When the Practice is Harder Than the Prayer

Christian's let's face a reality.  It is harder to practice what we preach, than to preach what we practice.

When our prayers are harder to practice than to pray, we keep praying and asking God for strength to honor Him in our practice of Christianity so that He is glorified (Matt. 5:16).

Here is a prayer to focus on practicing:

Lord, throughout the Bible You display a pattern of calling Your children to do a job, and You end up doing the heavy lifting with Your mighty works.  Lord, I desire to be Your available and willing servant as Gideon was.  I desire to live out my calling without "igotthisitis", I
desire to have those special intimate meetings with You, and I desire
enjoying You doing the impossible in and through me.  "Spirit of the Living
God fall fresh on me.  Spirit of the Living God fall fresh on me. Break me,
melt me, mold me, fill me.  Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me."  In
the name of Jesus, the Son of the Living God I pray, amen. 

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E Kennedy, Sr.





God Bless

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

Fulfilling God's Call Without "Igotthisitis"

God's call on the Christian's life is critical the His eternal plan for reconciling the world to Himself.

God really does not need us, but He chooses to use us (John 15:16; II Cor. 5:17-20).

Christians we have a clear guide on how to allow God to change us from our old worldly thinking and practices (Rom 12:2), and the empowerment needed to serve Him (Acts 1:8).  We even have a clear assignment (Matt. 28:18-20).

Let us stick to our Bible based guidelines as we live this life.  

We do not need to develop or incorporate the spirit of "I got this"ninth our lives.  "Igotthisitis" is possessing an overconfidence in self, such that it attacks our daily dependence on God, and tries to fulfill God's call on our lives by leaning on our own understanding.

Here is a prayer to help overcome "igotthisitis:   

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your calling on my life.  Lord, I desire a personalized relationship with You such that I can always be sure that You are speaking to me, and giving me instructions that are supported in Your Word.  Lord, forgive me for the times that I practiced "igotthisitis."  I know such overconfidence in myself is not pleasing to You because I end up leaving You out and leaning on my own understanding.
Father, keep me close to Your bosom so that I daily depend on You.  In Jesus
name I pray, amen. 

God Bless,

Pastor Brian Kennedy, Sr.

When You Have A Relationship Versus Religion

Hundreds of religions exists in the world around us.

Christians, we have much more than external practices established by a man or group of men.  Religions demand a variety of external practices to find favor.  Religions can only give us what you deserve.  In religions, people seek approval as they practice rituals given as requirements to gain approval.

Christianity gives us a relationship with the Living God.

Christians get God's grace (God's overwhelming love and favor), and

cannot work for our relationship with the Living God (Eph. 2:8-9).

Christians simply believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (Rom. 10:9-10).

Christians are in relationship with God, and we live for Him (II Cor. 5:14-15).

We have the real deal, and what God promises is real.  

Christians, make getting to church this weekend a priority to worship the true and Living God.

Also consider Heb. 12:28-29, regarding how to show our appreciation.

Hebrews 12:28-29:

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us [fn]show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

29 for our God is a consuming fire. God Bless, Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

Living With The Eternal Grace of God

The Christians way of life flows out of God's grace upon us.  Christians do not have to practice rituals in an effort to get right with God.  Christians are made righteous before God by the personal sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  Jesus suffered enormous pain and shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins.  The work of Jesus is a completed action that needs no human addition (Heb. 10:1-4).

God's work inside of the Christian is what naturally causes us to do good works, and is what move us to stimulate others to do good works, and want to be around each other (Heb. 10:19-25).

Christians, God's work of grace inside of us provides us eternal intimacy in God's holy presence, and drives us into a lifetime of faithful service to Him with unwavering hope (Heb. 10:19-23).

We live with a no turning back to our old life of leaving God out and doing our own thing. "But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:39).

Christian's live with total confidence in the eternal work that God has done inside of us, and with what He is doing, and what He is going to do (this is our ongoing and fulfilling worship of God).

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

Deal with That Devil!

No need to cuss the devil out and spend excessive time talking to him and telling him off, and announcing to the world what all you did to him.  Keep your dealings with the devil very strong and simple.

Jesus modeled how to effectively deal with the devil, and get him off our back for the moment with strength and simplicity.

In Luke 4, we learn that in Satan's huge temptation battle against Jesus, he brought the same three areas of temptation from I John 2:16, into his temptations to get Jesus to operate outside of God's perfect will in Luke 4 (this was to get Jesus to sin and disqualify Jesus from being the Savior):

Feed yourself by turning the stones into bread (The lust of the flesh ).

Look at all the worldly kingdoms I am offering to you, just worship me (The lust of the eyes ).

Put your son ship on display before the people and jump off the temple (The boastful pride of life).

In Genesis 3:6, the devil tempted Eve with the same three areas of temptation to get her to eat the fruit God said to not eat, in Gen. 3:6:

The fruit was good for food (Lust of the flesh)

The fruit was a delight to her eyes (lust of the eyes).

The fruit was good for wisdom to be like God (the boastful pride of life).

Christians, Jesus used our most powerful weapon against the devil.  Jesus knew the Word of God, and Jesus skillfully used the Word of God, to get the victory over each temptation.

Christians, the devil is constantly trying to discredit us, and ruin our influence among non-Christians, to weaken our influence in our families, in the church, and in the community.  Therefore, let us follow in the footsteps of Jesus and skillfully use the Word of God to get the devil off our backs each time he attacks.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

Live to Bring Glory to God.

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus said: "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

What does the phrase "glorify your Father" really mean?

It simply means to let God be heard and seen in your speech, and actions.  Say and do things in a way in which people see God, and are drawn to Him.

Christians, we must be intentional to bring glory to God.  Ego will fight to share stage time with God, but we must fight ego back and hold ego back so that God gets the glory.  This is easier said than done so be prayerfully intentional.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

A Spirit of Thanksgiving

How do get rid of discouragement, stress, and the other emotions that take our spirit down?

Learn to see God working in your curcumstances and give thanks.

"in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (I Thess. 5:18).   NASB

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:2-3).  NLT As you follow God's Word you discover that God does not abandon His children.  Whatever you are going through, God is working on your behalf. Learn to find the good in your circumstances and give thanks.  Start feeling better by simply using an old Biblical remedy. God Bless, Pastor Brian E Kennedy, Sr.