THE SECOND EPISTLE OF CLEMENT

CHAP. I.–WE OUGHT TO THINK HIGHLY OF CHRIST.


BRETHREN, it is fitting that you should think of Jesus Christ as of God,–as the Judge of the living and the dead. And it does not become us to think lightly of our salvation; for if we think little of Him, we shall also hope but to obtain little [from Him]. And those of us who hear carelessly of these things, as if they were of small importance, commit sin, not knowing whence we have been called, and by whom, and to what place, and how much Jesus Christ submitted to suffer for our sakes. What return, then, shall we make to Him, or what fruit that shall be worthy of that which tie has given to us? For, indeed, how great are the benefits which we owe to Him! He has graciously given us light; as a Father, He has called us sons; He has saved us when we were ready to perish. What praise, then, shall we give to Him, or what return shall we make for the things which we have received? We were deficient in understanding, worshipping stones and wood, and gold, and silver, and brass, the works of men’s hands; and our whole life was nothing else than death. Involved in blindness, and with such darkness before our eyes, we have received sight, and through His will have laid aside that cloud by which we were enveloped. For He had compassion on us, and mercifully saved us, observing the many errors in which we were entangled, as well as the destruction to which we were exposed, and that we had no hope of salvation except it came to us from Him. For He called us when we were not, and willed that out of nothing we should attain a real existence.

CHAP. II.–THE CHURCH, FORMERLY BARREN, IS NOW FRUITFUL.

“Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for she that is desolate hath many more children than she that hath an husband.” In that He said, “Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not,” He referred to us, for our church was barren before that children were given to her. But when He said, “Cry out, thou that travailest not,” He means this, that we should sincerely offer up our prayers to God, and should not, like women m travail, show signs of weakness. And in that He said, “For she that is desolate hath many more children than she that hath an husband,” [He means] that our people seemed to be outcast from God, but now, through believing, have become more numerous than those who are reckoned to possess God. And another Scripture saith, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” This means that those who are perishing must be saved. For it is indeed a great and admirable thing to establish not the things which are standing, but those that are falling. Thus also did Christ desire to save the things which were perishing, and has saved many by coming and calling us when hastening to destruction.

CHAP. III.–THE DUTY OF CONFESSING CHRIST.

Since, then, He has displayed so great mercy towards us, and especially in this respect, that we who are living should not offer sacrifices to gods that are dead, or pay them worship, but should attain through Him to the knowledge of the true Father, whereby shall we show that we do indeed know Him, but by not denying Him through whom this knowledge has been attained? For He himself declares, “Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father.” This, then, is our reward if we shall confess Him by whom we have been saved. But in what way shall we confess Him? By doing what He says, and not transgressing His commandments, and by honouring Him not with our lips only, but with all our heart and all our mind. For He says in Isaiah, “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

CHAP. IV.–TRUE CONFESSION OF CHRIST.

Let us, then, not only call Him Lord, for that will not save us. For He saith, “Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall be saved, but he that worketh righteousness.” Wherefore, brethren, let us confess Him by our works, by loving one another, by not committing adultery, or speaking evil of one another, or cherishing envy; but by being continent, compassionate, and good. We ought also to sympathize with one another, and not be avaricious. By such works let us confess Him, and not by those that are of an opposite kind. And it is not fitting that we should fear men, but rather God. For this reason, if we should do such [wicked] things, the Lord hath said, “Even though ye were gathered together to me in my very bosom, yet if ye were not to keep my commandments, I would cast you off, and say unto you, Depart from me; I know you not whence ye are, ye workers of iniquity.”

CHAP. V.–THIS WORLD SHOULD BE DESPISED.

Wherefore, brethren, leaving [willingly] our sojourn in this present world, let us do the will of Him that called us, and not fear to depart out of this world. For the Lord saith, “Ye shall be as lambs in the midst of wolves.” And Peter answered and said unto Him, “What, then, if the wolves shall tear in pieces the lambs?” Jesus said unto Peter, “The lambs have no cause after they are dead to fear the wolves; and in like manner, fear not ye them that kill you, and can do nothing more unto you; but fear Him who, after you are dead, has power over both soul and body to cast them into hell-fire.” And consider, brethren, that the sojourning in the flesh in this world is but brief and transient, but the promise of Christ is great and wonderful, even the rest of the kingdom to come, and of life everlasting. By what course of conduct, then, shall we attain these things, but by leading a holy and righteous life, and by deeming these worldly things as not belonging to us, and not fixing our desires upon them? For if we desire to possess them, we fall away from the path of righteousness.

CHAP. VI.–THE PRESENT AND FUTURE WORLDS ARE ENEMIES TO EACH OTHER.

Now the Lord declares, “No servant can serve two masters.” If we desire, then, to serve both God and mammon, it will be unprofitable for us. “For what will it profit if a man gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” This world and the next are two enemies. The one urges to adultery and corruption, avarice and deceit; the other bids farewell to these things. We cannot, therefore, be the friends of both; and it behoves us, by renouncing the one, to make sure of the other. Let us reckon that it is better to hate the things present, since they are trifling, and transient, and corruptible; and to love those [which are to come,] as being good and incorruptible. For if we do the will of Christ, we shall find rest; otherwise, nothing shall deliver us from eternal punishment, if we disobey His commandments. For thus also saith the Scripture in Ezekiel, “If Noah, Job, and Daniel should rise up, they should not deliver their children in captivity.” Now, if men so eminently righteous are not able by their righteousness to deliver their children, how can we hope to enter into the royal residence of God unless we keep our baptism holy and undefiled? Or who shall be our advocate, unless we be found possessed of works of holiness and righteousness?

CHAP. VII.–WE MUST STRIVE IN ORDER TO BE CROWNED.

Wherefore, then, my brethren, let us struggle with all earnestness, knowing that the contest is [in our case] close at hand, and that many undertake long voyages to strive for a corruptible reward; yet all are not crowned, but those only that have laboured hard and striven gloriously. Let us therefore so strive, that we may all be crowned. Let us run the straight course, even the race that is incorruptible; and let us m great numbers set out for it, and strive that we may be crowned. And should we not all be able to obtain the crown, let us at least come near to it. We must remember that he who strives in the corruptible contest, if he be found acting unfairly, is taken away and scourged, and cast forth from the lists. What then think ye? If one does anything unseemly in the incorruptible contest, what shall he have to bear? For of those who do not preserve the seal [unbroken], [the Scripture] saith, “Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be a spectacle to all flesh.”

CHAP. VIII.–THE NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE WHILE WE ARE ON EARTH.

As long, therefore, as we are upon earth, let us practise repentance, for we are as clay in the hand of the artificer. For as the potter, if he make a vessel, and it be distorted or broken in his hands, fashions it over again; but if he have before this cast it into the furnace of fire, can no longer find any help for it: so let us also, while we are in this world, repent with our whole heart of the evil deeds we have done in the flesh, that we may be saved by the Lord, while we have yet an opportunity of repentance. For after we have gone out of the world, no further power of confessing or repenting will there belong to us. Wherefore, brethren, by doing the will of the Father, and keeping the flesh holy, and observing the commandments of the Lord, we shall obtain eternal life. For the Lord saith in the Gospel, “If ye have not kept that which was small, who will commit to you the great? For I say unto you, that he that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much.” This, then, is what He means: “Keep the flesh holy and the seal undefiled, that ye may receive eternal life.”

CHAP. IX.–WE SHALL RE JUDGED IN THE FLESH.

And let no one of you say that this very flesh shall not be judged, nor rise again. Consider ye in what [state] ye were saved, in what ye received sight, if not while ye were in this flesh. We must therefore preserve the flesh as the temple of God. For as ye were called in the flesh, ye shall also come [to be judged] in the flesh. As Christ the Lord who saved us, though He was first a Spirit became flesh, and thus called us, so shall we also receive the reward in this flesh. Let us therefore love one another, that we may all attain to the kingdom of God. While we have an opportunity of being healed, let us yield ourselves to God that healeth us, and give to Him a recompense. Of what sort? Repentance out of a sincere heart; for He knows all things beforehand, and is acquainted with what is in our hearts. Let us therefore give Him praise, not with the mouth only, but also with the heart, that tie may accept us as sons. For the Lord has said, “Those are my brethren who do the will of my Father.”

CHAP. X.–VICE IS TO BE FORSAKEN, AND VIRTUE FOLLOWED.

Wherefore, my brethren, let us do the will of the Father who called us, that we may live; and let us earnestly follow after virtue, but forsake every wicked tendency which would lead us into transgression; and flee from ungodliness, lest evils overtake us. For if we are diligent in doing good, peace will follow us. On this account, such men cannot find it [i.e. peace] as are influenced by human terrors, and prefer rather present enjoyment to the promise which shall afterwards be fulfilled. For they know not what torment present enjoyment recurs, or what felicity is involved in the future promise. And if, indeed, they themselves only aid such things, it would be [the more] tolerable; but now they persist in imbuing innocent souls with their pernicious doctrines, not knowing that they shall receive a double condemnation, both they and those that hear them.

CHAP. XI.–WE OUGHT TO SERVE GOD, TRUSTING IN HIS PROMISES.

Let us therefore serve God with a pure heart, and we shall be righteous; but if we do not serve Him, because we believe not the promise of God, we shall be miserable. For the prophetic word also declares, “Wretched are those of a double mind, and who doubt in their heart, who say, All these things have we heard even in the times of our fathers; but though we have waited day by day, we have seen none of them [accomplished]. Ye fools! compare yourselves to a tree; take, for instance, the vine. First of all it sheds its leaves, then the bud appears; after that the sour grape, and then the fully-ripened fruit. So, likewise, my people have borne disturbances and afflictions, but afterwards shall they receive their good things.” Wherefore, my brethren, let us not be of a double mind, but let us hope and endure, that we also may obtain the reward. For He is faithful who has promised that He will bestow on every one a reward according to his works. If, therefore, we shall do righteousness in the sight of God, we shall enter into His kingdom, and shall receive the promises, which “ear hath not heard, nor eye seen, neither have entered into the heart of man.”

CHAP. XII.–WE ARE CONSTANTLY TO LOOK FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Let us expect, therefore, hour by hour, the kingdom of God in love and righteousness, since we know not the day of the appearing of God. For the Lord Himself, being asked by one when His kingdom would come, replied, “When two shall be one, that which is without as that which is within, and the male with the female, neither male nor female.” Now, two are one when we speak the truth one to another, and there is unfeignedly one soul in two bodies. And “that which is without as” that which is within meaneth this: He calls the soul “that which is within,” and the body “that which is without.” As, then, thy body is visible to sight, so also let thy soul be manifest by good works. And “the male, with the female, neither male nor female, this He saith, that brother seeing sister may have no thought concerning her as female, and that she may have no thought concerning him as male. “If ye do these things, saith He, “the kingdom of my Father shall come.”

CHAP. XIII.–GOD’S NAME NOT TO BE BLASPHEMED.

Brethren, then, let us now at length repent, let us soberly turn to that which is good; for we are full of abundant folly and wickedness. Let us wipe out from us our former sins, and repenting from the heart be saved; and let us not be men-pleasers, nor be willing to please one another only, but also the men without, for righteousness sake, that the name may not be, because of us, blasphemed. For the Lord saith, “Continually my name is blasphemed among all nations,” and “Wherefore my name is blasphemed; blasphemed in what? In your not doing the things which I wish.” For the nations, hearing from our mouth the oracles of God, marvel at their excellence and worth; thereafter learning that our deeds are not worthy of the words which we speak,–receiving this occasion they turn to blasphemy, saying that they are a fable and a delusion. For, whenever they hear from us that God saith, “No thank have ye, if ye love them which love you, but ye have thank, if ye love your enemies and them which hate you ” –whenever they hear these words, they marvel at the surpassing measure of their goodness; but when they see, that not only do we not love those who hate, but that we love not even those who love, they laugh us to scorn, and the name is blasphemed.

CHAP. XIV.–THE CHURCH SPIRITUAL.

So, then, brethren, if we do the will of our Father God, we shall be members of the first church, the spiritual,–that which was created before sun and moon; but if we shall not do the will of the Lord, we shall come under the Scripture which saith, “My house became a den of robbers.” So, then, let us elect to belong to the church of life, that we may be saved. I think not that ye are ignorant that the living church is the body of Christ (for the Scripture, saith, “God created man male and female;” the male is Christ, the female the church,) and that the Books and the Apostles teach that the church is not of the present, but from the beginning. For it was spiritual, as was also our Jesus, and was made manifest at the end of the days in order to save us. The church being spiritual, was made manifest in the flesh of Christ, signifying to us that if any one of us shall preserve it in the flesh and corrupt it not, he shall receive it in the Holy Spirit. For this flesh is the type of the spirit; no one, therefore, having corrupted the type, will receive afterwards the antitype. Therefore is it, then, that He saith, brethren, “Preserve ye the flesh, that ye may become partakers of the spirit.” If we say that the flesh is the church and the spirit Christ, then it follows that he who shall offer outrage to the flesh is guilty of outrage on the church. Such an one, therefore, will not partake of the spirit, which is Christ. Such is the life and immortality, which this flesh may afterwards receive, the Holy Spirit cleaving to it; and no one can either express or utter what things the Lord hath prepared for His elect.

CHAP. XV.–HE WHO SAVES AND HE WHO IS SAVED.

I think not that I counted trivial counsel concerning continence; following it, a man will not repent thereof, but will save both himself and me who counselled. For it is no small reward to turn back a wandering and perishing soul for its salvation. For this recompense we are able to render to the God who created us, if he who speaks and hears beth speak and hear with faith and love. Let us, therefore, continue in that course in which we, righteous and holy, believed, that with confidence we may ask God who saith, “Whilst thou art still speaking, I will say, Here I am.” For these words are a token of a great promise, for the Lord saith that He is more ready to give than he who asks. So great, then, being the goodness of which we are partakers, let us not grudge one another the attainment of so great blessings.
For in proportion to the pleasure with which these words are fraught to those who shall follow them, in that proportion is the condemnation with which they are fraught to those who shall refuse to hear.

CHAP. XVI–PREPARATION FOR THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

So, then, brethren, having received no small occasion to repent, while we have opportunity, let us turn to God who called us, while yet we have One to receive us. For if we renounce these indulgences and conquer the soul by not fulfilling its wicked desires, we shall be partakers of the mercy of Jesus. Know ye that the day of judgment draweth nigh like a burning oven, and certain of the heavens and all the earth will melt, like lead melting in fire; and then will appear the hidden and manifest deeds of men. Good, then, is alms as repentance from sin; better is fasting than prayer, and alms than both; “charity covereth a multitude of sins,” and prayer out of a good conscience delivereth from death. Blessed is every one that shall be found complete in these; for alms lightens the burden of sin.

CHAP. XVII.–SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

Let us, then, repent with our whole heart, that no one of us may perish amiss. For if we have commands and engage in withdrawing from idols and instructing others, how much more ought a soul already knowing God not to perish. Rendering, therefore, mutual help, let us raise the weak also in that which is good, that all of us may be saved and convert one another and admonish. And not only now let us seem to believe and give heed, when we are admonished by the elders; but also when we take our departure home, let us remember the commandments of the Lord, and not be allured back by worldly lusts, but let us often and often draw near and try to make progress in the Lord’s commands, that we all having the same mind may be gathered together for life. For the Lord said, “I come to gather all nations [kindreds] and tongues.” This means the day of His appearing, when He will come and redeem us–each one according to his works. And the unbelievers will see His glory and might, and, when they see the empire of the world in Jesus, they will be surprise, saying, “Woe to us, because Thou wast, and we knew not and believed not and obeyed not the elders who show us plainly of our salvation.” And “their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be a spectacle unto all flesh.” It is of the great day of judgment He speaks, when they shall see those among us who were guilty of ungodliness and erred in their estimate of the commands of Jesus Christ. The righteous, having succeeded both in enduring the trials and hating the indulgences of the soul, whenever they witness how those who have swerved and denied Jesus by words or deeds are punished with grievous torments in fire unquenchable, will give glory to their God and say, “There will be hope for him who has served God with his whole heart.”

CHAP. XVIII.–THE AUTHOR SINFUL, YET PURSUING.

And let us, then, be of the number of those who give thanks, who have served God, and not of the ungodly who are judged. For I myself, though a sinner every whir and not yet fleeing temptation but continuing in the midst of the tools of the devil, study to follow after righteousness, that I may make, be it only some, approach to it, fearing the judgment to come.

CHAP. XIX.–REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY SUFFER.

So then, brothers and sisters, after the God of truth I address to you an appeal that ye may give heed to the words written, that ye may save both yourselves and him who reads an address in your midst. For as a reward I ask of you repentance with the whole heart, while ye bestow upon yourselves salvation and life. For by so doing we shall set a mark for all the young who wish to be diligent in godliness and the goodness of God. And let not us, in our folly, feel displeasure and indignation, whenever any one admonishes us and turns us from unrighteousness to righteousness. For there are some wicked deeds which we commit, and know it not, because of the double-mindedness and unbelief present in our breasts, and our understanding is darkened by vain desires. Let us, therefore, work righteousness, that we may be saved to the end. Blessed are they who obey these commandments, even if for a brief space they suffer in this world, and they will gather the imperishable fruit of the resurrection. Let not the godly man, therefore, grieve; if for the present he suffer affliction, blessed is the time that awaits him there; rising up to life again with the fathers he will rejoice for ever without a grief.

CHAP. XX.–GODLINESS, NOT GAIN, THE TRUE RICHES.

But let it not even trouble your mind, that we see the unrighteous possessed of riches and the servants of God straitened. Let us, therefore, brothers and sisters, believe; in a trial of the living God we strive and are exercised in the present life, that we may obtain the crown in that which is to come. No one of the righteous received fruit speedily, but waiteth for it. For if God tendered the reward of the righteous in a trice, straightway were it commerce that we practised, and not godliness. For it were as if we were righteous by following after not godliness but gain; and for this reason the divine judgment baffled the spirit that is unrighteous and heavily weighed the fetter. To the only God, invisible, Father of truth, who sent forth to us the Saviour and Author of immortality, through whom He also manifested to us the truth and the heavenly life, to Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Fiery trials of life

The trials and tribulations we go through in life is like going through the Fire tunnel of God. It is a place where we are purged as we endure, persevere, and crucify our flesh. It is a place we learn the deeper things of God. It is where we learn His Revelations and obtain wisdom. It is in this place of pain we learn to die to self if we continue to choose His path. At the end, it produces life and we become mature trees that bear abundance fruit where others can find shade and a place to eat. It is a place where our sorrows have turned to joy.

Acts 14:22 (AMP) Establishing and strengthening the souls and the hearts of the disciples, urging and warning and encouraging them to stand firm in the faith, and [telling them] that it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Psalm 30:5 (AMP) For His anger is but for a moment, but His favor is for a lifetime or in His favor is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Fire of God

No longer under or to uphold the Law?

Jesus said that man cannot live on bread alone but EVERY Word of the Living God yet many Christians are continue to believe that the OT is not relevant to them or for today? Jesus did not say only the NT will be relevant, He said "Every."

Matthew 4:4(AMP) But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Yes, we are no longer under the law in terms of the Levitical ceremonial laws. But even in the book of Leviticus are God's commandments written. For example, the following verses:

Leviticus 19:11-19 (AMP)You shall not steal, or deal falsely, or lie one to another.12And you shall not swear by My name falsely, neither shall you profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.13You shall not defraud or oppress your neighbor or rob him; the wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until morning.14You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall [reverently] fear your God. I am the Lord. 15You shall do no injustice in judging a case; you shall not be partial to the poor or show a preference for the mighty, but in righteousness and according to the merits of the case judge your neighbor. 16You shall not go up and down as a dispenser of gossip and scandal among your people, nor shall you [secure yourself by false testimony or by silence and] endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the Lord.17You shall not hate your brother in your heart; but you shall surely rebuke your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.18You shall not take revenge or bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. 19You shall keep My statutes. You shall not let your domestic animals breed with a different kind [of animal]; you shall not sow your field with mixed seed, neither wear a garment of linen mixed with wool.

Are we not going to read the OT because we are going to assume that we are no longer subjected to those commands? Are we going to say we are "no longer under the law" therefore we can steal, deal falsey, lie, hate, profane God's name, etc etc? The word "law" in the English translation is being used generically and frankly it has done a bad job of translation.

Romans 3:31 (AMP) Do we then by [this] faith make the Law of no effect, overthrow it or make it a dead letter? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law.

No, Paul said we are not here to make the Law of no effect or dead but to uphold it instead.

Please discern brethren and DO NOT BE DECEIVED. There are different laws in which the bible speak about. Yes, you are no longer under the food laws. Yes, you are no longer under the sacrificial law. They are but foreshadows. The Sabbath (Sundays) is not a foreshadow but a commandment of the the top four to keep His Day HOLY. And YOU ARE STILL SUBJECTED TO FOLLOWING GOD'S TEN COMMANDMENTS AND THE OTHER COMMANDS.

If we are to walk in the Spirit, then we are no longer subjected to the law because we are no longer law breakers because we make a willful choice to stop breaking them. However, if we start breaking His commandments and laws then we will at the end be declared law breakers.

Matthew 7:21-23 (AMP)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.22Many 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?23And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].

Therefore, if you live in the Spirit, this is not a theory but a practice as one makes a choice to die to oneself daily and live by the Spirit and not by the flesh. But if one is still living in the flesh and living as the world carnally, then it is them who actually puts themselves back under the law because they are now breaking the law.

1 John 3:7-10 Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness [who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life] is righteous, even as He is righteous.8[But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].9 No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and [h]habitually] practices sin, for God's nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God

Will the police arrest you if you are NOT the thief? No, because if you are not a thief then you are not subjected to the laws of theft. But if you continue to steal, can one ask for grace from the laws of man and not go to jail? No, if one continues to steal, then one puts themselves back under that law and will go to jail.

Christ fulfilling the law does not mean you can go steal and get away with it. It does not mean you can continue to live in the flesh and in your bondage or in your sins. It does not mean you can live carnally as the world does and say you "Believe" in HIM. It does not mean you can give yourself an excuse and say you are weak so you will fornicate, divorce like the world, drink, smoke, do drugs, use profanity, lust, hate, etc etc.

So when Paul said he will EXERCISE and DISCIPLINE himself, is this "works" of his own? Is he working for His salvation? Paul said if you live by the flesh YOU WILL DIE!

Acts 24:16 Therefore I always exercise and discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men.

Romans 8:13 For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.

So Paul said "KILL or DEADEN the evil desires and your impulses from your body that employees sin. Is to KILL and DEADEN the evil desires in us "works" to get our salvation? But if we do not KILL it, Paul said that fornicators, gossipers, thieves, and the likes will NOT INHERIT the Kingdom of God!

Colossians 3:5 So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).

We have Grace now to get things right with God. It is time to grow up in Christ instead of swimming in the dung of the world and using the work of the Cross to justify our sins and our weaknesses. Jesus has told me, HE IS COMING BACK WITH A ROD!



 He had DIED for you and HE had OVERCOME the world so YOU CAN LIVE and OVERCOME THE WORLD. Scripture says if we are born of God, we will overcome! Grace gives us the ability to overcome. Grace does not give us the excuse to say we cannot overcome.

The Lord had once told me....if we cannot overcome our trials and situations, we better ask ourselves if we are even born of God! How can people say they cannot overcome when they are not even praying as they should. It is through prayer and faith that changes the spiritual realm for us to move mountains.

May the Lord put His salve on the eyes and ears of our hearts so we may perceive and understand what is at stake. Lord, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Help us so we do NOT become corrupted, deceived or fall away as these days become much darker.

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
Feb 20, 2012

The Shekinah cloud

Leviticus 9:23 "Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord [the Shekinah cloud] appeared to all the people [as promised]."

I have heard many churches and servants call for the Shekinah glory of the Lord during their conferences or meetings. If we look in Leviticus chapter 9, the glory of the Lord or Shekinah cloud appeared to all the people as Moses had previous told them. Today, as His people, as we seek His presence or Shekinah glory, we must learn what the requirements are for calling on God's Shekinah glory or presence.





In verse 1, it starts with "On the Eighth day." Even in the OT, an eighth day is mentioned several times, The eighth day is our first day in the Gregorian calender. It represents the millennium. The eighth day is now our 4th commandment or the Sabbath. It is the day Jesus resurrected.  Please read my other note on the "Eighth day."

http://fireofgodservants.blogspot.com/2011/08/eighth-day.html
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=252383594797577

I am not saying the Shekinah glory will only appear on Sundays or the Eighth day. It is just to mention how the bible talks about an eighth day.

Continuing in Leviticus chapter 9, Moses commanded Aaron to take a young calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. Then Moses told Aaron to tell the people to take a male goat for a sin offering and a calf and a lamb without blemish, a year old for a burnt offering. Moreover, a bull and a ram were to be offered for a peace offering with a cereal offering mixed with oil sacrificed before the Lord.

Moses said in verse 6, "And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commanded you to do, and the glory of the Lord will appear to you."

Aaron then performed the ceremonial process first for him and his sons to make atonement for themselves and for the people. Then they offered the offering of the people and made atonement for the people.

After the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we are no longer subjected to the ceremonial laws of sacrifice for our sins and atonement. We do not have to slaughter animals year after year. Now, we can repent and confess our sins before Him and be washed by His Blood. If we stumble or fall, we do not have to go get another animal without blemish but we can call upon His Name to confess our sins.What a merciful and graceful God we serve!

1 John 1:9 (AMP) If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

James 5:16 (AMP) Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

The Word of God shows us a format or process for calling on the presence of God. We do not need to offer more animals. We can now call on HIM and confess or repent. First the servants, leaders, worship leaders, and/or preachers must confess their sins to be continuously cleansed. Our leaders and those who pray for others must be cleansed and a holy people. Then the people before the altar of God must confess their sins.The people of God must be cleansed and a holy people.

When we come to church or before God, instead of speaking about the concerns of our lives or the things of the world, perhaps, we should be more respectful to our God and as we enter His churches, we examine ourselves and prepare our hearts for worship.

It is then when our hearts are right and we come to HIM humbled and then as we worship God, we can receive more of His Glory or presence. How can God show up to His people when some of them including many leaders are full of sin or unconfessed sins? Christianity is not a theory of blind faith. It is the POWER of  God who frees us from our bondage and issues as we draw closer to HIM. It is a reality in which we should be getting closer becoming more like HIM. It is a reality in which we should be growing spiritually in His grace moving from Glory to Glory.

Are we not to live and walk our lives in the Spirit? Our carnality and flesh should be dying and put to death. There is no excuse to say we cannot overcome for He has overcome the world for us and if we draw on HIM, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Scripture says if we are born of God, we will overcome!

Let us come to HIM with reverence and worship. Let us respect His temples whether that be the places we congregate or our bodies in which HE resides. Let us keep His temple HOLY for He is residing in them. We are His temples now. Let us confess our sins when we stumble and make mistakes. Let us continue to praise His Great Name. Let us call for His Shekinah Glory/Presence and let His Blazing FIRE baptize us. 

Leviticus 9:23-24 (AMP) Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord [the Shekinah cloud] appeared to all the people [as promised]. 24 Then there came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.


Psalm 99:3 Let them confess and praise Your great name, awesome and reverence inspiring! It is holy, and holy is He! 

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
Feb 17, 2012

By your own faith and words, will you either bless or curse yourselves

Brethren, be very careful of what comes out of your mouth. If you complain and prophecies negative things about your situation or surrounding, then you will create the more reality of it.  For all you may really be doing is complaining and murmuring against God and for testing Him. If we complain and murmur, we are but showing a lack of trust and faith towards Him.

The leaders and the pastors of our churches must also have a spirit like Caleb. Caleb had a different spirit than the other 10 spies who were also 10 leaders from the other tribes. What the leaders of our churches do will trickle down to the flock and they will either be blessed or cursed based on the leaders decisions and beliefs. Leaders and pastors, you must understand the accountability you possess as you have been called into your positions to serve the flock.

Numbers 13:3 So Moses by the command of the Lord sent scouts from the Wilderness of Paran, all of them men who were heads of the Israelites.

Caleb had a spirit which fully obeyed, trusting, and who had fully surrendered to the Lord. The other ten spies had a spirit of fear and lacked faith. The 10 spies or leaders of their tribes brought a faithless fearful report of the giants. And as a result, the leaders as they preached to their tribes spread the spirit of fear among their people. Their lack of faith became contagious. It is very important the leaders in our churches are men who are God fearing, tested, and seasoned and not men appointed because of money or church politics.

Numbers 13:30 Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it. 31 But his fellow scouts said, We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are stronger than we are.32 So they brought the Israelites an evil report of the land which they had scouted out, saying, The land through which we went to spy it out is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.33 There we saw the Nephilim [or giants], the sons of Anak, who come from the giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

The people out of fear cried all night complaining and grumbling. Then in verse four, they said, "Let us choose a captain and return to Egypt." The Kingdom of God is a monarchy. He assigns and appoints whom He desires. Spiritual authority is very important in Christianity. However, when God's people did not like the level of difficulty required to get to their blessing, they rebelled in their hearts and since they did not like God's original appointed, Moses, they decided they could do better by instituting a vote. 

Numbers 14:1-4 AND ALL the congregation cried out with a loud voice, and [they] wept that night.2 All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their situation, accusing Moses and Aaron, to whom the whole congregation said, Would that we had died in Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness!3 Why does the Lord bring us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will be a prey. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us choose a captain and return to Egypt.

Democracy today on the surface appears to be working and on the path of freedom for religion. However, democracy is not the Kingdom of God. Once again, the Kingdom of God is a monarchy. If we want God fearing leaders in our governments and churches, we need to be praying and asking for God's direction instead of complaining of who is leading and then voting them in or out.

Since fear had taken over the people and when Joshua and Caleb attempted to speak courage to them, they were ready to kill them with stones. Many Christians profess to believe and trust God but when they are put to the test with their faith, how many of them will shine and possess the different spirit as Caleb had from among all the others? Even today, how many Christians are there always looking back to return to Egypt to what they perceive to be a easier comfortable life.

When God puts you in the wilderness to test, refine, and teach you obedience and we grumble and complain, then those complaints and grumble will fall back on us as it had with God's people. When they shrank back in fear from the report, God gave them what they spoke as they spoke in verses 1 to 3.

God's people was again in rebellion as He was going to smite them with pestilence and disinherit them as He had threatened to do when they had also built the golden calf. However, Moses interceded again on behalf of a stiffed neck stubborn people. It is so important to have leaders who are God fearing and full of His Love. Let us always pray for our leaders and pastors who oversee His flocks to possess the heart of God.

Numbers 14:10-13 But all the congregation said to stone [Joshua and Caleb] with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting before all the Israelites.11And the Lord said to Moses, How long will this people provoke (spurn, despise) Me? And how long will it be before they believe Me [trusting in, relying on, clinging to Me], for all the signs which I have performed among them?12I will smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and will make of you [Moses] a nation greater and mightier than they.13But Moses said to the Lord, Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for You brought up this people in Your might from among them.

Numbers 14:20-37 And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to your word. 21But truly as I live and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 Because all those men who have seen My glory and My [miraculous] signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tested and proved Me these ten times and have not heeded My voice, 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I swore to give to their fathers; nor shall any who provoked (spurned, despised) Me see it. 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.25Now because the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley, tomorrow turn and go into the wilderness by way of the Red Sea.26And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 27 How long will this evil congregation murmur against Me? I have heard the complaints the Israelites murmur against Me. 28 Tell them, As I live, says the Lord, what you have said in My hearing I will do to you: 29 Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness--of all who were numbered of you, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against Me,30 Surely none shall come into the land in which I swore to make you dwell, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 But your little ones whom you said would be a prey, them will I bring in and they shall know the land which you have despised and rejected.32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33And your children shall be wanderers and shepherds in the wilderness for forty years and shall suffer for your whoredoms (your infidelity to your espoused God), until your corpses are consumed in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which you spied out the land [of Canaan], even forty days, for each day a year shall you bear and suffer for your iniquities, even for forty years, and you shall know My displeasure [the revoking of My promise and My estrangement].35 I the Lord have spoken; surely this will I do to all this evil congregation who is gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed [by war, disease, plagues], and here they shall die.36And the men whom Moses sent to search the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble and complain against him by bringing back a slanderous report of the land, 37 Even those men who brought the evil report of the land died by a plague before the Lord. 38 But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among the men who went to search the land, lived still. 39 Moses told [the Lord's] words to all the Israelites, and [they] mourned greatly.40And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, Behold, we are here, and we intend to go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned. 41 But Moses said, Why now do you transgress the command of the Lord [to turn back by way of the Red Sea], since it will not succeed? 42 Go not up, for the Lord is not among you, that you be not struck down before your enemies.43For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from following after the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you. 44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country; however, neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp.  45Then the Amalekites came down and the Canaanites who dwelt in that hill country and smote the Israelites and beat them back, even as far as Hormah.

If we continue to complain and grumble, then those negative words we speak of our situations and circumstances may become our reality and as we continue to complain, the Lord will not be with us if we turn away from following after the Lord. Let us humble ourselves and return to possessing the biblical Fear of God instead of our circumstances.

Glory to God for His messages

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
Feb 15, 2012

NOW IS THE TIME TO GROW by Diane Solver

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Daddy God said, “The coming days will be so hard and almost everyone will choose to turn their backs on Me. Only those who are trained by Me, those who did not resist but perseveres under trials, those who are not clinging dearly in their comfort zones will be able to overcome the coming days.”

I don’t know when will it happen or when will be those days that Daddy God is talking about. But He had impressed on me that we must prepare. He is strengthening His children through trials, sufferings and tribulations so that when the time comes, it will not be hard for us to endure for the coming days of darkness.

Maybe there are some of us who are under life’s difficulties now and are struggling hard but He said that we must take heart. What we are experiencing now is for our own benefit. It will strengthen us. It will mold us to become a stronger vessel that will not break easily when being thrown down.



Daddy God said that many will fall away because they are accustomed to a comfortable life. Most of us now are comfortable in our homes, and not under persecutions like before when all Christians were being killed and were in hiding, but still most of us are complaining to God about our problems. How are we going to endure if the situation requires us to leave our homes, or to be out of food, or to be in danger, or to be persecuted as we professed our faith? If we cannot endure our personal tribulations now, how do we think that we may be able to overcome the coming dark days?

We must take this opportunity now to grow more into maturity. We must not resist God’s tests for it brings forth lessons. Yes many times we are hurt, we groan, we weep. But during those times we pray, we trust, we grow and we learn. We must remember that when trials come we must do what is right no matter what and we must take refuge in God. We must find our hiding place in Him where we are always safe.

Whenever I feel hopeless and the problems seems to pile up, I often say to myself, “My Savior had endured all for me, can I not be able to do it also? He endured a lot of sufferings because He loves me and if I say that I love Him, I must also prove it!”



“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Romans 8:35

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12


ALL GLORY TO GOD!

-Daddy’s girl

We need to spiritually eat every day

How does one know when one is becoming religious or begins drifting away? It is when one becomes tired and complacent physically and spiritually. When the hunger for the Lord diminishes and following Him becomes an obligation instead of out of joy. Being religious is when one complains vocally or in their heart that singing more than three songs during worship is too much. Perhaps, even two may be too much for them. Being religious is when one does not want to spend more than one hour and half in church because they have other obligations.

One can know when one is becoming religious when one continues to only preach easy milk. When one preaches easy milk, they are really attempting to justify their own lack of their First Love attitude for the Lord. They start looking for scriptures in the bible to justify their laziness, their shortcomings, and how they do not have to overcome anything but give excuses to continue in their bondage, sin or weaknesses. When one only looks at the one side of the bible and not all the sides of God, they are down the path of religion. The one side they are looking at is usually their own side of understanding and desire. It is their blind false hope of how they wish it to be because they are now getting tired physically and spiritually. And sadly, they preach such messages. The danger than becomes the blind leading the blind.We know we are becoming religious and drifting away when our prayer life becomes but a few minutes a week to non existent. Our prayers are only when we come to service on Sundays and perhaps another day in the week. We know we are becoming religious when our reading the Word is becoming non existent. Many of God's people have become drunken by the world's darkness but not drunken by His Love. When these symptoms are upon us, it is then we bear only a form of piety or true religion and we become strangers to the inherent power of God.

The door to God's Wisdom is the Fear of the Lord. The Pharisees and Sadducee had a lot of head knowledge of the Word but they did not possess His Wisdom because they did not possess the Fear of God. Perhaps, throughout the generations, they had become accustomed to serving themselves instead of serving God and others. When we realize we are on the road of religion, how can we overcome the religious spirits and beak out? It is a choice. It is a pivotal choice in which we can either harden our hearts further or make the choice to break out from our slumber. If we want it easy, we are but making a choice to let our hearts harden. But if we want to make the choice to walk up the road Jesus walked, it will require us to spend energy and time to get back into that First Love Presence.

Revelation 3:1-5 AND TO the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Sardis write: These are the words of Him Who has the seven Spirits of God [[a]the sevenfold Holy Spirit] and the seven stars: I know your record and what you are doing; you are supposed to be alive, but [in reality] you are dead.    2 Rouse yourselves and keep awake, and strengthen and invigorate what remains and is on the point of dying; for I have not found a thing that you have done [any work of yours] meeting the requirements of My God or perfect in His sight.3 So call to mind the lessons you received and heard; continually lay them to heart and obey them, and repent. In case you will not rouse yourselves and keep awake and watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know or suspect at what hour I will come. 4Yet you still have a few [persons'] names in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes, and they shall walk with Me in white, because they are worthy and deserving.5Thus shall he who conquers (is victorious) be clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him [as Mine] and I will confess his name openly before My Father and before His angels.

We must make a choice to get back into that presence when we first met HIM. It was a time when your thoughts, time, and subject was all about HIM. It was a time when you prayed diligently before meals and perhaps before and after bed and during the day. It was a time when you were hungry to read His Word. It was a time when worship brought you joy. It was a time when you were always hungry for HIM. It is a time when we Love Him so much that we will do anything for Him including forgiving the ones we do not want to forgive because our love for HIM is greater. We must make a daily choice whether we will continue to abide in HIM or drift away. If we physically stop eating, then you will become weak and eventually die if you stop eating. Spiritually, it is no different. Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is the River of Life in which we must partake of HIM each day. If we do not feed from HIM spiritually, we will spiritually become weak. If you only ate once a week, will your body be healthy? How is only spiritually feeding yourself once a week going to make you spiritually healthy. Just as we eat real food daily, we must spiritually eat every day. When we do not eat, our bodies become weak and our immune system is compromised. How much more spiritually if we do not spend time with Him daily?

Matthew 4:4 (AMP) But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

We must feed from the whole bible or Word and not just the easy milk. We must have spiritual meat as we spiritually grow. You must spiritually eat every day!! Otherwise, you will become weak. We are nourished as we are in HIS Will and as we are doing His Will.

John 4:34(AMP) Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work.

Even your food is to do His Will and compete the work He has called you for. If you shy away from your calling or His Will, you will become spiritually malnourished and will eventually die. It may not only be reflected spiritually but physically.

 Proverbs 15:10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes God's way; and he who hates reproof will die [physically, morally, and spiritually].

Return to HIM with all your strength, heart, and mind. Cry out to HIM. Return and CONTINUE to stay abiding IN HIM. Return to your First Love. You must make the choice to spend the time with your Savior and Lord. Lose the secular things that occupy so much of your time. He must be your priority. If you say you are too busy with the rat race of life, then you are placing other things ahead of HIM and that can become your idol as you spend more time serving it. You must be willing to forsake and lose the things of the world that make you busy over the Lord.

Joel 2:12(AMP) Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning [until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored].

May we return to the Lord with a sincere broken contrite heart.

Fire of God!
Steve Yong Kim
Feb 14, 2012

What are your deeds?

The Lord in our prayers last night that so many of His children do not listen to HIM! Many of His people continue in their sins. The sins of His people have reached His throne. Faith without works is dead. Faith without obedience is dead. He said that He will ask what were and are your deeds?

Your faith must be proved through your obedience to His Word and His Spirit.

Job 34:11 For according to the deeds of a man God will [exactly] proportion his pay, and He will cause every man to find [recompense] according to his ways.

Job 36:9 Then He shows to them [the true character of] their deeds and their transgressions, that they have acted arrogantly [with presumption and self-sufficiency].

Psalm 11:7 For the Lord is [rigidly] righteous, He loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face, or He beholds the upright.

Proverbs 11:17 The merciful, kind, and generous man benefits himself [for his deeds return to bless him], but he who is cruel and callous [to the wants of others] brings on himself retribution.

Isaiah 3:8 For Jerusalem is ruined and Judah is fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of His glory and defy His glorious presence.

Isaiah 3:10 Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

His Wrath will pour out on the disobedience and rebellious. The disobedience and rebellious will not survive the coming dark days. He is calling His people out of their sins! He is calling them unto Holiness and unto HIM. He has said that this is the time to come out of your sins. The hour is late. He is coming with a ROD!

Ask the Lord to search your heart for any hidden sins. Ask HIM to remove the strongholds and bondage of your lives. Confess your sins and be cleansed before HIM so He may manifest His Presence among His people and may His Glory rise from His people!!

Psalm 141:4 Incline my heart not to submit or consent to any evil thing or to be occupied in deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.

Glory!
Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim

Feb 13, 2012

Seek His Righteousness

The wicked of this world bear fruit of wickedness. They murder, they steal, they fornicate, they lie, they cheat, they seek revenge, they covet, they pollute their bodies, they defile their bodies, they gorge themselves over the idols of the world, they chase and glorify the movie stars, sports stars, and music stars and they do the things many contrary to and of God. The wicked does what is wicked.

If we are the children of God who are called to be HOLY and to be the Righteousness of Jesus Christ, then should we not be bearing fruit of righteousness? Should we not bear fruit of Holiness? Should we not bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit?

How can we do what the wicked does and say we are righteous? How can we continue to live in sin, disobedience, and commit spiritual adultery and say we are a Holy people unto HIM? Should the righteous not do what righteousness  suppose to do? Shouldn't it be reflected in our lives and our actions who we profess to be? We are not to bear the fruits of self righteousness but His Righteousness through Jesus Christ to testify who we are. We are HIS.

1 John 2:29 If you know (perceive and are sure) that He [Christ] is [absolutely] righteous [conforming to the Father's will in purpose, thought, and action], you may also know (be sure) that everyone who does righteously [and is therefore in like manner conformed to the divine will] is born (begotten) of Him [ God].

1 John 3:10 By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God's will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ).

Revelation 22:11 He who is unrighteous (unjust, wicked), let him be unrighteous still; and he who is filthy (vile, impure), let him be filthy still; and he who is righteous (just, upright, in right standing with God), let him do right still; and he who is holy, let him be holy still.

2 Peter 2:20-21(AMP) For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through [the full, personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again become entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition is worse [for them] than the first.21For never to have obtained a [full, personal] knowledge of the way of righteousness would have been better for them than, having obtained [such knowledge], to turn back from the holy commandment which was [verbally] delivered to them.

If we say we are His then how can we be contrary to the things of God? Can the wicked be contrary to what is wicked? How can a bad tree bear good fruit and how can a good tree bear bad fruit?

Seek the Lord with FULL Surrender. Seek His Full counsel and know He is GOD! Oh, how we should pray so we may never hear the words, "I never knew you!" For such are His people who prophesied, they cast demons out, and they have done mighty things in His Name but acted wickedly disregarding His commands. They called HIM, "Lord! Lord!"

But you see, they did not know HIM intimately even though His gifts were given to them by His Grace to intimately draw them to HIM. The gifts were to be used for His Glory and not for themselves. He is really saying to them...."I never intimately knew you!" The word "knew" is the same as Adam knew Eve as his wife. It is the knowing of a husband to his wife on a intimate level. It is a level of consummation.

May we return to the biblical Fear of God as His return draws near. In these days when so many are being led astray, Will He find faith when He returns? Ask HIM to reveal HIS Truth to you. Ask HIM to put you in agreement with you! Ask HIM to deliver you from the temptations of evil! Ask HIM to help you so you do not become corrupted, deceived, or fall away. Cling on to HIM for dear life beloved brethren for deception is so rampant today. Lord, have mercy on your people!!!!

Fire of God!

Steve Yong Kim
Feb 12, 2012

Matthew 6:33 (AMP) But seek ([a]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [c]taken together will be given you besides.

I want to hear God

Many of us will hear God differently. Some are more sensitive depending on their calling and which part of the body they are. If one is the ear, then he/she will hear God more clearly than the foot. But the hand is also more sensitive than the foot. Therefore, the hand may be more sensitive to feel spiritual things.

However, if the foot receives the gift of shoes, should the hand become jealous? No, how can the hand wear the shoes? If the hand received the gift of gloves, should the foot become jealous? How can the foot wear gloves?

We should as individuals never compare overselves to one another on our gifts and calling for the body is of different parts. You may or may not hear God more clearly than other people. Many think and measure hearing God's voice audibly is most important and they somehow view it a higher gift or calling. However, scripture says the weakest parts of the body are the most absolute necessity. Just because some may not hear God's voice audibly does not mean one is less important. However, we must know His Ways as written in His Word so when events occur, we can discern to be His voice.

1 Corinthians 12:22-24 (AMP) But instead, there is [absolute] necessity for the parts of the body that are considered the more weak. 23And those [parts] of the body which we consider rather ignoble are [the very parts] which we invest with additional honor, and our unseemly parts and those unsuitable for exposure are treated with seemliness (modesty and decorum), 24Which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body, giving the greater honor and richer endowment to the inferior parts which lack [apparent importance],

We must train ourselves to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit as He talks to us individually. He can speak to us in our spirit, from His Word, through other believers, your spiritual leaders, even unbelievers, our circumstances, and if we are stubborn than perhaps a donkey.

Yes, God will speak to us even through unbelievers. God spoke to Joseph through Pharaoh to save His people. God gave Pharaoh the dream. Would we not interpret a dream because an heathen received it?

I hear God audibly many times. How? God speaks to me through my wife as she prophecy when the Spirit is on her. But I hear Him more in my spirit and in my circumstances. Some people do hear God audibly on their own. You are hearing God right now through me as I am teaching you.

God does not always speak audibly. He speaks to us in many different ways and He is the small voice. We must be sensitive to know He is speaking to us from all things.

What if you are not called to hear His voice audibly? I have not heard Him audibly except through my wife and only one time in my dream. What if you are the arm and you are asking God to give you a hearing aid for the arm? The foot or the arm is not going to hear God as the ear does.

Therefore, let us continue to press into HIM by getting to know HIM more through His Word, prayer, and worship, DAILY. We must store up the basic building blocks of drawing closer to HIM. Then through time and at HIS TIME, He will speak to you the way He desires.

If you want your spiritual eyes open, you must pray more. I am talking about hours per day. Now, some may have their eyes open earlier because of their sensitivity but whatever you desire of God, you must pray more and more and more.

I do not even have my spiritual eyes open in which I see angels nor demons. I have not seen heaven nor hell. I am sure those days are coming at His time. But now, He is training me and you are witnessing the fruit. I am doing what I am called to do for this moment. I continue to move forward, obeying, and accepting what He gives me and the measure He gives me for now.

When you ask for more, please understand what you are asking. More will be required of you. You will be responsible and accountable for what you have been given.

God bless
Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
Feb 9, 2012

Blessings and Curses

During prayer last night, the Lord said that if you diligently listen to His Voice and follow His commandments, all will be well with you and your children. You will be blessed. However, if you disobey and sin, you will bring curses upon yourselves and your children. He said that so many of His children have brought curses upon themselves. He is calling them out of their sins. He is calling them to holiness. He is calling them to repent and separate themselves from the love of the world.

Revelation 18:4(AMP) I then heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out from her, my people, so that you may not share in her sins, neither participate in her plagues.

Each day of our life is a test. The Lord has given all He had to us. He had given Himself to die. Now, He requires us to give our lives to HIM. Many can say they love the Lord but He requires our Love to be proved through our faith following His commandments as we go through the trials and tribulations of life.

John 14:21 (AMP)The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]

The Laws of Blessings and Curses as written in His Word and are still in effect today. Please read your Bible to know so you may not be destroyed from a lack of knowledge. Our blessings and curses are conditional to the choices we make each day. Remember, it is the Lord who gives life or takes it away. It is the Lord who gives and takes away all things.

1 Samuel 2:6-7 (AMP) The Lord slays and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He lifts up.

He does not Change! He is God of gods and above of things. Give Him the respect and reverence due! Know the FULL COUNSEL OF WHO HE IS. He is God!

Deuteronomy 28:1-68 IF YOU will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God. 3 Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field. 4Blessed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock.5 Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading trough.6 Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out.7The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.8The Lord shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouse and in all that you undertake. And He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.9The Lord will establish you as a people holy to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name [and in the presence of] the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.11And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity, through the fruit of your body, of your livestock, and of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.12 The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.13And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them.14And you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

15 But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command you this day, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you:16Cursed shall you be in the city and cursed shall you be in the field.17Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading trough.18Cursed shall be the fruit of your body, of your land, of the increase of your cattle and the young of your sheep.19Cursed shall you be when you come in and cursed shall you be when you go out. 20The Lord shall send you curses, confusion, and rebuke in every enterprise to which you set your hand, until you are destroyed, perishing quickly because of the evil of your doings by which you have forsaken me.21The Lord will make the pestilence cling to you until He has consumed you from the land into which you go to possess.22The Lord will smite you with consumption, with fever and inflammation, fiery heat, sword and drought, blasting and mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.23The heavens over your head shall be brass and the earth under you shall be iron. 24The Lord shall make the rain of your land powdered soil and dust; from the heavens it shall come down upon you until you are destroyed.25The Lord shall cause you to be struck down before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them, and you shall be tossed to and fro and be a terror among all the kingdoms of the earth.26And your dead body shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there shall be no one to frighten them away.27The Lord will smite you with the boils of Egypt and the tumors, the scurvy and the itch, from which you cannot be healed.28The Lord will smite you with madness and blindness and dismay of [mind and] heart.29And you shall grope at noonday as the blind grope in darkness. And you shall not prosper in your ways; and you shall be only oppressed and robbed continually, and there shall be no one to save you.30You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her; you shall build a house, but not live in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but not gather its grapes.31Your ox shall be slain before your eyes, but you shall not eat of it; your donkey shall be violently taken away before your face and not be restored to you; your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and you shall have no one to help you. 32Your sons and daughters shall be given to another people, and your eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all the day; and there shall be no power in your hands to prevent it. 33A nation which you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your land and of all your labors, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually, 34So that you shall be driven mad by the sights which your eyes shall see.35The Lord will smite you on the knees and on the legs with a sore boil that cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the top of your head.36The Lord shall bring you and your king whom you have set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall [be forced to] serve other gods, of wood and stone. 37And you shall become an amazement, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples to which the Lord will lead you.38You shall carry much seed out into the field and shall gather little in, for the locust shall consume it. 39You shall plant vineyards and dress them but shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them.40You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory but you shall not anoint yourselves with the oil, for your olive trees shall drop their fruit. 41You shall beget sons and daughters but shall not enjoy them, for they shall go into captivity. 42All your trees and the fruit of your ground shall the locust possess. 43The transient (stranger) among you shall mount up higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower.44He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.45All these curses shall come upon you and shall pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.46They shall be upon you for a sign [of warning to other nations] and for a wonder, and upon your descendants forever.47Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness of [mind and] heart [in gratitude] for the abundance of all [with which He had blessed you], 48Therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord shall send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and in want of all things; and He will put a yoke of iron upon your neck until He has destroyed you.49The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you shall not understand,50A nation of unyielding countenance who will not regard the person of the old or show favor to the young, 51And shall eat the fruit of your cattle and the fruit of your ground until you are destroyed, who also shall not leave you grain, new wine, oil, the increase of your cattle or the young of your sheep until they have caused you to perish.52They shall besiege you in all your towns until your high and fortified walls in which you trusted come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land which the Lord your God has given you.53And you shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and daughters whom the Lord your God has given you, in the siege and in the [pressing] misery with which your enemies shall distress you. 54The man who is most tender among you and extremely particular and well-bred, his eye shall be cruel and grudging of food toward his brother and toward the wife of his bosom and toward those of his children still remaining, 55So that he will not give to any of them any of the flesh of his children which he is eating, because he has nothing left to him in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you in all your towns. 56The most tender and daintily bred woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot upon the ground because she is so dainty and kind, will grudge to the husband of her bosom, to her son and to her daughter57Her afterbirth that comes out from her body and the children whom she shall bear. For she will eat them secretly for want of anything else in the siege and distress with which your enemies shall distress you in your towns.58If you will not be watchful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may [reverently] fear this glorious and fearful name [and presence]--THE LORD YOUR GOD--59Then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary strokes and blows, great plagues of long continuance, and grievous sicknesses of long duration.60Moreover, He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.61Also every sickness and every affliction which is not written in this Book of the Law the Lord will bring upon you until you are destroyed. 62And you shall be [a]left few in number, whereas you had been as the stars of the heavens for multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.63And as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good and to multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice to bring ruin upon you and to destroy you; and you shall be [b]plucked from the land into which you go to possess.64And the Lord shall scatter you among all peoples from one end of the earth to the other; and there you shall [be forced to] serve other gods, of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. 65And among these nations you shall find no ease and there shall be no rest for the sole of your foot; but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart, failing of eyes [from disappointment of hope], fainting of mind, and languishing of spirit. 66Your life shall hang in doubt before you; day and night you shall be worried, and have no assurance of your life. 67In the morning you shall say, Would that it were evening! and at evening you shall say, Would that it were morning!--because of the anxiety and dread of your [minds and] hearts and the sights which you shall see with your [own] eyes. 68And the Lord shall [c]bring you into Egypt again with ships by the way about which I said to you, You shall never see it again. And there you shall be sold to your enemies as bondmen and bondwomen, but no man shall buy you.

May you not only know the Full Everlasting Love of God but may you also possess the biblical Fear of HIM.

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
Feb 08, 2012

Tattoo or not to tattoo?

Leviticus 19:28  (AMP) "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead nor print or tattoo any marks upon you; I am the Lord."

How is it that His people today look and do the things of the world so much? Why do so many of us follow the new trend or fashion of the day? How does the world even know we are Christians? Because of our lip service and because we can quote a few verses? How are we a separated people? Consecrate yourselves unto the Lord!! If you tattoo scripture verses, it still does not give you the right to mark what you do not own. Your body is not yours but the Lord's. Your body is His Temple where He dwells. How would you like it if someone comes to spray paint your homes? What if such a person spray paints your home with scripture verses in their own manner, would you still approve?

If you have previously tattoo yourselves, you must still repent of those past actions if you have not done so. If we see a Christian with many tattoo we should not judge them for that may be from the old person. The point of this note is to tell the brethren, do not consider getting any future tattoos because this is what the world glorifies. It does not glorify God.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (AMP) Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a [a]preciousness and paid for, [b]made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (AMP) For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice,4That each one of you should know how to [a]possess (control, manage) his own [b]body in consecration (purity, separated from things profane) and honor, 5Not [to be used] in the passion of lust like the heathen, who are ignorant of the true God and have no knowledge of His will, 6 That no man transgress and overreach his brother and defraud him in this matter or defraud his brother in business. For the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we have already warned you solemnly and [c]told you plainly.7For God has not called us to impurity but to consecration [to dedicate ourselves to the most thorough purity].8Therefore whoever disregards (sets aside and rejects this) disregards not man but God, Whose [very] Spirit [Whom] He gives to you is holy (chaste, pure).

1 Corinthians 3:17 (AMP) If ANYONE [a]does hurt to God's temple or corrupts it [[b]with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will [c]do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you [[d]the believing church and its individual believers] are.

This word "anyone" includes yourself. Separate yourselves from the things of the world that glorifies the world.

Fire of God!

Betrayed!

As a pastor, elder, deacon, leader, or a lay believer, if you knew someone is betraying you or about to betray you, how would you look or treat such a person? Would you treat them differently? Would your love for them change? Would you stop feeding them physically and spiritually? Would you isolate them? Would you shame them? Would you remove them from your surroundings?

When situations presents themselves, we must always look at each situation with a panoramic view. We in the flesh have a tendency to always look at another for the fault. However, there is a lesson, test, or even deliverance for someone or all the parties within the experience. We must always look and proceed with the heart and eyes of God.

When Job was presented with an extreme trial, we tend to focus on the trials such as Job experienced and what he had lost. However, whether you believe it was a test or discipline, the situation was more than for Job himself. The situation was to also save his three friends who did not act like true brothers/friends. From the point of his friends, we must realize, we, ourselves, can become like Job's friends pointing out fault and putting salt on people's wounds. However, if we are in the mist of a trial or even a discipline as Job faced, if we hold our ground (heart/lips) trusting God even though we may not fully understand the situation, souls can be saved. God is our vindicator and there is no need to defend ourselves if we are in the Truth.

The situation with Job was an opportunity to root out what was hidden in the hearts of Job's three friends. They did not properly understand or know the spiritual significance of Job's situation. They began to work for the enemy and accuse Job. The three were now speaking and judging the work of God. Everything they were saying were to their own wisdom and understanding. It must have been a torment for Job to hear his friends speak as they did. But Job still held his ground and and did not speak against God but loathed his own life.

If such a situation did not arise, the ugliness that were in the hearts of Job's three friends may not have surfaced. God's ways are higher in which we may not understand all that is happening to us. But we must be still and know He is God and to trust HIM to the end.

Job 42:7 (AMP) After the Lord had spoken the previous words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.

At the end, this situation was an opportunity for Job to INTERCEDE on behalf of his three friends for their lives.

Job 42:8-10 (AMP) Now therefore take seven bullocks and seven rams and go to My servant Job and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept [his prayer] that I deal not with you after your folly, in that you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.9So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; and the Lord accepted [Job's prayer].10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job and restored his fortunes, when he prayed for his friends; also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

When we have the heart of God and when we pray for our enemies or those who may betray us and/or have betrayed us, it is through forgiving if forgiving is required and praying for them that we are restored and prayers are answered. When we have the heart of God, we will receive twice as much.

Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve apostles. The Lord granted him spiritual gifts to cast demons out with signs and wonders following. Judas was also the money holder for the group. Jesus knew Judas was going to betray HIM. But yet, Jesus still broke bread and washed his feet. Jesus loved him to the end. Jesus did not have any bias feelings or suspicions against him but treated him equally and with the same love as the others even with His foreknowledge.

John 13:10-15 (AMP) Jesus said to him, Anyone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is clean all over. And you [My disciples] are clean, but not all of you.11 For He knew who was going to betray Him; that was the reason He said, Not all of you are clean. 12So when He had finished washing their feet and had put on His garments and had sat down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you?13You call Me the Teacher (Master) and the Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is what I am.14If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought [it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it] to wash one another's feet.15For I have given you this as an example, so that you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you.

This is the heart we must possess. We must possess the heart of God. We must stop looking at the sins and shortcomings of people but love them as the Lord loves YOU even with your shortcomings. And even if we knew someone is or going to betray us, would we still lay down our lives for them if it is required without complaining and grumbling?

The Lord has set the example. He has set the bar where your love must be. You must not only love your friends and family but even those who may betray you.  Love endures to the end.

 God bless brethren
Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim