Do you know our wonderful sharing God?

I have been thinking about this past Valentine’s Day, and the beautiful card my wife gave me. We both through prayer always look for special words that will touch each other’s heart and the good Lord always delivers! This prompted me to make some observations about this special day that is based upon love and what kind of love that is?

I wonder how many times a day the words are spoken “I love you”? On Valentine’s Day they really come into focus.  From life’s experiences many can remember that special moment when the person you are crazy about says I love you! Your heart soars, you sing for joy, the world becomes a beautiful place, life is great!

How many reading this blog truly understand what love is? How many know that there are various kinds of love and that there is only one true love and not all have it or are capable of having it? I wish to go through the types of love that are common to the world and the one that is uncommon to the world. The first is a friendly social love that is common to everyone, an example from God’s word is that the wicked have this love for the world and it is not pleasing to God. James 4:4 The Greek word for this love is “Phileo” Before receiving the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost the Lord Jesus revealed to Peter that he did not have true love for him. It is only through understanding the Greek words for love that we can understand why Peter was grieved after the Lord had asked him the third time if he loved him. Jesus twice used the Greek word “Agape’” (God’s love).  Peter’s reply both times was the Greek word “Phileo” (Friendly love). The third time Jesus asked the question and he used the Greek word Phileo, in other words, Jesus was asking if he truly loved him even as a friend? Grieved Peter answered; “You know all things and what I am capable of and not.” John 21: 17 NASB. The Lord did this test of Peter so he would understand his need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to love and serve God. On the day of Pentecost he and the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit who is given to every person the moment they believe in Jesus.

The second type of love is from the Greek word “Eros” from which we get the word Erotic, a sensual sexual love which many in this world have experienced at one time or another. This type of love is contrary to God’s revealed will and is a direct result from mankind’s fall from Adam; it comes through the sin nature. Through Adam mankind turned from loving God to loving “Self” (Being spiritually dead, separated from God). Erotic love being sexual in nature and those with this love cannot deny themselves and will strive to get their pleasures from the other person, taking rather than giving, both partners loving themselves only. In the end they will always reap what they sow as God will not be mocked and God views sex outside of marriage as adultery or fornication, which is sin. Sodom and Gomorrah are an example of those who took erotic love to the max. Not having their sexual desires satisfied through women but they went after animals. They even lusted after the Angels God had sent to deliver Lot and his family from his wrath that was to totally destroy them and their Cities.

The third love is the only true love and can only come through a personal relationship with God. His love is Agape’ love that gives rather than takes. (John 3: 16)

Only true believers in Christ can have Agape’ love for God and their fellow brothers and sisters of the faith. Jesus at the Last Supper commanded them (And all believers) to love one another with Agape’ love and love not the world which the Lord said he didn’t pray for but only those the Father had given him. This is the love we as believers give to ONLY those who belong to the Church, the Spiritual Body of Christ. It is our Father’s Agape’ love through the power of the Holy Spirit and it is NOT for the world. Loving the world would go against God’s word.    Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1-John 2: 15 NASB.

We are told to* love our neighbor who can be anybody we come into contact with in the world. It is the “Phileo” friendly, social love and who knows but the Lord if one day through the light of your good works and Godly behavior they may come to a saving faith and then you will love them with Agape’ love as a brother or sister in Christ.

*Jesus displayed this friendly love even to Judas who betrayed him, calling him in the Psalms, his close friend.  Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me. Psalm 41: 9 NLT.

I wish to share some of the wonderful things our Father God has done for us besides saving us from an eternity in hell by giving us his unspeakable gift of his beloved Son Jesus as a ransom for our sins.

Our sharing God.

He made us his fellow workman

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1-Corinthians 3: 9 NASB.

He shares his secrets with us

This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. Colossians 1: 26 NLT.

He shares his kingdom with us

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Luke 12: 32 NASB.

He shares his glory with us (Our bodies are his Holy Temple and he dwells in us)

and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8: 30 NASB.

He shares himself with us as we are “Now” partakers of the divine nature and “Have” the mind of Christ.

Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 2-Corinthians 6: 16 NASB.

He shares the completeness of Christ with us.

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 1-John 3: 2 NLT.

 

 

Now we know what real love is, giving and sharing without taking anything in return, Jesus being the pure expression of God’s love. He came as a servant and the spotless Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice for our sins, the just dying for the unjust. It was God’s love for us that sent him to the cross, praise our marvelous Father and God.

Put your trust in Jesus and you will not be disappointed, build your house on him, and no matter how many storms come, your house will stand as its foundation is laid upon him, Jesus, the Rock of Ages.

God bless all, Ken

Feb. 2014

What is “The measure of faith”?

Scripture reference; For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Romans 12: 3 NASB.

We will discover in the word of God that there are two kinds of believing (Faith) mentioned in scripture. People today believe in many things mostly because of the senses, seeing hearing, reading and we all have heard that familiar phrase “Seeing is believing”, which is true. We believe that the sun will rise every day as it has done all our lives, many believe in the Theory of Evolution based upon fossils (Why they believe this is incredible because if it were a fact there would be far more transient changes found  from one creature to another which are not found in the fossil records, in fact they have found a fish seen in fossils they date thousands of years ago alive today. Also, they believe that the origin of creation began with the hydrogen atom which they believe appeared “Out of nothing”) Wow, that’s strong faith but not in God!

True saving faith only comes from God as a grant by him choosing from eternity to show favor to those he has elected to be his own. Those who found favor with God were of his “Godly” line and were always his by his foreknowledge and choice, these all from Adam and Eve were given to Jesus as he himself said; “Thine they were (Always) and you have given them to me”.

We know by God’s word that man on their own *cannot come to God, only the elect are given the saving faith that believes without seeing!

The following scriptures will shed more light on this subject.

Faith can grow.  Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended. 2-Corinthians 10: 15 NLT.

Not all men have faith. And that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. 2-Thessalonians 3: 2 NASB.

Jesus did not have faith in the wicked. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, John 2: 24 NASB. Note: Jesus only sought after his people, those lost elect given to him by the Father, this is why he rejected these people in this scripture, and he knew they were not his own but the dead non-elect.

The seeing is believing crowd. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”  John 4: 48 NASB.  Here is a clear picture of belief (Faith) that is not the saving kind but human belief by seeing and without that, they won’t believe. Only God given faith can please him because he himself gives it, so that the true believer can believe the unseen. Only that kind of faith pleases God and only his people have it!

*THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; Romans 3: 11 NASB.

I wish to appeal to those who have a fear of God, his word says that that is the beginning of wisdom and it may be his doing, Jesus promised that those who seek will find him and he will never cast out those who come to him. All who call on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved!

I hope I have clarified this subject as I believe many do not understand the two differences involved with faith (Belief) the true and the false.

Author Ken

Feb. 2014

When will I be perfect Lord?

(Scripture reference 1-Corinthians 13: 8 – 12)

I am troubled about how many Churches falsely teach that the above scriptures say that the Apostle Paul is saying that the “Perfect” will have come with the completion of God’s word the Bible. The truth is that the word of God has come and is perfect but we are not, yet!

The Epistles of the Apostles were given to the early Churches in order that they would understand the Holy Spirit’s work among them. The Corinthian Church was instructed by Paul concerning Spiritual Gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit according to God’s will and the purpose of the gifts was to edify the believers (The Church, past and present). If the gifts have ceased as some teach then where is the edification today, according to those in error, the perfect has come (The completed Bible) edification and all the workings  of the supernatural by the Holy Spirit is not needed because the Church has arrived in perfection. How ridiculous, this falsehood is exposed by the word of God! I am convinced in my mind that the problem is that of unbelief which is THE sin that so easily entangles us; many in the Church simply cannot handle the supernatural works of God through the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12: 1 NASB. God’s word tells us that what is not of faith is sin and cannot please God.

How could anyone misunderstand what Paul meant when he said “Face to Face”?

Paul, by saying we see dimly as in a glass was revealing that in these corruptible bodies we have not arrived to perfection, although in our spirits as New Creations we are perfect, joined to Christ, can never sin, always loves God and already seated with Christ in the Heavenlies and blessed with every Spiritual blessing. So we are *complete in Christ and have arrived but not our bodies-yet! The perfect for the body is coming and when we see Jesus** “Face to Face” we will receive our new bodies like his; we will be exactly like him, perfect, no need for gifts or edification.

* So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2: 10 NLT.

**Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 1-John 3: 2 NASB.

God’s word proclaims that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! Those who say the gifts have ceased for today I ask; Jesus healed the sick and did many miracles that showed the mercy, compassion of God and his love for his creation, has that passed away?

The Lord proclaimed that we believers would do “Greater Works” because he himself will do them through us, the many. I see the Church as weak today, in much need of the gifts for edification but today many “Quench” the Spirit, forbidding speaking in tongues along with all the other gifts. There is much unbelief and false teaching in the Church that has crept in through ungodly men, the tares (Angels of light?) that Satan has sown among the wheat (Believers). They have brought legalism through their twisting of God’s word and their own commandments. I thank God that he has his “Secret” agents in all Churches who bring light and truth to those whom God loves who have been deceived and held in bondage. It will be wonderful to know as we are known by God, the redemption of our weak corruptible bodies to be replaced by a perfect body like his, free forever from the power and presence of sin, having the mind of Christ perfected in us.

Scripture References:

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 1-Corinthians 13: 8 NASB.

Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 1-Corinthians 13: 9 NLT.

But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.  1-Corinthians 13: 10 NLT.

When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 1-Corinthians 13: 11 NIV.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1-Corinthians 13: 12 NIV.

Author Ken

December 2013

Rightly dividing the word of truth-God’s word

If we ask anything according to HIS WILL he hears us. Young Timothy the Evangelist was told by Paul to drink a little wine for his stomach and other ailments. He was not told by Paul that he was weak in the faith; it was God’s will that he had these problems. It was the same for the Apostle Paul who was taken up to the third Heaven and was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from exalting himself, God allowed satan to do this. In Romans 7 Paul is giving his own experiences of sin in his life, it describes what every believer goes through after being Born Again. A warfare begins, the Holy Spirit wars against the flesh. Paul was not a baby believer when he wrote this chapter of Romans, he recognized that he still committed sin, the key to understanding what Paul is going through is that he is not sinning willfully, thus he avoids God’s chastisement, instead receives “Grace upon Grace” and the Holy Spirit revealing that he is not condemned! (Romans 8: 1)

Even though our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit God did not redeem them, they are corruptible and subject to sin and one day changed into a body like Christ’s. We have the power through the Holy Spirit’s warfare against the flesh to keep it at bay, it is to be overcome by faith and obedience to God through walking after, being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Walk after the Spirit and YOU WILL NOT FULLFIL THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH!

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5: 16 KJV.

Some teach that James 5: 14 was written to “Babes” in Christ, that is an error, and they say the verse should read “Let all the sick in the Church call for the Elders” which is an assumption, adding to the word or twisting its meaning. The fact is that not all the Corinthian believers were weak or babes in Christ, many were carnal mature believers who through worldly temptations engaged in wild parties of eating drinking in the Church even when they had communion. This brought the judgment of God upon them which Paul had warned them about, they did not discern the Lord’s body at communion time.  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 1-Corinthians 11: 30 KJV.

So this fits perfectly with James 5: 16, God’s chastisement can be grievous as the word tells us. The believer who committed fornication with his stepmother and who Paul gave into Satan’s hands for his body to be killed (Not his spirit or soul) repented, most likely because of what he suffered in the flesh. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 1-Peter 4: 1 KJV.

So likewise believers under the Lord’s chastisement or others who are sick for other reasons are given the invitation to receive prayer for healing. Please note that James adds; “And IF he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him”. So we now understand that the believer’s sickness can be related to unconfessed willful sin. It will be forgiven because the person is coming by faith to receive the “Prayer of Faith” and God will have made known their sin for which they were being punished. I believe what some Pastors are not seeing is the difference between a “Weak” baby believer and a Mature “Carnal” believer. Both were in the early Churches (And are here today). Remember the word which says; “Let NO man think he stands, lest he falls”. Peter an Apostle after being filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost had to be rebuked by Paul for his sin by only associating with Jewish believers he became a hypocrite but to his credit received Paul’s rebuke and reproof humbly, he knew he was wrong! Do Pastors/Teachers think today that they have arrived and only weak believers sin and need healing, Peter was mature, Paul was mature but until we receive our New Bodies we ALL have not *arrived, we all are subject to the power and presence of sin like Peter and Paul but one day we will be freed from sin’s power and presence and be exactly like Jesus. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1-John 3:2 KJV.

These things are written to show us the weakness of our flesh that is subject to carnality which is sin as it is not of faith. This is why we in the Ministry are to “Reprove and rebuke” error by speaking the truth in love. Pray for one another!

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5: 16 KJV.

Jesus as shown in the Book of Revelation is the judge of the Churches, he warned of his judgment that would come because of Jezebel and those who committed fornication with her that they would be thrown into a bed of affliction. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1-Peter 4: 17 KJV.

Even after many years of walking with the Lord Paul had not arrived where he completely knew Christ and his power and sufferings. He did know that one day he would know as he is known, that is when all believers see Jesus “Face to Face”.

*that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; Philippians 3: 10 NASB.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1-John 1: 9 KJV.

Author Ken

December 2013

My love letter to the Church, my Christmas gift

When God sent Jesus to this world as baby, he sent his very best gift, born of the Virgin Mary in order to represent us in the flesh. But hidden in the babe was the very Son of God, who for the will of the Father laid aside the glory and equal power he had in the Godhead from all eternity! In order to redeem us Jesus had to not only die physically but also spiritually, this is why the Bible calls him “The second Adam”. When Adam fell because of sin he no longer had fellowship with God, he died spiritually instantly and physically slowly. Jesus the second Adam always had a perfect relationship with God the Father because he did not have the “Sin” nature of Adam because he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and not by a man; he also is God the Son forever joined to the man Jesus. The ransom Jesus paid when he died on the cross cannot be fathomed by any man, I now know today that years ago I did not understand this but in my later years I have learned much through the Holy Spirit of the deep things of God, this Jesus said the Holy Spirit  would do in glorifying him, the Lamb of God.

Two things had to take place when Jesus died on the cross. First he had to die physically; second, he had to die spiritually as Adam did in order to be the representative of fallen man who became slaves and captives in Satan’s Kingdom. That day on the cross, for the first time in all eternity God the Son was separated from the Father (Separation from God is spiritual death). This had to take place because Jesus became sin for us, and the Father poured out all his wrath and hatred of sin upon him causing the Lord to cry out; “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” The truth is God did forsake him and Jesus the man joined to God the Son died spiritually and physically that day. They then experienced Hell, we cannot understand what that was like, and I heard one Preacher say it was like an eternity of punishment for Jesus. But death and Hell could not hold him and the Father’s wrath was satisfied and Jesus rose having conquered sin and death. Satan today is a defeated foe, Jesus having paid the ransom. Jesus took all the Saints from Paradise where they had to wait for him to die on the cross and he brought them to Heaven.

Jesus became the “Firstborn” from the dead, a New Creation; the second Adam could not fail!

I am the living one. I died, but look–I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Revelation 1:18 NLT.

We must as Christians understand that Jesus is honored by God’s work alone done through us; these works were planned and ordained by God our Father from eternity. In doing these works through the Holy Spirit we become exactly as Jesus, our pattern and example. The Apostle Paul confirms this by saying; “Follow me because I am following Christ” Outside of these “Pre-Ordained” Good Works, the works we do in the flesh are as God has said; “Filthy Rags” This is because only God can bring the highest honor and glory to Christ Jesus by his own doing, through the good works he himself has ordained for us to walk in. When believers become mature, they will only follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, like Jesus, who did not his own will but only the will of the Father! This is the walk of faith that pleases God, on that day when the Sons/Daughters of God are revealed, they will all be exactly like Jesus, perfect! The Father will be so pleased that he will sing over them.

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 KJB.

This is why believers are a peculiar people zealous of the good works God had previously ordained that they should walk in them! This is why I get disturbed when I hear some Churches preach and teach that Christians must witness and preach to everyone, it is not scriptural. It was NOT taught in the Epistles of the Apostles which was the guide to the early Churches. The first disciples sent by the Lord turned the world upside down with their preaching, the Churches were born and guidelines were established in order that the believers would know God’s will for the Church. When we read the Apostle Paul’s letters along with the other Apostle’s writings we find that specific gifted men were given the ministries of preaching/teaching, Evangelism (Timothy was an Evangelist) all CALLED by God. It is obvious that not all Christians are called to preach or teach but some of today’s Churches ignore this and push the false doctrine that every believer is to preach the word to everyone. The truth is God has ordained them to be as lights in the world, shining by their good works (Living Epistles) and behavior, not running with the world. People are drawn to them because of their good works creating opportunities for them to testify of Christ and what he has done for them to everyone who ASKS; *”What is the hope within you?” This believers should be prepared for as the word tells us and not be fanatics spouting scripture, chasing people but not caring for their needs through good works. It is incredible to me that God himself does HIS works through believers and by that they are doing the greater works because they are many and God rewards them for the work he himself does through them!  The key is obedience by being “Willing”   “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from myself. John 7:17 NASB.

I encourage Christians to check out what I have written about God’s will for the Church today and not follow legalism or the commandments of men. They will pull scriptures out of context like: “Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season” A proper interpretation of that scripture reveals that it was spoken to Timothy who was an evangelist and not to the Church as a whole. Again I say, to be a preacher, teacher or an evangelist you must be called by God who will have given you that gift through the Holy Spirit and not by any decisions made by men. This blog is my gift to all, I have spoken the truth to you in love on behalf of our wonderful Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, may he shine above all on Christmas as the best gift to us from our loving Father in Heaven.

*But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1-Peter 3:15 NIV.

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith!

Author Ken

December 2013