Four types of Christians?

Matthew 13:3-9 And He told them many things in parables (stories by way of illustration and comparison), saying, A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and ate them up.5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil; and at once they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil.6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and because they had no root, they dried up and withered away.7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them out.8 Other seeds fell on good soil, and yielded grain--some a hundred times as much as was sown, some sixty times as much, and some thirty.9 He who has ears [to hear], let him be listening and let him [a]consider and [b]perceive and comprehend by hearing.

There are many denominations and individuals going around saying they got someone saved. I am sure there are many genuine repentance but how does the majority fall into place. What does scripture say? Jesus gave it in a parable. The Word of God is Life and it begins as a Seed. How that seed is spoken and received by an individual will determine whether fruit will be bore or self delusion will be bore. The Lord, Jesus, describes the Word of God as a seed falling into four types of soil or ground. The first is the roadside, the second is rocky ground, the third is among thorns, and lastly, the fourth soil which is the good soil.

In which ever the Seed has fallen, the individuals whether they represent the roadside, rocky ground, among thorns, or in the good soil will all perceive themselves as "Christians." And this can be technically true as we see in biblical history how God continues to call His people back to HIM as many forsake and give little thought to HIM.

Let us understand the parable.

Matthew 13:18-23 Listen then to the [meaning of the] parable of the sower: 19[h]While anyone is hearing the Word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the roadside.20 As for what was sown on thin (rocky) soil, this is he who hears the Word and at once welcomes and accepts it with joy;21Yet it has no real root in him, but is temporary (inconstant, [i]lasts but a little while); and when affliction or trouble or persecution comes on account of the Word, at once he is caused to stumble [he is repelled and [j]begins to distrust and desert Him Whom he ought to trust and obey] and he falls away.22As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the pleasure and delight and glamour and deceitfulness of riches choke and suffocate the Word, and it yields no fruit.23As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred times as much as was sown, in another sixty times as much, and in another thirty.

When the Seed is sown in the heart of a person representing the roadside, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in the heart of the individual. I observe many like this who grew up in church but do not have any depth in their belief. It is more like they acknowledge God and they do believe He exit but they do not believe in the sense of reacting to His Word. It has become more or less a formality. But yet, many in this category still believe they are Christians and heaven bound.

When someone receives the saving Grace of Jesus Christ and we may see what appears to be genuine repentance as some receive it in joy and tears, we also observe for many this may last only a short period as one begins to distance themselves from God as things in their lives become difficult. We see in verse 21, there was no real root and persecution or mocking may come from family or friends. As trouble comes the the fear of men is what leads the individual to compromise thus affecting him/her from fully following and obeying the Lord. The verse states that such an individual "falls away" even when at the beginning they had received it in joy. But yet, many in this category still believe they are Christians and eventually heaven bound. They know they need to get their act straight but they are still deluded thinking they will make it to heaven if they died in their present state.This is self delusion as one denies the Lord. Scripture says if we deny HIM, HE will deny us.

The third soil or ground is among thorns. Such individuals claim to believe in Jesus and acknowledge His existence but are too busy with the cares of life. They are too busy chasing after their careers, retirement, personal goals/ambitions, money, vanity, perfect time, personal glory, and etc. Such individuals may occasionally attend church on the holidays or special events. They are self deluded thinking Grace will give them a free ticket because they think they are exempt from fully obeying or following because of the Grace card. However, grace was not given to us so we can continue how He found us but to change us as He is. Many even in this category still believe they are Christians and heaven bound but they are but serving two masters.

Lastly, when an individual represents the good soil, the believer reacts to the Word. The Word to him/her is living and alive. As such a person is led by the Spirit of God, he/she bears fruit and glorifies God. The person in which the seed has fallen into good soil is living the Word of God. It is not just theory or history but it is now part of him/her. This seed grows and becomes a branch to the Vine which is being fed by God.

John 15:1-8 I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.2Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.3You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].4Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.5I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.6If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.7If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

Matthew 3:10 And already the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Professing to be a Christian because we grew up in church or because our parents were preachers does not qualify us to enter the Kingdom of God. Professing to be Christians because we accepted an altar call does not guarantee us from finishing the race. The altar call is the beginning of a difficult narrow race. Professing to be Christians because we tell everyone we love Jesus does not qualify us either. Shouting out how one is a Christian and how one loves the Lord on Facebook is not bearing fruit.

Everyone in the above four groups all believe they are pretty much heaven bound. However, scripture is not presenting it to be so. When we become a Christian, it is but a beginning of a long journey on a difficult narrow road. The Seed of Life has been implanted in our hearts and as we grow, we will face storms, droughts, insects, and many issues. But the objective is to become a tree for God that bears abundant fruit to feed and provide shade for the weary and others. Many things could happen as this tree is growing. The cares of life, persecution, apathy, etc may choke the growth of the individual in becoming a mature God fearing overcoming Christian. Many can start this race but few will finish.

The world has its NASCAR Daytona 500 car race. If one races and crashed on the 499th lap, it is but all in vain. We must finish this race clinging on to HIM for dear life. Examine your lives and determine which soil or ground the Seed or the Word of God has fallen onto you. Grace is there as He gives us the time to help us become good soil if we choose to do so. We choose to do so as we count it all lost and we make a choice to fully obey and follow HIM. We choose to do so as we crucify our flesh and let the Spirit of God lead us instead of our soul. One can produce their own fruit as Cain had tilled his own soil but at the end it will not be accepted. We must produce the Fruit of the Holy Spirit as led by HIM through faith. Otherwise, the ax is at the root of the tree that does not bear fruit ready to be thrown in the fire. Every body thinks they have faith yet Jesus is asking if He will find any when He returns?

Luke 18:8 (AMP) I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [[a]persistence in] faith on the earth?

Ask the Lord to put His salve on the eyes and ears of  your hearts so you may see HIS TRUTH. Let us be willing to have our hearts be fully circumcised. Let us become good soil producing much fruit as it is still called today.

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 30, 2012

Bearing seed according to its own kind

The seed of vegetation and plants yields according to their own kinds. The trees bear fruit in which is their seed each according to its kind. The fruit that you are bearing is your seed according to your own kind.

Genesis 1:11-12 (AMP) And God said, Let the earth put forth [tender] vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees yielding fruit whose seed is in itself, each according to its kind, upon the earth. And it was so. 12The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed according to their own kinds and trees bearing fruit in which was their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good (suitable, admirable) and He approved it.

When we have children, we have physical offspring which is from our seed that resembles our own kind. There is not only a physical resemblance but in many other ways such as our personality, culture, idiosyncrasies, and such are reflected in our children. Our children are our seed which is the next generation and they are the fruit in which we have bore.

The things that we believe, cherish, love, have faith in, and are convicted of are usually inherited by our seed.. Thus we produce seed according to our own kind. If you say you are a Christian, if you say you BELIEVE then what seeds are you producing according to your own kind?

If the Seed of God is really in you, IF THE WORD OF GOD AND HIS TRUTH IS REALLY IN YOU,  then the fruit that is bearing should be of God's own kind. We should be reflecting our Lord Jesus Christ as Grace and time is granted to us! We should be decreasing and He should be INCREASING in our lives. However, many call HIM a liar saying they are His yet they are producing seeds and fruits of the devil. The Fruit that we should be bearing because we are now God's children is the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 1:6 (AMP)[So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents].


The Fruit of the Holy Spirit reflected in our lives is testifying that we are HIS as we are His own kind. Are we reflecting and are we in the process of being renewed and remolded after the image of Jesus Christ?

Galatians 5:22 (AMP) But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

Colossians 3:8-10 But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips! 9Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices,10And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect [b]knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.

1 John 4:17 (AMP) In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

Scripture says we can have confidence on the day of judgment BECAUSE AS HE IS SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD!! Is your life His Fruit? Or are you the fruit of the world? You cannot be a friend to the world and a follower of Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:15 (AMP) Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].

When Moses had come down from the mountain and saw the golden calf, he told God's people to choose and make a choice.  Moses didn't tell the unbelievers. Moses was telling God's people the believers!! You are either with the Lord or not! For many of you, it is time to make a choice. All your heart for the Lord or none. There is no middle ground. He will vomit the lukewarm out! When will we fear the Lord giving Him Glory?

Life is but two choices. It is either Life in Jesus Christ or death. If you choose Jesus Christ, then you must know you are choosing to give up all of your future choices and let HIM be all of your choices. We cannot give HIM terms. He requires a Full Surrender!

Deuteronomy 30:16-30 (AMP)[If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which] I command you today, to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land into which you go to possess.17But if your [mind and] heart turn away and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,18I declare to you today that you shall surely perish, and you shall not live long in the land which you pass over the Jordan to enter and possess.19I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live20And may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Lip service is but straw, sand, and dross! Make a choice to live by picking up your own cross and counting it all lost. Too many are holding on to the world still. Too many are holding on to yourselves. Too many waiting for your own right time. Too many not willing to share in His suffering. Too many on a road to religion. Ask for His salve to be put on your eyes so you may see His Truth!

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 29, 2012

Righteousness in Christ

We are the Righteousness in Christ because of the Cross. However, we are only the Righteousness in Christ as we repent and confess our sins to HIM and continue in obedience becoming more like HIM. You must continue to abide in HIM! It only works as you die to yourselves. It only works as you crucify your flesh! It is not a theory! You must act as you truly believe! Truly die and crucify yourselves. Stay in the Fire of God as He purges and refines you. Then we are crucified with Christ. Then He will answer your prayers as we ask in HIS Name!

Stop saying you know what you need to do but DO!! Are you waiting until pigs fly? You are but hardening your hearts and it will become more difficult tomorrow.

1 John 1:9 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].

2 Timothy 2:21 So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.

1 John 3:2-3 (AMP) Beloved, we are [even here and] now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [[a]as God's children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him [b]just as He [really] is.3And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).

Scripture says "whoever cleanses himself" will be as He is. He will only use those as vessels set apart who have cleansed themselves.

Cleanse yourselves by repenting, dying to yourselves, and crucifying that flesh. Stop feeding the demons of lust, resentment, jealousy, disobedience, hate, rebellion, impatience, slandering, drinking, drugs, smoking, cursing, foul language, idolizing, anger, short temper, partying with the world, loving the world, coveting, greed, etc etc!! He requires holiness!!

1 John 3:7 (AMP) [a]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.

If you are the Righteousness of Christ, then such righteousness should be manifested from your lives through your actions in obedience to HIM. This is not a theory but a reality.

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 28, 2012

Christian Nation?

In America, over 70% of the population considers itself Christian. We consider our nation as a country founded on Christian principals. Yes, we are certainly a blessed country. However, the signs are all around us that as a nation, we are forsaking the Lord. Our enemies are looming in the horizon and they seem to be getting stronger as we are facing many economic and moral issues

As a Christian nation and as individuals, we must understand the depth of God's Grace. We think we are in His obedience because so many of us are so well fed. We think we are in His obedience because we have access to luxury and prosperity. We think we are in His obedience because we consider our nation strong and untouchable. We think we are in His obedience because our nation is full of churches and it is our nation that sends the most missionaries to the world.

The Lord had visited Abraham with two angels. Abraham asked if He would destroy the wicked with the righteous. Abraham asked if there was fifty righteous, would the Lord still destroy the city (Sodom and Gomorrah). The Lord replied that He would not. Abraham continued and asked what if forty, then thirty-five, and then thirty righteous? The Lord said He would not destroy the city. Then Abraham asked a last time, what if twenty and then ten righteous? The Lord replied that He would not destroy the city for the righteous sake.

Abraham did not ask what if there was just one righteous person, would God spare the city? What do we think? Will God spare a city or nation for only one of His righteous child? Yes, He would.

Jeremiah 5:1 RUN TO and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now and take notice! Seek in her broad squares to see if you can find a man [as Abraham sought in Sodom], one who does justice, who seeks truth, sincerity, and faithfulness; and I will pardon [Jerusalem--for one uncompromisingly righteous person].

Therefore America, beloved country, do not pride yourself over the high percentage of professing Christians. Moreover, may the other countries with large Christian population pride not either. It is not the high percentage or high number of professing Christians that is keeping away God's judgment or wrath from being poured out. It is because of a small number of His uncompromisingly righteous people that are scattered in this nation who are eagerly and diligently obeying and seeking HIM with a Full heart. However, unless this country repents as a whole, judgment is coming regardless. And this applies to many other nations as well.

Jeremiah 4:4 (AMP) Circumcise yourselves to the Lord and take away the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest My wrath go forth like fire [consuming all that gets in its way] and burn so that no one can quench it because of the evil of your doings.

This is the year 2012, an election year. Do not put your hope on man, a new president, or a new policy. I have observed so many Christians bashing their secular leader, President Obama. Now you have a new choice, a Mormon. God has a sense of humor on those who continue to seek humanism as a remedy to bring comfort and their jobs back. God is telling you, "Check mate!" Stop looking for option B, C,  or D. God is option A and there is no other option after that. Understand God's judgments, they are in your horizon and His Grace is telling and squeezing you to HIM and HIM alone. If we continue to look in other directions for our solutions, chastisement will continue to come!

Jeremiah 4:22 (AMP) [Their chastisement will continue until it has accomplished its purpose] for My people are stupid, says the Lord [replying to Jeremiah]; they do not know and understand Me. They are thickheaded children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge [and know not how].

Return your hope and faith back to HIM and not man or any of man's institution or policy. Let this nation  repent and return to her First LOVE. He is Returning with a Rod!

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 26, 2012

Feed and Tend the Sheep!

In today's churches, it is very sad that many pastors and leaders go out of their way to protect the tares and goats over the sheep or wheat. I did not say rather but over the sheep and/or wheat. Many leaders think the spiritual ones or the sheep can handle being oppressed. Many protect the tares and goats in the name of love or for the sake of a soul. But could it really be because the goats and tares have fatter wallets or because many measure their spiritual success on the number of attendee rather than the Power of God and Fruit within their churches?

I once told a preacher to let the tares go if the spiritual was offensive to them. It becomes very dangerous as one can quench the Holy Spirit thinking they are protecting some folks from the novelty of spiritual manifestations just because they may be new to Christianity. However, there are a great deal of people who are just religious and are offended by any kind of manifestations of God's power or gifts. Many think they are protecting but in realty it becomes control.

If one gives too much thought on how not to offend people, then one centers their ministry around pleasing people. One may then be serving both fear and God. We cannot serve two masters. Our ministries or walk with God should be centered and revolving around Jesus Christ alone and for His Glory. Churches and their leaders should not be afraid of offending people because of the Holy Spirit gifts or manifestations. We are to be lead by the Spirit and not whether people will be offended and leave. Jesus told His disciples to feed and tend to the sheep. If such people are offended and if they threaten to leave, LET THEM GO! If they all threaten to leave, will the pastors have the courage to stand on uncompromising Truth? Whether you preach or serve to one or to a thousand in front of you, we must serve without any compromise to HIS Word and His Spirit.

Many of God's temples are no longer led by those He has appointed but by those who have been appointed or voted in by the size of their wallets or secular influence. Have we not figured out why many of our churches are internally fighting, breaking up, sick, and dying?A great deal that has to do with this problem is because we have appointed (elders/deacons) the uncircumcised in hearts and flesh to run much of the leadership positions.

Ezekiel 44:5-10 And the Lord said to me, Son of man, mark well and set your heart to see with your eyes and hear with your ears all that I say to you concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord and all its laws, and mark well and set your heart to know who are allowed to enter the temple and all those who are excluded from the sanctuary. 6 And you shall say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: O you house of Israel, let all your previous abominations be enough for you! [Do not repeat them!] 7 You have brought into My sanctuary aliens, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to pollute and profane it, even My house, when you offer My bread, the fat and the blood; and through it all and in addition to all your abominations, they and you have broken My covenant.8And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but you have chosen foreign keepers to please yourselves and have set them in charge of My sanctuary. 9Therefore thus says the Lord God: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh shall enter into My sanctuary [where no one but the priests might enter], of any foreigners who are among the children of Israel. 10But the Levites who went far away from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, they shall bear [the punishment for] their iniquity and guilt.

Jeremiah 2:8-9 [Even] the priests did not say, Where is the Lord? And those who handle the law [given by God to Moses] knew Me not. The rulers and secular shepherds also transgressed against Me, and the prophets prophesied by [the authority and in the name of] Baal and followed after things that do not profit. 9 Therefore I will still contend with you [by inflicting further judgments on you], says the Lord, and with your children's children will I contend.

Ezekiel 34:2-10 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them, even to the [spiritual] shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the [spiritual] shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill the fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The diseased and weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the hurt and crippled you have not bandaged, those gone astray you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought to find, but with force and hardhearted harshness you have ruled them.5 And they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts of the field.6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill; yes, My sheep were scattered upon all the face of the earth and no one searched or sought for them.7 Therefore, you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8As I live, says the Lord God, surely because My sheep became a prey, and My sheep became food for every beast of the field because there was no shepherd--neither did My shepherds search for My sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves and fed not My sheep--9 Therefore, O you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
10 Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My sheep at their hand and cause them to cease feeding the sheep, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more. I will rescue My sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

It is time for His shepherds and the Church to repent and begin cleansing the House of the Lord. The House of the Lord is a place for prayer but it is full of money exchangers.The Power of God and His Truth are not used to draw people but worldly marketing gimmicks are used instead. If we do not repent, judgments starts in the Household of God FIRST!

1 Peter 4:17 (AMP) For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news (the Gospel) of God?

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 24, 2012

Blood on ear, thumb, and toe

Leviticus 8:23 (AMP) And Moses killed it and took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot.

"Blood on the ear, that they might hear with ears that had been cleansed and purged, and quickened to know His voice. Blood on the thumb, that the works of their hands might be the workings of Christ, and not their own. Blood on the toe, that they might walk in a way that is pure and holy." George Warnock

Do not ever say to yourself you can never fall away

Do not ever say to yourself that you will never forsake the Lord. Do not ever say to yourself that you will never cheat on your spouse. Do not ever say to yourself that you will never leave your children. Do not ever say that you will never commit such a heinous sin as the other person. Do not ever say that you can never become corrupted. Do not ever say that you can never fall away from God. Do not ever say that you can never be deceived. Do not ever say that you can never betray HIM.

Galatians 6:3 (AMP) For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another's load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself. 

Proverbs 16:2 (AMP)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).

How do you know you can never commit the above acts? If one states they can never commit or be in such a situation, then one is on a road of deception and pride. If a person knows for himself that he/she can never leave their children or fail God, then that person is standing on their own strength. Then that person is standing on his/her own wisdom and knowledge. Then that person is standing on his/her own abilities. Then that person is standing on PRIDE. Such a person is really saying that he/she does not need to FULLY Surrender to God because one is god.

Romans 12:3 (AMP) For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.

How many of those who are reading this message have ever said to yourself, "I have a great family. We will be together forever!" How many have said this to themselves and now are in despair? Statistically, they say that the Christians in America have a higher divorce rate than the unbelievers. How many Christians have said to their children that they will never leave them but now they are worlds apart? How many Christians have told God that they would serve HIM with ALL their hearts but many have now lost their First Love and Presence with HIM because they had chosen to SIN.

Proverbs 3:5 (AMP) Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

Am I bringing this up to put salt on peoples' wounds? Absolutely NOT! Am I bringing this up to condemn anyone? Absolutely NOT! However, I am bringing this up so we can be properly discipled to know His Truth. You see, we as humans or Christians can NEVER do anything on our own. If we attempt to do anything on our own through our own strength, wisdom, and knowledge, then we will fail. If we attempt to do any and all on our own, we only do so from a position of pride. Pride states one can make it on their own without any help. Pride states it the other person's fault or doing for their difficult situation or circumstances. Humility states that we cannot do it on our own. Humility states we need a Savior and a Deliverer. Humility states we cannot trust ourselves. Humility states I FULLY SURRENDER. I am dead! Christ lives in me! No longer my will but YOURS! 

Galatians 2:20 (AMP) I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 Therefore, if we say we truly "BELIEVE" then we must cling on to Jesus for dear life. We must cling on to HIM with a grip desperate to live. We must be persistent on knocking and seeking the answers from HIM. If we fail in anything, it is because we had attempted to sustain it with our own will and strength. Can anything that is sustained by the Power of God fail?

 If God's people can understand that we all have the ability to become deceived, become corrupted, and fall away, then many of us instead of walking in lofty pride may humble ourselves and would cling on to HIM for dear life. If God's people in the past had failed and if God's people in the past had betrayed and/or forsook HIM, are we too ignorant to think we cannot not? History has been repeating itself from the beginning of time.

When I first got married, I was a religious backslidden ignorant prideful Christian who was just coming back to Christ. At that time, I remember saying to myself that I would never cheat on my wife. But when the circumstances brewed properly to trap me only a few years ago, I had fallen. I had relied on myself and my own abilities.The enemy does not come to give you an academic multiple choice test. The devil comes to put salt on our misery in which we create through our sins so we can become angry at everyone and everything including God. When we become angry at everything and everyone, then we will fall because we will not care anymore. However, it was the choice to forgive by my spouse that broke the chain and brought the POWER OF GOD for restoration to bear fruit. Evil can be overcome with Good. It is difficult? It is probably more painful than pulling teeth without anesthetics but if we obey God and choose His way, healing, restoration, and life abundant is available but only through HIM.



Romans 12:21 (AMP) Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.

If we know we can fall away, become corrupted, or become deceived, then would we be wise to know that we cannot rely on ourselves or trust in our own abilities? All of our marriages, our families, our provisions, our ministries, our lives must be TOTALLY DEPENDENT on HIM to survive. He is the LIVING WORD and it is HIS Word that brings Life. In order for us to sustain Life we must continue to abide in HIM and we only continue to Abide in HIM when His Word is in us. We cannot bear fruit on our own. 

John 15:4-8 (AMP) Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

When we first come to accept and believe in Jesus, it is not to acknowledge His existence. It is to come into FULL REPENTANCE of our lives, submitting to His Lordship, picking up our own crosses, throwing and forsaking our lives and our dependence on ourselves and from the world, walking in self denial, and Abiding in HIM. The Road is narrow and many will try to enter but not make it. Are we so prideful to think this is a cakewalk when Scripture says otherwise? You must ask the Lord to help you so we do not become corrupted, deceived, or fall away.

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].

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 19, 2012

Spiritual Warfare 3 "I have seen TOO MANY PASTORS IN HELL!"

Demons and Spiritual Warfare Part 3, Pastor Yong Doo Kim @ HPC Revival March 25, 2012

Spiritual Warfare Part 2 Pastor Kim, Yong Doo

Demons and Spiritual Warfare Part 2, Pastor Yong Doo Kim @ HPC Revival March 25, 2012

Spiritual Warfare by Pastor Kim, Yong Doo

My beloved spiritual mentor and pastor in South Korea.  

Demons and Spiritual Warfare Part 1, Pastor Yong Doo Kim @ HPC Revival March 25, 2012 

Southern, CA 

 

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMwAkmfKR0k&feature=relmfu

 

 Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GUwbA6HtsQ&feature=relmfu

What is the sign of Jonah?

Matthew 12:39 But He replied to them, An evil and adulterous generation (a generation [t]morally unfaithful to God) seeks and demands a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

What is the sign of Jonah? I like to share the answer as someone who was taken to heaven and this person asked that question.

When Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days, it was in that torment that he repented fiercely giving thanksgiving and said he would pay that which he had vowed.

Jonah 2:9-10 But as for me, I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation and deliverance belong to the Lord! 10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 12 that the men of Nineveh will stand up with the judgment of this generation and condemn it. The people of Nineveh had repented but someone Greater was here and they were not repenting.

Matthew 12:41-42 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, Someone more and greater than Jonah is here!  42 The queen of the South will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, Someone more and greater than Solomon is here.

Salvation today in many cases has become nothing but an assembly line for this generation. They are told to just "believe" but they are not told nor reminded to REPENT! To Repent is to Believe! How many of those who confess to know the Lord have repented with all our hearts as Jonah had? Must we be in such a dark belly of our own to become contrite? How many of us there have actually been broken or experienced brokenness? Many are told just to believe but nothing has changed for them. They are still living as heathens but able to quote a few verses of Grace.

How many Christians out there are really spending the time on their knees and drawing on the deeper things of God to know the depth of His Grace? How many spend the time in HIS Word to know the history of His rebellious people and the depth of His Mercy and Grace as many of them repeatedly forsook God but HE still continued to forgive and receive those who had repented. Is praying one minute over a meal sufficient to experience God?

Are we also that evil and adulterous generation as well that suppose to know Jesus but many stubbornly will NOT REPENT! If we have repented then why are many of us still living like heathens and still living in SIN? Why are the many of us not a separated people from the world reflecting His Glory. But rather, the many of us are still swimming in the dung of the world.

Jonah knew God. Jonah left the presence of God willingly as he ran from his calling. When God sent the storm and Jonah was in the dark belly of the whale, he had to fiercely repent. Perhaps, many of us are still in our dark bellies because we have yet to repent.

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 14, 2012

Do not let our lampstand be removed

Proverbs 6:23 (AMP) For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching [of the law] is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Matthew 5:13-16 (AMP) You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.14You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.15Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.16Let your light so shine before men that they may see your [a]moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and [b]recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

Revelation 2:5 (AMP) Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], OR ELSE I WILL VISIT YOU AND REMOVE YOUR LAMP STAND FROM ITS PLACE, unless you change your mind and repent.

Churches and individual ministries do not just get closed down or taken out by the randomness of life nor are they removed because of worldly debt, sickness, burned out servants, robbery, heart attacks, or the likes. Are worldly debts bigger than God? Is the devil bigger than God that the devil can take out one of His servants or His churches? Nothing can touch His children without His consent. We are the children of God and we are not subjected to the randomness of life. We are to be subjected to the Will of God and His sovereignty but sadly many of us have not surrendered all of the authority of our lives over to HIM. Is the randomness of life greater than His Word spoken over our lives regarding His Ministry and Kingdom for us? If His Words spoken over our lives does not come to pass, it is our doing and not HIS for He is always Faithful. The randomness of life is not greater but He will NOT supersede the sovereign will of an individual. We can choose to obey or rebel.

There is a difference when a church is persecuted and perhaps martyred for the Gospel and when a church is persecuted by a bill collector. One is serving for the Glory of God while the other may be suffering from the consequences of not obeying God's word.

Proverbs 12:21 (AMP) No [actual] evil, misfortune, or calamity shall come upon the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil, misfortune, and calamity.

Serve the Lord with reverential Fear of HIM. He is God! What does this mean?

Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you but [reverently] to fear the Lord your God, [that is] to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being,

Many are not walking in ALL His ways nor serving HIM with ALL their minds, hearts, and being but are rather walking in the ways of the world and for themselves. Repent and be subjected to HIM instead of being subjected to your own kingdoms and the lusts of the world. How is it that many are walking in all His ways or fully subjected to HIM when they are still subjected themselves to the fear of men, resentment, hurt, unforgiveness, entertainment, worldly addictions, liquor, drugs, smoking, lusts, and the likes!

In order for the Lord to be your Savior, He MUST be your LORD and KING as well. We are not allowed to serve two masters! Repent and cry out to HIM for deliverance! He is your deliverer! Make a choice to let such things go that fill your hearts with fear and bondage. Be FREE for the Kingdom of God is at hand! Have you used His Grace to fight to the point of sweating blood? Yes, the battle is the Lord's but you must make the choice to fight! Like the days of old, the battle was the Lord's but they had to fight and it cost them something! It cost them fathers, brothers, and sons. What has it cost you to serve and follow with ALL your hearts? Has it cost you anything? It will cost you your life! Are you dead to your sins yet? Are you really crucified with HIM? This is not a theory! Are you praying without ceasing to fight asking God to remove that bondage or sin away from you? Are you still carrying your own crosses or have you put them down? Are you praying desperately for the salvation of your families? Why must many of you wait until they are almost dead or on their death beds before you desperately start praying for them? Why are you not desperately praying for them now while they are alive!!!! Have you sweated blood like our Lord Jesus did? What has it cost you? Have you removed the hours of TV and cable from your lives? Have you removed the worthless worldly entertainment of sports, secular music and Hollywood from your lives? Some Christians can recite a whole secular song but many cannot even recite scripture verses. Am I saying TV, sports, and cable are wrong? NO, I am not saying they are wrong but there is a serious problem when many are consumed with it for hours and hours! And many are wondering why there is no spiritual breakthrough for them?

Hebrews 12:4 (AMP) You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood. 

Luke 14:27 (AMP) Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple.

Let us call upon HIS Name and Grace to get things right with HIM so that we may fight SIN for He has already won the war at the Cross! Let us Repent and Return to our First Love or else our lampstands may be removed. LET US REMOVE THE HINDRANCES OF OUR LIVES THAT BLOCKS PROPER FELLOWSHIP WITH 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].

Hebrews 12:12-17 So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees,13And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured.14 Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.15 Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it--16That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.17 For you understand that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected (disqualified and set aside), for he could find no opportunity to repair by repentance [what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], although he sought for it carefully with [bitter] tears.

Be free now for the Kingdom of God is at Hand! Make the choice to serve HIM with ALL your hearts, mind, and being for He has given us the keys to the Kingdom!

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 12, 2012

The Kingdom of God is within you

Our God speaks from the spiritual realm of eternity into our physical realm. Our realm is finite and consists of time. When Jesus said, "I am coming soon", He speaks and had spoken from His realm of eternity.

Revelation 22:7 (AMP) And behold, I AM COMING SPEEDILY. Blessed (happy and [a]to be envied) is he who observes and lays to heart and keeps the truths of the prophecy (the predictions, consolations, and warnings) contained in this [little] book.

Revelation 22:12 Behold, I AM COMING SOON, and I shall bring My wages and rewards with Me, to repay and render to each one just what his own actions and his own work merit.

Revelation 22:20 (AMP) He Who gives this warning and affirms and testifies to these things says, Yes (it is true). [Surely] I AM COMING QUICKLY (swiftly, speedily). Amen (so let it be)! Yes, come, Lord Jesus!

Philippians 4:5 Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon].

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into [realizing and showing] the love of God and into the steadfastness and patience of Christ and in waiting for His return.

Hebrews 10:37 (AMP) For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay.

Those words had been resonated and given to His people who have been waiting for the Lord's return for 2000 years. Yes, two thousand or so years ago, His message was "I AM COMING SOON!" For two thousand  years, many within each generation thought the Lord would return within their life time.

When God speaks and if we attempt to define the words "imminent", "very soon", and "coming soon" from the perspective of our time, you will be discerning it from the flesh and not from the Spirit of the Word.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (AMP) But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED and ESTIMATED and APPRECIATED.

I personally believe the Lord will return in my life time but if He does not and it is for the next generation then I will be sure I am caught doing His work and in His Will for the Kingdom of God is within me. John the Baptist said the Kingdom of God is at hand two thousand years ago.

When Jesus walked in the flesh, many asked Him when He would over throw the Romans and establish His Kingdom. But they did not realize the Kingdom of God was at hand. Scripture says when demons are cast out by the finger of God or when people are healed the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

Yes, the Kingdom of God is coming but it is also here! Many are seeking the Kingdom of God to come and for the Lord's return because many may be seriously sick, experiencing high debt, family chaos, addictions, bondage, depression, loneliness and other similar problems such as the people of the world face. Such problems should only be temporary as we have Grace to draw closer to HIM being cleansed to be set free from this world and for His Glory. We are not meant to die under such conditions. We are not meant to die in our sins but to grow in His Grace moving from Glory to Glory.

But if we are the children of the Most High and if we cannot overcome and reign in this life then how are we expecting to reign with HIM in the next? Shouldn't the life we live here be a manifestation of what is going to be in the next instead of us going backwards?

2 Timothy 2:12 (AMP) If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny and disown and reject Him, He will also deny and disown and reject us.

If would be wise and prudent to use this time and Grace to get your house in spiritual order. If our houses are not in order then what makes us think we qualify to be the Bride or be rapture? Acknowledging His Return does not qualify you to anything. Abiding in HIM daily to overcome enduring in all your trials and tests is your qualification to represent HIM properly. If the Kingdom of God is upon us, then we must ask the question whether we are bearing the fruits of such a Kingdom. Otherwise, the Kingdom will be taken away from us. Is the fruit of His Righteousness, His Peace, His Joy in the Holy Spirit reigning in your life? It is not a temporary joy of yourselves but a genuine Joy in the Holy Spirit? Or are we at least making those steps toward HIM? Stagnation and back wards is but a road to being religious.

Romans 14:17 (AMP) [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 21:43 I tell you, for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the fruits of it.

If you are looking for the exit door because you deplore your life or circumstances, you will come to a rude awakening on that Day. Yes, He is coming but do not be deceived brethren by false prophecy that hype up your emotions just because it itches your ears rather than digesting hard meat that grounds you to HIM and His Word. There are more false prophecy out there than Truth therefore discern it spiritually and not carnally.  His Ways are not our ways nor is His Time our time. This is Truth.

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 11, 2012

Stay within your position and authority

We are different parts of the Body of Christ. We all have been given certain authority and position. Many have not received more authority because they have not fully submitted to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover, many Christians have not learned to submit to the authority in which God has placed over their lives. Authority is granted as one submits to authority.

However, many Christians are not only usurping God's authority by meddling their noses where it does not belong, many are in full out rebellion without realizing what they are doing. Many have stepped outside of their authority and position thinking themselves more highly than others.

When we step outside our authority or position, we will be in serious trouble. We are the different parts of the Body of Christ. Be content with where you are at. Be content with your wages as Paul said. Be content with your place for that is where God may desire you to be there until your next season. Be content with the gifts that have been granted to you. Yes, you must desire more but is the foundation of the Word of God there in your life?

The fish are bound to their place in water. If they step outside of water, they step outside their authority and boundaries. They will eventually die. The birds have their place in the air. The animals have their place in the jungle or forest. If the animals come into the cities of men, then there will be trouble. People will win against the animals if they compete against us for we have the higher authority over animals. Animals must subject themselves to men as Adam was given the authority to name them.

Whatever position you have been placed in by God, be content and grow in HIM from there. Stop looking at the other positions or the other positions of the Body of Christ with envy or jealousy. Stop looking at other people's gift and desiring them for the wrong reason. Stop usurping God's authority by bashing those God has placed in higher positions at your churches voting them out or firing them. The board or congregation does not have voting power to remove or install pastoral position. Those positions are for those who have been called. God is a monarchy and not a democracy. All must be done through prayer and not by majority vote. There is only one VOTE that counts. God is your first option, He is your second option, and He is your last option. There is no other contingency plan outside of God. Do not create your own golden calf.

Those who have higher authority and anointing have all PAID a heavy price. Nothing is Free! They have come from a road sharing in the suffering with Christ. It is from a road of suffering where one is taught the deeper revelation and things of God. It is a place where they have DIED to themselves and in Christ to receive their positions or authority.

While many are still walking their journey, do not look for the short cuts. Do not look for another door. Only thieves will come from another door. There is only ONE Door and that door is Jesus Christ! You must come through the narrow way and it will only get narrower. You must persevere and endure in all things as we are tested to prove whether our faith is genuine.

Be content with your position and grow in HIM. Learn from those who have already traveled the many roads. Learn from your spiritual mentors that God is trying to place in your lives. But always remember, you must be sold out to Jesus as going for broke. It is all or none. There is no middle ground for the lukewarm will be spit out. The lukewarm are not unbelievers.

Fire of God!
Steve Yong Kim
April 10, 2012

Coming against other servants of God

King Josiah was one of the kings of Judah who reigned roughly between 640-608 BC (2 Chronicle 34). He was eight years old when he began his thirty one year reign of Jerusalem. It appeared at first Josiah sought and walked after the Lord as his forefather, King David, had done. In his twelfth year of reign, he began to clean up Jerusalem and Judah of all the the high places, Asherim, and idols/carved images. He ordered the destruction of Baal altars and burned the bones of the idolatrous priests. King Josiah cleaned up the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even to Naphtali. He further searched out the altars of Asherim destroying them and then returning back to Jerusalem.

In the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign, he ordered for the repairs of the House of the Lord. During the clean up and repairs, the high priest Hilkiah found a scroll or the Book of the Law. As the Book of the Law was read to Josiah, he had realized why the wrath of the Lord had been on Judah and Israel. King Josiah had rented his clothes upon hearing the Word of the Lord. The wrath of the Lord was on God's people because their ancestors were not keeping the Word of the Lord as it was written in the book. God's people were basically forsaking HIM as they had sought and burned incense to other gods.

The high priest Hilkiah and other servants went to the prophetess Huldah. The Lord spoke through the prophetess.

2 Chronicles 34:24-28 (AMP) Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will bring evil upon this place and upon its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore My wrath shall be poured out upon this place and shall not be quenched.26But say to King Josiah of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the words which you have heard:27Because your heart was tender and penitent and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and its inhabitants, and humbled yourself before Me and rent your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you, says the Lord. 28 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants. So they brought the king word again.

King Josiah made a covenant with the Lord to follow all His ways. He caused all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand and do according to the covenant of God. Josiah removed all the abominations of idols, wizards, and mediums from all the territories of Israel. Moreover, he held a great Passover celebration that was not seen in Jerusalem since the days of Samuel the prophet. He was a king who had turned back to God with all of his heart and soul.

When we look at the life of King Josiah, we can see as many individual Christians, ministries, or pastors, we can all start off well but how we finish is another matter. We may as individual Christians or churches clean up our houses, remove the idols of our lives, and begin to live a life that is worthy and obedient to the Lord. We may realize and receive the revelation that we may have been living in sin. Like Josiah, he repented and humbled himself returning to God will all of his heart and soul. God therefore showed him mercy and told him he would be gathered to his grave in peace.

Everything seem to be going fine until the king of Egypt, Neco, went out to fight Carchemish. Whether we are individual Christians, leaders in the five fold ministry or whether we are churches or pastors, we can all be serving the Lord with a diligent and obedient heart. However, we must serve with such diligence and obedience to the end.

2 Chronicles 35:20-21 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went out to fight against Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him.21 But [Neco] sent ambassadors to [Josiah], saying, What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war; and God has commanded me to make haste. Refrain from opposing God, Who is with me, lest He destroy you.

King Neco was attempting to warn King Josiah that his work or war was commanded by God and that Josiah was actually coming against God and His Will when he came against Neco. King Neco warned him to stand down otherwise he would be destroyed by coming against God.

In today's term, King Neco can represent another ministry, a pastor, or other individual Christians who have been called by God for His Work and Purpose. King Neco was Egyptian and not from Israel or Judah. He was an outsider to King Josiah. King Neco was different. He may have looked different, dressed differently, spoke differently, fought differently, possessed different weapons, had a different mission, perhaps had a victory dance that was different, celebrated differently, and was not in the traditional sense familiar to the people of Judah or Israel. Yet, King Neco was working for God and he had specifically warned Josiah that he was coming against God and not Neco.

Why did Josiah not heed and still oppose King Neco as he pleaded to Josiah not to come against him? Why do most Christians today come against other servants of God? It is usually out of their pride and jealousy. Did King Josiah desire the glory rather than letting Neco have the victory against the Carchemishians? Or was Josiah full of pride to think there was no other that could defeat him because no Egyptian could be serving God? Or perhaps in today's term, could it be because Josiah did not think no other ministry or denomination was valid other than his ministry. 

Today, many Christians may come against other servants of God because they may dress differently, worship differently, sing differently, celebrate differently, dance differently, pray differently, or are perhaps louder and shout more than others. But if one comes against them out of pride or jealousy, no matter how well one may have started out giving all their heart and soul to God, at the end, they will end up opposing God. The Lord had initially promised Josiah that he would be gathered in his grave in peace. However, this was not the case as Josiah fought against another servant of the Lord and was killed.

2 Chronicle 35:22-24 Yet Josiah would not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not heed the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight with him in the valley of Megiddo. 23And the archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, Take me away, for I am severely wounded. 24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and put him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. And he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

When we observe other ministries, anointing, Christians, or works of God, we must ask the Holy Spirit for discernment so that we may not be speaking against what we do not know and/or that we may not come against God's servants or His Works. Otherwise, we may be coming or speaking against God.

King Saul was God's first anointed king. He had become corrupted from his disobedience and was rejected by God. But his disobedience did not make him to be a false king or a false prophet. Regardless, David dare not touch the Lord's anointed.

Many Christians have no idea who may be a false prophet or a corrupted servant of God. But many of them do not have the authority to speak against God's anointed whether they become corrupted or not. However, many Christians are like Josiah, they may have turned their heart and soul back to God but out of jealousy, envy, or pride, they may end up coming against another of God's anointed servant or ministry by speaking evil against them. At the end, such people are coming against God HIMSELF which is very dangerous.

Joshua 24:20 (Amplified Bible) If you forsake the Lord and [a]serve strange gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.

Ezekiel 18:24 (AMP) But if the righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds which he has done shall be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.

It would be wise brethren to FEAR God more than serving one's pride, jealousy, or envy. Unless God tells us who is a false prophet or such, it would not be wise for us to go looking to define it from our own flesh. Ask for discernment for the coming difficult days.


Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 9, 2012

Strive to keep your First Love with HIM

Numbers 11:1 AND THE people grumbled and deplored their hardships, which was evil in the ears of the Lord, and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp.

We may be tested in our lack and/or abundance. You must always have a thankful heart in all of your situations. You must have a thankful heart to get out of the "belly of the whale" situation. To complain and deplore your circumstances is considered evil to His ear. Otherwise, you may be devoured by His Fire that destroys you rather than baptizes you.

Hebrews 2:7-4 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice,8 Do not harden your hearts, as [happened] in the rebellion [of Israel] and their provocation and [a]embitterment [of Me] in the day of testing in the wilderness,9Where your fathers tried [My patience] and tested [My forbearance] and [b]found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years.10And so I was provoked (displeased and sorely grieved) with that generation, and said, They always err and are led astray in their hearts, and they have not perceived or recognized My ways and become progressively better and more experimentally and intimately acquainted with them.11Accordingly, I swore in My wrath and indignation, They shall not enter into My rest.12 [Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God.13But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him]. 14 For we [c]have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah) and share in all He has for us, IF ONLY WE HOLD OUR FIRST NEWBORN CONFIDENCE AND ORIGINAL ASSURED EXPECTATION [in virtue of which we are believers] FIRM AND UNSHAKEN TO THE END.

Hebrews 3:11 Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and STRIVE diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].

Luke 13:24 STRIVE to enter by the narrow door [force yourselves through it], for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

It is very easy to fall away or be led astray into deception. It is very easy to be on the road of religion and deceived. Do not take His Grace for granted. Do not trample on His Grace! Do not give any gap to sin or it will begin to harden that area of your heart. Crucify and die to yourselves daily.

1 Peter 1 SO BE done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.

You may have confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart some time ago but what are you doing now with your actions in life. Are you believing or are you denying HIM with your actions. Your actions are your words.

Are you enduring all that has been placed in front of you for His Glory and for the death of your flesh? Or are you flapping like a fish out of water, fleshy!

2 Timothy 2:12 (AMP) If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny and disown and reject Him, He will also deny and disown and reject us.

We will not only eat the fruit of our words but our actions will determine whether we believe or deny HIM regardless of what we profess.

Titus 1:16 (AMP) They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], BUT DENY AND DISOWN AND RENOUNCE HIM BY WHAT THEY DO; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and [they are] unfit and worthless for good work (deed or enterprise) of any kind.

Revelation 2:3-4 I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name's sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary. 4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].

Even though we may endure waiting for our Beloved Lord, may we never lose our First Love for HIM. Lord, grant us more Grace!

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 7, 2012

Speaking against what we may not know about and quenching the Holy Spirit

Even today, there are so many misinformed Christians out there calling the Power and Work of the Holy Spirit the work of Beelzebub. Many do not know the danger of speaking out against what they do not know. It may lead to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Such people are usually Christians who may not have experienced the higher levels of God's Power and who are basically self appointing themselves authority to speak on such matters? If they have never cast out a demon, then how do they know about deliverance? How are they to determine whether a manifestation is from the Holy Spirit or demons? Reading a book does not give one authority to judge such a matter. And even if one had experiences in casting out a demon, that does not give us authority or make us an expert either. Only the Holy Spirit gives us authority. If we have not seen or experienced eternity, how can we say we are experts on anything that is of spiritual matter.

How do people really know what happens to a person when the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT hits them? Do they think a person who gets Empowered and HIT by the HOLY Ghost is going to sit quietly and sing kumbaya or drink tea? Do they think when a person gets HIT by the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, they are going to remain stiffed and quiet singing a nice soft hymn? Do they think when a person gets engulfed by HIS FIRE, the person is going to get a nice sun tan? The POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT and HIS FIRE will generally make you shake and it can start by the shaking of the hands. How can a human being withstand the Glory of God in his/her present state? Many may cry. Many may shake. Many may fall. Many may feel strange. Many may call unto to HIM with all their soul with their faces on the floor. Many may SHOUT!

When Jesus walked the earth, HE was the ANOINTING. HE Was the POWER. HE WAS THE FIRE OF GOD. When Jesus walked, the demons that were residing in His people were manifesting because of the ANOINTING. Does one think demons go in peace? Do demons say "excuse me, we will now leave"? NO, in many cases, they go violently resisting and they go making noises. They sometimes kick and roll around the floor out of control. They go SCREAMING AND QUITE ANGRY I MIGHT ADD.

And because people were manifesting around Jesus, they called the Lord's work witchcraft. They called it the work of the devil. They said there is too much chaos to be of God. They spoke from their own authority and understanding. They spoke against the God.

If you see a church and the people are rolling around or if you see a church and you see the people screaming or if you see a church and some are having seizures, and if you see a church with demons  manifesting, do not think they are not God's people. This is what may be happening when people are getting set free from the dark world. What do you think is suppose to happen during deliverance? Sit around and have a cup of tea? I am not saying just because people are rolling around that it is God's people in there but it does not mean it is not either! Therefore, pray and ask for discernment before you conclude anything! 

A person can roll around uncontrollably and in uncontrolled outbursts and this can be a demonic manifestation. But then you can have a controlled outburst with controlled rolling or movements and it can be the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. How do you test it? Test it by calling out the Fire of God on the manifestation and if the manifestations get stronger, then you will know it is God. If the manifestations stop or become resistant from calling Holy Fire, then it can be demonic manifestations that needs to be cast out. If however you are unsure, it would be best you not judge it because you may be judging the work of the Holy Spirit. Pray for discernment instead.

Matthew 4:24 (Amplified Bible)  So the report of Him spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all who were sick, those afflicted with various diseases and torments, those under the power of demons, and epileptics (seizures), and paralyzed people, and He healed them.

Luke 4:35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be silent (muzzled, gagged), and come out of him! And when the demon had thrown the man down in their midst, he came out of him without injuring him in any possible way

Luke 4:41 And demons even came out of many people, SCREAMING AND CRYING OUT, You are the Son of God! But He rebuked them and would not permit them to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ (the Messiah).

Luke 9:42 And even while he was coming, the demon threw him down and [completely] CONVULSED him. But Jesus censured and severely rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the child and restored him to his father.

Sometimes, people do manifest but the pastors and churches do not even realize it to be a manifestation of demons and they may condone or enjoy the event. Sometimes, pastors are shocked and do not know what to do. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit manifests and pastors may quench it thinking it is demonic. When the supernatural occurs, many are not ready and/or able to discern whether it is God or not? WE must learn and discern what are the manifestations of the Holy Spirit and what are the manifestations of demons. They can all be happening at once inside a church as the power of the Holy Spirit is great. Where do we think the devil is? He is in God's field planting his own seeds.

Matthew 13:24-27 (AMP) Another parable He set forth before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while he was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed also darnel (weeds resembling wheat) among the wheat, and went on his way.

Yes, God will deliver His people in different ways but when demons manifest, they do not go quietly. Many churches require and demand order. What do they know of order? They define order by their own standards. How do we know what is God's order. And when demons manifest in churches, instead of casting the demons out, they end up kicking the person out because they do not know what to do. Many continue to deny the Power of God thus they DENY GOD!!

Maybe worshiping is a party with people shouting His Name. Maybe worshiping is a joyful people dancing in the Spirit. Maybe worshiping is a group of people singing out of tune but from their hearts. Maybe worshiping is genuine brokenness from the heart as people cry in joy. Maybe worshiping is people calling unto HIS Name with all their might and strength. And maybe worship is sometimes a moment of quiet and stillness. Maybe it is all the above and much much more. You should ask God if you are even worshiping in Truth and Spirit yourselves before judging how someone else worships. People keep saying to other people that they should worship in Truth and Spirit but do they even know what they means?  Are they doing it themselves? How can you know if you do not ask or have never experienced it to know?

What is order? Who can define it? Only God can define order as the churches are suppose to be LED by the SPIRIT! Order is being led by the Holy Spirit. Be wise brethren, do not judge what may look or appear strange to you. You may be quenching the Holy Spirit!! You must first ask the Holy Spirit if that is of God instead of making your own conclusion.

Isaiah 43:19 (Amplified Bible) Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

John 21:25 (Amplified Bible) And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should be all recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written.

Jeremiah 33:3 (Amplified Bible) Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).

Seek Him now while He may be found. Know His ways. Know His Ways so you will recognize His Voice when He speaks. Know His Ways so you will know it is HE who comes for you. Know HIM so you will not fall and be judged as Korah during his rebellion. Read and continue to partake the Bread of Life and continue to drink from the Rock!

Numbers 16:30 (Amplified Bible) But if the Lord causes a NEW thing [to happen], and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up, with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol (the place of the dead), then you shall understand that these men have provoked (spurned, despised) the Lord!

When something New happens that you are not familiar with, this does not mean it is not be from God. Do not judge or quench what may be the Holy Spirit because of your own fear or bias. You must ask and pray for discernment instead. If you judge because you fear men or because of your bias toward another brethren, then you are already on the wrong path.

Fire of God!
Glory to HIM
Steve Yong Kim
March 30, 2011 at 5:54pm

Desiring higher spiritual gifts and power without any foundation

Some people tell me they are praying to hear God's voice more audibly. Some people tell me they are praying to have their spiritual eyes open so they can see the spiritual realm. Other people tell me they are praying so they can see angels and perhaps even the Lord Jesus and some people tell me they are praying so they can be taken to heaven. Many other people tell me they want the gift of prophecy, dreams, or visions. Otherwise, they at least want more frequency in such gifts.

It is a bit odd that people with the gift of tongue who speaks in tongue do not utilize this gift. In fact, dust is collecting on it so to speak. And they want or desire higher spiritual gifts, power, or realm?

Luke 12:48 (AMP) But he who did not know and did things worthy of a beating shall be beaten with few [lashes]. For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more.

When we receive a gift or power from the Lord, we are going to be held accountable for how we use it for His Kingdom. We will be responsible for it. Scripture says when more is given, MORE IS REQUIRED. We must understand who we are receiving the gift or power from? We are receiving from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are receiving from the Most High. We should receive and revere with Godly fear of what He has granted to us instead of kicking it around like a tin can. Trampling and taking advantage of His Grace for selfish motives will not get us into the Kingdom of God.

Why do most of us ask for higher gifts and power? The honest answer is that most want to do things the easy way. People think if they can hear God more audibly/clearly or if they can possess higher spiritual power/sight, then perhaps life can become much more easier and manageable. When life seems to be hitting a ceiling, we think the answer to get out of such hardship is to possess more spiritual insight or to hear God more audibly so we can get crystal clear instructions. We have the Bible yet many are looking for the "Bible for Dummies" version. They want someone else to have read it but yet they want to possess the Power of it without the work.

The human nature outside of Christianity is the same. We want the promotion without working from the bottom up. We want to win the lottery without working or laboring. We want the answers to the test in school without studying. We want to be paid more than what we are really qualified or worth. We want to have a college degree without taking all the required classes. We think we should be the star of the sport team or the band without any practice. We want to be the leader just to be popular and famous. We want to live in big houses and drive expensive cars when we cannot afford them so we then go borrow to buy things that are out of our reach and we get in trouble.

Whether living life in the world or spiritually, if we do not have a foundation for the things we are attempting to achieve, at the end, it will all fall apart. People tell me they want to hear God more audibly. I tell them to go hear HIM from the Bible first so they will have a foundation of His Word. People tell me they want to have more spiritual gifts. I tell them go pray and worship more so they may have a foundation in HIM. Unless we have a foundation of His Word abiding in us and unless we have a foundation of daily worship and prayer to sustain our gifts, we may at the end become DECEIVED OR LED ASTRAY. If a person does not have the gift of tongue, I tell them to ask for that gift. The gift of tongue is required so they can pray more.

Professional athletes, car racers, soldiers, weight lifters, doctors etc have to train or sustain at a higher level of time to stay or elevate from their positions. If we receive a higher anointing or spiritual gifts/insight, then in order to sustain such gifts, we are required to spend more time in prayer, reading, and worship. We must constantly be accumulating and storing up those BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS. However, like most people including many Christians, they are but flat out LAZY and the only exercise they are doing and building up anything is with their thumbs changing channels on the remote control for their TVs!!

But an important question that must be addressed first is....are you ready for such a higher gift or power? There are some who persistently ask for such gift or power and are not ready to receive. There are many who continue to TEST God by persistently asking HIM for things in which they do not qualify and/or are not prepared. They have not accumulated or built up the basic building blocks of the Word, prayer, and worship nor waited for His time. However, God will at times answer what we ask. It may not always be the right timing for us but He will answer us to show us our inability to lead ourselves.

In Numbers 11, God's people were experiencing hardship and as a result began to complain and grumble. They also complained of not having to eat meat. They complained of only having to eat the manna that God was sending them.

Numbers 11:7-8 (AMP) The manna was like coriander seed and its appearance was like that of bdellium [perhaps a precious stone].8The people went about and gathered it, and ground it in mills or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it; and it tasted like cakes baked with fresh oil.

Exodus 16:31 The house of Israel called the bread manna; it was like coriander seed, white, and it tasted like wafers made with honey.

Manna was heavenly food. It was the bread the Lord had given them. It was easily digestible. It tasted like wafers made with honey and could be milled, beat, and/or boiled. In a sense, it was spiritual milk for them. But God's people being in the wilderness was not ready for meat because they had not built the foundation of knowing how to trust or appreciate God. They continued to complain and they wanted the easy route. They reminded themselves of how "great" it was back in Egypt.

Numbers 11:5-6 (AMP) We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt and without cost, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.6 But now our soul (our strength) is dried up; there is nothing at all [in the way of food] to be seen but this manna.

How many today complain about how their spirits are dried up and want a "fresh" anointing or want to hear God's voice or want a higher level of spiritual gift or realm thinking that will elevate them and refresh them and it may get them out of their difficult situation when in fact God is still requiring them to do the basics? The basics of just reading ALL His Word, praying more, and worshiping more. Yes, all this on a daily basis. Then when we have that foundation and at God's time, we will be able to receive it.When we have that foundation and we maintain that foundation, then we are being refreshed!

But if we do not have that foundation and we continue to TEST God by persistently asking what we are not ready for then like His people who received meat were judged and killed. The spiritual meat of the spiritual realm may be more than we can handle if we are asking it out of our time and for the wrong reasons.

Numbers 11:31-34 (AMP) And there went forth a wind from the Lord and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall [so they flew low] beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and on the other side, all around the camp, about two cubits above the ground. 32And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day and caught and gathered the quails. He who gathered least gathered ten homers; and they spread them out for themselves round about the camp [to cure them by drying].33 While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote them with a very great plague. 34That place was called Kibroth-hattaavah [the graves of sensuous desire], because there they buried the people who lusted, whose physical appetite caused them to sin.

Are you desiring the gifts, power, and the spiritual realm of God because He is leading you or are you desiring it out of your physical lustful flesh? The latter will bring judgment. Instead of humbling ourselves and thanking Him for the gifts, are we caught up with ourselves polishing, caressing, and talking about what we possess all day and all night as God's people had as they gathered the quails?

Pray that as you ask He will grant it when you are spiritually ready to receive. Receiving spiritual gifts can be very dangerous as so many have fallen because of their puff heads.If you already possess spiritual gifts, power, or have an insight of the spiritual realm or at least the beginnings of it, then if you do not have the foundation of His Word, prayer, and worship (accumulating DAILY), then I suggest you catch up quickly.

Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
April 5, 2012