*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

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

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

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

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