Tag: salvation

What is New Wine ?

~ Kim Balogh ~ 2 Comments

It’s interesting to note that the very first miracle that Jesus did was to turn the water into wine. The significance of this is that in order for God to pour forth his new wine from earthen clay vessels (there were 6 clay pots. 6 is the number in scriptures that represent mankind) they had to be filled with water first.

Water scripturally speaking represents the word of God.

In other words one must receive the word of God and then be made alive unto God through his living word, the logos made flesh. This is the regeneration process of the Holy Spirit or the born again experience.

The old clay pot of ours after we put our trust in Jesus Christ for salvation is miraculously filled with his living water and then that living water is turned into wine! (Which in scriptures represents the manifestation of the Holy Spirit.)

When the water becomes wine it is meant to be poured out so that others may taste and see that the Lord Jesus is good!

Wine left in the clay pot vessel doesn’t bring blessings to others. Wine must be served from earthen vessels to those who are invited to the wedding banquet of the lamb.

Having tasted the old wine or worldly experience the recipients can now taste the new wine through God’s earthen vessels.

Then the recipient must decide whether they want to partake of the wine of God’s Holy Spirit. Remember it is those who eat the bread of life and partake of the divine nature who are saved and not just tasting of the powers to come.

If your earthen vessel has been filled with the water of the word and changed into the new wine of the Holy Spirit then you can be used of God as a vessel to pour forth that new wine to others.

The first miracle Jesus wants to do in your life is to turn the water that you received at the new birth into wine. Once you are filled with the Holy Spirit then (as the life of Jesus continues in the book of John), even greater works will you do because Jesus has given to you his Holy Spirit.

God wants to use your clay pot and pour out his new wine from your vessel. Scriptures exhort us to”Be filled with the Spirit!” because only vessels filled with the Holy Spirit can pour forth God’s miracles!

Ask to be filled with God’s new wine today!

John chapter 2:7-10

Be a Gate Keeper!

~ Kim Balogh ~ 2 Comments

In order to live a victorious life in Jesus Christ we must be watchman over our hearts.

This means being careful what we look at with our eyes and what we listen to with our ears. Unless we need to know information for the purpose of prayer scriptures tell us to be innocent concerning evil. In other words we don’t (unless specifically called to) fill our minds with specifics of demonic worldly activity.

The Bible says that as a man thinks in his heart so is he. ( Proverbs 23:7) The word for “think” in this scripture is translated as Shawar which means to split open or gatekeeper.

To paraphrase : as a man being a gate keeper over his mind so he is in his thinking and being.

The Bible tells us about gate keepers who were watchman that kept a look out for wolves and enemy attacks. When the gate keeper saw that an enemy was approaching he sounded the alarm which rallied the people to take up arms of defense.

Allegorically speaking this verse implies that whatever we let into our heart; that is mind, will, emotions or feelings is what will be the out come of our actions and the destiny of our life.

So if we watch and listen to worldly entertainment (enemy devices) then we will soon act and behave like what we are letting into our heart or soul. We will end up being worldly. No different than the unsaved. This is not God’s will for our lives. The Holy Spirit in his word has given us all the information that we need to live a holy life that is well pleasing to God.

The Bible tells us that Christians are to be separate from the world. We are called to think on good things that are godly and worthy of our Lord. The reason the Lord told us to meditate on his word day and night was so that we would be conformed to his word and not the world.

Putting on Christ is putting on the word of God for Jesus is the living word made flesh.

If we think God’s thoughts written in the Bible then we will think and act the way God wants us to act.

Worldly thoughts or worldly ideas are seeds that will grow into tares and choke out the word of God planted in our heart. We must be careful gatekeepers so that we can cast down all high and lofty thoughts exalting themselves against the knowledge of God and bring captive all our thoughts to line up with the truth of scriptures.

Christians who watch worldly programs become indoctrinated with worldly ideas. This is why many Christians live defeated lives. Listening to Satan’s worldly system keeps many bound to the world so that they become filled with unbelief and start to explain away the Bible.

The Bible tells us to cast down imaginations and high thoughts exalting themselves against the word of God. Misconceptions and distortions in our mind that do not agree with the Bible need to be cast down. In other words we don’t receive them and rather replace those thoughts with what God says in the Bible.

Satan always comes with his lies. Has God really said that? Are you sure he really meant that? Didn’t he really mean this?

If God said it in his word then it’s TRUE. Any voice disagreeing with the Bible is satan’s voice and we need to cast down those demonic thoughts!

If God says he is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think then that’s exactly what is true. If we are not living up to that standard then we need to examine ourselves as scriptures say. Are we really in the faith? Are we trusting and relying on God for everything or are we swaying like a reed in the wind? Tossed to and fro with a double mind. Limiting God so that he cannot do any mighty works in our life?

God’s word says that I am righteous because of Jesus Christ. God’s word says that I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me and gave himself for me. God’s word says I am the head and not the tail. God’s word says he will lead me in his ways and into his paths as I put my trust in him. God’s word says he came to give me an abundant life.

So who are we going to believe? Mr. Devil and his balcony or the word of the living God?

Victory is sure to those who have their minds transformed by God’s word for as we think in our hearts so shall we be.

Be a gatekeeper of your heart! Guard your heart with all diligence for out of your heart or spirit proceeds life. Don’t let the thief steal, kill and destroy you!

Put the word in your heart and then you will think like God wants you to think and act like God wants you to act and be what God wants you to be !

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SET FREE

~ Kim Balogh ~ Leave a comment

Romans chapter 6 explains that now that Christians have been set free from the bondage of sin we have now become servants of righteousness. 
This is not something many Christians like to hear. 

Remember that Paul is talking from the perspective of the Roman Empire. There was no such thing as a servant who could come and go as he pleased. The servant was the property of his master. He had no individual rights. Jesus said in scriptures that whoever you obey or take your orders from is your Lord. 

Let us examine Romans chapter 6 which says that because we have been bought with a price we are now to live in a way that glorifies God. We are no longer to serve sin but rather from our new born again natures we are called to serve the Lord. 
Christians have been purchased by God. That means bought or redeemed. 
God paid the randsom through Jesus. He bought us back from another master. 
In other words the life of Jesus was given to redeem us from being the property of Satan in captivity to his corruption of the fallen nature. We now have being given another master. 

Having been bought by God through the redemption of Jesus Christ we are now called to submit to God.  When we Obey God we walk in his blessings but when we do not obey or yield to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the word of God we fall back under the curse of the law. Then Satan can cause havoc in our life. Grace does not abound to those who continue to live in sin. Grace leads to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. If some one is continuing to live in sin then it is evident who their Lord is. 

Being made free from sin we are now called to be servants of righteousness. This means that we are serving in newness of life and have a new master. 
Our lives like a mirror reflect who we belong to. If we live according to the dictates of the Holy Spirit through the word of God being separate from the world system we are revealing that we are servants of God. Continuing to live a life of sin and worldliness reveal that we are really a slave of the darkness. 

Romans 6

  1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
    2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
    3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
    4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
    5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
    6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
    7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
    8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
    9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
    10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
    11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
    13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
    14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
    15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
    16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
    17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
    18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
    19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
    20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
    21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
    22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
    23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Grace Abounds

~ Kim Balogh ~ 1 Comment

Grace abounds to the sinner to bring salvation but when one is saved grace then has another job. Grace sanctifies.

Scriptures tell us that God’s grace which brought us salvation also teaches us that we should deny ungodliness. That is, we should refuse any kind of wickedness.

Grace teaches us by the Holy Spirit to refuse worldly lusts or desires of this world. What are these desires that we are to refuse? Any affections which are associated with this world system such as worldly aspirations, worldly ideologies, worldly habits, worldly sensuality. Worldly in fact is anything contrary to the word of God that claims our due attention and distracts us from doing God’s will for our lives.( Titus 2:11,12)

God’s grace also teaches us to live soberly. To be sober means to be of sound mind. This includes being free of addictions or any thing that causes us to not have our full faculties.

God’s grace teaches us to live righteously. That is to be just and upright; morally right and fair in our lifestyle, honorable, to keep our word. To be Honest in all things.

God’s grace teaches us to be godly. That is to be God fearing, prayerful, holy and faithfully devoted to spiritual things.

God’s grace teaches us to keep our eyes on Jesus and eternity for we have been saved from wickedness, sin, corruption and made new in Christ to be zealous; passionate, enthusiastically doing good works that each of us has been called to do as peculiar or special people of God.

Titus 2

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Grace not only saves by the unmerited mercy of God but Grace sanctifies by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus not only saved us from our sins but he has defeated the power of sin. (Romans 6)

When we yield to God’s sanctitying grace we are kept by his grace from the power of sin. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Sin cannot rule over a blood bought redeemed child of God because the blood of Jesus has power to save from sin to the uttermost.

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Does the Name of Jesus Save?

~ Kim Balogh ~ 2 Comments

Does the name of Jesus really save? Well, that depends. It depends on which Jesus you are trusting in.

The name Jesus is a Latin name derived from the Greek name Iesous which in turn is derived from the Hebrew name Yeshuah or Yehoshua. (Joshua)

In Hebrew Yehoshua is a common name. While it means Savior or deliverer it could also be applied to any male child but that does not make them the Messiah.

Some Christians get hung up on the name but fail to see that it’s the person behind the name that saves. The name Iesous has been saving people since the gospel was given to the Gentiles, the name Jesus has been saving people during the Roman Empire till now and the name Yeshuah has saved and is still saving many Jews.

However, the name in and of itself does not save. Let me show you why this is so.

Paul asked the Galatians if they were believing in another Jesus. Why would he do that? Simply because the Galatians were teaching a doctrine contrary to Paul’s gospel given to him by revelation of the scriptures by the Holy Spirit. Paul said that the Galatians were not trusting in the Messiah of scriptures but had made up their own Jesus according to their religious ideology.

Another example is the sons of Sceva who tried to cast out demons by the name of Jesus. (Acts 13) It didn’t work. Why? Well because these Jews were trying to use the name of Yeshuah without having a relationship with the Messiah. The name Yeshuah had no power in and of itself .

In Psalms 138 David wrote, “For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

Herein lies the answer. You see Jesus was the word incarnate. All that is written in scriptures is personified in Jesus Christ. If your Jesus is not the same Jesus as depicted in the scriptures and the gospel that you trust in is not the gospel delivered by Paul to the Gentiles then your Jesus is a different Jesus.

The Messiah deliverer must be the same one preached in scriptures for salvation to occur. It does not matter if you use the name Jesus, Yeshuah, Joshua, Yehoshua, Jesu, Jezus, Yesu, ect.

What matters is that you call upon the person who died for your sins on the cross and rose from the dead and that sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. It is important that you cry out in repentance to God in heaven for breaking his laws and ask him for his forgiveness and that you receive redemption through the sacrifice of his Son.

When you call on the name of the Lord to save you it must be the name of the Savior depicted in the Bible. Not your own version of Jesus or the version of your church doctrine. Scriptures say that it is through God’s grace, his undeserved favor and mercy that we are saved and not by our own works or efforts. We must call on the Lord to save us from sin through faith in his salvation provided through his suffering on the cross. When we do this we pass from death unto life. The name of our Savior is Messiah or SAVIOR. So call on Jesus (Yehoshua) to save you today. Ephesians 2:8,9

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Are You IN the Faith?

~ Kim Balogh ~ 2 Comments

The Bible says that in the last days there will be a great falling away from the faith. (2 Thess. 2: 1-3) Many countries that once were Christian are not any more and many atheists and unbelievers today once were Christians. But were they really?

Scriptures tell us specifically to examine our hearts to see if we are really IN the faith. (2 Cor. 13:5) Are you really IN the faith or do you just believe in the faith?

Did you know that the devils believe the gospel? (James 2:19) In the same way many people who go to church and are even in the ministry today have an intellectual assent to Christianity but they are not IN the faith.

Just because you hang out in the barn with the cows does not make you a cow. You must have cow DNA and produce cow milk and other cow attributes. You can dress up like a cow, moo like a cow and hang out with the cows but still not be a cow.

The determining factor is your DNA. Were you born with cow DNA? If so then you are a cow. If not then you are an impostor or a cow wanna be and not a real cow.

It is the same with being a Christian. Are you born of God? (John 3 )Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Do you not only look like a Christian and act like a Christian but do you intimately know the God of the Christian, Jesus Christ ?

The Bible talks about believers who are sensual having not the Spirit of God. ( Jude 1:19) These sneak into homes and families (through many venues) to draw people after themselves. They like to have groupies. These make a loud noise, mimic many Christian attributes but rather than being in submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ they are seeking after sensual earthy things. Many times its money and fame.

A popular Christian author personality recently denied his faith publicly. He didn’t live up to his own expectations. He fell from his self made pedestal. Now he is in the marketing profession. It doesn’t take a lot of discernment to figure out that this guy may have been a believer but he was never a Christian in the first place. His fruit is evident. (Math. 7:15-20)

Now I realize some Christians believe one can loose their salvation but from my close examination of scripture I disagree. Oh, one can be an impostor Christian either deliberately or unknowingly and fall away but that is because they never knew Jesus in the first place. Notice that the Lord tells these believers who did works in his name and yet still were in their sins …I NEVER KNEW YOU. (Math. 7:21-23)

When one has God’s DNA born of his Holy Spirit then that child of God not only looks like and acts like God but does God’s works by the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in him/her. The born again Christian’s life is hid IN CHRIST and no one can pluck them out of the Father’s hand. Why? Because Jesus said MY FATHER IS GREATER THAN ALL. (John 10 :28-30 )

So here we see the key. No disappointment, trials, tribulations, temptations, failures, short comings or any other thing will move God’s born of his Holy Spirit children out of his hand of security and yes his eternity is secure.

My question to you today friends is are you really born of God? Do you know Jesus by his Holy Spirit in a personal way or do you just know about him? Do you live off of a second hand relationship with God by going to church and Bible studies or do you seek him in your prayer closet having intimacy daily with him. Do you know the Shepherd’s voice or do you just listen to his words from some one else?

If you know in your heart that you do not really know Jesus Christ personally in an intimate way I challenge you today as scriptures exhort to examine yourself. Are you really IN the faith?

If not then go to God and pray. Ask him to make you born of his Holy Spirit and baptize you with his Holy Spirit and lead you by his Holy Spirit. I guarantee you that if you are really sincere, God will make you his child born of his spiritual DNA because Jesus promised in his word that whoever comes to him he will never cast out. (John 6:37)

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Having the Mind of Christ.

~ Kim Balogh ~ Leave a comment

Peter tells Christians that we are to arm ourselves or equip ourselves with the mindset of Jesus Christ when it comes to our suffering in this world. (1 Peter 4:1)

In order to do that we need to understand the suffering of Jesus Christ. Let’s take a look at Isaiah 53.

According to this prophecy which occurred in the future and is now in the past but which applies to the Christian in the present, Jesus Christ endured tremendous suffering.

We can see these main occurances which Jesus Christ endured. Let’s break them down.

Jesus was despised. 
This means that Jesus was not valued and seen as worthless. In other words who Jesus is and what he did for humanity is not respected and in fact is scorned by many people both in the past and today .

Since Jesus was despised why do we think that we should experience any better kind of treatment? Jesus himself said that the world hated him so don’t expect it to like us either. Are we armed with this mindset?

Jesus was rejected by men. Many people simply do not want Jesus Christ. They prefer their own ways.

Since Jesus was rejected because his values are not appreciated then we must also be armed with his mindset. We may not be liked or valued or accepted by those who are not disciples of Jesus Christ. It’s a given.

Jesus was afflicted. That means he had to endure pain, abuse, bullying and scoffing. He was beaten and murdered too. Are we armed with this mindset?

Now let’s look at some other things Jesus endured for our sakes. Isaiah 53 goes on to tell us that Jesus bore our sorrows, he endured shame, he bore our griefs, and he carried our burdens.

Galatians 6: 2 tells us to bear one another’s burdens. This means that when we are armed with the mindset of Jesus Christ we come alongside our brethren like he did and help them carry their burden. Whether it’s in prayer, giving, ministering, helping, or serving.

Paul tells us that when we consider our sufferings in this world to be unworthy of the glory that will be revealed in us we can see a positive outcome of all this suffering we endure. Our sufferings are not because God is a sadist but rather the suffering we endure for the present if we are armed with Jesus Christ’s mindset have both eternal and present benefits. Let’s check it out.

Jesus bore sorrow, pain and grief for our sake so that through his affliction he could bring us healing. Jesus was wounded so that through his stripes we could recieve forgiveness ,healing and restoration.

He endured the cross and the shame so that he could bring many out of darkness and make them his children. When we are armed with this mindset we can endure our sufferings for the benefit of others.

Maybe enduring a mean person at work or rejection by your family. Enduring name calling and bullying by class mates who are not Christians or even having to give up your pay check to help a relative in sickness or give up your life to be a witness for your faith.

These are just some examples of what a Christian may have to endure to represent Jesus Christ in this world and share the gospel to the lost.

Jesus suffering brought us not only salvation but righteousness and justification. He suffered in patience and endurance because he knew what the outcome would be. Armed with Jesus Christ’s mindset on suffering we learn to be patient and wait for a good outcome too.

No suffering in this life is pleasant scriptures tell us BUT it is working out a far greater work of glory. In heaven we will be rewarded and sometimes even here we will reap the benefits but do you know what the best part is? It brings honor to the Lord! (Hebrews 12:11)

Think about that! When we patiently endure and pray then God walks through the suffering with us (Isaiah 43:2) He helps us carry our burdens and with joy we can bear them.

The beneficial outcome will come in God’s perfect timing. Just continue to trust him for faithful is he who has promised. (Psalm 34:19)