Take Time to Listen to God

In I Kings 19:11-13, Elijah was running from Queen Jezebel because she put a hit out on him for killing 850 false prophets.  Elijah was suicidal, depressed, discouraged, ready to quit, and needed to hear from God.  

The key to hearing from God is we have to stop and listen.  

I noticed on the Show "Person of Interest" the star characters worship and strictly obey the machine.  They trust the machine, and listen for the machine's voice, and obey the machines every command despite the danger.  If the telephone rings they stop to pick up the phone to listen for the machines next command.  They worship and obey the machine.

Do you trust God like that?  Are you willing to stop and listen for God to speak to you with a mind to obey His every command?  

If so, you have to stop and listen. Here is a great picture of listening to hear from God amid a lot going on around you.

This what God told Elijah in I Kings 19:11-13:

"Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  NLT Stop and take time to listen: God Bless, Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

Use Discernment

"For so it was commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'You shall eat no bread, nor drink water, nor return by the way which you came'" (I Kings 13:9).

These are the words of the "man of God" who prophesied judgement against the household of King Jerboam because of his total disrespect for God and leading the people of Israel deeper into idle worship.

The "man of God" was not to eat or drink until he was out of Israel.  He did well in responding to King Jerboam, who wanted to pay him and feed him for asking God to restore his arm.  But when he left the king, an old prophet found out about him and gave him a false prophesy and had him eat food  and drink water.  The "man of God" did not question the old prophet, nor did he go back to God and get clarification.

The "man of God" was punished because he followed a lie.  He did not use discernment.  He did not see the true nature of the old prophets words.

Christian's, when someone tells you something that clearly contradicts what God has said to you and you know what God said to you is aligned with His word, use discernment. 

Do not allow titles, age, and the appearance of their spirituality throw you off.  They might be lying to you just like that old prophet.  Check in with God.  Check, and double check to make sure you stay on track with God.

Stop allowing others to derail your spiritual victories, and steal your joy in the Lord.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy

Deal with Temptation

Instead of falling into sin from the temptations that target your weaknesses, stand up and deal with them.

In Matthew 4, Jesus teaches us that the three categories of temptation (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastfully pride of life), are all dealt with the same way.  Skillfully use the Word of God the fight your way out of temptation.  Jesus demonstrated a mindset that refused to allow Satan to disqualify Him from His primary purpose on earth (to serve and give His life a ransom for many - Matt. 20:28), by His immediate and skillful use of God's Word.

This is Father's Day weekend.  All men and boys, this is a great opportunity for us to model our commitment to God's Word (I will address this subject in the sermons this weekend at Mt. Zion, Ontario, Calif).

Get a principle or a promise from God's Word and practice, practice, practice.

Why?  So you can stand firm and deal with temptation.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

The Tchula Team after a Job Well Done

After a week in Tchula and Lexington Mississippi, doing missions, we spent some time at the Lorrane Hotel in Memphis, which is now a black history museum.  

At the Lorrane hotel we had time to reflect on a painful part of our history in light of doing ministry in Mississippi.

We had a fruitful ministry with at least 60 people giving their hearts to Jesus, and 50 rededications (some prayed that God would remove "the badness" in their lives, and some wanted a new start).

Tchula, is considered one of the poorest cities in the US.  In Tchula, we see the ravages of slavery, the ongoing devastation of oppression, unemployment, substance abuse, generational curses because of sexual and physical abuse, etc.  Yet, we can see God changing people's lives and many want a different life.  

Tchula, like other parts of the country need a strong concentration of God's people doing II Chron. 7:14.

Please pray for God to continue to pierce the darkness in Tchula and surrounding areas.  Pray also for God's people to do II Chron 7:14.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy 

Functioning as a Healthy Body

In Rom. 12:4-5, God describes how we are to function with harmony as members of one body intricately connected to each other.  Several key practices are listed in Rom. 12:1-3, to accomplish the goal of the functioning in harmony.  1. Present ourselves correctly (everything we do needs to be an act of worship - v.1). 

 2.  Change Correctly (stop trying to be worldly and let God change you with His Word - v. 2).  3. Think correctly (have a proper view of yourself and others; you are not better than others, and they are not better than you - v. 3).  4.  Function correctly.  Practice verses 1-3, and watch how easy it is to bring healthy habits and contributions to the body of Christ.

Christian's, let us function together as healthy members of the local church, (this includes our interaction with Christians who are not members of our local church).

God Bless, 

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy