts on Saturday:

In spending some time with the LORD today and going over some issues.   My wife thinks I am a hoarder…. perhaps she is right?   I saw a couple of end table in the Salvation store yesterday that in the dim light of the store like like they could work for our Wwoofer accommodations… (Trade of board and room for 24 hours help with the place each week.)   But in loading them they looks worse then in the store and by the time I unloaded them at home in the sun light,  I could see I had bought a lot of work for $15.   But my dear wife went ballistic and forgot all about 1 Cor. 13. and claimed up in her room.  By this time my daughter Cindy was saying she would like to have one of them in her room.  So now caught in the cross fire.   So I sneaked out when all were hiding in their rooms and took the end tables to the dump.  So I lost a little time and $15. bucks to have some peace,  I hope.  It is not all over as yet.

But as I was musing over the situation the  Holy Spirit started talking to me about how we see things in the physical world but really don’t see them.  We see a picture in our brain that our brain creates for us out of what information that it collects through our 5  physical senses.  If my brain did not have that input I would have no idea what was out there.

The the Holy Spirit started sharing that learning to walk in the Spirit is like that.   We become born spiritually from above by trusting Jesus to be our LORD.  Then there is a need to train our eyes, ears, touch, taste and feel gates to see things in the Spiritual world.  At first we only know that we are hungry, dirty, tired and need help.   Then we start to hear and to see those who love us.  And as we grow spiritual we start to learn humility and obedience perhaps or perhaps not.   But that this Spiritual world has to become as real to us as our physical world or nothing gets changed.  And by the time we die we need to really be secure in that world or we could miss the boat.  It only took a few minutes for the thief on the cross to see and join God’s Spiritual world.   Others it may take a life time.  The parable of the 4 soils of Jesus gives us a way to understand this.   What kind of soil are you and me?  Only the deep, weed free soil produced fruit.   And what ever did not bear fruit after it’s kind was taken and burned.

So it is by faith that we need to learn to live in God’s Spiritual world and it comes by repeatedly listening to the Word of God.  A great evangelist of the past,  Smith Wigglesworth once said he never read anything but the Holy Bible to be able to keep on track.   Today very few folks stay close to the Bible, especially the New Testament,  and they get lost in the thoughts of those who seem sometimes to be trying to build their own little ivory towers for their own ego.  So if you are not in a disciplined discipleship quest to learn to be like Jesus you are wasting your time and money.  All through the New Testament we are challenged to learn to become like Jesus.  We are challenged to learn what HE taught and to learn how to also make it happen in our lives.  And also we are taught to enjoy teaching when we find others who may become interested as they see we have also become both salt and light in being with Jesus.  And that our real family are only those who are in obedience to Christ Jesus as LORD.   It is a brand new existence that we are invited to experience and to learn how to live in.  James teaches that if we learn to have real faith then we will also have real spiritual results.

Yours, In HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org

Some interesting quotes from the past:

"Isn't it staggering when you think that one sermon on the day   of Pentecost produced 3000 people? And we had some cities   yesterday where 3000 sermons were preached and nobody was   saved. And it doesn't even faze us."  -Leonard Ravenhill

"If you have no wish to bring others to heaven, you are not going  there yourself."  -C.H. Spurgeon    "Aspire to be something more than the mass of church members.   Lift up your cry to God and beseech him to fire you with a nobler   ambition than that which possesses the common Christian-that   you may be found faithful unto God at the last, and may win many   crowns for your Lord and Master, Christ."  -C.H. Spurgeon    "for all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's."  (Philippians 2:21).    "For what is your life?..." (James 4:14a)    "Can we go too fast in saving souls? If anyone still wants a reply,  let him ask the lost souls in Hell."  -William Booth    "There is nothing little in God."  -C.H. Spurgeon    "In the New Testament church it says they were all amazed -   And now in our churches everybody wants to be amused."  -Leonard Ravenhill.

ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,   Beloved of God and me,   John 3:16-18,  Rom. 10:9-10

SCARS,   “WORTH CONSIDERING”    3/5/19,   by Ken Smith
    
Today’s Scripture   (In my mailbox this morning.)
“As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!” (John 20:20, NLT)

Be at Peace with Your Scars
We all carry invisible scars that come from inner wounds—perhaps from a divorce, from what somebody did, from a mistake we made, from a loss. So often we try to hide our scars. They remind us of the hurt. But you can be at peace with your scars. Those scars are your testimony; they tell your story. Instead of being depressed over what you’ve been through, have a new perspective—the enemy tried to stop you, but God brought you through it, healed you, and you have a scar to prove it. The scars can remind you of His grace and power.

Jesus’ back was lashed with thirty-nine stripes and His hands and feet and side were pierced. When He rose from the dead, you would think He would be perfectly restored, but He still had scars. This was significant. God could have taken them away. Maybe, in part, it was to show us that it’s okay to have scars.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I worship a Savior who has scars. Since He has scars, I’m okay with my scars. I’m not going to live bitter because of a disappointment, or in regret over past mistakes, or go around sour because somebody did me wrong. I’m at peace with my scars. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken Thoughts:
The key for true sanctification is to see Jesus in His lifetime on earth as one of us except for the Adamic sin nature which we all inherited from Adam but not Jesus.  And He is the key for us in dumping our Adamic sin nature and becoming like HIM.

That our sin nature was not our fault and HE showed us that we, in HIM could be free of it.  That we could decide to change our citizenship from being the children of Adam to being the children of God in Christ Jesus.  That He made the way for us to have total restoration to the original vision of our Creator, scars and all,  to be made in HIS Image and likeness.   That Jesus was the 1st born of many and that we also have been invited to fulfill our original created destiny.   That it is by/through the great and precious promises that we may become partakers of GOD’S divine nature through faith.  That where there is no vision the people perish.  We need to have that Vision of God’s perfection for us restored in real time faith to our hearts.  To be able to have that ultimate victory over sin, we must first deeply believe that it is possible.

Jesus was not deified until after He had overcome the world and even the Cross.   That the Son of Man, Son of God, Second Adam was/is like us during His journey on earth but even brought every thought into the captivity of the Holy Spirit. He was tempted like us in all thing, yet without sin.  Because of His victory He is now in the very likeness and Image of God.    And that God our Heavenly Father wants to give us the same grace, if we want it, to overcome and walk in True Freedom,  Rom.8.

So what we are teaching is pure Bible and has nothing to do with anything but Christ Jesus the anointed one in whose steps we can follow,  if we want to,  and we need to get the vision for it in our heart of hearts.  This is not a mind game.  The Vision must become a core part of us.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  It is the battle of John 12:24-26.  It is the unity of John 17: 20-26  It is the insistence of Eph.4:11-16 and ends in 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.”           1 John 4:17.

With the onset of the present pandemic it seems obvious that we are now entering into the pre-curser upheaval heading towards the great tribulation…  The prophesy of Jesus in Matt.24-25,  Mark 13 & Luke 21 lays it out for us.   We are heading into the time of trouble where many fall away,  there is a great harvest,  and in the folowing time of false peace we (The Church) go home, victorious. 1 Cor. 15:12-28,  1 Thess. 4:13-18,  2 Thess.2:3-8

Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,  Ken<><
 

California governor declares state of emergency after coronavirus deaths.  The US death toll from coronavirus infections rose to 11 on Wednesday as new cases emerged around New York City and Los Angeles, while Seattle-area health officials sought to allay anxiety amid the nation’s largest outbreak.

Coronavirus, (Note.)
It seems to me that this pandemic is just getting started and it may be confirmed by what Jesus taught us.
It could be a petulance as outlined in Matt.24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21.  It may be the beginning of sorrows and there will be a great falling away, The Church will become Sanctified, Then there will then be a great harvest of souls into God’s Kingdom, A time of false peace and then the Victorious Church of Christ Jesus will be taken home. 

I would suggest that you become as self contained as possible and stock supplies for about 6 months + plus garden seeds.  It is amazing the amount of food you can grow in a very small area with the right preparations + sun and water.  Wick/Gutter system watering makes watering and plant care a snap.  But from the time you plant to table is around 4 months.  So if the Islands fall under a quarantine, without Costco, things could become very difficult.  And that is sure to happen.

Also seek to have your immune system supported as much as possible.  The death rate of the virus is about 3 % of those who contact it.   But the mess it will cause in our economy with be horrendous.   Our national economy has already seen about a 20% reduction and it is just getting started.

ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God and me,   John 3:16-18

FREEDOM:    “WORTH CONSIDERING”    3/3/20   by Ken Smith<><
     
Today’s Scripture
“…The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me…to proclaim liberty to the captives and…to set at liberty those who are oppressed…”  (Luke 4:18, NKJV)

Liberty to the Captives
If we’re not careful to develop a freedom mindset, having a bondage mindset will become normal to us. We’ll accept that it’s normal to be hot-tempered, it’s normal to live depressed and negative, it’s normal to struggle and not get any good breaks, it’s normal to have bad relationships. That’s not normal. That’s a chain that restricts your movement, that limits your ability. You are made in the image of Almighty God. You have seeds of greatness. You were created to be free, to be happy, to accomplish dreams—not to get by in life, but to excel. Don’t let a chain that binds you become normal.

Jesus came announcing freedom, announcing that the chains that are restricting you are being broken. Now it’s up to you to receive it. The chain breaker, the Most High God is working in your life right now. Your day of freedom has come. Get ready for favor in new ways. Start living from a freedom mindset.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are the Most High God, the chain breaker, who is releasing me into increase, into favor, and into new levels. Thank You that what has hindered me in the past is not going to hinder me anymore. I believe my chains have been broken. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts:
Great subject today, and we need the whole idea and vision.   Jesus after 30 years of being a home boy and oldest of at least 4 boys and 2 girls.  After His empowering of the Holy Spirit and His time of testing He proclaimed His vision in the Synagogue as also prophesied by Isaiah and recorded by Luke.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah),  Because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor.  He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,  To set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy), 19 to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the favor of God abound greatly].”  Luke 4:18-19

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,  Because the Lord has anointed and commissioned me  To bring good news to the humble and afflicted;  He has sent me to bind up [the wounds of] the brokenhearted,  To proclaim release [from confinement and condemnation] to the [physical and spiritual] captives.  And freedom to prisoners,  2  To proclaim [a]the favorable year of the Lord, [b] And the day of vengeance and retribution of our God,  To comfort all who mourn,  3 To grant to those who mourn in Zion the following:  To give them a [c]turban instead of dust [on their heads, a sign of mourning],  The oil of joy instead of mourning,  The garment [expressive] of praise instead of a disheartened spirit.  So they will be called the trees of righteousness [strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with God],  The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.  Isaiah 61:1-3

And so the thoughts come to my mind that we as Christian have been assigned, in Christ Jesus to learn how to do the same thing in bringing Glory to Christ Jesus as LORD as His disciples.  We find that in the Great Commission in Matt.28:19 and all through the New Testament.  That the disciple is under discipline (obedience) to become like the Master and has the God given grace to help in bringing himself and others into the same discipline or discipleship.  1 John 5:17 teaches us that in maturity we will be like our Master in perfection and be able to boldly stand before our Holy Creator in righteousness in the end time of Judgment. And that in our love of God we will love our brethren to the same degree of selfless love while yet in this world.  This is also spelled out in Eph.4:11-16 & John 17:20-26.

Doesn’t seem like many of the Christian Churches of today are really actively fulfilling this initial vision of our LORD.  Seems like most church members are there, hopeful, for fire insurance without really agreeing to make Jesus,  LORD.  True Discipleship means for us to give Christ Jesus all that we have to HIM as LORD and then HE give us His citizenship and a seat at HIS table in this world and also in His coming New Creation of Righteousness.  The details of the agreement of exchange are clearly spelled out in the New Testament as HIS final and validated WILL.   We are to learn to submit our will (totally) under HIS authority in all things 24/7. The Early Church was secure in this His vision of: Truth, Love, Unity and Holiness and God’s Grace and Power confirmed their“born from above” relationship.  Apostle Paul prophesied about our Later Days Church in 2 Tim.3.   Perhaps we need to go back to the basics and find and restore what obviously has been lost?  Acts 5:16                           

ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,   John 3:16

HEALING, DIVINE    “WORTH CONSIDERING”   3/2/20   by Ken Smith<><

Today’s Scripture   (In my mail box this morning.)
“…When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed…”  (Mark 5:27–28, NIV)

Touch Him
He laid His hands on people. But in this case, the woman laid her hands on Jesus. There were other sick people in the crowd that day. Many people with needs bumped up against Jesus and nothing happened, but this lady believed in Him, touched Him, and was healed.

Are you brushing up against Jesus or are you touching Him, so to speak? Are you waiting for God to lay hands on you? Are you living with expectancy, knowing that He’s bigger than your specific problems, or are you discouraged, thinking it will never change? God is passing by. He has all power. Don’t just brush up against Him. Don’t be passive and think you’ll never accomplish your dreams, never start your business, never meet the right person. Your faith can activate God’s power to do amazing things. Do like this woman—touch Him and believe it will happen!

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that my faith and expectancy can be a catalyst for You to do amazing things. Thank You that I can reach out and touch You by faith today. I believe that You are making a way, that things are changing in my favor, and that victory will be mine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
   
Ken’s Thoughts,
Most of us have gone to “church” where there was prayer for the sick and nothing happened.  It was merely a form or ritual that even sometimes caused a loss of faith.  And at times I have been in a ministry where it seemed that whatever was ask of God was granted.  For many years I have been seeking an answer.  And I believe that I have found it.  The difference is heart faith unity in love of God and HIS TRUTH.  When the power of God was very evident it was with a collection of souls who were in John 17 unity and seeking to love and obey Jesus 24/7.   With the other group there seemed a religious compartmental walk and a world compartment walk with unbelief that we could walk with Christ Jesus in the Holy Spirit 24/7 in this world and sin not.  1 John 1:9….

An exception is with the 5 fold ministry as found in the N.T.  I have even seen the unsaved find healing with an evangelist in the Holy Spirit was gathering souls into the Kingdom.  All those healed by Jesus were yet unsaved as well.   His Church did not start until HIS Resurrection, the upper room and Pentecost and the Holy Spirit was sent to save, seal, guide and in-power. 

One of the scriptures that opened the door for me was found in John 17:20-24   “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.  22 I have given to them the glory (power) and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 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.  AMP

The prayers of Jesus will find total and complete fulfillment.

Now this is not the only verse that make it very clear concerning the GLORY (POWER) of GOD is related to our Loving Unity in GOD’S HOLY TRUTH.   In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he says it this way: Eph.4:11-16,   And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], 12 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; 13 until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity]. 14 So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit]. 15 But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ. 16 From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up [a]in [unselfish] love.

But now we are confronted with denominations and divisions and an altered gospel which does match up to the Holy Scriptures.  We have become content to agree to disagree.  We don’t see differences as an opportunity in love to find more of God’s Truth to walk in but more as an attack where pride and defensiveness steps in and causes just another division.  Christ Jesus (Matt.10:34) even deeply warned us about this and does Paul in (2 Tim.3. ) READ THIS !!!!

In context, the New Testament in John defines the word GLORY in John 2:11 as POWER which also could have been used instead of Glory in John 17:22 which could also read that the Church would not have HIS Power and Honor until they found GOD’s Loving Unity in HIS Truth.  The Early Church was walking in that power, read what Luke recorded in: Acts 5:16.  But today it appears we are headed into Matt.24-25, Mark 13 & Luke 21 for the cleansing of the Church.  So we now have the choice of obedience through faith or learning obedience by painful experience.  So until the Body of Christ is obedient in unity, love, truth and humility like Christ Jesus we can expect very little  power to happen in our so call normal church ministry.

Coronavirus News:  South Korea closes churches as coronavirus tally passes 3,700  with many holding online services instead, as authorities fought to rein in public gatherings as new coronavirus infections took the tally to 3,736 cases   The vast majority of Protestant churchgoers in the United States do not attend alone, but rather go with family or friends, according to a new report by LifeWay Research.  Christians Call For Global Day of Prayer to End Coronavirus  A coalition of Christians across denominational lines are uniting to pray for an end to the coronavirus.

ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,   John 3:16-18

GIFTS & BLESSINGS OF GOD,    2/18/20, “WORTH CONSIDERING” by Ken Smith

Today’s Scripture (Across my Desk this morning from Joel.)
“…Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”  (Ephesians 3:20, NIV)

Blessed in the Dark Places
Have you adapted to a limited environment? You have big dreams in your heart. You know there’s a new business in you, a management position, a book, a better house, but you’ve gone as far as your family members and friends have gone in the past. No, don’t settle there.

There is potential in you right now just waiting to come out. You have gifts that will cause new doors to open, talent that will bring new opportunities. Quit making excuses to settle where you are. You may be in a limited environment that includes dysfunction, addictions, and depression. The good news is, you don’t have to stay there. God is saying, “This is a new day. You’re a barrier breaker. I’m going to take you further faster than you’ve imagined. You’re going to defy the odds.” Now do your part. Let this seed take root in your spirit. Don’t talk yourself out of it. Get in agreement with God.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I can get in agreement with You and believe that this is a new day with new doors to open and new opportunities before me. I believe that You are going to do immeasurably more than all I can ask or think. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts:
In other words, REMOVE ALL LIMITATIONS, both real, projected or imaginary.  And to be transparent, many of our so called limitations were given to us by others and projected upon us.

   

18 be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; 19 and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].  20 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super abundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.   Eph.3:18-21  amp
                                            

It is a much much deeper a relationship with our Creator than only a few hours per week.   It is learning to have a  24/7 walk in the fullness of God every hour of every day that brings God blessings.  There is no place where we get to take a detour into the darkness for just a little while and leave God and that HE is cool with our little side adventure into darkness.    He wants to train us in the Holy Spirit to be joyfully walking with HIM 24/7 everyday.  That in each day we learn to yearn for the Holy Spirit to open up God’s blessings for us through our humility and obedience to our Creator in every moment of every day.  That we allow HIM to help us learn to totally avoid the darkness of this world.  The darkness that continues to attack us all the time and yet HE give us HIS victory.  Rom. 8   Jesus was/is also body, soul and spirit and was tempted in all points even as we are.  And because in HIS obedience HE learned  how to have absolute victory. Now HE is also willing to teach us how to do the same thing.  But it means to in humility learn to hear HIS voice and in humility to also learn to become totally obedient.  God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.    Before honor is humility.  These six things the Lord hates;  Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him:   17 A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue,  And hands that shed innocent blood,  18 A heart that creates wicked plans, Feet that run swiftly to evil,  19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths], And one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers. Prov.5:16-20….

Yesterday was an interesting day.   The person who was to assist me in removing 1500# of sand from my truck on Monday, procrastinated each day and it was now Thursday.  So I am driving around with 1500# of sand in back of me.  A quick stop and a big problem.  So I am asking the LORD what to do.  Well the little voice deep in my spirit said load up the trash for the dump?  So now I have a big load on the Truck and was told to take the trash to the dump, not very far away.  Not usually open on Thursday, but it was.   And on the way home to stop at the little Fujihara Store for help with the sand.  So I did and asked the clerk if she knew of anyone?  She did not.  No one else was there?  So got an ice cream bar, my favorite and enjoyed it in my truck.  Turned the key to leave with my sand and a young man comes walking by.  I asked him if he had time to unload the sand for $20. and he said he did and it very nicely done, also cleaning out the truck bed, and hanging a stalk of bananas for me.  He took some bananas & trees home, may be coming to the gathering tonight….  Divine Appointments in the Spirit are really lots of fun for me.   This kind of thing is beginning to happen more and more as I get closer to walking 100% of my time in the Holy Spirit.  Funny thing about walking in the Holy Spirit, if I say NO!, all goes on hold until I change my mind (repent) and then the training or sanctification process continues.  HIS goal, to make us like Jesus….  If we want HIM to?

Christian News:  ‘People running to the altar with no invitation’: Organizers of Tennessee revival hope for nationwide aftershock.  A revival in eastern Tennessee that began last year with a young pastor’s decision to pray and fast for 30 days is expected to reach 100,000 people, and organizers are hoping it will lead to nationwide revival.     Four Wheaton College students who had been banned from preaching in Chicago’s Millennium Park were granted the right to return to their evangelism after a federal court ruled in their favor.     worthybrief@worthynetwork.com