Tag: holy

How Faith Works

~ Kim Balogh ~ Leave a comment

                                                    

Scriptures tell us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

Since this is true, it is important to understand faith and how it works.

According to scriptures (Hebrews 11:1), FAITH (trust in God, truth, reliance, belief) is the substance or confident assurance of things HOPED FOR or expected, the EVIDENCE or proof of things (material objects, business, things that work, matter) not (none, nothing, without, never) seen. (behold, sight, take hold, look, perceive)

In other words, Faith believes God’s truth or his word and trusts in it with confident assurance without any material evidence or proof of things visibly seen or perceived with the mind.

To please God, you must have faith in his word and what it says above anything you see, hear, or feel in the material world, expecting what he says in his word to occur or be materialized.

Now that we know what faith is, we need to understand how faith works. According to the scriptures, Faith without works is dead, being alone. In other words, if I say I have faith but do not act or work on what I believe, my faith will be inoperative.

James gives us a classic example. He says what profit or gain do I get if my actions are contrary to my faith. Notice that James tells us that if I SAY or speak that I have faith in God but do not act on my faith, my faith is dead or void.

James is talking about salvation or our Christian witness in this context, but if you read the gospels or Paul’s account in the book of Hebrews about faith, you can see faith in action within a broader sense. Faith in God can be used for salvation and other means, such as provision, healing, and deliverance.

James gives the example of applying work to feeding and clothing the poor to demonstrate our faith in action. This same principle is to be applied in all aspects of faith. Let’s take a nonmaterial example.

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.  He said, Lord, “my servant lies at home paralyzed. He is suffering terribly.”

Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:5-8

Jesus was pleased with this answer because it demonstrated his faith in God’s word without needing evidence or material representation.

Another example is the woman in a crowd following Jesus, who had suffered for many years with constant bleeding. She had gone to many doctors over the years, spending everything she had to pay them, but she got no better. She heard about Jesus healing the sick, so the woman came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. She told herself that if she could touch the robe of Jesus, she would be healed.

Notice that this woman had faith or trust in the Lord’s healing power and was willing to push through the crowd to touch his robe. In other words, this woman was putting action to her faith.

Immediately the woman’s bleeding stopped, and she was healed. When Jesus realized that healing power had gone out from him, he turned around and asked who had touched him.

When the woman told Jesus it was her, he said. “Your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

This woman was healed because she trusted the Lord’s healing ability. She did not even need his attention or any demonstration from him. She simply believed.

I had a similar experience that I will share with you. When I was pregnant with my 4th child, I began to bleed. I thought I might lose my baby. I went up for prayer at a church meeting, and when the speaker laid hands on me, I felt the healing anointing go into my body. But as I walked away, I began to bleed profusely. I cried to the Lord, What happened? I felt your healing power but now this. The Lord taught me a valuable lesson. His Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “What will you believe? What I just did in manifesting my healing power or this situation?”

I replied, “I’m going to believe you, Lord.”

As soon as I said that, my bleeding stopped, and I went on to deliver my son.

This example taught me that if I had come in agreement with the material world and the evidence of the material world instead of God’s word, my child would not have been born. Our prayers will get aborted if we don’t trust the Lord but look to the material world instead.

There are some things doctors cannot do. The woman with an issue of blood went to all the doctors. They couldn’t help her. But Jesus could.

Now that you know what faith is and how it works, I will show you what faith isn’t.  

Faith is not presumption. Faith is not getting your way and your will. Faith is not to be used for greed, selfishness, or pride. Unfortunately, unscrupulous people, used by the devil, have infiltrated the church and tried to discredit faith in God. Many people have been hurt by this infiltration.

A spiritual principle in this life is that when God sows his seed, Satan sows his. If you remember this, you won’t get upset when the devil tries to come into the church to discredit God’s work. Instead, you will pray and take authority over him, so he gets the boot out!

 Jesus said, if you ask anything in my name, I will do it, but he mentioned in another scripture that it must be according to God’s will. Is it God’s will to heal everybody? Yes, because sickness is demonic. It is not from God. However, we don’t know all the circumstances concerning an individual and their personal walk with God. Many things will hinder healing, such as unbelief, unforgiveness, generational sins, etc.

Since we don’t know all the circumstances, and we are not the healer, we pray and leave the results to God. For personal healing, we can seek God and examine our hearts, repenting of anything he shows us that may hinder us from receiving. Jesus did not go around healing everybody, if you notice in the scriptures. He healed only those with faith in his healing ability. They came to him for healing or he went to a specific person.  

It is the same with anything else we need, like salvation, provision, deliverance, or a miracle.

Faith must be in God’s word and line up with all the context of God’s word. Many have used the faith message to get rich. Do you know that Satan can make you rich? He will answer your prayers if it’s your obsession! That way he will take you to hell for idolatry!

God answers our prayers if they align with his word and will for us. God does make some people rich because they have a ministry of giving into the kingdom of God. Jesus does not make people rich to show off and live like movie stars!

God wants us to have faith in his word, to do his work in the kingdom of God, and bring him glory! We must have pure motives.

There are many work principles in scripture for our needs. If you need provision, give to a need. Giving is the spiritual principle for receiving.

When I was a young mom, we were living in the ’80s in Canada. In America, they were doing well but in my country, jobs were scarce. My husband had a hard time finding work. One time we got really low on food. I prayed then I gave my last 2 dollars in the offering plate on Sunday.

After service, a widow lady gave me an envelope. She told me that the Lord told her to give it to me. It was 100 dollars!  I could tell you many such stories about God providing for us!

Sometimes you cannot do much but just pray and trust the Lord, but at other times you can do something!

I will give you one last example. When I was pregnant with my first child, my neighbor friend, a Christian, had been trying to have a baby for many years, but she had not gotten pregnant. The Lord gave me a word for her. “Fix that baby room, paint, buy everything you need, and trust God!” I told her.

She did just that and very shortly got pregnant. She gave birth to a beautiful little girl!

It is important to get God’s mind in a situation. Then when we have his word, we stand on it, pray it forth and wait for him to bring it to pass in his way and in his time!

 Trust in the Lord, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Psalm 37:3

The Acceptable Offering

~ Kim Balogh ~ 2 Comments

In Genesis Chapter 4 we read that Cain brought his offering to the Lord. He brought the work of his hands, the toil of his labor.

God was not impressed with Cain’s offering. The Lord did not consider Cain’s offering to be acceptable.

Able was a tender of sheep. He also gave an offering to God. He took the first born of his sheep and gave that offering to God.

God accepted Abel’s offering but not his brother Cain’s offering.

It is interesting to note that both brothers gave an offering to the Lord. That is they felt the need to have God’s approval in their lives.

They also gave an offering in accordance to their respective vocations.

Cain who labored as a husbandman or a worker of soil produced the fruit of his labor. He was blessed in his vocation or ministry but when Cain tried to earn the Lord’s favor based on that vocation he was rejected.

Cain’s problem was that he thought his fruit came from his own effort. All that hard work he put in. All those hours of toil.

Cain was totally insulted because the Lord rejected his offering.

Cain obviously had good intentions. He wanted to please the Lord but according to the Lord, Cain’s offering was not acceptable. That is it was not considered to be valid, it was unsuitable.

This rejection of his offering caused Cain to go into a depression. That’s what it means to be downcast of soul. Really depressed. That depression ended up turning into jealousy towards his brother.

Why would Cain turn on his brother? Simply because he did not heed the advice God gave him when his offering was rejected.

God told Cain, that if he wanted to do well or what is right and acceptable, then he would be accepted. In other words Cain needed to do things God’s way not his way.

Cain ignored God’s advise we know because he saw that Abel was accepted by the Lord and he was jealous. What happens when a person is accepted by God? They are blessed.

To be accepted is to have favor. Be lifted up in a position of opportunity. To have a good reputation among others. Having worth or value.

Cain refused to do what was right. He refused to humble himself and get a sheep from his brother to present as an offering to the Lord.

That would require admitting failure. Admitting that he wasn’t such a hot shot. It would be like coming to terms with the fact that maybe his younger brother had more revelation in spiritual matters than he did.

God warned Cain. He said that “if you refuse to do well (yâţab) or what is right, what is acceptable then sin or offense lies or crouches like an animal
at your door.

Sin is looking to gain entrance, or place in your life.

If you don’t make it right Cain and do what is acceptable then the devil is going to come a knocking!

Many times we think that God is going to respect us because we are hard workers in his vineyard. So we offer up all our labor hoping for his approval. Just like Cain did.

Then the brother who is a wet behind the ears Christian comes along and lays down his love offering. He just simply relies on grace. Doesn’t do a thing but sit at the cross! Blessings coming out of his ears!

If we try to gain favour with God by our works then sin is crouching at our door! Waiting to spring on us at a weak moment.

We need to do what is right. That is go to the cross and rely on the lamb of God whose offering makes us acceptable. The Lord’s favor is bestowed on those who trust in his way of doing things not our own way.

God tells us to rule over the sin that is crouching at our door.
Don’t let it have any place!

Stick the pride back in our pocket where it belongs and count it all loss for Christ!

Who cares how many hours we have labored in the vineyard. The guy who just gets saved and works for one hour in the vineyard is going to get the same reward anyway! (Matthew 20)

Might as well just join him and sit at the cross because that is what makes us perfectly acceptable in the beloved anyway!

Our labor in the Lord is not in vain. It always produces fruit if we belong to God but our works should never supersede the sacrifice of God’s Son Jesus Christ.

That was the problem with Cain’s offering. Works in the vineyard no matter how noble will not make us acceptable to God.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8,9

Self Importance

~ Kim Balogh ~ 1 Comment

Lately I have been noticing that more and more Christians on social media are using spamming methods in order to be heard. At first it seems like just a little annoying factor but if you examine this phenomena in light of scriptures you will find a very problematic heart attitude being exposed.

Philippians 2:4-8

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Paul tells us that even though Jesus was God in the flesh he did not make a big deal of it. Jesus did not stand on the streets shouting out who he was nor did he bulldoze past the religious leaders and hijack their pulpits.

Rather Jesus made himself of no reputation. That means that he just did what the Father told him to do and then left the outcome to the Father.

Another interesting thing I have noticed is how some ministries confined to their homes due to the “plague” are now in order to stay relevant coming up with all kinds of new sensational methods in order to keep their followers.

All of a sudden a preacher is now a talk show host, a motivational expert, and a political analyst. Well what do you expect them to do? After all their whole livelihood is based on donations to their ministries! You really can’t blame them! They have to live some how!

Jesus preached on the street corners. He had no where to lay his head. He did not always have money to buy food, (he had to eat raw grains of wheat from a field on the Sabbath! ) He was almost thrown off a cliff . Yet some of his modern day followers today live in mansions and have a million bucks in the bank! It is very competitive in Holywood!

Self importance seems to lead Believers into using gimmick after gimmick. Raising money with sensationalism or manipulative tactics is becoming rampant on the internet.

I NEED TO BE RELEVANT!

Really?

Scriptures tell us that God so loved the world that he GAVE. Jesus did not come to take but to give. In fact, God gave his most precious Son so that whoever believes and receives him could inherit eternal life! (John 3:16)

God reveals his love for us by giving his Son. Scriptures tell us that if we abide in his love then God will abide in us. ( 1 John 4:16)

what is God’s love?

God’s love overcomes the world. ( Romans 8:37, 1 John 4:4)

God’s love does not fear in the time of trouble. ( 1 John 4:18)

God’s love lives by faith in God’s ability. (Galatians 2:20)

God’s love lays down one’s life for others. ( John 15:13)

God’s love reaches out to the unsaved. (Roman 5:8, Ephesians 2:4,5)

God’s love is humble. ( 1 Peter 5:6,7)

Gods love is patient and kind. It is not arrogant or boastful. (1Corinthians 13)

Gods love does not insist on having its own way. (1Corinthians 13)

It is a crazy time we live in where self importance is vying to be relevant!

Abide in God’s love !

Rest in God’s faithfulness!

Be still in his presence!

Wait on his timing!

Most of all humble yourself under God’s mighty hand for his word says:

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10

Walking Wise

~ Kim Balogh ~ 1 Comment

David walked wise before the Lord and he was blessed with God’s favor.

And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. 1 Samuel 18:14-23

That was until David fell into temptation.

And it came to pass in an evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked on the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look on. 2 Samuel 11:2

What happened to cause this change? Lets take a look at what it means to walk wisely with the Lord.

Wisely in Hebrew is ώâkal and it means to make or act circumspectly with intelligence, prudence and understanding, skillfully, considerately and self controlled.

What triggered David to sin and fall away from the Lord? What caused him to behave so foolishly?

Was it really his lust for Bathsheba or was it something even deeper?

The manifestation of our sin is only a symptom of a deeper heart problem that we have. So we need to take a closer look at our heart. Lets look at David’s sin a little deeper.

When David had all the women he could ever ask for why did he want this one? Being beautiful is not really why David was tempted. He was surrounded with beautiful women. He could have any virgin in the land and even in another land.

Was David’s sin really a pride issue? After all why should a Hittite have something that he didn’t? That guy is only a Hittite not a King like me! He doesn’t deserve a beautiful woman like that! I’m the king of Israel for goodness sake! That woman ought to be mine!

Wasn’t there someone else who said that?

Blinded by his gifting. Wanting more than he was given? Jealous because a mere mortal was given stewardship over the garden of God? Wanting to change the order of things? Who was God to tell him that he didn’t deserve a higher place?

I will ascend up high!
I will walk on the mountain of God!
I’m just as gifted as that guy! Why look at how beautiful I am?

Yes, I’m inclined to think that it was really pride that caused David to fall.

Pride comes in many forms but if there is one thing that will make us fall flat on our backsides its self exaltation.

Thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think! (Romans 12:3, Proverbs 3:7)

Envy is the rottenness of the bones. It will eat away at the heart like a cancer. (Proverbs 14:30)

Godliness with contentment is great gain the Bible tells us. (1 Timothy 6:6)

But I am so gifted! You might be inclined to say. I have a theology degree after all and not to mention a powerful anointing!

I deserve to be promoted! I worked hard to be where I’m at!
Why should that guy have a higher position than me?

That’s just the point! Our gifts can blind us to our real position in the Kingdom of God. One of being a servant to the most high God!

Do you really think God needs us to get his work done? Do we see our importance as being essential in the big scheme of things?

When David walked wisely before the Lord he was blessed. When he submitted to doing God’s work God’s way he prospered.

That’s where the blessing lies! Being small in our own eyes and great in faith towards the one who deserves all the glory and the honor! Pride will always lead to a fall! (Proverbs 16:18)

Pride is the root of discontentment. Not being joyful in where we are at!

Sometimes it takes a fall like David had to make us see our foolishness. God is gracious however because when we recognize our sin and confess our pride to him, he will restore us. (1 John 1:9)

The Lord restored David and he wants to restore us too.

Then like David we can be content and say. “The Lord is my portion says my soul and my cup.” Psalms 16:5

Be content and walk wise before the Lord then you will be blessed in all you do!

To Walk With God

~ Kim Balogh ~ 1 Comment

To walk with God in Hebrew is halak.
This is an action word which means to live life in a manner that keeps pace with, follows, goes forth, continues on, moves along, travels, goes to and fro with and turns with in a form of weakness or dependence.

According to Scriptures, God was walking in the garden of Eden in the cool of the day. Adam heard God walking in the garden but he was not walking with him.

In fact scriptures do not say that Adam and Eve walked as in halak with God. What scriptures do say is that Adam was alone and God saw that it was not good so he created Eve to be a helper to him.

What did he need help with? In doing what he was created to do. Which was to be a care taker and watchman of the Garden. (Genesis 2:15)

Adam did hear God’s voice. He heard the instructions given to him not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

However he did not listen. Why?

Could it be because Adam was not walking with God? As in halak.

Eve obviously was not walking with God or she would not have been deceived by the devil.

Eve wanted to be wise. She lacked guidance. Hebrew saw-kal’ for wise means to be instructed in prudence, to be skillful, have good success, to understand, to be guided.

Doesn’t sound like some one walking with God. Those are the things God does for us!

Even after Adam and Eve sinned Adam still could hear God’s voice.

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Genesis 3:8-10

When Eve was deceived by the serpent it was because she did not listen to her husband. Adam was the one God told not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave Adam that instruction before Eve was even created.

Eve did not get the information from God directly. She heard her husband’s commandment which was given to him by the Lord.

Why did Adam then listen to Eve instead of God? Could it be that although Adam could hear God’s voice he was not walking with him in halak ?

Adam knew God and heard his voice but he did not obey God. His relationship with God was not a surrendered one.

Let’s take a look at those who did walk with God.

According to the Bible, Enoch walked with God in perfect step by faith and this pleased God so much that Enoch walked straight into the spiritual realm.
(HEBREWS 11:5, Genesis 5:24)

Noah walked with God. Noah heard God’s voice telling him to prepare for judgment that was to come and by faith he obeyed. (Genesis 6:9)

How many times do we hear God’s voice speaking to us from scriptures and yet do not listen? Is it because we are not really walking with God? (James 1:23)

Scriptures tell us that those who walk after the Holy Spirit will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. (Romans 8:1)

If we are having struggles with sin and our life is not blessed is it because we hear God’s voice and yet do not obey his commands?

Adam heard God directly. Eve heard God’s commands indirectly but still they disobeyed.

Since scriptures give no reference that Adam walked with God like Enoch or Noah did in halak we can only assume that Adam knew God, heard his voice but did not walk in halak with him.

He could have chosen to eat from the tree of life had he wanted halak but for some reason he did not. (Genesis 2:8,9)

After Adam and Eve sinned they still heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. All Creation speaks of God’s existence. Even the unsaved hear God’s voice.

Adam and his wife then hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8)

Sin separated God’s creation from himself. When the Lord found Adam he was hiding in guilt and condemnation from God. God then had to sacrifice a sheep and cloth them with a temporary covering to atone for their sin.

After Adam and Eve sinned they were cast out from the presence of the Lord. No more could they live in a perfect sinless life.

This act never did restore Adam to sinless perfection but what it did do was make a covering to appease God’s wrath for disobedience so that he did not destroy Adam and Eve and the whole earth, by his righteous judgment.

In conclusion we can see that it is not enough to just hear God’s voice. We must obey God’s voice. We must walk by his Holy Spirit completely dependent upon him.

This comes by becoming born of God and given new life, being made alive unto God.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3

If you do not yet know God then ask Jesus the Savior to save you from wrath as you turn away from your sins.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  Roman 5:9

Ask God to make you born of his Holy Spirit and fill you with his Holy Spirit.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesians 5:18-20

Then walk with God as he leads you in halak, relationship.

Obey his word the Bible as the Lord helps you every day!

Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. Deuteronomy 13:4

He Comes Like a Thief !

~ Kim Balogh ~ 2 Comments

Why does Jesus say in scriptures that he comes like a thief in the night?

A thief sneaks in without anyone knowing to snatch something away. Jesus was referencing in this parable to his coming for his bride.

In Revelations 3:3 Jesus is reprimanding his church. In particular the church that was in Sardis. He tells them that if they don’t repent of dead works and strengthen their walk in the Lord by returning to him zealously and being watchful (watching in prayer) then as punishment for disobedience they would find Jesus coming to them as a thief in the night.

In other words, like a thief who comes unaware to the owner of the house, ,Jesus will come to snatch away his prepared bride but those luke-warm and not watching will be left behind.

This scripture reveals that there will be unrepentant believers left behind in the snatching away of his bride. Referred to by some as the rapture or translation of the Spirit.

In Matthew 25
Jesus talks about coming for his bride.
There are 5 virgins with oil in their lamps and 5 virgins without oil. The 5 with oil were watching and waiting having their lamps filled with oil.

What is this oil? A Holy Spirit filled life. The other 5 virgins had the word. They knew what the Lord’s will was. They knew he said he would come to get them someday but these 5 did not take his word seriously. They were fooling around in the world. They thought they had lots of time but suddenly like a thief in the night the bridegroom came and they were left behind.

In 1 Peter 3:10- 11 it also says that the day of the Lord’s return is going to come like a thief in the night.

Peter goes on to exhort Christians to keep the Lord’s exhortation in mind. To walk worthy of our calling while we are here. Not walking in riotous living but in holiness and the fear of the Lord.

That is what Jesus was talking about. Having our oil burning. Having zeal in our walk with the Lord. Going about our Father’s buisness but at the same time having our eyes fixed on his return. Living in the world but not of this world.

Jesus told his people to be zealous and repent for not watching and living a Spirit filled life. He warned that if the owner of the house had been watching he would have known in what hour the thief would come.

Are you watching for the Lord’s return? Are you ready for his appearing? Is the oil in your lamp burning with zeal? If not return to the lover of your soul today! You do not know in what hour your Lord will appear!

He comes like a thief in the night!

https://kimbalogh.online/2021/06/28/remember-lots-wife/

There is No One Righteous!

~ Kim Balogh ~ Leave a comment

According to scriptures, no one is righteousness. All men ,“are under sin.” (Romans 3:9; 5:12)

What is sin? According to the Bible definition, sin is evil offensive behavior contrary to God’s nature. That is behaviour perverse, crooked, or twisted from God’s original intent.

Sin is also rebellion against God’s authority. That is breaking away from, revolting and arguing against God’s laws which leads to straying away from him and his ways as defined by scripture.

Resulting in being defiled, unclean, unjust, wicked, lawless, a wanderer, seduced and having gone astray.

That pretty much sums it up.

The Bible says that if we offend in just one point of the law of God, we have fallen short of his righteous standards and are on the naughty list. This includes all of us. (James 2:10)

Scriptures tell us that all have sinned. All fall short of God’s law and all are declared to be sinners. (Romans 3:19) (Romans 5:12).

Since we are all sinners, astray from God we need a remedy. None of us can save ourselves. We are quiet the lost cause without some one to save us from our predicament!

But “I’m not that bad,” you may say. After all I have not committed anything so horrendous as to be considered wicked. On the contrary, God considers you wicked indeed! (Romans 3:10-18)

Let me explain. If I own an expensive silk shirt and I get a stain on it that cannot be removed by natural means, as it is quiet ground in, my shirt is soiled. Now it many not be dirty and grimy as some silk shirts but nevertheless it is still not fit to dress a King! Would you offer your soiled silk shirt to the King of kings? Of course not! (Isaiah 64:6).

All have broken God’s law according to the Bible. Jesus said that if you have anger in your heart towards any person then you have sinned. Hate in God’s eyes is the same thing as murder. If you look at a person lustfully, just a look mind you, then you have committed adultery in your heart!  

I would say that we all have a stain on our silk shirts!

 “For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

The standard of God’s law is absolute perfect obedience. Outside of God, no one qualifies as righteous. Now for my point. Since we are all declared sinners and headed to destruction, we really do need a remedy. (Romans 6:23).

What some people do not realized is that God’s mercy trumps over his judgment. (James 2:3) According to scriptures God so wants to save us from the consequences of sin that he sacrificially gave his life for ours!   

 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). (Ephesians 2:4-5)

 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)  

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, being God’s heir, also deity, took on flesh and gave up his life as a sacrifice for our sins. In other words, the Son of God paid the penalty for our sins. He took our place, paid our punishment. (Romans 5:6-21)

This is good news! Only one condition. A condition? Yes, there is a condition. You see this great salvation only applies to those who receive it. Wait a minute, I thought you said God gave his life in exchange for mine? He did.

He paid a price to redeem you to himself. Not so you could continue in your sin. Oh, no that is not the exchange here. He gave his life up for you and in exchange you give your life to him. (Titus 2:14)

 When you recognize your need and receive God’s great salvation by receiving the sacrifice for your sin through Jesus Christ the Savior, then God will supernaturally make you his child, having no sin accredited to your account. He will birth you into his kingdom as a brand-new babe by his Spirit.    

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)    

Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:3, 5-6) 

Then you can rejoice in God’s goodness to you! As his child the Lord will now lead you, provide for you, and bless you as you continue to walk with him even to the end of your life.  

Search me O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24) 

O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.” (Psalm 16:2)

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30)

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Sin Shall Not Have Dominion!

~ Kim Balogh ~ Leave a comment

Romans Chapter 6:14 tells us that sin shall not have any dominion over us.

To have dominion over means to exercise Lordship, ownership, to be ruled by.

If in fact scriptures tell us that sin shall not have dominion over us then why does sin have dominion over some Christians?

Why are some Christians living very much like they are not much different than the unsaved?

Let’s take a look at what scriptures tell us about the matter.

We find out in the next verse that sin has no dominion over Christians because we are not under law but under grace.

In other words Christians now have a new Lord. The Bible tells us that prior to salvation sin was our master. We were under the control of the devil through the sin nature. Sin is the devil’s nature. That is why Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees who were under the law that they had the devil’s nature.

Continuing on in the chapter we can find the remedy for the sin nature. Verse 15 makes it clear that just because we are under grace or favor from God through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ that does not mean we are free to continue to sin.

Verse 16 tells us that whoever we yield ourselves to obey is whose servant we are to whom we obey. If we yield to sin it is because we have sin as our master. If we yield to the Holy Spirit it is evident that God is our master.

Yielding to sin produces death. That means our fruit will be rotten, leading to decay and death. In other words our lives will produce defeat, sickness, poverty, and all kinds of ailments which may lead even to eternal death.

That is why Jesus said to test the fruit to see if someone really belongs to Jesus. If our lives are producing bad fruit then it is because of one or two things. Either there is no real salvation experience or their is ignorance of God’s word.

Vrs. 17 tells us that if we obeyed the teaching we received about salvation then we are free from the dominion of sin and are now become servants of righteousness.

Righteousness in this verse is translated as justification. Made in right standing with God. Now some Christians will stop there BUT it does in fact not end there.

This verse goes on to say that if we have been made righteous then our fruit will be unto holiness. In other words the fruit of our lives will be producing a sanctified purified life.

Now what is the key here to going from the righteous of God in Christ Jesus to holiness or godly living?

The key is in this word. YIELD. If indeed we have received Jesus Christ and are justified by his blood then we will be servants of that righteousness producing holy living.

Under the sin nature we yielded to sin. It was our master. But now we belong to another, born of his Spirit and are become servants of righteousness. If we are servants then we are not free to live any way the old flesh or earthy senses try to dictate.

We are now called to yield to God. That is to the Holy Spirit given to us at the new birth which makes his will know to us by revelation of the word of God. To yield means to give way to, adhere to. Submit to.

Verse 23 declares that the wages or earnings of obeying the sin nature will produce death but the gift of God which is salvation through Jesus Christ freely given to us produces eternal life.

Those under the dominion of sin are the slaves to sin but those under the dominion of the Holy Spirit are now become servants of righteousness unto holiness.

Yield or give way your vessel to the Holy Spirit and he will empower you to live a life that pleases God!

Idle Words !

~ Kim Balogh ~ 1 Comment

Jesus told his disciples in Matthew chapter 12 that everyone will have to give account for every idle word that they speak on the day of judgment.

The word idle is argos in the Greek which means to be lazy, inactive, barren, non productive or slow.

Jesus spoke this after having encounters with the religious people of his day. What words were these religious leaders speaking to Jesus that caused him to say this? Let’s take a look at Matthew Chapter 12.

The religious leaders in this chapter’s account were accusing and condemning Jesus. They were also using scriptures to try to entrap him. Then when Jesus answered with wisdom this really irked the religious leaders and so they conspired to stop Jesus from performing his ministry. They wanted to destroy him.

On top of all that the religious leaders began to call his miraculous works of the devil. Jesus told them that they were committing blasphemy by attributing his miracles from a demonic source. He also told them that by speaking against the Holy Spirit when they saw the miracles that they were in danger of hell fire.

Jesus explained to his disciples that what the mouth speaks is what is in the heart. Words spoken reveals the spiritual condition.

If the words spoke are negative, non productive, ungodly then that’s because of the condition of the heart.

An angry bitter person speaks negative critical words. An unbelieving heart speaks doubt and unbelief.

A faith filled heart speaks uplifting encouraging words.

Jesus said that the words we speak from our mouths reveal our heart condition. In other words we are what we say.

This is why we will be judged by our words. If we breath out cruelty, meanness and criticism then we will eat the fruit of our words. Jesus did say that we will have what we say. We become in our actions the condition of our hearts verified by the words we speak.

If however as Jesus said, we have good things in our heart then we will produce good things. The word of God living in our hearts will bring forth much fruit.

This means that when situations arise in our lives we will automatically draw from the word of God we have put in our heart.

For example, if we loose a job we can say, “My God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in glory through Jesus Christ.”

If we have someone oppose us we can say, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper and every tongue rising up against me shall be condemned.”

We speak what’s in our heart when situations arise. Faith filled hearts speak faith filled words but hearts filled with dark things speak dark words.

This is what the Lord means by “A pure heart will see God.” A heart filled with the word of God will see God’s hand at work in every situation. (Matthew 5:8)

Idle words are non productive words in the Kingdom of God. Words of no spiritual good. Words that speak contrary to sound doctrine and have no faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:1 Mathew 21:22, 23)

God’s word is like a fire in the heart’s of his people. These hearts bring life and liberty in Jesus Christ through their words. A pure heart sees God’s divine intervention in every situation and declares God’s word into the situation.

God’s words spoken are words seasoned with salt bringing grace to the hearers. (Jeremiah 20:29, Colossians 4:6)

So put God’s word in your heart and speak God’s word in every situation. Then you will find the Lord bringing his miracle working power into all your situations.

Fear Not !

~ Kim Balogh ~ Leave a comment

God commands his people not to fear or be dismayed. Rather he says to be strong and of good courage. (Joshua 1:9 )

What exactly is fear and why is it important not to be afraid?

The definition of fear is believing that something or some one is dangerous, likely to cause pain or is a threat.

Dismayed means to be distressed or filled with anxiety and worry. A form of fear.

Simply put, fear is Satan’s weapon. His whole kingdom of darkness is run by fear. To fear is to agree with the devil. To side with his kingdom and agenda. To believe in his power in the circumstance.

Satan uses intimidation, lies, deception in order to control. He is the ultimate rebel and sorcerer. He bewitches people to believe his lies.

When we fear we are believing in Satan’s deception. We are putting our feelings and trust in Satan’s power and ability.

Faith is the opposite of fear. Faith is the key principle on which the kingdom of God operates. Faith trusts God in the face of difficulties and unsavory circumstance. Faith in God releases the power of the Holy Spirit and the angelic realm to work on our behalf.

Faith believes in God’s remedy even though fear says the opposite.

To exercise faith is to choose to agree with what God says in his word and not in the devil’s projection of facts. The devil’s facts can change and be removed when faith in God is exercised.

Faith is not feelings and emotions. Faith is a choice. Faith refuses to side with the devil’s facts and chooses to agree with God’s word.

Let’s look at God’s remedy for fear.

Scriptures tell us not to fear because God is with us. He is on our side! God says he will give us strength in our situation. He promises to uphold us with his victory. (Isaiah 41: 10)

Jesus gave us his victory! He won the battle and his victory is our victory. The new covenant of promise is ours if we believe it to be so. Remember Jesus said “according to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29)

God commands us to be strong. That is not an option but an order. Scriptures tell us that we are strong in the Lord through HIS mighty power! (Ephesians 6:10)

God also commands us to be encouraged. How do we do that? Just like David did and the children of Israel did! They encouraged themselves in the Lord. They sang songs declaring the victory YHWY brought to them. They declared his word and all his mighty deeds.

Encouraging ourselves in the Lord brings faith to our heart. We stop looking at the devil’s puny power and look at the greatness of our God and his power to heal, set free and deliver. Remember that scriptures tell us that those who put their trust in the Lord will NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED. (Isaiah 49:23)

In fact the Lord says that those who put their trust in him WILL BE BLESSED! (Jeremiah 17:17)

Never is never! We don’t give up! We know who we believe! We know who sits on the throne!

God’s remedy for our circumstance is also to pray and bring our needs before his throne. To praise him until the answer comes! He has promised deliverance if we trust in him and surrender our hearts to him! (Philippians 4:6)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24:

If God is for us then no one can be against us! God will defeat every demonic power set against us if we chose to trust him and reject Satan’s lies.

Satan says….”there is no way out. No deliverance for you. No healing, no provision, no peace.”

God says… Fear Not! I will help you! I will deliver you! I will show myself strong on your behalf! I am on your side!
Psalm 118:6

God loves us and his love for us casts out all fear! (1 John 4:18)

The scriptures tell us that fear is not from God. Fear is debilitating. Fear brings bondage. Fear brings sickness, depression and even physical problems. Fear is the devil’s power.

Faith or trust in the Lord is the nemesis of fear. Faith in God is to have his power, his love and his soundness. Faith in God is the healing balm of Gilead. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Fear not says the Lord! It is your Father’s pleasure to give you his kingdom! God is our salvation! He is our light in the darkness! He is our fortress and deliverer! (Psalm 27:1, Psalms 34:4, Luke 12:32)

I will not fear because he is with me through every darkness. His authority is over me! I will fear no evil!( Psalm 23:4)

Be not afraid, only believe ! Mark 5:36

Trust in the Lord and be saved! (Acts 18:31)

Trust in the Lord and be healed!   “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for you are my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14 

Trust in the Lord whose promises are Yes and Amen! (Roman’s 8:15, )

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

Faith in God is the answer to every difficulty. No exception. When we exercise faith in God then fear must flee! Fear has no power over God’s love for us! His perfect love for us will cast off every fear!

FEAR NOT SAYS THE LORD FOR I AM WITH YOU!