SERMONS - December 2023

Numbers 16

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2 and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3 and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord? 4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: 5 and he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. 6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; 7 and put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. 8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 9 seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? 10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? 11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: 13 is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? 14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up. 15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them. 16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: 17 and take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer. 18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. 19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.

20 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? 23 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. 27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. 28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me. 30 But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord.

31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32 and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. 34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. 35 And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Brothers and sisters, we will look at the Korah of the Old Testament and how the spirit of Korah - the way of Korah - is taking over the churches of today.

Who is this Korah? In Numbers 16, verse 1, we learn that he is a great-grandchild of Levi, from one of the twelve tribes of the people of Israel. The people of the tribe of Levi, the Levites, were the ones chosen by the LORD to serve in many roles in the tabernacle of the LORD (and later generations in the Temple in Jerusalem). Moses and his brother Aaron also belong to the tribe of Levi. Aaron is the High Priest.

In verse 2, Korah leads two hundred fifty princes of the assembly against Moses and Aaron. Two hundred fifty with Korah. How many with Moses and Aaron? There is no mention of any. Does Moses fold it? No, he knows that God is with him.

Brothers and sisters, do not get intimidated by numbers; what matters is that God is with you, and you are with God and of God, deeply rooted in the word of God.

If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).

Now, what was on the mind of Korah? In verse 3, he says to Moses that all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and that the LORD is among them. What a bold statement that everyone in the congregation is holy! Are they really all holy? Would holy people rise against Moses, of whom the Bible says that God speaks to him face to face (Exodus 33:11)? And again, in Numbers 12:8, it says about Moses: With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

But Korah and his followers, they were not afraid. What does it tell us about them? Rebellious people they were - the followers of Korah. They were not holy. Korah claims that "all the congregation are holy, every one of them," while he leads many of them, together with a great number of princes, without the fear of God, against Moses, a great servant of God.

How about today? There are a multitude of preachers today who "sing" to their churchgoers that they are saved and sealed unto the day of redemption, but so much of it is based on weak presumptions, coached decisions, and the will of men only. This is contrary to the scripture (John 1:13):

which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Many of them do not fear God; they do not have it in them, and as such they act rebelliously against God, continually, while portraying themselves to be of God.

Going back to Korah and his claim that all are holy, every one of them, he surely failed to see in the promise of God of a holy nation, a condition on which that title of holy nation hangs. It hangs on the word if. If... In Exodus 19:5-6, we read:

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

If you obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be… a holy nation, says the LORD.

Does this apply to us also? Yes, the part to obey his voice, though not that covenant of works given to Israel, but to us the covenant of grace. Romans 4:3-8:

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Yes, our salvation hangs on the covenant of grace, Christ Jesus, and him alone. Not of our works of the flesh, but believing on him and him alone. So how is it also conditional? It hangs on the work of God (John 6:29) imputed onto you by the grace of God, and this work in you continues. The Apostle Paul writes it this way in Romans 11:22:

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Does this mean that you can lose your salvation given to you by God? No, but…

If the work of God in you does not continue, what have you obtained?

Continue in his goodness, which is unto the glory of God. Exodus 33:18-19:

And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

So, let God show you his mercy and grace, and the way of salvation, upon the word of God uttered by good ministers of God. And not by ministers of the spirit of Korah, who follow wide and false ways to God, and some even desire to replace the High Priest of God, even the Lord Jesus, by promising you a life.

So again, as it says in Romans 4:5 that … "to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." My hearer, do not fall into a grievous error to mistake what it says about your work or no work in the text above, as a permission to nurture a spirit of continuous and proud rebellion against the works of the Holy Spirit in you. The kingdom of God is not reserved for the children of disobedience. God forbid!

Do you desire to say, I am saved, justified and sanctified - declared holy, and such I can do all these deeds against the Word of God? What is it in you than that it works against God?

And Moses fell upon his face (verse 4). O servant of God, responding by humbling himself and worshiping God, in great contrast to followers of Korah, rebellious men, who confronted him and such put themselves against God.

And in verse 5, Moses speaks and prophesies to the company of Korah:

… saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

Tomorrow, the Lord will show who is his.

Be patient, brothers and sisters in Christ, as there is that "tomorrow," even for us, and it is near even to you, when the Lord will show who is his and who is holy and cause that one to come near unto him.

And in verses 9 to 11, we learn that Korah and his company were also after the priesthood. They (Korah and his company of Levites) were already separated from the rest of the congregation of Israel to do the service in the tabernacle of the LORD. But they want the priesthood now. They are after Aaron, the High Priest.

Isn't it so even today? The Church, which should have been served by humble servants of God, but for centuries and even now, is filled with ministers who act like priests, even as the High Priest, projecting phantoms of the power of forgiveness and salvation by the Holy Spirit they themselves do not yield to. And some tell you that anyone who names the name of Jesus can walk in their own truth as long as it is backed by their personal conviction, allowing you to worship a god of your own making, in the name of "love". They do not tell you only that one can have his or her own personal convictions; but they have personal convictions of their own, even personal interpretations of the word of God. This is not allowed by the word of truth (2 Peter 1:20). They are excusing it and explaining it to themselves and within themselves with the phrase "brotherly opinions".

Can one have a wrong opinion and then be gladly corrected? Yes, if only there was a love of truth in him or her.

But for Korah, and as such, they have no love of truth in them, and the whole truth is hidden from them (2 Corinthians 4:3). Lost in their errors, they are.

They pretend to speak the word of power, but the power in them is not of God; it is rather a power of their own tongue, inspirations of their own hearts, and their own understandings. Being not taught by God's spirit of wisdom and revelation, but by men's wisdom.

These are of that spirit of Korah, who's teaching is that everyone is supposedly holy, whosoever belongs to the assembly of a church and names the name of Jesus, even another Jesus, Jesus of their own imagination, not of the word of truth.

This spirit of Korah is taking over the church and has already swallowed many of the congregation of God, and it is leading them against the one truth by teaching other ways, broader ways, and such are against the true High Priest, Christ Jesus, and the covenant of grace, written in the gospel of grace.

So they, those of the spirit of Korah, are those who have ears to hear only the promises of God and do not have ears to hear, understand, and embrace God's way leading to those promises. Some are offended or even rebel against and despise receiving the way and the truth to those God's promises of everlasting life.

But those with ears to hear shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matthew 13:43).

Now in verse 12, we learn that those of the company of Korah are getting even stronger (measured by a number of men), and as such, they are getting even bolder.

So in verse 13, Dathan and Abiram make false accusations against Moses, saying, "…is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?"

They miss Egypt - that Egypt from which they were brought out of - the land of sin. And they are painting Egypt, that land of sin, with words used by God to describe the promised land - a land that flows with milk and honey. As they speak sweet talk about the land of sin, calling it "a land that flows with milk and honey", in a spiritual sense, they are calling evil good. And not only did they describe the land of sin in sweet ways, but they also accused a true servant of God, Moses, of evil things. Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).

And so hear me, those who have ears to hear. Do you miss the "land" of your sin? And even more, are you accusing your brother or sister, the ones who are taking you up (from the earthly) and out of that "land" of sin? If so, may you be against God, because the brethren here are the hand of God.

Looking at the company of Korah, we can now observe some characteristics of Satan in them. First, presumptuously self-entitled they are ( verse 3); second, springing from the first, they are going after what is not theirs (verse 10); and third, they are bringing false accusations against brethren (verse 13). Also note that in their accusation against Moses in that verse 13, there is some self-prophecy of their condemnation in it, as they shall be killed in the wilderness the next day (verse 32), but not by Moses.

They, of the company of Korah, also demonstrate no faith in God and his promises. In verse 14, not only do they continue with accusations against Moses, but by their own words, it is evident that they are without faith and without patience. And as they do not see the promise land under their feet, they refuse to believe in it and are offended by the way to it - through the wilderness and desert. They become blind to it - to the promise - spiritually blinded. And so even in verse 14, we find self-condemnation, where they bring this rhetorical question to Moses, saying, "…wilt thou put out the eyes of these men?" But they themselves "put" them out, blind leading blind. They were already without "sight", without spiritual seeing, without faith.

In faith, there is the fountain of everlasting life, and they did not possess it.

Now Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD (we read in verse 15), "Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them."

Respect not their offering, Moses tells the LORD.

And Korah gathered all the congregation against Moses and Aaron, and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation (verse 19). And the LORD says to Moses and Aaron, "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment (verse 21)." And Moses and Aaron fell upon their faces and pleaded with God to spare the congregation (verse 22), saying to God, "… shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?" And the LORD spoke to Moses to instruct the congregation to separate themselves from Korah, Dathan and Abiram. And Moses spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins (verse 26)." Depart from the wicked men, my brothers and sisters.

And in verse 28, Moses said, "Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind."

Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me.

And as Moses was prophesying and had made an end of speaking, the ground clave asunder that was under them (the company of Korah). And the earth swallowed them up (verse 32). Verse 34 and 35:

And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

They were not all holy, the congregation. And the company of Korah perished that day. And today, are they all holy, all those from the assembly of God, every one of them? Is the Lord among them?

When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)

Christ be in you, the hope of glory.

-By Lubomir

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us just read from the AKJV Bible text pertaining to the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from Genesis to Revelation:

Genesis 3

15 and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Isaiah 7

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Matthew 2

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Luke 1

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Luke 2

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Revelation 12

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Christ be in you, the hope of glory.

-By Lubomir