When
we want something so bad, we can become deceived by our own desires.
When you want something so bad, it is just that....it is the will of
your life over God's will. When we want something so bad, one may make a
choice risking to be deceived because their desires are stronger than
God's Will. You will have fallen into your own trap. Why are the desires
of so many so strong? It is because one foot is still in the world. Many still love the world. Many serve two masters.
Matthew 6:21 KJV For where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also.22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be
single, thy whole body shall be full of light.23 But if thine eye be
evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light
that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!24 No man can
serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve
God and mammon.
In the KJV, it is stated more accurately for this particular verse. If
your eye is single, then your whole body shall be full of light. Both
your eyes must only focus on only one thing. It must only focus on HIM.
Both your eyes must only focus on Jesus Christ. You must fall in love
with HIM rather than the things of the world. But if one eye is on the
world and one eye is on HIM, then thine eye be evil. Scripture
elaborates that no man can serve two masters, especially God and mammon.
If you are trusting on other things over the Lord, then you have yet to
fully surrender to HIM. You have yet to fully trust HIM. You must
surrender with a whole heart. Do not say to yourself that you are. How
do you know you have fully surrendered yourself? Are you God to
determine this? Humble yourself and ask HIM. If you do not know how to
do this, then you must ask HIM to help. But do know this; that you will
pay a price. There is a heavy price to really follow TRUTH. It may cost
you everything. But to follow with anything less than a whole heart will
be considered evil.
Fire of God International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
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
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
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Fall Fire Revival Meeting San Francisco/East Bay
Fall
Fire Revival Meeting with Pastor Kim, Yong Doo, author of "Baptize by
Blazing Fire" books at San Francisco/East Bay California at Fire of God
International Church, Fremont, CA
September 26 to September 29, 2013
Fire of God International Church
43130 Osgood Rd
Fremont, CA 94539
FireofGodministriesUSA@gmail.c
September 26 to September 29, 2013
Fire of God International Church
43130 Osgood Rd
Fremont, CA 94539
FireofGodministriesUSA@gmail.c
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Definition of Rapture Ready
The
Lord told me "Rapture Ready" is when His children are overcoming their
personal situations (trials, tribulations, and tests) in life. It is not
to be running from our problems but overcoming them. This is "Rapture
Ready." Many want to be rapture to run away from problems which is not
really ready. There is irony here. The Lord said that wanting to be
rapture to run away from your problems was selfish.
Therefore, those who think they are ready because through the knowledge
of His coming and who are so eager to leave because of the difficulties
of their lives will have a rude awakening. It will be them who will be
left behind.
Jesus did not run from the Cross. He willing went to die because it was the Father's Will. Have you asked Father God, what is His Will for you? His Will for you is that you Overcome the things you are facing with His Strength and His Promise even to the point of death unto obedience. There are no quitters in the Kingdom of God. They are the overcomers who have overcome by their testimony and by the Blood of the Lamb. If you run, how is there a testimony?
Therefore, what is the irony? It is in Revelation 12:11 "for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death" For those who have a ear, may you hear.
Revelation 12:11 (AMP) And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].
1 John 5:4 (AMP) For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.
I speak the Power to Overcome in your lives.
God bless
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Jesus did not run from the Cross. He willing went to die because it was the Father's Will. Have you asked Father God, what is His Will for you? His Will for you is that you Overcome the things you are facing with His Strength and His Promise even to the point of death unto obedience. There are no quitters in the Kingdom of God. They are the overcomers who have overcome by their testimony and by the Blood of the Lamb. If you run, how is there a testimony?
Therefore, what is the irony? It is in Revelation 12:11 "for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death" For those who have a ear, may you hear.
Revelation 12:11 (AMP) And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].
1 John 5:4 (AMP) For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.
I speak the Power to Overcome in your lives.
God bless
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Friday, May 24, 2013
Is your prayers but a sound of a gong?
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a NOISY GONG or a CLANGING CYMBAL. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but DON'T LOVE OTHERS, I WOULD BE NOTHING. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I DIDN'T LOVE OTHERS I WOULD HAVE GAINED NOTHING.4 Love is PATIENT and KIND. Love is NOT JEALOUS or BOASTFUL or PROUD 5 or RUDE. IT DOES NOT DEMAND ITS OWN WAY. It is NOT IRRITABLE, and IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF BEING WRONGED. 6 It DOES NOT rejoice about injustice BUT rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER LOOSE FAITH, is always HOPEFUL, and ENDURES through EVERY circumstance.8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But LOVE WILL LAST FOREVER!
I hope that Christians read these verses VERY carefully for you don't want to be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Speaking tongues and possessing gifts will not make us holy or righteous before God's eyes. If we don't have love (don't show love) God will see us as noisy gong. Our prayer will sound like clanging cymbal to God's ears.We are simply NOTHING (yes nothing!!) without love. Love is patient and kind. Are we patient toward others? Where is patient among Christians? God's long patient and suffering brought all of us this far. If God has cut us off and judged just because we didn't listen at first, non of us could have made it this far.
God gives so much grace, mercy and chances to many of us, but yet...we quickly forget and judge others with our own righteousness.Love does not demand its own way, the scripture said.
Love NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER LOOSE FAITH, is always HOPEFUL and this is our Gods nature. Steve and I encountered many Christians for few years now. Most of them did not listen, rebelled, hated, back stepped us, and betrayed us. But we loved, and embraced them even more..because thats what Love does, God. Gods love and patient is just unimaginable. I am not able to fathom His amazing love. I have received His love, long suffering and mercy, so that I must give back what I have received to others so that others may receive salvation and live a resurrected life.
So many Christians are becoming or/and acting like the world. Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against evil spirits. But since many Christians are so carnal, they are not able to see the spiritual things working behind. They are spiritually BLIND. Let us not forget what we have received from God. God will give mercy to those who have shown mercy to others. We will reap what we sow.
Let us ask God to help us bear fruit of the Holy Spirit. Remember..Love will Never fail.
Fire of God International Church
Pastor Yoojin Kim
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a NOISY GONG or a CLANGING CYMBAL. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but DON'T LOVE OTHERS, I WOULD BE NOTHING. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I DIDN'T LOVE OTHERS I WOULD HAVE GAINED NOTHING.4 Love is PATIENT and KIND. Love is NOT JEALOUS or BOASTFUL or PROUD 5 or RUDE. IT DOES NOT DEMAND ITS OWN WAY. It is NOT IRRITABLE, and IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF BEING WRONGED. 6 It DOES NOT rejoice about injustice BUT rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER LOOSE FAITH, is always HOPEFUL, and ENDURES through EVERY circumstance.8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But LOVE WILL LAST FOREVER!
I hope that Christians read these verses VERY carefully for you don't want to be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Speaking tongues and possessing gifts will not make us holy or righteous before God's eyes. If we don't have love (don't show love) God will see us as noisy gong. Our prayer will sound like clanging cymbal to God's ears.We are simply NOTHING (yes nothing!!) without love. Love is patient and kind. Are we patient toward others? Where is patient among Christians? God's long patient and suffering brought all of us this far. If God has cut us off and judged just because we didn't listen at first, non of us could have made it this far.
God gives so much grace, mercy and chances to many of us, but yet...we quickly forget and judge others with our own righteousness.Love does not demand its own way, the scripture said.
Love NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER LOOSE FAITH, is always HOPEFUL and this is our Gods nature. Steve and I encountered many Christians for few years now. Most of them did not listen, rebelled, hated, back stepped us, and betrayed us. But we loved, and embraced them even more..because thats what Love does, God. Gods love and patient is just unimaginable. I am not able to fathom His amazing love. I have received His love, long suffering and mercy, so that I must give back what I have received to others so that others may receive salvation and live a resurrected life.
So many Christians are becoming or/and acting like the world. Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against evil spirits. But since many Christians are so carnal, they are not able to see the spiritual things working behind. They are spiritually BLIND. Let us not forget what we have received from God. God will give mercy to those who have shown mercy to others. We will reap what we sow.
Let us ask God to help us bear fruit of the Holy Spirit. Remember..Love will Never fail.
Fire of God International Church
Pastor Yoojin Kim
Thursday, May 23, 2013
What are you looking at for you help?
I get frequent emails and requests from all over the world. But sometimes I am not able to reply to all the emails in a timely manner. I wonder how will I reply as God grows our ministry. It pains me that I cannot personally help most of you as time permits me to only minister to those who are in our church or near us. To have an internet ministry can be very time consuming and for many of you are far away. But I am praying for anointed skilled people to support our church to help with web issues.
I receive many requests for financial help from all over the world. I have prayed about these requests and the Lord had answered. He told me to that I must first take care of our people in my church first. The order is from inside and then out. However, there are times when God tells me to help some.
I even receive many pictures of orphans and hardship. I asked myself if I was in such condition, would I be as desperate in seeking help from those who are able to help from such as in America. People can see from other countries and see the abundance and riches of America. For I had felt guilty and wondered if I needed to do more or if I need to make more of an effort. But as I said, the Lord had answered me and told me to take care of the people in our church first.
But as I thought about it and as I asked myself, if I was born in a difficult country, how would I react? Why are some of us born in well off countries and some in not so well off? As I thought about it and prayed, the Lord impressed this to me. We, Christians, are still too much operating by sight and not by faith. We look at the riches of someone or a country and expect help from them rather than continuing to keep our eyes on God. Yes, it can be said that it is easier for me to say this because I live in America. But God impressed that in such poverty stricken countries, HE CAN BE MORE GLORIFIED. How? When there is less or when it seem the more impossible, it is in such situations God can manifest His power and miracles to be Glorified. In America, there are too much distractions and golden calves.
In the third world countries, there are more spiritual activities. There are more manifestations. There are more deliverance. There are more miracles. There are more witch doctors to have victory over. There are more spiritual battles. There is more of a sensitivity of the spirit realm than in America.
We need to stop looking at what we have and what we don't have. When King David asked for an census of his men, God judged him and 70,000 people died for his mistake (1 Chronicle 21). Who had stirred up David to begin operating in sight rather than faith? It was Satan. It does not matter whether we have a million man army or 300 like Gideon, the victory is the Lord's. All we have to do is move in faith and obey for HE is our victory. But when the Lord tells us to move and we start looking at our bank accounts, the number of people we have, or our resources, we are moving by sight and we can be judged if we should know better than to operate in such a way.
Therefore, for those who are in difficult countries, rather than looking at men to help, we need to be on our knees and pray. We need to spend such time and energy asking God for the help and miracle. God wants to manifest His power and miracles in difficult countries because He will be MORE GLORIFIED!! HE wants to make the impossible possible. It does not matter why some Christians are born into to wealthy countries. As Jesus said to Peter in regards to John, "What is that to you? Just follow ME!"
You want to eat? You need to till the land and plant seeds and wait for the harvest. There is a season we must wait. We must pray and pray accumulating our prayers until our prayers reach His throne. You must cry out to HIM. God told Moses before He was sent back to Egypt, God said, "Their cries have reached my throne" How many years had His people been crying out? We are always thinking of ways to make things work. No, God wants us to PRAY rather than trying to figure things out. But even as we pray, we must learn PATIENCE and wait for HIM. We Christians have been so influenced by the world. We are backwards and we have no patience.
It is so easy for God to grow our churches. God can make a small church grow into a thousand overnight. Is anything too hard for God? But we think we need to be growing our churches because this is how so many of His servants measure success. However, this is the world's way of measuring success. It is the perception of outside and the physical. We are so eager to go here and there. We are so eager to get out of our current difficult situations. We are so eager to do God's work. We are so eager to grow. We are so eager to do big things. We are so eager to do everything but wait for God. What does HE want from us? He wants you to learn patience first before HE grows your church or ministry. He wants us to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Growing a ministry is easy for God. HE needs us to learn patience so we can WAIT FOR HIM. It is HIS ministry. It is HIS plans. It is HIS Work. It is about HIS GLORY. HE may have you in a poor country. He may have you in a rich country. But that is for HIS GLORY and HIS Sovereign right. How can the clay argue with the potter?
Many may feel like they are in impossible situations. Many feel like they need to get out and many begin to think and produce plans to find another comfortable situation. Many are fighting God's Will. Rather trying to run, we need to wait for God. What if Joseph tried to break out of prison? He was in prison for 13 years. Many of us feel like we are in our own prisons. But rather than trying to break out, we need to stay in a prisoner for Jesus Christ. For in our prison, we will learn humility as God breaks us. He needs to do this for HE has great plans and works for us. If we wait for God's time, just as Joseph, from prisoner of Pharaoh, he was now number two man. But this took 13 years in prison. So many of us cannot even wait one year. We pray and we expect the answer right away. When the answer does not come in our time, we attempt to help God by exerting our energy and our natural strength to force it. So many Christians are so spiritually tired. They are tired because they have moved so far ahead or behind God. Where is your joy?
We cannot look at man. We cannot look at the pastors. We cannot look at the building. We cannot look at other things for help except God. I have been called by God but I can do nothing of myself. I am but a vessel. If the vessel is empty, what worth am I to others? When Rachel got mad at Jacob because she could not have a baby, Jacob replied, "Am I God?" Our help comes from the Lord. We must take all things to prayer and wait for HIM. We must pray until our prayers are answered. I may be tending a church but my job is just to point to Jesus for others. I am but a bus driver driving and leading others to God.
On Judgment day, will some of us blame God? Will some of us say, "You did not give me the resources or the finances to do the work?" How will God answer? God may say, "You did not ask!" Yes, we would not have asked it His Way. We can spend hours on Facebook asking people but have we asked hours in prayer to our Father? We tell people we have access to the riches of His throne but then we run off to our golden calves? So many of us have so little patience. We think one time of prayer is suffice. No, we may be required to pray for hours, days, months, or even years. How can we demand anything from God? It is us who must humble ourselves and seek His Face. He will speak and answer at His Time. And if He does not answer, will we blame HIM? No, the blame lies with us. He has given us the authority to bind and loose what is on the heavens and earth. The Apostles in the bible have set the standard. But to reach and excel in such standard, we must put in the time with God. We must return as a people of prayer. We must return as a people set apart consecrated for HIM. We must return to Holiness. We must return with a FULL Whole Heart and Only Serve HIM alone. We must remove the idols in our lives. We must repent and return to our First Love. We must learn to really know what is to Trust and depend in HIM.
Glory to HIM ALONE. May HE get all the GLORY.
Fire of God International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
I receive many requests for financial help from all over the world. I have prayed about these requests and the Lord had answered. He told me to that I must first take care of our people in my church first. The order is from inside and then out. However, there are times when God tells me to help some.
I even receive many pictures of orphans and hardship. I asked myself if I was in such condition, would I be as desperate in seeking help from those who are able to help from such as in America. People can see from other countries and see the abundance and riches of America. For I had felt guilty and wondered if I needed to do more or if I need to make more of an effort. But as I said, the Lord had answered me and told me to take care of the people in our church first.
But as I thought about it and as I asked myself, if I was born in a difficult country, how would I react? Why are some of us born in well off countries and some in not so well off? As I thought about it and prayed, the Lord impressed this to me. We, Christians, are still too much operating by sight and not by faith. We look at the riches of someone or a country and expect help from them rather than continuing to keep our eyes on God. Yes, it can be said that it is easier for me to say this because I live in America. But God impressed that in such poverty stricken countries, HE CAN BE MORE GLORIFIED. How? When there is less or when it seem the more impossible, it is in such situations God can manifest His power and miracles to be Glorified. In America, there are too much distractions and golden calves.
In the third world countries, there are more spiritual activities. There are more manifestations. There are more deliverance. There are more miracles. There are more witch doctors to have victory over. There are more spiritual battles. There is more of a sensitivity of the spirit realm than in America.
We need to stop looking at what we have and what we don't have. When King David asked for an census of his men, God judged him and 70,000 people died for his mistake (1 Chronicle 21). Who had stirred up David to begin operating in sight rather than faith? It was Satan. It does not matter whether we have a million man army or 300 like Gideon, the victory is the Lord's. All we have to do is move in faith and obey for HE is our victory. But when the Lord tells us to move and we start looking at our bank accounts, the number of people we have, or our resources, we are moving by sight and we can be judged if we should know better than to operate in such a way.
Therefore, for those who are in difficult countries, rather than looking at men to help, we need to be on our knees and pray. We need to spend such time and energy asking God for the help and miracle. God wants to manifest His power and miracles in difficult countries because He will be MORE GLORIFIED!! HE wants to make the impossible possible. It does not matter why some Christians are born into to wealthy countries. As Jesus said to Peter in regards to John, "What is that to you? Just follow ME!"
You want to eat? You need to till the land and plant seeds and wait for the harvest. There is a season we must wait. We must pray and pray accumulating our prayers until our prayers reach His throne. You must cry out to HIM. God told Moses before He was sent back to Egypt, God said, "Their cries have reached my throne" How many years had His people been crying out? We are always thinking of ways to make things work. No, God wants us to PRAY rather than trying to figure things out. But even as we pray, we must learn PATIENCE and wait for HIM. We Christians have been so influenced by the world. We are backwards and we have no patience.
It is so easy for God to grow our churches. God can make a small church grow into a thousand overnight. Is anything too hard for God? But we think we need to be growing our churches because this is how so many of His servants measure success. However, this is the world's way of measuring success. It is the perception of outside and the physical. We are so eager to go here and there. We are so eager to get out of our current difficult situations. We are so eager to do God's work. We are so eager to grow. We are so eager to do big things. We are so eager to do everything but wait for God. What does HE want from us? He wants you to learn patience first before HE grows your church or ministry. He wants us to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Growing a ministry is easy for God. HE needs us to learn patience so we can WAIT FOR HIM. It is HIS ministry. It is HIS plans. It is HIS Work. It is about HIS GLORY. HE may have you in a poor country. He may have you in a rich country. But that is for HIS GLORY and HIS Sovereign right. How can the clay argue with the potter?
Many may feel like they are in impossible situations. Many feel like they need to get out and many begin to think and produce plans to find another comfortable situation. Many are fighting God's Will. Rather trying to run, we need to wait for God. What if Joseph tried to break out of prison? He was in prison for 13 years. Many of us feel like we are in our own prisons. But rather than trying to break out, we need to stay in a prisoner for Jesus Christ. For in our prison, we will learn humility as God breaks us. He needs to do this for HE has great plans and works for us. If we wait for God's time, just as Joseph, from prisoner of Pharaoh, he was now number two man. But this took 13 years in prison. So many of us cannot even wait one year. We pray and we expect the answer right away. When the answer does not come in our time, we attempt to help God by exerting our energy and our natural strength to force it. So many Christians are so spiritually tired. They are tired because they have moved so far ahead or behind God. Where is your joy?
We cannot look at man. We cannot look at the pastors. We cannot look at the building. We cannot look at other things for help except God. I have been called by God but I can do nothing of myself. I am but a vessel. If the vessel is empty, what worth am I to others? When Rachel got mad at Jacob because she could not have a baby, Jacob replied, "Am I God?" Our help comes from the Lord. We must take all things to prayer and wait for HIM. We must pray until our prayers are answered. I may be tending a church but my job is just to point to Jesus for others. I am but a bus driver driving and leading others to God.
On Judgment day, will some of us blame God? Will some of us say, "You did not give me the resources or the finances to do the work?" How will God answer? God may say, "You did not ask!" Yes, we would not have asked it His Way. We can spend hours on Facebook asking people but have we asked hours in prayer to our Father? We tell people we have access to the riches of His throne but then we run off to our golden calves? So many of us have so little patience. We think one time of prayer is suffice. No, we may be required to pray for hours, days, months, or even years. How can we demand anything from God? It is us who must humble ourselves and seek His Face. He will speak and answer at His Time. And if He does not answer, will we blame HIM? No, the blame lies with us. He has given us the authority to bind and loose what is on the heavens and earth. The Apostles in the bible have set the standard. But to reach and excel in such standard, we must put in the time with God. We must return as a people of prayer. We must return as a people set apart consecrated for HIM. We must return to Holiness. We must return with a FULL Whole Heart and Only Serve HIM alone. We must remove the idols in our lives. We must repent and return to our First Love. We must learn to really know what is to Trust and depend in HIM.
Glory to HIM ALONE. May HE get all the GLORY.
Fire of God International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Matthew Chapt 24, "And then will the end come."
Matthew 24:14 And this good news of
the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a
testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.
A couple months ago, as I was reading Matthew chapter 24 again, verse 14 had impacted me. The Holy Spirit was leading me to question why verse 14 was after the above verses. Let us study the above verses.
Matthew 24:4-13 Jesus answered them, Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. 5For many will come in (on the strength of) My name [[b]appropriating the name which belongs to Me], saying, I am the Christ (the Messiah), and they will lead many astray. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place; 8All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the [c]birth pangs [of the [d]intolerable anguish]. 9Then they will hand you over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.10And then many will be offended and repelled and will [e]begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. 11And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. 12And the love of [f]the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity, 13But he who endures to the end will be saved.14 And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.
Today, many Christians believe the gospel has already been pretty much testified/preached to all the nations. Through technology and the internet, the gospel can be found at the tip of our fingers. Yes, there are some who argue that the gospel has not reached all people like those in the distant jungles of the Amazon or the likes. But we can agree, the gospel has reached all nations regardless to some degree.
Yes, today, we are hearing wars and rumors of war. Nations are preparing to rise against each other and especially some against against Israel. There are various famines around the world and it appears there are more frequent earthquakes and other natural diasters. There are even earthquakes in places where earthquakes are rare. And there are some countries where they are persecuting our brethren even unto death. Verse 9 states that many of us will be handed over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put to death hated by ALL nations for His name sake. Scripture continues and states when such things happen, many of His people will be offended and fall away betraying one another. Many false prophets will arise leading many to error and the love of the Body of people will grow cold.
In some sense, some can make an argument such things have happened or are happening. But today, many Christians can agree we are living in the days when we are hearing rumors of war as nations are being raised against each other. Even natural disasters such as earthquakes and other calamities are shaking many nations. Many Christians believe the gospel has reached all nations and we are ripe for the Lord's return.
Many Christians believe the gospel has reached all nations or at least to a certain degree and we are ready for the Lord's return but scripture is pointing out in Matthew chapter 24 that the Gospel will be preached after all those events as described above in verses 6 to 12. Scripture says this is just the beginning of birth pangs. We are just at the beginning? Other translations have it as the beginning of sorrows. What does this mean? Many believe we are at the beginning of birth pangs but they believe the Gospel has already been preached to the nations but yet scripture is saying it will be preached during this time and to the end. Now, some may interpret and say verse 14 is not a statement reflecting a time line but may be a general statement as a whole but let us look at verse 6, it states that all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet. This means that the Gospel will still be continued to be preached during all those events and even to the end.
In verse 9, it states that Christians will be hated by ALL nations for His name sake. Christians will be handed over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put to death. Are we living in times in which ALL nations hate us in which the many many of us are being put to death? We read these scripture verses and many assume this is the period of the Great Tribulation. The various events described above are not the events of the end per se because in verse 6, it states that these must come to pass BUT THE END IS NOT YET! Therefore, what is being described are not the "very" end time events but perhaps the pre-events of the end events. Verse 6 once again, "BUT THE END IS NOT YET!"
I had believed as many Christians are believing that the Gospel had basically reached all nations and we are ripened for the Lord's return. However, The Lord has been impressing on me that the many missionaries previously sent to the nations have been the efforts of man and their religion. It was Ishmael who was sent out to most the missions and not Issac. Yes, mostly the work of the flesh and humanism. It has been a watered down gospel with NO POWER flesh giving birth to flesh in most cases. When Jesus walked the earth, He had addressed this to the Pharisee.
Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one [a proselyte], you make him doubly as much a child of hell (Gehenna) as you are.
Yes, we are at the beginning of birth pangs. When dark and difficult days arrive, He will send His servants that are being trained in their wildernesses and He will send them to the All the Nations during a time of persecution when His people will be hated by ALL nations. They will be His servants raised and trained as He had with John the Baptist. This is Spirit giving birth to Spirit and God will receive all the Glory and the uncompromising message will be of repentance and return of the Lord with the POWER OF GOD behind it confirming His Word.
Am I saying that we will go through the Great Tribulation? No, I am not saying this because I do not know whether we are going to go through the whole Tribulation or not. But God is requiring us to draw closer to HIM, abiding in HIM DAILY, receiving His Gifts and POWER so that we may be ready for the days that are coming. We need to be ready to fight the spiritual war that is coming. We will have to be ready to endure and persevere possible persecution and death if necessary.
If we are not prepared for such events spiritually, it will be the many Christians who will be offended as described in verse 10. They will end up betraying the Lord because the end time will not have happened as they had hoped or been led to believe. Many will end up dying from various things.
When John the Baptist was in jail, he had sent a message to the Lord.
Matthew 11:2-3 Now when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent a message by his disciples. 3And asked Him, Are You the One Who was to come, or should we keep on expecting a different one?
John the Baptist, I believe was asking for help. But the Lord replied as in the following verses.
Matthew 11:6 And blessed (happy, fortunate, and [a]to be envied) is he who takes no offense at Me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through Me and is not hindered from seeing the Truth.
I believe Jesus was telling John the Baptist that he would be martyred and not be rescued. If we found ourselves in a position of persecution and possible martyrdom for not only ourselves but our children also being put to death before us, will many of us who had been led to believe He would have returned by that time be offended? Would many at that time renounce HIM? Most of us in the western church are but a microwave, fast food, drive through, a spoiled generation of abundance and do we seriously believe when the time comes for martyrdom we can die for HIM in a worthy manner? If some of us are called to be martyred, how can we die for Him in a worthy manner when so many of us are not living our lives worthy of HIM.
As I said before, I believe He will return in my life time. But He has spoken some things over my life. He has spoken some things that others will do before His return. Do not only read the signs of His imminent return but also read the signs that it may not be this year, next year, or even several years there after.
Do not be left unprepared, naked, and exposed when it doesn't turn out as many had been led to believe. Otherwise, the Will of God will have passed your life just as Jesus had passed and gone before His people during the first coming and they had not realized they had missed their Messiah because they had sought Him for their selfish reasons for relief instead of His Will.
Fire of God International Church
Steve Yong Kim
March 22, 2012
A couple months ago, as I was reading Matthew chapter 24 again, verse 14 had impacted me. The Holy Spirit was leading me to question why verse 14 was after the above verses. Let us study the above verses.
Matthew 24:4-13 Jesus answered them, Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. 5For many will come in (on the strength of) My name [[b]appropriating the name which belongs to Me], saying, I am the Christ (the Messiah), and they will lead many astray. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place; 8All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the [c]birth pangs [of the [d]intolerable anguish]. 9Then they will hand you over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.10And then many will be offended and repelled and will [e]begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. 11And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. 12And the love of [f]the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity, 13But he who endures to the end will be saved.14 And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.
Today, many Christians believe the gospel has already been pretty much testified/preached to all the nations. Through technology and the internet, the gospel can be found at the tip of our fingers. Yes, there are some who argue that the gospel has not reached all people like those in the distant jungles of the Amazon or the likes. But we can agree, the gospel has reached all nations regardless to some degree.
Yes, today, we are hearing wars and rumors of war. Nations are preparing to rise against each other and especially some against against Israel. There are various famines around the world and it appears there are more frequent earthquakes and other natural diasters. There are even earthquakes in places where earthquakes are rare. And there are some countries where they are persecuting our brethren even unto death. Verse 9 states that many of us will be handed over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put to death hated by ALL nations for His name sake. Scripture continues and states when such things happen, many of His people will be offended and fall away betraying one another. Many false prophets will arise leading many to error and the love of the Body of people will grow cold.
In some sense, some can make an argument such things have happened or are happening. But today, many Christians can agree we are living in the days when we are hearing rumors of war as nations are being raised against each other. Even natural disasters such as earthquakes and other calamities are shaking many nations. Many Christians believe the gospel has reached all nations and we are ripe for the Lord's return.
Many Christians believe the gospel has reached all nations or at least to a certain degree and we are ready for the Lord's return but scripture is pointing out in Matthew chapter 24 that the Gospel will be preached after all those events as described above in verses 6 to 12. Scripture says this is just the beginning of birth pangs. We are just at the beginning? Other translations have it as the beginning of sorrows. What does this mean? Many believe we are at the beginning of birth pangs but they believe the Gospel has already been preached to the nations but yet scripture is saying it will be preached during this time and to the end. Now, some may interpret and say verse 14 is not a statement reflecting a time line but may be a general statement as a whole but let us look at verse 6, it states that all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet. This means that the Gospel will still be continued to be preached during all those events and even to the end.
In verse 9, it states that Christians will be hated by ALL nations for His name sake. Christians will be handed over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put to death. Are we living in times in which ALL nations hate us in which the many many of us are being put to death? We read these scripture verses and many assume this is the period of the Great Tribulation. The various events described above are not the events of the end per se because in verse 6, it states that these must come to pass BUT THE END IS NOT YET! Therefore, what is being described are not the "very" end time events but perhaps the pre-events of the end events. Verse 6 once again, "BUT THE END IS NOT YET!"
I had believed as many Christians are believing that the Gospel had basically reached all nations and we are ripened for the Lord's return. However, The Lord has been impressing on me that the many missionaries previously sent to the nations have been the efforts of man and their religion. It was Ishmael who was sent out to most the missions and not Issac. Yes, mostly the work of the flesh and humanism. It has been a watered down gospel with NO POWER flesh giving birth to flesh in most cases. When Jesus walked the earth, He had addressed this to the Pharisee.
Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one [a proselyte], you make him doubly as much a child of hell (Gehenna) as you are.
Yes, we are at the beginning of birth pangs. When dark and difficult days arrive, He will send His servants that are being trained in their wildernesses and He will send them to the All the Nations during a time of persecution when His people will be hated by ALL nations. They will be His servants raised and trained as He had with John the Baptist. This is Spirit giving birth to Spirit and God will receive all the Glory and the uncompromising message will be of repentance and return of the Lord with the POWER OF GOD behind it confirming His Word.
Am I saying that we will go through the Great Tribulation? No, I am not saying this because I do not know whether we are going to go through the whole Tribulation or not. But God is requiring us to draw closer to HIM, abiding in HIM DAILY, receiving His Gifts and POWER so that we may be ready for the days that are coming. We need to be ready to fight the spiritual war that is coming. We will have to be ready to endure and persevere possible persecution and death if necessary.
If we are not prepared for such events spiritually, it will be the many Christians who will be offended as described in verse 10. They will end up betraying the Lord because the end time will not have happened as they had hoped or been led to believe. Many will end up dying from various things.
When John the Baptist was in jail, he had sent a message to the Lord.
Matthew 11:2-3 Now when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent a message by his disciples. 3And asked Him, Are You the One Who was to come, or should we keep on expecting a different one?
John the Baptist, I believe was asking for help. But the Lord replied as in the following verses.
Matthew 11:6 And blessed (happy, fortunate, and [a]to be envied) is he who takes no offense at Me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through Me and is not hindered from seeing the Truth.
I believe Jesus was telling John the Baptist that he would be martyred and not be rescued. If we found ourselves in a position of persecution and possible martyrdom for not only ourselves but our children also being put to death before us, will many of us who had been led to believe He would have returned by that time be offended? Would many at that time renounce HIM? Most of us in the western church are but a microwave, fast food, drive through, a spoiled generation of abundance and do we seriously believe when the time comes for martyrdom we can die for HIM in a worthy manner? If some of us are called to be martyred, how can we die for Him in a worthy manner when so many of us are not living our lives worthy of HIM.
As I said before, I believe He will return in my life time. But He has spoken some things over my life. He has spoken some things that others will do before His return. Do not only read the signs of His imminent return but also read the signs that it may not be this year, next year, or even several years there after.
Do not be left unprepared, naked, and exposed when it doesn't turn out as many had been led to believe. Otherwise, the Will of God will have passed your life just as Jesus had passed and gone before His people during the first coming and they had not realized they had missed their Messiah because they had sought Him for their selfish reasons for relief instead of His Will.
Fire of God International Church
Steve Yong Kim
March 22, 2012
Monday, May 20, 2013
Cry out to HIM
Cry
out to God with all your heart. Whether in church or in private, cry out
to HIM. Spend time daily with HIM in reading, prayer, and worship. You
must spend more time with HIM even though you may be in bondage or sin
now. Keep moving forward. Keep moving forward even when you stumble. CRY
OUT TO HIM. He had come to set the captives free. We are Free but you
must cry out to HIM.
Hebrews 5:7 (NLT) While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.
Even Jesus cried out. Why can't you? Keep crying out until your prayers are answered! If you hold back, you are far from HIM. You must not hold back. May your worship be without restraint!
Mattew 15:8 These people draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far away from Me.
When you hearts hold off, you are far away from HIM. You must go after HIM with everything, ALL of your heart, ALL of your being, ALL of your mind, ALL of your strength; this is the greatest commandment. It is to Love the Lord with all of your mind, heart, and soul.
He will answer!! He is faithful and true. But you must be faithful and true to HIM. What is to worship HIM in Truth. It is to be faithful to HIM. Be faithful to HIM everyday. He says draw close to ME and I will draw close to you.
Fire of God International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Hebrews 5:7 (NLT) While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.
Even Jesus cried out. Why can't you? Keep crying out until your prayers are answered! If you hold back, you are far from HIM. You must not hold back. May your worship be without restraint!
Mattew 15:8 These people draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far away from Me.
When you hearts hold off, you are far away from HIM. You must go after HIM with everything, ALL of your heart, ALL of your being, ALL of your mind, ALL of your strength; this is the greatest commandment. It is to Love the Lord with all of your mind, heart, and soul.
He will answer!! He is faithful and true. But you must be faithful and true to HIM. What is to worship HIM in Truth. It is to be faithful to HIM. Be faithful to HIM everyday. He says draw close to ME and I will draw close to you.
Fire of God International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Seek HIM Wholeheartedly so He may answer you
Many are wondering why God may not be listening to their prayers. Many feel God is far away from them. Many feel stuck in their sin and bondage. Many Christians feel lost. Many Christians feel unsatisfied. Why? Is the problem God? Is the problem your spouse? Is the problem your pastor? Is the problem your church? Is the problem your children? Is the problem your neighbors? No, the problem is YOU!
The command is to PRAY, receive the Power of the Holy Spirit and be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth. It starts in Jerusalem. It starts at home. It starts with YOU!
But you must go after God in FULL surrender. You must go after God with no terms of your own. You must go after God willing to go for broke. You must go after God "All in." Many can gamble their money and lives away and go "All In." But with God, many Christians hold back.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NLT) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
Scripture says He will listen when you look for HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY. You will find HIM when you look WHOLEHEARTEDLY. HE will end your bondage and restore your fortunes when you seek HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY. You say you are seeking HIM wholeheartedly? By who's definition are you using? Yours? Perhaps,it is time to ask God if you are still holding back?
Numbers 32:11(NLT) ‘Of all those I rescued from Egypt, no one who is twenty years old or older will ever see the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they have not obeyed me wholeheartedly.
If you do not obey God WHOLEHEARTEDLY, you will not make it to the promise Land. Do not define to yourselves whether you are following God wholeheartedly. If you define it for yourselves, then you are just eating the fruit of knowledge of good and evil. You would be playing God. You must ask God to examine your hearts to determine if you are following HIM wholeheartedly or if you are holding back.
Acts 17:10-12 That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 12 As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.
Many say they believe. Do we really believe WHOLEHEARTEDLY to seek the Truth out? We say we are praying seeking answers but are we really showing in our actions that we want the answers or hear the Truth? We must be like the people of Berea. They were open minded and they searched the Scriptures day after day. How do you know you are hearing Truth from where you are being fed? Are you searching the Scriptures as though your life and the lives of your family depended on it?
Return to your First Love. Return to HIM as when you had first met HIM. Return to HIM with ALL of your Heart going broke for HIM. Then HE will answer you.
Fire of God International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Does God still strike His servants today? Dec 20, 2011
Exodus 4:24-26 (NKJV) And it came to pass on
the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill
him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of
her son and cast it at Moses’[a] feet, and said, “Surely you are a
husband of blood to me!” 26 So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a
husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.
When I had first read Exodus in different versions and came across chapter 4 verse 24, I did not understand why the Lord met Moses and sought to kill him. Perhaps some were given the revelation to see between the lines. But as I read the Amplified version, it was crystal clear.
Exodus 4:24-26 Along the way at a [resting-] place, the Lord met [Moses] and sought to kill him [made him acutely and almost fatally ill].25[Now apparently he had [b]failed to circumcise one of his sons, his wife being opposed to it; but seeing his life in such danger] Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it to touch [Moses'] feet, and said, Surely a husband of blood you are to me! 26When He let [Moses] alone [to recover], Zipporah said, A husband of blood are you because of the circumcision.
Moses had a high calling. He was chosen to lead God's people out of Egypt. But on his way to Egypt with his family, Moses fate had almost turned out much different. As we read in verse 25, we can clearly see the reason why Moses might have been judged and killed by the Lord. It is apparent God must have told Moses to circumcise his two boys. Verse 25 says Moses had failed to circumcise one of his sons because his wife opposed to it. It appears after circumcising the first boy, the mother could not bear the pain of watching her son being circumcised and had opposed Moses from circumcising the second son.
Many of God's servants today can be on the road of their calling just as Moses was called. But even if God's servants are on their road of calling or not, the question that may determine life or death is, "Are they FULLY OBEYING?" These scriptures show us that our calling will not protect us if we disobey. Especially, if we disobey God over our spouses, children, job, career, business, friends, money, comfort, education, our congregation/church, etc.
What is circumcision? A male baby born in Jewish tradition was to be circumcised on the EIGHTH Day. It represented a covenant between the baby and God. A covenant between God and man required blood and pain. The Lord, Jesus, paid the price of blood with His death. Now, the Lord requires our hearts to be circumcised to enter into His Glory. Circumcision can represent pain but it was a test of obedience for the covenant. Paul said in Acts 14:22, we must go through much tribulation and suffering to enter the Kingdom of God. It is not an easy way. It is the way of the narrow road.
Moses' wife, Zipporah, could not stand the pain of her son's circumcision and fought to prevent the second one. How many of us have went the easy way in following God? How many of us still say we believe and we follow yet we have not FULLY OBEYED because it was just too painful to stay in His Fire to be purged? How many of us have compromised and given God terms and conditions for us to do His command or calling? God's people do not get struck from the randomness of life.
In 1 Kings 13, a man of God from Judah goes to the altar of Bethel to prophecy as commanded by the Lord. He was told by the Lord that he shall eat no bread or drink water or return by the way he came. However, on his way out from Bethel, he was intercepted by a local prophet who had lied to him in regards to staying and eating.
1 Kings 13:15-18 Then he said to him, Come home with me and eat bread.16He said, I may not return with you or go in with you, neither will I eat bread or drink water with you in this place.17For I was told by the word of the Lord, You shall not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way that you came.18He answered, I am a prophet also, as you are. And an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied to him.
Ironically, God had used the lying prophet to speak to His disobedient prophet that he was a dead man.
1 Kings 13:21-22 And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, Thus says the Lord: Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord and have not kept the command which the Lord your God commanded you, 22But have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which the Lord said to you, Eat no bread and drink no water--your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.
On the way out, the prophet from Judah is struck and killed by a lion. The lion did not eat him but stood by his dead body. If people in those days heard of this story of the prophet being killed by a lion, many would rationalize the incident as one of the dangers of walking in the wilderness. There are no lions in our streets today. What do you think God is using today that may represent the lion to bring judgment on the disobedient servants?
What about in the NT? Will God still judge and strike down His servant or people as in the days of old for disobedience or rebellion? Has God changed?
In Acts chapter 5, we have Ananias and Sappira who had lied to the Holy Spirit and was struck. They had not only lied, it was because they had NOT kept their promise to God. The Lord will always come to collect. Jonah was in a dark belly and the only way to get out was to sacrifice with thanksgiving and pay his vow.
Acts 5:3-5 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land?4As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God.5Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great dread and terror took possession of all who heard of it.
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!10And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
In Acts 12, Herald is killed for not giving God Glory. Herod basked in his pride as he took in the praises of men. Herald like many Christians today steal His Glory. Herald was not only eaten worms but it represented his eternal torment with worms in hell.
Acts 12:21-23 On an appointed day Herod arrayed himself in his royal robes, took his seat upon [his] throne, and addressed an oration to them.22And the assembled people shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!23And at once an angel of the Lord smote him and cut him down, because he did not give God the glory (the preeminence and kingly majesty that belong to Him as the supreme Ruler); and he was eaten by worms and died.
There are many examples in the bible of God not only judging His people but literally striking and slewing them and individuals. In order for us to receive wisdom, we must return to the biblical Fear of God. The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. This is the door to Wisdom for He is wisdom. Too many of His people do not Fear HIM for who He is. He is God. You must know the Full Counsel of God. We serve a KING OF KINGS!! Ask HIM to help you understand the magnitude of who you serve!
The bible has been given to us to know His character and the mistakes of His people from the past. We are such a privileged generation but we are also the laziest which does not take advantage of the abundance of information and freedom to seek HIM. We will answer to this!
Exodus 15:26 Saying, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God and will do what is right in His sight, and will listen to and obey His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord Who heals you.
Do not make the same mistake as the saints of the OT who did not even know they were sinning against God. They did not even realize they were committing spiritual adultery and harlotry in most cases. Why must history continue to repeat. The Lord's heart grieves so much as men continue to repeat the mistakes of their forefathers. Ask the Lord to put His salve on the eyes and ears of your heart so you may perceive and understand. Stop saying you do not have the time!! Is the cares of the world more important than HIM? He is Returning! He is Returning with a Rod!!
Jeremiah 2:22-27 For though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, yet your iniquity and guilt are still [upon you; you are] spotted, dirty, and stained before Me, says the Lord.23How can you say, I am not defiled; I have not gone after the Baals [other gods]? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done. You are a restive young female camel [in the uncontrollable violence of her brute passion eagerly] running hither and thither,24Or [you have the untamed and reckless nature of] a wild donkey used to the desert, in her heat sniffing the wind [for the scent of a male]. In her mating season who can restrain her? No males seeking her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her [seeking them].25[Cease from your mad running after idols, from which you get nothing but bitter injury.] Keep your feet from being unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, It is hopeless! For I have loved strangers and foreigners, and after them I will go. 26As the thief is brought to shame when he is caught, so shall the house of Israel be brought to shame--they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets--27[Inasmuch as] they say to a tree, You are my father, and to a stone, You gave me birth. For they have turned their backs to Me and not their faces; but in the time of their trouble, they say, Arise [O Lord] and save us!
Jeremiah 2:35 Yet you keep saying, I am innocent; surely His anger has turned away from Me. Behold, I will bring you to judgment and will plead against you because you say, I have not sinned.
Please do NOT take the Gospel of Jesus Christ for granted. Churches do not get shut down out of coincidence, randomness of life, or by the devil. We must obey the FULL Gospel of Jesus Christ otherwise compromise will lead to rejection. Use the Grace He is pouring down to return to your First Love for He is merciful.
May He has mercy on the Church of Laodicea.
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
December 20, 2011
When I had first read Exodus in different versions and came across chapter 4 verse 24, I did not understand why the Lord met Moses and sought to kill him. Perhaps some were given the revelation to see between the lines. But as I read the Amplified version, it was crystal clear.
Exodus 4:24-26 Along the way at a [resting-] place, the Lord met [Moses] and sought to kill him [made him acutely and almost fatally ill].25[Now apparently he had [b]failed to circumcise one of his sons, his wife being opposed to it; but seeing his life in such danger] Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it to touch [Moses'] feet, and said, Surely a husband of blood you are to me! 26When He let [Moses] alone [to recover], Zipporah said, A husband of blood are you because of the circumcision.
Moses had a high calling. He was chosen to lead God's people out of Egypt. But on his way to Egypt with his family, Moses fate had almost turned out much different. As we read in verse 25, we can clearly see the reason why Moses might have been judged and killed by the Lord. It is apparent God must have told Moses to circumcise his two boys. Verse 25 says Moses had failed to circumcise one of his sons because his wife opposed to it. It appears after circumcising the first boy, the mother could not bear the pain of watching her son being circumcised and had opposed Moses from circumcising the second son.
Many of God's servants today can be on the road of their calling just as Moses was called. But even if God's servants are on their road of calling or not, the question that may determine life or death is, "Are they FULLY OBEYING?" These scriptures show us that our calling will not protect us if we disobey. Especially, if we disobey God over our spouses, children, job, career, business, friends, money, comfort, education, our congregation/church, etc.
What is circumcision? A male baby born in Jewish tradition was to be circumcised on the EIGHTH Day. It represented a covenant between the baby and God. A covenant between God and man required blood and pain. The Lord, Jesus, paid the price of blood with His death. Now, the Lord requires our hearts to be circumcised to enter into His Glory. Circumcision can represent pain but it was a test of obedience for the covenant. Paul said in Acts 14:22, we must go through much tribulation and suffering to enter the Kingdom of God. It is not an easy way. It is the way of the narrow road.
Moses' wife, Zipporah, could not stand the pain of her son's circumcision and fought to prevent the second one. How many of us have went the easy way in following God? How many of us still say we believe and we follow yet we have not FULLY OBEYED because it was just too painful to stay in His Fire to be purged? How many of us have compromised and given God terms and conditions for us to do His command or calling? God's people do not get struck from the randomness of life.
In 1 Kings 13, a man of God from Judah goes to the altar of Bethel to prophecy as commanded by the Lord. He was told by the Lord that he shall eat no bread or drink water or return by the way he came. However, on his way out from Bethel, he was intercepted by a local prophet who had lied to him in regards to staying and eating.
1 Kings 13:15-18 Then he said to him, Come home with me and eat bread.16He said, I may not return with you or go in with you, neither will I eat bread or drink water with you in this place.17For I was told by the word of the Lord, You shall not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way that you came.18He answered, I am a prophet also, as you are. And an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied to him.
Ironically, God had used the lying prophet to speak to His disobedient prophet that he was a dead man.
1 Kings 13:21-22 And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, Thus says the Lord: Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord and have not kept the command which the Lord your God commanded you, 22But have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which the Lord said to you, Eat no bread and drink no water--your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.
On the way out, the prophet from Judah is struck and killed by a lion. The lion did not eat him but stood by his dead body. If people in those days heard of this story of the prophet being killed by a lion, many would rationalize the incident as one of the dangers of walking in the wilderness. There are no lions in our streets today. What do you think God is using today that may represent the lion to bring judgment on the disobedient servants?
What about in the NT? Will God still judge and strike down His servant or people as in the days of old for disobedience or rebellion? Has God changed?
In Acts chapter 5, we have Ananias and Sappira who had lied to the Holy Spirit and was struck. They had not only lied, it was because they had NOT kept their promise to God. The Lord will always come to collect. Jonah was in a dark belly and the only way to get out was to sacrifice with thanksgiving and pay his vow.
Acts 5:3-5 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land?4As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God.5Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great dread and terror took possession of all who heard of it.
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!10And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
In Acts 12, Herald is killed for not giving God Glory. Herod basked in his pride as he took in the praises of men. Herald like many Christians today steal His Glory. Herald was not only eaten worms but it represented his eternal torment with worms in hell.
Acts 12:21-23 On an appointed day Herod arrayed himself in his royal robes, took his seat upon [his] throne, and addressed an oration to them.22And the assembled people shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!23And at once an angel of the Lord smote him and cut him down, because he did not give God the glory (the preeminence and kingly majesty that belong to Him as the supreme Ruler); and he was eaten by worms and died.
There are many examples in the bible of God not only judging His people but literally striking and slewing them and individuals. In order for us to receive wisdom, we must return to the biblical Fear of God. The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. This is the door to Wisdom for He is wisdom. Too many of His people do not Fear HIM for who He is. He is God. You must know the Full Counsel of God. We serve a KING OF KINGS!! Ask HIM to help you understand the magnitude of who you serve!
The bible has been given to us to know His character and the mistakes of His people from the past. We are such a privileged generation but we are also the laziest which does not take advantage of the abundance of information and freedom to seek HIM. We will answer to this!
Exodus 15:26 Saying, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God and will do what is right in His sight, and will listen to and obey His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord Who heals you.
Do not make the same mistake as the saints of the OT who did not even know they were sinning against God. They did not even realize they were committing spiritual adultery and harlotry in most cases. Why must history continue to repeat. The Lord's heart grieves so much as men continue to repeat the mistakes of their forefathers. Ask the Lord to put His salve on the eyes and ears of your heart so you may perceive and understand. Stop saying you do not have the time!! Is the cares of the world more important than HIM? He is Returning! He is Returning with a Rod!!
Jeremiah 2:22-27 For though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, yet your iniquity and guilt are still [upon you; you are] spotted, dirty, and stained before Me, says the Lord.23How can you say, I am not defiled; I have not gone after the Baals [other gods]? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done. You are a restive young female camel [in the uncontrollable violence of her brute passion eagerly] running hither and thither,24Or [you have the untamed and reckless nature of] a wild donkey used to the desert, in her heat sniffing the wind [for the scent of a male]. In her mating season who can restrain her? No males seeking her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her [seeking them].25[Cease from your mad running after idols, from which you get nothing but bitter injury.] Keep your feet from being unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, It is hopeless! For I have loved strangers and foreigners, and after them I will go. 26As the thief is brought to shame when he is caught, so shall the house of Israel be brought to shame--they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets--27[Inasmuch as] they say to a tree, You are my father, and to a stone, You gave me birth. For they have turned their backs to Me and not their faces; but in the time of their trouble, they say, Arise [O Lord] and save us!
Jeremiah 2:35 Yet you keep saying, I am innocent; surely His anger has turned away from Me. Behold, I will bring you to judgment and will plead against you because you say, I have not sinned.
Please do NOT take the Gospel of Jesus Christ for granted. Churches do not get shut down out of coincidence, randomness of life, or by the devil. We must obey the FULL Gospel of Jesus Christ otherwise compromise will lead to rejection. Use the Grace He is pouring down to return to your First Love for He is merciful.
May He has mercy on the Church of Laodicea.
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
December 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
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