Jesus was often criticized for His close association with sinners, and yes, sometimes that can be spiritually dangerous for us…

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV)

³³ Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

But, notice why the tax collectors and sinners were drawn to Jesus in Luke Chapter 15…

Luke 15  (NKJV)

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. ² And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” ³ So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

There were many occasions when Jesus attracted crowds of people for what He could do for them…

John 6:26  (NKJV)

²⁶ Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.

But, in Luke Chapter 15 they were drawn to Jesus to hear Him. The sinners were seeking the word of God. Not food. Not healing. Not things…but the word. Either way, it was God doing the drawing…

John 6:44  (NKJV)

⁴⁴ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

This prompted me to ask myself a question. Why are the people who are drawn to me…drawn to me? What is it about me that attracts people? Here’s the real question. Is it what is holy about me, or what is unholy about me?

So I challenge you to examine and ask yourself…

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ME THAT ATTRACTS THOSE WHO ARE DRAWN TO ME? IS IT WHAT IS HOLY, OR UNHOLY?

You can also flip this question and ask ourselves, “Why am I drawn to those to whom I’m drawn?” What is it about them that attracts me? Is it what’s holy or unholy.

Remember this…peoples’ perception of you is their reality. The reasons that people are drawn to you speaks to how and why they value you. It speaks to what value you can add to their lives.

And the value that you are to others, can be the value that you are to God…

John 15:16  (NKJV)

¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 Matthew 7:18-20  (NKJV)

¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

 Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

It is critical that we continue to refine our walk with God and our usefulness to Him in His Kingdom, especially before we take the Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 11:28 New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁸ But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

We always want to make sure that it’s the God in us that draws people and not the enemy.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

One morning back in 1999 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 purpose 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!

History didn’t take place in black and white…

It wasn’t experienced in 8mm…

A lifetime wasn’t lived out in a chapter that records it.

The past can’t be contained in a book or scroll…

The past was it’s past’s future.

Those before us days and nights were just as long as ours.

They had hopes and dreams just as we do.

History was influenced by names we will never know, and countless others whose lived and died in anonymity, but were still important to those in their lives.

Today, you’re younger than you will ever be again….enjoy it.

Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

BEBLESSTIFIED!

If you like flowers…

Or plants…

Or fruit…

Or breathing…

Then you should thank God for BEES.

God uses them to pollinate plants so the plants can reproduce. As you probably already know, God uses plants to produce the oxygen that we need to breathe.

So, God uses BEES to multiply.

To make more plants…to make more fruit…to make more oxygen, so we can live.

God uses bees to fill the earth.

In the beginning one of the first things God told man to do is multiply…

Genesis 1:28(NKJV)

28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

God also told us to bear fruit…

John 15:8 (NKJV)

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

When we bring others to Christ…

When we make disciples…

We’re bearing fruit for God’s Kingdom.

Fruit isn’t WHAT you obtain, but WHO you obtain.

When we plant the seed of God’s word, we’re pollinating God’s Kingdom.

When we’re doing what God told us to do, we’re BEEING what He created us to BEE.

BEE BLESSTIFIED!

You may not be able to see viruses or bacteria with the naked eye, but when you catch a cold or get sick you acknowledge their existence.

You may not be tech savvy, you may not have a computer or smart phone, and you may renounce the internet, but YOUR information is not only on the internet, but it affects your life daily.

There are many who claim that there is no God. They don’t believe in Him, and they make every effort to provide empirical ‘proof’ He’s not there, but…

Even the atheist acknowledges God’s is real when…

He or she takes shelter from storms, heat or cold.
Jonah 1:4-5 (NKJV)
⁴ But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.
⁵ Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load.^[a] But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.

He or she enjoys His creation…
Matthew 5:45 (NKJV)

Romans 1:20 (NKJV)

Our science, our medicine and our knowledge can’t heal us or save our lives…
Luke 8:43 (NKJV)
⁴³ Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,

But the greatest evidence of God’s existence and His love is His mercy, and giving those who don’t believe in Him time to do so.
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)
⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us,^[a] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Just as some plants are only beautiful for a season, and some others flourish year round…

The glory of this life is temporary, but our eternal glory will never fade away.

Romans 8:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Isaiah 40:8  (NKJV)

⁸ The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

When you have the power to inspire, you have the power to change the world.

Where does inspiration take you? Inspiration takes you from…

Silence to Speaking…

Sitting to Standing…

Ignorance to Information…

Passive to Passion…

Apathy to Action…

Inspiration is so powerful, that it works the same for both good and evil, that’s why it’s so important that God, and His word, be the source of all inspiration.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

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

Hebrews 10:24 (NKJV)

²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Inspiration is everywhere because God is everywhere…

God is omnipresent, He’s everywhere at the same time. You never have to look for Him. That’s why you never have to LOOK for inspiration – it’s everywhere.

You can find inspiration in…

Good and evil…

The profane and profound…

The young and the old…

The rich and the poor…

In light and in darkness…

Yes, you can even find inspiration in darkness. The darkest situation. The darkest heart. You can find inspiration in the darkest people and moments in human history even if it’s inspiration to never be like them and to never let those moments happen again. You have to find inspiration in darkness – because it takes inspiration to get out of the deepest, darkest most hopeless and evil situations.

What does inspiration do to you?

Inspiration ignites something within you. It moves you to passion, so even if you think everything I have written here is a bunch of bull, the fact that it moved you to that conclusion is inspiration.

Real inspiration moves you. Real inspiration will not leave you where you are…how you are…or who you are.

It took inspiration to move 12 men to turn what appeared to be as shameful death on the cross, and spread the timeless message of eternal life. The inspiration that Jesus placed inside them changed the world…

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Go therefore^[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

So, who are you inspiring? Yes, you! No matter who you are, you qualify to inspire someone.

Remember that you’re never too…

‘Broke’ or wealthy

Smart or dumb…

Overweight or underweight…

Attractive or unattractive…

Influential or Insignificance…

Broken or unhealthy…

To inspire someone.

So pray to God that you can be an inspiration to someone to His glory! You were made in His image. That doesn’t mean that you have His nose. His eyes. But it does mean you have His ‘walk’. His Spirit. His character – it means that you too can be an inspiration.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Think of all the people in the bible who had to be hidden in the midst of difficult situations, circumstances trials and storms. Yes, sometimes God gave His people power over the enemy, but many times before that victory He had to hide them first.

Rahab hid the spies …

Joshua 2:4 (NKJV)

⁴ Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

Moses had to be hidden…

Hebrews 11:23 (NKJV)

²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

David hid from Saul…

1 Samuel 20:24 (NKJV)

²⁴ Then David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast.

Even Jesus had to be hidden in Egypt until it was safe.

Matthew 2:13 (NKJV)

¹³ Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

He was in the obscurity of Nazareth until His appointed time.
Luke 2:51-52 (NKJV)
⁵¹ Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

He even had to sneak away from the crowd at times because His time had not yet come.

John 8:59 (NKJV)

⁵⁹ Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple,^[a] going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Is God hiding you right now? Is He hiding you in…

A Trial or Storm…

A ‘Dead-end Job’ that you Hate…

In Someone Else’s Shadow…

Obscurity?

Sometimes hiding places are small, smelly, dark, cramped…uncomfortable.

Before you try to force your way out. Before you try to make sure everyone knows your name…knows your opinion…knows what you are capable of, make sure that God isn’t hiding you until your appointed time.

If you weren’t being restricted by your uncomfortable situation right now, would you really be fulfilling God’s real purpose for your life. You may think you’re ready, but are you?

Maybe, just maybe the storm that you’re in right how wasn’t created to harm you, but to hide you.

Maybe God is hiding you, until your appointed time.

Psalm 32:7 (NKJV)

⁷ You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance

Psalm 119:114 (NKJV)

¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your word.
Psalm 27:5-6 (NKJV)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

For those of you who don’t know, not only do I blog, but I write songs for my wife who is Gospel/Jazz artist, Mechelle Johnson. She also sings classic R&B covers of many of the songs that make up the soundtrack of our 30-plus year marriage with her group, Natural Elegance. It’s part of our marriage ministry (Google SONday Blessing videos) that encourages strong, healthy, joyous Godly marriages between a man and woman. Our motto is…

You minister to the soul with a Gospel song, but you minister to a marriage with a love song!

We are based in a suburb of Memphis TN, and I must say that except for our very supportive church family at Oak Spring Church and a few others, we have gotten very little support from the ‘church community’. However, we have gotten MUCH SUPPORT from the local non-church community, and on radio in different cities throughout the country. I like to call it Matthew’s House ministry, reaching people beyond the ‘four walls’ of the physical church building…

Matthew 9:10-12 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. ¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Soooo, I said all that to say this…

I see so many Gospel artists and ministers, both locally and nationally either whining and complaining on social media about not getting support or begging for people to vote for them to receive awards.

Let me say this very lovingly…

STOP WHINING AND WORK YOUR MINISTRY

If you are faithful with your message, God will promote you in His timing.

He will make sure that the people He wants to receive your message…get it.

The apostles never whined about their message not being received. They never whined about not getting supported, and they definitely never begged for awards. On the contrary, they were blessed to get out of town alive sometimes. They often did not have a ‘captive’ audience. They even celebrated when they were beaten for the Gospel…

Acts 5:41 (NKJV)

⁴¹ So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His^[a] name.

We must be honest with ourselves as artists, musicians, singers, preachers, teachers, ministers, writers, and yes bloggers…

Do we want influence for the sake of God’s kingdom or recognition and celebrity?

Do we want awards or do we want to inspire people and save souls?

Do we want to bring glory to our name or God’s name?

Of course, it’s natural to want recognition and to even be paid well for your efforts, but if it’s truly a ministry for you, then you can’t be disappointed and ready to quit if you don’t receive it.

And, you definitely don’t want to be caught whining and complaining. It weakens the cause of Christ.

Yes, I would love to sustain my family well and be recognized with my writing, our music and sharing what God has placed on my heart, and the bible supports that…

1 Corinthians 9:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

Galatians 6:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV)

But, if you don’t get the attention that you feel you deserve, God allows us to have our private human moments between ourselves and Him, just as the psalmists did in so many of the lamenting Psalms.

Please don’t publish your woes on social media and chastise the people who you feel are ignoring you.

Stop complaining and begging for support. When people value what God has placed inside you, you don’t have to beg them to listen to you, watch you, or read what you have to share.

I know it get’s frustrating sometimes. Of course, I’ve been guilty of whining and complaining sometimes myself.

Remember the sharp encouragement in Hebrews Chapter 12…

Hebrews 12:12  (NKJV)

¹² Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,

Have your private moment between you and God…

Thank God for trusting you with His word and your gift and…

Preach on!

Teach on!

Sing on!

Play on!

Write on!

Even if you think no one is listening.

If you bless just one person…that’s good fruit, and good seed in good soil.

STOP WHINING AND START WINNING SOULS!

Work your ministry.

If this article blessed you, then you might also enjoy these..

WHEN YOU FEEL YOUR MINISTRY ISN’T GETTING ENOUGH ATTENTION…

JESUS WAS NEVER NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD…

WHINING IS A CALM TANTRUM (From my archives)…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

God is faithful! God is trustworthy! God is dependable…every day!

Lamentations 3:22-23  (NKJV)

²² Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
²³ They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

We can always trust and depend on Him! He will always remain true to His Word, His will, His promises and He will never leave or nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

 He is faithful to those of us who believe in Him, even when we aren’t…

2 Timothy 2:13  (NKJV)

¹³ If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.

He is even faithful to those who don’t believe in Him…

Romans 3:3-4  (NKJV)

³ For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? ⁴ Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:

“That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged.”^[a]

Faithfulness is meant to be reciprocated, but we all know that doesn’t always happen. You can only be faithful, TRULY faithful to someone or something you TRULY love.

Our faithfulness to God or one another isn’t perfect because our love for Him and one another isn’t perfect.

But, God’s is.

He was and is always faithful to Israel (Read Psalm 78).

Think for a moment of how faithful God is to you, even when you (like myself) have at times put foolishness before Him. When you have put other people before Him. When you have put things before Him. When you put the enemy before Him.

But, what does God get out of His faithfulness to us? What’s in it for Him?

Sometimes love…

Sometimes repentance…

Sometimes faithfulness in return…

But, only sometimes.

God’s faithfulness is a fulfillment of His love and commitment to us.

So, to answer the question, “What does our Omniscient, Omnipotent God get out of being faithful to us?” What’s in it for Him?” When we’re honest with ourselves…

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

It’s just a perfect expression of His unfailing love…our example…our standard.

If you’re grateful for God’s faithfulness, why don’t you stop right now and tell Him thank you. If you can’t find the words, Psalm 115:1 will work just fine…

Psalm 115:1  (NKJV)

Have you ever heard anyone say, ‘Don’t let me let the hood come out,” “I went straight to the ‘hood’ on ________,” or “Don’t let me get ghetto on you”?

It usually refers to ‘going off. ‘Cussing out, or even kicking someone’s a**.

How many times have you heard the term “Hood Rad”? How many times have you heard someone say, “I’ve got to get out of ‘The Hood”?

Why?

Why do so many of us associate THE HOOD or THE GHETTO with the worst in us?

There are good people in the hood.

There are people with self-control in the hood.

There are people with integrity in the hood.

Some of our richest cultural and spiritual influences have come from the hood.

There are plenty of good mothers, fathers, grandparents and guardian doing their best to raise their children right in the hood.

There are plenty of kids doing their best to stay on the right track in the hood.

There are plenty of good churches doing real kingdom work in the hood.

Jesus was from ‘the hood’ in a sense. When the disciples heard about Him remember what Nathanael said…

John 1:46 (NKJV)

And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Philip said to him, “Come and see.

It’s time we change the negative narrative about the hood. Its time we stop feeding it.

I’m not from the hood. I’m from the ‘country’ which has its own negative stereotypes. But, I proclaim to be unapologetically country.

If you’re from the hood proclaim, “I’m unapologetically from the hood!”

So, whether you used to live in the hood, live there now or never been…

Please don’t let the negative speak louder than the positive.

Don’t let the negatives define everyone from any area, of any race, of any culture.

When you say “I’m about to let THE HOOD come out “, or “Don’t make me get ghetto…embrace all that’s good about a unique and influential culture. Let it be the about…

Determination…

Hard Work…

Loyalty…

Devotion to Family…

Perseverance…

Faith…

Or, one of the many other positive aspects of ‘HOOD LIFE’.

Let the world know there are plenty of GOOD TIMES in the hood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9GURZ8yUoE

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I often hear or read many mockers and scoffers of God ask, “Why does God ask you to pray for something if He already knows what you need?

Well, it’s really quite simple…

Matthew 7:7-8  (NKJV)

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Just as any parent, God wants a relationship with His children.

Asking, seeking, knocking encourages interaction. There’s no relationship without interaction.

But, why does God encourage daily interaction?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  (NKJV)

Many say they believe in God, but they give Him ZERO if any interaction.

So here’s my question. At what point does does workplace discipline, chewing out, or a sharp rebuke, become disrespectful?

So, here is my perspective. Here’s the Aldtric Johnson’s philosophy on discipline in the workplace…

Social media gives everyone to instantly vent their frustrations and anger. They quickly give their opinion on, well everything and everyone.

Just scroll the the comments on a controversial post on your choice of social media.

People are working one another into a frenzy with their rants. And if you by chance don’t agree withthem or if you’re on the other side of the arguement, debate, issue, then you are a…

Blankity blankin’ *@!*!!#!!!!!!

And, many of these people claim to be disciples of Christ.

We have got to learn to disagree without insults because that same anger, that provoked you to insult…

Is the same anger that can provoke you, yes you, to kill.

But, I didn’t just come up with that, Jesus did…

Matthew 5:21-22 (NKJV)
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause[b] shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

My friends, and those who don’t consider yourself my friend…

We have got to learn to disagree without insults.

So, when you see, or hear insults being hurled around vocally or in the cyber world.

Don’t let your anger draw you into the dissipation. Let God’s Spirit abide and rule inside you. Speak or type peace into the situation…the environment…the post, and even your family or relationships.

You honestly may save a life, or even better…save a soul.

Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I reaaalllyyy enjoy riding my bicycle. God allowed me to be taken off blood pressure medicine, and biking has helped me control it for the past several years. One evening a few years ago after I arrived home from the office, I asked my boys if either of them had ridden my bike because it wasn’t in the garage. The garage door had been left open the night before. They both said no sir. About the same time my neighbor was in front of her house, and I noticed that her SUV was not in her driveway. She informed me that some individuals went through our neighborhood checking for ‘soft’ targets…she had left her car unlocked. I went in the house and told my wife, “Well, I will never see that bike again… $600 bucks down the drain.”

I then called the sheriff’s department to report the theft. They sent out an officer and I filled out the report. Less than an hour later I got a call from the sheriff’s department asking me to describe my bike! They found it…Across town…In the back of my neighbor’s SUV! Wow! They said it wasn’t damaged! Look at God!

Three guys from across town worked our neighborhood. Even though my WORDS showed no faith, my ACTIONS of reporting the theft and filling out the report were FAITH IN ACTION. I got my bike back that night, brought to me by an officer who lived in my neighborhood…it was undamaged. My neighbor didn’t get her truck back for over a month, and it had damage.

God used an OBJECT, my bike to give me an OBJECT LESSON in faith.

Jesus teaches us that we can move mountains with our faith in Him…

Matthew 17: 20-21

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

When things seem impossible, never loose your faith. And, please do better than me, let your WORDS agree with your ACTIONS.

#OBJECTLESSON
noun
a striking practical example of some principle or ideal.
“they responded to emergencies in a way that was an object lesson to us all”

BE BLESSTIFIED!!!

Matthew 15:7-12  (NKJV)

⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ⁸ ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And^[a] honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.

⁹ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”^[b]

¹⁰ When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

¹² Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

Jesus called the religious leaders “Hypocrites”, which was a pretty significant insult in that time. So much so, that His disciples called Him to the side and said in today’s terms… “Uhhh, you know you pissed them off right?”

But, Jesus didn’t say it to make them angry. Jesus didn’t say it to insult them. He didn’t say it to hurt them, He said it to help them, and help us too.

Jesus didn’t insult them, but they were insulted. But, many times we all are when we are confronted with truth about ourselves…we sometimes naturally get defensive.

Even today, truth is a viable defense when accused of defamation. If it’s true, it’s not libel or slander…and what Jesus said about them is true.

But, we should only say something BAD to or about someone if there is some GOOD to come out of it.

We should only say something bad to or about someone with an intention to help them and not hurt them.

It should be our intention for them, or those who hear it be better. It should be our intention, help them submit to God’s will, His word…His standards.

Jesus also proved you should never say anything about someone who you would not say to their face.

If Jesus had called them hypocrites to hurt or embarrass them, it would have been wrong.

If Jesus had called them hypocrites when they weren’t present to belittle them, it would have been wrong.

But, Jesus never sinned, so we know He wasn’t wrong. We know His intentions. But even when you have good intentions, it doesn’t mean that people won’t be insulted.

The same goes with us today. We should be willing to give and accept constructive criticism, so we can grow and mature in the LORD…that’s when an insult isn’t an insult.

We should pray the discernment to determine when to be loving and when to be sharp.

How many times have you sincerely told someone something to help them and they were insulted? When was the last time someone told you something to help you and it was insulting?

It doesn’t even have to be as sharp as calling them a hypocrite.

“You are unorganized”

“You are lazy”

“You are selfish”

“You’re too promiscuous”

“You’re too loud”

“You’re too insensitive”

“You’re too sensitive”

“You don’t listen”

“You’re too wasteful”

“You’re a bully”

“You’re too timid”

“You are a coward”

You are intimidating”

And the list goes on and on.

Has anyone said any of the statements to you before? Have you ever said any of them to anyone?

It’s WHY it was said that determines whether or not is an insult.

Now, most people who are confronted with something that needs to change about themselves will initially be insulted. But, much of our growth comes from that uncomfortable moment of truth and self-examination.

When Jesus called the religious leaders hypocrites, it was His intention for them to acknowledge it, repent and grow.

So the next time that someone, ‘insults’ you, even if they meant to hurt you, ask yourself, “Is this true about me”?

Even if they meant to insult you, if it’s true, you can take what was meant for evil and turn it into good. You can turn what could have been bad fruit into good fruit.

Genesis 50:20  (NKJV)

I’m pretty sure we have all done this. You may be in this situation right now. You said or did someone and you know you were wrong. You told them you’re sorry and you’re ready to move on. But you may need to go back and apologize again…

Why?

HOW did you say, “I’m sorry?”

Did they tell you, “You owe me an apology!” and you angrily and grudgingly snap back, “I’m sorry!”

Did you tell them you were sorry just to shut them up from nagging you… wanting them to drop it?

Did you tell them you were sorry only to demand of them to get over it and move on?

Did you tell them you were sorry because you know God expects it, but you really didn’t mean it?

Did you tell them you were sorry because you just didn’t want them to be upset?

Did you tell them you were sorry because you didn’t want them to treat you differently?

Did you tell them with a sticky note, text or email?

Did you tell someone else to tell them for you?

Or,

Did you tell them you were sorry because you had true remorse, regret, contrition, shame and sorrow for hurting them?

Remember this…

There’s a difference between saying, “I’m sorry”, and a true apology.

Notice that even God doesn’t necessarily ask us to tell Him we are sorry, but He does require Godly sorrow and repentance…

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

A true apology comes from the heart and not just from the mouth.

When we are truly sorry, we want the person to feel that it hurt us that we hurt them. And, when we are truly sorry our continued behavior reflects that apology, even if they have a human moment in bringing that hurt back up again.

Think about it. Do you need to apologize to someone again? Yes, you said you were sorry, but maybe, just maybe, you didn’t really ‘apologize’.

And, when you are on the receiving end of an apology, please BE EASY TO APOLOGIZE TO… because sometimes accepting a harsh, so-called, insincere apology with grace and humility can soften their heart. That’s the power of God’s love. Think about the times you’ve had to apologize remembering…

It takes just as much humility and love to extend a sincere apology as it does to accept it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Much of my job is based on meeting deadlines. Through that I’ve noticed something that you may have noticed too. When you’re working towards a deadline, you sometimes don’t notice the days between that deadline When the project is completed, I find myself saying, “Wow, this week went by fast!”

Even on a personal level, setting goals and giving oneself deadlines is important to being what many call ‘successful’.

Whether it be deadlines, goals, hopes or dreams. Don’t forget to live and enjoy each day as you work towards them.

For example, you may be in your early 30’s and have a certain goal you want to achieve by the age of 40. Don’t be so focused on your goal that when you reach 40 you look back and say, “What happened to my 30s” – whether you reach that goal or not.

Life is short enough without making it seem shorter trying to get to the future. Many people spend their 8am trying to get to 5pm (guilty). They spend Monday trying to get to Friday. They spend January trying to get to December. They spend their 20’s trying to get to their 30’s.

Many spend their work days trying to get to holidays and vacation. They spend their days trying to get to the day their car or mortgage is paid off. Many are trying to get to the carefree days of retirement.

DON’T MISS THE PRESENT TRYING TO GET TO THE FUTURE

Get there, but enjoy the days in between.

It’s always good to remember that tomorrow is not promised…

 Matthew 6:34  (NKJV)

³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

That being said, don’t let working for your tomorrows, allow you to miss out on your todays. Let this be your declaration every day…

Psalm 118:24  (NKJV)

²⁴ This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It’s interesting how many people quickly claim, “God’s on my side!”

Sometimes it’s people (or on a larger scale denominations) on both sides of an argument, issue, situation…how is God on everyone’s side?

Many times people will go through the bible, selfishly  hand picking scriptures out of context  to prove their point.This is reading or using the bible carnally.

God promises TO BE WITH US, as made perfectly clear in…

Romans 8-28-38. Verse 31 asks rhetorically, “If God is FOR US, who can be against us?” 

But notice verse 28 says all things work for the good of those who are “CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE”.

Yes, God is with us, but God is WITH US when we are on HIS SIDE.

In John 15:16, Jesus tells us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

Jesus told us no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). When Jesus died on the cross and arose from the dead, all power in heaven and earth was placed in Him

( Matthew 28:18)…it’s HIS SIDE because He paid for it with His blood.

When we accept the call of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are ON HIS SIDE, so if we are on His side, then by default He’s with us….our battles become His battles as God told Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:15.

Notice when David slew Goliath, David  wasn’t about proving how mighty he was, but he was standing for God and His armies. (1 Samuel 17:45) 

We are on HIS SIDE and, it’s our responsibility to be in harmony with His truth. Issues, situations, disputes and disagreements are much bigger than whether or not we are ‘RIGHT’ or ‘WRONG’.

We can easily get caught up in trying to prove we’re ‘RIGHT’, or someone else other group is WRONG, rather than be in harmony with God’s truth. We as individuals and groups can get caught up in being more concerned with what we want to believe, and our preferred view of the bible, which becomes a static doctrine that we feel compelled defend rather than trying to defend our faith and be in harmony with God’s truth.

That’s how you can tell who is in harmony with God’s truth when two people or groups are looking at the same scripture with two points of view…which person or group is removing how THEY WANT TO see it and their own will out of the way and is only seeking God’s point of view and His will. So, let’s be careful how we loosely throw around, “God’s on my side”, and strive to always be on His.

NOW HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS!

When you are on God’s side…walking in His Spirit…living according to His will…

HE IS ON YOUR SIDE!

Psalm 118:6  (NKJV)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

It’s happened to most of us. You suddenly feel your muscles ache, fever, stomach ache and nausea…you have FOOD POISONING. Something you ate, something that was supposed to nourish you made you sick. Something that was supposed to give you strength made you weak, something that was supposed to help your body…hurt it.

Sometimes something can look delicious, smell delicious and taste delicious and still be deadly. Salmonella, Botulism, Listeria are just a few are bacteria that make good food toxic. They infect what’s good….You have fever, stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea because your body is trying to get rid of it. Your muscles ache making you weak and unfit for work.

The same is true with the WORD OF GOD.

THE WORD IS MEANT TO NOURISH YOU…

1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

THE WORD IS MEANT TO GIVE YOU STRENGTH AND INCREASE YOUR FAITH…

Romans 10:17 (ESV)

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

THE WORD IS MEANT TO BUILD YOUR SPIRITUAL HOUSE AND THE BODY OF CHRIST

 Ephesians 4:11-12

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

But, sometimes the Body of Christ can get SPIRITUAL FOOD POISONING…

 1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

Demons are like spiritual bacteria that want to infect you and the Body of Christ. Their goal is to deceive and pervert the teaching and preaching of God’s word. They influence the ‘message’ to come from flesh instead of spirit. They want to infect the word so that it’s carnal instead of spiritual…and it can be very subtle:

For example, many people have learned to give selfishly. They have been taught ONLY to give so they can receive a blessing. Not, out of love…Not, out of obedience…Not, out of concern for others…but so they can be blessed. Give so you can get! Yes, God is willing to pour out blessings that we don’t have room to receive, but if that’s the only reason we give, that reducing giving to a ‘blessing bill”.

Be careful when the word of God is cloaked in carnality, sometimes it’s unintentional – but most of the time it isn’t. Watch out when the message contains…

Too much prosperity

Too much condemnation

Too little bible

Too much personal opinion

Too much tradition of man

Lies

Hypocrisy

Selfishness

Racial Pride

Idolatry

Blasphemy (Some preachers actually want you to worship them, or yourselves)

Or, when it elicits emotions from flesh…for example, if it makes excuse for or justifies sin or causes you to take pride in the way you used to be. I have heard preachers say, “I haven’t been saved all my life” in an arrogant way that eludes to the fact that they can revert back to their old behavior, or in other words, ‘let the old become new again’

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

We have to read and study God’s word for ourselves and pray for discernment, so we can intelligently and responsibly listen to the word of God. Just like food poisoning, it can be disguised in eloquent words, charisma, elaborate presentation, engaging personality etc. It can sound good, look good and make you feel good, but it’s got to be in line with the bible and not twisted to fit a human agenda.

Spiritual food poisoning makes the Christian and Body of Christ weak, ineffective, unproductive and unfit for Kingdom work. It makes the Body of Christ sick. It actually does more harm than good…and it takes place in church.

The old adage that you are what you eat is true. It doesn’t just apply to allowing worldly influences to enter your spirit…but just as the bible says that the devil disguises himself as an angle of light…

2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV)

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

The enemy doesn’t mind you going to church or hearing the word, as long as he can come along and twist it….infect it and poison your spiritual food.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I once heard a preacher erroneously teach Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 16…

He said in essence that we are to approach God ‘boldly’, even saying, “Do it right now Lord!”

Uhhh…No!

As you already know, it simply means we have direct access to God (Yah), through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Yeshua).

It does NOT give us permission to tell God what to do.

Even though we don’t have to always be on our knees when we pray YOU’RE ALWAYS IN POSITION TO PRAY/ 9 PROPER POSTURES (REBOOT)…, We do always have approach God with a humble spirit.

Look at how Jesus Himself fell on His face in the garden…

So, please be careful! It’s easy to allow the passion of our desires, our confidence in Him, the urgency of our need, and especially during worship to allow ‘the intensity of the moment and worship experience or the charisma of the ‘leader’ to turn our prayer into a bold demand on God to meet our expectations when and how we’re ready.

Even in the lamenting Psalms such as Numbers 3,4,5,7,12 13, 14, 17, 22, 25, 44, 126, or 129 ( there are many others, I suggest you do a study of them if you haven’t already) God is teaching us through how to lament, and express our ‘disappointment’ in and ‘impatience’ with God in reverence and respect.

Prayer is a beautiful privilege of being a child of God, but we must remember that that’s just what it is…a privilege.

Let us not give those with authority over us in our lives more respect than we give God.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Have you ever made Him feel you’ve forgotten Him?

How many times have you started your day without saying, “Good Morning”?

How many meals or snacks have you eaten without saying, “Thank you”?

Have you gone a day without ‘calling’?

Have often do you check what He’s ‘posted’ in His ‘HOLY MEDIA’?

How many times has He tried to get your attention and you responded, “Not Now!”

How many times have you asked Him to leave ‘your house’ and invited the devil in?

Even when you’re diligently seeking Him, He sometimes may seem far away… because no matter how close you may THINK you are to Him, you can still be closer.

No matter how much faith you THINK you have…we all still have some unbelief.

Remember this…

Every person used by God in the bible at some time felt forsaken…including His Son.

Matthew 27:46 (NKJV)

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?”

If you feel God has forsaken or forgotten you, read Psalm 13. Notice how it begins in sorrow, but ends in an affirmation of trust and praise…That’s why He seems far away sometimes. So we can follow even closer behind Him.

Psalm 13 (NKJV)

13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?
² How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

³ Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes,
Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
⁴ Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

⁵ But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
⁶ I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Doors…They provide access. They allow us to enter one environment while at the same time exit another. When closed, they keep things in and keep things out. We all want God to open doors for us to better things. We may even pray for God to open doors for us. Doors lead to the things we desire…

One day a man had to hurry in the bank before he picked up his daughter from school. He didn’t go to the bank his normal bank location because he decided to stop at the one closest to his daughter’s school. At 2:45 as he pulled up and read the sign on the door that said, “Open 8:30 – 5:00”. He pulled to open the door, and it was locked. He pulled again, and again. As he looked through the glass and through the lobby he could see the tellers behind the counter and became angry. “What are they doing?” “Bankers make me sick!” “They know it’s just 2:45!”  “They see me out here!” Furious, he now shook the door violently. “Let me in you lazy…!” Suddenly, he saw someone come to the door and he began lecturing the employee as he rushed into the building when he noticed the employee locking the door back and felt someone aggressively grab his arm. The bank was being robbed!!! His daughter stood waiting for an hour before her horrified mother picked her up as they waited and hoped for hostages to be released.

We need to remember that some doors God has closed for a reason. 

Some things you have your heart to do, some places you have your heart set to go, some people you have your heart set on, some jobs you have your heart set on, some loans you hope to get, even some things you sincerely want to do for God…are not meant for you.

Some things we want aren’t His will for us. 1 Chronicles 22:7, David states that it is in his heart to build a house for God, but that wasn’t God’s will for David. Acts 16:6, the Holy Spirit prevents Paul and his companions from going to Asia.

Sometimes people denying you access, ignoring your resume, ignoring your text messages is God keeping you from something that’s not for you. Sometimes people ignoring your gifts or choosing someone not as gifted is God’s way of getting you to move on to where you are meant to be.

We need to be very careful when we find ourselves trying to unlock and force our way into doors that God may have shut for a reason.

BE BLESSTIFIED!