Fire of God Ministries Church

Last week, we placed this imitation orchid plant under the cross on the pulpit. On Tuesday, my wife and Minister Sarah and the kids went to the church to clean. They saw the imitation orchid plant glowing. Was it the reflection from the sun ray? If you observe carefully, it is more or less glowing. The children went up to look at it and they said it was glowing. A sign?

God will give breath and life to dry bones.

Fire of God Ministries International Church
Fremont, CA

If Jesus lives in us, then shouldn't we do as He did?

If we say we are believers and if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then should we not be walking in His footsteps? Should we not be doing the things He had done and perhaps greater since He went to the Father? Is He not our role model and our standard? If we are born of God, should we not be overcoming the things of the world? Shouldn't Truth be setting us free as we move from Glory to Glory? Yet, why are so many in bondage and still held captive when He had come to set the captives free?

Do we really know HIM? A Pharisee or priest (pastor) at that time knew the first five books of the bible word for word memorized by the time he was twelve or thirteen years old. A Pharisee knew more Word than some of the best bible scholars today. Yet, when Love showed up, they did not recognize HIM. Most of His people or the nation of Israel had fallen into apostasy. They had known the message but they did not know the Person of Love who was now walking in their mist. They were preaching another Messiah. They were expecting another Messiah. They knew about HIM but they had failed to know HIM.

More than two thousand years later, are we any better? Would we really recognize His Voice? Do we know HIM or do we only know about HIM? Is our knowing HIM only words of cliche? Is our knowing HIM only words of enthusiasm? Is our knowing HIM only the emotions of our flesh?

Do you recognize Love? Love is a Person. And if Love lives in you, then shouldn't His Love be manifesting in you? If we really Loved HIM, shouldn't we be obeying HIM? Shouldn't we be following HIS commandments? Shouldn't we be tearing down the idols in our lives and in our hearts? Shouldn't we be seeking His Holiness? Shouldn't His Holiness be manifesting in our lives? Shouldn't His Glory to rising from us? Shouldn't we be willing to lose everything for HIM? Shouldn't we be willing to even give up our own lives for HIM? Is HE revealing HIMSELF to us through His LOVE?

John 14:21 (NLT) Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

Shouldn't we be willing to give up our lives for others so they may know LOVE? God is Love and so Love is a Person. And unless one has JESUS, one cannot know LOVE for Love is HIM. So what did HE do to show us HE LOVED us. HE had died horribly in pain for us. HE had sacrificed HIMSELF for us. HE had taken our place for us. This is Love.

And if we are to say HE is in us, then should not the LOVE in us be willing to sacrifice for others? If we truly believe in HIM, then should we not be willing to lay down our lives for HIM and others? Shouldn't we be willing to die horribly if necessary if we say Love is in us? IF we say "Yes!" Then why is it just mere words for many but their hearts are so far?

For those who are alive and for those who have been given much grace, then let us show HIS LOVE to HIM and others. How can we say we Love others when we sacrifice so little time? Jesus had LOVED us with ALL of His Heart. He had dearly prayed for His chosen. He had dearly prayed for HIS people. And God answered HIM. Why? Because JESUS had a deep reverence for God.

Do you have a deep reverence for God? Many of our families and friends are sick, in bondage, and held captive under the enemy. Yet, we rather spend our time of grace over the things of and in the world. Where your time is, is where your heart is.

We are a people who must humble ourselves repenting, seeking HIS FACE, and turning from our wicked ways. Then and only then will HE heal our land. Otherwise, judgment is coming. How will you pray? If you say Jesus lives in you, then will you pray as HE HAD PRAYED FOR HIS PEOPLE? WILL YOU FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS? Will you plead with a loud cry and tears? Will you allow HIM to break you and will you suffer for HIM?

Hebrews 5:7-8 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. 8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

Glory to HIM
Fire of God Ministries International Church
Fremont, CA
Pastor Steve Yong Kim

With Loud Cries and Tears

If we say we are believers and if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then should we not be walking in His footsteps? Should we not be doing the things He had done and perhaps greater since He went to the Father? Is He not our role model and our standard? If we are born of God, should we not be overcoming the things of the world? Shouldn't Truth be setting us free as we move from Glory to Glory? Yet, why are so many in bondage and still held captive when He had come to set the captives free?

Do we really know HIM? A Pharisee or priest (pastor) at that time knew the first five books of the bible word for word memorized by the time he was twelve or thirteen years old. A Pharisee knew more Word than some of the best bible scholars today. Yet, when Love showed up, they did not recognize HIM. Most of His people or the nation of Israel had fallen into apostasy. They had known the message but they did not know the Person of Love who was now walking in their mist. They were preaching another Messiah. They were expecting another Messiah. They knew about HIM but they had failed to know HIM.

More than two thousand years later, are we any better? Would we really recognize His Voice? Do we know HIM or do we only know about HIM? Is our knowing HIM only words of cliche? Is our knowing HIM only words of enthusiasm? Is our knowing HIM only the emotions of our flesh?

Do you recognize Love? Love is a Person. And if Love lives in you, then shouldn't His Love be manifesting in you? If we really Loved HIM, shouldn't we be obeying HIM? Shouldn't we be following HIS commandments? Shouldn't we be tearing down the idols in our lives and in our hearts? Shouldn't we be seeking His Holiness? Shouldn't His Holiness be manifesting in our lives? Shouldn't His Glory to rising from us? Shouldn't we be willing to lose everything for HIM? Shouldn't we be willing to even give up our own lives for HIM? Is HE revealing HIMSELF to us through His LOVE?

John 14:21 (NLT) Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

Shouldn't we be willing to give up our lives for others so they may know LOVE? God is Love and so Love is a Person. And unless one has JESUS, one cannot know LOVE for Love is HIM. So what did HE do to show us HE LOVED us. HE had died horribly in pain for us. HE had sacrificed HIMSELF for us. HE had taken our place for us. This is Love.

And if we are to say HE is in us, then should not the LOVE in us be willing to sacrifice for others? If we truly believe in HIM, then should we not be willing to lay down our lives for HIM and others? Shouldn't we be willing to die horribly if necessary if we say Love is in us? IF we say "Yes!" Then why is it just mere words for many but their hearts are so far?

For those who are alive and for those who have been given much grace, then let us show HIS LOVE to HIM and others. How can we say we Love others when we sacrifice so little time? Jesus had LOVED us with ALL of His Heart. He had dearly prayed for His chosen. He had dearly prayed for HIS people. And God answered HIM. Why? Because JESUS had a deep reverence for God.

Do you have a deep reverence for God? Many of our families and friends are sick, in bondage, and held captive under the enemy. Yet, we rather spend our time of grace over the things of and in the world. Where your time is, is where your heart is.

We are a people who must humble ourselves repenting, seeking HIS FACE, and turning from our wicked ways. Then and only then will HE heal our land. Otherwise, judgment is coming. How will you pray? If you say Jesus lives in you, then will you pray as HE HAD PRAYED FOR HIS PEOPLE? WILL YOU FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS? Will you plead with a loud cry and tears? Will you allow HIM to break you and will you suffer for HIM?

Hebrews 5:7-8 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. 8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

Amplified Version

Hebrews 5:7-8  In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted ^[b]but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, ^[c] in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].

Glory to HIM
Fire of God Ministries International Church
Fremont, CA
Pastor Steve Yong Kim

Eat the meal with urgency

Exodus 12:11-12 (AMP) And you shall eat it thus: [as fully prepared for a journey] your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment [proving their helplessness]. I am the Lord.

This was the Lord's Passover. The was the last meal in Egypt before God's people were to leave. The instructions were to be fully prepared for the journey as ready to leave and eat the lamb in haste. The NLT version has it as eat the meal with urgency.

Exodus 12:11-12 NLT ¹¹ “These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed,^[a] wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover. ¹² On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord!

Verse thirteen speaks about God's judgment. It is the last judgment of Egypt as all the first male born Egyptians and the first male born of animals are killed. The angel of death had been released.  Even today, many people die everyday. Many are judged by God and many die in their sins. Our God has not changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

The Passover is the foreshadow of Jesus' sacrifice. He is the lamb that was sacrificed for the sins of the world. He told His disciples we must eat His flesh and drink His Blood to have life. The instructions were to be ready fully dressed and not naked. The instructions were to eat the Passover lamb in haste or urgency. 

Today, in the USA, seventy percent of Americans consider themselves Christians. Traditionally, in most hotels and motels, there is a bible in each room. Most Americans own more than one bible per household. Yet, we are not eating the Word or Passover lamb in haste or with any urgency. Many Christians read the bible with no urgency or importance. Many bibles in the homes of today's Christians collect dust. We live in the church age of Laodicea which is the lukewarm church. Jesus told this church they are naked and pitiful and HE will spit them out of His mouth unless they repent.

Judgment is coming to the western world and especially America. We must feed from His Word with URGENCY or HASTE. There is not much time left. We must learn to digest spiritual meat and learn to know what is Right and Wrong. Those who continue on milk may continue to stumble as they do not know how to do what is right. For His people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge and those who continue to reject His knowledge and law, He said He will reject and forget our children.

Hebrews 5:13-14 ¹³ For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. ¹⁴ Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

Fire of God Ministries International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim

Dear Beloved, although God may use such venues as Facebook to bring in His Word and to gather His chosen, the enemy is also at work in the same field. It is not good to feed from just any source. There are more bad and deceptive sources than there are truth.

Many are being misled through groups and individuals that are deceived. There is no such thing as a "prophet school." You cannot think of what you just ate last night and become qualified as a "prophet." Dream, visions, the ability to go to heaven or hell, prophecy, and other gifts do not give one the authority to teach or preach. Such gifts are there so we can draw closer to God. But when pride enters and people assume the authority to teach, they enter a road of deception. Our God is not a God on demand. You cannot force God to give you a Word. You cannot force God to speak to you. He is Sovereign and you are not. Many have gone into divination and witch craft using the name of the Lord. Many are deceived. Many have made their gifts into idols leading others to corruption and more deception.

Ezekiel 14:3-9 (NLT) “Son of man, these leaders have set up idols[a] in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests? 4 Tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Israel have set up idols in their hearts and fallen into sin, and then they go to a prophet asking for a message. So I, the Lord, will give them the kind of answer their great idolatry deserves. 5 I will do this to capture the minds and hearts of all my people who have turned from me to worship their detestable idols. 6 “Therefore, tell the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent and turn away from your idols, and stop all your detestable sins. 7 I, the Lord, will answer all those, both Israelites and foreigners, who reject me and set up idols in their hearts and so fall into sin, and who then come to a prophet asking for my advice. 8 I will turn against such people and make a terrible example of them, eliminating them from among my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 9 “‘And if a prophet is deceived into giving a message, it is because I, the Lord, have deceived that prophet. I will lift my fist against such prophets and cut them off from the community of Israel.

Many baby Christians are able to receive the gift to speak in tongue. Many baby Christians are able to receive the other spiritual gifts to draw closer to God.  But does this gift give one authority to teach or preach? Then how does receiving dreams or visions give one authority to teach or preach? But the bible says baby Christians cannot discern from what is right. Only those who are on spiritual meat are able to discern from right or wrong. This is why many baby Christians may continue in sin such as smoking, drinking, lusting, coveting, gossiping, adultery, idolatry, and so on. There are many traps to keep Christians in their baby state.  But unless they grow up, such carnality will disqualify them from entering the Kingdom of God. Such carnality will eventually bring judgment into their lives.

Hebrews 5:13-14 (NLT)  For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

Once you find the place in which God leads you to feed from, then you must stay and be fed. There are too many going from place to place, people to people, church to church, groups to groups, books to books, to find food. But when you go from place to place, groups to groups, do you not realize your hunger is not satisfied. It is because many are restless and feeding from false sources who gives false hopes and dreams.

You must find those who have been given the authority to preach HIS WORD and to feed HIS people. What marks the authority of God on a person or ministry. It is the anointing that marks the authority. The higher the anointing the higher the authority. It is not just about people falling down when hands are laid on them. Cliches do not give anyone authority. Look for the FRUIT!! You will know them by the fruit. The gifts and prophecy will all pass away but His Fruit of Love and Word will endure FOREVER. Is a ministry built on dreams and visions or the Word of God? Dreams, visions, the ability to go to heaven and hell, and the ability to prophecy and hear God are supplements to the WORD. But many churches and people have it backwards. Many rather than seek the Word and the fruit of the Holy Spirit seek the gifts of God. If you seek the Word, you seek God for HE is the WORD. Many seek the gifts to puff their own kingdoms. Many attempt to force God to their own needs and demands. This is wrong and will lead you to deception.

Jeremiah 23:28-29 (AMP) The prophet who has a dream, let him tell his dream; but he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat [for nourishment]? says the Lord.29 Is not My word like fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]? says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock [of most stubborn resistance]?

In any ministry, the Love of God must be present and manifesting. The lives of people must be changing. The lives of people must become free since the Truth is to set us free. There must be freedom for the Spirit brings freedom. Within time as people to seek the Lord, there must be true joy and peace within those who hear the Words. Yes, it is still up to the individual to adhere to the commandments of God for all this is conditional. It is according to His Grace and our obedience to His Word.

Do not just join any group. Do not just listen to any individual. Do not just listen to any ministry. Do not just listen and accept any dream, vision, or testimony. And please do not join any so called "prophet school." You must ask God. You must ask God to show you who to follow that are following Jesus according to HIS WILL. You must ask God to lead you to people that should be praying for you. You must ask God to lead you to people who will feed you. Deception will become so bad that if possible even the elect may be deceived. You must stand from a position knowing you can be deceived and there are more deception out there than truth. The world is enemy ground. But He has called us to take the land.

God is looking for the FRUIT. He has planted the seeds. The laborers are few but those who have been sent by HIM are looking for a particular fruit within the harvest. The Father is expecting the fruit of the Holy Spirit within the harvest. He is chosen a people set apart, consecrated in HIM, purified in the FIRE, and those who have HIS nature. They have His Fruit. They have the Fruit of LOVE. For HIS LOVE will endure FOREVER!!

Fire of God Ministries International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim

Churches built by cut stones

Exodus 20:24-26 “Build for me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to me—your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats, and your cattle. Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you use stones to build my altar, use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use. 26 And do not approach my altar by going up steps. If you do, someone might look up under your clothing and see your nakedness.

What are natural and uncut stones? Why were they not able to use cut stones?

When building His altar, God said to use only natural and uncut stones. Using stones shaped by a tool made His altar unfit for holy use. Today, when we build His churches, they must be led and created by the Holy Spirit. Shaped stones represented man's effort and their own ideas, time, and plans. Stones made naturally that were uncut were created by God. Uncut natural stones take much time to shape itself. The churches must be built by God and by His time.

I read that in the USA each year over 4000 churches close down. These 4000 pastors will answer to God for making His Word of no affect and for taking His Name in vain. These churches were built using cut stones with the tools of man. They were built and opened in the flesh rather than in the spirit. Moreover, God may have judged and closed such churches.

Churches opened using natural uncut stones are opened by the lead of the Holy Spirit. They will be a church that overcome the gates of Hell. The altars or churches built by uncut stones are places in where the Spirit of the Lord is and where the Spirit of the Lord is...there is FREEDOM.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT) For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

God said do not approach His altar by going up the steps or someone may see your nakedness. We are to approach His altar humbling ourselves on our knees with repenting hearts. We are not to approach it with unrepented sins with pride. Otherwise, doing so will be in our nakedness.

Fire of God Ministries International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim

Only in Brokenness - Revised

Only in brokenness will one find true intimacy with the Lord. Only in brokenness will one find the beauty in the Lord. Only in brokenness will one find the ways of the Lord. Only in brokeness can your broken fellowship with the Lord be restored. Only in brokenness are your hinderances removed.

And it is in this low point of brokenness you will rise and soar like the eagles. He will give you beauty for ashes. In brokenness the captives are set free. It is a time in which the Lord's favor have come. In brokenness, instead of despair, there will be festive praises.

But you must continue to eat and drink from the Living Bread and Water, respectively. Otherwise, you will begin to fall again. The flesh has a tendency to forget so easily. In abundance, many began to drift away. When the blessings are suppose to be a blessing they become the hindrance as men lose themselves in "things." Then these "things" become idols and gods as men forget their creator.

Deuteronomy 8:10 When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.11 “But that is the time to be CAREFUL! BEWARE that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. 12 For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, 13 and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! 14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. 15 Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! 16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. 17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ 18 Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.19 “But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed. 20 Just as the Lord has destroyed other nations in your path, YOU ALSO WILL BE DESTROYED if you refuse to obey the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 31:16-20 (Amplified Bible)And the Lord said to Moses, Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers, and this people will rise up and play the harlot after the strange gods of the land where they go to be among them; and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them. And they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us? 18 And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done in turning to other gods. 19 And now write this song for yourselves and teach it to the Israelites; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the Israelites. 20For when I have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten and filled themselves and become fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise and scorn Me and break My covenant.

Hosea 5:11 The people of Israel will be crushed and broken by my judgment because they are determined to worship idols.

Man continues to make the same mistake over and over. History repeats itself. There is nothing new under the sun. Because of the sinful nature of man, history continues to repeat.

Revelation 2:5 "Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent."

And this is why God will shake ALL THE NATIONS. This is why JUDGMENT must come. The world and His own people will know His Righteousness through His Judgments. We also learn of His Great Love through His Judgments. It is out of His Grace, HE still saves a remnant for His Name sake. He saves a remnant according to His promise.

Psalm 110:6 He will execute judgment [in overwhelming punishment] upon the nations; He will fill the valleys with the dead bodies, He will crush the [chief] heads over lands many and far extended.

Psalm 119:120 My flesh trembles and shudders for fear and reverential, worshipful awe of You, and I am afraid and in dread of Your judgments.

We must return to brokenness so His people will repent!! Although many are waiting for His Return, they are far from HIM. They honor HIM with their lips but their hearts are far from HIM.

And this is why many of you are being broken now. He is raising up His Army to prepare the Way for His Return. Persevere and endure in all things brethren. You must learn to Trust Him even if you are to lose everything. In brokenness, you will discover Life. In brokenness, you will be ALIVE IN HIM!! No more hindrances of the world to clog your view or your thoughts. In your brokenness  you will learn His Ways. For He esteems a contrite spirit who trembles at His Word.

Fire of God Ministries International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
March 28, 2011