CHRISTIANITY IS JESUS CENTERED

/0 Comments/in /by
Christianity is Jesus Centered       “Worth Considering”   9/11/22

Ken’s Thoughts:     Being of the Elect of God in Christ Jesus is all about Jesus as HE is all about us in the Holy Spirit.   When we are truly born from above as in John 3 we actually give up what we think we have (OWN) in exchange for what God has designed for us to become in Christ Jesus.   It is no more about me, my, mine or my comfort zone.  it is all about having a new life in Christ Jesus as LORD and in the Holy Spirit finding out what God designed  me to become in Christ Jesus as LORD.  

As I put “Penny” my bantam mother hen to bed tonight with her 3 baby chicks, safe in my study in a cage, it was obvious.  With them it was all about mom and with her it was all about them.   We live in serious mongoose country.  So for the chicks being eaten alive is a very real threat.   And only due to Penny’s protection do they make it through the day.   I am really surprised that she has not lost any of them who stay under her protection.   And our Heavenly Father is all about not losing any of you.  But the 1st night,  I had two stupid chicks find there way out of the cage through the bars and away from of her protection in the carport and next morning,  not a trace,  gone,  eaten alive.   So if in some areas of your life you are allowing pride and rebellion to rule,  heads up,  the enemy of our soul is real.  And only with staying close to the Holy Spirit will you make it out of here to see God’s Eternity in the peace of God, with HIS Eternal Life.   If you don’t die to this world and the love of this world and stay under the protection of the Holy Spirit,  you will not make it.   If you follow after the comfort zone of your Adamic self centered nature of ‘What About ME!!!” you will not make it into the Kingdom of God,  alive.  Paul put it this way:  ”  So then, as brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]— for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.   Rom. 8:12-14,   

Smith Wigglesworth:    Christianity is not something you pretend. You cannot pretend to have Christ. You must have Him living inside you. The devil knows whether you have Christ or not. The sons of Sceva made that mistake and severely regretted it. The evil spirit said it to their faces – Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? You can put on a “holiness mask” to impress people, but the devil knows just how deep your relationship with Christ is. So when you put on that “saintly face” he stands and laughs at you!  Rom. 8:9

AMERICA by Darren Smith:   About a month ago during a time of great trial in my walk Jesus the Lord spoke to me about being a true follower of Him, not a nominal believer but a true follower. The word I heard was that America is the hardest place in the world to be a believer. This came as a shock to me, for I had often thought and commented on how easy we have it here. But what the Lord opened to me is how hard it is to walk with Him in this land of comfort. It is so easy to be distracted by the cares of this world in our nation, in fact so easy that we have created our own American doctrine to make us feel better about our lack of devotion to Jesus.

If you need Jesus for every meal its far easier to trust Him, and if meeting with a body of believers puts your life at risk, commitment would be easier. Lets face it – we have built a “what’s in it for me” doctrine to fill our buildings and programs. What’s amazing is that we even believe that God has blessed us with all these distractions. We’re even taught to pray for them. After all, surely God wants us all to be rich and happy. This very notion causes us to max out credit cards and other credit, so we can look the part. Even our churches fall for the “bigger-newer-nicer” lie!

If we go back to the basic Gospel we can’t teach the American doctrine because the words of Christ dispel it completely. Even when Jesus gave us a model of how to pray He taught us to be dependent upon Him. “Give us this day our daily bread” is a simple request, isn’t it? Can you find a prayer for riches or possessions in the Bible? Think about this – how can the Lord provide our daily bread when our cabinets, ice boxes and freezers are full? Do you get the point?

Being a follower of Christ is almost impossible in our nation. So many of the things we say God blessed us with are distractions given to us by our adversary the devil designed to turn us away from Jesus. This is why we don’t see the power of God in our life, we simply don’t need it, or, in fact, want it. It would mean an end to our way of life and sure death to the American doctrine of feel-good religion – a bloodless, powerless conviction-less, and (last but not least) God-less faith.

The condition of the body today is sickening. We can’t even call sin “sin” anymore. I am ashamed of myself and other leaders who have let our walk slide so far. Starting with me I repent for the half hearted service to the Lord and struggling with sin that should be put away. Help me Lord to walk worthy of your calling. In the last few days I have seen men that once walked with Jesus struggle with the world and struggle over issues that should not even be a consideration for a true follower of Christ. God help us to return to you with a pure heart, break us Lord, open our hearts to you. We must repent and cry out to God for our nation. We have slept long enough.

Time is short – we must not wait. We must charge forward into the nation preaching only Jesus by actions as well as words. We must plant true New Testament Churches meeting on every block, building the body of Christ, making disciples and tearing down strongholds. People whose only agenda is Christ Jesus and only fear is the Lord.

Ken’s thoughts,   Then end of the “Age of the Gentiles” if fast closing, Luke 21.   Check out the Great Depression of 1929 as I suspect this one will be even more difficult for us as there are a lot less family farms now than then.  So you may want to considering some very serious changes…..  Most all that Jesus shared with us in Matt 24, Mark13 & Luke 21 will happen to the Church prior to the Great Tribulation.  Considered to be the birth pains for the delivery of the Body of Christ into the Kingdom of God.  

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

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

GETTING OLD

/0 Comments/in /by
GETTING OLD          “WORTH CONSIDERING”        8/5/22       

AUTHOR UNKNOWN:       “I asked an elderly man once what it was like to be old and to know
 the majority of his life was behind him. He told me that he has been the same age his entire life. He said the voice inside of his head had never aged.    He has always just been the same boy.   His mother’s son. He had always wondered when he would grow up and be an old man.   He said he watched his body age and his faculties dull but the person he is inside never got tired. Never aged. Never changed.  Our souls are created eternal at conception. The next time you encounter an elderly person, look at them and know they are still a child, just as you are still a child and children will always need love, attention and purpose.”  Lord willing, 90 next mo.  This is really true.   Ken<><

Jesus Taught that we were born spiritual dead due to Adam’s sin as his kids.  Can not give what you don’t have.  But that Jesus came so that we could decide for ourselves whether to be SPIRITUALLY, born from above as in John 3.  or not.   As for me, seems like that is an excellent Bible  truth.  And if Jesus said it, it must be True, RIGHT…..  Unless you think that the Bible is a book of fiction.?  Actually, God’s loving desire for us is to be Born from above Spiritually and it is the core teaching of the whole Bible.   If we don’t receive a new Spiritual Birth then we don’t get another new body when this one wares out.  Jude writes about this.  A very small letter  next to The Revelation, the last book in our Bible.   If you have never studied the Book of Jude, you are not really knowledgeable about the Bible.   Takes less than 15 minutes, go get your Bible and consider it.   Jude was a Son of Mary and Joseph who grew up with Jesus.   His letter is packed with good spiritual Truth   Notice that in the resurrection of Christ Jesus, HE restored to HIS disciples what was lost of the Spirit in the pride and rebellion of Adam and Eve.  John 20:22, This was when the disciples were born from above and saved, and remember:   “To whom you obey, his servant you are.”   Rom. 6:16.

Ever got a soda, where the fizz was gone?   That is sort of where we are with most of our Church gatherings today.   We mostly know exactly what is going to happen and many go just to feel like that they did God a favor.  I can not now remember a sermon that changed much of anything. The fizz was gone, it was mostly pre-digested Bible with a few funny stories and a joke or two.  Take another read through Acts, that is were we are supposed to be…  Take a good look at Acts 5:16.  So what is the problem.   Jesus taught on it in Mark 7:6-7,   “ He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”  Paul prophesied about it in 2 Tim.3:4-5, “  Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;   Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  We need to compare what we do as church, with our Bible.  Much of what we call Church is nothing but vain tradition.  Comfortable, Safe but mostly boring and powerless.  The Church that Jesus came to build is exciting and messy and does not follow any proper  rules.   If the Holy Spirit is really in charge, you have absolutely no idea of what is going to happen or when it will be over.  That is why the Early Church met on Saturday at sun down.

REVIVAL on A HILLSIDE,  -extracts by J. Ritson
Hugh Bourne, a shy carpenter from Stoke, was the unlikely leader of a movement that brought a new spiritual awakening to the nation.     The Methodists, under the dynamic leadership of men like John and Charles Wesley, had brought new life to the Church in the United Kingdom and greater moral fibre to the nation. The Wesleys had taken the gospel to the people, preaching in fields and market squares, and planting churches. Yet, with time, the flames had dimmed a little. Mass open-air gatherings had stopped and outdoor preaching had largely given way to more traditional meetings in chapels.     This was not enough for Hugh Bourne, a quiet and shy carpenter from Stoke. He had found new life in Jesus and then joined the Methodists in 1799. From the very outset he was filled with a burning desire to see souls saved – not just in ones and twos, but hundreds.     So he just spoke of Jesus to everyone he met. When one of his converts, (a local drunkard and blasphemer), joined Bourne in witnessing to some coal miners, four of them came under such conviction that they cried aloud to be saved.      Together, they poured out their hearts to God and the miners were saved!      This taught Bourne two important things: that Jesus saves prepared hearts without any ‘Minister’ involved; and that loud earnest prayer carries power with God. He began regular prayer and gospel meetings. People flocked to them, and soon no building could house their numbers. So they began meeting on a hill called Mow Cop, near Stoke.       One eye-witness of these meetings recalls: “Theiy were wonderful sessions of spiritual wrestling, with faith and power. With great heart and voice the people laid siege to heaven, and the noise could be heard a mile away!”      When meetings were happening, local residents felt the presence of God in their cottages, and came to new life in Jesus. One violent lunatic, who had to live chained up in his brother’s house, was prayed for one day at the Mow Cop meeting over a mile away. As the people prayed, the man fell to the ground at the sound of the worship, and was delivered from demons and regained his sanity.     Meetings were often so noisy and unconventional that attempts were made by local leaders to restrain the people. They made it clear there should be no loud praying, no shouts, and no cries of “Send the fire!”       Yet the Holy Spirit was not to be muzzled by man. The whole plan broke down at the first meeting when one man fell to his knees and cried out after an oppressive and lifeless time, “Lord, bind the devil!”   he repeated it twenty times. Shouts of “Amen!” and “Glory!” thundered from all over them once more.  Hugh Bourne was a reluctant speaker. He had to be begged to preach his first sermon, and did so with his hand over his face because of his shyness! His vision was mainly personal evangelism which spread the gospel far and wide, predominantly among the working class.     But it was the large meetings that carried the revival power of the Holy Spirit. They were soon common in many locations in northern England, and became known as “Camp Meetings”, since many people camped overnight, ready for the next day’s meetings.     The works of power were very obvious. At Leicester, several thousand people met on a hill. As the preacher spoke on God’s judgment, it is recorded that many ran away, while others fell upon each other in heaps’.     At Mow Cop in 1807, Bourne arrived at 6am to find the meeting had already begun! By noon there were four preachers speaking simultaneously to the vast crowd. Songs of joy, cries of distress, and shouts of victory mingled, and the awesome presence of God was everywhere. The meeting continued for over four days!   It was all too much for the Methodist mother-church. In 1808 they expelled Bourne and his movement so they took the name ‘Primitive Methodists” (meaning, as in the early days of Methodism) and continued what God had begun. Persecuted by mobs, by landowners and by clergymen, they traveled the land for many years, spreading the power of the Holy Spirit far and wide and bringing thousands of souls to Christ. Source: “The Romance of Primitive Methodism” by Joseph Ritson.

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

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

STATE OF THE UNION

/0 Comments/in /by
STATE OF THE UNION        “WORTH CONSIDERING”    7/27/22

In recent days we have gotten more new numbers which seem to confirm that a major economic slowdown is upon us. The following are 14 signs that the U.S. economy is poised to crash hard during the second half of 2022.     And it might not stop at being a recession, it could end in a total 1929 Depression or worse.   The can has been kicked down the road and hit a wall.   So a good idea to start thinking about a “Victory Garden” as in 1941…..   I just enjoyed some fresh kale from our garden last night, it was so very good.   So you might want to seriously prep for this coming event.   

So it would seem that our world is about ready to explode into WW3,   like the fuse is lit.  Russia (Putin) will continue to try to win in Ukraine,    China will attack the Island of Formosa, which the U.S. is pledged to defend.   So again the U.S. could end up fighting on two fronts.   2 former American Generals were concerned about this very thing at end of WW2.

1. One survey that was just released discovered that 35% of all small business owners in the U.S. “could not pay their rent in full or on time in June.”    2. A different survey found that 51% of all small businesses owners in the U.S. believe rising prices could “force them to close their businesses within the next six months.”    3. It is being reported that 45% of all small businesses in the U.S. have already decided to freeze the hiring of new workers.
4. Sales of previously owned homes dropped 5.4% during the month of June. That is now the fifth month in a row that we have seen a decline.    5. In three-fourths of the metro areas that Redfin tracks, at least 25% of home sellers reduced their asking price during the month of June.    6. Blackstone has prepared a war chest of $50 billion so that it can scoop up depressed real estate all over the country after housing prices have crashed in the months ahead.    7. The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits has risen to the highest level in eight months.    8. Employment postings for software development jobs have dropped off by more than 12% during the past four weeks.     9. The Conference Board’s index of leading economic indicators has now fallen for four months in a row.    10. The S&P Global Flash U.S. PMI Composite Output Index just went negative for the very first time since the last recession.  11. The latest number for the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index came in at -12.3, and that was much worse than what most experts were anticipating. Any reading below zero indicates contraction, and needless to say this reading was way below zero.    12. Inflation continues to rage out of control even as economic activity in the U.S. significantly slows down. If you can believe it, the average price of a used vehicle in the United States has now risen to a whopping $33,341.    13. The Atlanta Fed is now projecting that U.S. economic growth for the second quarter will come in at -1.6%. If it is ultimately confirmed that the U.S. economy has already been contracting for two quarters in a row, that would mean that we are officially in a recession right now.    14. Thanks in part to the rapidly tanking economy, Joe Biden’s approval rating has plunged all the way down to 31%.  (No way to validate this info. but seems true.)

Spiritually
The Word of God tell us to “LOOK UP” for our redemption is close.  “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”  Luke 21:28,   This was the prophesy of Jesus as understood by Luke and recorded by Luke about this time, seems to me.   15 prophesies in this Jesus prophesy seem to be happening and being fulfilled at this time.

Jesus taught us about this time in Matt.24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.   All three,  the same prophesy, but all three accounts need to be put together to get the full impact of where we are in the prophesy.   I have an 11 page white paper on the subject called, “The Return of The King.”  If interested, just write for it and I will send you a copy, no charge.   In the Matt. prophesy, Jesus gives an overview, then HE shares about Titus in 70 AD and then HE continues with a more inclusive substance of this time in Matt. 21 and in Matt.24:37 HE shares about the Rapture which was not one of their questions.  Then Mark and Luke add in some more that Matthew has missed.  “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  9 And when he (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.  Acts 1:8-11.  Personally,  we should not be in fear,  but in an awareness that HIS return for HIS Church could be very soon.

But TODAY, I am seeing a great division between a lot of “social Christians” and “Biblical Christians” and P.T..L. it is not up to me to make the determination.   But it is obvious that many have embraced vain church traditions believing them to be true when they are not,  Mark 7:6-9, Luke 11:52, Col.2:8  (Look it up for yourself).    So it is really up to you to  check out your doctrine with the Word of God in context.   And it is really very easy to do as there will be no excuse on the Day Of Judgment.  GoTo:  https://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/        And add your word of interest or concern,    pick out the translation that you like, hit the little red key with the eye glass in it and watch what happens.   You can read all that the Bible has to share on that word or thought very quickly.    So then you can really know what God thinks about most anything.   If you look up obedience, you will find that it is not optional as most traditions teach.  I like the Amplified Bible a lot but the King James is still probably the most accurate translation.  Translations all have slight issues, But God’s Truth is in Contex with all the scriptures on a given subject.  That will give you God’s Truth with HIS Freedom and Power when you believe with a whole  heart.   Our Creator God is not going to allow this earthly virus of pride and rebellion to contaminate the rest of HIS creation.   Look at what it has done to our earth.  So obedience to Jesus is the only cure.

So if you want to live eternally with our Creator God, it would be wise to check your foundations as to be upon the Rock of God as in Isa. 28:5-20.   Sand is not a good place to build.  As a general contractor, I know this for a fact and Jesus also relates to that fact as to HIS word being the only rock to build on.   Matt.7:26

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

There is but ONE church of Christ Jesus as LORD,
All who Love, Honor and Obey HIM are Eternal Members.

OIL – FAITH – POWER

/0 Comments/in /by
OIL – FAITH – POWER      “WORTH CONSIDERING”     7/25/22

OIL,   Oil is an interesting metaphor used through out the Bible:  And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment…it shall be an holy anointing oil.  Exod. 30:25        Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;  3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity,   “It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.  Psalm 133:2-3   (When this happened no one could stand in the New Temple due to the presence of GOD,  they all fell down.)

Jesus teaches us about oil, just after sharing on the Rapture Matt,25:1-13   “10, “ And while they went to buy (oil), the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”      Mark shares, “And they went out, and preached that men should repent.  13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. Mark 6:12-13     Luke also records Jesus saying, “My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment (oil).  Luke 7:46    James made this interesting note concerning Oil, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  15 And the prayer of faith shall heal the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.    The writer of Hebrews (Paul I think) added this observation: “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.  9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.  10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Jesus in the Revelation, added this note:  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, (oil)  that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  

Often the Holy Spirit is seen as God’s OIL for our healing and redemption.  As an Elder of the Lord, I always carry some anointing oil with me just in case someone asks for it.  Not that the oil does anything but the smell reminds me of the presence of the Holy Spirit and helps me pray more effectively with heart faith.  Head faith hopes, heart faith knows.  We are here on earth to learn how heart faith works in the Kingdom of God.  Without faith it is impossible to please God.  There are over 336 verses in our Bible concerning FAITH, 280 in the New Testament.   Faith is the foundation for all of creation from energy to matter, how much do you know about FAITH?  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  Have you really gone through the Bible to grow your faith?

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  Faith is the substance and the evidence of hoped for and not seen.  Heb. 11,     Gen 15:6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.     Rom 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS  RIGHTEOUSNESS.”    Rom_4:9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”    Gal_3:6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.    Heb_11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.    Heb_11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;  Jas_2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.

Our Creator God is most interested in teaching us about how faith works.   Faith is how we find the “Way” from this world into the Kingdom of God.   Without faith, we will never be able to make the transition into our Creator’s   dimension of light.   Earth, Time and our Bodies are all temporary.   Only our soul is eternal.  To make a soul transition into HIS Kingdom we will need a new body that will be compatible with our Creator’s dimension as Jesus was given in HIS resurrection.  Or otherwise, as follows.  (The mark is actually the love of this world. 1 Jn.2:15.)

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.  13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.  (Works for God on Earth, 1 Cor.3 :6-15 recorded by God.)

So if the so called “church” wants to enjoy the victory that came for us though Christ Jesus our LORD, Romans 8.   It will need to return to ALL of the teachings of Christ Jesus and HIS Disciples and get rid of all of the vain traditions, that are not supported by the New Testament.  It is only then that we shall see the return of the Power of God as supported by the New Testament.  John 17 is what Jesus prayed for and is yet to happen in the Power of God and happens   before the CHURCH goes home.  And it is our Loving Faith that allows GOD to make it happen.  Our Creator is waiting, without our faith and consent it can not happen.   (His servants you are, to whom you obey.

Yours, in HIS great Love and wonderful Grace & Mercy,   Ken<><   www.OhanaChurch.Life  
There is ONE Church on earth with Jesus as LORD, all who love, trust and obey HIM are eternal members.

NUMBERS – TRINIRTY

/0 Comments/in /by
NUMBERS – TRINITY:          “WORTH CONSIDERING”       7/23/22       From Ken Smith<><
For the last several years our little newspaper, West Hawaii Today, was publishing all of the Big Island Coved 19 numbers.   And they were impressive, sort of felt like we were shielded out here in Kealia, in the back Country.   But last week, we became part of the statistics, Joanna and Grace went to town to go to YWAM   for worship and praise and did some shopping….  Got home, a few days later, they became part of the statistics for Covid 19.   So they are quarantined in the back ohana now.   And at age 90, I am keeping my distance with no issues, so far.   But keep us in your prayers for their quick recovery.   And not too sure of my faith as just getting over pneumonia and bronchitis.  My fault of course, like staying up too late at nights, quit and peaceful, even now, very late……

TRINITY:  Got into a conversation last week where some one telling me that I had bought into the paganism of Constantine in using the word Trinity?   I really did not know that Constantine spoke English????  Of course the word is basic to the Latin, but Constantine, believed that when you got baptized that was salvation.  So he may not have had much Bible knowledge from the Bible.  We seem in the same sort of dilemma today, folks know about the Bible, but don’t know the Bible.      Definitions from Oxford Languages ·trin·i·ty   /ˈtrinədē/  noun: the Trinity; noun: Holy Trinity,  the Christian Godhead as one God in three persons: Father, Word, and Holy Spirit.  a group of three people or things.  noun: trinity; plural noun: trinities   “the wine was the first of a trinity of three excellent vintages”  the state of being three.  noun: trinity   “God is said to be a trinity in unity.” So are we stuck with history or are can we use what the general meaning of the word for  today.   Car and Computer are not in the Bible either, but we use them all the time to say what we mean and are sharing about.  Just because a word was not used 1,700 years ago must we refrain from using it?  Constantine did a good thing in stopping the Christian persecutions but the Church at that time was deeply into traditions and few had the parts of the Bible put together that we have today.

Of course my understanding for Trinity goes back to the statement by John,   “Who is the one who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 This is He who came through water and blood [body and soul], Jesus Christ—not by the water (body) only, but by the water (body) and the blood (soul). It is the [Holy] Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [He is the essence and origin of truth itself.] 7 For there are three witnesses that bare record in Heaven, The Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.    8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three are in agreement [their testimony is Jesus and perfectly consistent]. 9 If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [that is, if we are willing to take the sworn statements of fallible humans as evidence], the testimony of God is greater [far more authoritative]; for this is the testimony of God, that He has testified regarding His Son.   1 John 5:5-9. So we see the Trinity in Heaven being created in Jesus on earth as per Gen.1:26, the first of a new species focused on Love, Humility, Obedience, Righteousness & Power even unto death, the death of a cross.   Rev. 12:11 confirms this to be the vision for all of us who are to be found in Christ Jesus as LORD.   We are in a school of sanctification to be brought up to speed to be like Jesus in the Holy Spirit.   Christ Jesus is now both the Eternal Word of God and Yeshua, the man who walked the dusty roads of Israel.  And the door is open for us to find our way into HIM and become his brethren, Rom.8:28-30:   “ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  29 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.   30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”  So in the absolute foreknowledge of God it is already a done deal.  Our Creator has made a way for us to join with HIM in HIS creation as a loving family.   As HIS “Rod of Iron” (Check it out, Rod and is in Psalm 23 and 4 other places in your Bible.   Our Creator God has a seat and job waiting for you to assist Him in HIS Creation of life in the universe, if you will qualify for the position by applying the words of HIS prophets in the Bible, especially Jesus, for your direction in your life.

The star of David is two triangles woven together, fits Christ Jesus perfectly.  We are totally water based, really a bag of water with a few bones.  We are birthed in water into a world of water so the Body is the same as water in the Word of God.  Jesus and the Word of God explains this to us in,  John 3:5-6 When we were conceived we become an eternal soul, which the O.T. likens to the blood. as being the life or soul is in the blood, Lev. 17:11.   So John is telling us that the Trinity of God and the Trinity of Jesus are now one in that Christ Jesus is now the Word of God is in physical form as Christ Jesus.  It is also interesting for me to note that Jesus mentions this in John 8, as being a pivot point in being saved or not.   The Word of God, speaking through Jesus made this observation: “That is why I told you that you will die [unforgiven and condemned] in your sins; for if you do not believe that I AM you will die in your sins.”   In the Greek the word Jesus said was “I AM.” period.   There is no, (the one.)  He was telling the Jews that unless they accepted his Word as the Very Word of God, as also did Moses  on Mount Sinai, that they would die in their sins.   The Word of God again Spoke through Jesus saying, “Jesus replied, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, before Abraham was born, [h] I AM.”  John 8:58.  ( I AM the One who is—the Lord, Heb Yahweh.).   Mormon’s and J.W.’s don’t believe this, so in great danger.   Remember when Moses asked for God’s name, God told Moses:   “I AM” before Moses obeyed God to deliver Israel from Egypt.

GREAT QUOTES:    “There was a day when I died; died to self, my opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren or friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.”- George Mueller    “I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.” – C.S. Lewis     “The recognition of sin is the beginning of salvation.”- Martin Luther.    “Heaven finds an ear when sinners find a tongue.” – Francis Quarles.    “God cannot fix whoever is first not broken.”- Jack Wellman.    “God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.”  – Augustine.    “People who cover their faults and excuse themselves do not have a repentant spirit.” – Watchman Nee.     “We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”- C.S. Lewis.    “There is no doubt that all men from Adam on have had to repent in order to have a right relationship with God. The importance of repentance is demonstrated by the fact that men of every biblical age preached it.” – Curtis Hutson.  “Another proof of the conquest of a soul for Christ will be found in a real change of life. If the man does not live differently from what he did before, both at home and abroad, his repentance needs to be repented of and his conversion is a fiction.” – Charles Spurgeon.

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

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

TRUTH 2

/0 Comments/in /by
TRUTH 2              “WORTH CONSIDERING”      7/20/22       From Ken<><
Truth 1.
1.    The quest for loving humility and obedience so as to share HIS TRUTH.
2.    The Firm Foundations for GOD’S Truth
3.    Deceit in the so called truth of the World.   The lie concerning the quest for stuff.
Truth 2.
4.    How do I know that the Bible (66 writings) contains God’s Truth?  How can I be sure?
Some very powerful preachers of God’s word tell us that ever word in the Bible, especially the King James translation is anointed of God.  And in some ways, that is helpful but in other ways not.   Moses wrote the first 5 books we have in our Bible about 1500 years after the fact and we have some practical issues to consider.   Why were the plants created on the 3rd day and the sun and moon on the 4th day?   Why was Adam told to replenish and subdue if he was the only one there?   Where was the land of Nod for Cain to move to and who were the people who might kill him.  What was the Son’s of God and the daughters of men all about and the Giants.   Moses called it a day when we know that it takes over 13 million light years for the light to get to earth from the farthest star that we can see.   And a lot more,   I had to work all of this out to even start to accept the Bible as valid to use as a foundation for my faith.  Of course, God can do anything.

Basically what got to me into being secure with the Bible was the prophesies and knowledge about physics that tells us a lot about our world hundreds of years, even thousands, before we came to that understanding for ourselves.   That the earth is round, hung on nothing and made of parts so very small that they can not be seen. Also that in God’s Creation there are different time dimensions.   And in the end the works of man will be burned up with fire so that nothing is left of his limited occupancy.  Of course with the amount of hydrogen stored in our oceans, earth could easily become like a sun as Peter shares with us in.  2 Peter 3:10

So there are about 300 prophesies in the Bible with many concerning the coming of the (Lamb of God) the Truth of God and Light of God in human form so we could get to know HIM.   These are Old Testament prophesies that cover just about everything that Jesus did from birth to death and much of what was prophesied would be impossible for anyone to make happen.  Psalm 22, Isa. 53 & 61 with Ezek. 28:18 are very strong prophesies for me in the verification of Christ Jesus as LORD.  And like the Centurion said at the Cross, “No man ever spoke like this man.”  All of his disciples, that we know about, went to their death in support of what they believed and what  they wrote as a living testimony in our New Testament.  None of them changed their minds.

And for me, support for God’s Truth works for me.   In the 70’s with the hippies I saw the Holy Spirit do such supernatural things in HIS great love for their search for HIS truth.   I could write a big book on how the Holy Spirit confirmed HIS Truth with signs following.  But then I got caught up in the Traditional Theater Church Form of worship and ministry and lost it.   Now at near 90 I am being encouraged by the Holy Spirit to write more to be helpful to those who are still children at heart and called to be the Elect of God.  And if you are still interested we need each other if we really want to see Jesus, lifted up among us to draw the world to HIM in the power of the Holy Spirit of Truth.   TRUE Repentance, God’s Truth and the Love of Souls is always confirmed by the Holy Spirit in Power.   Jesus Christ came in the balance of God’s Love, Holiness & Power.  When the Church is completed, it will be a match for Christ Jesus, her LORD….and be full of the Holy Spirit in Power just as HE was and is in response to heart faith.

OBEDIENCE:   If you are a student of the New Testament you already know that  obedience  is the ultimate certification of a  Biblical Faith for  salvation.   We are given the opportunity on earth to choose to learn about love, faith and obedience.  No matter where you go in the Bible, Obedience to the Word of God as given us by the prophets and our LORD Jesus is the true test of faith.   “He that endures to the end shall be saved.”    Romans 8:13, “…for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. 14 For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are children of God.    

BIRTH PAINS:  Ezekiel 38 & Matt.24:   Putin’s trip is perplexing and troubling for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, Russia and Iran are shunned by numerous nations, most notably the United States. These isolated countries share in that dynamic as well as in their quest for power. Beyond that, Putin’s trip seems to indicate closer ties between the allies, as he met with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi before convening with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to CBN News.    It’s also impossible to ignore the fact Putin’s visit to Iran comes right after President Joe Biden visited Israel, a nation Iran has repeatedly threatened. Biden and Israel addressed concerns over Iran—a longstanding global issue for which no real solution seems to be on the table.    Take that along with the other global catastrophes and events unfolding, and there’s much to discuss. The world is at a precarious juncture, which has led many pastors and end-times experts to openly ponder whether the biblical prophecies about the end of days are starting to unfold.   Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, reminded Faithwire earlier this year of Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 that warn of wars, rumors of wars, plagues and other such elements in the lead-up to the end of days:

Inflation:   In 1928 prior to the Great Depression, the signs were then not as bad as today.   Seems we are headed into a 2nd Great Depression like in 1929 so might want to do some prepping for it.    After the latest CPI report was published in July showing the official inflation rate stood at 9.1%, some economists backtracked the numbers using the old metrics and calculated that the real inflation rate stands at around 18%, meaning that inflation is nearly twice as bad as Biden’s administration is admitting it is.  And the reason the Federal government is hiding the true inflation rate is because Congress and the Federal Reserve want to hide their own culpability in the economic catastrophe that’s being created.   That’s because as long as inflation appears to be much lower, most people won’t notice it.   It’s only when the general public looks back over several generations  that  people can see just  how  little  their money takes them, compared to how far it took their parents or grandparents.   It was only after the Federal Reserve printed around $5 trillion dollars between 2020 and 2021 that today’s real 18%  inflation is now out of control.  In 1964, the only new car I ever bought was a top of the line Ford Thunder Bird for $4,300.00.   Had every possible convenience in the price.   2022 price now: $50,000.00

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

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

FREEDOM

/0 Comments/in /by
FREEDOM          “WORTH CONSIDERING”      7/17/22

The word FREE is used about 250 times in the 66 writings of our Bible.   The word Freedom is mentioned about 33 times, 27 in the New Testament.

With this note, I am assuming that you, like me, are also on a quest for more Freedom ?????

Jesus Taught,   That the Truth Will Make us Free.  John 8:31-32,   “So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”

But the World tells us that following what God teaches through HIS prophets in the Bible will only cause us to loose our  freedom.   And then provides a very extensive menu of Good Looking Foods at a very low cost that we know may not be good for us.   So in my 90 years of experience I am finding out that this world is full of lies, even in the so called churches which have guaranteed  that they only teach and preach God’s Truth for our freedom.   And then through their vain traditions have locked us up.  Yes, there were good things, but then also dumb things where I felt boxed in and limited and bored so bad that a church service became a good place for a nap.   Even in the choir way up front of about 1,400 people.   I would have bruises on both sides of my rib cage from my good brothers trying to keep me awake during the services that I already had memorized.   I think the minister has a file with 52 sermons in it with one for each week of the year.  And I would ask him about the Book of Acts and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and stuff like that and get some really unreasonable answers or a postponement for a better time to talk about it, which in 7 years, never happened.  I gave my life to Jesus as LORD in 1955 but only started to experience a bit of HIS freedom in 1968.   So now at 90, I really love my freedom in Christ Jesus and only go to the Bible, in Context for my questions and search for more freedom in the Truth of Christ Jesus.

So hope with this note, if you are interested, to pass a little of what I have found to be HIS Truth in giving more freedom.

1.    As I now see things, top of my list, is to try to come to an end of myself in being concerned about, “What about me.”  As long as I am the center of my thoughts about myself;  I am full of myself and thus, no room for the Holy Spirit to fill me and teach me about the Kingdom of God and the Word of God.  If I really want to grow spiritually in God’s Grace (power), I must first vacate some of my self centered, comfort zone space..  Most of my Bad sowing and Reaping and pain in my past life has come from centering upon myself in: “What about Me!!!”  The decisions that I have made under that selfish delusion have been very painful.

2.    Next on the list, is what is my bottom line source of Truth?   My feelings, experiences, emotions, history, feelings of others, sources of truth?  If Truth is going to set me free it must really be the Truth.   I have learned the hard way that I can not trust most in the world for their understanding of what the Truth is as it has no objective basis.  It is only their feeling about it.  Even with some who say the “The LORD, The LORD” to verify their understanding of the Truth, it still,  is not really GOD’s TRUTH.  So for me, I have learned, that the Truth of God is like  mining for gem stones in a mine.  You have to move a lot of dirt at times to find a good gem stone but there is no doubt about it as it is exactly like all of the other, same kind of,  gem stones.   So I use Bible Gateway and go between the Amplified Bible and the King James Bible for my tools of finding God’s Truth in Context with all of the prophetical writings on the same Truth so I can take it to the bank.  And it is amazing as to how much difference there is in Biblical Truth and what is being taught today.  Not that all is poison or we have to start all over.  But we are going to have to learn to remove the poison from the milk and meat of the Word of God if it is going to become effective for us in HIS Power.   Our Creator will only confirm HIS Truth with HIS power.    And If we are going to experience the Church that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to build in Truth and Power we have some filtering to do.  When the Church of Christ Jesus is removed from earth it will be in the exact image of Christ Jesus in Glory and Power.  It will be a perfect match for the KING of Kings, LORD of Lords.  Take a look at 1 Cor. 14:26-33 for what a Holy Spirit Church looks like with the results of Acts 5:14-16.  The Early Church was a forum not a theater, it was interactive, a people work, never knew what was going to happen in the Holy Spirit’s guiding presence.  It was sometimes embarrassing and crude and in a deliverance the demons could make a lot of racket in leaving.   It was HIS Church, not ours…..

3.    Today we have a doctrine floating around that God’s Love is UNCONDITIONAL?  While it is true that our Creator does have the same love for each of us, yet when I read my Bible love is not the only side of HIS nature.  Like in Jude 5-7, “Now I want to remind you, although you are fully informed once for all, that [e] the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe [who refused to trust and obey and rely on Him]. 6 And angels who did not keep their own designated place of power, but abandoned their proper dwelling place, [these] He has kept in eternal chains under [the thick gloom of utter] darkness for the judgment of the great day, 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent cities, since they in the same way as these angels indulged in gross immoral freedom and unnatural vice and sensual perversity. They are exhibited [in plain sight] as an example in undergoing the punishment of everlasting fire.”   Jonathan Edwards use to preach on Hebrews 10:30-31, “For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine [retribution and the deliverance of justice  rest with Me], I will repay [the wrongdoer].” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31  It is a fearful and terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath].  So Best to really digest the book of Jude before thinking you know what ‘Unconditional Love” really means.   It means Isa. 53 because of Jesus as our LORD.  And in us submitting to HIM in all things as LORD.   So please do not rationalize the Word of God to make it mean what you would like it to mean.  Rom. 8:12-13   (Try to get back to this again later…. need more space….)

Praying for a Christian housekeeper and a gardener to help me with this ½ acres in Kealia, HI  
 Yours in His great Love and wonderful grace & mercy,   Ken<><    www.OhanaChurch.Life

There is but ONE (1) Church of Christ Jesus as LORD on planet earth,
All who Love, Honor and OBEY  HIM are eternal members.

TRADITIONS

/0 Comments/in /by
TRADITIONS           “WORTH CONSIDERING”        7/15/22

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GOD’S PROMISES

/0 Comments/in /by
GOD’S PROMISES         “WORTH CONSIDERING”     7/13/22

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRAYER & SALVATION

/0 Comments/in /by
PRAYER & SALVATION   “WORTH CONSIDERING”     7/6/22
A man lost a valuable watch while working in an old ice-house. He searched diligently for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn’t find it. His fellow workers also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the ice-house during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch.   Amazed, the men asked him how he found it.  “I closed the door,” the boy replied, “lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.” (story taken from “Directions” by James Hamilton)   So often life can become so hectic that it becomes hard to find time to sit still and just listen to what the Lord is saying. But Jesus often secluded himself, so that He could commune intimately with His Father. In these days and in this hour it’s so imperative that we spend time in our own prayer closets, so we can clearly hear what our Father is saying to us, through His still small voice. If we do, we may find some wonderful and valuable things that we and others have missed.
CHINESE LEADER SPEAKS OUT – Part 3   -Brother Yun. The Great Commission has not changed. There are many churches trying to create a heaven here on earth, but until the Western Church obeys the Great Commission and takes the gospel to the ends of the earth, people are just playing with God and are not really serious about the truth.  Many churches look beautiful on the outside, but are dead where it counts, on the inside. If you truly want to see God move, the two main things you must do is learn the Word of God and have the obedience to do what God tells you to do.
In Finland in 1999 I was asked to be one of the main speakers at a conference attended by about one thousand church leaders. The main speaker was a well-known American preacher. Every time he spoke it was about the love and goodness of God. During the prayer time everyone fell down on the floor and laughed.     After I spoke I commanded people to kneel down at the foot of the cross of Jesus, and they wept! Tears always come first before the Lord truly moves. He will never pour his blessing out on unsanctified and selfish flesh. The cross of Jesus must be at the center of everything we do.   If you do these things you will see revival. Are you willing to give your all to God and to his service? “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” -Daniel 12:3.
Many Christians have also asked me why miracles and signs and wonders are so prevalent in China, but not so evident in the West. In the West you have so much. You have insurance for everything.  In a way, you don’t need God. When my father was dying of stomach cancer, we sold everything we had to try to cure him. When we everything was gone we had no hope but God. We turned to him in desperation and saw him mercifully answer our prayers and heal my father. We reasoned that if God could do that then He could do anything, so our faith grew and we’ve seen many miracles.      In China, the greatest miracles we see are not the healings or other things, but lives transformed by the gospel. We believe we’re not called to follow signs and wonders but instead the signs and wonders follow us when the gospel is preached. We don’t keep our eyes on the signs and wonders; we keep our eyes on Jesus.     Every house church pastor in China is ready to lay down his life for the gospel. When we live this way, we’ll see God do great  things by his grace. ~From the book ‘The Heavenly Man’, pg 298-300. So where do we go with this?   Many Christians think, “If God wants them, HE can save them.”  So we go on down the road with our love of this world only seeking to live in our own self made comfort zones. With some even trying to steal from others for their own nest.
Daniel said,   Daniel 12:3, “Those who are [spiritually] wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars forever and ever.   David says it this way:   O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;   For His compassion and loving kindness endure forever!  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,   And gathered them from the lands,  From the east and from the west, From the north and from the [a] south. Psalm 107:1-3    Jesus said it this way: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”  (Some think this was a message for the Disciples only, but consider, the command is to the end of this age.  So is inclusive of all of us.)  Matt.28:19-20.   And Jesus said it again in John 17:20 “20 “I do not pray for these alone [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their message, 21 that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me.    I have given to them the glory (power) and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one;     I in them and You in Me, that they may be  one, just as We are one perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given to Me [as Your gift to Me], may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.   “O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has never acknowledged You [and the revelation of Your mercy], yet I have always known You; and these [believers] know [without any doubt] that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them [overwhelming their heart], and I [may be] in them.”
There is no doubt in my mind that the sheep are called to give birth to the lambs, not just the shepherds.  If you consider yourself to be a Christian and have never helped another soul find Jesus as LORD and to be born from above, John 3,   I am doubtful of your salvation???    If you have no concern for the lost around you spending eternity in outer darkness, Jude 10-16 I really wondered what you were saved for?  If saved at all.   I have listened to miles and miles of sermons about being OK and in God’s Love, but really!   John 4:17,   “In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.    The most basic concern of Jesus was for folks being saved,  HE died for that cause,  is that your deep concern?
Yours, in HIS great Love and wonderful Grace & Mercy, Ken<><   www.OhanaChurch.Life
There is but ONE Church of Christ Jesus as LORD, All who Love, Honor and Obey HIM as LORD are Eternal Members.