Yes we have faith in God, but what are we believing God for?

Many approach, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) carnally. We fully believe that if we have the faith AS a grain of mustard seed we can move mountains (Matthew 17:20), but we can get caught up trying to move the wrong mountains.

There is so much power available to change our lives and the lives of others, but sometimes we SQUANDER OUR FAITH on material things, trying to ‘come up’, and bring glory to ourselves…on the wrong things.

Many of us struggle all of our lives the personal issues that hold us back…

Lack of confidence,

Low self-esteem,

Impatience,

Narcissism,

Timidity,

Lack of motivation, etc….

You can look at some people and still see them as a child. You can tell who was the cry baby, who was the bully,…who took their toys or ball and went home when they didn’t get their way.

You can tell who was mistreated as a so-called ‘nerd’, and now they are over-the-top in proving I’m somebody or getting even.

We need God’s power to shape our character and attitudes so we can be used by Him. We need His power to be conformed into His image (Romans 8:29). There are so many people in the world who genuinely need help…

Poverty,

Homelessness,

Addiction,

Oppression,

Hunger,

Christians being persecuted because of their faith,

Unbelievers in the one true and living God through faith in Christ.

But, unfortunately too many Christians focus ALL of their faith on THEIR own prosperity and glory. There’s nothing wrong with wanting good things in life, but our abundant culture and God’s grace and mercy has created a class of selfish, entitled Christians.

We can even approach giving selfishly. It’s taught selfishly. Christians are taught to GIVE SO YOU CAN BE BLESSED rather than GIVE SO YOU CAN BE A BLESSING. Too many Christians’ motivation to give is to get…it’s their BLESSING BILL. Some aren’t the least bit concerned with Kingdom work, they just don’t want God to ‘cut off their blessings’ just like an electric bill.

I’m not questioning your faith. Yes we have faith, we believe in God. We know what He can do, but what are we believing God for? God has given us the power to move mountains. He’s given us the power to change our world and the world around us. He’s given us the power to overcome who we were. Let us not squander our faith or use it selfishly, but use it to move the mountains in the lives of others rather than just ourselves.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

So many Americans seems to value in put their faith in force, aggression, bravado, machismo, profanity laden speech, shrewdness and uncertain riches.

Jesus taught and continues to teach…

LOVE…


FORGIVENESS…


RESTRAINT…


LONGSUFFERING…


SELF-CONTROL…


PEACE…


COMPASSION…


KINDNESS…

And even that nations don’t put their FAITH in the strength of their army, but their trust in Him…

Psalm 20:7 (NKJV)

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 146:3  (NKJV) 

Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.

1 Timothy 6:17New King James Version (NKJV)

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Many Christians point a self-righteous finger at the Jews for choosing Barabbas over Jesus (Matthew 27:15-26), when they were given a choice. However, they were given an opportunity to VOTE for Jesus based on His 3-year campaign filled of LOVE, MIRACLES and FORGIVENESS.

Yet, they chose a criminal.

This post is not biased towards one candidate in particular because the enemy cleverly used both leading candidates to convince Christians to disregard the values of Christ for their flesh.

One candidate clearly did not display one Fruit of the Spirit. That candidate was proudly unrepentant and unforgiving.

The other candidate promised to continue the assault against the first institution God ordained after creation, the family and marriage through the union of a man and woman.

Christians ignored God’s values with both candidates because they were more concerned with their FINANCES, SAFETY and PERSONAL BIASES. When God promised to work all things out for our good if we put our faith and trust in Him.

Think about it. Jesus would be considered weak according to American culture and American standards.

If Jesus were a candidate in this election…would you have voted for Him?

Remember this. Jesus is ALWAYS on the ballot.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Soooo many people are saying they’re ‘HOLDING’ their vote because they don’t like our choice of candidates. Too many people have given too much for anyone to HOLD their vote.

Those brave individuals who disregarded their own safety for the right to vote DIDN’T ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST CHOICE OF CANDIDATES.

Most of them…we don’t even know their names. They suffered threats. They were thrown in jail. They were slaughtered for the right to vote…for the right to be recognized and respected as men and women.

They HELD up signs; They HELD demonstrations; They HELD up their heads…all while being attacked. That’s why you can’t ‘HOLD’ your vote. They followed the example of our Lord Jesus Christ…

1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV)

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

DON’T HOLD YOUR VOTE…GO!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Sometimes you just don’t know…

Hey! Hey! HEY!!!!

Has anyone ever called your name over and over and you didn’t hear them? You didn’t hear them because you were thinking. You were trying to make a decision. You lay awake at night…You stare into space…You drive miles without noticing where you’re going because you’re….thinking.

You cry some secret tears, hoping someone walks up and notices to show concern, while not wanting anyone to see you crying.

Should I go left or right?

Should I do right or wrong?

Should I go or stay?

Do I tell them how I feel or keep it to myself?

Should I speak or remain silent?

Is this God’s will? Is God giving me options? What if I make the wrong decision?

My flesh says YES…while my spirit says NO!

Is God saying OKAY or is He saying NO….I just can’t tell!!!!

Life’s greatest battles aren’t fought on the battlefield, but in your mind.

Yes, you believe in God, Yes, you trust God. Yes you pray for an answer. You search God’s word for an answer…but you’re still unsure of what to think, what to say….what to do.

Even those who seem the most confident, those who are most anointed…sometimes just aren’t sure. They second guess themselves.

Unfortunately I don’t have the answer here…and be careful of those who claim to have ALL the answers.

I can only tell you when you don’t know which way to go after consulting God…praying…fasting…reading that you move forward in faith. That’s why it’s called FAITH. You don’t know which way to go. Trust God….

When you sincerely seek Him, take comfort in the fact that He knows your heart…

Psalm 139:23-24 (NKJV)

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;

Take comfort in the fact that even if you make the wrong decision, He will work it out for YOUR good…

Romans 8:28(NKJV)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

God will take care of you and uphold you for His Name’s sake…

Psalm 143:1 (NKJV)

Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Sometimes you just won’t know so you learn to trust God and yourself as you trust Him.

Tell God that you trust Him…then trust Him

BE BLESSTIFIED!

They say there’s a thin line between love and hate. It may not be that the line is so thin, but that people should be totally honest with themselves, because God knows the heart. The fact is…YOU DON’T HAVE TO HATE SOMEONE TO NOT LOVE THEM.

The enemy knows that God commanded us to love everyone….

EVERYONE means EVERYONE.

That’s why he (the enemy) manipulates situations and circumstances to provoke us to NOT LOVE someone who mistreats us, or someone we close to us. He convinces people to engage in behavior to where what we feel for them may not be HATE, but it’s definitely not LOVE.

He then he manipulates you to lie to yourself and say “I love everybody” because it’s the right thing to say, but your feelings and behavior don’t reflect love.

God didn’t tell us to LIKE everyone…but to LOVE everyone.

Just as Jesus says in Matthew 5:46, even evil people love those who love them.

So, we must be very careful to be honest with ourselves and WATCH THE LOVE LINE! Make sure that what you feel doesn’t CROSS the line from LOVE to NOT LOVE to HATE. The bible says it is impossible to truly love God who we can’t see and hate one another who we can see…

1 John 4:20

“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”

Examine yourself, and be honest about your feelings. Give yourself the TEST FOR LOVE. It’s easy to find in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7..
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
If what you feel and your behavior towards everyone doesn’t measure up to the criteria in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7…then it’s not love. And, if it’s not love, in God’s eyes, it’s not enough. And, remember, if you have trouble loving those who may seem they don’t deserve our love, ask yourself, what have you done to deserve God’s love?

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!

The greater the resistance to your vision, may be greater confirmation that it came from God.

The devil confronted and tempted Jesus in the wilderness EARLY in His earthly ministry (Matthew 4:1-11) and the resistance never ceased.

It came from both without and within His inner circle. Even today many sincere, devout Jewish people still don’t understand or accept God’s vision through Jesus Christ.

When your vision is from God, everyone won’t understand it, but they weren’t meant to…that’s why Yahweh gave it to you!

Remember, when Jesus knocked down Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), He struck in blind. Saul was headed to persecute the church.

God struck him blind, because He was changing his VISION.

Stick to your vision and SEE YOUR VISION through…only you can. That’s why God gave it to YOU!

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!