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If you weren’t aware of the allegations against R&B singer/songwriter/musician R. Kelly, then you probably are now after the Lifetime Network documentary, “Surviving R. Kelly” that originally aired a few years ago.

The show went into great detail through interviews to confirm that allegations of sexual abuse, predatory behavior and pedophilia are very serious.

There’s no question that R. Kelly had intimate relationships with many women. He admits that himself. And, it’s no question that his lust for women has gotten him in trouble. His problem is that many of these women have been underage. He’s accused of summoning women to his ‘palace’ and abusing his power to influence them and take advantage of them. Some of the women’s families have accused him of brainwashing their daughters. The women interviewed stated that R. Kelly abused his ‘power’ and influence to control them.

But, there is another man in history who had a love for and quite frankly, lust for many women. The bible lets us know that he was intimate with numerous women. This man was even identified as a man after God’s own heart…King David.

Acts 13:22  (NKJV)

²² And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

But, even though he was a man after God’s own heart, he wasn’t perfect. None of us are.

King David was also a singer/songwriter/musician.

As he was relaxing on the roof of His palace he saw a woman bathing outside. This woman, Bathsheba, wasn’t only another man’s wife, but she was the wife of a man, Uriah, who was devoted and loyal to David. Uriah was one of the soldiers in his army. David was attracted to her and abused his power as king to summon her to his palace. In fact, David summoned many women to become his wives. I’m sure she felt pressured to please the king, just as many of the women said they felt pressured to please R. Kelly.

After King David was intimate with Bathsheba, she became pregnant and to make a long story short, after the scheming and manipulating to hide the pregnancy didn’t work, he had Uriah killed. He then he took Bathsheba to be his wife.

We see that David and R. Kelly had some things in common,

But there was one big difference in David and R. Kelly.

As of the time that the documentary aired, R. Kelly hadn’t acknowledged or repented of doing anything wrong.

After being confronted with his sin, David repented…

2 Samuel 12:13 (NKJV)

¹³ So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

Psalm 51:4  (NKJV)

⁴ Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just ^[a]when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.

David’s repentance is what confirms he was a man after God’s own heart.

R. Kelly has a huge library of music and some of his songs are even spiritual and sung in churches. However, there are many people today who refuse to listen to R. Kelly’s music anymore. Radio stations all over the world are refusing to play his music. There are those who are demanding to ‘Mute R. Kelly’.  Again, Mr. Kelly has not yet acknowledged or repented of any wrong doing.

We all know that David, under the inspiration of God, wrote most of the Psalms which of course are songs. They teach us how to worship, pray, praise, celebrate and even lament.

If David was living today, even though he repented, there would be many people who would refuse to listen to or sing many of the Psalms. There would be people wanting to ‘Mute David’ because of his serious sins. But, here’s the difference…again, David repented.

Both David and R. Kelly’s sins were revealed and made public.

We all have something in common with both of them…

Everyone of us has had dark moments. Moments of which we are very ashamed.

Our shameful moments maybe not to the extreme of David and R. Kelly, but nevertheless, moments that we don’t want anyone to know about. Take a moment to think about some of the most shameful things you have done (or are still doing) and thank God for allowing them to remain secret.

AREN’T YOU GLAD GOD ALLOWED SOME THINGS IN YOUR LIFE TO REMAIN SECRET?

If you haven’t already stopped that behavior, stop it now and repent, just like King David did.

And remember this, the same forgiveness that was available to King David is available to both R. Kelly and to all of us.

Because just like King David, you can be a man or woman after God’s own heart, too.

I know there will be some people who will be critical of me comparing R. Kelly to David. But, God let’s us know that everything in the bible, especially the Old Testament, was written for our example…

1 Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ Now ^[a]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our ^[b]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The religious leaders during the time of Yeshua the Messiah’s (Jesus Christ) earthly ministry pretentiously observed and interpreted God’s word through the lens of their self-righteous, self-serving and hypocritical perspective.

They felt they represented what God and wanted from His people. They ‘cherry-picked’ the sins they felt concerned God the most while ignoring and justifying others…

Matthew 23:23 (NIV)

²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

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They continued traditions that were in contradiction to God’s word justifying them with their own reasoning…

Matthew 15:3 (NKJV)

³ He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

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They condemned sinners without sharing God’s true word, will, love, truth and salvation…

Matthew 9:11-13 (NKJV)

¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with ^(A)tax collectors and ^(B)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. ¹³ But go and learn what this means:^(C)‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, ^(D)but sinners, ^[a]to repentance.”

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And, they responded with violence to those who opposed them or threatened their influence

Mark 11:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ And ^(A)the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because ^(B)all the people were astonished at His teaching.

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However, the Lord was constantly rebuking them.

It’s amazing that so many (but not all) who call themselves or are labeled evangelicals can’t see the parallels. Many ‘Christians’ our preoccupied and prioritize two sins above equal abominations.

There are too many hard hearted, hypocritical people who call themselves evangelicals that are ‘ruining’ the brand of ‘Christianity’.

Besides, Jesus never called us to be Christians anyway. He called us to be disciples.

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

^{19 (A)}Go ^[a]therefore and ^(B)make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

John 13:34-35 (NKJV)

^{34 (A)}A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ^{35 (B)}By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

I hope this doesn’t offend you. That’s not my intention, but if so…why assume that I’m talking about you unless it describes your behavior.

“In Jesus name” is his reputation and character. Notice how many times God says, FOR MY NAME’S SAKE in the bible.

It’s our responsibility to protect the brand!

Psalms 23:3

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We must never unintentionally give the devil too much glory or power!

Many people picture the enemy on a throne, ruling all those who are condemned to Hell. That is not the case.

He doesn’t love fire. He doesn’t rule fire, and he will not ‘rule’ Hell.

Hell is his condemnation…

Hell is his punishment…

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HELL WILL BE HIS PRISON, NOT HIS KINGDOM!

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Hell is his future, along with those who reject God through our Lord and Savior, Yeshua, Christ Jesus.

John 3:36 (NKJV)

³⁶ He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

The enemy doesn’t have the keys to the abyss. He does not control the intensity of the flames. He will not be the ruler of those who share his condemnation. He will be stripped of all power that was granted to him for a season.

Matthew 25:41  (NKJV)

⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

 John 12:31  (NKJV)

³¹ Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

 Romans 16:20  (NKJV)

²⁰ And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

 Revelation 20:10  (NKJV)

¹⁰ The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where^[a] the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

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The enemy isn’t omniscient…omnipotent…or omnipresent, and he’s definitely not eternal. Best of all we have power over the enemy through our risen Savior…

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John 4:3-4  (NKJV)

³ and every spirit that does not confess that^[a] Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

⁴ You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

James 4:7 (NKJV)

⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Revelation 12:10-11  (NKJV)

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. ¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

There are more scriptures that speak of the enemy’s imminent defeat, and in all of them…he is powerless.

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Remember, the devil didn’t set the fire in Hell, nor will he fan the flames…he won’t have to. God is in control.

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Matthew 25:41  (NKJV)

⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

Now, I know there are many people who don’t believe in Hell. This isn’t for you, but for those of you who do.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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When you think about it dysfunction is the norm. There’s no perfect marriage, family, relationship. There will always be issues on your job and in your career. There will always be selfishness, dishonesty and favoritism is local, state, national, business and even church politics.

Look at the people in the bible. Every person that God used was far from perfect. Every family featured in the bible was dysfunctional.

God has always carried out His perfect will through imperfect people.

But, the dysfunction around you doesn’t prevent you from changing your world, today.

How?

If no one else changes but you, your world and the world around you will charge.

A more accountable you.

A more loving you.

A more joyful you.

A more peaceful you.

A more patient you.

A more kind you.

A more kind.

A more faithful you.

A more gentle you.

A more controlled you.

A more disciplined you.

Sometimes a more medicated you.

A more ________________ you. (You know how you need to change).

A better you will make the world around you better.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

A new you!

Colossians 3:9-10 (NKJV)

⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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One of the greatest threats to any marriage is outside influence. A mother, father, sister, brother, friend, co-worker or even an enemy that says something to influence the relationship of a husband and wife (man and woman).

All it takes for a married couple that’s very content with one another is or someone from the outside to say, “Doesn’t it bother you when he or she does…?” Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever done this yourself?

When someone does this, they become a ‘stumbling block’ in that marriage. And we all know what God says about those who cause someone else to ‘stumble’…

Matthew 18:7  (NIV)

⁷ Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

This is by far nothing new. In fact, the very first attack on the very first marriage (Adam and Eve) came from outside influence…

Genesis 3:1  (NKJV)

3 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman…”

“And he said to the woman…” We all know that God had already told Adam, even before Eve was created that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…

Genesis 2:15-17  (NKJV)

¹⁵ Then the Lord God took ^[a]the man and put him in the garden of Eden to ^[b]tend and keep it. ¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you^[c] shall surely die.”

The serpent (satan) knew this and used this to cunningly manipulate and influence Eve. We all know that today this takes place through both the husband and wife…

Once over 30 years ago when my wife and I were newlyweds, we had two cars. One was older and one was newer. I had absolutely no problem with my wife driving the newer car, while I drove the older one to work. But, one day my male coworkers began teasing me about driving the older car. I allowed their foolishness to influence me. I immediately got on the phone, called my wife and said, “I’m driving the new car tomorrow!” She was wondering, “Where did this come from?” In my youthful stupidity, I allowed those co-workers to influence my marriage.

My wife and I have always enjoyed being together. One day years ago, other females said to her, “Doesn’t it bother you being around your husband so much?” She briefly allowed their foolishness to influence her.

Be very careful about how you allow people to speak into your marriage, or family.

Be very careful not to let anyone speak badly about your spouse, even family…especially family. If they do, it’s because you have made them feel comfortable in doing so.

We all know the account of what happened after the enemy influenced Eve and when they both ate of the forbidden fruit.

Marriage is challenging enough without inviting in trouble from the outside.

BE BLESSTIFIED!