I wonder how many people in the Body of Christ…how many ‘church’ people…how many Christians really care about those who are lost.

He told us to bear much fruit…

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.

To make disciples…

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,

It’s His will that ALL come to repentance…

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,^[a] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

He told us to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into HIS harvest…

Matthew 9:36-38 (NKJV)

³⁶ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary^[a] and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Do you care about the lost, or only about what you may have lost?

Do you share your faith with those who don’t believe or only with those who already do?

Do you hope those who are lost…especially those guilty of the sins that bother you the most, or those who have hurt you, or those who hate you…do you hope they come to repentance?

Do you regularly pray the Lord or the Harvest to send laborers into His Harvest? Are you a laborer for His Harvest or a Laborer for yours only?

It’s easy to sincerely love God, have faith in Him, share our faith and testimony with others who are already ‘saved’ – its’ easy, if we aren’t careful, to serve, give and do Kingdom work with selfish motives…pursuing our own prosperity, health and blessings. It’s easy to approach God, but approach Him selfishly. APPROACHING GOD SELFISHLY…

We all want a bountiful harvest in our lives and there’s nothing wrong with that, unless we totally ignore our responsibility to bring others into the Kingdom of God

The LORD wants us to have a heart for those who are lost, just as He did in 9:36. He looked at the multitudes and felt moved with compassion on them. Have you ever looked at those who don’t believe in God through our Lord and Savior Yeshua, Christ Jesus, or those who are caught up in practicing ungodly lifestyles and felt…Contempt? Anger? Rage? Or, just didn’t care at all? Don’t let the sin of self-righteousness or apathy corrupt your faith.

Let us always pray for a heart for those who are lost, and follow up that prayer with genuine effort.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

Most people who grew up in or around church, or were raised with a belief in God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or those who have come from unbelief to belief will all quickly proclaim, “I love God!”

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But, do you love Him? Or do just feel it’s the right to say? You may even be afraid not to say it. Which is a healthy fear and reverence of God, but still isn’t love.

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When you love someone, you want to be in their presence as much as possible, in fact you look forward to it. When you love someone you want to know what’s important to them. When you love someone you don’t want to hurt them, intentionally or unintentionally.

When you love someone you want to grow closer to them. When you love someone, you enjoy talking about them. Many people when they are honest with themselves love their favorite team, their car, their guns, their _____________ more than they love God because that’s what they love talking about.

When you love someone you aren’t afraid to show affection for them in public. I’m not talking about kissing…I’m talking about holding their hand, hugging them…you aren’t ashamed to let the world know you love them. Some of the same people who get hoarse at a ball game are ashamed to praise God publicly even in worship. Too many Christians are too ashamed to even bless their food in public. Are you ashamed to lift up your hands in public and say ,“Hallelujah, I love you LORD!” Or, are you afraid people with think you’re crazy. Do you reason that, “It doesn’t take all of that to love God”.  But, when you love someone, you aren’t concerned with what is minimal or necessary. You’re more than happy to do what is ‘extra’ for them

When you love someone you aren’t just in relationship with them for what you can get out of them. You aren’t just in the relationship for the benefits. When you love someone you can talk to them for hours. How often do you talk to God and fellowship with Him prayer, just because it’s peaceful…not asking for anything, just spending quality time with Him?

When you love someone, you love listening to ‘mood’ music with them. You love listening to music that makes you feel closer to one another. You love sharing ‘your song’. I’m not saying you have to listen to Christian music all of the time, but I wonder how many Christians are perfectly comfortable never listening to some form of Gospel music…except when they are in church.

When you really love someone, what they think about you matters to you more than anyone else in the world. You want their love…their respect…their devotion…their affection.

How can one really love God and either never, seldom or randomly read His word? God knows we have the opportunity to fellowship with Him in His word whenever they please. Many claim they don’t have time, but that’s simply not true. Many people, when their honest with themselves, love social media, their favorite fiction or non fiction book, or whatever else they love to do in their spare time more than they love the word of God. What’s the first thing you check each morning? Your social media? The news? The weather? Your horoscope? Or, God’s ‘status’ and what He has ‘posted’ in His word.

It’s in His word we fellowship with Him. It’s in His word we find out what pleases Him. It’s in His word that we find out what He loves and what He hates. His word gives us both comfort and correction.

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When you love someone, living to please them is not a burden, but a blessing…

1 John 5:3  (NKJV)

³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

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I challenge you today to ask yourself, “Do I really love God, or is it just the right thing to say”. Yes, you believe in Him. Yes, you fear Him. Yes, you respect Him. Yes, you reverence Him. Yes, you pray. Yes, You, go to church…

But do you love Him?

And finally, think about this…

Most people quickly claim that want to go to heaven or live eternally in His presence, but I contend that if you don’t genuinely enjoy reading His word, fellowshipping with Him, worshiping Him, being in His presence, even going to church now, what makes you think you will want to do it forever?

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Remember, real love isn’t just state, it’s demonstrated…

Romans 5:8  (NKJV)

⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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BE BLESSTIFIED!

• 

1 Kings 12:24 (NKJV)

²⁴ ‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.” ’ ” Therefore they obeyed the word of the Lord, and turned back, according to the word of the Lord.

The purpose of this article is to build up the Body of Christ, His church, purchased with His blood. It’s because so many people who claim to be disciples in Christ are passionate about celebrating a part of history that should be remembered, but NOT celebrated.

They celebrate a heritage and culture that thrived from…

The enslavement of Black people…

The institutionalized and accepted rape of Black women…

The separation of fathers, mothers and children who were sold away from one another…

Profiting from forced labor.

Yes, they said it was for ‘States Rights’, but we all know the underpinning right for which the so-called “War of Northern Aggression” was fought.

Many of the same people who complain about our flag and military being disrespected celebrate the violent protest that fought against that same flag and military because they arrogantly have judged their cause to be more noble.

The Confederacy was another country, with it’s own constitution, it’s own government, it’s own currency, it’s own flag, its’ own military…it was treason.

Many of these same people who revere everything above to the point of worship, claim to be Christians. How could they have missed this verse…

Exodus 21:16  (ESV)

¹⁶ “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.

I encourage anyone who claims to love the God of our salvation, Yah, Adonai, our Elohim, the Father of our Lord and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah, the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the Living Word, Jesus Christ to carefully read through the Old Testament.

Notice that the Nation of Israel was split into two kingdoms because of the sin of Rehaboam, which was a heritage of his father, Solomon’s disobedience in his old age…

1 Kings 12:15  (NKJV)

¹⁵ So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the Lord, that He might fulfill His word, which the Lord had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

God forbade them to fight one another…

1 Kings 12:21-24  (NKJV)

²¹ And when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. ²² But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, ²³ “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, ²⁴ ‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.” ’ ” Therefore they obeyed the word of the Lord, and turned back, according to the word of the Lord.

There were subsequently several battles between the northern and southern kingdoms during the reigns of the kings of both kingdoms. Here are a few of the verses…

1 Kings 15:1-6  (NKJV)

15 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah. ² He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maachah the granddaughter of Abishalom. ³ And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; his heart was not ^[a]loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. ⁴ Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem; ⁵ because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. ⁶ And there was war between ^[b]Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.

1 Kings 15:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

2 Kings 14:11-12 (NKJV)

¹¹ But Amaziah would not heed. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went out; so he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. ¹² And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent.

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You will not find one verse in the bible CELEBRATING any of the civil wars between Israel and Judah! Are they documented? Yes. Are they celebrated? No. Are there statues and memorials? NO!

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This is one of the reasons that God forbade graven images…

Exodus 20:4-5  (NKJV)

⁴ “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; ⁵ you shall not bow down to them nor ^[a]serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting^[b] the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Notice verse 4 says don’t make them. That’s one complete thought. Then, verse 5 says don’t worship them…that’s an extension of that thought. Don’t make them, then don’t worship them. Why?

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Because God knows us. Too many times passion and respect unintentionally becomes worship. Especially when someone else doesn’t share your perspective or level of reverence.

God is sovereign. As a Black man, I’m thankful that the South did not win. Just as Israel was enslaved in Egypt for 400 years, so were Black people in what became the United States. When God chose, He released Israel from their bondage, and he did the same in America.

If you believe God is sovereign, then you have to accept the fact that IF GOD WANTED THE CONFEDERACY TO WIN, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE.

Again, this post is to equip and build up the Body of Christ. If it for some reason makes you angry, ask yourself which spirit is provoking your anger.

CELEBRATING WHAT WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF PART 1…THE CIVIL WAR.

THE HYPOCRISY IN WHICH ‘RIOTS’ ARE TO BE RESPECTED (IT’S ALL ABOUT THE NARRATIVE)…

WHAT THOSE WHO CELEBRATE THE CONFEDERACY HAVE IN COMMON WITH COLIN KAEPERNICK…

FUNNY HOW IT’S CONSIDERED ‘WHINING’ UNTIL IT’S SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO YOU…

FOR THOSE WHO SAYS THE BIBLE ‘JUSTIFIES’ SLAVERY…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The judgement of God is often viewed as painful, uncomfortable or even negative.

But, sometimes His verdict is…

Innocent…

Righteous…

Aquitted…

Overturned…

Commuted…

Victorious…

Free…

Forgiven…

Saved!

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Thank God that through Yeshua, Jesus Christ, our DEATH sentence has been COMMUTED to ETERNAL life…

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1 John 5:11 (NIV)

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

BE  BLESSTIFIED!

 

Your success, effectiveness and peace is not only determined by how well you relate with people you DO TRUST…but how well you are at relating with people that you DON’T TRUST.

Our ultimate trust is in God, but He didn’t put us on this earth alone.

God has also ordained it that there is little that we can accomplish alone.

Even God Himself uses His angels to relate to us…

Hebrews 11:14 (NKJV)

 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

God let the captives in Babylon know that though they trusted Him, they were to pray for the peace of the city in which they lived because their peace was dependent on the city’s peace…

Jeremiah 29:7(NKJV)

And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

Jesus sent the first disciples out in pairs (Mark 6:7, Luke 10:1)…

The apostles worked in pairs, teams and even depended heavily on the early church for help.

As much as we are interdependent on another in this life, God also warned us about putting our trust in people rather than Him…

Psalm 118:8 (NKJV)

It is better to trust in the Lord. Than to put confidence in man.

Of course we all want to be in relationships and situations with people we trust, but that’s not always possible…Sometimes we can’t even trust our own selves.

It seems it’s getting harder and harder to trust people these days.

We have families, jobs, churches, communities, organizations that we are all a part of in which to live, but the fact is that you KNOW you can’t trust everyone…

In your family…

On your job…

In your church…

In your community…

In our government…

Sometimes we go through seasons and situations when we can’t trust our spouse, children, parents or even friends…because we are human beings being human.

Do we abandon these relationships and resources because of the lack of trust or total trust?

Of course not!

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Your ability to be successful, effective and have peace in your life is just as dependent upon your ability to work and relate with people you DON’T trust as well as those you DO trust.

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How do you do it?

First of all trust God first. If He has you in a situation, or you have allowed yourself into a situation where trust is limited…you still have to lean on His word, truth, character and TRUST HIM.

Second pray for wisdom and discernment so you can know WHO to trust and WHO NOT to trust.

Third pray for those whom you don’t trust that they submit themselves to God through our Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus Christ. It’s bigger than just you or me…Ultimately it’s more about their relationship with God than ours with them.

Fourth, remain in God’s character so that you can set a standard and example of behavior and plant good seeds for God’s Kingdom. You do this by walking in the Spirit as defined in Galatians 5:22, 23.

Fifth, always make are always faithful and trustworthy in all your relationships.

And finally, remember that God had equipped you with everything you need for this LIFE and GODLINESS in this life, through His divine nature that is now inside you…

2 PETER 1:2-8 (NKJV)

² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴ by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ⁵ But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, ⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

No you can’t trust everyone…

The fact that we aren’t always faithful means that God can’t always trust us. But, we can always trust Him.

So,

Trust God…

Trust Yourself…

Be Trustworthy…

And remember, GOD IS GREATER THAN THOSE WHOM YOU DON’T TRUST.

Add this to your prayer life…”Lord give me the ability to relate with those I don’t trust.”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

Having you ever noticed a child throwing a temper tantrum when he or she doesn’t get something that they want? This is a natural reaction that must be overcome as the child matures. The reaction is natural…innate…the child was born with it.

As you know, the debate continues as to whether people are born gay, or is it a choice. The purpose of this article isn’t to debate that question, but to address this fact…

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The truth is that we are all born with innate desires, feelings and proclivities that we did not ask for.

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Many Christians reason to excuse some behaviors by saying, “I or they was or were born this way”.

This doesn’t mean that God made a mistake because the scripture clearly reminds us that we were all born in sin…

Psalm 51:5 (NKJV)

 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

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We were all born with desires we didn’t ask for…that doesn’t make them ALL okay. Just because it comes naturally doesn’t make right. Some natural desires we must resist with the help of the Holy Spirit…

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Fornication…

Adultery…

Homosexuality…

Gluttony…

Greed…

Jealousy…

Envy…

Wrath …

…ALL come from natural desires and they are ALL EQUALLY wrong.

Even David, a man after God’s own heart was born with an insatiable desire for women…but that did not make it right or acceptable to God. Those who read the bible know what that led to.

Some people are naturally more greedy, more lustful, more promiscuous, more selfish, more aggressive, more violent that others…does that make it okay? For those who wish to argue these are learned behaviors, some people have these behaviors modeled and ‘learn’ them, while others witnessed these behaviors and didn’t succumb to them.

Pedophiles don’t feel they ‘choose’ to be attracted to children…does that make it okay? No!

The desires of our flesh war against our spirit…and these vary from person to person.

Galatians 5:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

It is only by walking in the Fruit of the Spirit can we overcome our fleshly desires that displease God.

Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)

 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 

 Galatians 5:22,23

 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.

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By the way, calling out something as sin is NOT judging. And, it’s not saying it’s any more wrong than another sin!

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That’s why fasting is so powerful. It is a tool we can use to bring our flesh into subjection, overcome our weaknesses and prove to ourselves that our desires won’t rule us. It’s our tool to move those mountains in our lives.

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

Use this as post ammunition when someone presents to you the argument, “I was born this way, so it can’t be wrong”.

Just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it’s okay.

BE BLESSTIFIED.

One morning when I arrived to work, I made a quick stop by the bathroom. As I opened the door, I quickly realized that someone had gotten there before me, and left behind a funky, powerful stench…as it flooded my nostrils, I could hardly breathe.

I reached for a can of aerosol air freshener. As I released it into the air, it filled the room and fought hard to remove the funk, but I could still smell both.

Abominations ‘stink in the nostrils’ of God…Sacrifices (praise) are a fragrant aroma.

Today our sacrifices are PRAISE rather than BLOOD thanks to the one-time sacrifice of Yeshua the Messiah…

Hebrews 10:10 (ESV)

¹⁰ And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 13:15-16 (NKJV)

¹⁵ Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, ^[a]giving thanks to His name. ¹⁶ But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Yes sin is sin, but abominations are sins that are much more disgusting to God… just as some sins are much more disgusting to us.

Abominations are spiritual funk that we release into the physical and spiritual world.

How do you feel when you smell something disgusting?

How do you feel when you smell a fragrant aroma?

Think about all of the abominations, blasphemies, insults, and idolatry that you notice being released into both the physical and spiritual world everyday, sometimes by people who call themselves Christian…

This is spiritual funk and stench that is released into the nostrils of God.

Now, think about the praise and blessings that you witness on a daily basis.

Praise fights to eliminate spiritual funk as it floods the nostrils of God.

Are you releasing more spiritual funk? Or, are you releasing more praise?

• 

When we try to justify our faith through our American politics, something will always ‘slip through the cracks’. People on both sides are judging others by their myopic views based on the sins and values they choose to politicize.

Many people who are passionately against abortion (as we all should be, yes it is sin) feel justified by prioritizing that over issues of social injustice, equality and equity that concern the living. God makes it clear that there are other abominations equal to those which are politicized…

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 BRETHERN.

As much as it may seem right to some of us, God does not prioritize the unborn over those who are born. And, you can’t ignore the concerns of the living for those who aren’t living ‘yet.’ The fact is that God is just as sovereign over the unborn soul as He is over the soul that has died.

Remember what Yeshua said…

Mark 12:26-27 (NKJV)

²⁶ But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? ²⁷ He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly ^[a]mistaken.”

Be confident that God is sovereign over those who are not yet born…

Romans 9:10-13 (NKJV)

¹⁰ And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac ¹¹ (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 

God is God of the unborn, the living and the dead, but Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ died for those who are guilty and alive…

1 Peter 3:17-19 (NASB)

¹⁷ For it is better, if ^[a]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. ¹⁸ For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the ^[b]spirit; ¹⁹ in ^[c]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,

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God doesn’t give priority to a sin just because we decide to do so, and quite frankly, he doesn’t give priority to those who are not yet born over those who are.

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Again, abortion is wrong, but it’s not more wrong that injustice…

Don’t forget the REAL reasons that God sent Israel and Judah into exile…

Isaiah 10:1-3 (NASB)

Woe to those who enact evil statutes
And to those who constantly record ^[a]unjust decisions,
² So as to ^[b]deprive the needy of justice
And rob the poor of My people of their rights,
So that widows may be their spoil
And that they may plunder the ^[c]orphans.
³ Now what will you do in the day of punishment,
And in the devastation which will come from afar?
To whom will you flee for help?
And where will you leave your ^[d]wealth?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Sex is a gift from God. Even though it’s the means He intended for us to be fruitful and multiply, it is also meant to be enjoyed within the bonds of holy matrimony between a man and a woman.

Our bodies with their various curves, shapes, textures, contrast of colors, smells etc., are meant to provoke sexual arousal. It’s up to us to control these urges so that they are only fulfilled within marriage.

One of those divine combinations of curves, shapes, textures, and contrast of colors is the female breast.

Yes, these were created for mothers to make sure their children are nourished, but that’s not all.

They were also created for the mutual pleasure of the husband and the wife. Breasts were created:

As a means of seducing her husband…

For her pleasure during times of intimacy…

To be aesthetically pleasing to entice her husband…

For his enjoyment during times of intimacy…

The fact is that even though God created female breasts to nurse their children, that boobs aren’t just for the babies. Check out these bible verses about female breasts and intimacy within marriage.

Proverbs 5:18-19  (NKJV)

¹⁸ Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice with the wife of your youth.
¹⁹ As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be ^[a]enraptured with her love.

Song of Solomon 1:12-13  (NKJV)

¹² While the king is at his table,
My ^[a]spikenard sends forth its fragrance.
¹³ A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me,
That lies all night between my breasts.

Song of Solomon 4:4-5  (NKJV)

⁴ Your neck is like the tower of David,
Built for an armory,
On which hang a thousand ^[a]bucklers,
All shields of mighty men.
⁵ Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle,
Which feed among the lilies

Song of Solomon 7:2-3, 8(NKJV)

² Your navel is a rounded goblet;
It lacks no ^[a]blended beverage.
Your waist is a heap of wheat
Set about with lilies.
³ Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle.

Song of Solomon 7:8  (NKJV)

⁸ I said, “I will go up to the palm tree,
I will take hold of its branches.”
Let now your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
The fragrance of your ^[a]breath like apples,

Song of Solomon 8:10  (NKJV)

¹⁰ I am a wall,
And my breasts like towers;
Then I became in his eyes
As one who found peace.

Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)

⁴ Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (NLT)

² But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

³ The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. ⁴ The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

⁵ Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

So, couples enjoy one another, and may your marriages…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

You may also enjoy these BE BLESSTIFIED articles on Godly marriage…

GODLY MARRIAGE: WHAT IF THE ‘BIG O’ WAS TOO BIG (Adult but Holy)…

GODLY MARRIAGE: HOW SEX IS SUBMISSION AND HONOR PERFECTED (Graphic but Holy)…

4 SIMPLE THINGS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR MARRIAGE BETTER IMMEDIATELY…

GODLY MARRIAGE: YOU CAN’T GET ROMANTIC WITH A HYMNAL…

MARRIAGE ADVICE: IT’S YOUR DIFFERENCES THAT MAKE YOU A PERFECT FIT…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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Even though there are many races and cultures in America, it’s undeniable that many of America’s issues are in ‘Black & White’. That’s unfortunate because when God called Abram, and renamed Him Abraham…He created a faith, not a race. Faith in God through Yeshua the Messiah is based on faith and not race.

However, part of the ‘race’ problem in America is that all races have their ‘cultural demons’ that are immediately deflected, especially if presented by someone of the ‘other race’.

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You know what ‘DEFLECT’ means…

TRANSITIVE VERB

If you deflect something such as criticism or attention, you act in a way that prevents it from being directed t toward you or affecting you.

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The key to conflict resolution is common ground. So, I’m pointing out a ‘cultural demon’ from both races that are constantly deflected by many instead of addressed to change the culture.

WHITE PRIVILEGE

As I stated in a previous post:

Many say, I NEVER OWNED SLAVES!

Others say, I WAS BORN POOR AND WORKED HARD FOR EVERYTHING I HAVE!

And some say, I HAVE NEVER BENEFITED FROM ‘WHITE PRIVILEGE’.

Others assert, I’M NOT RACIST, I HAVE BLACK FRIENDS, SO WHY SHOULD I FEEL GUILTY?

I’m asking everyone who respects the Bible as the Word of God to consider this…

It is undeniable that in our nation’s history there wasn’t a hint of equality or equity for non-white Americans until the late 60’s.

Even if you had nothing to do with any of the evils towards Black people through the generations,, legacies and benefits of their behavior and systems transcends generations…culturally, economically, socially psychologically, and spiritually. Narratives and paradigms are set.

The Romans in the New Testament (the people not the book) are the perfect biblical example. They thought they were superior (even though many White people today don’t). They subjugated the Jews. The ‘system’ of their empire was set up to benefit them. Even if you had nothing to do with any of the evils towards Black people through the generations,, legacies and benefits of the system that has established thought and behavior and systems transcends generations…culturally, economically, socially psychologically, and spiritually. Narratives and paradigms are set.

However, rather than admit this, the response is too often…”There’s no such thing as White Privilege!” That’s deflecting.

BLACK ON BLACK CRIME

Black on Black crime is an unfortunate reality in America.

Again, this is from a previous post that I made:

There’s too many Black people killing Black people!

There’s too many Black people terrorizing Black people!

There’s too many Black people doing racists a favor by doing their job for them!

RACISTS DON’T HAVE TO FIRE A SHOT OR TIE A NOOSE WHEN BLACK PEOPLE ARE KILLING ONE ANOTHER!

And marches…speeches…block parties…the police or politicians can’t solve it.

But, rather than admit and address it, too many times when Black-on-Black crime is mentioned, the response is…’There’s no such thing as Black-on-Black crime.” That’s defecting.

This scripture applies to both individual and ‘corporate’ sins…

1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

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

Let’s all do better everybody.

It’s time to stop deflected and start connecting.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

There are negative stereotypes of every race, gender, geographic region, culture, nationality, religion etc.

This is one article that needs no evidence or examples because as you read it those negative stereotypes of which you are aware easily come to mind.

I don’t know what’s worse, negative stereotypes or those people who seem to do their best to support those stereotypes with their thinking, attitudes and behavior.

Even in the bible, the apostle Paul mentions a stereotype that was supported by the behavior of SOME of the people of a certain group, that projected to all of them…

Titus 1:10-13 (NKJV)

¹⁰ For there are many insubordinate, both idle ^(A)talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, ^(B)for the sake of dishonest gain. ^{12 (C)}One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This testimony is true. ^(D)Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

Notice that Paul said, “THIS TESTIMONY IS TRUE”. That’s because that…

No matter hard some people work to remove negative stereotypes of their particular ‘group’, there are others who seem to be committed to helping those stereotypes to live on.

Unfortunately, some stereotypes are like rumors… most (but not all) rumors are wrapped around a kernel of truth.

Think about the many groups of which you are a part, and the negative stereotypes of those groups…

Which of those stereotypes does your thinking, attitudes and behavior help those stereotypes live on?

Be careful, sometimes our stereotyping someone fits a stereotype within itself.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

You’ve stopped.

You don’t do it anymore.

You even asked God to forgive you.

But, when you think about it, the memory still makes you smile.

If you don’t really regret it.

If you had to do it all over…you would do it again.

If you aren’t truly sorry that it happened, then it’s a good chance that God hasn’t forgiven you.

Why?

Because you haven’t truly repented in your heart.

True repentance comes from godly sorrow…

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ For ^(A)godly sorrow produces repentance leadingto salvation, not to be regretted; ^(B)but the sorrow of the world produces death.

If you aren’t sorry, have you truly repented?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

Our challenge is to love the sinner without condoning or justifying the sinful lifestyle…while we struggle with our own.

Our challenge is to call out sin and warn of it’s consequences in spite of our own imperfections, faults, failures and weaknesses.

We must remember that calling out sin, warning about it’s consequences and holding one another accountable is not judging…it’s our responsibility.

Condemnation and stating what we believe is in someone’s heart is judging.

None of us are perfect. Far from it. But, God still expects us to warn about the consequences of sin.

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The truth is that none of us are never at any moment, ‘sinless’. Does that make us all hypocrites?

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Nope. God justifies us and ‘views us as righteous’ only through faith our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:23  (NKJV)

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 5:1 (NKJV)

5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have^[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

The key is to never be content or satisfied with our own sins. To constantly allow His Holy Spirit to convict us of our own wrong, working diligently to ‘lay them aside’…

It’s your attitude about your sin that prevents you from being a hypocrite.

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Pray for God to give you wisdom, knowledge, understanding, discernment and revelation for how to be His image, His voice, His representative in this generation. And, leave behind a heritage of good fruit for the generations to come.

Colossians 1:27-28  (NKJV)

²⁷ To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which^[a] is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

 Psalm 71:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ Now also when I am old and grayheaded,
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to everyone who is to come.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

So many times we are told what we should do, but not told how to do it. It’s easy to teach and preach what the bible says, but it doesn’t do much good if you don’t give people the tools to do it.

One great example is when we’re told to love our enemies. We all know and acknowledge what Jesus teaches us…

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.

But, we all know that can be easier said than done. Especially what he, she or they wish for and work to your harm. It’s difficult when they try to influence other people against you. God never said it was easy, just possible.

God has really dealt with me concerning this. One of the people who greatly encouraged me to create this blog eventually became a person who not only worked against me, but influenced other people against me.

We also know what God teaches us through the apostle Paul…

Romans 12:14  (NKJV)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:17-21  (NKJV)

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.

I see other people on the news who hate me because of my race, my faith, my beliefs, and these are people I’ve never met.

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In fact, one of the people who greatly encouraged me to create this blog eventually became a person who not only worked against me, but influenced other people against me.

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So, how do you pray for people who hate you? It’s much easier said than done, especially when someone wishes for and works towards your harm, tries to influence others to hate or hurt your, or when someone hurts someone very dear to you.

HERE ARE 7 SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES…

1. ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU IF & WHERE YOU’RE WRONG

Before you approach God about anyone you consider an enemy, make sure you first ask God to reveal to you if you are wrong in the issue, matter or paradigm. Even if you are 100 percent right, ask God to forgive you if you have allowed the enemy to harden your heart beyond God’s required love for your enemy. We must first consider ourselves before we begin to ‘judge’ anyone else…

Matthew 7:1-5  (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 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

2. PRAY FOR THEIR FAITH IN GOD TO BE ESTABLISHED & INCREASE

We must always remember that God doesn’t love our enemies any less than He loves us. They were created in His image too. God has called us all to be ministers of reconciliation. So, whether your enemy is an unbeliever or if they are a believer, if they are acting outside His will and character, it’s His desire that they be brought back into right relationship with Him. That’s where our prayers come in. God expects us to be ministers of reconciliation to Him…

2 Corinthians 5:17-20  (NKJV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not ^[a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

3. PRAY FOR THEIR REPENTANCE

If we aren’t careful, someone can hurt us or someone we love to the point that we can find ourselves not wanting them to repent. That will take away our excuse to be angry at them. But, it’s Gods will that everyone repent and turn to Him…

2 Peter 3:9  (NKJV)

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward ^[a]us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

4. PRAY FOR THEIR SALVATION

There are people that we can find so mean, evil and malicious that we don’t want them to be saved. Knowing that someone is in sin or evil is not judging them, but when we decide they are not worthy of salvation, that’s judgement and condemnation. What if God thought you not worthy of salvation when you were at your worst? And, as Matthew 7:1-2 reminds us, what ever judgement we are placing on someone else we are placing that same judgment on ourselves. Plus, if your enemy is a Christian and they are just in a hardhearted, backslidden, or weak moment, you may be placing condemnation on yourself as well…

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

 

So, always ask God to forgive you for any judgment or condemnation you have placed on someone.

5. PRAY THAT THEY PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT

It’s also God’s will that we all lead fruitful and productive lives…

John 15:8  (NKJV)

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

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.

Once your enemy is sincerely leading a fruitful life, they can no longer truly be your enemy. You are then on the same team working for the same kingdom goals. Even if you aren’t necessarily friends, you will no longer be enemies.

6. PRAY SINCERELY, NOT TRYING TO MANIPULATE GOD TO GIVE YOU REVENGE

It’s a dangerous thing asking God to give someone what they deserve: SO YOU THINK THEY GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED…REALLY??? Again, that’s judgment, especially when God hasn’t given any of us what we deserve. Too many times people take Romans 12:20 out of context. They merely want to pray for their enemy or even help them to ‘heap coals of fire on their head’. That is the wrong motivation. Sometimes people can even say, “I’m praying for you as an insult, rather than in sincerity: NEVER LET YOUR “GOD BLESS YOU” REALLY MEAN “F*** YOU”…

7. PRAY THAT GOD FORGIVES YOU FOR BEING SOMEONE’S ENEMY

We all have situations in our lives that we have been or are someone’s enemy. Not because they just don’t like us, but because we have done them wrong. We have worked against them. We have spoken evil against them. This could even be someone who we don’t know or doesn’t know us…It could be a public figure. Even though it’s wrong for them to do so, we have given some people good reason to hate us. Always ask God to forgive you for when you’re someone else’s enemy.

Romans 3:23  (NKJV)

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Praying for our enemies in sincerity isn’t easy, but it is possible.

 

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the favorite arguments of atheists is the ‘foundations of the earth’ language in the bible. And, honestly, this is one of those things in the bible that’s difficult for believers to understand explain too.

Let me help with a very practical explanation.

First of all, the bible acknowledges that the earth is round…

Isaiah 40:22 (NKJV)

²² It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

I think everyone will agree that circles are round. But, what about all the language referring to the ‘foundations of the earth’ such as…

Psalm 104:5 (NKJV)

⁵ You who ^[a]laid the foundations of the earth,
So that it should not be moved forever,

Think about this. Even though the earth is round, the home in which you live still requires a foundation. Every building that we build requires a strong, immovable, preferably flat foundation. The very flat ground that we walk on, build on…live on has it’s own layers or ‘foundations’.

The fact that the world is round does not prevent the ground from being flat and requiring foundations.

Did people in the ancient world think the world was flat? Yes. But the fact that God didn’t reveal the fact that the world was round to everyone at that time doesn’t negate the fact that He is real and He lives. Think about all of the mysteries of the physical and spiritual worlds that WE still don’t know.

Don’t allow your blessings of intelligence and sense of logic be a curse to prevent you from understanding and accepting the mysteries in the word of God.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Let me first say that this article is in no way excusing the sin, shortcomings of weaknesses of any preacher, but rather acknowledging them. I know that God expects us as ministers and teachers to set the standard of behavior and holds us to a higher degree of accountability.

1 Peter 5:2 (NKJV)

² Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly,^[a] not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV)

11 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

1 Timothy 3:2-12 (NKJV)

² A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; ³ not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,^[a] but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; ⁴ one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence ⁵ (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); ⁶ not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. ⁷ Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

 James 3:1 (NKJV)

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

1 Timothy 5:19-20 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

But, I do ask you to remember and consider this…

Police officers sometimes speed while off duty…

Doctors don’t always eat healthy…

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And, preachers haven’t always perfected what they preach.

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The Word of God cuts preachers as He gives them inspiration, revelation and the anointing to share it. It convicts preachers of their sins as God reveals it to them.

Even the apostles were caught in and admitted to human moments…

Galatians 2:11-13 (NKJV)

¹¹ Now when Peter^[a] had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹² for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. ¹³ And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

 The Apostle Paul…

 Romans 7:19-25 (NKJV)

¹⁹ For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. ²⁰ Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. ²¹ I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. ²² For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Sometimes preachers may even be transparent about what they are dealing with in their lives in their sermons or what they may write.

People particularly get upset with ministers as they call out particular sins and warn of their consequences….accusing them of judging. However, they are simply practicing, and sometimes struggling with what they preach, as they teach, instruct, encourage, admonish/warn those whom they are charged with.

Many people either do one of two things, they are oh, too ready to acknowledge that preachers are only human and diminish the authority that God has given them in the word.

Or,

People put them on a pedestal and treat them like ‘man gods’, which is blasphemous and wrong.

I just want to give everyone a reminder that preachers are the same is everyone else, that just like police officers and doctors preachers are the same as everyone else. Police officers are subject to the same laws they have been charged to enforce. Doctors are vulnerable to the same sicknesses that they have been educated to treat. And, preachers are clothed in sinful flesh and working out their own salvation, while also being charged with watching over the souls of the Body of Christ.

The next time you see a preacher repenting after having a human moment, or even a moral failure, remember that God didn’t remove King David’s anointing or kingship after his acts of murder, deception and adultery…because He repented. Yes, there were consequences, but God still allowed Him to remain in authority.

Also, remember if you see a preacher somewhere that you think they should not be…you shouldn’t be there either.

You might also find this interesting…EVEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE LEADERS DON’T ‘HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER’…

BE BLESSTIFIED!