What is God Saying to You about church?

So much is competing with church today.  Or do Christians need to hear from God and realign our priorities?

Look at Heb. 10:24-25:

24 And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works,

25 not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Are we too quick to drop church for some non-work activity, or physical sickness?  

How many of us will drop church for a day at the beach?  What ever happened to getting to the Saturday evening, or early Sunday morning service first (giving God His first)?

Read Hebrews 10:24-25, several times and then answer the the question:  what is God saying to me about attending worship service?

God Bless,

Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

Mtzionontario.com

Deal with the Viruses

Our life computer can operate great today, but if we have a virus filled operating system (disobedient practices), the viruses will eventually lead to our downfall.

This is what happened to King Solomon.  Early in his administration, King Solomon asked God for wisdom, and used wisdom to administer justice (I Kings 3:5-12 cf. vs. 16-28).

King Solomon also did things against God's will.  For instance he started marrying women who would turn his heart away from God (I Kings 3:1) early.  Early in his administration he also continued to practice offering sacrifices on high places like heathen nations, instead of how God specifically instructed the priest in the book of Leviticus.

Christians, compromising our biblically based values to fit in, and go along with the culture, is like having viruses in our life.  Viruses slow us down, and eventually lead to our downfall.

God gives us virus (sin sickness) protection.  We are to constantly stay clean before God through the confession of our sins and getting cleansed by God (I John 1:9).  Then we must practice consistent obedience to God (John 14:21).

Christians, stay clean, and use proven and tested practices that guarantee our success (I Kings 2:3-4).

God Bless,

Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

Mtzionontario.com

The Balance Between Work and Rest

Some of us possess a hero complex.  We must constantly go beyond the call of duty to the neglect of our families, personal health, and our God given ministry. Many reasons exist for such behavior (need for affirmation by others because it was lacking as a child, guilt for some wrong in past, to impress people so they drop their guard so we "the hero" can take advantage of them, and some people are simply following others thinking that workaholic behavior is normal). Although such a lifestyle is often harmful to both our family, health, and ministry, must of us mean well and we do not have evil intentions. What can we do to work hard and smart, and be pleasing to God? Jesus helps us on this one as He gave His disciples instructions after intense ministry work: Mark 6:31-32: 31 And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while."(For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)

32 They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves. Here are three simple things that help me (I followed my dad, a good man, into workaholism). 1.  Stop what you are doing and get away, and take a break (both local and far away getaways work). 2.  Learn to enjoy a sabbath rest where you stop or cease from your work and spend time with God and His people in worship, prayer, praise, fellowship, service, and Word.  We must learn to establish our sabbath day rest and keep it holy (Exodus 20:8-11).  In the New Testament Church, we do not get stuck on the day (Saturday only), but through our freedom in the resurrected Christ, we get locked in on the practice based on the principle (for many of us since churches have expanded services our Sabboth rest is more flexible and can be on Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, and even Friday).   My point?  Get a day each week (even if it is a different day each week) and do a Sabboth rest. 3.  Listen to others who see your need to take a break and rest (Jesus did this with His disciples). The benefits are great.  We will remove built up stress, unnecessary sickness in our bodies, reduce tension in our families, and approach our God given ministry with refreshed eyes and thinking.  We will also make better decisions, and experience a higher quality of life in general. God Bless, Pastor Kennedy (MZO) Mtzionontario.com

Everyone does not want to return to a life of sin

How do “promised-land people” escape return to Egypt thinking?

A. Refuse to be Shaken by the Promoters of Fear (Num. 13:27-33). 

Note: Fear is the arch enemy of courage, victory, and progress.  Fear suppresses our memory of God’s power, and unmistakable miracles, and it produces pessimistic behavior.

B. Refuse to Follow in the Footsteps of Disobedient People (Num. 14:36-45).

Note: Going forward in your own strength after God given opportunity passes, only ends in defeat.  When God given opportunity passes, we can fall on our face before God, Who is merciful and forgiving, and ask for another chance (Num. 14:17-18).

C. Function with a Promised Land Mentality (Num. 13-14).

Personal Prayer:  Lord despite the push in our society to leave You out, and open the door for people to do whatever is right in their own eyes, I desire to live as one of your children of promise.  Lord, help me to take a promise from Your Word each day so that as people promote fear to kill my courage, victory, and progress, I will not revert to return to Egypt thinking.  I love You.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

 

Jumping Ahead of God

Jumping ahead of God will bring personal regrets, and can effect future opportunities. King Saul panicked as some of his troops scattered as the powerful Philistine army gathered against Israel. Saul did not want to enter the battle without God's blessings (good), but he did not wait for Samuel the Priest to offer the sacrifice (bad) and ask God's blessings as was to role of the priest, not the role of the king.  Look at what King Saul said: I Samuel 13:12-13: 12 therefore I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.' So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering."

13 Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. Such a sad way to start out as the first human king over Israel. Christians, today we will face numerous decisions.  Instead of jumping the gun and getting ahead of God, let us stop and get clear direction from God and then follow Gods directions. Why suffer at the end of the day with hours or even years of regret when we can simply take a few minutes and experience God's victory. FYI: God gave Israel the victory that day, but Saul was on his way out. Christians, get the victory and continue in your progress versus decline. Last thing: pray for the spiritual healing of America. God Bless, Pastor Kennedy (MZO) Mtzionontario.com

The Brewing Crisis in Motherhood

In America we have over:

Over one million children at risk for sexual exploitation for money.

Over one million abortions per year.

Over two million incarcerated at end of 2003 (men are locked up)

Over six million under the supervision of the adult correctional system at end of 2013.

A national push for same-sex marriage which is also a critical factor in this crisis of motherhood.  Why?  In the world of same sex marriage, men marry men, and women marry women.  Biblical motherhood, which includes a male husband married to a female wife, does not fit into the world of same sex marriage.

Christians, perhaps this incomplete, yet telling picture of the brewing crisis in motherhood will cause us to push II Chron. 7:14 a lot harder in the churches where we serve.

Pushing and consistently practicing II Chron. 7:14, does not cost anymore than what we already spend, does not require another leadership structure, does not require another political strategy, and does not require anything more than Christians leaders and laity committing to obeying God within our sphere of influence.

II Chron. 7:14: "and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Some spiritual solutions to our nations sin problem are so simple and cost effective that we overlook them.

Every time Israel put away their idol gods, repented, and turned back to serving God, they experienced national healing.

America is overdue for national healing, and Christians must lead the way as salt and light.

God Bless,

Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

The Church Must Be A Place of Safety

Christians, we must look out for our girls being sexually exploited for
money in the churches in which we serve. We have to look beyond naming and
claiming a bunch of material goods, and prancing and dancing, while our
little girls are being raped 10 amd more times at night.
With well over 200,000 little girls under the control of pimps (or sex
traffickers) in America, we must at least determine that we will protect the
little girls and boys in the local churches by our building godly relationships and help them properly work through critical life issues.
Starting with and continuing with personal prayer, is a great way to
approach this issue. Here is a personal prayer to help us.

Dear Lord, please remove from me the erroneous belief that I do not need
other people. 
Father, please establish and maintain godly mother and daughter
relationships between the girls and women, and the men and the boys in this
church. Lord, please expose the evil men and women who are hurting our girls
and women, and our boys and men, and bring them to justice. Please give the
girls and women, and boys and men in abusive situations a way to escape, and
a new life where they are free in Christ. Lord, put inside the boys and men
in the church, a deep passion and systems to protect and nurture girls and
women. Father, in this cruel and confusing world, You are my true source of security and significance, and I put my trust in You. I love You, and I
thank You for loving me. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

God Bless, 
Pastor Brian Kennedy (MZO)

Mtzionontario.com

Happy Mothers Day

With the increased violence, and abuse against girls and women, several men and boys in this country are determined to demonstrate our care and concern for women and demand nothing in return.

To all the girls and ladies in this country with well over 200,000 young girls being raped 10 to 20 times tonight by cruel and criminally minded men, we love you and ask God's special touch upon you.

I look forward to sharing with you from the book of Ruth on Mother's Day.  If you are unable to make it on campus, remember you can Live Stream (Mtzionontario.com and click "live stream).

God Bless,

Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

The Powerful Collective Action of Christians

"and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (II Chron. 7:14).

Prayer accompanied with a pure life, moves the heart of God to forgive sin, and heal the land.

Today, is a great day for all Christians to pray for America.  We need a special touch from God to bring Christians to a place of revival throughout America.

Politics, education, business, government, military, economics, etc are important parts of our society, but prayer moves the heart of God so that a nation can experience healing and enjoy His blessings for all people.

Christians, make a commitment to be right with God and pray for this nation.

Remember to pray that our Supreme Court Justices to preserve the traditional definition of marriage in this country.

God Bless,

Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

Mtzionontario.com

Minister to Fallen Believers who Repent

We all know a fellow believer who is struggling in their walk with Jesus.  As you pray for God to change them, be ready to help them move past their place of failure to a place of God's blessings.  Be a consecrated advocate for them so they will want to go deeper in their walk.

Moses modeled this process well.

Here is a prayer to consider in ministering to fellow believers who stop their sinful behavior and are willing to change:

Dear Lord, protect me from thinking I am better than other believers when they make a serious mistake.  Help me to learn the powerful lesson from Moses on how to help my fellow believers move past their place of failure, help me to be a consecrated advocate that leads people to You, and Lord, instead of dwelling on my fellow believer's failures, deepen my
intimacy with You.  I love You deeply.  I ask these things in Jesus' naame,
Amen.

God Bless

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
pastorkennedyMZO.blogspot.com

Dear Lord

How Should Christians Respond to Baltimore?

What we heard in Baltimore by 

Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore City State's Attorney, regarding Freddie Gray, is sobering.

The information shared with the public this morning brings us to tears because of what an American citizen endured at the hands of a handful of officers sworn to protect and serve the community.

What happened in Baltimore and in other parts of our county is sad, but must be exposed for the betterment of our country.

Marilyn Mosby, is very courageous and is working overtime to manage a powder cake situation with a high degree of integrity.  She will be criticized and she will be applauded at the same time; and so will everyone who works this case. In addition, the honest and hard working law enforcement officials in this country will have to work just as hard to maintain, and in many cases restore public trust.

Christians, what is our role in this?  We must continue to stand for what is right based on God's Word; we must love both the victims and the villains; and we must continue to pray for the "Just Judge of all the Earth" to work on behalf of His children.  

Christians, serving in law enforcement, your light must shine bright so people can see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Christian's, we must also continue to pray that God moves on the hearts of our Supreme Court Justices to maintain the traditional definition of marriage, which is between a man and a woman.

Proverbs 14:34:

34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.

Finally, Christians, make your way to Church this weekend for worship, prayer, encouragement, Word, service, and fellowship.

God Bless,

Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

mtzionontario.com