We are no longer under the Sabbath in terms of the the seventh day. The 4th commandment is now the Lord's Day which is the eighth day or now on our first day of the week. If you are still worshiping on Saturday, you are still in a way putting yourself back under the "law." The seventh day represented "law" and now the eighth day represents grace and spirit.
Acts 20:7 And on the first day of the week, when we were assembled together to break bread [ the Lord’s Supper], Paul discoursed with them, intending to leave the next morning; and he kept on with his message until midnight.
The Lord is the Bread of Life. On the first day of the week, it was not just breaking bread to physically eat but it was to break spiritual bread. It was to open the Word of God and eat of HIM. Do you not see this brethren? We break the Word open on the first day of the week.
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first [day] of each week, let each one of you [personally] put aside something and save it up as he has prospered [in proportion to what he is given], so that no collections will need to be taken after I come.
Paul is saying here on the first day of EACH WEEK. He did not say this one particular first day but each week to set aside. If they were still meeting on the seventh day as the Sabbath, why are they again meeting on the first day of each week?
The first day of the week is Resurrection Day. The first day of the week was the day of Pentecost. The first day of the week is the day of the feast of First Firsts. The first day or eighth day, the number eight means a new beginning. The number eight is the number of garments the priest had. A boy was circumcised on the eighth day. The eighth day represents the next millennium.
The first day or the eighth day of the week is the day we celebrate HIM now for it represents Life as it is the day He was resurrected. But you are to still keep this day HOLY for it is now the Lord's Day.
Hebrews 4:4-7 (AMP) For in a certain place He has said this about the seventh day: And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.5 And [they forfeited their part in it, for] in this [passage] He said, They shall not enter My rest.6 Seeing then that the promise remains over [from past times] for some to enter that rest, and that those who formerly were given the good news about it and the opportunity, failed to appropriate it and did not enter because of disobedience,7 Again He sets a definite day, [a new] Today, [and gives another opportunity of securing that rest] saying through David after so long a time in the words already quoted, Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts.
Fire of God Ministries International
Friday, December 28, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Overcoming with extra oil!
Matthew 25:1-12
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took
their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish
(thoughtless, without forethought) and five were wise (sensible,
intelligent, and prudent).3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they
did not take any [extra] oil with them;4 But the wise took flasks of oil
along with them [also] with their lamps.5 While the bridegroom lingered
and was slow in coming, they all began nodding their heads, and they
fell asleep.6 But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom!
Go out to meet him!7 Then all those virgins got up and put their own
lamps in order.8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your
oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise replied, There will not
be enough for us and for you; go instead to the dealers and buy for
yourselves.10 But while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom
came, and those who were prepared went in with him to the marriage
feast; and the door was shut.11 Later the other virgins also came and
said, Lord, Lord, open [the door] to us!12 But He replied, I solemnly
declare to you, I do not know you [I am not acquainted with you].
Although many look at these verses with pertaining to the coming of the Lord, we must observe a closer look with these two groups. Both groups are believers. Both groups have the Holy Spirit. We can even say both groups have been baptized by the Holy Spirit as both with oil possess spiritual gifts.
Where were the ten virgins taking their lamps? Only five virgins during their journey had taken extra flasks of oil along with them. Why were there two groups? Even in the church community, there is a division between those who seek and are spiritual and those who do not have much interest of it. Common ground or division is based on our interests. Is our interest all in the Lord or are there sub groups within the church who rather discuss about sports, money, ambition, greed, and/or other idols on His Holy Day?
Luke 12:49-51 (AMP) I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how greatly and sorely I am urged on (impelled, [a]constrained) until it is accomplished!51 Do you suppose that I have come to give peace upon earth? No, I say to you, but rather division;
When Jesus comes to bring division, is He bringing division between the believers and heathens? No, He is bringing division between the sheep and goats. The goats or tares are not the unbelievers. Tares look like wheat as they grow. Only at the end will we see its fruit. The goat and tares are believers who are rebellious, disobedient, and/or corrupted. He comes to make us choose.
The ten virgins have been broken up into two groups of five. The number five represents grace. Both groups have equal chance and grace to be received by the Bridegroom. Both groups are on a journey called life as they both wait upon His return.
Both groups have spiritual gifts. Even the five foolish virgins with no extra oil have spiritual gifts. They have the original amount of oil given to them at the birth of their salvation. But at the end when the Bridegroom comes, He will declare, "I DO NOT KNOW YOU!." How come so many can not fear such words from the Lord?
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name. 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].
In Matthew 7, the Lord said openly in public to those who disregarded His commands, I NEVER KNEW YOU. DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO ACT WICKEDLY!
But you see, in verse 22, it states that many will say to HIM, did we not prophesied in Your Name and driven out demons in Your Name and down many mighty works in Your Name? Too those He said He did not know not only had spiritual gifts but they also had POWER!
The five foolish virgins can speak in tongue. The five foolish virgins can prophesied. The five foolish virgins can drive out demons. The five foolish virgins can do many mighty works in His Name. The five foolish virgins had oil to start with.
I have observed many Christians who may be stumbling or even who have fallen away. Many of them still possess their gifts such as to speak in tongue. Many of them still possess their gift to prophesied. Many of them still possess their gift to hear God. They may even still have dreams and visions. But many such Christians are struggling with addictions, idols, bondage, and can be very carnal and short sighted. They are the five foolish virgins who are still given grace.
Many who struggle with addictions, bondage, idols, and the other problems of life have a choice. They can be content with their original amount of oil thinking it is suffice because they have been given grace to possess certain spiritual gifts. Or they can seek Jesus on a more intimate level to possess more of the Holy Spirit. The five wise virgins are those who have chosen to give their choices to God and seek the deeper things of God and to be FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. Many say they are filled with the Holy Spirit yet their joy and peace is not complete. The addictions, bondage, and idols in their lives prevent the joy and peace from being complete. They have not given all their heart to Jesus. They have not fully surrendered even though they have been led to believe it by the enemy and their own flesh.
What is the answer to being filled with the Holy Spirit? Have we forgiven our brethren? Have we forgiven those who have hurt us? You must fully surrender your lives. Is giving up watching NFL, soccer, NBA, and MLB sports such a high price for you? Is giving up your personal ambitions such a high price for you? Is giving up casual drinking too high of a price? Is giving up the secular music too high of a price? Is giving up watching hours and hours of TV too high of a price? Is going to church more than once a week too much for your time? Is praying and spending time in personal worship not important enough for you to make such a time? Is keeping His 4th commandment holy (Sundays) too much to ask? Is tithing and making offering to God just too much of a strain on your pocket books? Yet, we have the money to pay our cable, iPhone, buy video games and tickets to sports arena? And we wonder why we cannot get our spiritual breakthroughs?
The remedies of life is not about having more money. It is not a seven step program. It is not a twelve step program. It is not about popping more pills for your physical ailments. It is not about getting more education. It is not about going to this place or that place. It is not about thinking you need to do God's work/ministry asap. It is not about going to theology school. It is not about finding a remedy through physical means. The remedy is spending more time with God and getting to know HIM and learning His Ways! It is simple as that. When your life is consumed with God rather than consumed with other idols, then you will be filled with extra oil on this journey of life. And as you are filled with extra oil spending more time with God, then you will achieve and overcome all the problems the world throws at you. Because the Word says, if you are born of God, you will overcome the world!
It is about spending quality time in prayer, worship, and reading. It is about keeping and walking in His Commandments. You cannot pray, worship, and read and break His commandments at the same time. You will nullify your time with HIM. You cannot say you love the Lord but have so much evil things to say about those who have hurt you. It is not about shouting "Jesus is Lord" on Facebook in so many different ways each and every day and then being a reviler off Facebook. Many are revilers on Facebook regardless!
And as we overcome all our trails and tests by spending more time with the Lord rather than focusing and spending our time in our problems, we are thus filled with His Spirit and we will OVERCOME!! And as we OVERCOME, we will qualify ourselves to be the bride of Christ for the rapture. Running from our problems and defeats thinking the rapture will rescue us is but delusion. There are no quitters or runners in the Kingdom of God. You must hold your ground. You are a child of the Most High! You must learn the ways of God. You must understand the spiritual authority of God so you do not become a rebel. Do you think Korah (Numbers 16) and his whole family went down to Hell alive thinking he was rebelling against God? Many think they are good to go. But in reality, they are already falling.
1 Corinthians 10:12 (AMP) Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin].
Do not think you know enough or have reached a level in which you can relax. Such thinking is pride. Possessing spiritual gifts does not exempt one from hearing the words, "I DO NOT KNOW YOU!" You must continue to move forward knowing a higher cost is required. More of your time is required. Is your time more valuable than spending it with HIM? Be consumed by HIM. You must return to your First Love. He is a consuming Fire. May you all be baptized by His Holy Spirit Fire. Remember, prayer fans the Fire of God in you. Hallelujah!
Fire of God Ministries International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
December 26, 2012
Although many look at these verses with pertaining to the coming of the Lord, we must observe a closer look with these two groups. Both groups are believers. Both groups have the Holy Spirit. We can even say both groups have been baptized by the Holy Spirit as both with oil possess spiritual gifts.
Where were the ten virgins taking their lamps? Only five virgins during their journey had taken extra flasks of oil along with them. Why were there two groups? Even in the church community, there is a division between those who seek and are spiritual and those who do not have much interest of it. Common ground or division is based on our interests. Is our interest all in the Lord or are there sub groups within the church who rather discuss about sports, money, ambition, greed, and/or other idols on His Holy Day?
Luke 12:49-51 (AMP) I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how greatly and sorely I am urged on (impelled, [a]constrained) until it is accomplished!51 Do you suppose that I have come to give peace upon earth? No, I say to you, but rather division;
When Jesus comes to bring division, is He bringing division between the believers and heathens? No, He is bringing division between the sheep and goats. The goats or tares are not the unbelievers. Tares look like wheat as they grow. Only at the end will we see its fruit. The goat and tares are believers who are rebellious, disobedient, and/or corrupted. He comes to make us choose.
The ten virgins have been broken up into two groups of five. The number five represents grace. Both groups have equal chance and grace to be received by the Bridegroom. Both groups are on a journey called life as they both wait upon His return.
Both groups have spiritual gifts. Even the five foolish virgins with no extra oil have spiritual gifts. They have the original amount of oil given to them at the birth of their salvation. But at the end when the Bridegroom comes, He will declare, "I DO NOT KNOW YOU!." How come so many can not fear such words from the Lord?
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name. 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].
In Matthew 7, the Lord said openly in public to those who disregarded His commands, I NEVER KNEW YOU. DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO ACT WICKEDLY!
But you see, in verse 22, it states that many will say to HIM, did we not prophesied in Your Name and driven out demons in Your Name and down many mighty works in Your Name? Too those He said He did not know not only had spiritual gifts but they also had POWER!
The five foolish virgins can speak in tongue. The five foolish virgins can prophesied. The five foolish virgins can drive out demons. The five foolish virgins can do many mighty works in His Name. The five foolish virgins had oil to start with.
I have observed many Christians who may be stumbling or even who have fallen away. Many of them still possess their gifts such as to speak in tongue. Many of them still possess their gift to prophesied. Many of them still possess their gift to hear God. They may even still have dreams and visions. But many such Christians are struggling with addictions, idols, bondage, and can be very carnal and short sighted. They are the five foolish virgins who are still given grace.
Many who struggle with addictions, bondage, idols, and the other problems of life have a choice. They can be content with their original amount of oil thinking it is suffice because they have been given grace to possess certain spiritual gifts. Or they can seek Jesus on a more intimate level to possess more of the Holy Spirit. The five wise virgins are those who have chosen to give their choices to God and seek the deeper things of God and to be FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. Many say they are filled with the Holy Spirit yet their joy and peace is not complete. The addictions, bondage, and idols in their lives prevent the joy and peace from being complete. They have not given all their heart to Jesus. They have not fully surrendered even though they have been led to believe it by the enemy and their own flesh.
What is the answer to being filled with the Holy Spirit? Have we forgiven our brethren? Have we forgiven those who have hurt us? You must fully surrender your lives. Is giving up watching NFL, soccer, NBA, and MLB sports such a high price for you? Is giving up your personal ambitions such a high price for you? Is giving up casual drinking too high of a price? Is giving up the secular music too high of a price? Is giving up watching hours and hours of TV too high of a price? Is going to church more than once a week too much for your time? Is praying and spending time in personal worship not important enough for you to make such a time? Is keeping His 4th commandment holy (Sundays) too much to ask? Is tithing and making offering to God just too much of a strain on your pocket books? Yet, we have the money to pay our cable, iPhone, buy video games and tickets to sports arena? And we wonder why we cannot get our spiritual breakthroughs?
The remedies of life is not about having more money. It is not a seven step program. It is not a twelve step program. It is not about popping more pills for your physical ailments. It is not about getting more education. It is not about going to this place or that place. It is not about thinking you need to do God's work/ministry asap. It is not about going to theology school. It is not about finding a remedy through physical means. The remedy is spending more time with God and getting to know HIM and learning His Ways! It is simple as that. When your life is consumed with God rather than consumed with other idols, then you will be filled with extra oil on this journey of life. And as you are filled with extra oil spending more time with God, then you will achieve and overcome all the problems the world throws at you. Because the Word says, if you are born of God, you will overcome the world!
It is about spending quality time in prayer, worship, and reading. It is about keeping and walking in His Commandments. You cannot pray, worship, and read and break His commandments at the same time. You will nullify your time with HIM. You cannot say you love the Lord but have so much evil things to say about those who have hurt you. It is not about shouting "Jesus is Lord" on Facebook in so many different ways each and every day and then being a reviler off Facebook. Many are revilers on Facebook regardless!
And as we overcome all our trails and tests by spending more time with the Lord rather than focusing and spending our time in our problems, we are thus filled with His Spirit and we will OVERCOME!! And as we OVERCOME, we will qualify ourselves to be the bride of Christ for the rapture. Running from our problems and defeats thinking the rapture will rescue us is but delusion. There are no quitters or runners in the Kingdom of God. You must hold your ground. You are a child of the Most High! You must learn the ways of God. You must understand the spiritual authority of God so you do not become a rebel. Do you think Korah (Numbers 16) and his whole family went down to Hell alive thinking he was rebelling against God? Many think they are good to go. But in reality, they are already falling.
1 Corinthians 10:12 (AMP) Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin].
Do not think you know enough or have reached a level in which you can relax. Such thinking is pride. Possessing spiritual gifts does not exempt one from hearing the words, "I DO NOT KNOW YOU!" You must continue to move forward knowing a higher cost is required. More of your time is required. Is your time more valuable than spending it with HIM? Be consumed by HIM. You must return to your First Love. He is a consuming Fire. May you all be baptized by His Holy Spirit Fire. Remember, prayer fans the Fire of God in you. Hallelujah!
Fire of God Ministries International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
December 26, 2012
Is God really your first?
If you go to work late, there may be immediate
consequences. If you do not show up to work, there will be immediate
consequences. Because we fear of losing income which then we cannot eat,
we are more prepared to make it to work on time and show up
consistently. If you are late on your bills, there may be immediate
consequences such as late fees or services cut off. If you do not pay
what is to Caesar then there may be immediate consequences from the government.
Man and the world system does not give us much grace. There are usually immediate consequences. Therefore, we react more quickly to sight and the physical realm.
But when it comes to the things of God and when it comes to the matters of faith, because God gives us so much Grace and because we are not in most cases immediately impacted by the consequences or the judgment of God, we end up taking advantage of His Grace and become deceived thinking everything is "alright." Is everything in your life "alright?" Most do not know that God is giving us Grace to repent and get things right with HIM. But at the same time, you are but storing up wrath if you do not repent.
If the president or a leader of a foreign nation called for an audience from you, how much time and preparation would you give? Would you dare to be late? But yet, the King of Kings and God of gods calls for our audience at least once a week corporately and we act as though it is a burden and in most cases we do not give much thought with time or priority to HIM.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 (AMP) Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, the hearts of the sons of men are fully set to do evil.
Fire of God Ministries International Church
Man and the world system does not give us much grace. There are usually immediate consequences. Therefore, we react more quickly to sight and the physical realm.
But when it comes to the things of God and when it comes to the matters of faith, because God gives us so much Grace and because we are not in most cases immediately impacted by the consequences or the judgment of God, we end up taking advantage of His Grace and become deceived thinking everything is "alright." Is everything in your life "alright?" Most do not know that God is giving us Grace to repent and get things right with HIM. But at the same time, you are but storing up wrath if you do not repent.
If the president or a leader of a foreign nation called for an audience from you, how much time and preparation would you give? Would you dare to be late? But yet, the King of Kings and God of gods calls for our audience at least once a week corporately and we act as though it is a burden and in most cases we do not give much thought with time or priority to HIM.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 (AMP) Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, the hearts of the sons of men are fully set to do evil.
Fire of God Ministries International Church
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Spiritual authority
Every Christians needs to learn about
spiritual authority. If you do not understand God's spiritual authority,
one can end up rebelling against HIM just as in Korah's rebellion as
God sent a group of His own people to HELL alive!
This is a MUST READ for ALL Christians.
Spiritual authority
God bless
Fire of God Ministries International
This is a MUST READ for ALL Christians.
Spiritual authority
God bless
Fire of God Ministries International
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Let My people GO!!
When God had sent Moses to bring deliverance for
His people in Egypt, why did God not just free His people by destroying
Pharaoh in the first place? Why did God require Pharaoh to voluntarily
let His people go? Why did God have to bring judgement to convince
Pharaoh? In fact, God had made Pharaoh's heart to harden to make it more
difficult to let His people go? Why?
The people of God had flourished in Egypt after Joseph.The Israelites were fruitful and abundant. The new Egyptian king was fearful as the Israelites now had out numbered them and grew in strength. As a result, the Egyptians planned to control and manipulate them. They set over taskmasters and increased their burdens. The Israelites had contributed the work to build Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
Egypt represented the world. We can consider Egypt, Babylon, and Rome synonymous with the "world." We Christians are in this world but we are not of this world. But as we live in this world, we participate with the things of the world. And as the enemy has changed tactics from old, many of us are deceived thinking we have freedom but in reality we are in bondage. In the Old Testament, God's people were in a literal sense "slaves." They were oppressed by a nation such as Egypt and they were forced into labor to build their cities. Today, we are given "democracy" thinking we have freedom but in reality it is cloaked as many of us are made to chase our debts. The world programs us with the rest of the unbelievers to think we need such a house, such a car, such an education, such as this or that and we are programmed to buy things we cannot afford. The western world lets us believe we can worship freely but they have sent many spies and wolves within our ranks to defile and water down the pure gospel. This is evident as our churches and many professing believers do not live in the power of God but rather in bondage and many are not only spiritually sick but physically sick. They are dying in their sins.
The world programs the people to think they should live in a certain way. The world is now almost a 7 days a week, 24 hour commerce. We can trade stocks, commodities, and currency from all over the world. The market does not close in that sense. If one market closes then another market opens from another part of the world.
Most homes in the western world have both parents working. We are so busy trying to pay off our home loans. We have had our burdens increased. The banks and governments are our taskmasters. The cloak is freedom. The message of freedom is to purchase more and more and feel good. Many of us are stuck in this rat race. We are chasing to pay off our student loans. We are chasing to keep up with our credit. We are chasing to keep up with the neighbors. We are slaves to the corporations and governments. We are slaves chasing big screen TVs and the biggest and greatest to boast to our neighbors. We Christians have been given "freedom" to build Pithom and Rameses as store cities for the world.
Why did God have to get Pharaoh to let His people go? Although, it was Pharaoh who increased the burdens over God's people, what gave Pharaoh authority over God's people. If you read the scriptures, even though God's people were slaves to Egypt, they had assimilated themselves into the Egyptian culture and society. They were serving two masters as it was evident when they had built the golden calf. Although, they profess to believe in God and were His people, they did not know HIM in an intimate way. They did not know HIM enough to know how to trust HIM. As Paul said, they were not walking in faith. They had known a system that provided security, food, housing, and a way of life which was by sight. Today is no different for many of God's people. They are not living in faith but rather by sight and what the world has to offer them in terms of security, food, and housing. We depend on our credit. We depend on government programs. We depend on health care. We depend on many things from the world rather than to God first. We have built our own golden calves. How can we say this is not true when our churches preach God is a God of miracles but yet many are still dying and in their bondage? They have made the Word of God and HIS Power of NO AFFECT!!!
God's people were not only slaves but they were in sin as they had the idols of Egypt in their lives. They had given authority over their lives to Pharaoh and did not realize it. God's people did not realize they were serving idols. This is the same problem today. Many of God's people have married themselves to the world and do not even realize it. God wanted to save them but He had to get them released from the world's authority by bringing judgment. And God had to send them into the wilderness to purge them from their idols and teach them to trust HIM. But even as today, many think to believe in God is some vacation on Hawaii. They think Grace exempts them from being taken into their own wildernesses. The wilderness is there and it is first a very difficult journey as it strips the layers of the world from you. You must die to yourself so you can find life in Christ. And as we die to ourselves, we realize the idols that are hidden in our hearts. But the journey must be completed to the promise land. Faith is required to finish to the promise land. Many of God's people who were with Moses did not make it because they did not have faith but scripture said they believed in God. But yet their unbelief prevented them from making it to the promise land. Many had died in the wilderness. Many had died in their sins never learning to trust God even though they had witnessed His miracles and wonders.
James 4:4 (AMP) You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.
God had to bring judgment onto the nation of Egypt to get Pharaoh to release His people. It was also to a matter to display His majesty and power so He may be Glorified. Today, many of God's people are still in "Egypt." They are but slaves and they are full of idols. Many today believe the rapture is imminent. Yes, we are in the last hour but God's people are still under the authority of Pharaoh. His people are not ready for rapture. The world has many in bondage.
And as God brought judgment onto Egypt, He must bring judgment onto the world to make the world to release His people. Today, the world has many in bondage to TV, Hollywood, secular music, sports, drugs, lust, coveting, greed, money, breaking the 4th commandment, convenience, sickness, commerce, and etc. Many Christians give very little time for God but they will spend hours on nonsense such as TV. They will spend two hours waiting to see a doctor but they cannot even pray for one hour for their healing. They give God worship only on Sundays and will rob Him of His tithes but they will tithe to the devil and the world. They may give God only one hour on Sundays and then run to the world to enjoy themselves with the heathens. We ask one another to pray for each other but hardly anyone prays diligently. Many Christians are expecting other Christians to carry this burden as they rather watch TV or vegetate. They will tithe to the devil by buying cigarettes, liquor, drugs, gambling, sex, big ticket items, greed, things they do not need, and the things that exalt and glorifies themselves. They buy things of death rather than life. Many Christians are but slaves to this world and do not even realize it. And we wonder why God is not answering many of our prayers as we watch our brethren die in their sins?
God must bring judgment to free His people before the rapture. How can they be rapture and ready in their current state? They must be freed from what we consider freedom from the world. We have but fatten ourselves for the day of the slaughter. The Day of the Lord quickly is approaching. His judgments will come to show His RIGHTEOUSNESS!
James 5:5 [Here] on earth you have abandoned yourselves to soft (prodigal) living and to [the pleasures of] self-indulgence and self-gratification. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
Judgment is coming to this nation as it is evident as the hand of His protection is being lifted. The world is not becoming more evil. The world has always been evil. But it is the light in God's people that is becoming more dimmer and dimmer. The world is becoming more darker and darker as His people are losing the light and salt in them. Will you get on your knees and repent or will we continue to blame others? We Christians will answer to God. Such evil is occurring on our watch. We have the POWER to bind and loose what is on the earth and heavens through our prayer. But we rather be idle and lazy running this rat race trying to pay bills we cannot afford and thinking rapture is coming for us as we listen to false prophets with false dates and seasons. We are but being denied the Power of God to glorify HIM.
Isaiah 5:16 (AMP) But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and God, the Holy One, shows Himself holy in righteousness and through righteous judgments.
When judgement comes, the big screen TVs, Hollywood, secular music, sports, greed, the big homes, the nice cars, and such will not matter. When judgement comes, it will be a matter of survival. Then hopefully, His people will humble themselves turning from their wicked ways and return back to HIM with ALL their hearts. Then He will heal our lands and we will be ripe for rapture as our eyes our upon HIM. A fruit is ripe when it is soft and perhaps beaten when it has fallen. Have you been broken? When it is hard, it is not ready to be eaten. Many of God's people are but hard unripe fruits.
Matthew 24:14 (AMP) And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.
.
Read what is before verse 14. Many things are coming before the good news of the Kingdom is preached through the whole world as far as God is concerned!! Today, yes, much has been preached to the world. But it has been religion and a powerless one at that which has engulfed most of the world. It is a prosperity gospel which glorifies oneself rather than God.
Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one [a proselyte], you make him doubly as much a child of hell (Gehenna) as you are.
Much of today's scribes and Pharisees have sent many on missions throughout the world. But it is God's turn now. It will not be done with the power of money, religion, humanism, or the strength of men but by HIS SPIRIT! He is raising up an army trained and led by the Spirit of God. He is raising up an army of FIRE ministers to overcome the world. He is raising up a chosen people of HIS. He will be Glorified!!
Zechariah 4:6 (AMP) Then he said to me, This [addition of the bowl to the candlestick, causing it to yield a ceaseless supply of oil from the olive trees] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of Whom the oil is a symbol], says the Lord of hosts.
Fire of God Ministries International
Pst Steve Yong Kim
December 18, 2012
The people of God had flourished in Egypt after Joseph.The Israelites were fruitful and abundant. The new Egyptian king was fearful as the Israelites now had out numbered them and grew in strength. As a result, the Egyptians planned to control and manipulate them. They set over taskmasters and increased their burdens. The Israelites had contributed the work to build Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
Egypt represented the world. We can consider Egypt, Babylon, and Rome synonymous with the "world." We Christians are in this world but we are not of this world. But as we live in this world, we participate with the things of the world. And as the enemy has changed tactics from old, many of us are deceived thinking we have freedom but in reality we are in bondage. In the Old Testament, God's people were in a literal sense "slaves." They were oppressed by a nation such as Egypt and they were forced into labor to build their cities. Today, we are given "democracy" thinking we have freedom but in reality it is cloaked as many of us are made to chase our debts. The world programs us with the rest of the unbelievers to think we need such a house, such a car, such an education, such as this or that and we are programmed to buy things we cannot afford. The western world lets us believe we can worship freely but they have sent many spies and wolves within our ranks to defile and water down the pure gospel. This is evident as our churches and many professing believers do not live in the power of God but rather in bondage and many are not only spiritually sick but physically sick. They are dying in their sins.
The world programs the people to think they should live in a certain way. The world is now almost a 7 days a week, 24 hour commerce. We can trade stocks, commodities, and currency from all over the world. The market does not close in that sense. If one market closes then another market opens from another part of the world.
Most homes in the western world have both parents working. We are so busy trying to pay off our home loans. We have had our burdens increased. The banks and governments are our taskmasters. The cloak is freedom. The message of freedom is to purchase more and more and feel good. Many of us are stuck in this rat race. We are chasing to pay off our student loans. We are chasing to keep up with our credit. We are chasing to keep up with the neighbors. We are slaves to the corporations and governments. We are slaves chasing big screen TVs and the biggest and greatest to boast to our neighbors. We Christians have been given "freedom" to build Pithom and Rameses as store cities for the world.
Why did God have to get Pharaoh to let His people go? Although, it was Pharaoh who increased the burdens over God's people, what gave Pharaoh authority over God's people. If you read the scriptures, even though God's people were slaves to Egypt, they had assimilated themselves into the Egyptian culture and society. They were serving two masters as it was evident when they had built the golden calf. Although, they profess to believe in God and were His people, they did not know HIM in an intimate way. They did not know HIM enough to know how to trust HIM. As Paul said, they were not walking in faith. They had known a system that provided security, food, housing, and a way of life which was by sight. Today is no different for many of God's people. They are not living in faith but rather by sight and what the world has to offer them in terms of security, food, and housing. We depend on our credit. We depend on government programs. We depend on health care. We depend on many things from the world rather than to God first. We have built our own golden calves. How can we say this is not true when our churches preach God is a God of miracles but yet many are still dying and in their bondage? They have made the Word of God and HIS Power of NO AFFECT!!!
God's people were not only slaves but they were in sin as they had the idols of Egypt in their lives. They had given authority over their lives to Pharaoh and did not realize it. God's people did not realize they were serving idols. This is the same problem today. Many of God's people have married themselves to the world and do not even realize it. God wanted to save them but He had to get them released from the world's authority by bringing judgment. And God had to send them into the wilderness to purge them from their idols and teach them to trust HIM. But even as today, many think to believe in God is some vacation on Hawaii. They think Grace exempts them from being taken into their own wildernesses. The wilderness is there and it is first a very difficult journey as it strips the layers of the world from you. You must die to yourself so you can find life in Christ. And as we die to ourselves, we realize the idols that are hidden in our hearts. But the journey must be completed to the promise land. Faith is required to finish to the promise land. Many of God's people who were with Moses did not make it because they did not have faith but scripture said they believed in God. But yet their unbelief prevented them from making it to the promise land. Many had died in the wilderness. Many had died in their sins never learning to trust God even though they had witnessed His miracles and wonders.
James 4:4 (AMP) You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.
God had to bring judgment onto the nation of Egypt to get Pharaoh to release His people. It was also to a matter to display His majesty and power so He may be Glorified. Today, many of God's people are still in "Egypt." They are but slaves and they are full of idols. Many today believe the rapture is imminent. Yes, we are in the last hour but God's people are still under the authority of Pharaoh. His people are not ready for rapture. The world has many in bondage.
And as God brought judgment onto Egypt, He must bring judgment onto the world to make the world to release His people. Today, the world has many in bondage to TV, Hollywood, secular music, sports, drugs, lust, coveting, greed, money, breaking the 4th commandment, convenience, sickness, commerce, and etc. Many Christians give very little time for God but they will spend hours on nonsense such as TV. They will spend two hours waiting to see a doctor but they cannot even pray for one hour for their healing. They give God worship only on Sundays and will rob Him of His tithes but they will tithe to the devil and the world. They may give God only one hour on Sundays and then run to the world to enjoy themselves with the heathens. We ask one another to pray for each other but hardly anyone prays diligently. Many Christians are expecting other Christians to carry this burden as they rather watch TV or vegetate. They will tithe to the devil by buying cigarettes, liquor, drugs, gambling, sex, big ticket items, greed, things they do not need, and the things that exalt and glorifies themselves. They buy things of death rather than life. Many Christians are but slaves to this world and do not even realize it. And we wonder why God is not answering many of our prayers as we watch our brethren die in their sins?
God must bring judgment to free His people before the rapture. How can they be rapture and ready in their current state? They must be freed from what we consider freedom from the world. We have but fatten ourselves for the day of the slaughter. The Day of the Lord quickly is approaching. His judgments will come to show His RIGHTEOUSNESS!
James 5:5 [Here] on earth you have abandoned yourselves to soft (prodigal) living and to [the pleasures of] self-indulgence and self-gratification. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
Judgment is coming to this nation as it is evident as the hand of His protection is being lifted. The world is not becoming more evil. The world has always been evil. But it is the light in God's people that is becoming more dimmer and dimmer. The world is becoming more darker and darker as His people are losing the light and salt in them. Will you get on your knees and repent or will we continue to blame others? We Christians will answer to God. Such evil is occurring on our watch. We have the POWER to bind and loose what is on the earth and heavens through our prayer. But we rather be idle and lazy running this rat race trying to pay bills we cannot afford and thinking rapture is coming for us as we listen to false prophets with false dates and seasons. We are but being denied the Power of God to glorify HIM.
Isaiah 5:16 (AMP) But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and God, the Holy One, shows Himself holy in righteousness and through righteous judgments.
When judgement comes, the big screen TVs, Hollywood, secular music, sports, greed, the big homes, the nice cars, and such will not matter. When judgement comes, it will be a matter of survival. Then hopefully, His people will humble themselves turning from their wicked ways and return back to HIM with ALL their hearts. Then He will heal our lands and we will be ripe for rapture as our eyes our upon HIM. A fruit is ripe when it is soft and perhaps beaten when it has fallen. Have you been broken? When it is hard, it is not ready to be eaten. Many of God's people are but hard unripe fruits.
Matthew 24:14 (AMP) And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.
.
Read what is before verse 14. Many things are coming before the good news of the Kingdom is preached through the whole world as far as God is concerned!! Today, yes, much has been preached to the world. But it has been religion and a powerless one at that which has engulfed most of the world. It is a prosperity gospel which glorifies oneself rather than God.
Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one [a proselyte], you make him doubly as much a child of hell (Gehenna) as you are.
Much of today's scribes and Pharisees have sent many on missions throughout the world. But it is God's turn now. It will not be done with the power of money, religion, humanism, or the strength of men but by HIS SPIRIT! He is raising up an army trained and led by the Spirit of God. He is raising up an army of FIRE ministers to overcome the world. He is raising up a chosen people of HIS. He will be Glorified!!
Zechariah 4:6 (AMP) Then he said to me, This [addition of the bowl to the candlestick, causing it to yield a ceaseless supply of oil from the olive trees] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of Whom the oil is a symbol], says the Lord of hosts.
Fire of God Ministries International
Pst Steve Yong Kim
December 18, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Feed and tend My sheep by Diane Solver
"My people
have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning
them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They
have forgotten their fold.” Jeremiah 50:6
While I was praying, I saw a vision of a field. It was gloomy and the sky was dark. I noticed that the LORD was at my right side and He was holding my hand. I looked closely at the field, and I saw many sheep scattered. They are all thin and malnourished. Some are dirty, some have wounds, some are so weak, and some are sad and sick. Then Jesus said that they are His people and they need to be lead back to His fold. I felt sad for them and I don’t know what to do. I asked Him, “Lord, how can we bring them back?” And He said that we will go to each of them. Jesus gave me a hat and He put it on my head and gave me a staff. I thought to myself that I don’t need a hat because the weather is not hot but He said that it is to protect me from the heat. The Lord said that we will go to each of the sheep to personally tend them. He said that each of the sheep has different needs. He said that we must strengthen the sheep that is weak, heal those who are sick, bind up the injured, feed the hungry, and seek the lost. In order to bring them back to His fold, we need to look after them one by one.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” John 10:11-16
“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:34
Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He had laid down His life for us. The Lord also wants us to become a shepherd to those around us who are lost and scattered. Who are the lost sheep? Maybe they are our family, our friends, our co-workers, our church members, or those people we meet every day. They may look healthy outside but each has unmet needs. Many are dying spiritually. Many are being neglected. Each of them may have a problem or they may need our help but many of us are just ignoring them. We must have the heart of the LORD. We must ask the Lord on how we can help the person and how we can bring that person back to Him. Every shepherd of the Lord must patiently tend the sheep with love. Jesus said that if we love Him, we will tend and feed His sheep. How many of us are feeding and tending His sheep? How many of us are praying for the lost until they are set free from bondage? How many are willing to lay down their lives just as Jesus did?
1 "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: "You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD. 3 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:1-4
Many of the sheep are hungry, sick and dying but those whom Daddy God called to be shepherds do not care for the needs of His flock. Those whom He called must be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit in order to do what He commanded them to do- feed His lambs, tend His sheep, feed His sheep. The shepherds must not only think of themselves but must patiently tend each sheep. The shepherds must guide them in the paths of righteousness and protect them from wolves and beasts in the world. They must feed them with the Word of God. They must take care of the sheep at all cost, even if it costs them their life.
11 "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.” Ezekiel 34:11-16
ALL GLORY TO GOD!
-Daddy’s girl
December 6, 2012
While I was praying, I saw a vision of a field. It was gloomy and the sky was dark. I noticed that the LORD was at my right side and He was holding my hand. I looked closely at the field, and I saw many sheep scattered. They are all thin and malnourished. Some are dirty, some have wounds, some are so weak, and some are sad and sick. Then Jesus said that they are His people and they need to be lead back to His fold. I felt sad for them and I don’t know what to do. I asked Him, “Lord, how can we bring them back?” And He said that we will go to each of them. Jesus gave me a hat and He put it on my head and gave me a staff. I thought to myself that I don’t need a hat because the weather is not hot but He said that it is to protect me from the heat. The Lord said that we will go to each of the sheep to personally tend them. He said that each of the sheep has different needs. He said that we must strengthen the sheep that is weak, heal those who are sick, bind up the injured, feed the hungry, and seek the lost. In order to bring them back to His fold, we need to look after them one by one.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” John 10:11-16
“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:34
Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He had laid down His life for us. The Lord also wants us to become a shepherd to those around us who are lost and scattered. Who are the lost sheep? Maybe they are our family, our friends, our co-workers, our church members, or those people we meet every day. They may look healthy outside but each has unmet needs. Many are dying spiritually. Many are being neglected. Each of them may have a problem or they may need our help but many of us are just ignoring them. We must have the heart of the LORD. We must ask the Lord on how we can help the person and how we can bring that person back to Him. Every shepherd of the Lord must patiently tend the sheep with love. Jesus said that if we love Him, we will tend and feed His sheep. How many of us are feeding and tending His sheep? How many of us are praying for the lost until they are set free from bondage? How many are willing to lay down their lives just as Jesus did?
1 "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: "You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD. 3 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:1-4
Many of the sheep are hungry, sick and dying but those whom Daddy God called to be shepherds do not care for the needs of His flock. Those whom He called must be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit in order to do what He commanded them to do- feed His lambs, tend His sheep, feed His sheep. The shepherds must not only think of themselves but must patiently tend each sheep. The shepherds must guide them in the paths of righteousness and protect them from wolves and beasts in the world. They must feed them with the Word of God. They must take care of the sheep at all cost, even if it costs them their life.
11 "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.” Ezekiel 34:11-16
ALL GLORY TO GOD!
-Daddy’s girl
December 6, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
The day after Dec 21, 2012
On December 22, 2012, the earth will still be
rotating and we will pretty much all be here. As far as man kind is
concerned, it will be business as usual. By January 31, 2013, the earth
will still be rotating and we will all pretty much still be here. Again,
as far as man kind is concerned, it will still be business as usual.
Obama will still be president and NO, he is NOT the anti christ and the
verichip is not the mark of the beast!
Even two thousand years ago they had the same problems as today.
2 Thess 2:1-5 But relative to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and our gathering together to [meet] Him, we beg you, brethren,2 Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word or by letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here.3 Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the [a]apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great [b]falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition),4 Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God.5 Do you not recollect that when I was still with you, I told you these things?
Even two thousand years ago they had the same problems as today.
2 Thess 2:1-5 But relative to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and our gathering together to [meet] Him, we beg you, brethren,2 Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word or by letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here.3 Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the [a]apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great [b]falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition),4 Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God.5 Do you not recollect that when I was still with you, I told you these things?
We
are not at the end of the end. In fact, we are now at the beginning of
the end. We are in the beginning and the horizon is in view for the days
of greater works and for the greatest outpouring of His Spirit. Do not
miss it for He is raising up the end time laborers for the great
harvest. Will you accept His calling as an end time laborer?
I suggest we all dig in for the long haul. Accumulate your prayers, worship and reading and receive the POWER and Fire of the Holy Spirit so you may be His witness unto Jerusalem (your homes), Samaria, (your neighbors) and then to the ends of the world.
Yes, He is RETURNING but will He catch you sleeping or working in His fields as His laborer?
Matthew 25:13-30 Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.14 For it is like a man who was about to take a long journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his property.15 To one he gave five talents [probably about $5,000], to another two, to another one—to each in proportion to his own [a]personal ability. Then he departed and left the country.16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he gained five talents more.17 And likewise he who had received the two talents—he also gained two talents more.18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.20 And he who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, Master, you entrusted to me five talents; see, here I have gained five talents more.21 His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, [b]admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the [c]blessedness) which your master enjoys.22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you entrusted two talents to me; here I have gained two talents more.23 His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, [d]admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the [e]blessedness) which your master enjoys.24 He who had received one talent also came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a harsh and hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you had not winnowed [the grain].25 So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is your own.26 But his master answered him, You wicked and lazy and idle servant! Did you indeed know that I reap where I have not sowed and gather [grain] where I have not winnowed?27 Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest.28 So take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be [f]furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.30 And throw the good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
I suggest we all dig in for the long haul. Accumulate your prayers, worship and reading and receive the POWER and Fire of the Holy Spirit so you may be His witness unto Jerusalem (your homes), Samaria, (your neighbors) and then to the ends of the world.
Yes, He is RETURNING but will He catch you sleeping or working in His fields as His laborer?
Matthew 25:13-30 Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.14 For it is like a man who was about to take a long journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his property.15 To one he gave five talents [probably about $5,000], to another two, to another one—to each in proportion to his own [a]personal ability. Then he departed and left the country.16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he gained five talents more.17 And likewise he who had received the two talents—he also gained two talents more.18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.20 And he who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, Master, you entrusted to me five talents; see, here I have gained five talents more.21 His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, [b]admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the [c]blessedness) which your master enjoys.22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you entrusted two talents to me; here I have gained two talents more.23 His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, [d]admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the [e]blessedness) which your master enjoys.24 He who had received one talent also came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a harsh and hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you had not winnowed [the grain].25 So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is your own.26 But his master answered him, You wicked and lazy and idle servant! Did you indeed know that I reap where I have not sowed and gather [grain] where I have not winnowed?27 Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest.28 So take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be [f]furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.30 And throw the good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
Many
who prophecy or "watch" for rapture related events or issues believe
they are doing God's work to warn people. But where is their fruit and
how is it turning out? The Father is looking for fruit. This is NOT to
say such type of work is invalid. But our work for the Lord must be
according to His Will and must be balanced.
Are people's lives changing for the better as they hear their messages? Are they becoming more like Jesus? Is God being Glorified as His Power and Love is manifested in people's lives? Are they overcoming their trails and tests? Are people being set free from bondage? Or are they selling their house, spending all their money, not doing what they need to do because they believe rapture is this or next month?
Do they really believe in what they receive? Have they given all they have away knowing they are 100% sure? Or do they have a back up plan for only themselves? Harold Camp (The May 21, 2012) had a back up plan. He had all their money!! But he was judged after the fact.
Or are people being disappointed because they are being led to either implied or direct dates in which their hopes are crushed and devastated because the message they have been hearing were false or wrong? Rather than people becoming transformed into new creation, are they still stuck in their stagnated circumstances? Those who prophecy MUST be VERY careful. A false prophecy can ruin lives.
I am not saying rapture messages are wrong or invalid. Even we have received messages from the Lord regarding rapture and the Lord told my wife and I His return is IMMINENT!!! But of course, we must explain in context His time and His definition of IMMINENT which is spoken from eternity and not from our point in time. What does "IMMINENT" or "Very Soon" mean in His context of eternity? I know what it means in our time and our context. But we must not look from our perspective but HIS.
I hope when such messages are proved false, especially with implied dates or direct dates, the people who had believe with their whole heart realize that they had been deceived and sincerely REPENT. And may those who believed in such people have the heart to forgive and repent themselves.
Are people's lives changing for the better as they hear their messages? Are they becoming more like Jesus? Is God being Glorified as His Power and Love is manifested in people's lives? Are they overcoming their trails and tests? Are people being set free from bondage? Or are they selling their house, spending all their money, not doing what they need to do because they believe rapture is this or next month?
Do they really believe in what they receive? Have they given all they have away knowing they are 100% sure? Or do they have a back up plan for only themselves? Harold Camp (The May 21, 2012) had a back up plan. He had all their money!! But he was judged after the fact.
Or are people being disappointed because they are being led to either implied or direct dates in which their hopes are crushed and devastated because the message they have been hearing were false or wrong? Rather than people becoming transformed into new creation, are they still stuck in their stagnated circumstances? Those who prophecy MUST be VERY careful. A false prophecy can ruin lives.
I am not saying rapture messages are wrong or invalid. Even we have received messages from the Lord regarding rapture and the Lord told my wife and I His return is IMMINENT!!! But of course, we must explain in context His time and His definition of IMMINENT which is spoken from eternity and not from our point in time. What does "IMMINENT" or "Very Soon" mean in His context of eternity? I know what it means in our time and our context. But we must not look from our perspective but HIS.
I hope when such messages are proved false, especially with implied dates or direct dates, the people who had believe with their whole heart realize that they had been deceived and sincerely REPENT. And may those who believed in such people have the heart to forgive and repent themselves.
Fire of God Ministries International
Steve Yong Kim
Thursday, December 13, 2012
The idol of convenience
Several months ago, a person had asked where
our church was located. I told him it was located in Fremont, CA. It was
about an hour and half away from him. I did not invite him but it was
him who had asked. I believe he may have been interested as I had shared
the Word with him. But he replied, "That is just too far."
Although his spirit was stirred through the Word we had discussed and even before he had prayed, he had already made a decision as his convenience was his first priority. Many Christians make choices based on their convenience. Is the church too far? Perhaps, the time it starts or how late it ends is a factor. Is the ball game on during church? Or is it during football season? Shouldn't our choices be His choices? Shouldn't our decisions be His decisions. If Jesus is Lord in our life, then we should be asking the Holy Spirit for counsel rather than making a quick decision based on our convenience.
People will go to war possibly never seeing their families again if their country calls them. People will commute and be stuck in traffic for one or two hours a day. People may drive up to an hour to work. Many people who work in the San Francisco area will either drive or take the train and be willing to spend up to two hours commuting. We will move for school. We will move for a job. We will move for a man or woman. We will move to retire. We will move for convenience. Will we move for God if He tells us to move?
But when it comes to God and the things of God, oh, how His people do not revere HIM as the King of Kings or Lord of Lords. We make all kinds of excuses not to be in His House. We make all kinds of excuses to stay home. We make all kinds of excuses to satisfy our idol of convenience.
To believe is to OBEY. If God requires you to move or go somewhere, then you must obey. It is simple as that. He requires Full Surrender. Just because there has not been immediate consequences does not mean He is not watching your actions. The world does not give grace so we react quickly. We make sure we are not late to work. But when it comes to His House, we take it as some secondary requirement. And since we cannot appreciate His Grace, we take His kindness for granted and trample on it. How will we explain to HIM on judgement day to have turned down the King of Kings request for our a prompt audience?
Ecclesiastes 8:11 (AMP) Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, the hearts of the sons of men are fully set to do evil.
Since He has given us so much Grace, we should be reacting more quicker for HIM rather than for the things of the world. We should be willing to go longer if necessary and even further if He calls us to do so. Many say they love HIM but they love their idol of convenience even more.
We have sought convenience and traditions to satisfy our own lusts. It is evident in our churches as the power of God is obsolete. His churches are to be a House of prayer, but they are rampant with humanism and the flesh. We are like the old saints who have strayed so far away and do not even realize it.
Mark 7:13 (AMP) Thus you are nullifying and making void and of no effect [the authority of] the Word of God through your tradition, which you [in turn] hand on. And many things of this kind you are doing.
May His Church awake in this hour. For we are in the beginning of these last days. He is raising up His chosen. May you all make the right choices to serve HIM with all your hearts. May you put down all your idols and comprehend who HE IS and return to your First Love. He is the Great I AM!! And HIS Name is Jealous!
Fire of God Ministries International
Steve Yong Kim
Although his spirit was stirred through the Word we had discussed and even before he had prayed, he had already made a decision as his convenience was his first priority. Many Christians make choices based on their convenience. Is the church too far? Perhaps, the time it starts or how late it ends is a factor. Is the ball game on during church? Or is it during football season? Shouldn't our choices be His choices? Shouldn't our decisions be His decisions. If Jesus is Lord in our life, then we should be asking the Holy Spirit for counsel rather than making a quick decision based on our convenience.
People will go to war possibly never seeing their families again if their country calls them. People will commute and be stuck in traffic for one or two hours a day. People may drive up to an hour to work. Many people who work in the San Francisco area will either drive or take the train and be willing to spend up to two hours commuting. We will move for school. We will move for a job. We will move for a man or woman. We will move to retire. We will move for convenience. Will we move for God if He tells us to move?
But when it comes to God and the things of God, oh, how His people do not revere HIM as the King of Kings or Lord of Lords. We make all kinds of excuses not to be in His House. We make all kinds of excuses to stay home. We make all kinds of excuses to satisfy our idol of convenience.
To believe is to OBEY. If God requires you to move or go somewhere, then you must obey. It is simple as that. He requires Full Surrender. Just because there has not been immediate consequences does not mean He is not watching your actions. The world does not give grace so we react quickly. We make sure we are not late to work. But when it comes to His House, we take it as some secondary requirement. And since we cannot appreciate His Grace, we take His kindness for granted and trample on it. How will we explain to HIM on judgement day to have turned down the King of Kings request for our a prompt audience?
Ecclesiastes 8:11 (AMP) Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, the hearts of the sons of men are fully set to do evil.
Since He has given us so much Grace, we should be reacting more quicker for HIM rather than for the things of the world. We should be willing to go longer if necessary and even further if He calls us to do so. Many say they love HIM but they love their idol of convenience even more.
We have sought convenience and traditions to satisfy our own lusts. It is evident in our churches as the power of God is obsolete. His churches are to be a House of prayer, but they are rampant with humanism and the flesh. We are like the old saints who have strayed so far away and do not even realize it.
Mark 7:13 (AMP) Thus you are nullifying and making void and of no effect [the authority of] the Word of God through your tradition, which you [in turn] hand on. And many things of this kind you are doing.
May His Church awake in this hour. For we are in the beginning of these last days. He is raising up His chosen. May you all make the right choices to serve HIM with all your hearts. May you put down all your idols and comprehend who HE IS and return to your First Love. He is the Great I AM!! And HIS Name is Jealous!
Fire of God Ministries International
Steve Yong Kim
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
LET US PRESS ON TO KNOW THE LORD by Diane Solver
Thus says the LORD:
"Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast
in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him
who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am
the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:23-24
"Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." Hosea 6:3
Daddy God wants us to know Him, perceive Him, see Him and experience Him through our relationship with Him. But only few exert an effort to know Him. Only few are pursuing and seeking Him with all their hearts. We pursue all kinds of things rather than knowing Him. Many of us say we love God yet we do not have time for Him. We say we love Him but we only want to see Him or pray to Him on Sundays. We say we love Him but we didn’t know what He wants.
Jesus said in John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus whom He have sent. But why do we give so little time to know Him?
Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Psalm 105:4
Seek the LORD that you may live. Amos 5:6
It is not enough to say that we believe in Him but go on with our life doing the things that only pleases us. Even the demons believe. What is our difference? We must not only believe but obey. It is repeated all throughout the Bible that Daddy God requires us to love Him, to fear Him and keep His commandments. If we truly love the Lord, we will obey Him and we will always want to seek His will.
How can we follow the LORD? How can we know what He wants? If we want to know what the Lord wants, we must spend more time with Him. We get to know Him more if we spend more time with Him in prayer and in reading His Word. The more we pray and spend time with Him, the more we know about Him. Daddy God reveals Himself to those who seek Him with all their hearts. We must press on to know the LORD. We must press on to know Him until we become one with Him. By then, we will feel what Daddy God feels and we will know what He wants. We will be grieved for the things that grieve Him and we will be happy for the things that make Him happy.
We may also know Daddy God through the different circumstances that He allows in our life. In the Old Testament, the Israelites had been slaves for 400 years in Egypt that they had almost forgotten Daddy God. Through their journey in the wilderness, they got to know Daddy God’s character. In order to know Him, Daddy God will put us into some situations that we may be able to know Him more. We will become more like our Lord Jesus through our problems and trials in life. It is where our character will be build. We must not complain and seek for an escape. Instead, we must praise and thank Him in all things.
"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?” Deuteronomy 10:12-13
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
Daddy God told me that there are people who love Him in the wrong way. There is a right and wrong way to love God. There are people who offer Him things which He didn’t require. There are also some who thought that they are doing the right things for the Lord but it is not what the Lord wants. How can we know the right way to love Him? It is only Daddy God who can teach us to love Him the way He wants us to love and respond to Him. We must press on to know Him more so we may know how to love Him in the right way.
Daddy God wants to be our first and greatest love. He tolerates no rival. He tolerates no idols. It is all or nothing. We must love Him first above all. He wants us to be steadfast in our love. And steadfast means always, enduring, stable and constant. He desires relationship and not just token gifts.
"The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."
“I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7
Just as the disciples chose to sit at Jesus feet and listen to what He is saying, we must also spend time sitting at the Lord’s feet every day. By this, He will teach, encourage, strengthen, reveal Himself to us, and transform us into His image. We will hear His voice more clearly and we will know His will.
8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),” Philippians 3:8
10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power out flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]” Philippians 3:10
ALL GLORY TO GOD!
-Daddy’s girl
"Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." Hosea 6:3
Daddy God wants us to know Him, perceive Him, see Him and experience Him through our relationship with Him. But only few exert an effort to know Him. Only few are pursuing and seeking Him with all their hearts. We pursue all kinds of things rather than knowing Him. Many of us say we love God yet we do not have time for Him. We say we love Him but we only want to see Him or pray to Him on Sundays. We say we love Him but we didn’t know what He wants.
Jesus said in John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus whom He have sent. But why do we give so little time to know Him?
Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Psalm 105:4
Seek the LORD that you may live. Amos 5:6
It is not enough to say that we believe in Him but go on with our life doing the things that only pleases us. Even the demons believe. What is our difference? We must not only believe but obey. It is repeated all throughout the Bible that Daddy God requires us to love Him, to fear Him and keep His commandments. If we truly love the Lord, we will obey Him and we will always want to seek His will.
How can we follow the LORD? How can we know what He wants? If we want to know what the Lord wants, we must spend more time with Him. We get to know Him more if we spend more time with Him in prayer and in reading His Word. The more we pray and spend time with Him, the more we know about Him. Daddy God reveals Himself to those who seek Him with all their hearts. We must press on to know the LORD. We must press on to know Him until we become one with Him. By then, we will feel what Daddy God feels and we will know what He wants. We will be grieved for the things that grieve Him and we will be happy for the things that make Him happy.
We may also know Daddy God through the different circumstances that He allows in our life. In the Old Testament, the Israelites had been slaves for 400 years in Egypt that they had almost forgotten Daddy God. Through their journey in the wilderness, they got to know Daddy God’s character. In order to know Him, Daddy God will put us into some situations that we may be able to know Him more. We will become more like our Lord Jesus through our problems and trials in life. It is where our character will be build. We must not complain and seek for an escape. Instead, we must praise and thank Him in all things.
"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?” Deuteronomy 10:12-13
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
Daddy God told me that there are people who love Him in the wrong way. There is a right and wrong way to love God. There are people who offer Him things which He didn’t require. There are also some who thought that they are doing the right things for the Lord but it is not what the Lord wants. How can we know the right way to love Him? It is only Daddy God who can teach us to love Him the way He wants us to love and respond to Him. We must press on to know Him more so we may know how to love Him in the right way.
Daddy God wants to be our first and greatest love. He tolerates no rival. He tolerates no idols. It is all or nothing. We must love Him first above all. He wants us to be steadfast in our love. And steadfast means always, enduring, stable and constant. He desires relationship and not just token gifts.
"The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."
“I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7
Just as the disciples chose to sit at Jesus feet and listen to what He is saying, we must also spend time sitting at the Lord’s feet every day. By this, He will teach, encourage, strengthen, reveal Himself to us, and transform us into His image. We will hear His voice more clearly and we will know His will.
8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),” Philippians 3:8
10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power out flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]” Philippians 3:10
ALL GLORY TO GOD!
-Daddy’s girl
Monday, December 10, 2012
Put your thoughts and standards down by Pastor Kim, Yong Doo by Pastor Kim, Yong Doo
Philippians 2:1-8
“1S BY whatever [appeal to you there is in our mutual dwelling in
Christ, by whatever] strengthening and consoling and encouraging [our
relationship] in Him [affords], by whatever persuasive [a]incentive
there is in love, by whatever participation in the [Holy] Spirit [we
share], and by whatever depth of affection and compassionate sympathy,
2Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same
mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord
and of one harmonious mind and intention.3Do nothing from factional
motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy
ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true
spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as
better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one
another than you do of yourselves].4Let each of you esteem and look
upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each
for the interests of others.5Let this same attitude and purpose and
[humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your
example in humility:]6Who, although being essentially one with God and
in the form of God [[b]possessing the fullness of the attributes which
make God God], did not [c]think this equality with God was a thing to be
eagerly grasped [d]or retained, 7But stripped Himself [of all
privileges and [e]rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a
servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human
being.8And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled
Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of
death, even the death of the cross!” (Amplified Version)
Jesus creates certain circumstances or situations for his children. He then observes our capacity and ability in dealing with those circumstances. The Old Testament saints encountered many difficulties, tribulation, and sufferings as well. But since we do not know how to handle those circumstances, we can generally become confused and angry.
I, personally, encountered many unique situations created by Jesus. The situations were created to train me. They were made to battle harden me. They were made to make me thick skinned. They were made to make me immune to situations in which I may normally react with my human emotions. I had experienced discouragement, failures, and unfairness. It did not matter, how much I tried to escape those circumstances, I was constantly cornered. I was cornered into a place of discouragement, failure, and injustice. During my period of ordeal, I thought to myself, “What is it that He wants? How does He want me to deal with this?” I experienced difficulties numerous times.
The bible states that our attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus, v4. The bible specifically explains about it. Whether we experience a personal tribulation or whether people treat us unfairly, speak against us, speak abusive words at us, or falsely accuse us, we must express the same attitude as that of Jesus Christ.
Certain circumstances or situations come upon us daily. But generally, we are already experiencing a situation or dilemma that may be negatively affecting us. We constantly face difficulties from unknown or unexpected problems.
We often trap ourselves as we attempt to determine who or what is right or wrong. As Christians live a life in faith, they experience difficulty as they attempt to determine right and wrong. What is the standard of right and wrong? Many Christians attend church and attempt to live faithfully but at the same time define with their own guidelines of right and wrong. If we argue and debate on issues that are not even related to our faith, we are basically wasting our time.
‘You are right.’ “I am right.’ ‘You are wrong.’ ‘He/she is wrong.’
As we argue on who is right or wrong, we end up stressing ourselves. People may demonstrate on the streets against a person or idea based on their own standard of judgment. It is the same at church. Many are dogmatic of their own beliefs or views. Those types of people are hopeless.
Therefore, Jesus is teaching Philippians 2:1-3. Just because our living standards may be better than others does not give us the right to Lord over them. Even though a person may be living in poverty or under difficult circumstances, we must have the attitude of the other person being better than us. But the sad thing is that people generally judge one another based on their personal standards. People may judge and measure others based on how they dress, look, or talk. Moreover, they may judge or measure others based on their financial situation or health. They may also judge certain people negatively assuming the situation is due to the sins of the father or generational curses. These types of people that judge negatively are far away from the spiritual level in which the Lord desires. If we do not have love and cannot edify the church, we are immature and still have much to grow. We may be granted spiritual gifts such as the fire of the Holy Spirit but if we judge others with our own measure and standard of right and wrong, we will only end up causing trouble. This is not faith. In the church, couples, youths, and the deacons may fight or argue using their own standard of judgment. They usually fight based on what they have experienced. This is why Jesus warned us to be cautious since many of us fight over issues that are good. They argue over subjects such as how to encourage one another in Christ, about love, about fellowship with the Spirit, about tenderness and compassion. (Philippians 2:1-3) These are issues that are good but they fight because they lack love themselves. When certain situations arise, do not attempt to solve it by figuring out who is right or wrong. We, however, must reach the highest level of love.
With married couples, they can insist a standard of measurement on right and wrong to one another. That type of mentality must be broken. That type of attitude illustrates a lack of love and edifying. We must be patient. We must have the attitude of Christ Jesus. We must solve problems with the mind of Jesus and His attitude. We must not live in faith based on our own standards and measurements.
The Lord explains to us on how we must solve our problems. We must have the heart, love, and edification of Jesus. Therefore, He said, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”What is His attitude? We can never solve the problem with our standards of right and wrong. Who is Jesus? He has the authority and power. He is God’s only Son who sits on the right side of God. This God, Jesus, made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Moreover, He humbled Himself. He did not just imitate humility, He humbled Himself unto death. He became human trash, crucified mercilessly on the cross. He is the Son of the Majestic God. Jesus solved every problem with an attitude of obedience. But since we generally attempt to solve our problems with our own measurement, it doesn’t work. Our subjective standards on the view of faith and our standards of judgment will never work. These types of people may appear one way externally but internally they are not.
In order to solve any issue, we must possess the Lord’s love, edification, and His heart of obedience. Without those characteristics, we can solve nothing. We must possess Jesus’ standard of judgment. What is His standard of judgment? He made Himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant. How do we make ourselves nothing? We must not be so insistent. We should not judge with our subjective opinions. Jesus gave it all to God. He did it according to God’s will. This is proper faith. We must learn from the Lord. We must learn His Word.
Many fight because they love to prove they are right. This is pride. These types of people are very dangerous. We do not live our life of faith just to prove we are personally right. Jesus did many right things. He did not attempt to prove it. He just lived to do the Father’s will. The Father’s pleasing will is for us to make ourselves nothing and take the very nature of a servant. Jesus did not just attempt to obey; He obeyed unto the death of the cross.
Peter was determined to die with Jesus. However, he ended up denying Jesus three times. I am not saying that one’s determination to die for Jesus is not important but more important is for us to completely die by crucifying ourselves totally on the cross. Do not desire to die for a gain, it is a selfish motive. God desires us to be the lowest of the lowest. But we often want to be righteous of the righteous and would rather show off our influence. This is a disposition of being a tyrant.
Why did God hand Job over to Satan? It was to break the thoughts of Job that he was the greatest man among all the people of the East (Job 1:3). We often will give reasons and tell God that we are willing to die for Him but in reality, we cannot die when our flesh is alive. The thing that God desired from Job was his brokenness.
We often talk about our firm devoted will. But in reality, we are heading in the other direction. We all have a judgmental mind. We all have our own methods of condemning others. We can be insistent based on our own wisdom and arrogance. We all have stones that need to be torn apart from ourselves. God desires us to be the lowest of the lowest but we desire to be the boss. This is why we must go through difficult trials. We must prove our faith. If we are not able to prove our faith and express the love of the Lord, our faith is not genuine.
The churches are full of enthusiasm but there is no manifestation of power. God cannot approve such of churches. Enthusiasm is simply an announcement. One cannot trust with only enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is not power. Power must be proven by manifestation. There is a big difference between enthusiasm and power. We must be baptized by blazing fire!
Corinthians 13 talks about love. Love is not just an emotion. It is a manifestation of power, “love is patient.” Patience is power not an emotion. If we cannot be patient, we cannot persevere or endure. We would not even be able to withstand trivial harsh words thrown at us. There is no power where there is no patience. Many people do not work for God but work to prove themselves and their faith. We cannot prove our faith through our own ideas and our own works. If we use our own experiences to prove our faith or if we use God’s Word to show or prove that we have faith, then we have a high probability of becoming corrupt.
Jesus said, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Him.” This means we must make ourselves nothing and take the whole nature of a servant. We must stop trying to prove ourselves but instead we need to humble ourselves and obey unto death if necessary.
Jesus was brutally crucified on the cross. But people usually want to be abundantly blessed during their latter years and retire in comfort. They desire to live an exceedingly comfortable life until the day they die. But Jesus did not comfortably or peacefully die. He died wretchedly naked without even being properly covered. He had become total human trash. But we are deluded. We think our life of faith is the same as unbelievers. We think life is about getting married, having children, being financially blessed, live a good life, and then die peacefully. Is that really a life of faith?
Today, God will create more situations or circumstances. We must stop fighting among ourselves. We must stop trying to prove who is right and who is wrong. We must fight with all of our strength and with our lives to weaken the forces of the enemy. Almost all Christians have no idea. They are so ignorant of their enemy. A strategy the devil employs is to make us weary by continuously attacking us over and over again. They attack us continuously. This is why we are spiritually loose. We must be fully awake and on guard. We must put down our own standards and measurements. The Lord’s judgment is perfectly accurate. Begin from a place of lowliness, the lowest of the lowest. Do not say, “Do you know who I am?” Think of yourself as the lowliest of the lowest. Then the Lord will lift you up and raise you up among all. Do not initially place yourself first. You will have to go when the Lord calls you home. Exam yourself and have the attitude of Christ Jesus.
“Father God, until now, I had only tried to prove my faith among men. I tried to prove that my standard of judgment was correct. Forgive me for placing my decision and thought ahead of yours. Please change me. Please help me be transformed. In Jesus Name, Amen!”
Abstract Sermon by Pastor Kim, Yong Doo of South Korea, The Lord’s Church
Author of Baptize by Blazing Fire
Translated by Steve and Yoojin Kim
Monday, May 31, 2010
Jesus creates certain circumstances or situations for his children. He then observes our capacity and ability in dealing with those circumstances. The Old Testament saints encountered many difficulties, tribulation, and sufferings as well. But since we do not know how to handle those circumstances, we can generally become confused and angry.
I, personally, encountered many unique situations created by Jesus. The situations were created to train me. They were made to battle harden me. They were made to make me thick skinned. They were made to make me immune to situations in which I may normally react with my human emotions. I had experienced discouragement, failures, and unfairness. It did not matter, how much I tried to escape those circumstances, I was constantly cornered. I was cornered into a place of discouragement, failure, and injustice. During my period of ordeal, I thought to myself, “What is it that He wants? How does He want me to deal with this?” I experienced difficulties numerous times.
The bible states that our attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus, v4. The bible specifically explains about it. Whether we experience a personal tribulation or whether people treat us unfairly, speak against us, speak abusive words at us, or falsely accuse us, we must express the same attitude as that of Jesus Christ.
Certain circumstances or situations come upon us daily. But generally, we are already experiencing a situation or dilemma that may be negatively affecting us. We constantly face difficulties from unknown or unexpected problems.
We often trap ourselves as we attempt to determine who or what is right or wrong. As Christians live a life in faith, they experience difficulty as they attempt to determine right and wrong. What is the standard of right and wrong? Many Christians attend church and attempt to live faithfully but at the same time define with their own guidelines of right and wrong. If we argue and debate on issues that are not even related to our faith, we are basically wasting our time.
‘You are right.’ “I am right.’ ‘You are wrong.’ ‘He/she is wrong.’
As we argue on who is right or wrong, we end up stressing ourselves. People may demonstrate on the streets against a person or idea based on their own standard of judgment. It is the same at church. Many are dogmatic of their own beliefs or views. Those types of people are hopeless.
Therefore, Jesus is teaching Philippians 2:1-3. Just because our living standards may be better than others does not give us the right to Lord over them. Even though a person may be living in poverty or under difficult circumstances, we must have the attitude of the other person being better than us. But the sad thing is that people generally judge one another based on their personal standards. People may judge and measure others based on how they dress, look, or talk. Moreover, they may judge or measure others based on their financial situation or health. They may also judge certain people negatively assuming the situation is due to the sins of the father or generational curses. These types of people that judge negatively are far away from the spiritual level in which the Lord desires. If we do not have love and cannot edify the church, we are immature and still have much to grow. We may be granted spiritual gifts such as the fire of the Holy Spirit but if we judge others with our own measure and standard of right and wrong, we will only end up causing trouble. This is not faith. In the church, couples, youths, and the deacons may fight or argue using their own standard of judgment. They usually fight based on what they have experienced. This is why Jesus warned us to be cautious since many of us fight over issues that are good. They argue over subjects such as how to encourage one another in Christ, about love, about fellowship with the Spirit, about tenderness and compassion. (Philippians 2:1-3) These are issues that are good but they fight because they lack love themselves. When certain situations arise, do not attempt to solve it by figuring out who is right or wrong. We, however, must reach the highest level of love.
With married couples, they can insist a standard of measurement on right and wrong to one another. That type of mentality must be broken. That type of attitude illustrates a lack of love and edifying. We must be patient. We must have the attitude of Christ Jesus. We must solve problems with the mind of Jesus and His attitude. We must not live in faith based on our own standards and measurements.
The Lord explains to us on how we must solve our problems. We must have the heart, love, and edification of Jesus. Therefore, He said, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”What is His attitude? We can never solve the problem with our standards of right and wrong. Who is Jesus? He has the authority and power. He is God’s only Son who sits on the right side of God. This God, Jesus, made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Moreover, He humbled Himself. He did not just imitate humility, He humbled Himself unto death. He became human trash, crucified mercilessly on the cross. He is the Son of the Majestic God. Jesus solved every problem with an attitude of obedience. But since we generally attempt to solve our problems with our own measurement, it doesn’t work. Our subjective standards on the view of faith and our standards of judgment will never work. These types of people may appear one way externally but internally they are not.
In order to solve any issue, we must possess the Lord’s love, edification, and His heart of obedience. Without those characteristics, we can solve nothing. We must possess Jesus’ standard of judgment. What is His standard of judgment? He made Himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant. How do we make ourselves nothing? We must not be so insistent. We should not judge with our subjective opinions. Jesus gave it all to God. He did it according to God’s will. This is proper faith. We must learn from the Lord. We must learn His Word.
Many fight because they love to prove they are right. This is pride. These types of people are very dangerous. We do not live our life of faith just to prove we are personally right. Jesus did many right things. He did not attempt to prove it. He just lived to do the Father’s will. The Father’s pleasing will is for us to make ourselves nothing and take the very nature of a servant. Jesus did not just attempt to obey; He obeyed unto the death of the cross.
Peter was determined to die with Jesus. However, he ended up denying Jesus three times. I am not saying that one’s determination to die for Jesus is not important but more important is for us to completely die by crucifying ourselves totally on the cross. Do not desire to die for a gain, it is a selfish motive. God desires us to be the lowest of the lowest. But we often want to be righteous of the righteous and would rather show off our influence. This is a disposition of being a tyrant.
Why did God hand Job over to Satan? It was to break the thoughts of Job that he was the greatest man among all the people of the East (Job 1:3). We often will give reasons and tell God that we are willing to die for Him but in reality, we cannot die when our flesh is alive. The thing that God desired from Job was his brokenness.
We often talk about our firm devoted will. But in reality, we are heading in the other direction. We all have a judgmental mind. We all have our own methods of condemning others. We can be insistent based on our own wisdom and arrogance. We all have stones that need to be torn apart from ourselves. God desires us to be the lowest of the lowest but we desire to be the boss. This is why we must go through difficult trials. We must prove our faith. If we are not able to prove our faith and express the love of the Lord, our faith is not genuine.
The churches are full of enthusiasm but there is no manifestation of power. God cannot approve such of churches. Enthusiasm is simply an announcement. One cannot trust with only enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is not power. Power must be proven by manifestation. There is a big difference between enthusiasm and power. We must be baptized by blazing fire!
Corinthians 13 talks about love. Love is not just an emotion. It is a manifestation of power, “love is patient.” Patience is power not an emotion. If we cannot be patient, we cannot persevere or endure. We would not even be able to withstand trivial harsh words thrown at us. There is no power where there is no patience. Many people do not work for God but work to prove themselves and their faith. We cannot prove our faith through our own ideas and our own works. If we use our own experiences to prove our faith or if we use God’s Word to show or prove that we have faith, then we have a high probability of becoming corrupt.
Jesus said, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Him.” This means we must make ourselves nothing and take the whole nature of a servant. We must stop trying to prove ourselves but instead we need to humble ourselves and obey unto death if necessary.
Jesus was brutally crucified on the cross. But people usually want to be abundantly blessed during their latter years and retire in comfort. They desire to live an exceedingly comfortable life until the day they die. But Jesus did not comfortably or peacefully die. He died wretchedly naked without even being properly covered. He had become total human trash. But we are deluded. We think our life of faith is the same as unbelievers. We think life is about getting married, having children, being financially blessed, live a good life, and then die peacefully. Is that really a life of faith?
Today, God will create more situations or circumstances. We must stop fighting among ourselves. We must stop trying to prove who is right and who is wrong. We must fight with all of our strength and with our lives to weaken the forces of the enemy. Almost all Christians have no idea. They are so ignorant of their enemy. A strategy the devil employs is to make us weary by continuously attacking us over and over again. They attack us continuously. This is why we are spiritually loose. We must be fully awake and on guard. We must put down our own standards and measurements. The Lord’s judgment is perfectly accurate. Begin from a place of lowliness, the lowest of the lowest. Do not say, “Do you know who I am?” Think of yourself as the lowliest of the lowest. Then the Lord will lift you up and raise you up among all. Do not initially place yourself first. You will have to go when the Lord calls you home. Exam yourself and have the attitude of Christ Jesus.
“Father God, until now, I had only tried to prove my faith among men. I tried to prove that my standard of judgment was correct. Forgive me for placing my decision and thought ahead of yours. Please change me. Please help me be transformed. In Jesus Name, Amen!”
Abstract Sermon by Pastor Kim, Yong Doo of South Korea, The Lord’s Church
Author of Baptize by Blazing Fire
Translated by Steve and Yoojin Kim
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, December 7, 2012
The Greatest Outpouring is still yet to come!
"G-d designed the agricultural and weather season in Israel to parallel the life of every believer in Yeshua who seeks to love HIM and serve Him with all his/her heart. With this in mind, let us examine how this is true.
Every time a person receives Yeshua the Messiah as his/her own Savior, he spiritually experiences Passover (Pesach). He is to flee Egypt (Mitzrayim; the world's evil system and ways); trust (emunah) in the Messiah, the Lamb of G-d; and allow Yeshua to be the doorpost of his/her heart. As believers, we are then to seek to live holy lives before G-d and experience Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah). Just as Yeshua rose form the dead, we are to consider our former ways dead to us and experience the newness of life in the Messiah. Once we do this, we can be immersed (baptized in the Holy Spirit (Ruach Hakodesh) and have the power of G-d (the anointing) in our lives. Spiritually, we have experienced the spring harvest of Israel in our lives. When we accept Yeshua into our hearts and lives, He begins to teach us the Bible and show us how much He loves us, and we begin to grow in the knowledge of HIM.
At the time, G-d will begin to take us on a spiritual journey through the wilderness of life. Spiritually, we will begin to experience the dry summer season of Israel. Many things in our lives will not go the way we expect them to or how we trust G-d for them to go. IN the process of experiencing life's bitter disappointments and struggles, if we keep our eyes upon G-d, He will take us from Passover to Shavuot (Pentecost). There He will reveal His ways and His Word, the Bible, in a deeper and more progressive way. By keeping our eyes on the Messiah through life's struggles, G-d will no only reveal His Word, the Bible, to us in a greater way, but He also will refine our faith like fine flour, just as was done to the wheat during the days of counting the omer between Passover and Pentecost. Meanwhile, if we put our entire trust in Yeshua while on our spiritual journey in the wilderness of life as G-d refines our faith and reveals Himself to us in a greater way, then our spiritual journey will not end in the wilderness of life (Hallelujah!). Instead G-d will take us forward to spiritual experience the fall festivals and our spiritual promise land.
It is when we spiritually experience the fall festivals - especially the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah - and enter into our spiritual promised land that G-d will anoint our lives for HIM in an awesome way, as we live and serve HIM, and we will then experience the greatest joy in our entire lives. Joy unspeakable!! But we will experience no only joy, but also dancing, praise, victory, peace, and the power of G-d in our lives. Spiritually, we will be experiencing the fall harvest of Israel. The rain in the Bible speaks of two things: the great ourpouring of the Holy Spirit (Ruah HaKodesh) and an in depth understanding of Yeshua and His Word, the Bible, in our lives. Both the anointing of the Holy Spirit and great knowledge of spiritual truths will be present in our lives in order that we may accomplish the purpose G-d has for every one of our lives. Therefore, we have the anointing of G-d upon our lives so we may help to our part to build up the Body of Messiah to full maturity and to establish the Kingdom of G-d on earth until we come to that day when we will rule and reign with the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords on earth during the Messianic age, the Millennium, and for all of eternity.
When G-d created man and put him in the Garden of Eden, the Garden of Eden was like paradise, Heaven, or the world to come, known in Hebrew as the olam habba. However, man sinned and as a result, both man and the earth was diminished in comparison to the original glory and beauty in which it was created. As a result, G-d laid out a 7,000 year plan to restore both man and the earth back ot the glory and majesty of the Garden of Eden. The Messiah was to play a central role in this redemption.
In Hosea 6:3 and Joel 2:23, the Scriptures tell us that the coming of the Messiah Yeshua will be like the rain. As previously discussed, in Israel there are the spring rains that are in the form of dew and showers, and the fall rains that make up the great rainy season. In His wisdom, G-d gave the weather season in Israel to teach about the coming of the Messiah. Just as there are mainly spring rains and fall rains in Israel, G-d designed for two comings of the Messiah. During the first coming of the Messiah, the Messiah would fulfill the role of the Messiah ben Joseph, the suffering Messiah. During the second coming, the Messiah would fulfill the role of Messiah ben David, the King Messiah. Those who would receive the Messiah in the season of His first coming would, spiritually, be like the spring rains in Israel and G-d would pour out His Holy Spirit upon all people at this time. However, the greatest number of people who would accept the Messiah would be during the season of the fall rains in Israel, which speaks of the Messiah's second coming. The greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit would be at this time as well."
"The Seven Festivals of the Messiah" by Edward Chumney 1999. pg 192-195
Will you be ready for the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the great harvest or will you be spiritually packed and only waiting chasing after date and more dates? Yes, He is returning but there is still much to come. The days of greater works are upon us. Where are His prayer warriors? Where are His forerunners? Where the Living Army of God who is to be marching on their knees in prayer?
Ephesians 5:14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.
Fire of God Ministries International
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Every time a person receives Yeshua the Messiah as his/her own Savior, he spiritually experiences Passover (Pesach). He is to flee Egypt (Mitzrayim; the world's evil system and ways); trust (emunah) in the Messiah, the Lamb of G-d; and allow Yeshua to be the doorpost of his/her heart. As believers, we are then to seek to live holy lives before G-d and experience Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah). Just as Yeshua rose form the dead, we are to consider our former ways dead to us and experience the newness of life in the Messiah. Once we do this, we can be immersed (baptized in the Holy Spirit (Ruach Hakodesh) and have the power of G-d (the anointing) in our lives. Spiritually, we have experienced the spring harvest of Israel in our lives. When we accept Yeshua into our hearts and lives, He begins to teach us the Bible and show us how much He loves us, and we begin to grow in the knowledge of HIM.
At the time, G-d will begin to take us on a spiritual journey through the wilderness of life. Spiritually, we will begin to experience the dry summer season of Israel. Many things in our lives will not go the way we expect them to or how we trust G-d for them to go. IN the process of experiencing life's bitter disappointments and struggles, if we keep our eyes upon G-d, He will take us from Passover to Shavuot (Pentecost). There He will reveal His ways and His Word, the Bible, in a deeper and more progressive way. By keeping our eyes on the Messiah through life's struggles, G-d will no only reveal His Word, the Bible, to us in a greater way, but He also will refine our faith like fine flour, just as was done to the wheat during the days of counting the omer between Passover and Pentecost. Meanwhile, if we put our entire trust in Yeshua while on our spiritual journey in the wilderness of life as G-d refines our faith and reveals Himself to us in a greater way, then our spiritual journey will not end in the wilderness of life (Hallelujah!). Instead G-d will take us forward to spiritual experience the fall festivals and our spiritual promise land.
It is when we spiritually experience the fall festivals - especially the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah - and enter into our spiritual promised land that G-d will anoint our lives for HIM in an awesome way, as we live and serve HIM, and we will then experience the greatest joy in our entire lives. Joy unspeakable!! But we will experience no only joy, but also dancing, praise, victory, peace, and the power of G-d in our lives. Spiritually, we will be experiencing the fall harvest of Israel. The rain in the Bible speaks of two things: the great ourpouring of the Holy Spirit (Ruah HaKodesh) and an in depth understanding of Yeshua and His Word, the Bible, in our lives. Both the anointing of the Holy Spirit and great knowledge of spiritual truths will be present in our lives in order that we may accomplish the purpose G-d has for every one of our lives. Therefore, we have the anointing of G-d upon our lives so we may help to our part to build up the Body of Messiah to full maturity and to establish the Kingdom of G-d on earth until we come to that day when we will rule and reign with the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords on earth during the Messianic age, the Millennium, and for all of eternity.
When G-d created man and put him in the Garden of Eden, the Garden of Eden was like paradise, Heaven, or the world to come, known in Hebrew as the olam habba. However, man sinned and as a result, both man and the earth was diminished in comparison to the original glory and beauty in which it was created. As a result, G-d laid out a 7,000 year plan to restore both man and the earth back ot the glory and majesty of the Garden of Eden. The Messiah was to play a central role in this redemption.
In Hosea 6:3 and Joel 2:23, the Scriptures tell us that the coming of the Messiah Yeshua will be like the rain. As previously discussed, in Israel there are the spring rains that are in the form of dew and showers, and the fall rains that make up the great rainy season. In His wisdom, G-d gave the weather season in Israel to teach about the coming of the Messiah. Just as there are mainly spring rains and fall rains in Israel, G-d designed for two comings of the Messiah. During the first coming of the Messiah, the Messiah would fulfill the role of the Messiah ben Joseph, the suffering Messiah. During the second coming, the Messiah would fulfill the role of Messiah ben David, the King Messiah. Those who would receive the Messiah in the season of His first coming would, spiritually, be like the spring rains in Israel and G-d would pour out His Holy Spirit upon all people at this time. However, the greatest number of people who would accept the Messiah would be during the season of the fall rains in Israel, which speaks of the Messiah's second coming. The greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit would be at this time as well."
"The Seven Festivals of the Messiah" by Edward Chumney 1999. pg 192-195
Will you be ready for the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the great harvest or will you be spiritually packed and only waiting chasing after date and more dates? Yes, He is returning but there is still much to come. The days of greater works are upon us. Where are His prayer warriors? Where are His forerunners? Where the Living Army of God who is to be marching on their knees in prayer?
Ephesians 5:14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.
Fire of God Ministries International
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Strength and power comes when we choose to obey God by Diane Solver
“Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” Isaiah 50:10
When we read our bible, some of us are amazed on how and why Moses, Elijah and other saints had such an active power and access with the living God. We wonder why Daddy God heard them the moment they cried out to Him. We wonder why Daddy God gave them the power and the ability.
The answer is simple. Strength and power comes when we choose to obey God. Daddy God heard the voice of His saints because they obeyed Him. He granted the prayer of His saints because they did what God had commanded them to do – to walk in all His ways and to obey Him fully.
In the Bible, Daddy God heard the cries of His people when they repented and decided to come back to Him and turn from their wicked ways. He gave His people the power to defeat their enemies as long as they remain faithful to Him. Blessings come when they obeyed the voice of God.
All of the great saints who had lived before the time of our Lord had experience God’s mighty power and deliverance because of their faithfulness and obedience to Him. Read about Daniel in the Old Testament and you will know that God kept him safe in the lion’s den because he chose to obey God. Esther’s strength and courage comes when she trusted in God for the salvation of her people. Noah and his family were saved because he had found favor in the eyes of the Lord. He was a righteous man and blameless in his generation. Joseph remained faithful to God despite of becoming a slave and prisoner in Egypt and through him; his kindred were saved from the famine. Through Moses, Daddy God had performed great miracles and He delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. These are only some of the great saints who wholeheartedly obeyed God and put themselves at God’s disposal, willing and ready to do His will.
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13
“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ...” Deuteronomy 28:1-68
Many of us may experience being spiritually weak each time we disobeyed God and each time we sin. The more we disobeyed God, the more we feel weak and far from Him. In the Bible, King Saul became weak when He disobeyed Daddy God. He was often troubled and depressed whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Him so He asked David to play a lyre for him. His kingdom became weaker while David’s house grew stronger.
Another example is Samson. Samson is a very strong man. Daddy God gave him the gift of physical strength. He was so strong that he easily killed thirty men with a jaw bone, just to pay off a bet. Many thought that Samson’s strength lies in his long hair. His long hair was a sign of his personal covenant with God as a Nazirite. But Samson succumbed completely to Delilah and he revealed his secret to her. Thus, Samson became weak when He disobeyed Daddy God. Samson's strength comes from God, and it will remain only as long as Samson stays faithful to God. This can also be applied to us. Our strength lies in our obedience to God. The joy of the Lord is our strength. What is the joy of the Lord? It is to see His children doing and obeying His will.
The reason why we exhibit little spiritual power is because we are unwilling to obey Daddy God fully. We are unwilling to take up our cross and follow Jesus. We only allow God to work in some areas of our life. We set Him limits.
If we want to be used by God, we must be willing to surrender and give up all to Him. Daddy God is looking for people who can be portals of His blessings and power. If we want to be the vessel, we must live in full obedience to God. By then, we will experience also what the great saints had experienced. Jesus said that His food is to do the Father’s will. We must follow Jesus if we want to be strong in spirit. Our food is to do the Father’s will.
ALL GLORY TO GOD!
-Daddy’s girl
Monday, December 3, 2012
The Tree!! The Christmas Tree?
Many Christians are led to believe these verses refer to a Christmas tree. Many are being led to believe the Christmas tree comes from pagan roots. All idols in the Old Testament were basically carved and made from a tree. Many things are made from a tree. However, it is verse 4 that opens the eyes of many. Verse four states the idol was decked with silver and gold and fasten with nails and hammer so it would not fall apart or move around. Many people believe it is ornaments on a Christmas tree and the bottom support stand.
Verse three states tree is cut by the hands of a craftsman. We do not need a craftsman to cut down a tree, especially a Christmas tree. You can hire any laborer or slave at that time to cut their trees down. But to carve out a idol, pagans would use skilled workmen to search out specific trees to cut that would fit their needs. Do only pagans use silver and gold? Does not an idol need to be fasten down with some support built around it so it will not move or fall. A Christmas Tree does not need to be carved out.
Isaiah 40:19-20 The graven image! A workman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts silver chains for it.20 He who is so impoverished that he has no offering or oblation or rich gift to give [to his god is constrained to make a wooden offering, an idol; so he] CHOOSES A TREE THAT WILL NOT ROT; HE SEEKS OUT A SKILLFUL CRAFTMAN TO CARVE AND SET UP AN IMAGE THAT WILL NOT TOTTER OR DETERIORATE.
In the bible, what does silver and gold represent? How is silver and gold represented in the bible So if I do deck my house or Christmas tree with silver and gold, am I represent what the pagans believed or am I representing what the bible says it represents? There are many references in the bible in regards to silver and gold.
Silver in the bible represents redemption and truth.
Exodus 13:12-14 You shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstlings of your livestock that are males shall be the Lord’s.13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem by [substituting for it] a lamb, or if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn among your sons shall you redeem.14 And when, in time to come, your son asks you, What does this mean? You shall say to him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage and bondmen. (The redemption price is stated in the Torah as five Sheqalim of silver)
Psalm 12:6 (AMP) The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.
Gold in the bible represents. Gold are gifts worthy for kings. The items in the Most Holy Place were to be made of gold. Gold is associated with that which is Holy to God.
Exodus 28:36 (AMP) And you shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, holy to the lord.
Gold can symbolize your faith.
Lamentations 4:1-2 How the gold has become dim! How the most pure gold has changed! The hallowed stones [of the temple] are poured out at the head of every street.2 The noble and precious sons of Zion, [once] worth their weight in fine gold—how they are esteemed [merely] as earthen pots or pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
1 Peter 1:7 (AMP) So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is reveale
Zechariah 13:9 (AMP) And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined and will test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will hear and answer them. I will say, It is My people; and they will say, The Lord is my God.
Just because the heathens or pagans are using what God intended for good does not make them bad anymore. Any good thing or gift from God can become corrupted and used for bad purposes. If there are many corrupted preachers and churches, do we now generalize all churches and preachers as working for the enemy and are we to make a choice not to go to church anymore or listen to preachers?
Deuteronomy 29:17 And you have seen their abominations and their idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold, which were among them.
Psalm 135:15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
Let us now talk about the Cross! The cross by itself is nothing but a symbol of horrendous torture and death used by the Romans. It is said the origins of crucifixion goes back to the Persians. The origins are not very clear but they estimate as early as 550 BC. The cross originated from heathens and pagans representing a form of torture which was an expression of their power.Today, the Cross represents the work of Jesus Christ who died on it to save the world.
Galatians 3:13 (AMP) Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified);
Without Jesus Christ, the cross is nothing. Without Jesus, the cross is but a tree used for torture to hang people. Without Jesus, Christmas is nothing but what the world creates for commercialization and for its own glory. Without Jesus Christ, the Cross, Resurrection Day, and Christmas are nothing.
Trees are significant representations in the bible. In Genesis, there is a mention of the Tree of Life. But after the fall of man, Adam and Eve are no longer to partake from the Tree of Life. Abraham had planted a tree and called upon the Name of the Lord. Was he worshiping the tree? Moses and God's people come to Marah where the water was bitter. God was showing the bitterness of their hearts. What is the remedy? God tells Moses to throw a three in the water. It becomes sweet after the tree is thrown in the water.We are described as trees to bear fruit. Any tree that does not bear fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire. They Crucified Jesus Christ on a Tree. And now through the work of the Cross and the Blood of the Lamb, we are now able to approach the Tree of Life again.
Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight or to be desired—good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life also in the center of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of [the difference between] good and evil and blessing and calamity.
Genesis 3:24 So [God] drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the Garden of Eden the cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep and guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 21:33 (AMP) Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God.
Exodus 15:25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree which he cast into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There [the Lord] made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them,
Matthew 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
Acts 5:30 The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree (cross).
1 Peter 2:24 He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed (happy and to be envied) are those who cleanse their garments, that they may have the authority and right to [approach] the tree of life and to enter through the gates into the city.
I personally do not know the origin of who came up with the Christmas tree. But I will celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!! The Tree is the Cross in which our Lord laid down His life to become a curse to bore our sins in His Body that we might die to our sin and live to righteousness. HONOR HIM!!! For a virgin had given birth to a Savior and His Name is Immanuel!!
Deception will become more rampant in the coming dark days. Many people attempt to teach out of their pride and their own understanding. I ask those who teach to be more cautious for you will be judge with greater condemnation. Have you been given authority to teach? For not all of you should become teachers scripture says. Unless you teach with the Fear of God, how will you teach with wisdom?
Merry Christmas and ALL THE GLORY TO JESUS IN THE HIGHEST. WE GIVE HIM THE HIGHEST PRAISE!!!!
http://fireofgodservants.blogspot.com/2012/11/to-christmas-or-not-to-christmas.html
FIRE OF GOD MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Pst Steve Yong Kim
December 3, 2012
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