ALOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS, Beloved of God, "WORTH CONSIDERING" JESUS 5/2/19 (Across my desk this morning and well "WORTH CONSIDERING." I never was a hippy nor took drugs nor smoked pot but somehow I got sucked up in the Jesus movement from 1968 to 1979 and had the best time of my life in making friends and brethren out of hippies. Experienced seeing 1,000's find Jesus as LORD and walk out the Truth of the New Testament as their guide book in power. Yours in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org (Local House Church, Friday Evening, 85-4554 Mamalahoa Hwy. Capt. Cook, HI 96704) WE NEED Another JESUS MOVEMENT by J. Lee Grady Share In today´s hip, sophisticated churches, we often forget to preach about Jesus. Let´s get back to basics. I became a serious Christian at the tail end of the Jesus movement. I was too young to remember the hippie beads, tie-dyed shirts and "Jesus Is Groovy" slogans, but the songs were still popular when I was in college (from musicians such as Andrae Crouch, Love Song and Barry McGuire), as were the movies (especially The Cross and the Switchblade.) The Jesus movement was like a spiritual tsunami that washed over hundreds of thousands of young people in the late 1960s and early `70s and brought them into a personal relationship with Christ. Some of these kids had been drug addicts and social misfits; most were just average Joes and Janes who discovered that Jesus is a lot more exciting than traditional churches had led them to believe... Lately I find myself waxing nostalgic for those days-not because I want to return to the awkward fashions and hairstyles of 1972, but because I miss the spiritual simplicity of that era. The Jesus movement was primarily focused on-surprise!-Jesus. Theology was not complicated, pastors weren´t trying to be hip or sophisticated or tech-savvy; and we hadn´t yet created a Christian subculture with its own celebrities and political power bases. Today, we just don´t preach enough about Jesus. This is certainly true in many charismatic churches, where we´ve become experts on everything but basic Christian theology 101. In my travels this past year I´ve been horrified to learn that many Spirit-filled believers have given up the discipline of reading their Bibles even semi- regularly. They prefer a steady diet of culturally relevant, fast-paced, techno-theology that is a poor substitute for discipleship. Many charismatics have developed the attitude that a simple focus on Christ isn´t enough. We´d rather go to a "prophetic encounter"... or experience some exotic spiritual manifestation (gold dust, gems falling out of the ceiling), or ask Rev. Flash-in-the-Pan to pray for us for the sixteenth time so we can receive yet another "special anointing" that we will probably never use. In the midst of all this charismatic gobbledygook, where is Jesus? Am I the only one out there who is weary of this distraction? Call me old-fashioned, but I´ve decided to get back to the basics of the faith. That´s why I am reading What Jesus Is All About?, a classic book written more than 50 years ago by Henrietta Mears, a Bible teacher who helped mentor both Billy Graham and Bill Bright in the 1940s. Mears explains in her book how each of the four gospels-Matthew, Mark, Luke and John-give us a unique, four-dimensional portrait of the Savior. According to Mears: Matthew was written to Jews to tell of a Promised Savior who is also a King-and it uses the word "kingdom" 55 times. Mark was written to Gentiles to tell of a Powerful Savior-and it reports more miracles than any other gospel. Luke was written by a Gentile to tell of a Perfect Savior-and it has the most references to Jesus´ humanity. John was written by "the disciple whom Jesus loved" to tell of a Personal Savior-and it has the most references to Jesus´ divine nature. The Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible knew we needed more than a one-, two- or three-dimensional look at Jesus. The Spirit gave us a four-dimensional view so that we could gaze at Him from all sides and become captivated by His magnificence-His supreme kingship, His compassionate mercy, His supernatural power, His perfect justice, His amazing humility and His love for sinners like you and me. There´s so much more to Jesus than we realize. And there is so much more to say about Him than we are telling our generation. That´s why I´m spending most of my study time in the four gospels for the next few months. I want a fresh revelation of Jesus! Perhaps another Jesus movement will be unleashed in our country when we discard our distractions and focus on Him again. SOURCE - http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones
“WORTH CONSIDERING” PEACE 5/1/19 (On my desk this morning from Joel, good word, needed it.)
Today’s Scripture “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39, NKJV)
Peace, Be Still What do you do when the storms of life seem to be raging against you? One time Jesus was with His disciples in a boat out on the water when they encountered a great storm. The disciples were very afraid, but Jesus on the other hand, was fast asleep. When the disciples woke Him up to see if He could help them, Jesus got up and simply spoke to the storm, “Peace, be still!” And the seas were calm again. When difficult times come, you don’t have to be overwhelmed by the waves of worry or fear. Just as Jesus stood up and spoke to the storm, you have power in your words, too. The Bible tells us that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you. That means God’s miracle-working power is on the inside of you. He’s given you His authority to speak peace over your home, over your mind, and over your family. Remember, no matter what storms may come against you, the Creator of the universe lives on the inside of you, and He’ll empower you to live in victory in every area of your life!
A Prayer for Today “Father in heaven, thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit and for giving me Your authority here on the earth. Today I declare peace over every area of my life and thank You for working things out for my good. In Jesus’ Name.”
My Comments: And my first reaction is…. YES !!! … I can use some peace about now. Seems like when the house church was started 4 weeks ago that everything that could blow up or come apart has become a continuing event. Not going to go into details but as soon as the house church was started, the quit button has been ringing. But what I teach I ought to be about walking it out. So keep me in your prayers. And frankly when you walk into a Gym the fist session’s are the roughest, yes? So for the House Church folks, see you Friday….
Mostly going to church is not intrusive nor personal but just about everything that Jesus did or said was very personal or intrusive. He came to get us healed and to set us free. He said HE came to bring a sword that would divide the light from the darkness. That HE would remove the fear and give us love, power and a sound mind. He was very gentle with stupid sinners but very tough on the sinners who knew better. He even called the religious leaders of HIS day the children of the devil in John 8. If you read the 4 gospels for content and meaning you will remember very few sermons that you have heard that were that intrusive or personal. Christ Jesus was not concerned about the budget and HE was absolutely fearless.
PEACE with GOD comes when we completely join HIM in HIS attitudes concerning sin and co-dependency which we sometimes mislabel as love. Indulgent love may make us feel good but in the end the results are negative. The only way that love is effective is if it is framed with truth and this, Jesus did profoundly well. Real Peace can only be found while walking in love, humility and obedience in God’s Truth. The Word of God teaches us that LUST when it conceives brings forth Sin and Sin when it is finished brings forth death James 1:14-16. What that means is if we play with lust, of any kind, then eventually it will find a home and erode our faith to the point of where we eventually become detached from GOD and HIS plans for us to make us in HIS image in HIS ETERNITY.
So for a HAPPY Ending to your life, Apostle Paul encourages us in this way: 1. Col.2:14-16: 14 And above all these things put on charity (LOVE), which is the bond of perfectness.15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org
ALOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS, Beloved of God, John3:16, 12:24-26, 17:20-26
“WORTH CONSIDERING” SANCTIFICATION 5/1/19 (Across my desk a few days ago, been too busy.)
Today’s Scripture “But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11, NLT)
His Name is the Key Something supernatural happens on the inside of you when you call on the name of the Lord. First of all, the Bible tells us that God actually makes His home in your heart by the Holy Spirit. Not only that, but when you call on His name, you are calling on everything He represents—life, peace, strength, hope, joy, healing, deliverance, forgiveness and so much more! It’s like receiving the key to a mansion filled with treasures—and it’s all yours! You can see that key in your hand; you can tell other people about it; you can know that you have access anytime you want, but you still have to take a step and use the key to open the door before you can partake of the blessings inside. And you probably wouldn’t just peak in the door or visit once a week; no, move right in! Make the decision today to move into God’s abundant blessings by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus. Call on His name and move right in to His provision, His joy, His peace, His love. You have the key, so receive the abundant life He has prepared for you today!
A Prayer for Today “Father in heaven, thank You for cleansing me and making me new by Your Spirit. Thank You for giving me access to Your wonderful blessings through Your Son, Jesus. I bless You and praise You today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
My Thoughts: Sanctification or “To be made holy” in the Bible is a process. In the Greek the “you were” justified was added by the translators the same for “you were” made holy. So our submission to Christ Jesus as LORD, Rom. 10:9-10 is the beginning of the process in which the Holy Spirit helps to make each of us into a holy person who is fit for the Kingdom of God for eternity. But the decision for this process may be terminated at any time if we withdraw from the process by the loss of our faith, Rom.11:20-23. We are granted one lifetime to, by faith, choose to learn to learn to LOVE and become humble and obedient. And our decisions in this life time will set the course for our eternity in light or darkness.
In Adam’s defection we were all born dead spiritually but in Christ Jesus we can be restored by having a spiritual re-birth, John 3:3-18. But this is just the beginning of a spiritual life of how to learn to walk with the Holy Spirit in the way. In the parable of the sower Jesus taught about the 4 kinds of soil: Stony, Shallow, Weedy and Good, Matt.13:3-23. The good seed did not even grow in the stony ground. The good seed sprouted in the shallow and weedy soil but died. Only in the good soil did the Good Seed germinate and produce fruit.
We purchased a 1/2 acre in Kealia (so. Capt. Cook, HI.) about a year ago and because of the brush and stuff on the ground found out later that it was a total rock pile, hardy any soil at all. We had to have 90 yards of rock hauled away so we could even begin to put in a garden. So we are now in the process now of turning our stony, shallow weedy soil into good soil and a garden. It has not been easy but we are now growing 20 fruit trees, corn, tomatoes, beans, pumpkins and all kinds of good stuff. Each of us is also in the process of being made into a garden of the Lord or we do not belong to HIM at all. HE is not going to put up with our ego, pride, rebellion, lust and other junk in HIS Eternal Kingdom of Righteousness and Joy. We either allow HIM to put us through the process of becoming good soil or we can take our rocks and weeds on into the very dark and black eternity of HIS absence. Jesus is the example of love, humility and obedience that GOD wants to also plant in us.
Today is a beautiful Wednesday at about 86 outside this morning and 77 inside, just the morning warm up. The temp gauge outside is in the sun. And about 76% humidity… Probably rain again this afternoon, best kind of water for the plants. Bible Fellowship on Friday’s starting to be more focused after 4 weeks. Always interesting to see what the Holy Spirit is going to do each week. Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org (For more “Worth Considering” find the link at the bottom of the Home Page.)
ALOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS, Beloved of GOD, John 3:16, 12:24-26, 17:20-26
LIGHT, WORTH CONSIDERING, 4/29/19 (Across my desk this morning for Joel.) Today’s Scripture “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, ESV) A Light for Your Path When we type an address into our navigation system, “Route Overview” gives us the details of our trip—where we’re going, how long it’s going to take, and every turn to make. We can relax, knowing all the details. God has a route overview for your life. He knows your final destination and the best way to get you there. But God doesn’t show you the details. The Scripture says His Word is a lamp to our feet. A lamp implies you have enough light to see the path in front of you. He’s not giving you the light that shows your life road for the next fifty years. He leads you one step at a time. If you trust Him and take that step into the unknown, not knowing how it’s going to work out, He’ll show you another step. Step-by-step, He’ll lead you into your destiny.
Our question is, will you be bold and take the next step that God gives you with the light you have? The unknown is where miracles happen, where you discover abilities you never knew you had, and where you’ll accomplish more than you ever dreamed. If you have the courage to do what you know He’s asking you to do, He has the provision, the favor, and all that you need to go to the next level. A Prayer for Today “Father in heaven, I humbly come to You giving You all that I am. I invite You to direct my steps by the light of Your Word. Fill me with Your peace and confidence as You show me the good plan You have in store. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.” My Thoughts: In my daily walk though life I look for the souls who seem to be looking for the “LIGHT.” They may not yet have found the light of GOD but they are looking. It is my deep joy when I am able to help them along the way. I don’t use the 4 Spiritual Laws even though they are accurate. I often give them the tract that I have included below. If you go to Google to Bible Gateway, and look up light in the New Testament you will be amazed as to how important the concept of the light of God really is. Luke writes in 1:79 that Jesus came “to give light to them that sit in darkness andinthe shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And that we are called to be the light of the world, Matt.5:14-16. The Tract I use is only scripture as follows: My Print Shop prints it for .10 cents each folded. I am on about 2010 now with the 3rd printing. Feel free to do the same. Send me your address and I will send you some, happy to do so. Also attached in WP8.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org
Let There Be Light And God said, let there be light and there was light: (1). Arise, shine: for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee (2). Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light (3). This is the message which we have heard and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (4). He that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God (5). If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (6). This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (7). For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (8). But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (9). Thy Light shall break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward (10). Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (11). 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 armor of light (12). The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof (13). And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever (14). 1. Gen. 1:3 2. Isa. 60:1 3. Eph. 5:14 4. 1 Jn. 1:5 5. Jn. 3:21 6. 1 Jn. 1:17 7. Jn. 3:19 8. Jn. 3:20 9. 1 Pet. 2:9 10. Isa. 85:8 11. Matt. 5:14 12. Rom. 13:12 13. Rev. 21:33 14. Rev. 22:5 Eph.4:1-16
You are an eternal soul, according to the Holy Bible. And in this life only, you have an opportunity to choose God’s Light for eternity. May you choose wisely. John 3, Romans 10:9-10
WORTH CONSIDERING, CAME IN TODAY FROM A GOOD FRIEND AND ORTHODOX BISHOP. 4/28/19
Martin Luther….
SO ARE WE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE ROMANS 8:18-38 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (If you don’t ingest the truth of these scriptures you will be profoundly missing out…) Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org
16 The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.
17 And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.
18 [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to usandin usand[g]for usand[h]conferred on us!
19 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantlyandlongs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship].
20 For the creation (nature) was subjected to[i]frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it—[yet] with the hope
21 That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decayand corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
22 We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who haveandenjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God’s sons).
24 For in [this] hope we were saved. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For how can one hope for what he already sees?
25 But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patienceandcomposure.
26 So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aidandbears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offernorhow to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplicationandpleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearningsandgroanings too deep for utterance.
27 And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedesandpleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according toandin harmony with God’s will.
28 We are assuredandknow that [[j]God being a partner in their labor] all things work togetherandare [fitting into a plan] for good toandfor those who love God and are called according to [His] designandpurpose.
29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was[k]aware and[l]loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.
30 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being].
31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]
32 He who did not withholdorspare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freelyandgraciously give us all [other] things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?]
34 Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleadingasHe intercedes for us?
35 Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall sufferingandafflictionand tribulation? Or calamityanddistress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regardedandcounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors[m]andgain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things[n]impendingandthreatening nor things to come, nor powers,
39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
INGESTING Christ’s Humility, Philippians 2 New International Version (NIV)
1. Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father. Do Everything Without Grumbling 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
My Thoughts, Humility & Obedience ???? So where, how and with whom are we leaning these profound lessons of the coming KINGDOM from? Even being in subjection to the Holy Spirit can be funny money as it goes through our rebellious filters. And we can use GOD’s name to justify about any thing we want to if in the flesh. I have heard Christians using God’s name in vain a lot to support their own little ivory tower.
We are all in a temporary time dimension school on planet earth to basically learn humility and obedience. The school grades are something like this, children, mother, father, elders, scriptures, Holy Spirit, Jesus and finally Father God Almighty. So what grade level are you in and how are you doing? What kind of grades are you getting? My schooling in the world was unmotivated and mostly “C”‘s. Obviously Christ Jesus nailed it so HE is our primary example. Floyd in Long Beach had it nailed and helped me find Christ Jesus as Lord in 1955. Might suggest a study on humility and obedience in Strong’s to get a good overview. As Christ Jesus is either LORD of all, or not LORD at all.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org
ALOHA FRIENDS AND FAMILY, Beloved of God, John 3:16, 12:24-26, 17:20-26
POWER “WORTH CONSIDERING” 4/26/19 (Across my desk this morning from Joel.)
Today’s Scripture “He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].” (Isaiah 40:29, AMPC)
He Increases Strength Whatever you need today, know that God is your source and supply. You may feel tired and weary from a long spiritual or emotional battle. God promises that He increases our strength and causes it to multiply. One of the ways God fills us with His strength is by giving us His joy. When we have joy, we have strength to overcome. Joy is a supernatural empowerment that is deposited on the inside of you. As you meditate on the goodness and faithfulness of our God, you won’t be able to help but feel His joy. Like rivers of living water, joy will flow forth from you, refreshing and strengthening you so that you have the power to overcome every obstacle you may be facing. If you feel faint or weary, remember, there’s a harvest of blessing in store for you. Let faith rise in your heart as you meditate on His promises. Let Him fill you with His peace and joy so that you will have an abundance of strength. As you do, you will be empowered to live the life of victory the Lord has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today “Heavenly Father, today I come to You and ask that You fill me with Your peace and joy. Let Your strength rise up on the inside of me so that I can embrace the victorious life You have planned for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
My Thoughts: In the great commission, Matt.28:19 we are commanded by our LORD, Christ Jesus to go teach all nations to observe all things that HE commanded of us and that HE would be with us in the effort. So really the quest for power should be focused in fulfilling HIS Great Commission. God’s Power is not grated to us for the building of a personal kingdom. It was granted to bring us into having loving Unity, John 17:21, so that the world would fall in love with Jesus, Eph.4:11-16. Basically the church at large has forgotten this commandment and has been busy building divisions and denominations of God’s Chosen Frozen dedicated to the preservation of the stuff. I found the following article most interesting. So it would seem that only 3% who are called Christian are in obedience to our LORD in Great Commission?
If in Kona, hope to fellowship with you tonight (4/16/19) our our little house church at my home. 85-4554 Mamalahoa Hwy. (look for the Costco Tents) So. Capt. Cook, HI 96704 (808-896-8937) Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org —————————————————————————————————————————————— CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM: More than fifty percent of Protestant church attendees have admitted to not engaging in evangelism in the past half a year, according to a recently released report by Life Way Research. When asked how many times they shared with somehow “how to become a Christian,” 55 percent of respondents answered zero. 24 percent of respondents said that they had shared how to become a Christian to someone 1-2 times, 12 percent responded 3-5 times, 5 percent said 6-10 times, 1 percent said 11-15 times, and 3 percent reported 16 times or more. Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, said in comments released Tuesday that evangelism “does not appear to be the priority of churchgoers.” “The task of making disciples of all nations has not been fully embraced in the American church — especially by the majority culture,” stated McConnell. “This is in spite of the convenience of having other ethnicities and immigrants from other countries often living in the same neighborhood.” Data for the LifeWay report came from an online survey of 2,500 Protestant churchgoers performed Jan. 14-29 with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. Although the report found less than half had engaged in evangelism in the past six months, it also found that most respondents had invited an unchurched person to worship in the past six months. Among ethnic groups surveyed for the report, Hispanic respondents were the most likely to have talked to someone about how to become a Christian within the past six months, with only 32 percent reporting that they had not done so. Hispanic churchgoers were also the ethnic group most likely to have invited someone to church, with 71 percent of Hispanic respondents saying they had done so. Life Way also found that respondents aged 65 and over were the least likely to have had no evangelistic conversations within the last half year. “Recently, there has been much discussion about young adults participating less in evangelism. That’s not the case, however,” noted McConnell. “In fact, young adult and middle-aged churchgoers are more likely to have shared with someone how to become a Christian in the past six months than older churchgoing adults.” In February, the Barna Group released a report commissioned by Alpha USA indicating that nearly half of Mllennial-aged Christians believed evangelizing was wrong. “Almost half of Millennials (47%) agree at least somewhat that it is wrong to share one’s personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith. This is compared to a little over one-quarter of Gen X (27%), and one in five Boomers (19%) and Elders (20%),” read the Barna report. “Younger Christians tend to be more personally aware of the cultural temperature around spiritual conversations. Among practicing Christians, Millennials report an average (median) of four close friends or family members who practice a faith other than Christianity; most of their Boomer parents and grandparents, by comparison, have just one.”
FAITH + ACTION “WORTH CONSIDERING” 5/25/19 (Across my desk this morning.)
Today’s Scripture “I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.” (Isaiah 48:3, NIV)
God of the Suddenlies You may have been dealing with the same problem for ten years. Your situation may look as though it’s never going to change, but in a split second, God can totally resolve it. “Suddenly.” You won’t expect it. It’s out of the ordinary, and it’s not small. No matter how long it’s been, no matter what you’re facing, you’ve got to believe that God is full of surprises. One touch of His favor and He can move the wrong people out of your life and move the right people into your life. One touch of God’s favor and He can take you from having barely enough to having more than enough. You may not see how it’s all going to work out, but you don’t have to figure it all out. God is saying, “You need to get ready. You haven’t seen My explosive blessings. You haven’t seen the surpassing greatness of My favor.” Your part is to simply believe; to get up each day in faith, expecting God’s favor. Expect something good to happen to you today. Expect God to surprise you!
A Prayer for Today “Father in heaven, today I come to You, giving You my cares and worries. I believe that You are working behind the scenes and expect You to suddenly turn things in my favor. Thank You for everything You are doing in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
My Comments: In many of the accounts of healing in the New Testament I have noticed both words and action. That in the process of a healing that an action was also taken that supported the faith of the healing. Jesus called on the Divine Power of God over 37 times in the New Testament for healing and miracles:
Might be a good use of time to check them all out to get an overview of the supernatural work that the Holy Spirit would like to do through us today.
1. With the Water into wine HE had the water drawn and be Jars filled with water. John 4:46-47 2. With the Nobleman’s son, the father was begging in faith for the healing. Luke 5:1-11 3. With Peter’s mother-in-law Jesus took her by the hand and helped her up and the fever left. 4. With the leper, Jesus told him to go show himself to the priest and offer sacrifice. Mk.1:40-45 5. With the paralytic, Jesus told him to take up your bed and go home. Matt.9:1-8 6. With the ruler’s daughter Jesus put the crowd outside and raised her from the dead, Matt.9:18 7. With the bleeding woman, she reached out and touched Jesus. Lk.8:43-48
It would be good for you to make a parallel study of the 37 recorded miracles and see what is similar. Basically what I see is the HEART Faith of Hebrews 11, also has the aggressive attitude of James 2:17. that heart faith and action must go together. It is not a head attitude of let’s watch and see. But that HEART Faith itself is the very substance and evidence of the miracle needed.
This is how we are saved, delivered, healed, filled with the Holy Spirit and have the power of God for victory in our lives. This what our Heavenly Father want’s to teach us while on earth.
Your, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken <>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org
One of the first verses in the Bible is about hearing concerns Adam, Gen.3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hasthearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shaltnoteat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life… And all through the Old Testament we find that the ears to hear and the heart to understand in man has been severely damaged. David even picks it up on the Psalms 115:6 They have ears, but theyhearnot: noses have they, but they smellnot: In proverbs 8:33 even Solomon picks up the cry: “Hearinstruction, and be wise, and refuse itnot. Christ Jesus in Matt.13:12-14 went on to teach:” 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive. Paul in Rom.10:17 says it this way:So thenfaithcomethby hearing, and hearing by the word of God. So when you open your heart to hear the Word of God’s Truth you grow in Faith.
So what is the difference in Hearing and Hearing but not Hearing? Hearing not is like Christ Jesus taught in Matt.13:14 concerning the good seed falling to the way side and the chicken (demons) came and ate it up and there was no germination. James 3:17 writes that the Faith that saves also causes action. That heart faith causes change while head agreement does not. So it is altogether possible to agree with something in the head that is profound and still not apply it your life because it has not become seated in your heart of hearts, Rom.10:9-10 clearly makes that distinction.
So one of the most important factors in a Christian life is to HEAR the WORD of GOD clearly in the HEART, and in humility, obey it.
Abraham is an exceptional example of this. He was so sure of the voice that he heard in his heart that he was willing to take his miracle Son of his old age up on a mountain and make him a sacrifice to the God that he heard in his heart. We all know the story, but do we realize how strong his contact with GOD must have been. How clear was his hearing… And also to pack up his family being sure of the same voice and leaving his land to go where he had no idea of where he was going. Heb.11 is a short record of how HEART FAITH works when the voice of GOD is clear and obeyed.
One of my favorite versed on this subject is James:4:8-10 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Perhaps, tomorrow evening, at our House Church we can share more about this as this is very primary to having Victory, ( Rom.8,) in our Christian Walk.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org (Home Page has more thoughts like this under, “Worth Considering.”)
ALOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS, John 3:16, 12:24-26, 17:20-26 PEACE “WORTH CONSIDERING” 4/24/19 (Across my desk this morning form Joel:)
Today’s Scripture “In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety and confident trust.” (Psalm 4:8, AMP)
Dwell in Safety and Trust God has promised to be your Protector, your Defender, your Strength, your Shelter and so much more! Even when the storms of life come against you, as long as you are dwelling in Him, you dwell in safety and trust—nothing can take away your peace and joy. What does it mean to dwell in Him? One of the definitions of the word “dwell” means to keep your attention directed toward something. The more you keep your attention directed toward God, the more you will know Him and the more confidence you will have in Him. When you focus your heart and mind on the Word of God and declare His promises over your life, you are dwelling in Him. When you lift your voice in worship and give Him glory and honor, you are dwelling in Him. When you spend time meditating on Him and connecting to Him through prayer, you are dwelling in Him. Are you facing a difficult situation? Dwell on the fact that Almighty God is on your side. Dwell of the fact that He’s promised to fight your battles for you and no weapon formed against you will prosper. If you start thinking these kinds of thoughts, you will be filled with faith and confidence, no matter what comes against you.
A Prayer for Today “Father in heaven, thank You for Your promise of peace and safety in my life. I choose to give my attention to You. Have Your way in me and let everything I do bring glory to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
My Thoughts: In my life time I have come to the conclusion that the times that I was hurt the most was because I was in the wrong place doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. That the Holy Spirit and my guardian angel did their very best to keep me out of trouble but simply, I was not listening. I was enjoying my anger or lust or coveting something and just plan not listening. I was just plain, too busy. Some times folks get hooked on getting an adrenaline rush and stir up strife just for the power trip. But the fall out can be disastrous. Especially when we get into pride. Now pride can cause a whole big bucket full of pain. Or talking stink about some one else, just to feel important. That kind of pride can cause a feud that goes on for generations. Or just keeping our stinking garbage of the past down in our basement, Just stinks more and more every day.
That is why Jesus teaches us that if any man loves the world the love of the father is not in him, 1 John 2:14-17.
So the real key to a good life in this world is in coming into a loving relationship with Christ Jesus as LORD, Rom.10:9-10 and then in humility and obedience learning the truth of God given us in the Word of God so we can sort out the voices in our minds and lean to be selective in following only the Holy Spirit into the Peace of God, which passes all understanding, Phil. 4:7. and become a peacemaker as a child of God, Matt.5:9. For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness, peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit, Rom.15:13. And we are called to be perfect, and of good comfort, in one mind to live in the peace and love of God, 2 Cor.13:11. So we need to learn to allow the peace of God to rule in our hearts as one body of Christ and to be thankful, Col.3:15. Really want a happy, peaceful life, got to learn to sow peace in Christ Jesus as LORD.
Heb. 13:19-21,
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org (Past issues of “Worth Considering” may be found in our links at the above Home Page.)
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