Repentance

https://youtu.be/k9eAKBqcLTU?si=MNB3OBZ8fbANuoRk

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Before The Beginning

 https://youtu.be/tJakvYhIoeY?si=IIFSk9HtXHX8n05K

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Three Wills

https://youtu.be/-iy6736Lwpw?si=rJhf5vJbWf9ZAhZn 

Three Wills

There are three wills that we have to deal with daily in our life, the good, the bad, and the ugly! Or, GOD’s, the devil’s and our own! Each has a plan for our life:

Our own will is to be happy, healthy and successful in life, no matter the cost to others.

The devil’s will is to keep us from the Will (purpose) of GOD by whatever means he can. Addiction (drugs, alcohol, sex, possessions, work, money, gambling, etc.); immorality (lying, cheating, stealing, murder); sexual perversion (fornication, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, beastility, rape); deception (false religions, corrupt politics, half truths, space aliens, etc.); he wants people to hate or distrust GOD; he wants people to not believe in GOD; so they are stolen from GOD’s Kingdom and condemned to eternal judgment with himself (there is no salvation for the rebellious heavenly host, Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4).

GOD’s will is for us to know Him, to believe and confess that JESUS is LORD and Savior and to obey His purpose for our life, so that we can join Him in His Eternal Kingdom of Heaven, John 3:15-21.

The deal is you can only choose and live one will at a time and only one will results in eternal salvation; GOD’s! This happens because someone told us about JESUS (shared The Gospel) and we believed. Now that we believe in JESUS as Saviour and LORD we must yield our will to The Father’s just as He did. If we still try to live our will as a Christian we will fail (Matthew 7:21-29). The devil knows how to make his will look like it is our will but it only leads to bondage and death.

GOD’s Will for our life: we each have a personal purpose in His Kingdom on the earth and a universal purpose. The universal purpose for every believer is to proclaim the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST to all that we can, to lay hands on the sick and see them recover, to cast out demons, to raise the dead and to make disciples and to obey the commandments of JESUS. Our personal purpose in GOD’s Kingdom is based on the gift He gave us as He formed us in our mother’s womb. As we seek Him we will discover our gift and His SPIRIT will teach us from The Bible how to live and use this gift (being discipled).

Philippians 2:12-13 “...work out your own salvation with Fear and Trembling; for it is GOD Who Works in you both to will and to do for His Good Pleasure.”

Are You One?

https://youtu.be/6uM8kB3W0eA?si=N9A-VJ3M5BbNV5IT

 Are You One?

One - a few worldly things about One:

According to the Bee Gees, One is the loneliest number.

According to the US Army, you can be an Army of One.

In all forms of math one plus one equals two.

What does The Bible say about One?

There is One True GOD Who is triune!

Before GOD a man and a woman joined together are One!

Those who believe in the One True GOD can be One with Him through JESUS.

What does this say about being an individual? That we were never meant to be an individual! GOD created humanity in His Image so that we can be One with Him. He ordained before He created the earth that JESUS would take away the sins of humanity so that we could be One with Him through adoption. GOD Calls and Gifts us in our mother’s womb so that we can be One with Him.

So why do we want to be an individual alone - on our own? Before I became a Christian and since I became a Christian I have desired to be alone and enjoyed being alone, even though I’ve been married for 48 years. There are times when we all need to be alone, usually not for very long. We certainly need to be alone with GOD regularly.

Over the years I have thought that if I was alone I could serve GOD better, more dedicated. That may not be true. But from the beginning of creation GOD has meant for us to not be alone; that is why after Adam reviewed and named all the creatures that GOD had made on the earth, GOD saw that he needed a helper, a companion. So, GOD made Adam into male and female beings, He had made Adam as a complete human being both male and female, One.

GOD saw that it would be better to separate them and have them joined in marriage (which He created just for the purpose of rejoining the male and female into One being).”This is why a man leaves his father and his mother, and clings to his wife; and they become One flesh.” Genesis 2:24

Wait! When GOD did that there were no fathers and mothers! The only humans were Adam and Eve who He just separated from Adam. So GOD separated Adam into Adam and Eve (male and female) so that they could be joined together again in marriage. That is why GOD puts such a high emphasis on marriage.

Marriage between a man and a woman represents the unity we have with The Father through JESUS CHRIST, in fact in The Bible believes in JESUS are called the Bride and JESUS is called the Groom and there will be a Marriage of The Church with JESUS so that we are One. Believers are also called The Body of CHRIST and JESUS is the Head of the body, so that we are One with each other and One with JESUS.

If you have a hard time with what I’m saying it is probably because you are not reading The Bible to learn what GOD is saying to you. Read it slowly, read it everyday, if you do not have a lot of time then read one or two chapters in the Old Testament and one or two chapters in the New Testament. Start with Genesis and Matthew and read through, I try to read at least six chapters of the Bible a day, but I have been doing this for a long time. I divide The Bible into Genesis to Job, Song of Solomon to Malachi, Matthew to Acts and ! Corinthians to Revelation, plus I try to read a couple of Psalms and the chapter of Proverbs of the day’s date.

As you read the Scriptures thoughtfully asking The HOLY SPIRIT to teach you what He wants you to know you will be amazed how much you find the same themes throughout The Bible. Like Unity, being One with GOD and others, from the beginning when He made us in His Image to Revelation where we are One with CHRIST in His Eternal Kingdom.

Shine

 https://youtu.be/db6ljIYBsXI?si=JPEFmX6DxVHGs2XC

Shine

What does it mean for GOD’s Face to Shine on us?

Numbers 6:22-27 is the Aaronic Blessing GOD commanded the Priests to speak over the Children of Israel; “ADONAI Bless you and Keep you! ADONAI make His Face to Shine on you and be Gracious to you! ADONAI turn His Face toward you and grant you Shalom!” TLV

Psalm 80:4, 8, 20 TLV

“O GOD, restore us, make Your Face Shine, and we will be Saved.”

“Elohei-Tzva’ot, restore us , and make Your Face Shine, and we will be Saved.”

“Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot, restore us, Make Your Face Shine, and we will be Saved.”

The Hebrew word used in these passages is ’ôwr, ore; a primary root; to be (cause make) luminous (literally and metaphorically):-x break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine. Strong’s Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary #215 

This is what happened to Moses when he was on the mountain with GOD for forty days, so that he had to wear a veil to hide the fading of GOD’s Glory over time.

JESUS said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” John, in describing JESUS said, “In Him was Life and the Life was the Light of men. The Light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” Matthew 5:14; John 1:4-5

The Greek word for light in these passages is phōs, foce; from an obsolete phaō (to shine or make manifest, especially by rays; comparable 5316, 5346); luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literally of figuratively):-fire, light. Strong’s Greek Dictionary of the New Testament #5457

So The Bible teaches us that GOD is Light and Life and that we are created in GOD’s image. JESUS says that we are the light of the world when we abide in Him and He abides in us. (John 15:1-17)

Are you being the light of the world through JESUS CHRIST or is the light in you darkness? (Matthew 6:22-23)

The days in which we live are dark! The days of the world since the sin of Adam have been dark because Adam surrendered his will to satan and now satan is lord of this world (John 12:30-32; Revelation 12:7-17) The Call of The Church has always been to take The Light of JESUS into the world so that people can be saved from eternal judgment; “JESUS said to her, ‘I Am The Resurrection and The Life! Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, shall live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26)

“Do you believe this?” is the question that JESUS is asking all who claim to be Christians. Do you believe it? There is much talk in the world and the Church about CHRIST’s return to the earth. When JESUS taught about The End of Days and His Return He emphasized two things:

First that we will not know when it is going to happen, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven nor The Son, except The Father alone” “He said to them, It is not your place to know the times or seasons that The Father has placed under His Own control.” (Matthew 24:32-36, Acts 1:7-8)

Second His parables about His return always emphasized being watchful and ready. “So you must be ready, for The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” “But while they were going off to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the Wedding feast, and the door was shut.” (Matthew 24:37-44, 25:1-12)

The point is not to be trying to figure out if this is the time of CHRIST’s return, people have been doing that since His ascension into Heaven. Believe and therefore live accordingly that today is the day of Salvation! Preach the Gospel of The Good News of Salvation through JESUS CHRIST; lay hands on the sick, baptize new believers in the Name of The Father, The Son and The Holy SPIRIT; cast out demons, raise the dead; these are the things that every believer should be doing.

Did I answer the question, What does it mean for GOD’s Face to Shine on us? I hope so. It means that we abide in JESUS by trust and obedience and He abides in us by His SPIRIT and Word. Thus we are compelled to fulfill His command to make disciples of the nations.

Pray In Faith

https://youtu.be/GE6MMJFYy0Y?si=htjQVO8V0N7YOXj5

Stop Thinking Small About GOD!

Most people in the world do not know or understand Who and What GOD is and therefore have no consideration of What He Wills and Does.

Every human at some point in their life prays - most do not know to whom or what they are praying. Sometimes they are sending “good thoughts” to others, sometimes people send evil thoughts against others. Sometimes people pray to what they believe or hope is a god that can help them. Sometimes in desperation people call out to the True and Living GOD, JEHOVAH, or His Son JESUS. All of these are people who do not know GOD.

Many Christians also do not know or understand Who and What GOD is and therefore have no consideration of What He Wills or Does.

Many Christians pray in “faith”, hoping that GOD will hear and answer them. He does, but not always the way we think and expect; or in the timeframe we desire. Many Christians practice a type of prayer that is always asking GOD for something for themself or family and friends.

Most people in the world and many Christians do not understand the Will and Purpose of GOD. They do not understand the Authority and Power of GOD. They do not understand the Grace and Mercy of GOD. They do not understand the Omniscience, Omnipotence nor Omnipresence of GOD.

GOD hears, sees and remembers everything! GOD created everything that you see, hear, touch, smell and taste! GOD is everywhere always!  GOD is Life, Light and Love; GOD is Truth!

So when you pray you should follow JESUS’ example and teaching: not only did He teach that when we pray we should do it in private, except for public prayer gatherings, which He did. Several times The Scriptures tell us that JESUS went off alone to pray. But He also prayed during The Last Supper for the disciples and the future believers. Then He prayed about His impending death for the human race within eyesight and earshot of the disciples. Times of being alone with His Father are not recorded; and times of praying in public we have in The Scriptures.

Like most Christians I have a long list of things that I pray about and for: I pray for The Church and GOD’s Mercy as His Judgment is upon us for our many sins. I pray about the war in Israel and the continued persecution of Israel because they are favored by GOD. I pray for family and friends - salvation, healing, provision, etc. I pray about the political situation in America because it has become so corrupt at every level. And I have many more things and people I pray for and about. Sometimes I pray in great detail and sometimes I pray short in a hurry prayers.

So what does all this have to do with the title of this message, “Stop Thinking Small About GOD!”?

Our prayers are a reflection of how we think about GOD: like a sugar daddy always there to give us what we want, or more like a fulfiller of dreams and promises. We should see GOD as the One Who is in control (LORD) of our life and Whose Will we must be fulfilling.

We should go to GOD first to be in His Presence, remember JESUS told us “...to seek first The Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness.” When JESUS went on His private prayer times He came back refreshed, even after being up all night. There are two good examples of this:

The first is when JESUS had been ministering all day both in public and then at Peter’s house. (Matthew 5:1-8:17; Mark 1:14-45; Luke 4:14-44) After the crowds had finally left and everyone else went to bed, JESUS went off to be with His Father in private. In the morning they did not know where JESUS was and went looking for Him. When they found Him and asked Him what He had been doing, He said let us go to other villages to share the Gospel. So He had been up the day before traveling and ministering into the night, then He went off alone to pray. In the morning when they found JESUS He said let’s go and they traveled and ministered all day.

The second is after He had taught all day and then they fed over 5000 people (Matthew 14:13-36; Mark 6:30-56). After feeding the people He sent the disciples on ahead by boat and He stayed behind to dismiss the crowd and be alone with His Father. Then in the middle of the night He walked across the sea and got into the boat, when they landed He continued to minister that day.

If you really want GOD to answer your prayers, first get in His Presence, spend time worshiping Him and thanking Him, then ask Him to reveal Himself to You and give you understanding of His Presence in you and what He has Called you to do. Then bring your petitions to Him. Remember JESUS told us He already knows what we need and it may not be what we want. That is why we have to get to know GOD and His Will and Purpose.

Answers by Pastor Kim

 Answers

By Pastor Tony Kim

 Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

   Did you catch that phrase, “for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right.” Eliphaz was one of Job’s closest friends. Job honored and respected him. The fact that he came as a friend to Job during Job’s worst time proves his loyalty. I have always said that a friend is a person that when you’ve really blown it doesn’t think you did a permanent job. Eliphaz thought Job had blown it somewhere, but the problem was, Job did nothing to deserve what was happening and God’s word confirms this. This is a truth Christians want to ignore, but the scriptures teach that trouble can come upon us even when we are obedient. It is time that we realize that being a sinner made us one with those in a sinful world and that being a Christian separated us from being one with those in a sinful world. This alone creates problems, yet, this is not the problem here.

   What Job is going through is something altogether different. Eliphaz didn’t have the discernment to see that. Many times it is like that. The world sees differently than we. Our friends, as Christian as they may be, even with good intentions, can see differently than we. How about this one, we can even see differently than both of them.

   So, who is right? The correct answer is only God is right and only what He says in his word is right. What Eliphaz said contained some truth, but not the truth. Here is a hard principle I have had to learn over and over. We can have right words, even true words, but they might not be the right and true words needed at the moment. Eliphaz was Job’s friend. He meant him well. But it would have done Eliphaz well to talk to God before he talked to Job because God rebuked Eliphaz.

   Here is a scripture God brought to my attention as I considered writing this devotion from all the places in the scriptures possible, right from the very book of Job itself. Job 6:25 “How forcible are right words! But what doth your arguing reprove?” This has taught me when ministering to hurt people to keep my mouth shut unless they or God asks me to speak. I have found this to be true also. When I am hurting the most there is no therapy, nothing that works better than just getting alone in God’s presence. Consider that sometimes just being there is caring enough. It is so hard for us at times to see the work that God does in people when they are hurting or even understand His working in them when they are hurting, but perhaps, just being there with them, silently praying for them is the best ministry we can give.

By Pastor Tony Kim