Articles https://www.trinitychurchwh.com Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:50:32 -0400 http://churchplantmedia.com/ Advent Light https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/advent-light https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/advent-light#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2022 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/advent-light The Christian calendar with seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Ordinary, Lent, and Easter/Pentecost, Kingdomtide, is something that the Church developed over decades and centuries, but mostly after the days of Constantine when the Church gained civil freedoms from persecution and elevation into prominence in Roman society.  Advent, in particular, was not introduced until about the mid-6th century. 

While holding the important theme of Christ's powerful return, somewhat penitential and somewhat anticipatory, it is observed technically for 4 weeks before Christmas, but in reality it is mostly overshadowed by the joyful expectations as well as cultural pressures of celebrating Christmas and Christ's first appearance, especially in a secular materialistic society and obviously much more popular and theologically emphasized, concerning the importance of the incarnation. While I appreciate the liturgical calendar for several reasons, I do not idolize it, and can also see some negative effects it can have upon the lives of Christians living and thinking cyclically or compartmentalized as the Church in the world.

Considering how the early Church of the first 300 years lived in closer reality to the Great Commission with its accompanying persecution without a developed Church calendar, and how the hope and importance of Christ's return was sufficiently and necessarily emphasized in the apostle's writings, with healthy reminders concerning  both a coming judgement and salvation to balance out a beleiver's attitude and perspective during the remainder of their lives on earth, helping them to both endure wordly trials and live lives worthy of their heavenly callings, also nurturing a greater concern for the unsaved lost, I find that the compartmentalized mere 4 week seasonal focus on Christ's 2nd appearance just before Christmas, inadequately calls to mind for the Christian, the importance of this biblical Gospel truth with its dual themes, and the ongoing season that calls for an awareness of both the end of present age and the beginning of the new and everlasting Kingdom upon Christ's return, not as a newborn baby, but as a victorious, conquering, and glorifed King.


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The Christian calendar with seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Ordinary, Lent, and Easter/Pentecost, Kingdomtide, is something that the Church developed over decades and centuries, but mostly after the days of Constantine when the Church gained civil freedoms from persecution and elevation into prominence in Roman society.  Advent, in particular, was not introduced until about the mid-6th century. 

While holding the important theme of Christ's powerful return, somewhat penitential and somewhat anticipatory, it is observed technically for 4 weeks before Christmas, but in reality it is mostly overshadowed by the joyful expectations as well as cultural pressures of celebrating Christmas and Christ's first appearance, especially in a secular materialistic society and obviously much more popular and theologically emphasized, concerning the importance of the incarnation. While I appreciate the liturgical calendar for several reasons, I do not idolize it, and can also see some negative effects it can have upon the lives of Christians living and thinking cyclically or compartmentalized as the Church in the world.

Considering how the early Church of the first 300 years lived in closer reality to the Great Commission with its accompanying persecution without a developed Church calendar, and how the hope and importance of Christ's return was sufficiently and necessarily emphasized in the apostle's writings, with healthy reminders concerning  both a coming judgement and salvation to balance out a beleiver's attitude and perspective during the remainder of their lives on earth, helping them to both endure wordly trials and live lives worthy of their heavenly callings, also nurturing a greater concern for the unsaved lost, I find that the compartmentalized mere 4 week seasonal focus on Christ's 2nd appearance just before Christmas, inadequately calls to mind for the Christian, the importance of this biblical Gospel truth with its dual themes, and the ongoing season that calls for an awareness of both the end of present age and the beginning of the new and everlasting Kingdom upon Christ's return, not as a newborn baby, but as a victorious, conquering, and glorifed King.


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Acting Upon God's Authority https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/acting-upon-gods-authority https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/acting-upon-gods-authority#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2022 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/acting-upon-gods-authority The Christian Church in the western world has today become sinfully disobedient as a result of a spirit of timidity that has been taught, particularly to men, also by men in church leadership, perhaps partially because these leaders do not want to be challenged by other men themselves. The overemphasis of the gentle Jesus, as the model for men, has hindered men from responding to the call and command to go in to the world to make disciples, in that it doesn't consider the boldness of Christ who faced demons and opposition from other men in authority, because he went out in authority and with power.

In the days we live in, often compared to the days of Elijah, although it isn't as bad yet, Elijah found himself hiding because of and after the confrontations he engaged in when sent by God. If he had been hiding beforehand, we would know of no such stories. However, most of todays's so-called men of God, avoid any such engagements claiming it was not the gentle Jesus's way of doing things, nor would He send anyone out now on such missions. However, this same Jesus is the one who said that because "all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him", the Church should "therefore, go...".  When they did, after being clothed with power from the Holy Spirit, they did so in faithful obedience to the call which was also a command. As a result, they also cast out demons and met opposition from other men in authority who opposed Christ, but they did not turn away from the challenge or hide from the reiterated call when they were persecuted. They prayed and asked for more boldness instead of becoming timid again.

The Church was first given authority, second was given power, but third was the requirement to respond in faithful obedience to the call and command.  Today, we need more ment like this in the Church in the western world.

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The Christian Church in the western world has today become sinfully disobedient as a result of a spirit of timidity that has been taught, particularly to men, also by men in church leadership, perhaps partially because these leaders do not want to be challenged by other men themselves. The overemphasis of the gentle Jesus, as the model for men, has hindered men from responding to the call and command to go in to the world to make disciples, in that it doesn't consider the boldness of Christ who faced demons and opposition from other men in authority, because he went out in authority and with power.

In the days we live in, often compared to the days of Elijah, although it isn't as bad yet, Elijah found himself hiding because of and after the confrontations he engaged in when sent by God. If he had been hiding beforehand, we would know of no such stories. However, most of todays's so-called men of God, avoid any such engagements claiming it was not the gentle Jesus's way of doing things, nor would He send anyone out now on such missions. However, this same Jesus is the one who said that because "all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him", the Church should "therefore, go...".  When they did, after being clothed with power from the Holy Spirit, they did so in faithful obedience to the call which was also a command. As a result, they also cast out demons and met opposition from other men in authority who opposed Christ, but they did not turn away from the challenge or hide from the reiterated call when they were persecuted. They prayed and asked for more boldness instead of becoming timid again.

The Church was first given authority, second was given power, but third was the requirement to respond in faithful obedience to the call and command.  Today, we need more ment like this in the Church in the western world.

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Seeking God in Trouble https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/seeking-god https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/seeking-god#comments Wed, 15 Dec 2021 17:00:00 -0500 https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/seeking-god Jesus spoke the truth of course, when He said, “In this world you will have trouble…”. 

It is often the case that when we are in trouble, we think about or begin to pray to God for help, but the trouble we are facing also causes us anxiety, also making it difficult to pray.  Worrying does that – it consumes our hearts and minds, because of the uncertainties related to the trouble and the fear attacking us from the inside out, in our minds and hearts.  But Jesus also added, “…but take heart/courage because I have overcome the world.”   

It is in and through Jesus’s holy words that we are ENCOURAGED against fear and anxiety, because His words are alive and life giving, and they speak into our minds and hearts.  God works in us through His Word.

He also corrects out thinking and feelings when He says, “Do not be anxious about anything but with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.”  And He makes a trustworthy promise that when and if we do so, we will be COMFORTED with His peace that surpasses understanding.  God works in us through His Spirit who is in agreement with God’s Word. “Courage and comfort” from God is heavenly medication for our worldly troubles.

Jesus, being also a man who faced many troubles himself and yet overcame the world because of His living relationship with His Heavenly Father and the help of the Holy Spirit, is believable. This is why it is good and right and necessary for us also to depend upon God’s Word, especially when we are in trouble and which we were taught to do so as children of God and followers of God’s Son. He taught us how to pray and truthfully told us to “abide in His Word” as His disciples who are following after Him.

So, when troubles come as was foretold, we can take heart/find courage in the Truth as well as have the peace of God, as we live united with Him, prayerfully abiding in His Word, being recipients of the Spirit, and dependent upon the Father’s sure love, who first sought after us.

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Jesus spoke the truth of course, when He said, “In this world you will have trouble…”. 

It is often the case that when we are in trouble, we think about or begin to pray to God for help, but the trouble we are facing also causes us anxiety, also making it difficult to pray.  Worrying does that – it consumes our hearts and minds, because of the uncertainties related to the trouble and the fear attacking us from the inside out, in our minds and hearts.  But Jesus also added, “…but take heart/courage because I have overcome the world.”   

It is in and through Jesus’s holy words that we are ENCOURAGED against fear and anxiety, because His words are alive and life giving, and they speak into our minds and hearts.  God works in us through His Word.

He also corrects out thinking and feelings when He says, “Do not be anxious about anything but with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.”  And He makes a trustworthy promise that when and if we do so, we will be COMFORTED with His peace that surpasses understanding.  God works in us through His Spirit who is in agreement with God’s Word. “Courage and comfort” from God is heavenly medication for our worldly troubles.

Jesus, being also a man who faced many troubles himself and yet overcame the world because of His living relationship with His Heavenly Father and the help of the Holy Spirit, is believable. This is why it is good and right and necessary for us also to depend upon God’s Word, especially when we are in trouble and which we were taught to do so as children of God and followers of God’s Son. He taught us how to pray and truthfully told us to “abide in His Word” as His disciples who are following after Him.

So, when troubles come as was foretold, we can take heart/find courage in the Truth as well as have the peace of God, as we live united with Him, prayerfully abiding in His Word, being recipients of the Spirit, and dependent upon the Father’s sure love, who first sought after us.

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Willingness to Fight https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/willingness-to-fight https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/willingness-to-fight#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/willingness-to-fight
When engaged in spiritual warfare, you must understand, who the enemy you are fighting is, how the enemy fights, and how the battle is won.

In a time when infants are sacrificed to demons (there is nothing new under the sun) for the empowerment of enemy forces, the Church must be fully equipped and engaged with the spiritual weapons of warfare, it has been given, namely offering up the blood of God's only-begotten Son in prayer and worship and thanksgiving, calling upon His Name JESUS, interceding through the Spirit with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, in the authority of His Name, not being afraid, but instead being confident to engage in the battle on the front lines even where the enemy is met face to face.

And even if the enemy is given power, for a time, to strike down and overcome the saints, the saints still have the victory because of Jesus who reigns from Heaven, who they also will meet face to face and be given crowns of glory.

But does the Church even know how to fight? Is it even willing to engage in battle and maybe even shed a little blood? Where is the call? Where are the trumpets? Where are the giant-slayers?
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When engaged in spiritual warfare, you must understand, who the enemy you are fighting is, how the enemy fights, and how the battle is won.

In a time when infants are sacrificed to demons (there is nothing new under the sun) for the empowerment of enemy forces, the Church must be fully equipped and engaged with the spiritual weapons of warfare, it has been given, namely offering up the blood of God's only-begotten Son in prayer and worship and thanksgiving, calling upon His Name JESUS, interceding through the Spirit with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, in the authority of His Name, not being afraid, but instead being confident to engage in the battle on the front lines even where the enemy is met face to face.

And even if the enemy is given power, for a time, to strike down and overcome the saints, the saints still have the victory because of Jesus who reigns from Heaven, who they also will meet face to face and be given crowns of glory.

But does the Church even know how to fight? Is it even willing to engage in battle and maybe even shed a little blood? Where is the call? Where are the trumpets? Where are the giant-slayers?
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Pray for Israel https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/pray-for-Israel https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/pray-for-Israel#comments Wed, 26 May 2021 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/pray-for-Israel

Pray for the Jewish people all the time, but especially at the beginning of their New Year, and in their 10 days of repentance before celebrating the Day of Atonement, according to the Law of Moses.

May their hearts be humbled and minds turned to believe in Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus Christ) in agreement and complete fulfillment of the prophetic words written through Zechariah and Hosea, that they may recognize God’s Son as the “once and for all” atoning sacrifice, and may look to Him by grace through faith and be saved, leading to the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel and the return of Christ to sit upon the throne of his earthly father David and establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

The prophet Zechariah wrote, "I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of Grace and supplication for favor, so that they will look upon Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over him, like the bitter weeping over a firstborn."

While this may sound like a painful moment, the apostle Paul wrote about how incredible it will be when all of Israel is saved by the Messiah.  “For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” – Romans 11:15.  What I find amazing how the above quote from Zechariah is how you can see and hear the spirit of Messiah speaking in the first person through the prophet.

Also from the prophet Hosea, "I will go away and return to My Place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my Face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me".  While contextually, this verse was the Lord speaking to His people about the captivity in a foregin land, but again prophetically, it was the Lord Messiah speaking in the first person to His people abiut Himself, who after he would suffer and rise from dead, he would return to His Father to await the time of his return to earth to save all Israel as the conquering King they expected. The two verses are related.

So, pray for their fulfillment! The people of Israel are God's especially chosen people and God will fulfill all of His promises to them and they will see His Glory return and the Kingdom established on earth, at the right time.  The Jewish people are close to the heart of Jesus in His love for his brethren.


 

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Pray for the Jewish people all the time, but especially at the beginning of their New Year, and in their 10 days of repentance before celebrating the Day of Atonement, according to the Law of Moses.

May their hearts be humbled and minds turned to believe in Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus Christ) in agreement and complete fulfillment of the prophetic words written through Zechariah and Hosea, that they may recognize God’s Son as the “once and for all” atoning sacrifice, and may look to Him by grace through faith and be saved, leading to the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel and the return of Christ to sit upon the throne of his earthly father David and establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

The prophet Zechariah wrote, "I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of Grace and supplication for favor, so that they will look upon Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over him, like the bitter weeping over a firstborn."

While this may sound like a painful moment, the apostle Paul wrote about how incredible it will be when all of Israel is saved by the Messiah.  “For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” – Romans 11:15.  What I find amazing how the above quote from Zechariah is how you can see and hear the spirit of Messiah speaking in the first person through the prophet.

Also from the prophet Hosea, "I will go away and return to My Place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my Face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me".  While contextually, this verse was the Lord speaking to His people about the captivity in a foregin land, but again prophetically, it was the Lord Messiah speaking in the first person to His people abiut Himself, who after he would suffer and rise from dead, he would return to His Father to await the time of his return to earth to save all Israel as the conquering King they expected. The two verses are related.

So, pray for their fulfillment! The people of Israel are God's especially chosen people and God will fulfill all of His promises to them and they will see His Glory return and the Kingdom established on earth, at the right time.  The Jewish people are close to the heart of Jesus in His love for his brethren.


 

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Living Working Relationship https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/test-blog-post https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/test-blog-post#comments Wed, 26 May 2021 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.trinitychurchwh.com/blog/post/test-blog-post Jesus said, “I have testimony weightier than John. For the the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.” -John 5:36

Jesus had His own particular work that was assigned to Him, but it was not just or really Him doing it, but also the Father working in Him, as He said, “Do you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work.” – John 14:10

Hence, the work of God is inseparable from a living relationship with God.

Therefore, for us, the work we do in Christ’ Name should also be based in a real living relationship with God through His Son and with the Holy Spirit.

The Lord works inside of us not only for our sanctification and the completion of our personal salvation, but also so that we might truly participate in His continuing work on earth for the sake of others and His Kingdom.This work can only be accomplished through a “living working relationship” with the living God who is still at work, both in us and in the earth, from which we were formed and made alive by the Spirit, originally and again when we were made into “new creations” in Christ.

It is God who has prepared for us our “good works” in advance and calls us to finish them, even as He will finish His good personal work in us, from the inside out, with which we also cooperate.

As it is written, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.” -Phillippians 2:12-13

 

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Jesus said, “I have testimony weightier than John. For the the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.” -John 5:36

Jesus had His own particular work that was assigned to Him, but it was not just or really Him doing it, but also the Father working in Him, as He said, “Do you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work.” – John 14:10

Hence, the work of God is inseparable from a living relationship with God.

Therefore, for us, the work we do in Christ’ Name should also be based in a real living relationship with God through His Son and with the Holy Spirit.

The Lord works inside of us not only for our sanctification and the completion of our personal salvation, but also so that we might truly participate in His continuing work on earth for the sake of others and His Kingdom.This work can only be accomplished through a “living working relationship” with the living God who is still at work, both in us and in the earth, from which we were formed and made alive by the Spirit, originally and again when we were made into “new creations” in Christ.

It is God who has prepared for us our “good works” in advance and calls us to finish them, even as He will finish His good personal work in us, from the inside out, with which we also cooperate.

As it is written, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.” -Phillippians 2:12-13

 

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