ALOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS, Beloved of God,
CHURCH “WORTH CONSIDERING” 3/3/19
It is amazing to me the number of divisions or denominations that we find today all saying they are on the right path or church but teaching different doctrine? Obviously there are essentials of doctrine as was once delivered by the LORD, Christ Jesus and HIS Apostles to consider. And yes there are many choices to make beyond the tenants of HOLY SCRIPTURE. The Early Church had a saying:
“In essentials, UNITY, in all else, LOVE.” I really like this except who defines what is essential?
In John 17, the only recorded prayer of Christ Jesus, HIS main concern was that HIS CHURCH, (HIS PEOPLE) would find UNITY. So how do we come into that kind of Unity that He prayed for? First off it take a lot of humility to listen carefully to the other position and then second it take truth and obedience to change a position. One time, with me, the change was so heavy that it felt like my head was going through a hard drive crash. And the change, changed everything that I thought I knew. But it set me free in such a wonderful way after it was all over. Felt like a new kid starting over.
So it all really boils down to simple and in humility accepting GOD’s HOLY TRUTH in obedience when ever you find it. Being locked up in any denomination can be very boring and destructive for your Christian life. In one denomination I sat through 5 years of evangelical sermons on how to be saved while I was dying of spiritual starvation. I have found that it is imperative to know Holy Scripture personally in context and from an overview. All of the vitamins and minerals are not in one bottle.
Christian Ideal for Unity: For each party in a different position to realize that, “Wow! here is a wonderful opportunity to explore more of GOD’s TRUTH in love and to find more FREEDOM in Christ Jesus. And for each soul in LOVE to present their position from a Biblical position without treat or manipulation and put all the scriptures on the table and move them around until the TRUTH comes to the surface in the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 28:5-13 is a key for doing this. It is only the LORD’s TRUTH that sets us free anyway. To agree to disagree will never answer the LORD’s prayer in John 17.
The Early Church was a landscape covered by small house church where the shepherd could know and be known of his flock. They would gather on Saturday evenings at sunset for sharing the WORD OF GOD, having a meal together where they also observed the “Lord’s Supper”, Pray together, Pray for each other and finally would go to the Elders for prayer and anointing if needed. In the Early Church it records in Acts 5:16 that at these healthy spiritual gatherings that all would be healed. I have yet to see this in my Christian Experience. An analogy would be that souls are like batteries. Then can hold different charges for different purposes. When fully charged, they work well. But if you really want to run something powerful you need to connect them together. lucifer know this and that is why there is such a powerful effort to destroy the UNITY that Christ Jesus prayed for in John 17.
The Elders and leaders would gather together each week to keep the Unity of the Faith in the bond of peace.
The Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and Teachers were available as needed at larger gatherings of the house churches as it would be helpful to expand the ministry of Christ Jesus to the world.
But at this time, in reality, it is difficult to find an example of the hot fire that forged Stephen and converted Saul into Paul. It seems many have swallowed the concept that bigger is better and the Holy Spirit really, does not do the supernatural any more. So my thoughts are that we are experiencing a very cold and very wet rain. 1st thing we need to do is find a dry space. A living room holding 12 + people would be great. 2nd to start inviting the spiritually hungry over for some fellowship and food (finding some dry wood) Then a little tender and help from the Holy Spirit and a spark with lots of smoke. But little by little the fire gits hotter, folks get warm and dry and the Holy Spirit begins to answer in power. I would be happy to help if anyone is interested. Also you can find my notes at: www.Trinity-Aloha.org when you goto: “Keys To The Kingdom.” THERE IS BUT ONE TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST JESUS AND ALL WHO LOVE AND OBEY HIM ARE MEMBERS.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<><
ISRAEL AS AN EXAMPLE:
From: “Worthy Brief” worthybrief@worthynetwork.com
1 Corinthians 10:5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Numbers 14:21-24 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord– because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.
In this NT passage Paul distinguishes the multitudes of Israelites who never entered the Promised Land, in that they never apprehended the destiny which God intended for them, but, instead, perished in the wilderness. The only adults that entered the Promised Land were Joshua and Caleb. What distinguished Joshua and Caleb? A “different spirit”.
It is astounding to realize that so many failed to apprehend this spirit, and Paul makes it clear that this example has the most serious implications for New Testament believers. The spirit of whole-hearted commitment, apparently rare as the finest rubies, receives the inheritance, the rich rewards of the “Promised Land”. What this “Promised Land” may be for those who are as faithful in the present age, we may wonder. But be assured it will flow with “Milk and Honey” just as the Land of Israel did in those ancient days, (and is again experiencing today!) Following God “with all that we had” will qualify us for the greatest eternal rewards.
The great test for Joshua and Caleb involved the godly courage to face massive giants in battle. They had learned and believed in the miraculous power of God to deliver, protect, and provide for His chosen. And Caleb, because of his great faith, was able to maintain his youthfulness even at the age of 85. (Joshua 14:10-12)