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#1
Thoughts From Pastor Ken / MISUNDERSTANDING JESUS
Last post by Pastor Ken - Mar 13, 2025, 06:34 AMMISUNDERSTANDING JESUS
I believe no one who has ever lived has been misunderstood more than the young teacher who happened to be born, not by preference but by promise, through the line of the Old Testament Hebrew patriarch Abraham—Jesus the Christ. Misunderstanding Jesus has caused Muslims to reject Him, Hindus to suspect Him, Buddhists to ignore Him, atheists to hate Him, and agnostics to deny Him. But it just may be those who claim to represent Him the most—Christians—who have in fact misunderstood and, therefore, misrepresented Him the most.
If my last statement sounds outlandish and way off the mark to you, let me encourage you to read the rest of this book before closing your mind to this possibility. In my own life I have had to come to grips with my own personal defects related to my understanding of Jesus and His message. This book will demonstrate beyond doubt that Jesus' message, assignment, passion, and purpose were not to establish a religion of rituals and rules but rather to reintroduce a kingdom. Everything Jesus said and did—His prayers, teachings, healings, and miracles—was focused on a kingdom, not a religion. Jesus was preoccupied with the Kingdom; it was His top priority, His heavenly mandate. Those to whom He came first, the Jews, misunderstood Jesus and saw Him as a rebel, a misfit, and a fanatic. In their minds He was, at best, a misguided rabbinical teacher spreading heresies that contaminated the teachings and laws of Moses and Judaism. In truth, they had reduced the message of Moses to a sophisticated religion where strict observance of the laws became more important than the original purpose for those laws. And they expected Jesus to do the same. The original intent of God's mandate to Moses was not to establish a religion but a nation of people who would love, serve, and honor God—a "royal priesthood and a holy nation" (see 1 Pet. 2:9).
The Muslim misunderstands Him as simply another in a line of prophets who was a great teacher, a good man, and a great prophet, but who fell short and failed to deliver the finished work of redemption to mankind. The Hindu misunderstands Him as a good teacher, a good man, and just another deity to add to their list of gods to provide a serv- ice in their need for spiritual security. The atheist, agnostic, and humanist see him as a mere man, an historical figure, whom a group of misguided men transformed into a god and an object of worship. They acknowledge that Jesus exist- ed but deny any of His miracles as well as His claim to divinity. The media, scientists, and secularists see Him as fair game for investigation and criticism. They acknowledge Him as an interesting subject for arguments, theories, discussion, and debates while ignoring His divine claims and questioning His validity, integrity, and sometimes, His very existence.
Christians have misunderstood Him as the founder of a religion and have transformed His teachings and His methods into customs and His activities into rituals. Many even have reduced His message to nothing more than an escapist plan for getting to heaven and His promises as a mere fire insurance policy for escaping the pains of a tormenting hell. And yet a simple study and review of His message and priority reveals that Jesus had only one message, one mandate, and one mission—the return of the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. From the very beginning, Jesus made it clear that the principal need of the human race, and the only solution to mankind's dilemma, was the Kingdom of Heaven. His first public statements reveal this Kingdom priority, Jesus first announcement was the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven.
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17).
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).
Just some interesting study!
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).
Just some interesting study!
#2
Men's meetings, get-togethers, gossip...... / Prayers for the Day
Last post by DavidElkin - Mar 12, 2025, 09:06 AMThank you Lord for reminding me to Be strong and Courageous! These words will serve as my life's reminder, as I move through the life of Joshua. As I face my first test and conquer my new territory, I will do so knowing that the God of this universe is behind me, beside me, and in front of me. Even though the mountain in front of me may seem as fortified and large as Jericho I know that You have a plan God to cause the mountain to crumble before me. All I need to do is to stand steadfast and reliant upon You and my victory is inevitable. I decree and declare that You are setting up Rahabs in my life to help shield and protect me from the enemy. Praise You Lord for You have gone before me to speak on my behalf, even before I've entered the room... therefore, the ground is ripe for the seed of promise, and I know that my harvest time has come. I will let out a hallelujah, because Your Word never fails! My future is secured, my family is protected and my promise has been made sure in Your unfailing Love! In Jesus' Name, Amen.
#3
Men's meetings, get-togethers, gossip...... / Verse of the day
Last post by DavidElkin - Mar 12, 2025, 09:05 AM"Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."
Jonah 1:17 NKJV
Jonah 1:17 NKJV
#4
Men's meetings, get-togethers, gossip...... / Re: Verse of the day
Last post by DavidElkin - Mar 10, 2025, 09:20 AM"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
John 1:29 NKJV
John 1:29 NKJV
#5
Men's meetings, get-togethers, gossip...... / Re: Prayers for the Day
Last post by DavidElkin - Mar 10, 2025, 09:19 AMGood morning prayer
Thank you, Father, for the peace of your presence. You give us the strength and hope to rise above any struggle. Amen.
Thank you, Father, for the peace of your presence. You give us the strength and hope to rise above any struggle. Amen.
#6
Things you need to know! / Spring forward!
Last post by Rhonda - Mar 07, 2025, 05:30 PM
Set your clocks forward one hour Saturday night before you go to bed! 
#7
Men's meetings, get-togethers, gossip...... / Prayers for the Day
Last post by DavidElkin - Mar 07, 2025, 12:27 PMDear God, give us wisdom to learn from our challenges. Help us to encourage ourselves through scripture and by staying close to you. Amen.
#8
Men's meetings, get-togethers, gossip...... / Verse of the day
Last post by DavidElkin - Mar 07, 2025, 12:26 PMThen the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
Numbers 22:31
Numbers 22:31
#9
Daily Devotions / Re: Favorite scriptures
Last post by Val - Mar 06, 2025, 08:48 AMRevelation 4:8 (ESV): 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!"
Often I will pray this over and over when I'm not sure what to say. When I just want to be with Him and honor Him and draw near. Because I know that the very closest creatures to Him are saying this. I guess I'm just trying to join in to an awesome choir that is close to God because that's where I want to be.
I'll think about the words and what they mean. First and most important is that He is Holy and as you draw near you may discover unconfessed sin and a lack of repentance on your part. So you go to, 1 John 1:9 and make things right.
I'll think about how He was, and is, and is to come. What does that mean. To me, it tells me He is outside of time and able to access and change everything along that timeline and all timelines of every person that ever lived.
I guess that gives rise in me to want to study prophecy because if He said it, it will absolutely come to pass and right when it should. It lets me know that we are not out of control, careening down this road we call future. We are right on schedule and everything happens at the appointed time.
I can take comfort in knowing my future is in Heaven.
"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!"
Often I will pray this over and over when I'm not sure what to say. When I just want to be with Him and honor Him and draw near. Because I know that the very closest creatures to Him are saying this. I guess I'm just trying to join in to an awesome choir that is close to God because that's where I want to be.
I'll think about the words and what they mean. First and most important is that He is Holy and as you draw near you may discover unconfessed sin and a lack of repentance on your part. So you go to, 1 John 1:9 and make things right.
I'll think about how He was, and is, and is to come. What does that mean. To me, it tells me He is outside of time and able to access and change everything along that timeline and all timelines of every person that ever lived.
I guess that gives rise in me to want to study prophecy because if He said it, it will absolutely come to pass and right when it should. It lets me know that we are not out of control, careening down this road we call future. We are right on schedule and everything happens at the appointed time.
I can take comfort in knowing my future is in Heaven.
#10
Daily Devotions / Re: Favorite scriptures
Last post by DavidElkin - Mar 06, 2025, 07:45 AMI rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in Your words.
Psalm 119:147 NLT
Good morning everyone
Psalm 119:147 NLT
Good morning everyone