The weakness of God.

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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, 2 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. 3 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. 4 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

Do you understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

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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

Speak to the Rock, don’t strike it!

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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

My darkness and my light.

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May 222013
 

My darkness and my light.

I love the early morning sunrise with the birds singing, the dark night receding.

A new day has been born and for that I sing a new song!

In my meditation on this day I did ponder of the darkness of the many years I did wander.

It was a time of much pain and sorrow, no hope for tomorrow.

I loved the darkness for it hid my sin but not from the Lord who saw it from within.

One day his glorious light did shine upon my soul, his conviction of my evil fallen

nature led me to the only one who could make me whole.

Jesus said to me; “You are my friend and I will be with you to the end”.

Then my darkness did flee, never to return, now I know, salvation cannot be earned.

If you have a longing for light and pray for spiritual sight, you will find him, and know that you are his delight!

 

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT.

Author Ken

May 2013

 Posted by at 8:21 am

How long Lord?

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May 222013
 

How long Lord?

How long before you cause this evil world’s sin to cease?

When will we see your Christ’s rule of this world, bringing us much Joy and peace?

As a young man many years ago, a different Nation I did see,

we all sang America the beautiful, my country tis of thee!

Truly our Land was filled with liberty, purchased by great men

of valor who defeated our enemies as the entire world did see.

Morality then was something to uphold, those who did practice sin, never wanted their story told.

Today the Gates of Hell have gone forward, the evil ones, their works we do behold.

Much evil has rushed in like a flood, Satan has offered many pleasures beyond measure, and he has become very bold.

He says; your sins prove you belong to me, a small price I require,

it’s just your soul, a small matter to you I see.

Not everyone is caught in his web of deceit, true Christians will never bow at Satan’s feet.

The judgment of this world and Satan is near, the sign of the Son of man in the sky will appear, the Great Tribulation upon those who hate God will be something great to fear!

Before the Great Tribulation takes place, his Bride the Church, will rise to meet their Savior and King in the skies.

We will live and reign with him in his 1000 year Kingdom on this earth, what a blessing it will be, all because of the new birth!

 

*He is like a roaring Lion, looking for someone to eat, those without the Lord Jesus, Satan they cannot defeat.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1-Peter 5:8 NLT.

The “Good News” is Jesus defeated the Prince of this world at the Cross. All those who call upon him through believing will be saved and translated from Satan’s Kingdom to the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus. At the Last Supper the Lord prayed a special prayer for all believers. He asked that they be kept safe by the Father and that the evil one not touch them, both prayers were answered!

 

“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.

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. John 17:15 NLT.

Every believer who comes to Jesus is a gift from the Father as Jesus himself proclaimed!

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out. John 6:37 NASB.

Author Ken

April 2013

 Posted by at 8:17 am

Happy Mother’s Day!

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May 222013
 

Happy Mother’s Day!

Hey moms, hope many good things this day come your way.

We miss our moms who have gone to a better place but remember their

smiling face and warm embrace.

No matter what the heartbreak or care, mom was always there, her soft words did deliver us from despair.

She was tireless in her work and cooking, all the little things she did when

no one was looking.

For family and friends, her love had no end; her joy was with them, much

happy time to spend.

Now on this day as the sun does rise, I think of mom with tears in my eyes, but be still my soul, she is in Heaven, far beyond the skies.

Dedicated to our moms; Angie and Marian.

 

Author Ken

May 2013

 Posted by at 8:09 am

Gravity, magnets and other invisable things!

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May 222013
 

Gravity, magnets and other invisible things!

How does gravity hold us down, with our feet planted on the ground?

How do planes and birds in the air do fly, this too I wonder why?

Two magnets that face each other draw close as a little kid I did discover,

turn them around and they will repel each other!

*God’s laws are always sound, one holds us up, the other pulls us down.

We know we cannot defy God’s law, when we stumble and fall, we will hit the

floor!

Look to Jesus, he is the way, the truth and the door!

*Though God is invisible we can see his infallible laws that rule our creation.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 NIV.

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:20 NLT.

“I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9 NASB.

Author Ken

May 2013

 Posted by at 8:05 am

Do you know if you are going to Heaven?

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May 222013
 

Do you know if you are going to Heaven?

Or have you been eating of the bread that contains leaven?

Those who eat the bread with leaven die; it comes from those who preach God’s word with a lie.

What is this leaven you may ask, it is a poison that will spoil the whole

loaf as Jesus did say, he alone is the unleavened bread from Heaven by the way!

What the evil Pharisees offered the people that day was a bread with Satan’s leaven to lead them astray; it still exists in some Churches until this day. It is the Law through the commandments of men, not of grace and liberty but of works of man pleasers for all to see. Their condemnation is sure as the Judge of the earth is at the door.

No leaven means to be without sin, what those Pharisees offered could not cleanse from within.

They loved the Law and their own righteousness so all could see, they professed that it is the only way to be justified before thee.

The Law in all its glory and holiness was never meant for us to obey, it is a strict school teacher God gave to us to guide us to Jesus for he is the only way.

Before Christ came, Moses’ laws served as our guardian. Christ came so that we could receive God’s approval by faith. Galatians 3:24 God’s Word.

He alone kept all the Law from A to Z; he did it for you and me!

He is the unleavened one, true bread from above, the sinless Lamb, God

the word, the Son, through him only the battle is won.

Trying to be good will not make you right with God, you need a Jewish lawyer who in your place did trod.

He is the broken unleavened bread who died in your stead, he took your place before our righteous God and Father, in you he now sees Jesus and looks no farther!

*Now you sins are gone forever, white as snow, no longer can he remember them; for far from him did they go!

*He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west Psalm 103:12 NLT.

I remember being at a Passover Seder, I remember that the broken Matzah that was hidden represented Jesus suffering and death on the cross. When it was found there was rejoicing, this represented his resurrection and victory over sin and death. This Seder and what it meant was taught to us by a Jewish believer.

I dedicate this poem to my brother in the Lord Danny Siegel.

Author Ken

May 2013

 Posted by at 7:53 am

Can a true Christian lose their salvation?

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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

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

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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
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