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? ...
info_outlineWhat 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 said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Ecclesiastes 5:19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God.
Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Luke 12: 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
What’s in your tackle box? I love to fish. If I fish in freshwater, I take a smaller rod and lighter line. I use artificial bait that looks like a bug or edible thing to a fish that might find its way by accident into the water.
In saltwater, I have to go heavier. Anything is possible but I am not capable of anything so I have to moderate.
Jesus mission was misunderstood.
Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Who is He fighting?
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. John 18:36
The Sword: For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Job threw up the phrase that some people have ascribed to. Job 34:4 Let's decide for ourselves what is right and agree among ourselves as to what is good,
That is straight up PRIDE and arrogance
Charles Haddon Spurgeon said
“DEAR FRIENDS, it is never wise to dispute with God. Let a man strive with his fellow, but not with his Maker. If we must discuss any point, let it be with imperfect beings like ourselves, but not with the infallible and infinitely wise God; for, in most of our discussions, these questions wilt come back to us, "Should it be according to thy mind? Art thou master? Is everyone to be subordinate to thee?" I am going to speak, this evening, to those who have a quarrel with God concerning the way of salvation. “
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 46: 1900
What’s in your tackle box?
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God…” Ephesians 4:11-13
Is all you are catching is hell? You might want to change your bait. You might want to change your tackle. You might want to mend your nets.
Simon Peter, and Andrew had already joined him, now he was asking the sons of Zebadee.
Matthew 4:21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.
James and John, quit fishing for the wrong thing. So what are you fishing for?
Nets were used back in this time for everything.
I am fishing for the people with a mind for God. I am fishing for the hurt and the lost people of God. I am fishing for the one. The mini, not the mega. I am not fishing for attention, recognition, accolades, or compliments.
I am fishing to bring families back together. To bring wives back to their husbands, husbands back to Christ. I am fishing to bring parents back to parenting.
I am fishing to let young men, be men. I am fishing to make old men wiser, revered and loved again. I am fishing to put you back in right order with God.
And I will do it by hook or by crook. Fishing hook or shepherds crook.
Only you can bring back your crazy kids. Pastor can’t do it. if you kids have strayed, its your fault, own up to it, and minister there first.
Oops, just lost some folks. You were with me until I went there.
Deuteronomy 32:46
And he said to them, Set your hearts to all the words which I testify among you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
Ephesians 6:4
And, you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord
So what are you fishing for?
(4 points) Fishing requires patience. It requires the right equipment. It requires commitment. It requires knowledge.
- Patience (Rom 5:4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation
- Equipment -That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Tim 3:17)
Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:12
- Commitment Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
- Knowledge A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. (Proverbs 14:6)
Wisdom and knowledge are granted unto you; and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before you, neither shall there any after you have the like. 2 Chron 1:12
Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
thanks,
Kenn
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