• 

There are many professions that are highly respected in society but none deserve more respect that one that is often overlooked…FARMERS.

Farmers feed doctors, lawyers, educators, scientists, engineers, leaders…FARMERS FEED THE WORLD!

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT YOU PRAYED FOR OUR FARMERS?

The fact is that modern farmers are agricultural scientists and engineers, veterinary technicians, mechanics, computer savvy entrepreneurs and businessmen and women who have a responsibility that will have value even if all of our technology.

We all rely on God for the strength, intelligence, creativity and ability to do our jobs, but farmers rely on God like no other profession because they manage the resource He left in our hands since the Garden of Eden…the land and the animals in which He gave us dominion. Thus we ALL rely on the farmer…

Ecclesiastes 5:9 (NKJV)

⁹ Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.

Even though scientists are experimenting with making food from microbes and water…God ordained the farmer to be the steward and broker of the food that He provides.

I once heard a man say, “I’m just a farmer.”

You never hear anyone say, “I’m just a doctor.”

It’s a shame that society has not given this profession the respect, honor and high esteem it deserves.

I’m tired of awards shows for actors, singers and those who achieve the spotlight…

There should be an “OSCAR” or “GRAMMY” for farmers.

I grew up in a small town where farmers sold their produce just beyond the ‘town square’ from the back of their truck. There is something so honorable about that. I think we can all agree there’s nothing more ‘American’ than working the land and more biblical than children cultivating the ground by the ‘sweat of your brow’. There’s nothing like knowing where your food came from.

Farmers all over the world labor with honor every day with little to no thanks from the society they feed.

So, make it a point to add prayers for the farmers of the world. Pray that God blesses them and blesses the land and product of the land that they manage…for their sakes, and for ours!

Pray for those who God uses to give us this day our daily bread!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

I recall at the beginning of the year 2020 many preachers utilizing the ‘play-on-words’ that the year 2020 provided.

I can’t count how many “2020” vision analogies I heard. Many of those preachers went out on a limb to make ‘prophecies’ that have ‘gone down in flames’.

I’ve always had a problem with preachers who want to tickle their congregation’s ears every New Year with promises of, “The Lord told me that this year is your season!”

Really? Every year? Everybody? It’s stupid statements like that, that are ‘fodder’ for atheists and skeptics.

Calendar year 20/20 has proven to be one of the most challenging of this modern era, and as of now there are three and a half months left.

However, there is one thing that these prophets may have not considered…

WHICH CALENDAR DOES GOD GO BY?

Even though God exists outside of time, He still uses it as a point of reference for us, but does He go by the the Gregorian calendar that is named after Pope Gregory XIII. He introduced it in October of 1582. It’s the solar calendar system used throughout most of the world,

Or, does God work through the Jewish Calendar? Read this…

Exodus 12:1-2 (KJV)

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, ² This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

God told this to Moses as they left Egypt. It is a lunar calendar and even though it has evolved through the centuries, there is no evidence that God defines His times and seasons by the calendar we use today.

I’m by no means an expert on the Hebrew calendar, but I do think it’s foolish to assume that God bases what He does and His timeline on a calendar that WE established rather than one that is rooted in what He established.

According the the Jewish calendar, the year 5782 began September 7, 2020. So, if you don’t like the way that 2020 has gone, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We don’t assign parameters of time to God, He defines them to us. So, when you try to discern the times, let’s remember that time itself belongs to God.

BE BLESSTIFED!

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”

BULL!!!

We all know words hurt. Verbal insults can inflict wounds that leave behind scars that last a lifetime.

As disciples of Christ we should develop a ‘tough skin’ to minimize the pain of when people insult us, however there’s one thing we should all remember about insults.

They hurt even more when they are injected with some painful truth about us…

“I can’t stand your selfish _______!”

“You wouldn’t be so broke if you weren’t so lazy!”

“People don’t like being around you because you’re so mean!”

“You know you’re much too heavy to wear that!”

It really doesn’t matter if the insult is said to hurt you, sometimes God will use an insult to help us examine ourselves so we can change. Especially if we have people around us who always say what we want to hear.

The disciples knew that the Pharisees and religious leaders were insulted at the rebukes of Yeshua, but they were filled with truth…

Matthew 15:12-13 (NKJV)

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

¹³ But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

When someone is accused of libel or slander, if what they said is true, then they are considered to be innocent.

Yes, insults are painful, but most of the time it’s the truth in some insults that make them more painful. Being honest with ourselves, even though it hurts, can help us make the necessary adjustments to achieve personal and spiritual growth.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

God makes it clear in His word what He loves and what He hates. We have a tendency to ‘cherry-pick’ what sins we want to say are more critical (fornication, adultery, homosexuality, abortion, gambling) even to the point of politicizing them. God however, when He gives us a list of seven sins that He considers to be abominations (even though all sin displeases Him, abominations displease Him to a repugnant level), it’s obvious which one tops the list.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV)

¹⁶ These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to ^[a]Him:
¹⁷ A PROUD LOOK,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren

If you notice verse 17, pride is just as much an abomination as abortion (one way innocent blood is shed)

1 John 2:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the PRIDE OF LIFE—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Here are 5 reasons that pride may be the deadliest of all sins:

1. PRIDE GOT SATAN KICKED OUT OF HEAVEN…

It was pride that caused the enemy to be rejected by God because he desired to exalt himself above God.

Isaiah 14:12-13 (NKJV)

¹² “How you are fallen from heaven,
O ^[a]Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
¹³ For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;

We must be very careful of when we are guilty of this type of pride today. When we impose and prioritize our will above God’s will.. When we decide for God which sins are BIG sins and which sins are small sins… When we prioritize our traditions, laws and ordinances above God’s.

2. PRIDE IS LIKE A SPIRITUAL CANCER THAT LEADS TO OTHER SPIRITUAL ILLNESSES.

Pride is like a spiritual cancer, that spreads to other spiritual illnesses.The problem is the PARENT sin that so many other sins. Many other sins are BIRTHED from our pride, think about it…

Look at the ‘works of the flesh’…

Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: ^[d]adultery, ^[e]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, ^[f]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Notice this list of sins that God considers equal to homosexuality…

Romans 1:26-32 (NKJV)

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their ^[i]women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷ Likewise also the ^[j]men, leaving the natural use of the ^[k]woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. ²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, ^[l]sexual immorality, wickedness, ^[m]covetousness, ^[n]maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ^31 [o]undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, ^[p]unforgiving, unmerciful; ³² who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Many of these sins are a result of pride in our hearts…envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil minds, covetousness, maliciousness, sexual immorality, gossip, boasting, unforgiving, etc.

3. PRIDE BLINDS PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN’T SEE THEY ARE GUILTY OF IT

Many times we can’t see when we are filled with pride. Even if someone tries to tell us we won’t accept it. This is deadly! It’s no different than ignoring a deadly diagnosis. Refusing to accept our pride leads to complacency with not only pride but other sins.

4. PEOPLE HAVE CONVINCED THEMSELVES PRIDE NOT A SIN

We live in a society that considers pride to be an attribute and even a virtue. How many times have you heard people say, “I’VE GOT MY PRIDE”?

Society has accepts and excuses…

National pride…

Racial pride…

Pride in traditions…

Pride in our children…

Pride in our accomplishments…

God has not given us permission to be PROUD of any of these things. Thankful? Yes! Proud? No!

5. PRIDE CREATES IDOLS THAT ARE NOT GRAVEN IMAGES

Pride is actually worshipping ourselves, accomplishments, traditions and our flesh.As mentioned in number 3 above, we create idols of what we are proud of. We honor it. We fight for it. We condemn others when they don’t give the level of respect that we feel they should. Look at how Yeshua rebuked the ‘system’ for prioritizing their traditions over the word of God…

Matthew 15: 6b

⁶ then he need not honor his father ^[a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the ^[b]commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

Notice how this gentleman blatantly imposes his will over God’s will when confronted with the fact that the word ‘swear’ should be removed from the constitution…

So here’s the conversation:

ME:

Matthew 5:34-37 (NKJV)Jesus Forbids Oaths34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let [b]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.https://beblesstified.com/2020/06/25/why-the-word-swear-needs-to-be-removed-from-the-constitution-asap/

HIM: (Justifying what he wants to believe in spite of what Jesus said)

“The only reason God forbids you from swearing to an oath is that he wants us to realize that when you swear to something, he is going to hold you to it. I swore to this oath and with God’s help I will hold to it and I stand by it. If he didn’t want us to swear to something then why did he swear in Isaiah that ever knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

As far as taking swear out of the constitution only weakens the meaning of it and would make it null and void and that is what the powers that be want.“

He was referring to Isaiah,,,

Isaiah 45:23 (NKJV)

²³ I have sworn by Myself;
The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness,
And shall not return,
That to Me every knee shall bow,
Every tongue shall take an oath.

(This is God swearing by Himself. We are not God)

ME:

“Yeshua forbade us from swearing because He wants the truth in our words to stand on its on, like His. That’s why He said ‘Let your yes be yes, and your no be know’. You are trying to justify doing something that God clearly said DO NOT DO.Taking the word swear out does not weaken anything if God said don’t do it. As far as Isaiah, That was God swearing by Himself…we are not God. You already know that oaths were permitted in the Old Testament, just like ‘an eye for an eye’. James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, (A)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into [a]judgment. God bless you my brother”

HIM:

 “I still stand by my word and I’m sure all others will as well.”

ME:

That’s fine and quite frankly that’s the problem. This is the type arrogance and pride that is bringing this country down. (pride comes before a fall). You are standing on YOUR word. I am standing on GOD’S word. I gave you scriptures from Matthew and James and explained the context of Isaiah. What you are doing is expecting God’s word to submit to YOUR will instead of submitting to HIS. Do you realize how dangerous that is? Do you realize that’s exactly what the Pharisees, Chief Priests, and Scribes did? I have done my duty in planting a seed of truth. God bless you. https://beblesstified.com/2020/07/05/worried-about-losing-your-freedom-look-at-your-own-pride-first/

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6. PRIDE CAUSES GOD TO RESIST US

James 4:6-7 (NKJV)

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Pride causes God to actually resist us. It causes God to ‘turn His face from us’ until we repent. However, humility is what causes Him to release His underserved favor upon us.

7. PRIDE MAKES US ‘HARDHEADED’ AND ‘HARDHEARTED’

Pride makes us refuse to listen to Godly reason and gain Godly wisdom. It causes us to reject the word of God. It makes us reject instruction that can help us grow closer to God and mature spiritually. Pride makes us refuse to grow, and allows us to protect our own ignorance.

Proverbs 15:25-33 (NKJV)

²⁵ The Lord will destroy the house of the proud,
But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

²⁶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
But the words of the pure are pleasant.

²⁷ He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.

²⁸ The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones ^[a]healthy.

³¹ The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
³² He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
³³ The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
And before honor is humility.

Proverbs 16:18-20 (NKJV)

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before ^[a]a fall.
¹⁹ Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the ^[b]spoil with the proud.

²⁰ He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

Remember to always replace the word PROUD with the word THANKFUL!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

We have wayyyyyyyyyyy too many ‘cussing’ Christians!

Our words are so powerful. Their ability to influence and shape our world is confirmed in the word of God.

Proverbs 11:9 (NKJV)

⁹ The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV)

15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 16:24 (NKJV)

²⁴ Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

Mark 11:23 NKJV
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

And, just as much as they have the power to influence, our words also reveal what’s inside of us…

Matthew 12:34 (NKJV)

³⁴ Brood^[a] of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

It’s even with our words that we acknowledge and accept God’s gift of salvation…

Romans 10:10 (NKJV)

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

So, God holds those who believe in Him through His Son and our Savior Yeshua (Jesus Christ) accountable for each and everyone of our words…

His expectations of us are very high…

Matthew 12:36  (NKJV)

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

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That’s why it’s catastrophic when Christians curse, cuss, insult, use vulgar, profane or unclean language!

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Too many times, you can’t tell the difference in those in the Body of Christ and those who aren’t by how they talk.

Too many times, Christians choose to express their emotions through words that are displeasing to God.

Too many times, Christians use insults when they disagree.

Too many times, Disciples of Christ allow coaches and those in authority to ‘curse’ their children.

I’ve seen too many of our leaders curse in public and those who call themselves Christians cheer, celebrate and find reasons to justify it.

Too many times people who claim to represent God equate cursing to ‘strong words’ or assertiveness.

What does God consider unclean words?

James 3:10  (NKJV)

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

What does God consider ‘cursing’?

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KJV Dictionary Definition: damn

damn

DAMN, v.t.

1. To sentence to eternal torments in a future state; to punish in hell.

2. To condemn; to decide to be wrong or worthy of punishment; to censure; to reprobate.

He that doubteth is damned if he eat. Rom xiv

3. To condemn; to explode; to decide to be bad, mean, or displeasing, be hissing or any mark of disapprobation; as, to damn a play, or a mean author.

4. A word used in profaneness; a term of execration.

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Our words can either bless or curse. Our words can either encourage or discourage. Our words can either breathe life into a room…or suck it out!

Words can totally destroy or testimony and credibility as a Christian.

When you curse someone, it isn’t ‘harmless’.

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YOU ARE RELEASING SOMETHING…

YOU ARE GIVING SOMETHING…

When you say, “God bless you!”…You’re giving a BLESSING!

When you say, “Damn you!” or “I’ll be damned!”, or even “Go to hell!”…YOU’RE GIVING A CURSE!

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God never expects Christians to give a damn!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

People who love one another don’t always see eye to eye. There are times that those closest to you won’t agree with you, what you are doing, the way you think, you decisions or your ambitions, goals and vision.

There may even be seasons when those who are in your inner-circle will seem to turn against you. Their comments and actions may be out-right mean, vicious, and humiliating. They may make you feel totally alone. Sometimes it’s you who makes someone closest to you feel you are turning on them.

What do we do when this happens? Look at what David did before he became king…

1 Samuel 30:1-6 (NKJV)

Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, ² and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. ³ So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. ⁴ Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. ⁵ And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. ⁶ Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was ^[a]grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

David’s men, who had proven to be loyal to him, were so distraught over their families being kidnapped that they talked among themselves about killing him. As you know this happened to Moses more than once.

David was understandably very distressed and felt totally alone. Questioning himself… Blaming himself… Disturbed about the welfare of his family as well.

But what did he do?

“BUT DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD GOD.”

After comforting himself and inquiring of God, David and his men went has rescued their families and not one person was lost.

Even though those closest to us may not want to stone us to death, they can resist us and say and do things that hurt us to our very souls. What do we do when that happens?

Here are a few suggestions…

1. ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE WORD OF GOD…

This account of King David is only one of many in the Bible of when those who were chosen by God received resistance from those closest to them. Read the Bible with fresh eyes noticing how many times the children of Israel turned on Moses in the wilderness. Notice how instead of comforting him, Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. Notice how David’s wife despised him for his public act of praise over he return of the Ark of the Covenant. Take note of the fact the Yeshua’s (Jesus) half brothers did not believe in Him before He went to the cross, and sarcastically berated Him…

John 7:4-5 (NKJV)

⁴ For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” ⁵ For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

2. BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF ABOUT IN TRUTH THEY MAY HAVE SAID ABOUT YOU…

Even though it hurt, sometimes some of what your ‘rebellious’ loved ones says may be true. God may be using them to give you some painful truth about yourself that you may have not recognized or accepted. God may be using them to help you make necessary changes to fulfill His purpose for your life. Sometimes God uses those close to us to show us His ‘tough love;.

3. PRAY AND ASK GOD TO FORGIVE THEM FOR ANY THING THEY SAID OR DID TO HURT YOU…

Sometimes your loved one’s can say and do some things in their ‘flesh’ and in their anger that you can allow to become a wall in your relationships. They can say and do some things so painful that you can begin to hold grudges. You must ask God to forgive them for their harsh comments and actions even if they haven’t yes asked for forgiveness. Remember, God forgives us based on how we forgive those who have sinned against us. And, as stated above, God could’ve been using them to hold us accountable. YOU CAN FORGIVE ANYTHING…TODAY! #FORGIVENESS

HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT AN APOLOGY ( 8 TIPS)…

4. ADJUST YOUR THINKING, ATTITUDE, VISION, GOALS, PATH, STRATEGY, TACTICS BASED ON WHAT YOU LEARNED…

After consulting God’s word and considering what those close to you said or did, be honest with yourself and make the necessary adjustments. Does your attitude need changing? Are there changes you need to make in how you think or do things? Have you been listening to God and praying before you act, or going out on your own? Have you prioritizing your will or someone else’s will over God’s will? Learn and grow through the painful experience.

5. MAKE SURE YOU AREN’T THE ANTAGONIST IN SOMEONE’S LIFE…

Remember when Jesus told Peter, “Get behind me Satan?” (Matthew 16:23). Peter meant no harm, but at that time the enemy was using him against Jesus. One of the enemy’s favorite strategies is using loved ones against one another. Make sure that the enemy isn’t using you against someone close to you in your life.

WHEN THE DEVIL USES US AGAINST OUR LOVED ONES…

There will always be ‘dark’ seasons in our relationships. But when those seasons arise, we have the responsibility to be the LIGHT. It isn’t always easy, but it is possible.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

God said it then, and He’s saying it again now…

Isaiah 1:12-13 (NKJV)

12 “When you come to appear before Me,
Who has required this from your hand,
To trample My courts?
13 Bring no more futile[a] sacrifices;
Incense is an abomination to Me.
The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.

I firmly believe that one of the reasons that God allowed not just the world, but even our ‘worship services to be interrupted is to remind us that He is greater than…

Our ‘Orders of Service’…

Our ‘choirs’ and ‘praise teams’…

Our church hierarchies…

Our biased hermeneutics…

Our advanced seminary degrees and titles…

Our political system…

Our economies…

Our credit system…

Our traditions…

Our constitutions throughout the world…

Our conspiracy theories…

Our institutions…

Our technology…

Our egos…

THE WORLD WE’VE CREATED WITHIN HIS CREATION!

Read the Bible carefully and notice the numerous chances He gave those who call themselves HIS an opportunity to…

STOP.

EXAMINE THEMSELVES.

ADJUST.

REPENT.

This was not directed at THE WORLD…

It was directed at believers.

From the Flood, to Israel’s being exiled, to Yeshua’s sharp rebukes of the religious leaders during His earthly ministry…

It has always been about…

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ if My people who are ^(A)called by My name will ^(B)humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, ^(C)then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

As much as God loves His chosen people in the Bible, He never co-signed on EVERYTHING they did, but harshly disciplined them when they wrong while the rest of the world, not only watched, but participated in that discipline…

Isaiah 10:5-12 (NKJV)

⁵ “Woe to Assyria, ^(A)the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
⁶ I will send him against ^(B)an ungodly nation,
And against the people of My wrath
I will ^(C)give him charge,
To seize the spoil, to take the prey,
And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
^{7 (D)}Yet he does not mean so,
Nor does his heart think so;
But it is in his heart to destroy,
And cut off not a few nations.
^{8 (E)}For he says,
‘Are not my princes altogether kings?
⁹ Is not ^(F)Calno ^(G)like Carchemish?
Is not Hamath like Arpad?
Is not Samaria ^(H)like Damascus?
¹⁰ As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols,
Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
¹¹ As I have done to Samaria and her idols,
Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?’ ”

¹² Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has ^[a]performed all His work ^(I)on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, ^(J)“I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.”

So, I encourage us to make sure we aren’t ‘reading or interpreting the Bible through someone else’s eyes’ constantly seeing where everyone else is wrong rather than examining ourselves…

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, ^(A)that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you ^[a]are ^(B)disqualified.

Ask yourself…How does what’s going on today fit into God’s eternal perspective?

And, how do I fit in?

Remember this…

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^(A)but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(B)against the powers^(C) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^(D)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

King David was fleeing for his life. He was running from a man to whom he was devoted, King Saul. He had done nothing hurt Saul, but the King knew that God had rejected him and chosen David. So he sought every chance he had to kill him, David, a man who honored him. The fact is that David knew God had chosen him. The Judge and Prophet Samuel had anointed David in 1 Samuel Chapter 16…

1 Samuel 16:12-13 (NIV)

¹² So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” ¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

How could God be anointed for the throne if God is allowing him to be pursued by the current king…running for his life?

However, David escaped to a cave in Adullum and then this happened…

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NKJV)

David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. ² And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was ^[a]discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

Notice how The Message Translation says it…

1 Samuel 22 (The Message)

^1-2 So David got away and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. When his brothers and others associated with his family heard where he was, they came down and joined him. Not only that, but all who were down on their luck came around—losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts. David became their leader. There were about four hundred in all.

There were about four hundred men who heard that David had taken refuge in the cave. They weren’t what their current society called ‘the best of men’. They weren’t affluent. They weren’t cultured. And, apparently they weren’t considered to be ‘winners’.

They were in distress…

They were in debt…

They were ‘bitter of soul’…

They were losers…

They were vagrants…

They were misfits…

David, a man chosen by God, did not reject these men. He became their leader. Leaders today don’t want those who are rejected…they want winners. I have heard preacher proclaim that they don’t want to pastor a bunch of ‘broke people’. I have heard national leaders refer to others as ‘losers’. Coaches want the best athletes on their team. Corporate leaders want the best working for them. Everybody wants winners. No one wants to be the one left after the team captains have chosen who they want on their team.

But it was these losers and misfits who fought with David down his difficult road to kingship, until Saul died and he became king of Hebron and then all of Israel.

Those 400 losers were a blessing to David at his lowest point. David was a blessing to them at their lowest point.

Just because ‘the world’ sees someone as a ‘loser’ doesn’t mean that God does!

Just because they’re a ‘loser’ doesn’t mean they didn’t fight valiantly.

Just because they’re in debt doesn’t mean they weren’t wise with their money.

Just because they’re ‘bitter of soul’ doesn’t mean that the world hasn’t given them good reason to be.

Just because they’re considered to be ‘misfits’ doesn’t mean they are capable of greatness with the right leadership.

If you’re a leader, don’t ever look down on those who God has trusted you enough to send to you. Don’t consider yourself TOO GOOD to lead anyone.

If you consider yourself a ‘loser’ or a ‘misfit’, don’t consider yourself NOT GOOD ENOUGH to be used by God.

Remember this…

1 Corinthians 1:27 (NKJV)

²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

Never despise ‘small people’ or small beginnings…

Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)

¹⁰ Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

The enemy, the evil one, the devil has been an adversary against the children of God for a long time, and quite frankly, he is good at what he does.

One of his most successful tactics is using us against one another to provoke one another to sin.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For ^[a]if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

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One of his favorite tactics to use us against one another is to provoke us to insult one another.

Why?

Because insults do no physical or spiritual harm to us…

INSULTS ARE BOTH A ‘FRUIT’ OF AN ATTACK ON OUR PRIDE!

And, we all know that God still considers pride to be an abomination equal to many of the sins that we consider to be ‘greater’…

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV)

¹⁶ These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to ^[a]Him:
¹⁷ A^[b] proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

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One of the greatest signs of spiritual maturity and conforming to the image of Christ is when we can endure insults without responding. God demands it, and it stops an altercation immediately.

Here are 3 biblical reasons that we should NEVER respond to an insult with another insult.

1. INSULTS LEAD TO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT

Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ, made it very clear that hurling insults such as fool, moron, dull or stupid is in danger or ‘hell fire’…

Matthew 5:22 (NKJV)

²² But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother ^[a]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’^[b] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ^[c]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of ^[d]hell fire.

2. AN INSULT IS A JUDGEMENT

An insult is a verbal expression of what we have judged in our hearts. This is dangerous because when we judge someone, we open ourselves up to the same judgement…

Matthew 7:1-2 (NKJV)

7 “Judge^[a] not, that you be not judged. ² For with what ^[b]judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

3. AN INSULT IS THE OPPOSITE OF A BLESSING (A CURSE)

God made it clear that we are to speak blessings on those who hurt us and our enemies. We are to NEVER curse them. You don’t have to use profanity to speak a ‘curse’ on someone. All you have to do is insult them.

Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV)

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ^44 [a]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your ^[b]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the ^[c]tax collectors do so? ⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

4. God IMPLICITLY FORBADE THAT WE INSULT ONE ANOTHER

God clearly forbade us from insulting one another. The fact is that when we insult one another, we are insulting God Himself, because we were all created in His image. God feels that whatever we do to the ‘least’ of men or women…we do it to Him…

Matthew 25:37-40 (NKJV)

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.’

1 Peter 3:9 (NLT)

⁹ Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

James 3:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

5. GOD ALLOWS UNBELIEVERS TO INSULT, MOCK & BLASPHEME HIM EVERY DAY & DOES NOT STRIKE THEM DOWN…YET.

Everyday atheist and even some believers insult, mock, and blaspheme God, yet not only does He NOT strike them down, but He allows them to enjoy His sun, His rain, His air, the abundance of life and the energy to pursue their own will. God doesn’t strike them down. God has given us warning about the consequences of blaspheming Him, but He is still patient in releasing His righteous indignation. Even Jesus left us this example. If He can wait for vindication…so can we.

1 Peter 2:23 (NLT)

²³ He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
    nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
    who always judges fairly.

Matthew 26:65-68 (NKJV)

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! ⁶⁶ What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” ⁶⁷ Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with ^[a]the palms of their hands, ⁶⁸ saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV)

⁷ He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.

Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV)

^44 [a]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Romans 12:14-21 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have^[a] regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

So the next time that someone insults you, don’t fall into the trap of the enemy. Use it as an opportunity to release the love of God from inside you…bless them, sincerely.

HOW TO RESPOND WHEN SOMEONE INSULTS YOU…

WHY GOD DOESN’T ALLOW US TO ‘KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS’…

DON’T CURSE YOUR ENEMIES AFTER PRAYING FOR THEM…

WE HAVE GOT TO LEARN TO DISAGREE WITHOUT INSULTS…

7 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PISS THE DEVIL OFF TODAY…

HOW PRIDE HAS BECOME THE ACCEPTED ABOMINATION…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

How many times have you done it? You jumped out of bed, and hit the ground running. You got dressed, maybe grabbed a bite to eat and started your day. Then here come the challenges…

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Family asking questions they could have asked last night…

Can’t find your keys…

Horrible traffic…

More horrible co-workers…

Everyone seems to be pushing all your buttons all morning long!

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Then, just before lunch you realize it. How could you have forgotten? Yes, the bed felt good and you lay there a few more moments, so when you jumped up you had to get going. But, how could you get going without telling God…

“Good Morning!” (Psalm 63:1)

“I bless your Holy Name this morning!” (Matthew 6:9)

“Thank you for keeping while I slept!” (Psalm 4:8)

“Thank you for brand new grace and mercy this morning!” (Lamentations 3:22-24)

“Please forgive me of all my sins!” (Psalm 41:4)

“No matter what happens today I love you and I trust you!” (Psalm 31:13-14)

 “Thank you for sending the living word as your Son to die for my sins.” (John 1:14)

 “Please provide all of our needs for this day.” (Matthew 6:11)

 “ Lord, I look forward to being with you where you are when you return.” (John 17:24)

 “ I pray for peace and prosperity in your Holy City of Jerusalem and salvation for your people.” (Psalm 122:6-9, Romans 10:1)

 “I declare to have a good day in your Name!” (Psalm 118:24)

“For yours is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory forever!” (Matthew 6:13)

“In the name of Yeshua, Jesus Christ the Son of the only living God, and you are one.” (John 14:13-14)

 “I love you because you first love me…Amen!” (1 John 4:19)

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Of course, you don’t have to use this exact prayer, but how dare us begin are day without talking to God first! Sometimes we forget, but sometimes we may just decide to skip praying. There are even mornings when we are going through trials that we honestly don’t FEEL LIKE PRAYING.

But, it is a foolish thing to be bold enough step out into this world (or even stay at home) without talking to God first.

If you aren’t having a ‘good day’…did you pray? And, even if you did, stop and think of how much ‘worse’ your day could have been if you didn’t.

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Remember, before you ‘hit the ground running’…hit the ground in prayer!

THE ARROGANCE OF BEGINNING THE DAY WITHOUT PRAYER…

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BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

My wife and I have enjoyed watching Tyler Perry share his creative genius with the world since his plays were distributed ‘underground’ in barbershops and beauty salons.

Since then, he has become a powerhouse in the entertainment industry releasing plays, movies, television series and building the careers and fortunes of others.

I don’t know Mr. Perry, but I have a few sincere, non-confrontational and non-judgmental questions for him. We are all learning and growing in our walk with our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Mr. Perry, you began your career with very inspiring stage plays that were injected with life lessons, Godly wisdom and biblical references. In fact, they were known for those attributes that and many times those were the main reasons people watched them.

THERE’S BEEN A ‘DRAMATIC’ SHIFT!

But now, your movies and television series are laden with profanity (much more than just ‘damn and hell’), both heterosexual and homosexual sex scenes, and nudity.

Here are my questions:

As a man of God ( and I believe you are sincere), how do you justify this huge shift in your work? I know that even the bible is filled with ‘adult’ themes, but our challenge as disciples is how to relay those messages and themes without compromising the integrity of our Godly character. For example, preachers shouldn’t use profanity to get across a message or use nudity in a visual aid. Has your work transitioned from inspiration to titillation?

If a writer or director instructs actors to use profanity, act in a love scene or be nude, aren’t they provoking them to sin to do their job?

When you instruct an actor or actress to curse, drop ‘F’-Bombs, and use ‘unclean language’ our you becoming a stumbling block?

Matthew 18:6 (NKJV)

⁶ “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea…”

If you are directing two unmarried actors to kiss, grope and simulate sex with one another are you asking them to commit fornication?

If you are responsible for asking a married actor or actress to do an intense love scene, are you asking them to commit adultery?

If you are responsible for asking two actors to act out a homosexual scene, are you asking them to commit sin?

When you begin producing the same kind of movies and television shows as ‘the world’ does, are you conforming whether than providing a Godly example?

When what we watch and what the actors do is a product or fruit of your creativity, doesn’t all accountability to God fall back on you?

Mr. Perry, you have been given a platform and influence to shape and establish culture. You are in a position to strengthen or weaken believers. You have been given the power to confirm to many what is acceptable because they know and respect you as a believer… ‘Well if Tyler Perry does it, then it must be okay’.

Again, Mr. Perry these questions aren’t meant to be mean-spirited or judgmental, but some of your work has definitely evolved into, when measured against the word of God, what could be considered ungodly.

If you ever see this please respond in the comments or in the blog ‘CONTACT tab. You may show me a perspective that I have haven’t considered.

We are here to hold one another accountable, because it’s not about whether we ourselves are ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, but whether we are in harmony with the word, truth, love and perfect will of our God.

DOES GOD CONSIDER IT CHEATING WHEN MARRIED ACTORS DO LOVE SCENES?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The Psalms give us wonderful lessons in not only how to pray, but how to approach God…even when we want Him to hurry up.

It’s okay to ask God to hurry…

Psalm 70  (NKJV)

Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
Make haste to help me, O Lord!

² Let them be ashamed and confounded
Who seek my life;
Let them be turned back^[a] and confused
Who desire my hurt.
³ Let them be turned back because of their shame,
Who say, “Aha, aha!”

⁴ Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“Let God be magnified!”

⁵ But I am poor and needy;
Make haste to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay.

Psalm 71:12  (NKJV)

²⁵ Save now, I pray, O Lord;
O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.

John 11:21  (NKJV)

²¹ Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.

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Just remember to always…

Ask in humility…

Ask Him and do not tell Him…

Be willing to wait patiently on Him…

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Isaiah 40:31  (NKJV)

³¹ But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

The more you read the bible, the more you discover how creative He can be in how He works in the lives of believers.

God is often creative in what He does and who He uses.

Many times people will ask, “Why did God do it like that?” “Why didn’t He just do______?” Well, why do you sometimes take a more scenic route even though it will take longer. Have you ever been creative in teaching a lesson to your children or telling a story for impact?

And, that’s why God does things differently…for impact.

Notice what he did when God used the Judge Gideon to deliver His people from their oppressors. God knows the heart of man, and if the army defeated the enemy because of greater numbers and more weapons that they would take credit for the victory themselves.

So God only wanted the people to be outnumbered to prove the victory was from Him. But how did God decide who would fight? Read this from The Message translation for additional clarity…

Judges 7:4-6 The Message

^4-5 God said to Gideon: “There are still too many. Take them down to the stream and I’ll make a final cut. When I say, ‘This one goes with you,’ he’ll go. When I say, ‘This one doesn’t go,’ he won’t go.” So Gideon took the troops down to the stream.

^5-6 God said to Gideon: “Everyone who laps with his tongue, the way a dog laps, set on one side. And everyone who kneels to drink, drinking with his face to the water, set to the other side.” Three hundred lapped with their tongues from their cupped hands. All the rest knelt to drink.

God told Gideon to chose the men who drank like dogs.

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Everyone the God uses isn’t always polished, refined, educated or ‘cultured’. Sometimes God chooses people who are rough around the edges, but devoted to Him.

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The men God chose among Gideon’s troops drank their water just like dogs…

Moses had a speech impediment…

David schemed and abused his authority to commit murder…

The disciples were considered ‘uneducated’ and unrefined…

Paul was unimpressive in appearance and not an eloquent speaker…

Even Yeshua the Messiah wasn’t a ‘cultural or social elite’…

It’s not your position, education, strength, experience, charisma or connections that qualify you to be used by God, but your devotion to Him and your heart.

It’s sincere devotion to God, a repentant heart, a desire to conform to the image of His Son, and walking in the Fruit of His Spirit is how God sanctifies us to be used by Him.

God let 300 men who lapped their water like dogs loose and they defeated the Midianites to the glory of God.

BE BLESSTIFIED!