How does it make you feel when you hear someone whining?

Whining is a total waste of energy…

It’s a verbal expression of worry…

Whining is a verbal pity party.

Whining is a form of complaining, and God hates complaining …

1 Corinthians 10:10 (NKJV)

Nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

It establishes the whiner’s perceived weakness and powerlessness.

Not one time in scripture do we find Jesus whining…

He rejoices…

Luke 10:21a (NKJV)

²¹ In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…

He weeps…

 John 11:35 (NKJV)

³⁵ Jesus wept.

He rebukes…

Matthew 17:8 (KJV)

 ⁸ And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

He even pleads….

Matthew 27:46

⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”^[a]

But, He never whines.

Very few people want to hear you whine…

Very few times does whining change the situation….

Have you ever noticed how a group of people whining together feed into each others’ misery?

It becomes a pity party…they validate one anothers’ complaints but accomplishes nothing.

Yes, there are times that we are displeased, dismayed, overlooked, overworked, unappreciated, unhappy…

Sometimes we may even need to rebut, rebuke, protest or protect our interest…

But, do it in strength not weakness.

Don’t whine…

Turn your WHINING INTO WORSHIP

Turn your PITY PARTY INTO A PRAISE PARTY!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

You can’t wait until the next time you hear his or her voice.

You spend an hour saying goodbye on the phone.

You get excited and nervous when you see they’ve sent you a text message.

You don’t care where you go or what you do as long as you’re together. Just the thought of him or her makes you smile.

You’re proud to have them by your side…falling and being in love feels great!

God wants us to fall in love with Him through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Yeshua), just as He’s fallen in love with us.

He doesn’t want a one-sided relationship.

God wants you to look forward to and enjoy talking to Him. He wants you to get to know His heart in His word.

He wants intimate fellowship with you in worship and praise…

He wants you to long for His presence…

He wants you to gladly let the world know you belong to Him and He belongs to you.

And, He doesn’t want you to be ashamed of Him, but proud to have Him by your side.

In fact…

Jeremiah 9:24 says, “but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

However, Jesus also says in…

Mark 8:38, “8 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Jesus didn’t just say He loves us, He proved it for dying for our sins…

REAL LOVE ISN’T JUST STATED, IT’S DEMONSTRATED!

LOVE IS STRONGEST AS A VERB!

PEOPLE DON’T KNOW YOU LOVE THEM, UNTIL YOU SHOW YOU LOVE THEM!

He put Himself to open shame for us on the cross in the face of His enemy…that’s love!

He died for people He knew would never acknowledge or accept Him.

He keeps on loving us when we ‘cheat’ on Him daily, when we willingly choose the enemy over Him!

We, however, throw people away for little or nothing…

The Lord longs to have us in His presence forever…

Matthew 17:24a

²⁴ “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am…”

Do you love Him?

Are you in love with Him?

Do you look forward to seeing Him when he returns?

Sometimes, after a while, couples have to fall back in love with one another.

I encourage you today, if you already haven’t, to fall in love with Jesus….

If your love has been a little ‘cold’…fall back in love with Him.

Most Christians claim to love Him, but don’t just say it…demonstrate it.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

You don’t have to be superhuman to be someone’s hero today…

You don’t need x-ray vision, just an eye that can see someone in need…

You don’t need super hearing, just an ear to hear when someone pleads…

You don’t have to have super strength, just be strong enough to ease someone’s load…

You don’t have to be able to fly, just the ability to encourage and lift up a heavy soul…

You don’t have to be made of steel…

just have a loving heart that’s able to feel.

You don’t have to wear a cape…

just to look the hills to He who makes you capable.

You don’t have to be immortal,

to teach someone about life eternal.

Your sacrifice of time, attention, concern and love can save someone’s life..or soul.

You have the power to be someone’s hero today…Christ gave it to you when He died.

John 14:12

 ¹² “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

We quickly say, if you have the faith of a grain of mustard seed you can move mountains!

We quickly say, all it takes is a little faith!

That may be true, but think about two things….

1. How much faith does Jesus call ‘little (mustard seed) faith’?

2. Jesus constantly rebuked His disciples for having ‘little’ faith.

Too many Christians are content with ‘little’ faith, as if that’s all we need.

In Matthew Chapter 17, while Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James and John…a father brought his son to the other disciples, hoping they could cast out the demon in his son. They could not do it. After Jesus cast out the demon, His disciples asked why they couldn’t do it.

Jesus was frustrated with them. They had already seen Him feed thousands. They had seen him heal and deliver, but still Jesus told them, “BECAUSE OF YOUR LITTLE FAITH”.

Matthew 17:19 ( NKJV)

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

After seeing Jesus show His power and love, the faith they had still wasn’t enough to help that man and his son.

Not only is the Lord IS NOT satisfied with LITTLE FAITH, but the little faith we settle for MAY NOT even be mustard seed faith to God.

Is simply believing mustard seed faith? Well the demons believe and tremble…

James 2:19 (NKJV)

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Do you believe but are still easily consumed by worry? Maybe your faith is too small.

Matthew 6:31 (NKJV)

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Do you believe but don’t really trust God? Maybe your faith is too small.

James 1:6

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 

Do you pray but aren’t really satisfied until you’ve talked to a person? Maybe your faith is too small.

Matthew 6:6

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Do you read the bible but don’t believe EVERYTHING in it is true, whether symbolic or literal? Maybe your faith is too small.

2 Timothy 3:16-16 (KJV)

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Do you believe God will forgive you for EVERYTHING you’ve done wrong? Maybe your faith is too small.

1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

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

Do you believe that with God ALL things are possible? Maybe your faith your is too small.

Matthew 19:26 (NKJV)

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Before you become satisfied with your ‘mustard seed faith’…make sure that you even have that much.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Isaiah 43:7 (NKJV)

“Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

Do you love God?

I mean do you really love Him, or were you just taught that loving God is the ‘right thing to do’?

Do you love God or are you just afraid to say that you don’t?

If you love Him, are you in relationship with Him?

If you are in relationship with Him, is He getting anything out of the relationship? We enter relationships with other people for various reasons…love, friendship, fellowship, family, business, pleasure, protection, etc.

Why did you enter YOUR relationship with God?

For love?

Friendship?

Fellowship?

Business?

Blessings?

Protection?

Salvation?

God entered relationship with us to…

Love Him…

Glorify Him…

Communicate…

And, to fellowship with Him through one another.

For whatever reason we entered our relationship with God, we want to make sure He is getting something out of it, and that it’s not just a one-sided relationship.

We must make sure we are spending quality time with him every day.

Who wants to be in relationship with someone who doesn’t enjoy talking to them and spending quality time with them?

Who wants to be in relationship with someone who only comes to them when they want something?

Who wants to be in relationship with someone who only wants to be with them for what they can do?

That’s how some people treat God.

People claim they don’t have time to spend quality time in God’s word, but are on social media and reading their favorite books every chance they get.

People claim they love God, but never show that love by sharing their faith WITH UNBELIEVERS or serving Him through serving one another.

Read Isaiah 43:7 and Ephesians 2:10 and look at just two of the many reasons that God created us…then ask yourself…

Is God getting what He deserves out of my relationship with Him.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Why does God test us when He already knows what we will do?

He doesn’t have to ‘find out’ how strong we are…He already knows.

He doesn’t have to see what we will choose…He already knows.

Yes, God tests us so WE can see how strong we are…or aren’t. Just like any other assessment, tests let us know where we stand, and where we need to grow.

Tests allow others to benefit from witnessing our strength, and to learn from our mistakes…

However, there is one more reason God tests us that is so obvious in scripture, but we if we aren’t careful we’ll miss it…

God somtimes wants to prove a point to the enemy.

God knows the outcome beforehand, but the enemy doesn’t.

The enemy thinks he can tempt you to do anything he wants and put God to open shame.

God loves it when we prove the enemy wrong ‘to his face’. Much like if an attractive rival tempts your spouse. This rival taunts you and tells you he or she can have your spouse any time they wish. You know for yourself that your spouse is attracted to the rival, but they still don’t give in. You didn’t have to make prevent your spouse from giving in…they willingly rejected the rival.

This happened ‘in a sense’ with Job…

Job 1:8-12

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”

Next time you’re tested, put your name in Job’s place…

“Consider my servant ________.”

Show the enemy that he doesn’t know you better than God does.

Let God prove to the enemy, that you’re stronger than he thinks.

Make God shine in the face of the enemy.

2 Timothy 2:3-5 (NKJV)

³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

“I’m only human!”

That’s our excuse sometimes when we sin and make mistakes.

We’re all sinners saved by grace. We all fall short of God’s standards.

We are all human beings… being human. But, to say, “I’m ONLY human” isn’t completely true.

1 John 4:4 teaches us that we’re the children of God, and that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.

We who are in Christ have His Holy Spirit, our helper and comforter (John 14:16), to give us power over the enemy.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) is living in us.

When we walk in His Spirit, His power is working in us to overcome our flesh (Galatians Chapter 5).

God’s Spirit makes us more than human. He makes us SUPERHUMAN.

He gives us the power to stand against evil, and do great things for the Kingdom of God.

He gives us the power to resist temptation…

The power to keep going when our physical strength is gone…

The power to turn hearts to God…

The power to make disciples.

His Spirit is our SUPERPOWER to set the standard of behavior for the world….

He’s our power to FLY above what the world is doing to remain ethical and just…

He gives us the STRENGTH to lift and carry heavy burdens…

He gives us X-RAY VISION to discern, so we can see things from God’s point of view…

He gives us the POWER to have joy in the midst of trouble.

So, whatever you are facing today…

whether it be…

Temptation…

Frustration…

Intimidation…

Humiliation…

Degradation…

Remember…

You are God’s…

CREATION!

You are His child.

You have His power to change your world, and the world around you for Him!

So, Superman of God… Superwoman of God…

Go get ’em!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

If God makes it so easy to join His organization (Romans 10:9), why do we make it so hard to join  some of ours?

I was watching a television show in which a young lady hoping to join a prestigious college band was beaten into intensive care during her initiation, and it was swept under the rug and defended by those in authority to protect their tradition.

I’ve heard many comment and reason that such behavior is just ‘part of the process’…that some initiations and inductions are just ‘part of growing up’.

I’ve heard that enduring this foolishness with others breeds loyalty, brotherhood/sisterhood, comradery, etc.

Now, I’m sure some of you reading will defend it out of loyalty to your own beloved organizations and traditions, but if you’re a Christian…if you know God’s word…if you know the character and culture of His Kingdom…and if you’re honest with yourself, you know it’s not of God and makes no sense.

If it’s not of God, then it’s of the devil…

If it’s of the devil, then it’s straight from Hell.

How do I know it’s not of God?

Because God made joining His organization EASY for us!

It’s interesting how so many organizations, teams, clubs etc. make it so DIFFICULT to join…initiations, rituals, rites of passage, hazing, traditions…while, God makes it so EASY!

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)

 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

The Body of Christ, His church is the most prestigious ‘organization’ of this earth and beyond.

The benefits of membership are eternal…

Yet, God makes it so easy to become part of His family.

But,

So many earthly organizations feel it’s such an honor to be inducted into their ranks that some have even died trying to get in. When you think about it…it’s quite absurd that people have shed blood to join some groups but…

Yeshua, Jesus Christ, paid the price of our admission to His church with His blood…

 Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)

But He was wounded for our transgressions,He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

One of Jesus’ greatest battles was against foolish, senseless tradition (Matthew 15:1-20).

No organization on earth supersedes God’s and should never be no more difficult to become a part of than His church.

Even though some have even perverted and complicated ‘membership’ in His church, that was never His intention.

When any organization makes potential members submit themselves to violence, vulgar and profane language, embarrassment and possible harm as conditions of joining…those activities are not of God.

This is not an indictment on all organizations that require some sort of ‘proving grounds’, but when it crosses God’s line, it’s gone too far.

Don’t get caught up trying to hold onto, defend and condone traditions from Hell.

No rite of passage should provoke you to do wrong.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

If you feel God is placing it on your heart to move, to act, to do something. Test it by the Word of God, pray for wisdom, guidance and protection…then move!

I learned this lesson the hard way several years ago…

One morning while getting ready to go to church I received a phone call from a young friend of mine from jail…

He said, “Brother Al, I need to talk to you brother! I can’t do this! This is my third time being locked up, and I know that I will be away from my family for a very long time. I really need to talk to you!”

I responded, “Okay, I will stop by to talk to you as soon as I get out of church”.

I had ministered to this brother by phone and letters while he was in prison before. My phone would ring and I’d hear… “You have a call from ____________ at the ____________ Center for Corrections.” I would quickly respond, “Yes”.

He was very sincere, and He told me that he had been brought back to Christ while in prison. Not only that, He felt God had called Him to be a minister.

After being released he, came to church and was given the opportunity to preach his first sermon, “Are You Lame” from Acts Chapter 3. His sermon was very good. He then told me he was anxious to go and witness to the people he used to ‘run with’. Those who were his ‘partners in crime’…both figuratively and literally.

I told him, “I admire your passion to reach back and grab them, but PLEASE don’t do it until you’re strong enough, so you aren’t drawn back in. I then reminded him of the warning in the bible…

Galatians 6:1

 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 

 And also,

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV)

 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

He did in fact try to reach back, and unfortunately, he got drawn back in. That’s why he was calling me from jail.

Well, as I said…He asked me to come and talk to him that morning, and I told him that I would as soon as I got out of church.

While I was in church, he hung himself and died.

My church should have been at the jail that morning.

I let him down…

 I let God down…

For religion…

For duty…

For tradition…

For ‘a form of Godliness’…

I missed the entire puropse of what church equips us to do. (Ephesians 4:12)

I missed an opportunity to save a life.

This is one of the reasons Jesus said…

Matthew 9:13 (NKJV)

 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’^[a] For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”^[

This is one of the reasons the bible says…

James 2:15-17 (NKJV)

 ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

This is one of the reasons the bible says…

1 John 3:17 (NKJV)

 ¹⁷ But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

 And most definitely why Jesus said…

Matthew 25: 31-40 (NKJV)

 ³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy^[c] angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. ³³ And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

God told me to move that morning and I ignored Him, because I felt I was doing the right thing. But, had I looked closer at the word of God…I would have quickly gone to the jail.

If you feel God is placing it on your heart to move, to do something, to bless someone, to pray for someone…test it by His word…pray for wisdom, guidance and protection…and do it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!