THE WAY,     “WORTH CONSIDERING”     6/4/19    (Across my desk this morning from Joel.)

Today’s Scripture
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”Psa. 37:23

Right this Way!
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord! Many people find it difficult to see themselves as “good” in the eyes of God, but did you know that in the original Greek, this word means “strong like a warrior”? In other words, when you stand strong, when you are willing to fight the good fight of faith, you are giving God something to work with. He is ordering your steps. He’s making a way when there seems to be no way. He’s clearing a path for you, and He is delighting in you. That means He is pleased with your attitude of courage. He is pleased that you are taking a stand for what is right. He is pleased that you are putting Him first place and relying completely on Him. Remember, God loves your passion for Him. He loves it when you come boldly to His throne of grace. He is honored when you stand and fight the good fight of faith. If you are facing difficulty today, know that God wants to lift you up and give you His strength. Receive it by faith today. Dig your heels in knowing that He is ordering your steps; and when God is leading you, He’s always leading you in the path of victory!

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for giving me Your supernatural joy and strength. I choose to stand strong in You no matter what is going on around me. I choose Your ways and thank You for ordering my steps. I bless You and praise You for Your goodness and faithfulness in Jesus’ name. Amen

My Thoughts:
The Early Church called being a Christian (slave of Christ) the walk in “THE WAY.”   It came to mean the walk in the right way as opposed to the walk in the flesh or the wrong way.  That Jesus taught that the “WAY” to eternal life with GOD was narrow and difficult to find with many potential detours as in “Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan, (Should read if you have not.  In Early America three books were chained to the pulpit,  Foxes Book of Martyrs,  The Bible and Pilgrim’s Progress as a must read for new Christians.  But books were too expensive for the poor so they would go to church to read.)  Anyway if you are now a (real) Christian with Christ Jesus as LORD as well as savior,  you are on “The Way.” in your new path or “WAY” into GOD’s light.

 (There is a link “WORTH CONSIDERING” on our home page for all previous “Worth Considering” teachings.  also my book,  “Keys To The Kingdom” is also available for the basics of gathering a house church.)  Still looking for a live in Caretaker.

In the Sunday’s liberal newspaper of West Hawaii Today there was this cartoon,  “DILBERT”  Such good thought went in the the humor of that cartoon I could not help but laugh and it got me started on this subject.  Most of us have fallen into the trap of “coloring” the truth a little or lie as the case may be.  It is interesting that the Bible has a lot to share about telling the truth.   Abraham got into trouble, David got into trouble and of course Peter was not to be left out for lying.

Of course the Big Ten commands us not to lie…  But sometimes we skid around the corners when we ask someone how they are feeling when we really don’t care.  Or we tell them fine when we are dying of cancer and have a few weeks to live.  Or we listen and nod yes while we are totally thinking about something else.  Including church, business, activities or home,  I am not sure that I know of any one who is really totally truthful.  Personally I am trying to think ahead about what I am about to say now with a filter or check of truth before I speak and so it would seem I am not talking as much as I use to.  Of course the Bible says to be quick to listen and slow to speak, anyway.

As the Christ, is also named the WORD of GOD would mean that our Creator has a great deal of concern about the power of what is said.  In Proverbs 18:21 it is said this way, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”  In fact it is our heart confession by tongue that Christ Jesus becomes our LORD and part of getting saved from the eternal hell of outer darkness.  We are instructed to keep our communications simple: James 5:12 “Rather let your “Yes” be · yes and your “No,” no, so that you may not fall under judgment.”  The seventh deadly sin is of the tongue in Prov. 6:19,  “A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.  James 3:4-6 tells us about his experiences,  “4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.  5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.  and goes on from there,  need to read the whole chapter 3, several times.  And James concludes with the beautiful wisdom: ” 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (acting or lying.)  18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

It is my supposition that tongues is listed in the gifts of the Spirit as most difficult to control.  As we bring our tongue under the obedience of Christ Jesus then as per the Holy Scriptures,  HE give HIS Holy Spirit to them who Obey Him and we receive the empowering of the Holy Spirit and a prayer language.   There is a big difference between speaking out of the resources of our heads or speaking as anointed by the Holy Spirit.   Our head speech can take up valuable time, miss opportunities and take communications off course from what the Holy Spirit want to do and where HE want to go.   When we speak as moved by the Holy Spirit there is mercy, good fruits, peace and Christ Jesus is lifted up.  As a gathering comes into unity where the Holy Spirit is in charge folks are saved, empowered, delivered and healed  and the power of the HOLY SPIRIT is obvious and draws all souls unto Jesus.   But with Head or worldly flesh speech it draws people into lifting up the speaker and there is little power.   Pride speech can confuse a gathering and waste valuable time.  And Holy Spirit Speech is always full of the exceptional use of Holy Scripture.

Tongues was one of the 1st major curses that GOD placed on planet earth due to pride and rebellion.  You can read about it in Gen.11:6-7 and notice that they were using their unified tongue in a negative way to be like GOD.  So we are challenged in John 17 by our LORD, CHRIST JESUS to find UNITY in God’s Loving Truth,  speak the same thing and bring the world back for HIM.   Adam gave the world to Lucifer,  we, as the Church in Christ Jesus,  get to take it back and return it to Christ Jesus and our Heavenly Father. This is all of God’s eternal vision for us in allowing us to learn how to use our free will in obedience.   This will also make us ready to learn how to live in HIS Eternal Kingdom and timeless dimension.  And of course, this is up to us wanting it.  All that remains for us to do is to say yes to HIS light and HE will assist us in finding our way to HIS HOME and OURS.

So experiencing the empowering of the Holy Spirit with a prayer language is just the beginning in exploring all of the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit.  A gift is received and given it is not a ministry.  As HIS Church we are invited to explore and reach out for all 9 gifts of the Spirit.  But the call to a given ministry, Eph. 4:11,  is a totally different issue in the Holy Spirit.  But if the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit are in place then the world get to Christ Jesus, high and lifted up.  The Elders are there to help teach and keep HIS CHURCH from wild fire.  The demonic counterfeits that look spiritual but are not.

So we by faith come to Christ Jesus as LORD to begin the walk of salvation as we follow the light that we see in the creation and the the Holy Scriptures.  We then by faith bury our flesh inheritance from old man Adam in baptism;  then we can ask and received the empowering of the Holy Spirit as we come into humility and obedience to the Holy Spirit, Lk.11:9-13.  Every True Believer should know this 3 fold experience foundationally.  This begins the process of sanctification to help us become like Jesus.   And it is not how we start that counts but how we end up at our final graduation.  James 1:12  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.  2 Tim. 4:6-8, 6 (Paul) For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

So we, through the knowledge of the WORD of GOD and the Holy Spirit learn to speak for GOD : ” … he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” 1 Cor 14:3 or  “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine, 2 Tim.4:2.  And carefully study, 1 Cor.14: whole chapter (23-33):   23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?  24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:  25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.  26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.  27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.  30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

This is not an easy study and I am totally open to helping if I can.  But it is imperative that you assimilate this basic information if you would like to spend eternity with GOD in heaven.

Yours, In HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org
(Please be in prayer for Jenny (cancer) and Michael and me that I will have the LORD’s wisdom in starting this little fire in Kealia, HI.  Really powerful gathering on Friday 5/31/19….)

We are also looking for some live-in help,  single or a married couple here at TrueVine as a Caretaker and perhaps help with Christian Studies if interested.  Private room and use of new community kitchen and bath.

Today’s Scripture
“A good mans leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.”  (Proverbs 13:22, AMPC)

He Brings Treasures to the Righteous
Did you know there are resources and blessings laid up for the righteous? There are funds that will eventually be transferred over into the hands of the people who will use them for God’s purposes. In the Scripture, God is called “the Lord of the Sabbath.” That means He is “the God who puts His armor on and goes to war against those who hold His treasure from His purposes.” Just imagine God getting His armor on and going into the forces of darkness and saying, “Okay, I’ll take those funds. I need them for My children. I’ll take these businesses, these ideas, these contracts. They have My children’s names on them.” Friends, God is fighting your battles for you. He has immeasurable favor that He is going to transfer into the hands of the righteous. The key is to make sure you’re in the righteous group. Make sure you are honoring God with your life and keeping your heart pure. Let go of any weights or any sins that are holding you back. As long as you stay in faith and live righteously before Him, God has promised abundance.

A Prayer for Today
“Father God, thank You for fighting my battles. Help me to keep my heart pure so that I honor you with my life in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

My thoughts:
This one from Joel ? got a knee jerk from me….   I have a big family and I am 86 now so way past the actuary tables.  What happened with several people in my family,  Mother,  Wife, Aunt and such makes me sorta uncomfortable with distributions.  I was minister at a funeral one time when the family of the rich man could hardly wait for the casket to be pushed off the boat for a burial at sea so they could get home to the stuff.  Stuff really tends to bring out the Mr. Hide in folks.  Sometimes it is really difficult to see where an inheritance will really help someone.  Most now have no concept of save now and buy later and pay no interest.  Or knowing the difference between needs and wants.   With most hard earned savings,  when it is distributed it is gone in less than a year.  And mostly for stuff that does not help the Kingdom of God at all. 

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

YESTERDAY,    ‘WORTH CONSIDERING’   5/30/19   (Across my desk this morning…)

Today’s Scripture
“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…”  (Phil. 3:13)

Failure Is Not Final
Are you down on yourself today because of past mistakes you’ve made or because you’re not where you want to be in life? God knows every poor choice, every difficulty, every wrong turn you may have made, and He’s already planned your comeback! In Scripture, the prophet Jonah took a detour, so to speak. It took him a little bit longer, but because he called out to God, because he believed, God not only rescued him, but God got him to his final destination.  (And a city was saved from destruction.)

Friend, know today that failure is not final. God always has the final say. Mistakes don’t have to keep you from your destiny. God’s plan can override every setback. Your world may be in turmoil today in a relationship, in your finances or health. But know this: not only will God rescue you, He will set your feet on a rock and lead you to your final destination in life. Remember, the promise He placed on the inside of you didn’t go away because you had some personal failures. No, that failure is only temporary, but His Word remains forever! Keep hoping, keep believing because He will move you into the blessing and victory He has prepared for you!

A Prayer for Today
“Father God, thank You for Your hand of victory and blessing that is on my life. Today, I shake off the past, I shake off failure, I shake off poor choices and trust that You are restoring me and leading me into the plan You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

My thoughts:
Exceptional concept and to go a step further to consider the futility of living today or tomorrow within the fears, stresses and failures of yesterday.  Sure, we can learn good lessons on what not to do from our past, the whole pain system in our body reflects that learning potential.  But that is not the same as picking up an attitude about someone or a place and letting that obsession shut down any future good changes in that area.  That is called guilt by association or similarity.  A painful X anything can deep 6 another X look a like if we let it.   That is why Christ Jesus taught us that GOD’s forgiveness was predicated or subject to us forgiving others for their past including forgiving ourselves.  Our Creator has made it possible for us to start fresh each new day as the first day of the rest of our lives.  He has told us in 1 John 1:9-10, that if we are transparent about our mistakes (sins) and ask HIS forgiveness that HE would forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Repent is a huge word through the whole Bible.  God’s purpose is to save us and give us a whole new life with Him if we will humble ourselves and ask for HIS help.  So dragging around the past will only put us into deep depressions and be a total waste of that time in our lives.  It can totally destroy all of your tomorrows.  So for the freedom that we would like to walk in we must first give it also to others in helping them to be released from the past.  You know the verse:  What you sow, is what you will reap.  Want other to forgive and forget your failures,  then guess what?  You will need to forgive theirs as well.  What goes around, comes around.  God made it that way so we would learn and grow.  It is a universal cosmic law in balance.  But if we don’t listen and grow, then our final placement in eternity will be extremely uncomfortable.