Independence Day July 4, 2023

 Independence Day July 4, 2023

Today in The United States of America we celebrate our 247th year of independence from the tyrannical rule of the king of England and our return to the Sovereign rule of The True GOD, JEHOVAH!

Yet for the last 123 years we have slowly surrendered the Sovereignty of GOD over our nation to communism!

Today the call for us as a nation is even louder than it was in the 1770s for us to call out to JEHOVAH to forgive our sins, for us to turn from our selfish and wicked ways and for us to return to the foundation of Faith in JESUS CHRIST as LORD and King of America.

As President John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!” We need to pray for forgiveness and for GOD’s Will to be done in America as it is in Heaven! We need to return to the strong foundation of The Bible as the “Chief cornerstone” of our government and society.

GOD Will Bless America as we seek Him first and His Righteousness!

Raising Your Child In The Fear Of The LORD!

Raising Your Child In The Fear OF The LORD!

Judges 13:8,12 “Then Manoah entreated ADONAI and said, ‘My LORD, please let the Man of GOD Whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we will do for the boy who will be born.’ Then Manoah said, ‘Now may Your Words come about! What will be the child’s rule of life and his mission?’” Proverbs 22:6

Two things I have always missed in reading about Samson, his father’s request to GOD to teach them how to raise their son in his gift and calling. The Angel of The LORD is JESUS!; verse 18,22 “But The Angel of ADONAI said to him, ‘Why do you ask for my name? It is Wonderful.’ Manoah said to his wife, ‘We will surely die, because we have seen GOD!’” Isaiah 9:6

Solomon, knowing the story of Samson understood this principle when he wrote the proverb that is Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Paul understood this by Timothy’s lifestyle, even though his father was a Greek his mother and grandmother were Christians and raised him up in the way he should go. “But you must continue in the things you have learned and been assured of knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have know the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for Salvation through Faith which is in CHRIST JESUS.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15.

Many modern Christian parents, myself included took their children to Church but did not have family devotion times of prayer, worship and studying The Bible. Of those that I  know that did, their children are all strong Christians today.

If you want to have the promised result of Proverbs 22:6 you have to train your child in the Way of The LORD, not just take them to Church and Sunday School, even Christian Schools are not that beneficial because most of the students are not Born Again serving The LORD Christians.

We are responsible for raising our children in The Fear of The LORD! And we will be held accountable for their blood. Ezekiel 33 and 34 speak to this principle of being responsible for not warning when we should be warning, if this applies to others how much more does it apply to our own family?

Might - Can

https://youtu.be/Pz0qdUxDDSc?si=Y7L2hwBr-VP8GZSt

 Might - Can

“For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we MIGHT become The Righteousness of GOD in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

“For GOD made JESUS, Who knew no sin to be sin for me, that I MIGHT become The Righteousness of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 My version

“Let this mind be in you which was also in CHRIST JESUS, Who, being in the Form of GOD, did not consider it something to be held onto to be equal with GOD, but made Himself of no reputation, taking on the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He Humbled Himself and became Obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8

“By the Supernatural miracle of GOD’s Grace I stand Justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, not because I have repented, but because of What JESUS Has Done.” Oswald Chambers

In 2 Corinthians 5:21 Might is the key word, based on what JESUS did we can have the same mind as He did and give our life to obey The Father’s Will, THEN we can become The Righteousness of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.

Living The Christian Life!

 Living The Christian Life!

There is so much going on in the world today, too much evil and wickedness that as Christians it is hard to wait on GOD to bring judgment. Yet it is important that we understand that GOD is working out His Will in His Timing. 

The hardest thing for us is the trials and tribulations that we face daily, life is a struggle. Even Scriptures like Isaiah 54:17 and 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 don't seem to help. All over the world people are suffering for their sins, but we are the children of GOD, why are we suffering?

Why was James, the brother of John killed by Herod but Peter was set free by The HOLY SPIRIT? Why do the wicked prosper while Christians suffer? Why was Paul beheaded and John given the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST?

As we read and study the book of Acts we see the many trials and persecutions that Paul experienced, but according to his testimony in 2 Corinthians 11:22-33 that was only about one third of them.

JESUS did not call us to the good life as some preach! JESUS called us to give up our life and take up His Life. To bear our cross and obey Him, to die to ourself so we can live for Him; Matthew 10:34-39

Read and study these Scriptures, look to GOD for His Grace and Peace no matter how hard your life is, no matter the struggle your ministry has; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11, 4:7-18, 10:3-6; 2 Timothy 1:8-12, 4:6-8.

Persecutions, trials and tribulations are the norm for those who love GOD and serve Him. Not only that but GOD tests us to show us what we actually believe and how much we will obey His Commands! Don't be discouraged but trust in GOD; Hebrews 12:1-17.

Eternity What Is It?

 Eternity What Is It?

JESUS told us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve GOD and mammon (riches).” Matthew 6:19-21, 24 (Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:13-21; Colossians 2:1-3; Hebrews 11:23-26)

“But we have this Treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellence of The Power may be of GOD and not of us.”  2 Corinthians 4:7 (Colossians 1:24-29)

All of The Bible is about Eternity, from the first words, “In the beginning GOD…” to the last words, “He Who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, LORD JESUS! The Grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with you all. Amen.”

The struggle many Christians have is that we are almost always thinking in the now, and so is GOD, “Now is the day of Salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) The problem is that we get caught up in the daily issues of life thinking about the problems of today and calling on GOD to help and deliver us when the Bible is clear that is not always His Purpose. “Seek The LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6

We claim many scriptures that are true but sometimes miss applied to what we want without asking GOD what His purpose is. We also expect the answer sooner rather than later and that is not always GOD’s purpose for our situation.

Every promise in The Scriptures will be fulfilled as will every judgment, just not always in our lifetime. Eternity is not the string of time in which we live but from before creation until after CHRIST’s 1000 year reign over the nations. The Scriptures tell us that CHRIST was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth, (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8) yet we know that about 2000 years ago, about 4000 years from creation, JESUS was born of a virgin, crucified and raised from the dead.

Time is not a factor to GOD, Heaven is outside of time, He did not create time when He made all of the different angels, Heaven is timeless. Some of the angels have rebelled against GOD, and He cast them to the earth after He made it (I do not believe that Lucifer rebelled against GOD until GOD made humanity in His Own Image). (Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:17-20; Revelation 12:7-12)

There are two forces at work in time:

One will triumph: 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; 2 Corinthians 2:14-15; Revelation 20:4, 21:1-22:5

One will be destroyed: Matthew 10:28, 25:41; Revelation 20:10.

Why we know that we will suffer in life: Matthew 5:10-12, 10:34-39; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; James 1:2-8; 1 Peter 4:12-19.

Definitions

E-ter-ni-ty n.,1. Time without beginning or end; infinite time. 2. The state of quality of being eternal. 3a. The timeless state following death. b. The afterlife; immortality. 4. A very long or seemingly endless time; waited for an eternity.

The American Heritage College Dictionary Fourth Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company

Eternity: 5703 ‘ad, ad; from 5710; prop. A (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by impl.) duration, in the sense of ddvance or perpetuity (substantially as a noun, either with or without a prep.):-eternity, ever (-lasting, -more), old, perpetually, + world without end.

Strongs Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible, MacDonald Publishing Company

Isaiah 57:15 “For thus says The High and Lofty OneWho inhabits Eternity, Whose Name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the High and Lofty Place,with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” NKJV This is the only time Eternity is used in the King James Version.

Eternal, World: 5769 ‘ôwlâm, o-lamm’; or ‘ôlâm, o-lawm’; from 5956; prop. Concealed, i.e.the vanishing point; gen. time out of mind (past or fut.), i.e. (practically) eternity; freq. adv. (espc. with prep. pref.) always:-alway (-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, [n-]) ever (-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (+ without end). Comp. 5331, 5703

Strongs Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible, MacDonald Publishing Company

Isaiah 60:15 “Whereas You have been forsaken and hated, so that no one went through You, I will make You an Eternal Excellence, a Joy of many generations.” NKJV This is the only time ‘ôwlâm is used as eternal in the KJV.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put Eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that GOD does from beginning to end.” NKJV This and Isaiah 57:15 are the only places in the New King James Version where Eternity is found. In The King James Version world is used for Eternity. “He hath made every thing beautiful in His time; also He hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that GOD maketh from the beginning to the end”

Eternity: 165 aiōn, ahee-ohn’; from the same as 104; prop. an age; by extens. perpetuity (also past); by impl. the world; spec. (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future):-age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-]ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end). Comp. 5550

Luke 1:33 “He shall Reign over the House of Jacob for all Eternity, and His Kingdom will be without end.” Living Tree Version, In the KJV it says, “And He shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.”

The point is to stop thinking about everything in the natural, and to think about everything in the eternal. Because only the eternal counts now, after death and judgment, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is CHRIST JESUS. Now if anyone builds on This Foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for The Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a Reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be Saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Feeding On The Word!

  Feeding On The Word!

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, The SPIRIT of Truth, has come He will guide you into all Truth…: John 16:12-13

“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes. Desire the pure milk of The Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that The LORD is Gracious.” 1 Peter 2:1-3

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in CHRIST. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there is envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

“For thought by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of The Oracles of GOD; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in The Word of Righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness The implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of The Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:21-22

“For The Word of GOD is Living and Powerful and Sharper than any two edged sword, Piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and joints and marrow and is a Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13

“When you get to the right state inside, The Word that JESUS has spoken is so plain that you are amazed you did not see it before.” Oswald Chambers

Tony's Top Ten 6-20-2023

 TONY’S TOP TEN

Psalm 71:20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

1. Was Christ sent to suffer? The answer has to be yes.

2. Here are the questions Christians like the least, were Christian’s recreated to suffer in this world? The answer must be yes.

3. There is this little scripture I never hear any Christian quote in 2 Timothy 2:12 “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”

4. I find it fascinating the parts of a scripture Christians love to quote, leaving out the rest of the verse.

6. Revelation 12:13 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

7. Almost every time I ask someone how do we defeat the devil they mention the first two but rarely, if ever mention, “they loved not their lives even unto death.”

8. A Gospel that doesn’t include suffering is a Christ-less Gospel.

9. I don’t think I have ever heard a teaching or an invitation given that includes; becoming a Christian includes suffering.

10. The cross came before the crown and not the other way around.

By Pastor Tony Kim