OBEDIENCE

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

OBEDIENCE,   “WORTH CONSIDERING”   2/21/20    By Ken Smith  
    
Today’s Scripture    (In my mailbox this morning.)
“…Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert…”  (Isaiah 35:6,)

Out of Season
There are times when things aren’t going your way, business is down, the medical report isn’t good. It’s not your season. The good news is that God specializes in doing things out of season. He doesn’t wait for the perfect circumstances to line up, for you to have the training, for the right people to believe in you. He does things unexpectedly. He’ll make water pour out in your dry places and cause you to blossom out of season. What happened? God blessed you out of season.

Do you feel out of season as though you’re stuck in some area? Stay encouraged. God has you in the palms of His hands. Get ready for an “out of season” blessing, for an “it’s beyond my imagination” healing, for an “it doesn’t make sense” promotion. God is about to do something unusual, something that’s bigger than you’ve dreamed, where you’re going to say, “Wow, God! I didn’t see that coming!”

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are not limited by seasons or the right conditions to be in place in order for You to do what You want. Thank You that You’re always working behind the scenes on my behalf. I believe that You will bless me out of season. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts:
In my life time I have had both good and bad times, mostly learning what not to do.  But I have never missed a meal unless I wanted to.  Even during the great depression one of my friends father owned a bakery and another the bus line so even as a kid we ate good and had free rides.  But it is not about the stuff, it is about the heart.  Now at 87 my house (body) is getting older…  Last night was tough getting through and the door into eternity is not far away but my heart of hearts is set on Jesus as the WAY, TRUTH & THE LIGHT and I have no fear at all.  Just getting ready for a long beautiful vacation in light.   

Isaiah wrote about this some thousands of years ago.  He wrote:   16 Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not [b]be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic]. 17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the hiding place (the shelter). Isa.28:16-17 And Jesus used this scripture to be about Himself: 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?  Matt.41-43 And apostle Paul goes even further:   And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Eph. 2:20.

So in our life time if we truly trust Jesus as the corner stone of our existence and learn to become truly obedient.  If we allow HIM to restore us, through the Holy Spirit, to our original God created design in Adam before the fall, We shall enjoy an eternity in righteousness living in light with our Creator and finding ourselves in HIS Image and Likeness as did Jesus.   But obedience is one key of many, the disobedient will not be allowed entry.  So have you been to HIS school to learn obedience?  We each are given a special school of obedience.  But it is up to us whether we attend classes or not.  

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

“The only right a Christian has is the right to give up his rights.”  – Oswald Chambers

“If Jesus ever commanded us to do something that He was unable to equip us to accomplish, He would be a liar. And if we make our own inability a stumbling block or an excuse not to be obedient, it means that we are telling God that there is something which He has not yet taken into account.” – Oswald Chambers

“A person repents when he comes to the place where he discovers that the  will of God is the government of his life and the glory of God is the reason for his life. He only has repented who has changed his mind about his reason for being.” – Paris Reidhead

“Ministers often preach about the Gospel instead of preaching the Gospel. They often preach about sinners instead of preaching to them.” – Charles Finney



Christian News    worthybrief@worthynetwork.com
“I am a new man”: Testimonies from Tennessee revival.  Testimonies of changed lives are leaking out of a revival that has broken out in eastern Tennessee as the result of a 30-day prayer and fasting initiative begun by one pastor in Rogersville.

Most evangelical Christians live outside of North America and Europe, researcher says
Evangelical Christians make up a huge swath of the world’s population. But most of them reside in Asia, Africa, and Latin America — not in North America, a new study has found.

HEART (clean)

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

HEART (clean)   “WORTH CONSIDERING”  2/20/20  by Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org

Today’s Scripture
For I acknowledge my transgressions…Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts” Ps. 51.3,6

Have a Clean Heart   (Received in my email this morning.)
Psalm 51 is a prayer of repentance in which David acknowledged a sin he had covered up. His first step was to accept responsibility. You can’t overcome what you don’t confront—a hidden addiction, a failure, a hurt. When you hide things, it’s going to eat away at you like a poison. David went on to say that God requires truth in our inner parts. You can’t pretend and have God’s blessing at the same time.

If you’re covering things up, it’s not going to magically go away. When you come to God and ask for His forgiveness and mercy, He’ll begin to restore and put you back on the path to your destiny. David says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Restore to me the joy of my salvation.” He got it out in the open and asked for forgiveness—that was the turning point. God forgave and restored him, and David went on to do great things.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for Your unfailing love and great compassion that blots out the stain of my sins. Thank You that I can come to You for forgiveness and mercy and truth in my heart. I ask for a clean heart and to walk in the joy of my salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts,
This is so very true and so needed in the church today…  The church is so organized today that folks are afraid to make any ripples,  even in the Holy Spirit.  The world sees this as hypocrisy and the church wonders why the world does not want to come in out of the rain.  And even in the Church when there is a conflict between Tradition and Bible, the Church often adjusts the Bible to support their traditions.  We want to go with what feels good and make us look good rather than submit to the obvious simplicity of what is the context of TRUTH is in the teachings of the New Testament.   It is unfortunate that we have so few of the original letters that were written but what we do have is very illuminating as to God’s Truth.

When I first became a Christian I attended a church all of us with the same Scofield Bible.  The pastor would just give us the page number to turn it.  It was very convenient and efficient.  Only problem was that the doctrine that was supported left out all of the time dimension conditional scriptures that made us responsible for our own actions.   That in our time dimension the Great Creator had giving us free will so that our decisions were personal.  So for 13 years I really thought that I was one of the Elect due to God’s choice.  A lot of spiritual pride was captivated by that assumption.  But in 1968 I found out that in God’s dimension that HE also has absolute foreknowledge of what I will decided to do and will extend grace as needed when I am headed in the right direction.  That my decisions are mine, in time, only that GOD, because of HIS foreknowledge, had woven those decisions into HIS eternity before I had made them.  That is why the answers to prayers are on the way even before we pray.  The reason for this is to sort out the obedient hearts from the rebellious in a place where less damage would be done.  God had to give us free will to be able to love as HE wants us to learn to LOVE for knowing HIM is love.  Without Love you can not know God. and you can not fulfill HIS vision to become in HIS image and likeness like Jesus did.  Jesus was the first man to ever become in the image and likeness of our Creator.   And HE has opened the door for any one else who would like to follow in HIS steps to become in the Image and Likeness of God.  He is the first to be born of many brethren.  Problem is, we have to get real about to our weaknesses and find GOD’S grace to overcome as in Romans 8.  And many of us are fat and lazy and like things the way they are.  Or we are on a quest for bigger and better in the shape of this world which is soon to be headed for recycling at the end of this time of testing & decision, Rev.20.  So God’s design for this world is to give us a choice that will ultimately make us into HIS image and likeness to live with HIM.  Or it will send our eternal soul, without body, into a very lonely black eternity where God does not choose to exist.  He has given each of us a life time with a temporary body in which to decide. 

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

There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and
All who truly Love and Obey HIM are members


Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Phil. 4:11.    Charles Swindoll wrote about these men who bring in animals from Africa for American zoos. They say that one of the hardest animals to catch there is the ringtailed monkey. For the Zulus of that continent, however, it’s simple. They’ve been catching this agile little animal with ease for years.     The method the Zulus use is based on knowledge of the animal. Their trap is nothing more than a melon growing on a vine. The seeds of this melon are a favorite of the monkey. Knowing this, the Zulus simply cut a hole in the melon, just large enough for the monkey to insert his hand to reach the seeds inside. The monkey will stick his hand in, grab as many seeds as he can, then start to withdraw it. This he cannot do. His fist is now larger than the hole. The monkey will pull and tug, screech and fight the melon for hours. But he can’t get free of the trap unless he gives up the seeds, which he refuses to do. Meanwhile, the Zulus sneak up and nab him.     There’s a pretty clear moral to this story, wouldn’t you say? If we really want to be free, we must let go of the things we love. The more we hold on to our earthly possessions, the more frustrated we will get and eventually, we will be entrapped.  From:  worthybrief@worthynetwork.com

WORDS

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

WORDS,   “WORTH CONSIDERING, 02/19/20   By Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org
   
Today’s Scripture   (In my mail box this morning.)
“…The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark. And the tongue is a flame of fire…”  (James 3:5–6, TLB)

Start Some Good Fires
We need to realize that God hears what we say every day. He hears us when we bless people, when we compliment and encourage them, and when we push them forward. He hears when we criticize and stir up trouble. The prophet Isaiah said that we will eat the fruit of our words. If you sow disrespect, sarcasm, discord, and judgment, you’re going to reap those things. But when you sow kindness, encouragement, and mercy, that’s what you’re going to reap.

James said that our tongue is like a fire, and one spark can set a whole forest on fire. One word can start a major problem or a major blessing. You can start some good fires. Ignite dreams, ignite hope, ignite passion. Your words can put people on their feet, breathe new life into their dreams. Don’t be a part of the problem, be a part of the solution. Be a lifter, be an encourager, be a healer.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the people You have placed in my life. I want to love them like You do. Help me to use my words to start some good fires. I believe that You are making me into a lifter, an encourager, a healer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts.
We have all heard that the pen is mightier than the sword.  And I have personally seen the Word of God in the Holy Spirit transform many many lives during my life time to become more like Jesus.  So whether the Word is spoken or written if it is God’s Truth it will accomplish what it is sent to do.  So what seems to be the problem.  What is causing the mess and pain that is in the world today and that even exists in denominations, thousands of factions not reading John 17. 

There are many ways in which the enemy seeks to bury the Word of God so that it can not go forward and accomplish what it is intended to do. 

1.    Just simply unbelief, we have judged God’s Truth to be secondary in our lives to other things.   We don’t seek first the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness before things.
2.    We tend to try to modify God’s Truth to say what we want it to say to support our sin.
3.    Many feel it is the responsibility of others to share God’s Truth and not a personal responsibility.  But the Glory that we bring to Jesus are those whom we bring with us.
4.    We decide that it does not work because some try to use our old Adamic  flesh nature to minister it in our own power and for our own good.  We seek to bask in God’s Glory.
5.    We use it to gather souls to us rather than to Jesus as LORD.   And the list is really very long.  We are so good at being led astray by Bible thumpers making a name for themselves.   Each one of us needs to know the Bible for ourselves, line upon line…..  Isa. 28

So what does the Bible say about God’s Word?

But he (Jesus) answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  Matt.4:4.  (You have been)  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.  Mark 7:13.   And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.  Luke 4:4.    And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. Luke 8:21.   For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. John3:34.   He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. John 8:47.   And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.  Acts 4:31   And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7.    Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.  Acts 13:46.   So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Rom 10:17.   For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.1 Cor.4:20   Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Eph.5:6.    For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 1 Thess.2:13   For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Heb.4:12   But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1 John2:5    And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  Rev,19:13    And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  Rev.22:19.

RE: Scripture:     And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.  Luke 24:27    Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John5:39.   These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.  Acts 17:11   And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.  2 Tim.3:15

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


There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and
all who truly Love & Obey HIM are members.

ROOTS

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

ROOTS, “WORTH CONSIDERING” 02/18/2020, by Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org.
    
Today’s Scripture       (In my mail box this morning.)
“…You can’t find firm footing in a swamp, but life rooted in God stands firm.”  Prov.12:3

Have Deep Roots
When the ground is saturated, even a big sturdy oak tree with an extensive root system that extends beyond its canopy can be blown over by high winds. That’s because most of its roots are less than twelve inches deep and don’t have anything to anchor to.

It’s the same principle in life. We all have things that come against us—a medical issue, a business downturn, a child gets in trouble. What’s going to determine whether or not you stand strong and outlast these storms is the depth of your roots. The reason some people are always upset, offended, and discouraged is that they only have surface roots. They’re moved by what somebody said or did or something unfair. They’re always being tossed to and fro. But when you have deep roots, when you know that God is in control, you’re not moved by what doesn’t go your way. The winds may blow, but you’re still standing.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for giving me the promise that because my roots are in You, I will not be moved. Help me to sink my roots of faith deeper in You and trust in Your faithfulness. I declare that I am strong in You and in the power of Your might. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts:
My great aunt Tilly was full of Great Depression Kentucky sayings….  One was, “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”  As a little kid I would always think, “Why would anyone want to have moss on them.  I got the part ok about me being a rolling stone, ( I was perpetual motion) even good Bible Eph.4:11-16 but I never made that connection.  But as I got older, one day, when she was rolling that stone out again, I did ask her.  “What do you want moss for???”  And she looked at me with great surprise, “Why green moss is money.”  Another facet of the Great Depression.  But then it seems our society has become one big bunch of rolling stones.  Rolling with the tides of events both good and bad.  My grand daughter Jasmin who was living with us ask if she could have a few friends over for a graduation party.  I said sure.  It got around school and my wife and I got home late that evening and there was about 150 kids in our home.  I had to play policeman until the last one left.  I asked Jasmine about it and she said that she had only invited about 6 people to come…..

So to the subject at hand, In the 70’s with the hippie ministry, we had that same rolling stone itus and had to preach much on letting your roots down in the Holy Spirit and if the Holy Spirit want’s to move you, HE will move you roots and all.  But to not get fearful of responsibilities in the Lord as they do make us grow in the LORD and give us a lot more situations in which to learn to be Holy.  That the LORD is responsible for both open and closed doors.  That we need to grow in faith so that we don’t back down due to fear when the LORD opens a new way in our lives to touch the unsaved for HIM.

Fell asleep in my chair this evening after I got home from Physical Therapy and doing some errands.  Wife Sue came home with hot pizza from Costco but did not feel to wake me up.  I woke up at 7 thinking I got a lot to do today.  Got my trip together went into the kitchen and noticed it was dark outside????  7AM should be light, then I realized it was 7 PM and I still had the night to sleep.  Life can be like that unless we have the sure anchor of Christ Jesus in our lives and stay really close to HIM and the Kingdom.  So much of what we fear, is only fear itself.  We so need to keep our eyes on HIS HOLY light to make it into HIS safe harbor.

And we really do need to take care to sort out our fears.   Much of the time the enemy will make up lies in our mind that when we go for the lies it brings us into fear and we find ourselves manipulated by that fear into saying and doing things that really have no real substance in fact.   We get disorientated as to what is black and what is white and if we make decisions based upon those lies it will usually cause us and others a lot of pain, grief and healing time.  For example we think the stuff we have or have saved is our security?  Actually over ½ the world now has lost their stuff through conflicts.  The stuff did not save them.  And even sometime in trying to save their stuff may cause them to be in more danger.  So if the stuff starts having you rather than you having the stuff in the LORD you might find yourself making poor decisions in order to protect your stuff and end up in a painful situation.  Actually our only security is in our LORD,    Psalms 23

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


worthybrief@worthynetwork.com  (Came in today and tied in with the lesson.)
Psalm 27:4-5 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.  The world these days is full of bad news, with the coronavirus outbreak, tensions throughout the Middle East, and the natural disasters that continue to take place. It’s a time of trouble all right, and for us believers, it may sometimes be hard to believe – but it never is as bad as it seems. Let me illustrate with a joke I like to share with my messages.  Way out west (in America, of course), a cowboy is driving down a road, his dog riding in the back of his pickup truck, his faithful horse in the trailer behind. As he takes a curve on the highway he suddenly loses control of the vehicle and has a terrible accident.  Sometime later, a State Police officer comes on the scene. A great lover of animals, the officer’s attention is first drawn to the horse. Realizing the serious nature of its injuries, he draws his service revolver and puts the animal out of its misery. Then walking around the accident he finds the dog, also critically wounded, and whining miserably in pain. This grips his heart and he quickly ends the dog’s suffering as well.  Finally, the police officer locates the cowboy, who has suffered multiple fractures and can barely breathe. “Hey, are you okay?”, he says.  The cowboy takes one look at the smoking gun in the trooper’s hand and quickly replies, with unexpected energy, “Never felt better!”  We are pilgrims in this dangerous world, which will wound us at times so badly it will seem unbearable – yet we have this promise from God, “in the time of trouble He will hide me”.  Our true life for us as believers is hidden in Him.  So when the world approaches us with a smoking gun, ready to put us out of our misery, perhaps we can find a supernatural strength, and simply say,  never felt better!”  
 

    There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and all
who truly Love and Obey HIM are members.

PEACE

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Aloha Family & Friends,  Beloved of God,   John 3:16-18

PEACE     2/17/20   “Worth Considering”   By Ken Smith: Ken@Trinity-Aloha.org
    
Today’s Scripture (From my mail this morning.)
“…Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”(Matthew 5:9, NIV)

Be a Peacemaker
It’s easy think, If my coworker wasn’t so disrespectful, I wouldn’t argue. No, you have to be the bigger person. Just because they’re doing wrong doesn’t mean you have to engage. That’s the enemy baiting you, saying, “Argue, fight, set the record straight, prove you’re right.” Don’t take the bait. It takes a mature person to overlook an insult and say, “No, I’m staying in peace.”

Jesus didn’t say, “Blessed are those who are right.” For the sake of peace, sometimes you have to let the other person think they’re right, even when you know they’re wrong. We think, I’m right, and I’m going to prove it and win this fight. Can we tell you that being right is overrated? You can win every battle, prove your points, but your relationships are being damaged. Put your ego down and let them be right even though you think you’re right. Be a peacemaker and learn to shake it off and move on.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the promise of blessedness when I take the high road and am a peacemaker. Give me wisdom to know when to keep my mouth closed and overlook something that bothers me. I believe that walking in peace is Your will for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts,
One night near Christmas Ken Kesey’s farm, (past the Grateful Dead time about 1968-9) Ken and I were talking about the need for peace in the world.  His wife, Faith, was a devoted Christian.  But Ken was still Ken and about 3 years younger then me.  We had met through our boys going to school together and I found myself on a mission from God to help try to get Ken and his band saved if possible.  So as we were walking by the big barn one early evening,  looking at the stars starting to shine, and talking about world piece and I was bringing up Bible verses as seemed appropriate.  Ken stopped me, and said,   “Yes, and I know there will be no real peace until the Prince of Peace Returns.”  You could have knocked me over with a feather.  Under that hard, worn, hippy shell, was a real living soul.  I really don’t know if Ken ever made his peace with God through Christ Jesus as Lord but I sure hope so.

But really the only peace that we can ever hope to experience in this world is the peace that we can have with our Creator through Christ Jesus as our LORD.  Even in the present day church of believers there is a hidden denominational war going on.  And there is a quest for power and authority war going on along with wars within families.  We are so prone to agree to disagree that each soul tends to be a private island.  And all of this in spite of our LORD’S crying prayer for absolute unity.  We will put out ton’s of energy to defend our turf but very little to find loving unity in God’s Truth in Love.  Seems that today no denomination has any exploring room to consider what the other denomination has found to be of interest.  So if no one will lovingly talk to each other how can we every expect to come into a Jesus, John 17 perfect unity.  Personally I believe this must happen before the Church of Christ Jesus can expect to go home.   It would seem that of the thousands of denominations there should be an effort for God’s Truth and Love in Unity.   We do see some unification due to a falling away.  An effort to maintain the existing structures or to destroy sections of the Bible like Romans chapter one in order to be more OK and inclusive of sins that God has forbidden.

So really, for the most part, we can expect to find God Peace only in our own hearts because of Christ Jesus and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.   And out of that place to go out seeking other to join with us in HIS peace on HIS terms.  The way to eternal life is very narrow and not many are going to find it.  But those who do should make every effort to come into a unity with God’s Holy Truth in LOVE.  God Truth must be found and confirmed by the Holy Scriptures in Context.  It can not be a matter of personal or a progressive interpretation.  God is the same, yesterday, today and forever so HIS Truth is also forever the same.  So for us to have peace with God it means to find and love HIS Truth.  Jesus teaches us that over and over in the New Testament and the same message is carried by the Holy Spirit through the Lord’s Disciples.

Christ Jesus came to make the Truth of God clear for us and to give us an example of how we should walk in that Truth.   It is God’s Truth alone that makes us aware of HIS Kingdom and how very much HE loves us.  But we can not violate HIS truth with lies and make it work for us.

James puts it this way:   From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?  2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.  3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.  James 4:1-3

Jesus spends a lot of time on this in Matt.24-25, Mark 13 & Luke 21 and we may be headed into that time of great persecution in order to purify the Church.  When the Church is ready to go home there will also be a time of false peace, a great revival and the Church goes home in great love and great victory and power.  There are now very few nations in the world where there is little or no persecution.  We do now have the opportunity to walk in GOD’S TRUTH out by choice in LOVE but if not in HIS TRUTH then perhaps through persecution.  Great persecutions are already sweeping through China, India, Africa, Europe, Russia and the Middle East.  So either we share the Good News of the Gospel as we are supposed to in the Holy Spirit or the enemy is going to make it very difficult for us to survive.   Jesus came, “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:79.   “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”  John 3:19.  “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John12:46 Paul puts it this way: “ And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.”  Rom. 13:11-13.

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

There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and all
who truly Love and Obey HIM are members.

Brief World News – 2/17/2020     worthybrief@worthynetwork.com

OTHERS

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ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,   John 12:24-26

OTHERS,   “WORTH CONSIDERING”   2/14/20   By Ken Smith <><

Today’s Scripture   (Across my desk this morning.)
“…Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Matthew 22:39, NIV)

Love Yourself
Jesus said that if you don’t love yourself in a healthy way, you will never be able to love others in the way that you should. This is why some people don’t have good relationships. If you don’t get along with yourself, you’ll never get along with others. We all have weaknesses, shortcomings, and things that we wish were different. But if you see yourself as less than, not talented, and not valuable, you will become exactly that. If you feel unattractive on the inside, you will convey feelings of unattractiveness. That’s going to push people away. You carry yourself the way you see yourself.

People see you the way you see yourself. Perhaps if you quit focusing on your flaws and start loving yourself in a healthy way, being proud of who God made you to be, then as you send out these different messages, it’s going to bring new opportunities, new relationships, and new levels of God’s favor.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for uniquely designing me with gifts, talents, and abilities to enjoy life and accomplish Your will. Help me to love myself with all my weaknesses, shortcomings, and things I wish were different. I celebrate who I am. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts:
Right to the heart of our existence.   To go from “Me, My, Mine in Adam,   to you, please take the piece of cake “that I had my eyes on.”  Or I am really happy for you, that is really a great looking new car.  Or please, do take the really plush chair by the fire, I am good over here.  There are so many places were we tend to want the very best for ourselves but in hypocrisy avoid being found out concerning our covetousness and self contentedness.  We so need God’s grace to win this battle.   I am reminded of a story about William Booth of the Salvation Army.  It was Christmas and he wanted to share with all those on the front lines in the ministry how he felt, and there were many all over the world.  So he prayed and came up with one word the would keep the cost down on Western Union which was the only way that some could be reached quickly and efficiently.  So he sent out the word. “OTHERS.”    And as Jesus came into our world we see such a wonderful expression and example of HIS  concern for “OTHERS” (US) which is beautifully shared with us even today.

Future Glory
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 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. 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.

25 “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.”  John 17:22-26

And we all know what Jesus had to endure to keep this promise of HIS love to all of us who want it.  And it would be good to read the rest of HIS prayer as it will be answered and it will absolutely come to pass.

Fact is, that our Creator has had to endure the mess that humanity has made of HIS wonderful world just so we could learn to exercise our free will and to learn to love God, ourselves and each other.  Love can not exist without free will.  But wrong choices in free will can also be very destructive as we see all around us in the world today.  So “OTHERS” in HIS TRUTH IN UNITY & LOVE is how we start, in leaning how, to become like Jesus.  It is in Gen.1:36-37 that our Creator God spell out HIS ultimate VISION for us, (those of us who want to), to be changed into HIS IMAGE and LIKENESS.  And one great thing about our Creator, HE never changes HIS mind.  HIS absolute foreknowledge prevents the need for that.  So with “who so ever wills,”  HIS grace/power is there for us if we want to learn how to walk in it.  So repenting of sin, making Jesus LORD and loving others as you love your self is a good start towards leaning how to live in GOD’S future Kingdom of Righteousness.    Paul puts it this way in his letter to the Romans:

“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— 9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed [in his expectations].” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord over all [of us], and [He is] abounding in riches (blessings) for all who call on Him [in faith and prayer]. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.”  Rom. 10:8-13 AMP.

Yours, in HIS great Love and Wonderful Grace and Mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org

There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and all
who truly Love and Obey HIM are members.

KNOWN & UNKNOWN

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ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,   John 3:15

KNOWN & UNKNOWN,  “WORTH CONSIDERING”   2/12/20    by Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org

Today’s Scripture (Across my desk yesterday.)
“…Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”  (John 9:2, NLT)

Stop Looking to Blame
In today’s Scripture, some people asked Jesus whose fault it was that this man was born blind. They were looking for somebody to blame. Some reason, some excuse. Jesus said, “It’s nobody’s fault. The reason he was born this way was so that the goodness of God could be displayed.”

When something unfair happens, don’t get stuck looking for a reason, trying to find someone or something to blame. All that blaming is going to do is give you a reason to feel sorry for yourself. You’re not going to understand why everything happens. Nothing that’s happened to you is a surprise to God. He sees every wrong that’s been done to you and every disadvantage, and He is a God of justice. If you stay in faith, it won’t work against you, it will work for you. God will use it to show out in your life. He’ll take what was meant for your harm and use it to your advantage.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the abundance of Your goodness in my life. Thank You that nothing that’s happened to me is a surprise to You. Whatever I go through that might harm me, I know You will use to my advantage. I declare that You are a God of justice. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts,
Even GOD knew how lucifer would turn out when given free will, but it also made Michael and Gabriel solid with 2/3rd of the angels of heaven to help us who were all still only in the mind mind of God.  The creation of good and evil always goes back to GOD as the only source of all creation.  But our Creator God knew that in order to make us in HIS IMAGE & LIKENESS that there would need to be a time set aside for us to learn how to use our free will.  So like a Gym He had to also provide the weights and resistance for our spiritual growth.  And that lucifer in his choice of lies, pride and rebellion could provide for the resistance needed.  So in fact the negative also works for the ultimate Glory of God.  As you know, a gym can either kill you or make you stronger.  And life can send you to hell or with the right choices make you part of the family of God.  Free will is absolutely essential in the mix as without free will love can not exist, as love is a decision.  It is not like trust, trust is a learned relationship.  It took the Church a long, long time to learn to trust Apostle Paul and to confirm his ministry as an apostle to the Jews and Gentiles as Christ Jesus, The Word of God,  had already shared with Paul in his conversion, empowering & sanctification. 

So with the blind man, lucifer was/is still responsible for him being blind.  In some way lucifer had messed up his ability to see so that he was born not able see the light.  But Jesus, because of His obedience was anointed with power to reverse that curse and the Glory of God was seen by all who knew the man.  And that God’s Glory and Grace is still with us today by faith as we read our Bible.  That it happened, YES.  That we can, as the Body of Christ, learn to do the same, YES!!!   In fact we are strongly urged to lean together in unity to do all the things that Jesus did and more.  The problem is that we have such little heart faith and so many divisions that it seems that most would rather have divisions than to use the time  in finding the unity as per John 17:20-26.  In Eph.4:11-16 Apostle Paul lays out the plan of how it all works and very clearly.   As Paul wrote to us,  we must learn to be living stones and be fitly joined with others until the world can see Jesus alive and well and healing and setting folks free just as He did when here with us.  Our Creator God, became man so that He could personally and quickly show us very clearly how God wanted us to live and how real faith works.

Of course all of this was already in the planning before the world was created and known that Jesus would come and be born as the 2nd Son of God to restore what Adam #1, GOD’S Son,  had lost through rebellion, disobedience and pride.  So now the door has been opened for us to change our citizenship from Adam to Jesus if we would rather walk in the LIGHT than with Adam’s darkness.  If we do, then we will go through repentance and faith in Christ Jesus as LORD. (Rom.10:9-10) and begin our journey towards living with God, Rev.20.  The road is straight and narrow and for must of us it will be a bit bumpy like Christian in : “Pilgrims Progress.”  Written by John Bunyan long ago.

In obedience to our LORD we should be careful to not enter the room called  “Agree to Disagree.”   God’s word instructs us, all of us, to know HIS WORD and to help others to be saved from the WRATH to come because of the world’s rejection of GOD’S provided salvation in Christ Jesus as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  That in Love we should consume HIS Truth and then share that Truth in Love & Unity.  The primary source of Truth in this world in the Bible.  You may find Truth scattered all over but the problem is, how much arsenic does it contain? Arsenic is a strange poison, You can survive with a small amount of it but eventually the build up, if not found, will surly kill you.   The lies of sin are like that…  You might get along fine with ingesting only a few but in the end they take you so far from God and sometimes to make it impossible to return  . Heb.6 shares this truth with us.  “ [These are all important matters in which you should have been proficient long ago.] 3 And we will do this [that is, proceed to maturity], if God permits. 4 For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have [a] tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted and consciously experienced the good word of God and the powers of the age (world) to come, 6 [b] and then have fallen away—it is impossible to bring them back again to repentance, since they again nail the Son of God on the cross [for as far as they are concerned, they are treating the death of Christ as if they were not saved by it ], and are holding Him up again to public disgrace. 7 For soil that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces crops useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it persistently produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.  Heb.6:2b-8.. AMP

Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful Grace and Mercy, Ken<><    www.Trinity-aloha.org

There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and all
who truly Love and Obey Him are members.

FORGIVENESS

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ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,   John 17:20-26

FORGIVENESS      2/12/20     by Ken Smith<><   

Today’s Scripture    (Across my desk this morning.)
“…Jacob said, “Please. If you can find it in your heart to welcome me, accept these gifts. When I saw your face, it was as the face of God smiling on me.”  (Genesis 33:10, MSG)

Be the Smile of God
Genesis 25 and 27 record two deceptions by Jacob that resulted in such great losses for his brother, Esau, that he vowed to kill Jacob. For many years, the brothers lived estranged. Finally, the day came when Jacob returned to his home, only to hear that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. Vengeance seemed certain. But when Esau saw Jacob, he ran to him and hugged him, weeping and welcoming Jacob back. Jacob was so moved by Esau’s kindness that he said, “Seeing your face was as the face of God smiling on me!”

Life is not about getting revenge and hurting people who hurt you. It’s easy to try to pay someone back, ignore them, and make them suffer. All that’s doing is holding you down. Why don’t you be the smile of God and show them the kindness they don’t deserve? When you’re the smile of God, He’ll make sure people smile back on you.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for all of the times that You have loved me and smiled on me when I deserved neither. Help me to be forgiving, merciful, and kind to those who have done wrong to me. I want to be Your smile to those who don’t deserve it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts,
Probably one of the most difficult things to do is to decide to see an enemy in faith and be kind and good to them.  We so love that feeling of pride and judgmental attitude of superiority when we have some one dead to rights between a rock and a hard place.  Our flesh loves to gloat over a defeated enemy.   And even sometimes over a husband or wife or sister or brother caught is some offence whether real or imagined.  We are so very quick at time to snap at someone close to us as we always justify,  that they should know better.  I have a hearing loss now from firing M1 rifles in the Army and it is very common for us that were given the M1 Garand Rifles as the blow back is louder than standing next to a 105 mm cannon.  When I told the VA of the hearing loss it was automatic for expensive hearing aids and disability.  But it is interesting as to how much negative reaction that I now receive do to the inconvenience of my lack of hearing. If I can see the face I can usually piece the thoughts together but if someone is beside me, sometimes, I really get in deep trouble.  But with a lot of unknown folks I am respected even so as still being alive at 87, especially with the Japanese folks and Hawaiian folks.  As they were taught to honor their elders and they do.  I have been loved and blessed to live beyond the insurance actuary tables for 10 years now.

Christ Jesus has some interesting things to teach us about this, HE said:  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him]. … Matt.5:43-48   Also Luke records HIS thought in this manner:  “But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]: Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you, Luke 6:27 and further: But love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; for your reward will be great (rich, abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High; because He Himself is kind and gracious and good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Luke 6:35.

You see the real point is that God sent Jesus, the second Adam to teach us how to make friends out of our enemies so that they can see the love of God and be saved.  Paul writes it this way:  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today]. Rom. 5:10…  

Jesus came to teach us how to use our free will to love GOD, ourselves and each other.  Love does not exist outside of free will.   Love is a decision.  I have seen folks love a stinking, old, ugly, sick dog like a dying member of the family.  And totally overlook the damage and stench done to their home.  And all because of a loving decision to make that dog a member of the family.  In fact in some ways the dog was treated better than were the children.  So God sent Jesus to give us a living example of how very much HE loves you and me and how that we should treat each other.  So that we could also help others to become a member of GOD’S eternal family as well.  Christ Jesus even prayed for us here today: “ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” John 17:20.

Please note that Christ Jesus was even more concerned about the souls of the men who were driving big nails into HIS hand and feet than he was concerned about the pain in HIS body:  “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” Luke 23:33-34.  So Jesus set the example for us in ULTIMATE FORGIVENESS even though none at HIS crucifixion were even asking for it.  So as true Christians with Jesus really LORD,  to have HIS interest at heart we are to spiritually grow up to be like HIM.  If we are not yet like HIM,  then we need to eat more loving spiritual food from God’s Word and GROW UP to be (Perfected) in and like HIM as John taught us: “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”  1 Jn.4:17.  It is possible, if we want it….

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

There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and all
who truly learn to LOVE & OBEY HIM are members.

Brazil’s President Declares Faith in Jesus at Huge Christian Missions Event: ‘Brazil Belongs to God’    Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has confirmed his faith in Jesus while attending The Send, a huge Christian worship event held in Brazil last weekend.

TEMPTATION

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ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,   John 12:24-26

TEMPTATION:    2/11/20   Trinity Fellowship Int.    Ken Smith
   
Today’s Scripture   (In my mailbox this moninig)

“…Do not give the devil a foothold…”   (Ephesians 4:27, NIV)

Take Control
Scripture says to give no place to the enemy. That’s not just talking about forces of darkness; that means to give a foothold to things that weigh us down—guilt, resentment, worry, doubt, and bitterness. These things come naturally. The problem is that when we allow them in, they take up space that should be reserved for the good things God created us to be filled with—joy, peace, confidence, and creativity. But the negative can’t come in automatically and take over. You control what comes into your life. You have control over negative thoughts and emotions. You have to make the choice and say, “I’m not going to give space to negativity and let it poison my life. I won’t let an offense make me sour and bitter.” Take inventory of what you’re giving place to. Life is too short for you to go through it with negative things holding you back.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I have control over what comes into my life. I come to You in faith declaring that I am finished with giving any room to negative thoughts and emotions. Fill me with Your joy and peace as I move forward in victory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts
The scripture that quickly come to mind was written by James, another son of Mary and Joseph who grew up with Jesus.  James wrote:  14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.  

To start with, Temptation is not sin: For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Heb.4:15. Paul taught us that there was always a door out for escape:  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  1 Cor. 10:13.  In fact James teaches to bring in on:  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12.  And Peter tells us to rejoice: Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  1 Pet.1:6 &  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 2 Pet. 2:9. 

So in the world in which we find ourselves today that is using lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life to sell everything.  We are taught that if we go into easy debt and buy today what we will have to earn tomorrow that it will bring much joy and happiness.  Fact is we end up owing our soul to the company store as sung By Tennessee Ernie Ford, many years ago:   “16 Tons……”   
 https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=16+tons+tennessee+ernie+ford

Of course we are warned in Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.  Is that not what we have today?  The rich getting richer and the poor…. getting poorer.  Seems no one reads Proverbs today?????

So back to the Subject, Temptation:   The enemy will give us a 3D picture with Stereophonic Sound of the lie that we could do to be in sin and if we think about it only with the lie it looks really great.  Jesus went through this process to the ultimate.  He was promised everything and not the Cross.    And so we also decide “to be or not to be” a sinner.   So far, we are OK at the temptation but if we don’t realize what is happening and go the wrong direction,  take the wrong step,  we end up dancing with the demons which ends in sin that ends eventually in death and eternal separation for GOD and Christ Jesus, as HIS power and mercy has been rejected by us.  But if we have the Word of God fresh in our minds we will know instantly that it is only a lying temptation and find God’s door (Grace/Power) out of the temptation with rejoicing in the victory of Christ Jesus and having our Heavenly Father’s  blessings.

At my age, the list, THANK GOD, is getting shorter as the temptations that I can get into but they are still there.   And as I look back over my life I am so grateful to my LORD for Saving me from myself.  I still am so very sorry over some of the pains that I caused others in my past, even though forgiven. Yet it does help me love my LORD even the more.  But there is more to do and much to learn yet for me to become like Jesus.  He is the epitome of GOD design for us.  Jesus is now in the total Image and Likeness of God as the 1st born of many to follow HIM.  He has paved the way for us and broke open the doors of God’s right to forgive us.  GOD our Creator is still in the vision process of helping us by HIS grace to become like HIM so we can lovingly and comfortably live with HIM in eternity, Rev.21.    So please find and hold onto an eternal view of things or get broken off, Rom. 11.20-21.

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

There is but one CHURCH of CHRIST JESUS and all
who truly LOVE & OBEY HIM are members

“No one can have the peace of God until they are at peace with God.”  – Jack Wellman

“An unpeaceful mind cannot operate normally. Hence the Apostle
teaches us to “have no anxiety about anything” (Phil. 4:6). Deliver
all anxious thoughts to God as soon as they arise. Let the peace
of God maintain your heart and mind (v. 7).”  – Watchman Nee

“Peace comes when there is no cloud between us and God. Peace
is the consequence of forgiveness, God’s removal of that which
obscures His face and so breaks union with Him.”  – Charles H. Brent

“Peace is not something! Peace is a person!! The world will never
know peace without Jesus Christ!!!”   Nicholas Duncan Williams

Worthy Brief World News:   worthybrief@worthynetwork.com

SANCTIFICATION

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

SANCTIFICATION,    “WORTH CONSIDERING”      2/6/20
    
Today’s Scripture   (From my mail this morning.)
“…But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…”  (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV)

Being Transformed
Too many people are so focused on their flaws, weaknesses, and mistakes they’ve made in the past that they are unhappy with who they are now. If you feel guilty and condemned that you’re not further along, that’s going to hold you back from growing. Quit taking inventory of all your faults. You may have a lot wrong with you, but you have a lot right with you.

The key is to learn to accept yourself while you’re in the process of “being transformed from glory to glory.” You may not realize it, but you’re in a phase of glory right now. Learn to enjoy the glory that you’re in while God is changing you and taking you to the next level of glory. You have to start accepting yourself right where you are, faults and all. You are not a finished product. God is the Potter, and you are the clay. He is still working on you.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that my life is in Your hands—not just my dreams and goals, but my weaknesses and shortcomings. Thank You for the promise that You are transforming me from glory to glory. I believe that You are working right now to lift me to another level of glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts:
This is one of the best of all the teachings that I have received from Joel’s ministry.  I ministered one time with John, his father, in Honolulu,  LONG TIME AGO.   He was/is a real man of God.  And I can see his efforts now working through Joel.  

Actually the word Sanctification is the word in the Bible that is used for this TRANSFORMING process.  Some past Bible teachers teach that sanctification was instant at conversion.  But as I study the Holy Scriptures I have learned that it is also a process in which the Holy Spirit with our agreement moves to help us become like Jesus.  Of course the Holy Spirit must have our OK or HE just has to wait until we again want to go ahead with the process.  So the process takes our permission and God’s Grace.  Of course God deals with our lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life inhearited from Adam just one issue at a time so we can handle the process.  So as we are up for it, with loving patience, the Holy Spirit takes us through the process of dying to our carnal nature.  In our baptism we made the pledge to go through this process but now we must walk that pledge out in real time.    Then the Holy Spirit, then with our permission,  can go through all of the rooms of the house we live in and evicts the squatters and their trash.  For some it may easier than for others but it takes what it takes and the Holy Spirit is very patient with each soul that now belongs by faith to Christ Jesus as LORD.  So if you are really a Christian and Christ Jesus is Truly your LORD, how are you doing with being sanctified,  being made Holy or Transformed?   This is the process of allowing the Holy Spirit to change us into being like Christ Jesus.

Definition of sanctify,  transitive verb  1: to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : CONSECRATE  2: to free from sin : PURIFY   3a: to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to.   History and Etymology for sanctify,   Middle English seintefien, sanctifien, from Anglo-French seintefier, sanctifier, from Late Latin sanctificare, from Latin sanctus sacred
Definition of sanctification,   1: an act of sanctifying,   2a: the state of being sanctified,   b: the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion

By the Lord Jesus allowing himself to die in our place for the junk we inherited from Adam, HE is now able to extend to us forgiveness and to be restored to our Creator God as per HIS original vision.  So as we decide that we love the light of God more than the darkness of Adam’s rebellion,  and make Christ Jesus our LORD we are forgiven for joining Adam’s rebellion.  For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.   In Adam all died, so in Christ shall all be made alive.   So after we change citizenship,  the process begins to bring us into obedience through loving humility, faith and freewill.  It is a time in which we, ideally,  learn and understand and willingly apply the Commandments of Christ Jesus to our lives. 

If we don’t understand that the ultimate desire of our Creator is to make you and me like Jesus in this life time then we usually get stuck in some flesh comfort mud hole and just exists for our creature comforts.  Still a child of God but only building mostly wood, hay and stubble on the foundation of Christ Jesus that will one day be lost by fire.   But then also is the opportunity of placing gold, silver and precious stones on HIS foundation as a gift for our LORD. ! Cor.3:10-15,   Would not hurt a bit to read the whole chapter.  Paul puts it this way:  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Rom.8:29.  John teaches: “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.  AMP

You can not learn to hit what you don’t aim for.  The 1611 definition of the word sin is to miss the center of a bulls eye target in an archery match.   So our aim to be under the LORDSHIP of Christ Jesus is to become as HE was and is.  I have a 50 point character sketch of what Christ Jesus was like in HIS personality.  Let me know if you would like a copy.  Makes a real serious self report card.   In Adam (his rebellion and pride) all die but in Christ Jesus (HIS faith, love and obedience) all will be made alive.  1 Cor. 15:22.   I am not writing this as though I have finished my course, I am only sharing with you what I feel the Holy Spirit is sharing with me to understand and to do as well.  When we can all come together in John 17:19-26, Notice that it is through knowing GOD’S TRUTH that we are Sanctified.  And through Unity (verse 22) that HIS Glory or Power is made available to us to win the world to HIM as LORD.

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

There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and
all who truly love and obey HIM are members.

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