A still small voice, not a tremendous noise!

I remember reading about God’s Prophet Elijah, he was used mightily by the Lord but when Jezebel threatened to take his life he went a day’s journey into the wilderness to hide from her.

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.” 1-Kings 19:4 NASB.

What is amazing is that Elijah had called down fire from heaven upon King Ahab’s fifty men twice, destroying them both times and yet a threat from Jezebel caused him much fear.

 

Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 2-Kings 1:10 NASB.

 

Twice the King had sent fifty men and twice fire came down from Heaven and killed them. The third fifty sent, the Captain begged the Prophet for their lives!

 

Jezebel was a heathen Princess who became Ahab’s Queen, she ran the show with Ahab being just a figure head, a rubber stamp for her actions. A wicked woman was she, who had many of God’s Prophets murdered. She worshiped many false god’s. Her husband King Ahab lost his life because he allowed her to worship her Pagan gods among God’s people in their land.

 

*When she threatened God’s Prophet Elijah she lost her own life, she was thrown out a window and dashed to pieces on the pavement below and the dogs ate her body. Even today her name is used as a synonym for a wicked woman as found in the Book of Revelation. “Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds”. Revelation 2:22 NASB..

*So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” 1-Kings 19:2 NLT.

 

While hiding in the wilderness, the Angels (Angel cake food, not likely!) fed Elijah who was so weak and discouraged that he wanted to die, truly a man like us. (I believe the food given by the Angels to Elijah was like the “Manna” given to God’s people in the wilderness. It sustained Elijah and nourished his body).

 

Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 1-Kings 19:11 NLT. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 1-Kings 19:12 NLT.

A gentle whisper, a small voice, this fits perfectly with God’s voice in our hearts. As Elijah had thought and as humans would believe today that the awesome events had to be God but they were not, he was in the whisper! It is the Holy Spirit who is that voice; “Not by might, not by power, but my Spirit says the Lord”. It is NOT through the “Carnal/Human” mind that God speaks to us today as He has spoken to His servants before. The Carnal mind whether they are believers or unbelievers CANNOT receive the things of God. Unbelievers can NEVER hear Him, believers can hear Him again when they repent from their carnality. (When we WILFULLY sin, we cannot hear God). Jezebel crept into Church and had led some believers to commit adultery. Her punishment along with those who engaged in this deadly sin was just. Jesus had warned them about this. No one in the Church, even today escapes His judgment/examination of our deeds, Jezebel was a warning to the Church, be sure your sins will find you out!

 

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Romans 8:7 ESV.

 

In order to hear God’s “Still small voice” we must be “Tuned In”, our minds set on Jesus our devotion to him. Abhor sin, love good works, don’t doubt, ask our Father for more of the Holy Spirit as Jesus said. When you pray, take time to be “Still” and listen for God’s whisper from the Holy Spirit. I have heard Him like a thought in my mind through my spirit, I knew it was not my own thought as I questioned it. It was in my sleep when I heard the word “Psalms” which I questioned by thinking Psalms? Then I heard like a whisper; “Psalm 129:5 verse 5”.

When I got up Sunday morning I remembered what I heard in my mind that night but did not understand what it meant so I looked in my Bible for that scripture and verse. The scripture read; “May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backwards.” After I read it I was puzzled and prayed; “Lord what does this mean, who is Zion?”. The Lord said to me in my mind; “The true Zion of God is every believer in Jesus Christ whether Jew or Gentile” This fits perfectly with what Paul the Apostle answered in regard to the question one may ask; “Who is a true Jew?”. It is not one born of the flesh, as the seed of Abraham was from the promise through faith to God’s chosen ones, not the children born of the flesh! Remember Jesus replying to those who boasted that they were descendants of Abraham, Jesus replied; “God can make these stones descendants of Abraham”. What Jesus confirmed was only those of the spiritual seed of Abraham would believe in Him.

In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. Romans 9:8 NIV.

 

No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. Romans 2:29 NLT.

This verse confirms the words of Jesus that Jew and Gentile must be “Born Again”, born from above, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, believing in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. As the verse states, this circumcision of the heart (Spirit) is through Grace and not the Law or good works.

I know today that the Lord gave me that scripture to comfort me through all my many trials and persecutions, He considers me true Zion, a true Jew in my spirit and worshiper of God. Those who had persecuted me were put to shame and turned backwards, exactly as He had told me.

In the early Church the Holy Spirit spoke to the Apostles, remember HE is a person, God, the Holy Spirit and can be grieved by willful sinning.

Elijah learned a lesson from God that He is concerned and cares for us. He saw his Prophet being weak and filled with fear and came to his rescue with heavenly food and more important He gave him a special revelation of Himself. His power working through the Holy Spirit, supernaturally, not by might or earthly powers.

Author Ken

October 2012

The flesh stinks!

There are not many of us who like unpleasant smells, bad body odor is not appealing but dead things are the worst, like “Dead Works”.

Did you know that according to God’s word the works of the flesh performed outside of faith is like “Filthy Rags” in God’s sight, they stink!

“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” John 11:39 NLT.

The above scripture is what I have based this blog upon, it is the awesome account of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead.

He had been dead for four days in a sealed Tomb so you can understand Martha’s concern about bad the smell would be.

Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” John 11:43 NLT.

The rotted stinking flesh was restored to the way it was before his death.

His spirit returned from Paradise giving life to his body. The body without the spirit is dead.

The Book of James confirms this; for just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:26 NASB.

In Romans chapter 7 Paul the Apostle reveals his personal warfare against his flesh, saying;   for I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  Romans 7:18 NLT.

So Paul agrees, the flesh does stink because nothing good dwells in it! When we read all of Romans 7, it reveals the “Warfare” every believer faces, the New Nature through the Holy Spirit wars against the flesh, the *corruptible body that was not changed at conversion but will be in the future.

Paul is so troubled by what he experiences through the flesh, that is, doing the very thing he hates. This is a paradox, because he says he is not doing it, the flesh is! He then explains that in his “New Man”, the “Inner Man” he loves God’s Law.  For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man. Romans 7:22 NASB.

This conflict between his flesh and (His saved) spirit causes him to cry out that he is a rotten man and asks who can deliver him from his body of death (Paraphrased).

His answer is found in Romans 8, those who have faith in the Lord Jesus will never be condemned!   So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus Romans 8:1 NLT.

All Christians, like Paul are in a struggle against sin which God hates and says; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” 1-Peter 1:16 NASB.

The good news is that when you first believed you were “Sealed” by the Holy Spirit, and despite your sinful corruptible flesh, you are Holy, your body being the Temple of God. As we are Holy in our inner man we are to “Work out” what God has worked in, that is to do the “Good Works” he has ordained.

I must note that in all Paul’s struggle with sin, none of it was “Willful”, that being the case he received “Grace upon Grace” and the Lord helped him keep his body under subjection. Willful sinning brings God’s faithful correction upon his children, it is a sign that proves his love for us!

If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Hebrews 12:8 NLT.

As Christians we are Light and Salt to the world but to some we stink and smell like death but to others we smell like the sweet aroma of Christ.

Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 2-Corinthians 2:15 NASB.

To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?  2-Corinthians 2:16 NLT.

Devotion to Jesus should be the Christian’s goal. Jesus told us to ask our Father for more of his Holy Spirit, He is the key to the power to live the Christian life. I believe obedience to God’s word brings the infilling of the Holy Spirit and through him you will be yoked to Jesus, things become easy as he is pulling the load!

*The Born Again believer no longer has an “Old Nature” as some have taught, that old nature was their dead spirit, when saved it is replaced by God with new nature and is a “New Creation, the old has passed away. This new nature cannot sin, loves God and his word and is joined to Jesus through the Holy Spirit, thus “One” with him as Jesus did pray at the Last Supper. I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as we are.  John 17: 11 NASB  Paul the Apostle in Romans 7 explains his personal experience with this warfare going on in his body, he finds that even though he loves God and his Law in his saved spirit (Heart) he still sins but not willingly! His comfort comes from the knowledge that he never will be condemned by God-Romans 8: 1 NASB.

 

“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:30 NASB.

 

 

Author Ken

October 2012

Can a person who has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ lose their salvation?

 

*The answer is no! How can you lose that which is not yours?

 

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 1-Corinthians 6:19 NASB.

 

You are the purchased possession of God; the Father gave you to Jesus, he bought you from Satan’s slave block of sin with his own blood.  Just as the Lord had Hosea buy back his wife from the slave block. God used Hosea and his wife to show us how he would save us. He would send his only sinless Son to give his life for us on the cross, purchase us from the slavery of Satan,  a pure act of  love!

 

He also said, “I will put my trust in him,” that is, “I and the children God has given me.” Hebrews 2:13 NLT.

 

Jesus is not ashamed to call us believer’s brothers and sisters because we are ALL from the same Father and at the cross he purchased us with His own blood.

 

So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:11 NLT.

 

*Some Churches preach a false doctrine denying “Eternal Security”, that is they deny the Lord’s own words of; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. John 10:28 NASB.

 

I have personally heard in one of those Churches someone say; “You can take yourself out of God’s hands”. Talk about twisting scripture! The word says “No one will snatch them out”, doesn’t the “No one” include themselves?

Or are they saying that they are greater that God? It seems to me that this doctrine is just one of Satan’s many deceptions in some of our modern Churches.

I believe the following scripture explains these people very well along with their own self-righteousness which comes through the Law and works. (Legalism) Avoid them as God’s word tells us to do! “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” 2-Timothy 3:5 NLT. Don’t let these fakers steal your joy with their lies and twisting of scripture, for the Truth (Jesus) has set you free! The following two scriptures refute their pet doctrine of salvation by works. (Good works will come as a result of salvation proving that the person had received the free gift of faith and that faith without works is dead, being by itself!)  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Ephesians 2:8 NASB. Not as a result of works, so that no one may boast Ephesians 2:9 NASB.

Those who offer their own “Good Works” for salvation rather than the completed work of our Lord Jesus

Christ on the cross are in for a rude awakining. Read what God thinks about their Good Works!

We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. Isaiah 64:6 NLT.

Only faith in Jesus can save you! Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NLT.

I pray that what I have shown from God’s word will strengthen my brothers and sisters in Christ. My hope is that they will reject false doctrines, legalism and grow to maturity in their walk with the Lord being led by the Holy Spirit.

 

It is said in God’s word that in the last days that there would be “Apostasy” in the Church. Indeed today we do see false teachers/preachers who have crept into the Church. There are also the “Tares” (Fake believers, they talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. You will know them by their rotten fruit, they live as religious Church going people, take communion, but they love their sin which comes from their lusts within. They are devoid of the Holy Spirit) whom **Satan places in the Church. Satan had learned that after killing many Christians that they only grew stronger so he decided to join the Church in order to subvert it from within. Be on your guard my fellow Christians.

**and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one Matthew 13:38 NASB.

I dedicate this blog to my “Ace” brother Mike.

 

Author Ken

October 2012

What does God’s word say about killing?

There is much misunderstanding on this subject; God is Love and perfect in every way! He cannot sin or lie. He allows evil (Cannot do evil, is long suffering towards us and will bring perfect justice according to his own will and time-frame) and through evil he always brings good. Samson’s Riddle revealed this fact; So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” But they could not tell the riddle in three days Judges 14:14 NASB.

Samson was attacked by a young lion which he tore in two. The lion represents the evil that comes at the believer through Satan, honeybees built a nest in the carcass. In this Samson saw the Lord turning around Satan’s attacks in order to strengthen his faith and give him spiritual food. The Lord does the same for us today through our trials in which we are more than conquerors.  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us Romans 8:37 NASB.

Did you know that there is an incorrect translation in the King James Version of one of the Ten Commandments? The King James says; Thou shall not kill but the true translation is found in the New King James version which correctly says; “Thou shall not MURDER”.

If kill was the correct word then we could not kill anything according to God’s word. God directed David’s armies to kill the enemies of Israel, in the Bible we see God allowing Armies to kill not murder.*

In Romans Chapter 13 we read that all Authority is set up by God for our good, those who break the Law suffer the consequences. I must note that fallen man hates the rule of Law. Today we see the evidence of what the Lord calls; “Lawlessness” in our Nation at the highest level. The Lord warns those in authority that to whom much is given, much is required! Some men’s sins are evident, some follow after (In the Great White Throne Judgment of the lost) And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. Revelation 20:12 NASB.

Soldiers asked Jesus a question- Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” Luke 3:14 NASB.

Jesus confirms God’s word that it is lawful to serve in the Military.

To kill when ordered to do so, but he added that even as a Soldier they were to be moral, serving with honor. (It is my belief that these Soldiers had faith in Jesus, this is why they came to him asking what to do) We have seen throughout History those in Armies who have been immoral and have murdered prisoners and civilians thumbing their noses at the Geneva Convention’s rules. The moral Soldiers in these Armies refused orders to murder innocent civilians or prisoners, they honored God over their own lives.

*God kills, only man murders, fallen man is under the power of the evil one Satan, who is a murderer from the beginning. He caused Cain to murder Able, and he is behind all those who take up the sword against those at peace in the world. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one 1-John 5:19 NIV.

God is the one who defeats those who take up the sword, they are defeated by the sword through the Armies he blesses and helps to obtain victory. The evil sword is repelled by God’s righteous sword! “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed”, For in the image of God He made man. Genesis 9:6 NASB. This is God’s warning to all murderers, it is God’s will that they be killed. That is not always carried out by those who reject God’s word. Fallen mankind has substituted their own commandments over Gods.  Jesus mentioned this when he rebuked the unrighteous Pharisees, even saying that Satan was their Father. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 NASB.

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword Matthew 26:52 NASB.

Author Ken

October 2012

The days are evil.

Are we evil too?

How can you ask that Ken? There are many good people around Today! What about those in the Ministry? In the word of God a man called Jesus; “Good Master”,  Jesus replied; “Why do you call me good?”. No one is good except God alone Mark 10:18 NASB. Jesus also said: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11 NASB. Some don’t ask so they don’t get! Jesus spoke of persistance in prayer, keep knocking and you will receive! The evil Judge gave a penniless woman her request, growing weary of her constantly coming before him. Jesus said; “How much more will your Father in Heaven give to you his children who cry out to Him continually?” Remember, Jesus said the Father will only give “Good” gifts to His children!

But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Luke 5:5-8 NASB. (Sinful man is evil, our sinless Lord is Holy!) Paul the Apostle also saw this contrast; It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all 1-Timothy 1:15 NASB.

What is the answer to the question Jesus asked of this man? Simple, Jesus is God and good, the man did not know who He is! (Remember Jesus said: “Unless you believe I AM HE, you will die in your sins” John 8:24).

From Adam and Eve, sin has given mankind a fallen nature, inwardly (Blind in spirit)  and outwardly the sins of the flesh. All believers have a “New Nature”. Our dead to God spirits were made alive through the regeneration by the Holy Spirit. We are made to be “One spirit” with Him. “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him” 1-Corinthians 6:17 NASB.

So those who believe and serve God are Holy and sinless in their “Inner Man”( spirit/heart) but still can yield to sin in the flesh. All believers are in a warfare against it. I highly recommend reading Romans 7. (Paul in his battle with sin in his flesh cries out for deliverance. He finds it in Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. This is God saying to those believers struggling with sin as Paul was, the Lord is saying  “your sins cannot separate you from my Love!” Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness (Symbol of sin), or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35 NASB.)  The Apostle Paul reveals he still sins but not willingly! He states correctly that this comes from the flesh. God, for His own purposes left all believers in corruptible bodies. In these bodies we all we groan, by the way. God has declared our corruptible bodies Holy as they are His Temple. He also promises to give us “New Bodies”, uncorrupted like Jesus has. Then we will never sin again, being freed from the presence and power of sin forever. We will receive our new bodies when He returns.

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.

As Paul said, nothing good dwells in the flesh. Romans 7:18 * So in that respect we are evil. But as believers we have a new nature, a new heart that hates the corruptible flesh and wars against it. We as Paul are given Grace upon Grace in this warfare, don’t give up, you have higher help!

Should we sin that this Grace would abound? God forbid, Jesus died for our sins at such a great cost. Therefore it is willful sin that brings correction which can be grievous (Whom the Lord loves, He corrects). Paul wrote that willful sin will bring God’s correction that can include death, going to Heaven early! To avoid this and other correction, examine yourself before communion, confess your sins. Do not cling to confessed sin, this leads to a guilt trip and no joy! When God forgives He also forgets! “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” Hebrews 8:12 NASB. God looks at the heart of every believer and sees His Son Jesus. When we all are revealed one day in glory, God Himself will sing**. He will have many exactly like His Son; this will give Him great pleasure!

 

*An addition to the “Days are evil”

And because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man John 2:25 NASB.

What was it Lord that you knew what was in man? Jesus saw our fallen nature. Our spirits unable to communicate with God, a perfect fellowship broken due to sin. Jesus saw our hearts, (spirits) desperately wicked. (The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 KJV). (You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks Matthew 12:34 NIV).

Tough words but true from the God man Jesus. Who else would know what is in us? He created us, not fallen, by the way!

Did you know God hates sins and cannot look upon it? Moses was God’s chosen but when he asked to see God in all His glory, he could not see Him face to face. If he did he would have died. One day we, the Church His Bride, will see Him “Face to Face” (For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known 1-Corinthians 13:12 NASB).

But Moses being in sinful flesh as we are also, could not gaze upon the Almighty and live. He was only able to see the back parts of God (“Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.” Exodus 33:22-23 NASB).

Can you imagine how horrible it was for Jesus, God the Son in the flesh to become sin for us. He who knew no sin became a serpent, (A symbol of sin which poisons and kills) the one who God the Father would unleash His anger and fury upon for us!

The Gospel is good news to the sinner’s ear. The sinner by faith in Jesus can go from a fallen condition to a righteous position!

 

 

 

**Zephaniah 3: 17 For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight
in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (NLT).

The Hebrew word for “singing” actually means “a ringing cry” with a sense of joy. What a great verse! God sings. Since He is perfect in every way, I will look forward to hearing the beauty of His voice. The Bible tells us that He gave all of His creatures the ability to sing. Job says the angels, who are also called “stars” in Job, can sing (By permission).

Ken

March 2012