Broken jars

Judges 7:19-22 It was just after midnight,[c] after the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the 100 men with him reached the edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the rams’ horns and broke their clay jars. 20 Then all three groups blew their horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, and they all shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”21 Each man stood at his position around the camp and watched as all the Midianites rushed around in a panic, shouting as they ran to escape. 22 When the 300 Israelites blew their rams’ horns, the Lord caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. Those who were not killed fled to places as far away as Beth-shittah near Zererah and to the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.

The Israelites had done evil in the sight of the Lord and therefore HE handed them over to the Midianites. The Midianites were very cruel to the Israelites. In fact, marauders from Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east would attack Israel and horde all their crops and live stock. They stripped their land like locust and the Israelities were left to starvation. It was then God's people began to cry out to HIM. 

Even today, God's people do not understand God. Why? Although we have the BOOK, many do not read it. He is not only a God of Love but He is a God of righteousness. He is a God of judgment. Many today do not know the discipline God employs on His people. Scripture says that God discipline and chastise those whom HE loves. If we do not know the methods of discipline, then how are we to pray properly? 

For doing evil and going after idols, God handed His people over to the heathen nations to oppress and harass them for seven years. It had to come to a point of starvation before His people would cry out to HIM. It had to come to this point before many were broken and contrite before HIM. As they cried out to HIM, God told them that they were not to be worshiping other gods and that they had not listened to HIM. 

Gideon was a confused and ignorant man. Gideon is like many of God's people today. Many are facing difficult problems whether that be financial, health, or other storms. They ask God as Gideon had asked the angel in verse 13. 

¹³ “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”

Today, we tell people God can heal us! We tell people God is a God of miracles. But as Gideon had asked, many ask today, "Where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?" 

The problem has never been God delivering. The problem has always been us. His people have been worshiping idols and going after other gods. We ask, how can God's people be worshiping other idols? If God's people saw the demon behind the idols, they would probably not be worshiping them. But the demons or goat gods are hidden behind the man made idols whether it be tangible or intangible things. Many of God's people are addicted to smoking, drinking, pornography, drugs, and etc. Many are casually spending their money and making offerings to the industries of death such as alcohol and gambling. Many spending hundreds if not thousands on sport memorabilia, their pets, Hollywood, secular music, and etc rather than making their offerings to God.

The angel appeared to Gideon and he did not know why such hardships were upon the people of God. When such hardships are upon us, we must discern whether we are being disciplined/judgment or are we being persecuted. There is a big difference between persecution for the gospel and judgment. But regardless, Gideon brought an offering to God. The people of God were at the point of starvation and many were very poor. Gideon cooked a young goat. How expensive was this in his days? It must have been very expensive. We must learn to give our best to the Lord even in our lack. It is to show we will trust HIM for He is our provider. Where is our offering to HIM? Many today are like the world, they want everything for free. They come to God's House empty handed but they expect HIM to deliver them from their own mistakes and from the choices they had made. 

As Gideon and his 300 men ran down the Midian camp, they blew their horns and broke their jars. The jars were covering the torches. In order for us to defeat the enemy and have victory in our lives, we must blow our horns in one hand and hold torches in the other. We must use the gift we have and pray without ceasing. What is to pray in the Spirit? If God has given us the gift to speak in tongue, why are so many parking this gift in the closet? The light or torches are in God's people. But in order for it to shine and be used effectively, the jars must be broken so the light can be revealed. The jars or vessels are us. We as HIS people that need to be broken so that HIS LIGHT will shine from us. Many today have His Light but they are still covered and cannot be seen because they are not a broken contrite people. 

We must accept God's discipline in our lives so that we can be a broken people. And as we are broken, His Light will shine from us and He will give us the victory to overcome the enemy. 

"They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, and they all shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”

Fire of God Ministries International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim

 

Jacob to Israel, by Watchman Nee

"Everything Jacob set his hand to went wrong, even from his birth. When the twins were born, we are told that Jacob's hand was found to be holding his brother's heel; nevertheless he was not born the elder son. He sought by guile to secure the birthright, but it was he who in fact had to leave home and flee. He had set his heart on Rachel as a bride, but he found himself first of all married to Leah. He set out eventually from Paddan-aram with much wealth, most of it gained by questionable means, but he had to be prepared to give it all away to his brother Esau on the journey home in order to save his own life. Here is the discipline of the Spirit. God's hand is in judgment upon everything Jacob does while relying upon his own craftiness. People who are specially clever have to learn, if necessary through suffering, that it is not by the wisdom of men that we live, but by God.

Jacob learned one great lesson. He was on the eve of losing everything, all he had accumulated, all he had worked for. He could think of a way of meeting man, and he devised a plan that he hoped would appease Esau and at least save his own skin. But then he met God. He met God, and was lamed. God had touched Jacob himself. Up to that day he had been Jacob, `the supplanter'. From that day on he was Israel, `a prince with God'. This was the beginning of the kingdom. We are not overstating the facts when we say that he was a different man from that day forward. He who had deceived others was himself now deceived by others, even by his own sons. The old, crafty Jacob would easily have seen through their deception. The new Jacob was completely taken in. He believed them, and wept, saying: `It is my son's coat; an evil beast has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.

This, the breaking of the strength of nature, is the point to which all God's people must come. `Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.' We may get along well enough in the dark, but the light of God is our undoing. We are finished. This is the discipline of the Spirit." -

Watchman Nee

Christians, stop sacrificing to idols!!

Leviticus 17:1-7 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Give the following instructions to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel. This is what the Lord has commanded.
3 “If any native Israelite sacrifices a bull[a] or a lamb or a goat anywhere inside or outside the camp 4 instead of bringing it to the entrance of the Tabernacle[b] to present it as an offering to the Lord, that person will be as guilty as a murderer.[c] Such a person has shed blood and will be cut off from the community. 5 The purpose of this rule is to stop the Israelites from sacrificing animals in the open fields. It will ensure that they bring their sacrifices to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle, so he can present them to the Lord as peace offerings. 6 Then the priest will be able to splatter the blood against the Lord’s altar at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and he will burn the fat as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 7 The people must no longer be unfaithful to the Lord by offering sacrifices to the goat idols.[d] This is a permanent law for them, to be observed from generation to generation.

In Leviticus 17, which is after the book of Exodus, one would think why in the world would God's people after experiencing the Red Sea part, food from heaven, pillar of Fire and Cloud, and witnessing other manifestations of God still be offering sacrifices to the goat idols?

Your greatest enemy is not the devil but yourself. It is the person you see in the mirror. The bible is showing us how humans, especially God's people, can continue to be blind, stiffed neck, and stubborn holding on to our idols thinking "what's the big deal?"

How are we offering sacrifices to our goat idols today? In modern times, we may not have the wooden idol figures as the Old Testament people did but we do have many idols ourselves that may be made of wood or other materials. It is not just about bowing down to it but it is our choice to spend our time, resources, and money toward another system. It is the the Babylonian or Egyptian system. It is the world system. It is the system of death and such offerings and sacrifices are to the devil.

Although, they had some form of money system call "shekel" much of their wealth or what they may deemed valuable was in their live stock. A bull, lamb, or goat was consider very valuable. Of course, a bull would be more valuable or expensive. And when they brought such offerings to God, it was something which they had considered very valuable.

Today, in modern times, most of us do not barter with live stocks. We use the money system. Many of us have a hard time of letting go of money. Many of us have a hard time making offerings to God. Many of us have a hard time tithing properly. These are breaking His commandments as it shows our heart and how we may not trust HIM. God does not need our lives stock nor does He need our money. But He uses the money system to test our hearts. Will we trust HIM enough to give HIM what is rightfully HIS?

Back to the question. Why after seeing all those miracles and knowing God is real would they still make offerings to the goat idols rather than bringing those offerings to present it to God at the entrance of the Tabernacle?

Many churches have offering boxes as people enter. Where is our offering to God? We can feel the anointing. We can see miracles. We can see manifestations of the Holy Spirit but many would still rather many make their offerings to the goat idols. They make their offerings to the devil and their offerings is to death. How and why?

Many Christians continue as the heathens do and they spend their hard earned money on alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, porn, violent/horror movies, cable to watch demonic and licentious movies, secular music, Hollywood, clubs/bars, gambling, lottery tickets, expensive sports memorabilia, and other things that feed the system of death which is the world. They make their offerings and sacrifices outside the House of God. When it comes to the things of God, many have to pull their own teeth to make themselves give properly. Yet, for their favorite sports team, they will spend hundreds or thousands of dollars into that corporation. Some Christians would spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to save the life of their pets rather than using that money to help out a fellow brethren. How much money does one spend on cigarettes? How much money does one spend on alcohol? Where is your heart? You must search your hearts.

No matter how much you prophecy into your life, your prayers and breakthrough will NOT come if you continue to make offerings and sacrifices to your goat idols. What are you willing to give up for God? Make your offering to God taking a risk on HIM and remove the idols in your lives. Then you will be able to defeat the giants. Look at the order of Gideon. He told the angel to wait as he went to get an offering. Then the angel told him to remove the idol from the town square. He had to continue to obey until he got to 300 men. But now God was with him and God was with HIS people.

You think the things you spend so much time and money over God are trivial? There is no middle ground. It is all or none with God.  Only those who do His Will will enter Heaven.

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)—[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen

Deuteronomy 16:16-17 (AMP) Three times a year shall all your males appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.

Fire of God Ministries International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
January 25, 2013

The Room of Trees in Heaven

This time, me and my daughter Callia went to heaven together. The Lord led us to this particular room. As we entered into the room, the Lord said it was the room of trees.

My daughter Callia asked, "What are these trees?" The Lord replied to her, "Dried up, withered trees belong to Christians who sin against Me. Green trees belong to obedient Christians." 

John 15:6 "Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned."

Luke 3:9 "Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire."

We must think us as a tree. Tree dries up and withers away due to various reasons. First, most of times, it is because of lack of water, nutrient and dangerous infection.

There are some ways for a tree to be restored. In a real life, people make sure to cut away and destroy any section of the tree that is infected. Let us apply this to our spiritual life. Christians must cut away sins that destroy our spirit/soul/body. Second, people make sure to water diseased or dying plant regularly. May also add some plant nutrients to ensure tree's good strength to retaliate the disease. When we spiritually become sick and dying, we must begin reading the Word of God regularly, pray regularly, worship regularly as we cut off sins that infects our spirit/soul and body. As we continue all above, we will gain strength to retaliate the disease, demons.

In a real life, while the tree starts dying, its roots lose their strength and ability to hold the tree upright in the soil. Same thing with us. When we spiritually start to dye, we will lose our strength and ability to stand upright. We must constantly be fed by God. We must constantly be trimmed and cut away dry, infected parts. We must continuously maintain the life within us.

Fire of God!
The Fire of God Ministries.
Minister Yoojin Kim
January 7, 2013

Do not defile My Temple!

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (AMP) Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]? 17 If anyone does hurt to God’s temple or corrupts it with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you the believing church and its individual believers] are.

Word from the Lord for the Body of Christ

"Listen, Listen, Do not defile My temple! Do not defile it. I do not want you to defile My temple. You must cleanse My temple. I dwell in My temple. Do not defile My temple. If you defile My temple, then I will destroy you. You will not be forgiven. Do not defile My temple. You must cleanse My temple for it is My House. Do not defile it, you will not be forgiven. Those who defile My temple will be destroyed. You must cleanse My temple. My dwelling place. My dwelling place. You must cleanse it. Do not put any idols within My temple. Do not defile My temple with anything. You must cleanse it. Keep it Holy for I dwell in it. You must cleanse it. Those who cleanse it and keep it Holy will be rewarded. Yes, you will be loved. Whether it is a physical temple or your bodies, My temple shall be clean. Do not bring unholy things within My temple. You will be punished!

Do not bring idols within My temple! Do not bring the idols! I despise the idols that are brought into My temple. Do not bring in the idols. I despise, I despise the idols that are brought into My temple. Whether it is in My church or whether it is in your bodies, I do not want the idols in My temple. Do not defile it! Know that I dwell in it! Know that I am in it! This is My House. It is the Lord’s House! Do not defile it! Yes, Yes, it is My House. I have authority over My House. You have no right to bring in any idols. Only if I allow, only if I allow the things I desire. You can only bring in the things I desire. Bring the worship. Bring in the honor. Bring in the respect. Bring in the Love. Bring in the fellowship. Bring in what I desire! Not idols!! You do not bring in the idols! I despise it! Do not defile My temple. I am grieving! I despise! I despise! Do not bring in the idols!

Remember that I can see. I can see it. Remember I see it! I know it! You cannot hide. But I see it. I see everything in you! I see every thoughts and hearts. Therefore, do not try to hide. You may try to hide! But, I see all the things in your heart. I see what you bring. I see what is in your heart. Do not bring idols in My temple! Do not bring in the idols. I despise them! Do not bring the idols! If you defile My temple, I will destroy you. Whoever defiles My temple, I will destroy! Whether it is My church or whether it is your bodies, do not defile My temple!

It is My temple. You do not have the authority over it! You cannot defile My temple. You cannot do whatever you want! It must be honored. Respect Me! Give honor to Me! Where is the FEAR? Where is the LOVE? You are grieving Me. You are grieving the Holy Spirit. I love you. I love you. But I will not allow it! I cannot allow it! Be Holy for I AM Holy! My children be Holy. Do not grieve ME! Otherwise, you will be JUDGED! Do not grieve ME, My children. I AM Righteousness! I have to judge. Do not defile My temple. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. Cleanse out My temple. I am cleaning out My temple. I am cleaning it out. Whoever does not obey, whoever does not heed to My Word will be cleansed out! It is not My Will to cleanse them out but it is your choice. Do not force Me for I Love you. I LOVE YOU! You must make a Choice Now for I will give you a chance. I AM the LORD Almighty God."

Received January 22, 2013 during prayer
Fire of God Ministries International Church

Minister Yoojin Kim

Do we really have Saving Faith?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, [a]the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

Every Christian claims to have faith. But what is faith as defined in the bible? Biblical faith is when a person holds on persevering and enduring waiting patiently for God's promise. Biblical faith is NOT forcing God to make promises to him/her to fulfill the desires of their flesh.

Hebrews 6:13-15 For when God made [His] promise to Abraham, He swore by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom to swear,14 Saying, Blessing I certainly will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you.15 And so it was that he [Abraham], having waited long and endured patiently, realized and obtained [in the birth of Isaac as a pledge of what was to come] what God had promised him.

God had made a promise to Abraham that God will multiply him in Genesis 17. God had made the covenant with him when he was 99 years old. But it was in Genesis chapter 15 in which Abraham told God that he had no child. But God told him to go outside and look and count the stars as such number will be his descendents. And when Abram believed, it as counted as righteousness.

Genesis 15:6 And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God).

Hebrews 11:8 [Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.9 [Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise.10 For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.11 Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered [God] Who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word.

In Genesis chapter 12, God told Abram to leave from his country and from his relatives and to a land God would show him. And God made a promise that He would make him a great nation. But this was first conditional Abram leaving his family and home. Many of us are called by God but it comes at a cost. It may cost us to leave our comfort zone and move forward with God's Word. Abram at first did not know where he was going. Abram was 75 years old when he was told to move. Many today will not even move for God when they are 40 years old. Abram had to move in faith. He did NOT move on his own saying, "I will go buy that nice house (land) and I have faith that God will pay for it." This is but testing God. Sometimes, God may give us what we want to believe with our own faith but He may answer it for His Name sake but we have tested God. Did God not give His people quail when they complained about not having meat? Yes, and He judged them as they were eating the meat. But Abram had faith when he reacted to God's Word to move.  Abram moved as he had believed God would provide the provisions and protect him. Abram had biblical faith as he OBEYED God's Word. Faith is not speaking out into the physical realm that you will have a easy comfortable rich life because you speak it and want it! Biblical Faith calls you to DIE TO YOURSELVES so  you may have RESURRECTION LIFE! The former is but the prosperity gospel. It is a "me" and "self" gospel. Yes, God desires and can give us nice things but only for the purposes of His Kingdom and only as we OBEY.

Today and many throughout history assume faith is just to go to church, singing some worship songs, pray a little, acknowledge God's existence, and acknowledge what He did at the cross. Yes, to believe what He did at the cross is the starting point but then our faith will be tested to be proved genuine. Yes, we could even be operating in the spiritual gifts.

Abraham was constantly tested during his journey. And even after he had Isaac, God had given him a BIG test. Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son. But Abraham had "saving faith". He had learned and experienced in his journey that God was and is FAITHFUL. God had told Abraham that his descendents would be numerous as the stars but yet God was telling Abraham to sacrifice his only son. Moreover, God was telling Abraham to offering Isaac as a BURNT OFFERING.

Genesis 22:1-2 After these events, God tested and proved Abraham and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. 2 [God] said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell you.

If today, God told YOU to offer your son or daughter as a burnt offering, DO YOU HAVE THE SAVING FAITH TO OBEY? This is a hard question. Do we really have biblical faith or are we chasing our own created faith thus producing our own self achieved righteousness?

Philippines 3:9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.

Abraham had obeyed because he FEARED God and he knew and believed in the promise. He was over 100 years old and God promised many descendents. If Isaac was to be sacrificed, some miracle had to come forth for the promise to be kept. Abraham had learned and experienced God's faithfulness and knew God could resurrect Isaac to keep the promise. Abraham had promptly obeyed. Do we have such faith to obey?

He had left his home, family, and land to follow God's Word. Are we really following the Word of God in our lives. Is the Word of God living in our lives? How have you fared as your faith was tested? Those who nonchalantly disobey God are those who do not really know HIM nor FEAR HIM. You must have Godly fear of HIM to have wisdom for that is the door to wisdom.

Genesis 22:12 (AMP) And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back from Me or begrudged giving Me your son, your only son.

May you all operate and come to the knowledge of true biblical SAVING FAITH. 

Ephesians 6:16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].


Fire of God Ministries International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
January 21, 2013

Do not rejoice over your enemy's fall

Proverbs 24:17-18 Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown,18 Lest the Lord see it and it be evil in His eyes and displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him [to expend it upon you, the worse offender].

When King Saul was slain, David and his men rented their clothes, mourned and fasted. King Saul had chased David many times to kill him but yet David had mourned at Saul's death. Why?

Although King Saul was disobedient and was rejected by God, he was still God's anointed as David had said. Yes, we see many ministries going in error and astray. And I see so many Christians judging them thus bringing themselves judgment.

David had cried at the death of King Saul because David knew he had lost a brother. Although this brother had come to kill him, David still loved him. This brother was lost to hell. If your immediate brother, sister, father, or mother died, would you not be mourning just because? When our brothers and sisters in Christ fall away or die in their sins, why do so many of us rejoice of their fall? Be wise, every man is created in the image of God. It is not your place to rejoice when they fall. It may not your place to speak against authorities whether religious or secular. Your place is to be praying for one another and for all as we have been called to be peacemakers. And heaven is for peacemakers and not those who strife with one another.

Fire of God Ministries International
Pastor Steve Yong Kim