You will have Tribulation - John 16:33
Faith Journey | Rev. Kenn Blanchard
New King James Version John 16 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you []will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
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Altar call #13
Faith Journey | Rev. Kenn Blanchard
james 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works. let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him...
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Can you show some compassion for the grieving? Romans 12:15
Faith Journey | Rev. Kenn Blanchard
Matthew 14 Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Grieve with those who grieve” is a phrase from the Bible, Romans 12:15, which encourages Christians to be compassionate and share the grief of others. Grief is a very personal and complex emotion, and there's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. However, here are some things to keep in mind that may help you continue to do good while you are grieving: Acknowledge your grief. It's important to allow yourself to feel your emotions and to grieve in your own way. Don't try to...
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Be Purposeful / Intentional with your faith's journey.
Faith Journey | Rev. Kenn Blanchard
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; An intentional Christian is someone who lives their life with purpose, in accordance with God's will, and with a focus on growing closer to God. This involves putting God at the center of their actions, and being intentional with their emotions and time.
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The Struggle is Real, Pt 2 - Trust
Faith Journey | Rev. Kenn Blanchard
This is pt 2 of the series entitled the struggle is real. Ephesians 6:12 says For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Trusting the gospel: Christians may struggle to trust in the gospel and the promises of God.
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Struggle is Real, part 1 - episode 9
Faith Journey | Rev. Kenn Blanchard
Episode 8 begins series that I will be sharing about the struggles we Christians face. You might be perfect and don’t have any of the problems, issues or challenges that I am going to talk about, but maybe someone close to you does, and then with this new understanding you will be able to minister to them. Christians face a variety of challenges, including maintaining their faith, dealing with sin, and coping with change. Part one: Maintaining your faith.
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What is a dead church? Episode 8
Faith Journey | Rev. Kenn Blanchard
Is your faith dead? What would you call a dead church? What is a church? What does God say about a dead church. Revelation 3:1. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. A church building might be considered dead if it is abandoned or unused. Signs of a dead church* Decreased attendance: The number of people attending services consistently decreases Decreased tithes: The amount of money given in tithes...
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What Are You Fishing For?
Faith Journey | Rev. Kenn Blanchard
What Are You Fishing For? Men pleasers- Ephesians 6:6 Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; Gold/wealth- Matthew 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? Treasures-Proverbs 10:2 - Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. Lust of the flesh- Galatians 5:16 - This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Earthly accolades, wealth, something of value, women, men, Luke 12:20 But God...
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You ought to ALWAYS pray. (Episode 6)
Faith Journey | Rev. Kenn Blanchard
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; The sin of not praying. Prayer is communication with God. Jesus told us to always pray. You can tell a spiritual contender from a pretender by their prayer. The Spirit knows spirit. There are people that stand up in church and start TALKING but they are not praying. There are people that in their minds they are praying but their words are not going further than a few feet in front of their mouths. How do you NOT do that? Watch ye therefore, and pray always,...
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5- Why are we never satisfied?
Faith Journey | Rev. Kenn Blanchard
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit Ecc 6:9 KJV It is better to be happy with what you have than to always want more and more. Always wanting more and more is useless. It is like trying to catch the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:9 Proverbs 13:25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want. Proverbs 27:20 Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied. What's the deal on the quesiton of the week? ...
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Answer for last week['s quesiton of the week: John 3.
This week the question of the week is: What is the relationship between Paul's teaching and James' teaching about faith and works?
This week, I want to help the helpers. You that have a testimony. You that have worked in ministry and you that has a desire to do so. Take it from me, sometimes we fail as disciples of Christ because even though our hearts are in the right place, our mouth is not connected. We say the wrong thing. I am just trying to help someone on your faith journey.
Have you ever taken a martial art? Karate, kung fu, BJJ? Depending on your ability and school it may take you a little while to get your first belt, sash or stripe. You with me so far? One of the things that happens to you really quick is you learn how much you don’t know. How foolish would it for a white belt to spar with a black belt in karate? For those that don’t know, you only are taught basic blocks, stances and punches and kicks at that level. The black belt on the other hand is more experienced and has more tools in his arsenal that you do.
But we go off to help people fast without realizing we don’t know all that is going on.
You ever heard someone quote to you Philippians 4:6-7 with a big old smile, and you wanted to hit them with a one of those three stooges cream pies?
King James Version
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.
Sounds good. But
It comes down to trust.
Maybe you never felt like that. But personally, Christians can get on your nerves when you are going through tough times. Although the word of God is legit and true, how you receive it to apply is different.
Why is it that we are so eager to fight a demon with no training? We have a little bit of Scripture and we want to apply that to every situation.
I know you mean well, but so do those folks that come knock on your door to give you Watchtower tracks.
Here’s a few tips for making your witness better. Take that scripture and put in your own words that is applicable to the situation. That will take some thought. That will take some maturity. That will slow your roll and allow you to listen which is usually needed more than a memorized Masoretic Hebrew text from the canon, referring to the holy bible.
If you really want to help your buddy remind them that they have to trust God. Now would be a good time to testify to a situation you had.
Side bar. Testimonies
Testimonies are important for several reasons, especially within a faith journey context:
1. **Personal Connection**: Sharing personal experiences helps others relate to your journey and see how faith has impacted your life. It makes abstract beliefs more tangible and relatable¹.
2. **Encouragement and Hope**: Hearing how others have overcome challenges through their faith can provide encouragement and hope to those facing similar struggles. It reassures them that they are not alone².
3. **Strengthening Faith**: Testimonies can strengthen the faith of both the speaker and the listeners. Sharing your story can remind you of God's faithfulness and inspire others to trust in Him more deeply².
4. **Evangelism**: Testimonies are powerful tools for evangelism. They can open doors for conversations about faith and provide a non-confrontational way to share the gospel³.
5. **Building Community**: Sharing testimonies fosters a sense of community and support within a congregation or group. It helps build deeper connections as people share their personal journeys and support one another¹.
6. **Authenticity**: A genuine testimony reflects the authenticity of one's faith. It shows how faith influences daily life, decisions, and actions, making it more credible and impactful.
A lot of time what we hear in church is not any of what I just said. What you want to do my friend is inspire on this faith journey is to trust GOD.
- Trusting God in Difficult Times: Use the story of Job or Psalm 23 to illustrate how faith can sustain us through life’s challenges. Highlight how trusting God can bring peace and strength even in the darkest moments.
- Faith Over Fear: Focus on the story of Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41). Discuss how faith in God’s power and presence can help us overcome fear and anxiety.
- Trusting God’s Plan: Use the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) to show how God’s plan can unfold in unexpected ways. Emphasize the importance of patience and trust in God’s timing.
- Trusting God in the Lion’s Den: Reflect on Daniel’s unwavering faith in God when faced with the lions’ den (Daniel 6). Discuss how trust in God can give us courage to stand firm in our beliefs.
- Trusting God with Our Future: Use Proverbs 3:5-6 to encourage the congregation to trust in God’s guidance and wisdom for their future decisions and plans.
- Trusting God in a Crisis: Share the story of Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33). Highlight how keeping our focus on Jesus can help us navigate through crises.
- Trusting God in Everyday Life: Discuss how we can trust God in our daily routines and decisions. Use examples from the New Testament, such as the faith of the centurion (Matthew 8:5-13).
- Trusting God When We Don’t Understand: Use the story of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22) to illustrate the importance of trusting God even when His plans don’t make
OK, what happened on my trip to Missouri. It was awesome. I got to do what the Lord called me to do. I was hosted by a beautiful couple of old friends. They blessed me ten fold. I got a chance to meet some of Gods people that have a real testimony as they are overcoming addictions and life choices. They were on fire for the Lord.
And I got a chance to rest, eat well, be loved on my some children, that I introduced lil spoon. And be a guest preacher at another church. Where I shared some personal stuff you know already. Awesome sauce.