What Now?

What a great resurrection celebration weekend throughout the world on Sunday 3/27/16.

Unfortunately some groups are not happy about Christians recognizing the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

The bombing in a park full of women and children in Afganistan is an example of people full of hate and are willing to kill Christisns just for being Christian's.  The ongoing persecution in Africa is another example.

What do we do now?  The special resurrection celebration weekend is over and Jesus is still seated at the right hand of God the Father, keeping us clean before God, and will eventually come back and set things in order.

What are we supposed to continue doing?  We are to do the same thing the early Christians did.  Despite the persecution of the Jews, the Roman  Government, and others groups, be fired up for Jesus and share the message about Jesus with others.  Share the message so that people can have a personal relationship with the living God.

Our mission is clear.  As disciples of Christ, we are to make disciples of Jesus, the Christ (Matt. 28:18-20).

We are to also go about doing good (Eph.2:10).

Okay Christian's, let us continue to faithfully do our work in the world around us.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
mtzionontario.com

Get to a Resurrection Weekend Service

Christian's, Jesus was nailed to a cross at 9:00 am on a cold Friday morning and hung there for six hours (Mark 14:66-67; 15:35, 33. The third hour is 9:00 am.), for the sins of the world (including you and me).

Jesus demonstrated deep-seated love for humankind in the face of going through six trials, the cruel Roman beating, rejection by people He came to help, and heartless treatment.

With all this He still died to save us (Mark 15:37; cf. Rom. 5:8).

Christian's, make it your business to show God how much you appreciate His love for the world (John 3:16), by getting to a worship service and worship Him, and praise Him.  Use your walker, cane, wheelchair, or simply walk in to a church setting with thanksgiving in your heart.

Mt. Zion is hosting the following services:

At 224 W. California Street, Ontario, Ca

Good Friday service at 7:00 pm

Saturday Evening Service:  5:00 pm

Sunday at The Ontario Town Square 

(224 N. Euclid Ave., Ontario, Ca)

Sunday Sunrise Service: 6:00 am

Other Services:  8:00 & 10:00 am

Christian's Jesus is the Risen Savior of the world.   Do everything you can to worship Him among the saints.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy

Focused

One of the great characteristics of Jesus was His uncanny ability to focus.

In Matthew 20:18, Jesus announced His journey to Jerusalem to be delivered to the Chief Priest, and the Scribes, to be condemned, scourged, and crucified.

A lot happened from that point to Good Friday morning at 9:00 am, when Jesus was hung on the cross.  Yet Jesus remained focused on fulfilling God's plan for His life.

On His way to the cross, Jesus stopped by the Garden of Gethsemene, and prayed His powerful "not My will, but Your will be done" prayer.

Christian's Jesus maintained His focus by praying about drinking from His "bitter cup" in order to line up with God's will for His life.

Whatever your cup today, stop and pray to the God Who sees and cares, and use prayer to help you stay focused on fulfilling God's desire for your life.

He is a prayer to help: Dear Lord, I thank You for giving me the example of Jesus

using prayer to stay focused on Your perfect will for His life.  Despite
rejection, excruciating pain, and total disrespect, Jesus modeled how prayer
kept Him focused.  Lord, I also desire to use the power of prayer to face my
"cup" with courage, and unyielding obedience to You.  Despite all that is
going on around me to distract and discourage me, help me to get to my quiet place where I can talk to You, get strength from You, and maintain focus on
Your perfect will for my life.  I want the victory like my Lord, Jesus. I
love You, amen.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
mtzionontario.com

Focus

Despite all the distractions around you, look to Jesus to help you focus.

Focus on what?  Getting more money, more material goods, food or clothing, pleasure, power and influence, etc.?

Focus on what?  Focus on the things that pertain to God and what is right before God as your first priority (Matt. 6:33).

Christian's, as you attend Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Resurrection services over the next two weeks pay attention to how focused Jesus really was.  Everything Jesus did was perfectly aligned with God's will for His life.  As you learn or refresh your knowledge of all that Jesus did and taught, apply the things that kept Jesus focused into your life, and watch God bring increased fulfillment into your life (John 10:10b).

Christian's, here is one of teachings from Jesus that He modeled to help us focus on God's will for our lives.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matt. 6:33). God Bless, Pastor Brian E Kennedy, Sr.

Breakaway Practices

People around you do things you don't want any part of.  You do not want to be influenced and must use breakaway practices to keep yourself spiritually healthy.

Young Samuel had to do the same thing with Eli's two sons disrespecting God, overcharging people for their offerings to God, and having sexual relations with the women in the temple (I Sam. 2:12-22).

Samuel used two breakaway practices:

1.  He stayed focused on serving God.

2.  He learned to discern the voice of God.

Christian's, we must identify some biblical principles to help us stay spiritually healthy in spiritually dark environments.

Here is a personal prayer to help:

Lord, thank you for breakaway practices to help me avoid ungodly practices wherever I live, learn, work, or rejuvenate. Lord, help me to use breakaway practices such as staying focused on my service to You, and learning to discern Your voice, and properly responding to You, so that despite my environment, I will represent You well, and be a source of spiritual refreshment to others.  I love You.  In the name of Jesus I pray,
amen. 

Promote Jesus on Resurrection Weekend

As we get closer to what is commonly called Easter, Christians come under attack for supposedly celebrating a pagan fertility Goddess named "Eostre."

An English monk named Venerable Bede made a comment in his writings about this goddess, which has very little evidence of existing according to Professor Ronald Hutton (Historian of British paganism and occultism).  Hutton says "Eostre" was not known beyond Bede's statement.  Moreover, there is no evidence for any festival in the British Isles in March or April celebrating a goddess named "Eostre."

Professor Hutton suggest that the word Easter simply means the month of opening, which is consistent with both the Saxon and Latan months related to spring, the season when the buds open.

Source: 

http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2009/april/was-easter-borrowed-from
-pagan-holiday.html

Christian's you will find several views on this issue.  Especially people telling us to withdraw from doing anything that weekend.

Focus on the main issue.  The issue is not a rabbit or eggs, or some so-called fertility goddess.  The main issue is Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, He was buried, and He rose again from the dead.  Putting one's faith in Jesus and what He did gives us a personal relationship with the Living God.

Christian's, whatever you call the resurrection weekend, "keep the main thing the main thing."

Focus on getting the greatest love story known to humanity out to as many people as possible (pull all the plugs, give your very best), so that people will come to know Jesus (John 3:16).

God Bless,

Pastor Brian Kennedy, Sr.

 

Prayer will Prevent a Breakdown

As you think about all that Hannah went through over many years as described in I Samuel 1, (that other wife constantly irritating her, making her feel worthless, causing her to half eat, and making her cry), how in the world did Hannah avoid a breakdown?

Why didn't Hannah throw up her hands and quit?

Hannah's prayer in I Samuel 2:1-10, gives several insights into how to reach your breakthrough versus a breakdown.

Here are two insights that we shared in the sermon in 3/6/16:

Prayer kept Hannah's heart open for healing.

Prayer kept Hannah focused on the works of God.

You can view the message on mtzionontario.com & click online messages (view by 3/9/16).

Christian's as you face ongoing personal attacks, Hannah's story, and her response to evil can help you.

This prayer can also help:

Dear Lord, I thank you for saving me from a breakdown.  Lord I see vividly
how Hannah's prayer life was central to her overcoming breakdown conditions,
and reaching her breakthrough living.  Lord, I see You as the True God, and
The Just Judge, Who turns the tables in life because You are always in
control.  Lord, I trust You afresh with every aspect of my life. Guide me
each step through the landmines of a breakdown, as I enjoy Your supernatural
heart treatment program, and as I connect with You through breakthrough
prayer, and enjoy breakthrough living.  I love You deeply.  I pray these
things in the name of Jesus, Amen.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
mtzionontario.com

What are you Building On?

In Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus said that those who hear His Words and obey His Words are building their house (their life) on The Rock (a huge bedrock, a strong foundation).

Jesus then described three parts of a destructive storm that challenged the stability of the house.

The rain kept raining.

The floods kept flooding.

The winds kept blowing.

These elements continued to beat against the house, but the house continued to stand and never stopped standing.

What is the key to standing strong when the fiercest elements (sickness and dying), are banging against your house (your life)?

The answer is simple.  Hear and obey God's Word.  Hear and obey God's Word).

Christian's, try reading and obeying what Jesus taught in Matt. 5-7, and watch God anchor you in Jesus, the Rock.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian Kennedy, Sr.