Desire the fruit of the spirit

Nowhere in the Bible have I read "By their gifts will you know them". Matt7:20 tells us that by their fruits you will know them, here Jesus is telling us we can know the difference between the fruit from a good tree and fruit from a bad tree.
John 15:8 Jesus again tells us "By this my Father is glorified that you bear much fruit: so you will be my disciples.
Too often we focus on the gifts of the Spirit, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, words of wisdom and knowledge, physical healing, yes these are very important but I see the fruit of the spirit as the character of the Christian surrounding their giftings. In Matt 7:21-23 Jesus tells us about those who cast out demons, prophesied and did wonders in his name yet our lord said he never knew them and he said depart from me you who practice lawlessness.
We as the body of Christ need to align our priorities with the living word of GOD. That love, joy, peace kindness, gentiliness, faithfulness, goodness, patience and self control abound in our lives.
A word spoken in kindness rooted in love is sweeter than one spoken harshly.
Today we have heard of many prominate leaders in the Christian community falling to the temptation's of this world, sexual sin, money, drugs, Many were great communicators of Gods word with huge ministries known all over the world but their lives obviously did not bear the fruit to keep them there.
Let me sum up this short thought like this"Our giftedness can take us to a place where our character cannot sustain us. For more read: John 15--- Gal 5,---1John 4,--- Col 3:16
God is love,
Ken Martin

The Church in America

You may have have noticed I have deleted a few posts over the past year. I keep coming around to the same message. I have prayerfully committed to leave this one up.

The gospel comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. "Lets get afflicted"

Ok here we go. Time and time again we choose to live life the way we like to, in such a way that we do our best to keep comfortable and pursue the american dream, then choose a version of the truth (Gods word) then put our own spin on it to justify our actions (selfish ambitions). I am guilty of this too. I believe far too many Church goers feel that if they do not cuss, get drunk, cheat on their spouse and if there children do not cuss and there needs get met, in good health and finances are in order, they are living a good Christian life. I would propose this to be a very basic definition of the American dream. Oh we can't forget the white picket fence.

Lets compare the American dream to the perfect word of GOD and discover if our lifes priorities are as they should be. ( 2Cor.13:5) I see that we must first examine ourselves to see as to whether we are of the faith. 2Tim 3:16, Clearly states that all scripture is givin by inspiration of GOD for correction and instruction in righteousness. Col3:16, Tells us to let the word of GOD dwell richly within you. Psalm119:11, Says your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you.
In our comfort drivin society it is so easy to compromise the word of GOD in our lives.

I have never heard anybody pray the prayer found in Prov. 30:7-9, "Two things I request of you oh Lord, Remove falsehood and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with the food allotted to me, lest I be full and deny you and say"who is the Lord"? Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of the Lord.

WOW! Lord just give me enough to survive. I know I need to remain totally dependant on you. I see this falling perfectly in place with
James 1:1-8 Counting it all joy when we fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (fruit). but let patience have its perfect work in you that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing. We look at and read the bible thinking it is about us, it's not!! In Col.1:16 Tells us that the world was created through him and for him. Cover to cover it is about the Creator of everything visable and invisable and his love and desire to work in our lives and have a relationship with all of us. There have been aprox. 30 billion to 80 billion people that have lived on this earth mabey more, we as individuals, yes so very precious to our Heavenly Father, occupy such a small piece of the history of this world.

We are called to be obedient to his word. Motivated wholly and rooted deeply in love.
John 14:15 says "If you love me you will keep my commands" John 15:14 says you are my friends if you do whatever I command you.
Ok, lets go to "the sermon on the mount" Matt. chapters 5 thru 7. This is an absolutely perfectly laid out call to obedience. Please read it and let the words of GOD dwell richly within you.
This is a call to the heart issue, the inward man not the outward man as the people were used to being taught. This was new to them. Matt.8:28-29 says this: And so it was,when Jesus had ended these sayings the people were astonished at his teachings, for he taught them as one having authority and not as one of the scribes.
Know this, that Jesus has all authority, and that he lives in the heart of the believers (Please read John 17:20 -26 and Col.1:26-27) These verses can totally strenghten your motivation and committment to Christ. Oh yes we cannot forget Romans 8:11. Im getting a bit excited just writing this. Ok I need to focus.

Without waiting any longer, and the heart rate is up, briskly go to Matt ch25 beginning at v:14. Please read the parable of the talents. Here Jesus tells us who have an ear to hear about the kingdom of God. Most of us know the story. In V24 Jesus tells us about the servant who did nothing with what the Lord had given him.(He was living the american dream) He went to church every week, even attended a bible study he did not cuss, faithful to his wife, his kids did not cuss he took the comfortable route.

(I love the lyrics to that ol Kieth Green song "How can you be so dead when you've been so well fed, Jesus arose from the grave and you, you can't even get out of bed" ouch! He had to pray everytime before singing that song as he knew the spiritual implications that were involved.)

The Lord then did cast that unprofitable servant into outer darkness, totally separated from the presence of God, where there there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then in v:31 tells of the Son of God Judging the nations, and again calls us to obedience in serving the hungry, the thirsty, those with no place to stay and those in need of clothing. For as we serve others we serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Will our destination be everlasting punishment or eternal life.

I do not down play the Grace of God at all, for by grace we are saved thru faith.
What is faith? Heb11:1 (NKJ) Says faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen, for by it the elders obtained a good report. The acts of the Apostles were written because there lives bore the fruit of living, active faith. What in our lives come between us and God. Do our lives bear much fruit. Do we need to pray the prayer found in Prov. 30;7-9. Is it possible the very things that make us comfortable here on earth will make us very uncomfortable for all of eternity?
I never thought I would sit on a park bench at 11:pm with people injecting heroine and smoking crack cocaine telling them about the love of Jesus Christ.
I never thought God would bring strangers into my life that I would allow into my home with my family, but he did and for that I am forever thankful.
The statements "I don't know Gods plan for my life. "I don't know what my ministry is to be, can completely make us numb and even parlyzed to our Lords calls to action. Matt ch 25 gives us a great place to start. Yeeeehaaaawwww!!

Jer.29:11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord. Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Always know you are loved with an everlasting love from the Holy creator of galaxies and amoeba's

XOXO,
K.M
http://www.hishandshisfeetministries.org/

I have a dream

I HAVE A DREAM
I have a dream that one day the church of Jesus Christ will rise up
to her God-given calling and begin to live out the true meaning of her
identity—which is, the very heartthrob of God Almighty—the fiancée of
the King of all Kings.
I have a dream that Jesus Christ will one day be Head of His church
again. Not in pious rhetoric, but in reality.
I have a dream that groups of Christians everywhere will begin to flesh
out the New Testament reality that the church is a living organism and
not an institutional organization.
I have a dream that the clergy/laity divide will someday be an antique of
church history, and the Lord Jesus Himself will replace the moss-laden system
of human hierarchy that has usurped His authority among His people.
I have a dream that multitudes of God’s people will no longer tolerate
those man-made systems that have put them in religious bondage and
under a pile of guilt, duty, condemnation, making them slaves to authoritarian
systems and leaders.
I have a dream that the centrality and supremacy of Jesus Christ will
be the focus, the mainstay, and the pursuit of every Christian and every
church. And that God’s dear people will no longer be obsessed with spiritual
and religious things to the point of division. But that their obsession
and pursuit would be a person—the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have a dream that countless churches will be transformed from
high-powered business organizations into spiritual families—authentic
Christ-centered communities—where the members know one another
intimately, love one another unconditionally, bleed for one another deeply,
and rejoice with one another unfailingly.
I have a dream today.…

Some more food for thought

WE know our battle is not of flesh and blood, but is spiritual and so often the the attack of the evil enemy is aimed at our weakest point, that often times is our doubting what God has already shown us to be true. We know in our hearts what GOD has said but it takes faith to put it into gear and to get out there and do what GOD has told us to do. Right then and there when that decision has been made, the battle is either won or lost. Strength that knows it is strong is really weakness, but weakness that cries out to GOD for help is really strength far beyond human understanding. We as believers in JESUS CHRIST have to realize where our strength comes from, and know how powerful the spoken word of GOD really is. Committing scripture to memory can be one of our biggest wepons in the day to day spiritual battles we all engage in. Logos is the overall written word of GOD, but when it becomes Rhema in our hearts, meaning when it becomes so real its alive within us, this word of GOD, a bible verse or a portion of scripture, that when wielded by a believer in a time of need is more powerful than a double edged sword that cuts effortlessly right thru the bone penetraiting to the very core of our existance. This is the strength that is really strong, this is a picture of the supernatural revealing itself in the natural. These days GOD is calling all believers to a higher standard of living, to stand on his word and to remain standing, we may see the world crumbling around us, but when its all over, there will be a peace that passes all understanding, a peace that words will not be able to describe. GOD bless you and keep you, Ken Martin http://www.hishandshisfeetministries.org/