Sep 032013
 

To him who has!

Have you ever wondered what the following scripture means?

“I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Luke 19:26 NASB.

Remember when the disciples told Jesus of the need for food for the 5000 men and he replied; “You give them something to eat”. They replied that they only had five loafs of bread and two fishes, they had thought about going into a village to buy food.

But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” Luke 9:13 NASB.

Now let’s look at the deeper spiritual meaning of these verses. It was God’s will that the believers would do his preordained works through various ministries and the Good Works that every Christian is zealous for as his peculiar people. The one who has is the believer who is indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit, to them more will be given (New Bodies, eternal life with the Lord) but the one who has not, the unsaved wicked everything he has in this world will be taken away.

Going into a village to buy food would have been the work of man but the Miracle came through God who blessed them because they did have as God’s Elect, therefore more was given.

They had five loafs and two fishes but God gave them more, enough to feed the 5000 with more to spare. They indeed gave the people something to eat but this physical food represented the spiritual food that believers would provide as God directs and blesses. They will bring THE BREAD from Heaven, Jesus to the multitudes for they are the light and salt of the earth!

If you have the Son of God you have life, those who don’t do not have life but the wrath of God is upon them. John 3:36 NASB.

Author Ken

September 2013

 Posted by at 8:50 am
Sep 022013
 

*Did you know that God tells Christians to judge? Today many Christians sit in Churches or watch ministries on TV and are swayed by the messages they hear, the speakers claim that what they preach or teach is from the word of God, the Bible. Is that true of most ministries? I would like to give my own testimony about this according to my own personal experiences in different Churches. I was raised in the Catholic religion, had my Communion and Conformation, and attended Church with my Mom. Many years later I was Born Again at a home Bible Study and attended the Church that held the Bible Study. I was convinced that this Church and the people were straight from God and I embraced their Doctrine even though at that time I did not fully understand everything they believed but I knew I was saved and I loved Jesus and could not get enough of his word. My bubble was burst when someone in that Church told me that it was possible to lose your salvation that was a shock to my system but I asked the Lord to show me the truth by his word and I would hold fast to that my whole life. He showed me over and above that I had eternal life. I found myself examining what this Church believed; soon I became shunned as I refused to follow their Doctrines. I found myself discouraged and down in the dumps as the people I loved in the Church did not fellowship with me, but some did. The Lord did not leave me discouraged but sent “Mature” true Born Again brothers to me in that Church, one brother John taught me the deeper things of God and I was forever changed. John opened my eyes to the Tares in the Church along with their legalism and laws through the commandments of men, as our Lord Jesus said; “Many will come in my name and deceive many”.

Now I want to go back to the judgment by Christians, consider the following scriptures;

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2-Timothy 2:15 NASB.

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 1-Thessalonians 5:21 NASB. (The word

Examine is to judge, God tells us to judge anyone who preaches or teaches his word to prove if it is correct or in error.

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. Acts 17:11 NLT. (For this same reason Christians are to carefully examine (Judge) when they hear God’s word preached or taught. In that way you will not be deceived or led astray)

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 1-John 4:1 NLT.

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves” Matthew 7:15 NLT.

Pray that the Lord will place you where he wants you as his Secret Agent where you can be used to speak the truth in love and expose error. Through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 2-Corinthians 6:8 ESV.

Hold fast to what is good and uplifting but make sure everything they say is true and the Doctrine of Christ. Find out what they believe, then listen to what they say but don’t do what they do! I will give an example, I heard a Sermon two Sundays ago, the Pastor said he rejected legalism and the law and believed only Bible truth. Really I thought, as I know they are a Tithing Church (Law), talk about hypocrisy. Always ask for a Churches “Statement of Faith”, if they don’t have one or they dodge direct questions, be careful how you listen there.

God’s word tells us to contend for the Faith and expose error and falsehood. Most of the Arminian Doctrine Churches don’t believe in Eternal Security, they also teach falsely that when one is Born Again they do not have the Holy Spirit and must seek for a second act of God they call “The Baptism in the Holy Spirit”, this is not to be confused with being Baptized in water. You receive the Holy Spirit the moment you believe, he is the one that gives you faith, and he joins to your spirit to become one Spirit with you, the New Creation. In the Book of Acts the Holy Spirit was delayed in coming upon some in order to prove to the believing Jews that God was saving them as well as the Jews, the speaking in tongues by the Gentiles as the Disciples did on Pentecost convinced the Jews. Thereafter, every new believer would receive the Holy Spirit the moment they believed, without the speaking in tongues.

*We are to judge by what we hear or see, we are not to judge by rumors or gossip and can never judge people’s motives, only God can do that.

Author Ken

September 2013

 Posted by at 8:05 am
Aug 292013
 

The work of God

This is another blog that I only recommend for those believers who have grown through the “Milk” of the word and have moved to seeking the deeper things of God. It was Paul the Apostle who wrote deep things concerning salvation, Peter commented about Paul’s writings in 2-Peter 3:16 As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Did you know that Salvation is by a work? But it is not a human work as we read; “Not of works lest any man boast” Ephesians 2:8 & 9. I like the next verse which proves that Salvation is God’s work ALONE! Verse 10; “For we are HIS workmanship created in Christ Jesus (Through Faith, a gift of the Holy Spirit so you can believe) for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” They had asked Jesus about doing God’s *work and he replied in John 6:29 telling them that God is working in human hearts by his Holy Spirit to draw them to Jesus. This wonderful work of God is mysterious and supernatural, not seen by human eyes but seen in the Elect by their changed lives and proved by their good works. Ephesians 2:1&2 shows your condition before God’s regeneration, dead in sins and trespasses, bound to Satan to do his will. Paul says in the following verses that he too and the rest of the believers walked the same way, being BY NATURE children of wrath but the difference with them and all the Elect is that God loved us, even when we were his enemies!

In summary, we through the word understand that God seeing man’s wicked sin filled heart (spirit dead to God) decided he would save **many by his own doing, this he planned before he made the world, thus Jesus is the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world. He Elected/Predestined a people for himself who Jesus dies for as it is written; “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 NASB.  The Father gave this number to Jesus, the Lord acknowledged this in John 17:6, the Father through his Holy Spirit draws all the Elect to Jesus (He also ***convicts the wicked but they reject God as their wicked heart dictates). During this work, the Holy Spirit opens the eyes and ears of the Elect, convicts them of their sin, grants them “Godly” repentance, gives the gift of faith and they believe! At this time they receive the Holy Spirit who joins with their spirit and they become a “New Creation”, joined to Christ, one spirit with him. God did it all and deserves all our praise and glory as it all is his work alone. He even predestined our good works which really are his own that he willed that we walk in them. Only his works done through us by his Spirit will survive the Judgment of our works when He returns, things we do in the flesh will be burned up as he has said; “The flesh profits nothing, the Spirit gives life”. This is the way every Christian should strive towards maturity in the faith, then they will always seek to do God’s will and not their own, then they will shine like Jesus who did God’s will and not his own.

*Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:29 NASB.

**And He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Mark 14:24 NASB.

***And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. John 16:8 NLT. The non-Elect are not regenerated by the Holy Spirit therefore they cannot repent or believe, their dead spirits are prisoners of Satan. They love their sin and hate God and his people, the believers. Jesus only died for the Elect, the MANY not all, if he did die for all, all would be saved. His will was only to save the Elect and only those he regenerates by the power of the Holy Spirit making them a New Creation. Although the non-elect are not chosen they are responsible before God for their sins. As we wonder about how God makes his choice we are given some insight through his word. The word says; who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands Job 34:19, even though not many rich or wise are chosen, some are! It seems the poor are favored more by our compassionate God who saves them through his mercy and grace. I personally believe every baby that dies goes to be with the Lord, I think there is an age of accountability where the understanding of sin and accountability to God is known. It could be 12 years of age as Jesus went to the Temple at that age; I believe God shows us that for a reason.

Because the non-elect are not chosen, they are” fitted” to destruction as Paul wrote. I highly recommend a book by Arthur Pink called the Sovereignty of God, in his book he goes into depth about the subject regarding the destruction of the wicked. He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Matthew 15:13

I remember a person in Church who was afraid that they were not chosen by God, I told them they were, only a believer would be concerned about that, the wicked couldn’t care less!

 

Author Ken

August 2013

www.gracefaithgift.com

 Posted by at 8:37 am
Aug 232013
 

What will we be like Lord?

 

Our bodies are His Temple but they are earthen vessels of clay, they can break or shake, even collapse! Paul called his frame “a body of death” due to its lust for sin, yet The Lord has decreed it Holy. Paul, like many believers longed for his new Spiritual body. The ever present warfare between the flesh and the Holy Spirit is one thing but pain and suffering through persecution and sin is another. Some teach that God never permits sickness in a believer’s life but the Apostle Paul refutes that in the Book of Corinthians, a Christian man in the Church was committing fornication with his Stepmother. Paul had the Church kick him out and Paul gave him into Satan’s hands to kill his body so his Soul would be saved. The man repented, God spared him and Paul had the Church bring him back to fellowship. Willful un- confessed sin can bring weakness sickness and death for the believer. Remember Jesus told a man he had healed to go and sin no more lest something worse happen to you. The man’s sin brought his physical condition upon himself. There are others that are afflicted by Satan, demon possession or a physical problem like the woman Jesus healed, he said it was Satan’s doing and not due to the woman’s sin.

 

 

As Paul wrote, we see as in a glass dimly but one day “Face to Face” and we will know as we are known by him. When Jesus comes for us we will see him as he is (The Logos, God the Word) and we shall be like him, the God man. All the fullness of God will shine through us, our minds will be like Christ’s, we, like him will know everything. This will be unlike our current condition where we at times may be filled with the Holy Spirit (Led by him) but many times we are not. This is because of the warfare between the Holy Spirit and our sin loving flesh (Romans 7) but when we receive our new bodies from God the presence and power of sin will be gone forever, replaced with the perfect bliss and peace of God. No more warfare our joy will never end, God our Father will sing over his Sons and Daughters, all being just like his Son Jesus. Even though eye has not seen this, we have the sure word of God that it is so as Jesus said; “In my Father’s house are many mansions” I am coming to receive you unto myself.

* For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 1-Corinthians 11:29 NLT.

*That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 1-Corinthians 11:30 NLT.

*But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 1-corinthians 11:31 NLT.

*Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world. 1-corinthians 11:32 NLT.

*But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” John 5:14 NLT.

*

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.

Author Ken

August 2013

 Posted by at 4:32 pm
May 282013
 

The weakness of God.

One may ask when was God weak? I believe it was when God the Son became Jesus the man. The Logos, the Word of God willingly laid aside his attributes as being equal in the Godhead and became man through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As the God man Jesus, he was completely powerless, totally relying on the Father and became the perfect sinless Lamb of God, the second Adam, the only man that could please God. The Father confirmed this with his voice from Heaven.

And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” Mark 1:11 NLT.

In the Old Testament God revealed his plan of salvation by having his chosen people offer sacrifices for sin. The Lord had told them that without the shedding of blood there could no remission of sin. Once a year there was a special offering of a “Spotless” Lamb, this Lamb represented the Lord Jesus himself! John the Baptist announced him saying; “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world”.

God is Love but he is also a righteous Judge, he hates sin and must judge it. His plan of salvation was for his perfect sinless son to take the place of those who believe on him through faith, the just dying for the unjust! Jesus became the object of God’s wrath against sin, in the Father’s sight he became like a serpent and despised. The Father turned away from him, the result was a cry from the Lord’s lips; “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  I believe this act of his Father caused Jesus to suffer what was equal to an eternity in Hell.  The Lord’s sacrifice on the cross satisfied the righteousness of the Judge of the whole earth. Now that righteousness is imparted to every believer in Jesus, in fact the Bible tells us that we died with him as he was our substitute. Now when the Father looks at us he sees Jesus and loves us the same as he loves him.

We see the Lord’s humanity in the building of God’s Temple in the Old Testament; wood was overlaid with pure gold. The wood representing the man Jesus, the *weakness of God, the gold his divinity.

* This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 1-Corinthians 1:25 NLT.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1: 1 to 4 NIV.

Author Ken

May 2013

 Posted by at 9:27 am
May 242013
 

Do you understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

The Apostle Paul knew there would be a lack of understanding about this subject so he clarified it in his letter to the Corinthian Church.

He explained to them and believers today that all the gifts are administered by and through the Holy Spirit as “He” wills! Through God’s word we learn that the Holy Spirit is a person not some kind of invisible force. We read in the Book of Acts that he was lied to by Ananias and Sapphira who were told that when they lied to the Holy Spirit they had lied to God. The Holy Spirit is a living being, the third person of the Trinity. He is responsible for doing the will of the Father and one of his responsibilities is the dispersement of Spiritual Gifts in the Body of Christ, the Church.

Although there are varieties of gifts, they include ministries and varieties of effects but they all come from God through the Holy Spirit to each person for the common good. The Holy Spirit works in all these things distributing to each one individually JUST AS HE WILLS!

I have heard some in the Church speak of one having “The gift” of healing, this cannot be true. The exercise of the gift is by the Holy Spirit alone! (The believers are the vessels through which the “Greater Works” of Jesus are being done today.)

Those Greek words for healing are translated in the plural; “Gifts of Healings”. What takes place through the Holy Spirit could be a physical, mental or spiritual healing, whatever God has willed for that person.

Paul writes that not ever believer has the same gifts, not all are preachers, teachers but all are one Body of Christ and even if one is a toe in the Body, he gives them more honor, they may be the most gifted in your Church!

I believe there are some in Churches that preach or teach but do not have those gifts, maybe their Dad was a preacher or teacher and they just followed thinking it was the thing to do.

I remember being in a Church and I said to the Pastor that Christians did not need any man to teach them. I remember on the next Sunday, from the pulpit he rebuked me saying that he spoke to a Church member who said we didn’t need teachers of the Bible. My heart sank as I knew he did not understand that I was speaking about the Holy Spirit who is our true teacher and works through those with the gift of teaching. I truly believe that this Pastor did not have the gift for that position. I do remember his Pastor Father, a Spirit filled man, and we spoke together as brothers one night, we both were weeping, two weeks later he went to be with the Lord. The Holy Spirit had moved us both that night. I remember him asking me; “Brother Ken, will you join me in praying for a woman in need” He honored me and I honor him and miss him.

*I also remember a teacher that told our Sunday School Class that Jesus could have sinned along with saying he drank grape juice, not wine, I think he should try being an Usher which may be his gift.

The gifts of the Spirit are to be earnestly desired, pray that you will abound for the edification of the Church. Pursue Love which is the greatest and never fails!

*Love never fails!  John 3:16 If Jesus could have failed, God would be a failure but his will cannot be resisted as the Bible tells us. Jesus the second Adam could not sin or fail as he is God the Word in human flesh. Prophesy in the Old Testament  confirms the Lord’s victory over sin. In God’s mind it was already done, the Old Testament Saints like Job, Abraham and Moses looked forward to Christ’s death and resurrection which was first promised by the Lord to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel Genesis 3:15 NIV.

Please read 1-Corinthians, chapters 12 and 13, in chapter 13 you will find the gifts will only cease when Jesus returns, we will see him “Face to Face” and know as we are known for we shall be just like him.

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. 11-John 3:2 NLT.

Author Ken

May 2013

 Posted by at 8:35 am
May 232013
 

Speak to the Rock, don’t strike it!

When God’s people needed water in the dry desert, God told Moses to speak to a Rock but he struck it twice instead and pure water gushed out as a stream. Numbers 20:8

God was not pleased by this act as he was told to speak to the Rock, not strike it, for this Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Numbers 20:12

I see the Rock as a symbol of the separation between Law and Grace, Christ being the Rock, Moses the Law.

For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 NLT.

In the Book of Exodus Moses was told to strike the Rock which he did.

I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on. Exodus 17:6 NLT.

But when told to speak to the Rock he struck it twice in disobedience to God’s word. Christ died once to redeem us from our sins, striking the Rock again would symbolize Christ being crucified again!

Paul the Apostle was angry when the Galatian Church embraced Jewish Law brought to them through some Jews who confessed Jesus as their Messiah. This Church had been blessed while walking in the Spirit and liberty. When they embraced the Law of Moses they fell from grace but not from salvation.

Paul also said in the Book of Hebrews that those Jewish believers who returned to the Temple and participated again in sacrifices for sin had crucified the Lord anew, putting him to open shame, striking the Rock a second time!

It is impossible, I say, to keep bringing them back to a new repentance, for, to their own undoing, they are repeatedly crucifying the Son of God afresh and exposing Him to open shame. Hebrews 6:6

The pure water that flowed from the Rock is a symbol of the Holy Spirit that Jesus sent on the Day of Pentecost, he was there in the desert with Moses and his people.

* And all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 1-Corinthians 10:4 NLT.

He said, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 2-Samuel 22:2 NASB.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.  Psalm 18:2 NLT.

 

Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Psalm 71:3 NLT.

*Jesus Christ is our solid Rock, upon which he himself is building his Church, his Spiritual Body. The Greek word Jesus used for Peter was “Petros”, a pebble or small stone, Jesus as shown in God’s word is our Rock of Ages, our firm foundation!

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. Ephesians 2:20 NLT.

Author Ken

May 2013

 Posted by at 9:27 am
May 212013
 

CAN A TRUE CHRISTIAN LOSE THEIR SALVATION?

There are some Churches that teach this false doctrine that a believer can take themselves out of God’s hands through unbelief and sin. I fully understand this false doctrine as I and my wife attended an Arminian (Pentecostal) Church for many years, we believed and practiced their law of tithing, abstinence from alcohol. We were taught that every Christian must witness by speaking the word of God. We were told that people would go to Hell if we didn’t preach God’s word to the lost, this too is false! Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God but not all are preachers or teachers. 1-Corinthians 12:29 Jesus taught that our good works as Christians glorify God.  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NASB.

We Christians are to be “Living Epistles” read by all men, zealous of good works that God had prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Titus 2:14

Being not all are preachers or teachers what is the will of God for the believers without these gifts? It is NOT to be a fanatic preaching to everyone, I have done that, turned people off, almost lost my job. It is however to do good works, your light will shine and be seen by men and God will draw some that ask you what is the hope within you, then tell them what the Lord Jesus has done for you! This will be the work of the Holy Spirit and not your own.

Instead of telling everyone you will show them through your Good Works! Many say but don’t do! James said in regards to this; “Show me your faith and I will show you my works, as faith without works is dead, being alone” James 2:17 NASB.

Jesus said; “My sheep hear my voice and another they will not follow!” Did you know that a deceived mislead sheep of Jesus cannot stay in that condition? Why, because they have the Holy Spirit who will lead them out of the darkness and they were babes in Christ when they were misled. This is contrary to the Galatian believers who were running “So well” as Paul said, they knew the truth of God’s word yet they embraced the Jewish Law which the Judaizes (Jews who believed that Jesus was the Messiah) who crept into this Church and brought Jewish Law that caused the Galatian believers to fall from grace. (Not salvation).

This sheep’s eyes were opened when after years of bondage, someone in my Church said that salvation could be lost! That was a total shock to me, I had never given it a thought but I prayed and told the Lord, I don’t know if I can lose my salvation, whatever you reveal to me through your word I will believe until I die! Today, I know the truth that set me free, how can I lose that which is not mine to lose? I am a “Purchased” possession of God, bought with a price and “His” workmanship!  Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself  1-Corinthians 6:19 NLT.

There is nothing that can take us out of God’s hands, even our sins (Nakedness-Romans 8:35-39).

If we WILFULLY sin God will punish us as the faithful Father he is! Even if we sin the sin unto  death (Sexual sins as did the believer that the Apostle Paul gave into Satan’s hands for the destruction of his body (Death) but the salvation of his soul which would go to be with the Lord in Heaven).

For my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. John 10:29 NLT.

“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.” Isaiah 43:13 NLT.

God chose you to be his own, you received him because it was his will, not yours! You were drawn to the Lord Jesus Christ through the regeneration power of the Holy Spirit, he granted you Godly

repentance, and the “Gift” of faith so that you could believe.

He is with you forever, joined to your spirit, you are bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh!

But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.1-Corinthians 6:17 NLT.

If you could lose this, then God would have failed but we know this is not possible as the word tells us; “Who can resist His Will?”-NO ONE!

Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 NASB.

Author Ken.

April 2013

 Posted by at 9:00 am
May 052013
 

For the first time in all eternity, God suffers grief!

God who has existed from all eternity had perfect peace and harmony, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Then we read in Genesis; “Let us make man in our own image and likeness” Genesis 1:26

I want to say upfront that what I write about God is based upon what he reveals to me through his word, the Bible. When God created man, he fully knew that man would fall into sin and separation from himself. Many ask the obvious question, why did he create Satan and man knowing what would happen? It is an excellent question that has an answer!

In this modern world it is believed by many that all people have a “Free will” but I beg to differ. According to the word of God it is not true but there was a time when it was true. God created Lucifer an Archangel along with the other Angels of various positions of authority. We read of the fall of Lucifer (Now Satan, the adversary of God and his creation) through his pride, even wanting to have his Throne exalted above God’s.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. Isaiah 14:12 NLT.

“But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. Isaiah 14:13 NASB.

What I understand is that God allowed his creation to make free will choices of their own, even the choice to rebel and sin against him as Satan did along with a number of Angels. This begs the question why? We know Paradise lost was no surprise to God; in fact, he had already planned to send his only begotten Son to redeem many of his creation.

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast–all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. Revelation 13:8 NLT.

In his creation God allowed free will choices, they were not puppets on a string but why didn’t God just wipe them out and start over? God is perfect in all his ways, in mercy and compassion but also a righteous Judge! God hates sin, he cannot sin, neither can he tempt anyone to sin. It appears that Lucifer committed the first sin against God through pride, as a result he sealed his own fate but God has given him a period of time, his rule of the earth that Adam and Eve forfeited by believing Satan’s words rather than God’s. When this took place, man’s “Free will” was gone,All mankind now have a will bound to Satan who is as Jesus said; “The Prince of this world”.

It now is apparent that the reason God had allowed the fall of Satan and mankind was twofold, the first is to bring honor and glory to his Name (The giving of his Son is an unspeakable gift which no one can match or would have thought of to do! The just dying for the unjust, his enemy!) The second is to have a people for himself who would worship him in Spirit and Truth. We are HIS people who he saved from their sins!

Our God of mercy and compassion decided to save the many as Jesus said at the Last Supper. He sent Jesus to plunder Satan’s Kingdom, setting prisoners free, loosening them from bondage to Satan. (Circumcision was a picture of being loosed from sin with the shedding of blood).  God does a miracle for his people, the elect; he restores the free will they had lost through the fall of Adam and Eve.

Through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit they are given the “Godly repentance” a person needs in order to obtain salvation. (This was the true repentance preached by Peter in the Book of Acts) It is a supernatural ability that man on their own does NOT have! This, along with the “Gift of faith” enables the person to believe God’s word; they are then “Sealed” by the Holy Spirit, who will abide in them forever! An added gift is to once again have their free will restored.

They are now free to serve and obey God but can choose not to, even willfully sin! Being they are not their own but are God’s possession, there are consequences because of their new position as Son’s who the Father will correct, this proves his love for them.

Do you realize that only the believer can grieve God’s Holy Spirit? This is God himself suffering because of our willful sin.

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 NLT.

Even in the Old Testament his people grieved his Spirit by their lifestyle.

But they rebelled against him and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he became their enemy and fought against them. Isaiah 63:10 NLT

I love the Book of Hosea, in it the man of God is told to go to the “Slave” block and buy back his adulterous wife, which he does, she then loves and stays with him. It is a beautiful picture of our redemption through Christ, for us he went to Satan’s slave block where we were like Hosea’s wife. Like her, we had no hope yet Jesus came to redeem us, not with silver or gold but with the precious blood from Emanuel’s veins!

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 NLT.

The world’s sin has caused God to be angry and allow *evil to punish those dwell on the earth, his long suffering from that will end when Jesus returns to set up his Kingdom for 1000 years and show his perfect Reign compared to the sinful lawless Reign of man today!

*To allow evil is not doing evil, in this God accomplishes his will being done and always brings good out of it, unlike our enemy Satan!

Author Ken

May 2013

 Posted by at 12:04 pm
May 042013
 

What is God’s will for Christian giving?

As I have previously written, it is not paying the tithe, this was as Jesus had said was given to the Jews under the Law of Moses to do, not to the Church.  Jesus NEVER paid the tithe; neither did he tell his followers to do so! If anyone disagrees, show me in God’s word where the early Church received such a command. (For over 700 years the early Church did not pay the tithe, Paul never told them to do that!) It came later by the commandments of man, not God! I heard a Pastor speaking about those Churches that believe that Christians are to tithe, he said when they are challenged by others who correctly state that the Church is not under the Law, they then refer to Abraham who paid a tithe before the Law. The Pastor said that they tell their congregations that God requires them to pay the tithe and quote Malachi 3: 8 & 9 “Will a man rob God” and that if they don’t tithe they are under a curse! (Verse 9) The Pastor pointed out that they try to have it both ways, first they say the tithe was not the Law but use the Law in order to make the congregation pay the tithe. With these Churches it seems the focus is always about money and they always have a new project or need a bigger building. I wonder how many actually pay the tithe and that based upon the gross salary? I don’t believe many do therefore according to their own belief are put under condemnation every time they are asked for the tithe, even as Malachi wrote; “You are cursed with a curse”. I would advise those who wish to know the truth about the tithe to read Malachi, in verse 9 the Lord is speaking only to the Nation of Israel. I personally do not believe that any person who tithes is as Paul the Apostle wrote; “A cheerful giver” because the giving of the tithe is “Under compulsion” as a requirement of the Law and under a curse for failure to do so! Please read my link on my web page entitled “The best I have ever read about tithing”, there is an article written by a fellow Christian that will settle the question of should the Church pay tithes, it is titled “The tithe is illegal”. Check out the scripture below, it speaks volumes, the truth frees!

In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed. 2-Peter 2: 3 NLT.

 

We know from God’s word that he wills that believers be persons with “Giving” hearts. This is a reflection of God their Father who gave the greatest gift of all, his only begotten Son to die for our sins. (John 3:16)

God is love and true love gives rather than receives. Now the real question for the believer is; who, what, when and how?

Jesus said; “Without me, you can do nothing”, he is the Vine, we are the branches!  (John 15).

Can we give our good works, money without him? Absolutely not! According to the word of God, all our good works done outside of his “Pre-ordained” works are “Filthy rags” in his sight!

For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Isaiah 64:6 NASB.

At the judgment of all our works done as Christians by the Lord Jesus himself, only those “Pre-ordained” works will receive a reward as they are the works of God himself! The works that were done through the flesh will all be burned up. If all a believer’s works are burned up, he/she will be saved as though through fire.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or *bad. 2-Corinthians 5:10 NASB.

*The word bad actually means “Worthless”. This judgment is of works only! All the believer’s sins were paid for at the cross, never again to be remembered by God! Hebrews 10:17. When Christ died on the cross ALL our sins were future, there is no sin he did not die for. If we willfully sin while in this flesh we will be punished as a son, not as an unbeliever who will be separated from God forever.The Lord said this to King David and it applies to all believers, sons and daughters!

I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men. 2-Samuel 7:14 NIV.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned (Pre-ordained) for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT.

He works in us through the Holy Spirit to do his will, not ours, our Lord Jesus is the perfect example of this by saying; “Not my will Father but thine be done”.

The key is faith, every believer is given a “Measure” of faith and through obedience this faith will grow! The new born Christian is to study God’s word the Bible, not yield to sin but be completely devoted to Jesus, our first love! This will lead to becoming a “Mature” son who is led by the Holy Spirit, doing God’s perfect will through the good works HE had pre-ordained that you walk in them to HIS glory.

Your giving will be as the Holy Spirit directs you, your heart will be “Tuned in” as to who and when to give, and this too was pre-ordained by God.

These are the “Greater works that” Jesus said we would do, they are more in quantity, not in quality, in fact it is Jesus himself in us who does the works!

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2-Corinthians 5:20 NASB.

Jesus is doing the works through us and we are rewarded for them because of our obedience through faith, which is the ONLY way to please him!

Always remember that we are in a spiritual warfare against the flesh and its sinful lusts!  It is by walking after and being filled with the Holy Spirit that we will keep the flesh at bay along with its many lusts!

Believers should pray as Jesus said, to ask the Father for more of his Holy Spirit’s power,  those who ask will receive, this is the promise from him. Always remember believer, you do not know how to pray! But however feeble or weak you think your prayer is, it is brought before our Father through the Holy Spirit as a perfect prayer!

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; Romans 8:26 NASB.

My prayer for myself and for all those who read this message is that they would hear one day from the Lord Jesus himself these words; “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”, this to me would mean that we have obeyed him by doing HIS will and not our own.

Author Ken

May 2013

 Posted by at 11:32 am