Enduring for the babies

Gal 4:19 Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.

Pastors and those called to lead God's people must first learn to love and endure His people. When people do not listen, it is like we are going through labor pains waiting for them to obey which is spiritual birth. But even if they are spiritually birthed, as Paul says here in Galatians, he feels like he must go through it Again waiting for baby Christians to be fully developed in their lives.

Most Christians think ministry is preaching, singing, traveling, shouting slogans on the internet (Facebook), watching people fall from their anointing, and etc. Most Christians look at the physical aspect of ministry in terms of building, size of members, finances, glamour, position, power, glory, etc. But the true fundamental work is enduring for the little sheep waiting for Christ to fully develop in their lives.

We do physically and spiritually labor as a mother. We must all endure for the appointed time of birth. Whether a person chooses to be properly birthed in Christ, be fully developed, or not, this is between GOD and the baby Christian, a new believer, or even a mature Christian.

Our job is to endure and wait as God works in them. But we cannot endure without first being dead to ourselves or at least be dying daily heading in that direction. The power of endurance comes through the power of HIS resurrection as we die and rise with HIM. If we are still carnal, we will not be able to lead nor endure.  In fact, the leaders will be judged. In order to lead and endure, we must continue to die to ourselves each day. Continue in your race as you pray each day.

Pastor Steve Yong Kim​

What you talk about most is your faith and reality

The Holy Spirit said what you speak about most in your time is your realty and faith. For example, if your husbands are a problem and you go house to house gossiping/slandering about your issues, then you are living by sight and by the problems of your life rather than the promises of the bible. You may go to your pastors for advice and counsel but do not go around telling each other your personal problems. Do you not have the power of prayer? This is not living by faith. You are making the problems of your life your reality. As you continue to speak problems, you are making such things come even more true.

If we truly have strong faith, regardless of our situation, we should be boasting of Jesus Christ rather than boasting about our problems.

If all you do is watch TV and the news and talk about the problems of your country, that is your realty and faith. If all you do is watch sports and know about the players and speak about the teams/games, then that is your realty and faith.

If you are in a difficult situation and all you do is speak about how hard life is, then you are speaking your realty and faith into your lives. How are you to overcome into victory by speaking negative and death?

The culprit is the person looking in the mirror. You may be speaking your own problems into your lives.

Matthew 12:37 (AMP) For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.

Proverbs 18:21 (NLT) The tongue can bring death or life;
those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

To be in faith is to speak life and to speak good things that have yet to come living a life of obedience and as a living sacrifice.

Pastor Steve Yong Kim

A moment giving in the flesh can cost you

Gen 25:29-34 One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. 30 Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”) 31 “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.” 32 “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?” 33 But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

Esau had arrived from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. In our wilderness, it is the place where we can be tested and sometimes severely tested. All Christians must go through a wilderness. We need to be broken if we are to be used by God. Even Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness solely to be tested. We are not tested when our bellies are full or when everything is going well. We are tested when we are at the point of extreme famish and exhaustion. We are tested when we are at the edge. In the wilderness, the devil came to Jesus when HE was most famished and exhausted to test HIM. Just as the Lord was tested, if we believe in HIM, we will walk in HIS ways and we will be tested as HE was tested to prove our faith and learn obedience.

However, when many of God's people are tested, we can end up like Esau who gave up his birthright. The birthright can represent our inheritance as a Christian. Just because Esau was first born, he was to receive the inheritance and blessing. When we are saved and become God's child, there is an inheritance waiting for us with many blessings. Moreover, when we are saved, we have received grace and mercy. We are HIS children. But as most children, they can take advantage of their parents' love assuming they will always be forgiven testing the boundaries of what they are allowed to do and what not to do. Many children, rather than waiting for their appointed time to receive their earthly inheritance are very impatient and demand their blessings now.

When Christians go through testing or hardship, most of our immediate reaction is to find an escape route. We fail to realize that we are called to endure so that the sin in us can be eradicated and to live for HIS Will. When we suffer, it is to humble us. But many suffer for their own bad choices. When they suffer from their bad choices in life, they are not suffering for Christ.

1 Peter 4:1-2 (NLT) So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

When we suffer for the gospel, are we able to endure and persevere or do we complain looking for an escape route to get out of the suffering? Esau was in his wilderness and he was famished and exhausted. This can represent a Christian who may be tormented by her religious or unbelieving husband, boss, government, etc. If we are to receive any reward for our suffering, we must suffer unjustly. We must welcome and rejoice knowing it is an opportunity to glorify God. But rather, many walk by sight only looking at their problems and wanting immediate relief.
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Why couldn't Esau just wait an extra hour and cook his own meal? Why couldn't Esau wait and ask someone else to cook and eat then? He was willing to give up his birthright to satisfy his hunger which represented his flesh. When someone makes you very angry, can you just wait it out and go to prayer to overcome or will you just burst out in anger going nuclear to satisfy your flesh risking everything like your marriage? Or what about a spouse who is tempted in their lust, will they think God and their spouse will just forgive and so they give in?

Esau had contempt for his birthright. It is like a Christian who thinks God will just forgive them for any of their sins thinking God is just a teddy bear. Esau was not serious with Jacob in giving up his birthright. He wanted his flesh/hunger satisfied and was not really giving up his birthright. When the time of blessing came, Issac was ready to bless Esau and he was ready to receive his birthright blessing. In his mind, he didn't really give it up even though he did tell his brother he can have it.

This is a mindset of a Christian who is willing to cross the line with sin thinking God will forgive and therefore they enter into sin to satisfy their flesh. It is when one is spiritually and physically exhausted, rather than waiting for God, he/she gives in to the world and bow down to satisfy their cravings.

Moreover, it can represent praying for something and wanting it right now rather than waiting for God's time. We can be in some type of distress and rather than enduring and persevering for God's time for deliverance, we immediately demand it seeking immediate gratification rather than waiting for the greater blessing/healing/deliverance that is appointed for a later time.

At the end, Esau cried bitterly. Why did he cry? This will happen for many Christians. Esau cried not because he realized he had contempt for God's mercy and grace but he cried because he could not get his blessing. It is like a child crying because he/she cannot get their toy not realizing why they cannot get it. They had disobeyed and trampled on their parents' love and grace.

When more revelation and wisdom is given, you cannot cross the line into your old sin. You are held responsible for what you know. When more is given, more is required.

God bless
Pastor Steve Yong Kim

No more winters for us

Ezekiel 47:1-12  In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. 2 The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway.
3 Measuring as he went, he took me along the stream for 1,750 feet[a] and then led me across. The water was up to my ankles. 4 He measured off another 1,750 feet and led me across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1,750 feet, it was up to my waist. 5 Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across. It was deep enough to swim in, but too deep to walk through.
6 He asked me, “Have you been watching, son of man?” Then he led me back along the riverbank. 7 When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river. 8 Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea.[b] The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. 9 There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows.[c] Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shores of the Dead Sea. All the way from En-gedi to En-eglaim, the shores will be covered with nets drying in the sun. Fish of every kind will fill the Dead Sea, just as they fill the Mediterranean.[d] 11 But the marshes and swamps will not be purified; they will still be salty. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

Scripture in the era of Grace must be discerned spiritually. But to discern spiritually, we must be in HIS Will and always be led by the Holy Spirit who is the one that leads us to all truth.

The temple here represents the throne of God and the water is grace. The water is coming out from under the altar. The stream is flowing passing to the right of the altar on its south side. The stream (water) is passing to the right which represents the flowing of Grace and Mercy from Jesus who sits at the right hand of the Father.

The measurement represents God examining, testing, and proving our hearts within HIS Grace. We are in HIS Grace no matter what circumstances of life we are in. The water was up to his ankles. Grace is at first within our ankle level. When water is flowing at our ankle level, we can sense the flow of direction but we are still strong enough with our own free will to go in our own direction. However, the flow of stream is going in east toward God's Will. At this level, grace is still sufficient. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us IF we go in HIS direction. But we still have our own free will and when the flow is only at our ankle level, we can still freely move and go in our own direction rather than God's. We have a choice as God test us. We can flow with HIM as we can go in His direction or we can go in our own direction as HE leaves our ability of free will.

When we surrender our choices and decisions to HIM and as HE continues to test our hearts and as we PASS, we are measured or examined another 1000 cubits (1750 ft). We have passed our first level of testing and we are now at the second level. The second level is when Grace, power, anointing, and blessings are increased and the flow of stream is now at our waist. When we try to walk in waist high water, we are still able to walk but it is more difficult to go against the flow or stream. When the water is at waist level, the Will of God is much stronger in our lives as HE directs us through the stream of Grace. But still, we have the free will and ability to go in our own direction as our feet is still able to touch the ground.

As we come to complete surrender and full obedience, now we reach the third level as God measures us again which is to prove our faith as we endure and pass the trials, tests, and tribulations. The water or stream is now too deep to walk on. We are now at the full flow of the Holy Spirit in HIS full Will. Our lives are completely surrendered to HIM as HE directs our paths. Our personal will is completely surrendered to HIM as our feet can no longer touch the ground. We have no choice but to swim in HIS direction with HIM.  We are now fully empowered by HIS mercy and grace.

Ezekiel 47:11 But the marshes and swamps will not be purified; they will still be salty. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

But for those who continue to resist the Holy Spirit, as they are offended with bitterness, resentment, and such, they are the marshes and swamps that have not been purified by the stream. As the stream or grace continues to flow and as the water level continues to rise, we are purified and all areas of our lives are healed. The dead sea represents us. We are, in most cases, too salty to have living things live peacefully and in harmony around us. The too saltiness represents anger, bitterness, resentment, jealousy, coveting, etc. Too much salt kills as the dead sea cannot hold life. We in our sin spiritually kill others and ourselves.

But once we are overflowing in the stream of grace and mercy, there is abundant life along the banks. Our obedience to the Lord brings life around us. We will constantly produce fruit, the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The trees that represents us will never turn brown or fall. This means we are now at a level where there are no more winters. We have finished and passed our wilderness (trails, tests, tribulations). It is always spring constantly producing fruit for spiritual food and healing for others. This is the promise land. This is the resurrected life with JESUS. This is where we all must come too. We must come to the fullness of our God.

Many in their distress are waiting for rapture as they are so focused on world events. Yes, HE is coming but many miss the point that HE can and desires to come for you on a personal level. We can experience HIM now as we spend time, repenting, dying to ourselves, fully obeying, surrendering to encounter the Lord so that we may live a life of victory. We must come to the fullness of our KING so that we may live a resurrected life NOW for HIS Glory in our spiritual promise land.

Glory to HIM
Pastor Steve Yong Kim

The fruit of obedience

King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the LORD his God. (2 Chronicles 27:1, 6 NLT)

When we fully obey, the power of the Lord is manifested and evident in our lives which includes blessings and favor, spiritually and physically. To properly obey is to submit to all of God's governing authorities.

When we think of obedience to the Lord, we think we need to be told something directly by the Lord to obey. Yet, since many Christians are full of sin or are babies, they cannot properly discern the voice of God nor are they able to hear HIS direct voice. Therefore, we must start at the basics. The first basic is to read and reading the bible praying without ceasing as God is speaking to us through the Word. We learn HIS ways through the Word.

We show God we are obeying HIM by first obeying HIS Word. His Word says that all authority comes from HIM. As we read HIS Word we come to realize that there are no authorities except the ones God has chosen. Scripture commands us to obey all those who rule over us.

Romans 13:1-2 (NIRV) All of you must obey those who rule over you. There are no authorities except the ones God has chosen. Those who now rule have been chosen by God. 2 So whoever opposes the authorities opposes leaders whom God has appointed. Those who do that will be judged.

Who are those who rule over us? They are our selcular leaders. They are our governments. Scriptures states they serve God. HE has appointed them whether our opinion of them is good or bad. God carries HIS anger through the rulers of the world.

Romans 13:3-5 If you do what is right, you won’t need to be afraid of your rulers. But watch out if you do what is wrong! You don’t want to be afraid of those in authority, do you? Then do what is right, and you will be praised. 4 The one in authority serves God for your good. But if you do wrong, watch out! Rulers don’t carry a sword for no reason at all. They serve God. And God is carrying out his anger through them. The ruler punishes anyone who does wrong. 5 You must obey the authorities. Then you will not be punished. You must also obey them because you know it is right.6 That’s also why you pay taxes. The authorities serve God.

Therefore, when citizens of a nation continue to bash and slander their leaders for policy they do not agree, they are slandering against God's appointed. Many, without realizing, are upsurping God's authority. They have no fear of God.

Ephesians 6:5(NIRV) Slaves, obey your masters here on earth. Respect them and honor them with a heart that is true. Obey them just as you would obey Christ.

In today's term, slaves would be considered employees and masters here on earth are the bosses and employers. God commands us to respect our bosses and employers honoring them with a true heart. We are to work as though we are working for Christ. But sadly, too many Christians disrespect and dishonor their bossess slandering them.

When we slander our secular leaders, employers, or bosses, we are slandering against God. How can such people respect spiritual authority when they cannot respect natural authority?

This is why many are still the tail and the borrowers when we are to be the head and the lenders. It is because many Christians have yet to learn simple obedience and honor to the Lord. What is manifested in your life is the harvest of your sowing. If we sow obedience to the Lord, just as King Jotham, we will harvest blessings, power, and anointing for our kingdoms.

Rather than slandering and getting mad at our government, employers, pastors, and rulers, we should pray for them. For their welfare is our welfare.

Jeremiah 29:7 (NLT) And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”

Glory to HIM
Pastor Steve Yong Kim

Rahab's surrender saved all of her family

Joshua 2:4-7 Rahab had hidden the two men, but she replied, “Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn’t know where they were from. 5 They left the town at dusk, as the gates were about to close. I don’t know where they went. If you hurry, you can probably catch up with them.” 6 (Actually, she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out.) 7 So the king’s men went looking for the spies along the road leading to the shallow crossings of the Jordan River. And as soon as the king’s men had left, the gate of Jericho was shut.

The two spies that Joshua had sent out to Jericho represented God's people. They represented God, the Word, His sovereignty, His Grace, and Life. The two spies represent the Light of God going into the world or into darkness. The king of Jericho represented the world and the kingdom of the world. Rahab, a prositute, by receiving the two spies received God and His Word and thus forsook her old world. Rahab is a prositute. She represents many of God's people who are also cheating on God. Many Christians are harlots. They are sinning against God. Rahab will be in the line where the Messiah will be born. She is a chosen one of God. She forsook her old way of life. By forsaking her old way of life, she was risking her life. If she was to be caught for hiding the two spies, it would mean death for her and her family.

By faith, Rahab had heard that God had parted the Red Sea and destroyed the previous kings of Sihon, Og, and the Amorites. She said she knows that God has given HIS people their land. She had heard the Word of God and by faith she accepted the Lord as the Supreme God. In a sense, she was accepting her Savior and becoming a believer.  She was now submitting to the real true God. 

Joshua 2:10-11 For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. 11 No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.

She had told the king of Jericho that the two spies had left when in fact she had hidden them. On the surface of this story, it can appears she was lying but she was not. In the New Testament, she is counted as righteous for hiding the two spies. There is a deeper revelation that she was not actually lying but speaking life. This deeper revelation is for another time. 

James 2:25 NIV In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

By accepting and hiding the two spies, Rahab was accepting the Word of God and hiding it in her heart. When she told them the two spies were gone, it showed that she would not compromise the Word of God which the two spies represented. God was now her ticket to life. She would not compromise the life of the two spies. She protected them. They represented the Word of God. She would not compromise them as she had risked her life and as she had gavin up everything of her old life. This was her complete surrender. The Red Scarlet hanging from her window along the wall represented the Blood of Jesus covering her household. 

Joshua 2:12 “Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that 13 when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.”

"When Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families." When the world and all the idols within the world is now conquered in you and we come to complete surrender, there will be life and salvation for our families. Those who are reading this article, you are the key to your families. You must come to complete surrender. You must become the prayer warrior who is devoted to prayer. You must come to full obedience. You must completely die to yourself and come to the resurrected life of Christ. This is not a theory. Christianity is a living walk with Christ in HIS Glory.

Joshua 2:17-20 Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. 18 When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house. 19 If they go out into the street and are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on people inside this house, we will accept the responsibility for their death. 20 If you betray us, however, we are not bound by this oath in any way.” 21 “I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window. 22 The spies went up into the hill country and stayed there three days. The men who were chasing them searched everywhere along the road, but they finally returned without success.

God can save our families when we come to full surrender but there are still conditions. In verse 18, all the family members must be under the covering of Rahab. She is a kingdom and her family are under her kingdom. They cannot go into the streets which represents going back into the world. 
If Rahab or any of her family members go back into the streets, it would be a compromise in fear of her own worldly people of Jericho thus forsaking God. The two spies made an oath. This oath represents God's covenant between HIM and us. But it is conditional as they said they are bound only if she follow precise instructions. We must follow the instructions of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. In verse 21, she accepted the terms. It was as though she was accepting Jesus and the terms of surrender for life. As the two spies left, she left the scarlet rope hanging from her window. This was the Blood of Christ. Then the two spies went up the hill and stayed three days. When Christ died, HE died for three days. This story is a type of Christ representing salvation. 


There is a promise in the bible that if we believe, our whole household will be saved. But this word to believe is not just a state of mind. It is a word in action to come to complete surrender and obedience to God's Kingdom in a resurrected life. It may require you to risk your life and all that you have including your families and your old way of life. But if you trust HIM, then HE will never forsake you.
Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

May you come to resurrected life to experience the abundant life that HE has promised for HIS people. 

Glory to God

Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Fire of God Church
Fremont, CA USA

Do you really Love ME?

Many Christians can profess very loudly or boldly in person or on the internet that they love the Lord very much. Apostle Peter, before the Resurrection of Christ, was such a person. Peter was very loud and bold. But yet, Jesus allowed three circumstances to show him that he had said such statements out of pride. Even when Peter had cut the ear off the high priest's servant, Peter was attempting to defend God out of his pride. Jesus told Peter that HE did not need his help and Jesus could send for multitudes of angels. 

Today, for many Christians, they are like Peter. We should not pride ourselves that we possess the same weaknesses but we should look at scripture to see our sin and pride to humble ourselves. When other Christians, secular people, or secular leaders are in the wrong with "moral rights" or against the gospel, many Christians, like Peter, will begin to argue, get angry, and attempt to defend "moral rights" or the gospel out their pride. They think they are defending God or the gospel out of love or just because it is the right thing to do. However, just like Peter, it is their carnal flesh that is speaking. It is very sad that I see so many Christians sinning as they think they are defending this country or the bible. They argue and defend out of hate. Many Christians hate their government with such passion. Without realizing, they are usurping God's authority. Without realizing, it is their own sin that has cause their own personal situations to deteriorate. But yet, they think they are still operating and defending out of love. What is to love the Lord? 

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples on the shores where the disciples were fishing. No one but John recognized the Lord. Why only John? But when John said that it was the Lord, it was Peter who was first to jump off the boat swimming to short to meet Jesus. On the surface, it can appear that Peter had passion for the Lord. After all, it was Peter who boldly had claimed that he would never deny HIM and even die for HIM. And even after denying Jesus three times, Peter still looks as though he is passionate and loves the Lord the most. The other disciples stayed on the boat to bring the fish and net in. Peter jumped and rushed to the Lord to beat all the disciples. He was the first to meet HIM.

Many Christians appear to the Lord this way. Even if you never missed a Sunday service, even if you were the person who made the biggest offering, even if you were the one who was always earliest to church, even if you were one who shouted loudest during worship or prayer time, even if you spent hours in ministry, even if you read the bible numerous times in a year, and even if you are on the internet preaching and witnessing the Lord may ask you as HE asked Peter, DO YOU LOVE ME? 

Peter thought he was loving the Lord. He thought loving God was professing very boldly and loudly. Peter thought jumping off the boat to reach HIM before all the other disciples proved he loved Jesus more but yet Jesus asked him, DO YOU LOVE ME? In fact, Jesus asked Peter three times. 

To those in ministry and leadership, I want you to pay close attention to the revelation Jesus is revealing in HIS three questions. The Lord said the two greatest commandments are first to love your Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. You cannot fulfill the first greatest commandment without fulfilling the second. 

First question, Do you love ME? Jesus answered, then feed my lambs, The second time was tend to my sheep and lastly, feed my sheep.

John 21:15-17 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

What are lambs? Lambs are baby sheep. Lambs represents baby Christians. Whether starting out a church, ministry, cell groups, or any leadership, God will test you by sending HIS lambs first. The lambs are baby Christians who may have much problems. They may have a hard time obeying, following instructions, getting into trouble and such. But you must have the Shepherd's heart and love them to pass your test before HE sends you more lambs or sheep.  The baby lambs may be the spiritual leopards, the spiritually blind and deaf Christians, the spiritual orphans and widows, the spiritual rejects, abused, and so forth. Can you love and endure them?

Your first ministry may be your spouses, your children, or your in laws and they may be baby Christians who do not know much. God is saying, if you LOVE ME, you will feed them. This is not just about physical eating. You must be one to teach and witness spiritual food to grow the lambs or baby Christians. Your feeding them spiritual milk, your words and conduct walking as Jesus did is the food for them to digest. If you reject and cannot endure such lambs, then we are rejecting and denying Jesus and thus failing our tests. Our tests, trials, and tribulations is represented by the CROSS. We must carry our cross daily which is to face our tests and trials, die to ourselves, sacrificing so the baby lambs may live as we lay down our lives. 

After passing the first test of Love, they become sheep or God will send us more sheep. Jesus' second command is to tend or take care of HIS sheep. Sheep are spiritual adults. They are not baby sheep. Jesus wants us to sacrifice ourselves taking care of HIS people. We are to embrace and endure HIS people. 

Once passing the second test of Love, we are now commanded to feed HIS Sheep. Adult sheep need more than milk. Adult sheep or spiritually mature Christians need to be fed meat. They require deeper revelation and Word. But in order for leaders or pastors to feed the adult sheep such revelation, we are to spend many hours in prayer and in HIS Presence to draw out the deeper revelation. Out of Love, we will spend such time. Such shepherds will forsake many things of the world to spend the time at HIS bosom to draw out the secrets and treasures of God's heart to feed HIS sheep. 

Isaiah 45:3 And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—

    secret riches.

I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord,

    the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.

Jesus is saying to HIS people, if you really LOVE HIM, then take care, love, and feed (spiritually) HIS PEOPLE until HIS Return. 

1 Peter 5:1-4 I warn and counsel the elders among you (the pastors and spiritual guides of the church) as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a sharer in the glory (the honor and splendor) that is to be revealed (disclosed, unfolded):
2 TEND (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully;
3 Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation).
4 And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the [a]conqueror’s crown of glory.

Acts 20:28-29 Take care and be on guard for yourselves and the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops and guardians, to shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the church of the Lord or [d]of God which He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own blood.
29 I know that after I am gone, ferocious wolves will get in among you, not sparing the flock;

Glory to HIM

Pastor Steve Yong Kim 

Fire of God Church 

Fremont,. CA USA