Job 9:27 (NKJV) If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’
“Just smile!”, we often say…But it’s not always that simple.
I don’t think Jesus was smiling in the garden when He asked the Father, “if you are willing, take this cup from me”…but He may have when He said, “nevertheless, not my will buy thine be done”(Luke 22:42) …
I’m sure Jesus wasn’t smiling when getting nailed in the hands and feet, or when He said my, “God, My God why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)…
But, He may have lovingly when He said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
So, be kind today when you see someone smile because smiles don’t always come easily. You never know what pain, frustration and disappointment a smile had to force its way through.
Because even though you see a smile, the struggle is still there.
Even though you see a smile, pain may be hiding right behind it.
Greet someone’s smile, with a smile…it will bless your heart and theirs as well.
When things are slowing you down, maybe God’s giving you an exercise in patience….
When things are bringing you down, maybe God’s giving you an exercise in humility…
When people are letting you down, maybe God’s giving you an exercise in trusting Him.
Even when things seem to be working against you, RELAX and be comfortable in the fact and PROMISE that, if you are called according to and walking in God’s purpose, everything is working TOGETHER for your good.
Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
John 12:27 (NKJV) “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But FOR THIS PURPOSE I came to this hour.
There is nothing more powerful than a person who is certain of his or her purpose, and relentlessly working towards it. But, I hear so many people say,
“I don’t know my purpose!
or ask,
“How do I know I’m walking in my purpose?”
It is clear that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ knew His purpose. How else could His human side endure the humiliation, shame and pain of the cross. Every word He spoke, every miracle He performed…led to the cross.
John the Baptist’s declaration that, “He must increase and I must decrease” in John 3:30 implies that he knew his purpose as well. Of course we were all created to glorify God our creator (Isaiah 43:7), if you are a parent, it is God’s will that you be a good parent and bring up your children in the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
But, what about the thing(s) we were born to do that no one else can do?
How can we discover that?
Here’s a simple way to help you find out your purpose(s) that God has for your life. I call it the BEBLESSTIFIED.COMTHREE P’S of PURPOSE.
Your Position Your Passion Your Pain
YOUR POSITION
This us exactly what it implies. Jesus was born a Jew, and His purpose was to save Israel first then the world from their sins. Acts13:36 states, “For David, after he served his own generation by the will of God fell asleep…”. It is no coincidence that you were born into your specific time, family, socio-economic status, race, culture etc. It was no coincidence that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born into his particular family in the south in 1929 to set him up for his purpose in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Yes he was a husband and father, but his purpose went beyond that. Somewhere in your position, you find your purpose.
YOUR PASSION
In Matthew 25, the Parable of the Talents, Jesus explains how He gives us all talents and has expectations of each of us according to our ability. What are you good at naturally and effortlessly. What do you have an aptitude for? What do you enjoy and get satisfaction out of most? What cause tugs on your heart more than any other? This is the key to your gift and more than likely your calling. Are your using your natural abilities only for your self…Your profession or vocation…Or, to help promote the Kingdom of God?
YOUR PAIN Philippians 1:29 reminds us that it has been granted to us to not only to believe in Jesus, but to also suffer for Him. It isn’t fair that Jesus suffer and die for our sins and we have a convenient care-free life. We are to share in His sufferings so we can share in His glory as stated in Romans 8:17. We all have situations, storms, circumstances and assignments that we didn’t ask for. You will notice that very few, if any people in the bible who were used by God signed up for their task. You may have been: betrayed by a loved one, had your heart-broken, had a family member murdered, had your parents die while you were young, lost everything, been accused or imprisoned for something you didn’t do…the list can go on and on. But just as Abraham being told to leave his country and go to a place that God will show him, Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers, Hosea being told to marry a prostitute, or Joseph being told to marry a woman who was already pregnant by the Holy Spirit…your unsolicited pain, storms, trials, sicknesses, disabilities and circumstances sometimes hold the keys to your purpose in God.
So, look at your life from the beginning until now. Look at your POSITION…your PASSION…and yes your PAIN, and find YOUR PURPOSE.
People just want to be happy. They talk about it, sing about it, dream about it. People spend their lives in the pursuit of happiness. They spend their money, forfeit their families, search the WORLD over looking for happiness…looking for favorable circumstances and conditions. Because that’s what happiness is…being jolly, cheerful, merry or carefree because of favorable conditions and even luck. Even the etymology of the word happy implies…. Happy (adj.) late 14c., “lucky, favored by fortune, being in advantageous circumstances, prosperous;” of events, “turning out well,” from hap (n.) “chance, fortune” + -y (2). Sense of “very glad” first recorded late 14) from etymonline.com.
Happiness can be an illusion. Delusional people can appear to be some of the happiest people. Serial killers are happy when they are killing and evading capture. People can be happy while doing wrong depending on the state of their heart. Yes, we can be happy over virtuous things too. Happiness isn’t necessarily bad, but it IS still conditional.
As many of you have heard before, joy is not conditional. Happiness is an emotion, but joy is a state of mind. It’s not just a state of mind, but a state of the spirit. Joy, not happiness, is a Fruit of the Spirit, evidence of God’s Spirit and an aspect of His character.
Galatians 5:22-23New King James Version (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.
In John 15: 11, Jesus tells us that its His desire that His joy remain in us so that our joy may be full.
John 15:11New King James Version (NKJV)
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
This kind of joy the world CAN’T give. The joy of the Lord can abide through hardship, heartbreak, tribulation, storms and adversity…no one is happy in any of these circumstances. But joy can abide and produce peace through it all. Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus endured the pain and shame of the cross because of the joy set before him.
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Happiness disappears when joy flourishes. People search the world for happiness, they chase it….but you don’t have chase joy, because God gives it, and when you have God through Christ Jesus…you don’t have to chase it…it finds you.
Proverbs 24:3 (NKJV) “Through wisdom a house IS BUILT, And by understanding it is established;”
One sign that a city is growing and vibrant are cranes in the sky…not birds, but machines that move heavy objects to erect new buildings reaching the SUN. A city without cranes may be stagnant in growth. It may be going down, or even just holding it’s own, but to be competitive, cities must grow.
Are than cranes in your spiritual life?
Are you moving heavy objects (burdens) in your life?
Are you reaching for the ‘SON’?
Are there clear signs of your growth?
What are the signs?
More passion for God, His word, His Kingdom and His fellowship. Fruit…good fruit is a sign of growth. Are you planting good seeds in good soil. Are people either coming to Christ or growing in their relationship with Christ because you?
Are you growing…stronger?
Weaker? Or just holding your own?
Make sure you always have some CRANES in your spiritual life.
SOMETIMES WE SWING AND MISS…CELEBRATE THE GOOD SWING
Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t take you out every time you fail? Are you glad that God keeps on blessing you even after you have tried, but fallen short. We should never take His grace and mercy for granted.
God told Abraham that he through him all the nations of the world would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). God told him that He and his wife would have a son in his old age. God told all of this as Abraham and his wife approached 100 years old. The fact is, that when they were told both Abraham and Sarah laughed (Genesis 17:17, 18:12). It took around 25 years between Abraham’s call and his son Isaac’s birth. Even though you can read about all of this in Genesis in the course of an afternoon, those days and nights were as long as ours today. But, Abraham believed God and God honored that faith…
Genesis 15:6 (ESV)
6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness
God honors our faith today too. How many times have you really tried to do better, struggled with overcoming doubt and still fell short? The fact that it made you feel bad shows you have real relationship with God. Think about it. You felt bad even if no one else knew you fell short, because you disappointed God. We let me encourage you by reminding you that God made us and He knows us. He knows we are flesh…
Psalm 78:32-39 (NKJV)
32 In spite of this they still sinned, And did not believe in His wondrous works. 33 Therefore their days He consumed in futility, And their years in fear. 34 When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God. 35 Then they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. 36 Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, And they lied to Him with their tongue; 37 For their heart was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. 38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath; 39 FOR HE REMEMBERED THAT THEY WERE BUT FLESH, A breath that passes away and does not come again.
Just like when Jesus’ disciples were with Him in the garden before His betrayal,and they fell asleep, He recognized that they were still WITH Him, even though He knew they would scatter. God understands your heart. He understands that when your spirit is willing, sometimes your flesh gets weak…
Matthew 26:40-41 (NKJV)
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter,“What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
We must always remember to be as understanding as Jesus in our relationships with one another. Sometimes we find ourselves only celebrating success and accomplishments. But, just as God honors our faith, while encouraging growth, WE SHOULD ALSO APPRECIATE TRUE AND SINCERE EFFORT. This is what encourages us to keep on trying.
If God is willing to REASON with us, how dare we not reason with one another…
If God is willing to FORGIVE us, how dare we not forgive one another…
If God is PATIENT with us, how dare we be impatient with one another…
If God LOVES us unconditionally, how dare we place conditions on one another…
Because how we treat one another, is actually how we treat Him.
Isaiah 1:18 (ESV)
18 “Come now, let us reason[a] together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Romans 5:8N (NKJV)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 2:4 (NKJV)
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Matthew 25: 40,45 (ESV)
40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[f] you did it to me.’
45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
I recently heard two successful businessmen, on separate occasions, ‘joke’ about being away from home so much. They both eluded to fact that their families are actually glad when they ARE NOT at home, and dread seeing them return. It reminded me of someone confessing to me years ago that some days, they wished their spouse would have a fatal accident on the way home…they have a strong happy marriage today though.
Family life, whether it’s just two, but especially if there’s several people in the house can be challenging. No matter what’s going on, what energy to you bring into the house…positive or negative?
Everyone brings negativity and dysfunction SOMETIMES, but at TIMES it’s SOME more than others. It can cause people who genuinely love one another to dread seeing each other.
Dad or mom may be grumpy…for whatever reason…
Husband or wife neglecting responsibilities…
The children may be unappreciative or feel neglected…
The siblings may feel one is favored over the other…
Someone in the family responding too harshly…
The daily challenges of work, school and life may be brought home…
Arguments might end without apologies or closure…
Unspoken grievances and complaints with one another fester…
Personal flaws, faults and idiosyncrasies cause harsh feelings towards one another.
For whatever reason, good or bad, justified or unjustified…sometimes each of us can be very hard to live with. Sometimes we ALL can make home life unpleasant. It can become a vicious cycle of responses to behavior that no one even remembers where it started.
This is why sometimes people may either say, or quietly think to themselves, Wow! It sure is more peaceful in the house when ________________ isn’t at home!
Love (just like God’s unselfish, sacrificial love) is the glue that holds families together, and love is always most powerful as a VERB rather than a NOUN.
Real love isn’t just when we are laughing, joking and treasuring one another, but when we are stretching one another’s patience to the limit. When we dread confronting one another, when we are at odds, but still want to be around one another. Real love is being the one who can stop the vicious cycle of reactions to bad behavior with good behavior.
God has solutions in His word to help encourage peace and harmony in the home, and he leaves all of us responsible and accountable. Here are a few scriptures that I have pulled that should relate to everyone…of course this is not exhaustive. There are many more scriptures and accounts in the bible to teach us how to have peace in the house and enjoy one another. Read the verses, if anything applies to you, do your part to keep peace in your house, and remember that 1 Peter 4:8 teaches us, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS”. And, that 1 Corinthians 13:8 exhorts that “LOVE NEVER FAILS…”
When our relationships fail, it’s not because love has failed, it’s because we failed love.
1 Peter 3:7
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them(wives) with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:1-2
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
1 Corinthians 7:2-5
Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
1 Timothy 5:8
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Ephesians 4:32
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
I sometimes think about the fact that times I used to call boring I now call relaxing. We need to be careful when we get bored. Boredom is an emotion that can get us in trouble if we aren’t careful. When people get bored, that’s when the devil can get busy.
Remember what happened in 2 Samuel 11 when the kings went out to battle, David sent Joab his servant and all of Israel out to battle, but he stayed behind? One evening while he was ‘relaxing’ on the rooftop, he saw Bathsheba bathing. Her husband, Uriah, was very devoted and loyal to David and he was among those in battle…and the rest is history. The point is that David was relaxing when he should have been doing battle. Now, there’s nothing wrong with relaxing, but there’s a time and a season for for all things (Ecclesiastes 3). There can be some truth to the old saying, “The idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. Boredom is an emotion that allows too much room in our minds for the enemy and temptation too much work.
Some people get bored too easily and need something going on or changing all the time. They hate routine!
Be careful when you get bored too easily with…
Free time
Your job
Your marriage
Your family
Your church
Going to church
Studying God’s word
Your blessings
Etc., Etc., Etc…
If we are honest with ourselves, some of our troubles have come from the fact that we got bored. Boredom has led to loss of marriages, families, jobs, homes, cars, credit, friendships etc, BUT…
GOD HAS A CURE FOR BOREDOM.
1. Learn to be CONTENT and SATISFIED in all situations. (Philippians 4:11-13)
2. Let your JOY and PEACE always be in the LORD. ( John14:27, Nehemiah 8:10)
3. If you’re bored, find ways to SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS (Matthew 25:34-40).
There’s always someone who needs you. God gives us opportunities every day to serve Him by fulfilling the physical, emotional and especially spiritual needs of others. Being busy helping those in need as God commanded can be exciting, satisfying, and for thrill seekers, sometimes even dangerous (such as missionary work). There are those who are lonely, with no family who would love your companionship, especially elderly people. There’s plenty of real Kingdom business in our families, on our jobs, in politics, in our churches to cure our periods of boredom. The devil wants us to cure our boredom with foolishness and evil, but that only leads to more boredom and trouble.
There’s nothing wrong with relaxing, and good wholesome fun, but remember WHEN YOU GET BORED…GOD’S GOD A CURE.
A good friend of mine once told me of a youth pastor friend of his who was eating dinner in a casual dining restaurant with a bar. The youth pastor noticed two young men at the bar from his church whom he hadn’t seen in attendance for a few weeks.
He got up from his table and approached the young men and asked them how they were doing.
He made casual conversation, told them he genuinely missed them in church, and thta he looked forward to seeing them the coming weekend…
He then did something unexpected…He then paid for their drinks. Those young men were at church the following week!
That youth pastor didn’t judge, chastise or preach to them…but met them where they were.
In fact, he did what Jesus did in John 2:1-12. At the wedding party, in order to show His power, when the wine ran out, Jesus figuratively ‘bought the drinks’.
In order to bring people to Christ, we must learn to meet people where they are. We must be able to meet them at their level of development.
We can’t be effective for the Lord of we act as though we are above others, because we are all sinners saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8).
We must be humble enough to meet people where they are physically, financially, socioeconomically, emotionally, and spiritually. Be sensitive to the fact that everyone will not be…
as mature as you…
cultured as you…
strong as you…
as wise as you..
…or as spiritual as you.
The benefit of your maturity and strength as that you can meet others at their level to help them grow. Rather than be critical of the behavior of those who are lost, we should pray ask God for wisdom for the best way to make a connection with them. They are merely acting according to their level of development. Rather than be critical of someone who joined your church, but has missed several services, or got mad about something and left, we should ask God for wisdom on how to reach out to them in love, remember they are still immature in their faith.
The apostle Paul said he became all things to all men that he might save some. He didn’t mean he was hanging out with sinners to party with them, but for the sake of the Gospel he met them where they were spiritually, socially and culturally to bring them to Christ.
Be willing to meet people where they are…because that’s where God met you.
1 Corinthians 6:19-23 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law,[c] that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God,[d] but under law toward Christ, that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”
We must love God for who He is, not what He can do.
Can He heal? Yes!
Can He deliver? Yes!
Can He restore your marriage? Yes!
Can He make a way out of no way? Of course!
But, those aren’t the only reasons we should come to Jesus, or tell people to come to Him. Who wants to be in relationship with someone only because of what you can do for them? We need to make sure that our prayers aren’t only about us, but that we consistently intercede for others.
We even need to be careful of how we teach giving, and why we give. I hear so many people say, “give so you can be blessed”. If that’s your only reason for giving, then that’s giving selfishly. We need to give so we can be a blessing, to fund Kingdom work, and out of obedience, not just so we can be blessed. We must also make sure we aren’t serving God only for personal glory because when we do we already have our reward (Matthew 6:2).
In John 6, the multitude followed Jesus after He fed over 5000, He told them that they followed Him not because of the signs they saw, but because they were filled with food. Jesus told them don’t labor for what is temporary, for what’s eternal. Read this entire powerful chapter (John 6) for context.
When people come to church, pray, serve God or give for what’s temporary, or carnal reasons, one of three things can happen…
God moves on their behalf and they leave…
God doesn’t move fast enough, and they leave…
…or we church people just run them away.
We must come to God and encourage people to come to God for SALVATION and for a real RELATIONSHIP with Him. And, must we must examine ourselves daily to make sure we are in relationship with God because we love Him…that we aren’t just USING Him for what we can get out of Him.
I reaaalllyyy enjoy riding my bicycle. God allowed me to be taken off blood pressure medicine, and biking has helped me control it for the past 5 years. One evening a couple of years ago after I arrived home from the office, I asked my boys if either of them had ridden my bike because it wasn’t in the garage. The garage door had been left open the night before. They both said no sir. About the same time my neighbor was in front of her house, and I noticed that her SUV was not in her driveway. She informed me that some individuals went through our neighborhood checking for ‘soft’ targets…she had left her car unlocked. I went in the house and told my wife, “Well, I will never see that bike again… $600 bucks down the drain.”
I then called the sheriff’s department to report the theft. They sent out an officer and I filled out the report. Less than an hour later I got a call from the sheriff’s department asking me to describe my bike! They found it…Across town…In the back of my neighbor’s SUV! Wow! They said it wasn’t damaged! Look at God!
Three guys from across town worked our neighborhood. Even though my WORDS showed no faith, my ACTIONS of reporting the theft and filling out the report were FAITH IN ACTION. I got my bike back that night, brought to me by an officer who lived in my neighborhood…it was undamaged. My neighbor didn’t get her truck back for over a month, and it had damage.
God used an OBJECT, my bike to give me an OBJECT LESSON in faith.
Jesus teaches us that we can move mountains with our faith in Him…
Matthew 17: 20-21
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
When things seem impossible, never loose your faith. And, please do better than me, let your WORDS agree with your ACTIONS.
#OBJECTLESSON noun a striking practical example of some principle or ideal. “they responded to emergencies in a way that was an object lesson to us all”
Early in His ministry, Jesus was confronted by the enemy as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11, He was confronted/attacked while His FLESH was weakest. He had been fasting for 40 days. The enemy tried to catch Jesus in His flesh’s most vulnerable state. But, even though Jesus’ flesh was weak, His will was strong. Jesus knows us, and He knows our flesh gets weak too, that’s why He encourages us…
Matthew 6:24
“Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the SPIRIT indeed is WILLING, but the FLESH is WEAK”.
Even though Jesus’ flesh was weak, His Spirit and resolve was still willing and strong. Why? Because He fought off the enemy’s attack with the WORD OF GOD. The word of God is our most powerful weapon against the enemy.
2 Corinthians 10:4 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”
Hebrews 4:12 reminds us, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
As much as so many Americans are preoccupied with and put faith in their GUNS…our greatest attacks aren’t against the FLESH, but SPIRIT. Even those who attack you physically have succumbed to a spiritual attack that led them to result to violence…it started in the Spirit.
That’s why YOU CAN’T BRING A GUN TO A SWORD FIGHT!
Temptation is an attack of the enemy, and Jesus made the devil back down with the word of God in Matthew 4:1-11.
He was tempted with HUNGER (vs 3)…which many have used as an excuse for violence and theft. Jesus’ response…“IT IS WRITTEN, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”. (vs 4)
He was tempted with PRIDE (vs 5,6)…which has led many to violence. Jesus’ response…“AGAIN IT IS WRITTEN, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test”. (vs 7)
He was tempted with POWER (vs 8,9)…which has led many to kill countless people. Jesus’ response…“Be gone Satan! FOR IT IS WRITTEN, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.” (vs 10).
Verse 11 tells us that the devil fled…Jesus overcame the temptation/attack with the word of God.
EVERYTHING that leads man to violence and gun fire BEGINS with a temptation to the Spirit, but Jesus taught us how to fight before the guns are drawn.
Read Matthew 4 :1-11 again for context. Read 2: Corinthians 10:1-6. Read James 4:7. And read Psalm 33:16 and remember…. YOU CAN’T BRING A GUN TO A SWORD FIGHT!
Jay was quiet…He did his job…He didn’t bother anyone, but when tense situations arose on the job people would notice tears in his eyes. His boss wasn’t a good people person. His management style was very controlling, coercive and lacked empathy.
People would notice that when the boss would get assertive with Jay they would notice a tear in his eye. They would even notice a tear in Jay’s eye when the boss would embarrass his co-workers.
It was no secret that Donald didn’t like Jay. He went around the office talking badly about Jay. He felt that Jay was a ‘crybaby’ and weak. “What kind of man keeps a tear in his eye so much?” He would look at him in disgust as he would tear up as the boss walked away.
One day Donald couldn’t take it anymore. He attacked Jay verbally in front of everyone… “Man what’s wrong with you?!” “What’s up with this crying?” I can’t stand weak men like you…crying all the ti…”
All of the sudden, Jay punched Donald so hard that Donald’s feet came off the ground. Jay knocked Donald ALL-THE-WAY-OUT! Of course, Jay lost his job.
What Donald didn’t know is that Jay was an ex MMA fighter. He was good too. One of the reasons he was so good is that he would use thoughts that made him angry as fuel for his fights. As Donald worked to repress that anger, he would often have tears in his eyes as he fought getting worked up.
Donald caught Jay on the wrong day. Donald didn’t know the story behind the tears in Jay’s eyes.
Be careful when you judge someone as weak. Be sensitive when you see someone with tears in their eyes. You never know the story behind those tears.
The shortest verse in the bible is John 11:35, “Jesus wept”. No one has more restraint than Jesus, to continue to share His love and withhold his wrath in spite of how we sometimes treat Him. Psalms 136 continually says it best… “His mercy endures forever!”
When you see someone with a tear in their eye, if you don’t know what to say, whisper a little prayer for them…think of the stories behind YOUR tears.
“I think I’ll relax and read my bible over A glass of wine”
“I think I’ll relax and study my bible over a glass of wine”. Uh oh! I’m quite certain that statement made many of my fellow Christians cringe. I’m sure it may push limits of some people’s personal theology…many of my fellow Christians will quickly tell you that you shouldn’t defile the temple of God (and we shouldn’t).
Many of my fellow Christians will piously tell you, “Ohhh no! I don’t drink alcohol”, while at the same time many of the same people consume huge amounts of sugar, fat, sodium, artificial ingredients, smoke, over-the-counter and prescription drugs etc., etc., etc., that they know are harmful to their bodies, or temples of God (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Many Christians who’ve been diagnosed medical conditions knowingly eat foods and drink beverages that even though they aren’t wine, are harmful to their bodies and adversely affect their health…but, they would never be CAUGHT drinking a glass of wine.
Yes, the bible says that we are NOT to “get drunk with wine”…
Ephesians 5:18 (ESV)
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
…getting drunk is a sin and a work of the flesh…
Galatians 5:20-21 (ESV)
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
HOWEVER, there is a huge difference in DRINKING a glass of wine and getting DRUNK with wine.
1 Timothy 5:23 admonishes us that there are health benefits to consuming a LITTLE wine in moderation.
1 Timothy 5:23 English Standard Version (ESV)
23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)
Drinking wine is not a sin, but drinking too much is…
Drinking cola isn’t a sin, but if it’s detrimental to your health, drinking too much is…
Eating candy isn’t a sin, but if it’s detrimental to your health, eating too much is…
Eating is not a sin, but eating too much is…
Philippians 3:19 English Standard Version (ESV)
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Being at a gathering where there’s wine is not a sin. There was wine at the wedding Jesus attended in Cana recorded in John Chapter 2. It was real wine…not unfermented wine as some try to claim to justify their over zealousness. Wine was a staple in the bible. Jesus was observed consuming wine because they accused Him of being a ‘winebibber’, drunkard and a glutton. (However He did not get drunk)
Matthew 11:19 (ESV)
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Wine was consumed during the Passover Feast…the fact is that when the wine ran out during the wedding, Jesus ‘bought’ the drinks. Jesus didn’t say, they have wine at that wedding party, so I won’t attend, but that’s exactly what many Christians today would say.
Again, I’m not advocating getting drunk. Getting drunk IS a sin. But I am saying that wine, just like many other food and drinks is okay in moderation, and many Christians who ‘trip’ over drinking a glass of wine consume non-alcoholic foods and beverages into their bodies that are harmful or in quantities that are SINFUL.
Remember what the Apostle Paul said…
1 Corinthians 6:12
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
1 Corinthians 10:23
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
I must be responsible and tell you that if you have a drinking problem, that it’s BEST THAT YOU CONSUME NO WINE, just as if you have an allergy to peanuts it’s best you CONSUME NO PEANUTS. Also, if your drinking wine makes someone in the faith weaker, it’s best that you don’t drink it in their presence. Read Romans 14:13-23 as Paul explains how we must consider those who are weaker in the faith in things that are permissible for us.
The most important thing for us to remember as Christians is MODERATION – ALL THINGS IN MODERATION.
We must be careful that we don’t wish evil on our enemies or adversaries. Remember that it’s bigger than our disagreement them, or even the fact that they may hate us for no reason. They are God’s creation too. He wants them delivered too. When something bad happens to them, sometimes we find ourselves saying, “Good, that’s what they get!” When we judge in our hearts that they are getting what they deserve, we are setting ourselves up for the same judgment.
Remember Matthew 7:1,2… “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” If you continue reading, Jesus uses strong words here calling us hypocrites when we do this.
Stop and think about the things you have done to hurt someone else. Think about who you may have mistreated.
Think about the fact you’ve given some of your ‘haters’ a good reason to feel ‘some kinda way’ about you. Most of all, think of how you’ve hurt God.
Psalm 103:10 is a good reminder that God doesn’t deal with us as we deserve…. “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.”
We should extend to one another the same grace and mercy that’s given to us. Rather than celebrate your enemy’s misfortune, we should pray that it brings them closer to Our heavenly Father…because ultimately, that’s what God wants.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Corinthians 6:12 “You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.”
Children can have very short attention spans. You can tell a child what to do, and if you leave the room and come back, you can find them doing something totally different. Why? Because they are easily DISTRACTED. God’s adult children can be the same way…What has God told us to do?
Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
Matthew 9:38, “Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest”
John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…”
God has called us to make disciples. God has given each of us a purpose according to our abilities (parable of the talents Matthew 25:14-30). Unfortunately, sometimes we get DISTRACTED.
Scriptures make it very clear God has given us the responsibility to build the Kingdom by making disciples and bearing good fruit. He has given us gifts and talents to do so, and has established families and the church to give us fellowship, strength and support to do so. So, why aren’t we more effective? Because we get easily DISTRACTED. We sometimes allow ourselves and the enemy to DISTRACT us from what God called us to do. Sometimes we’re DISTRACTED by the very gifts he gave us for His purpose.
DISTRACTED by what the Parable of the sower calls ‘the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches…
DISTRACTED by the pleasures of the flesh and the pursuit of these pleasures…
We can’t build the Kingdom of God when we’re DISTRACTED and busy…
fighting for our families, fighting for our churches, caught up in church culture, using the best of our strength and abilities trying to achieve wealth, putting all of our effort into our career, using our anointing with selfish motives, struggling with lust, adultery, fornication, greed, strife, arguments, divisions, narcissism, laziness, foolishness, apathy, racism, politics, anger, malice, jealousy, depression, boredom…the list goes on and on. All of these things just keep us busy, keep us chasing wind (Ecclesiastes 1:14, 2:11). Sometimes we even get too DISTRACTED to study God’s word…we claim we don’t have time, but the fact that you’re reading this post right now proves that’s not true. I think you get the point.
God wants us to enjoy our lives. Every moment isn’t about Kingdom work, but everything we do, even in our leisure should be from a Kingdom mindset, because we are to acknowledge God in all our ways (Proverbs 3:6), and ministry moments arise when you least expect it.
Make the most of every moment (Ephesians 5:16), don’t get DISTRACTED to the point we are almost useless to God….take a few moments and think of the subtle ways you’ve been or are DISTRACTED. Just as the apostle Paul told the 2 Corinthians in Chapter 6:12, “you are restricting yourselves by your own affections”, he went on to tell them how to get rid of these ‘restrictions’…don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers (1 Corinthians 6:14…cleanse ourselves of all filthiness of flesh and spirit and perfect holiness( 1 Corinthians 7:1).
Let’s commit together to renewed FOCUS and just as Jesus said about Mary, find the “good part” that will not be taken away from us. Luke 10:38-42 38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’[k] feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.
In today’s American culture it seems people value so-called ‘strong words’ and confrontation rather than the controlled strength of meekness and making peace.
Do you know someone who has a passion for peace? Is it you?
Some people have an innate passion for conflict resolution. They are the uncelebrated heroes that hold, relationships, families, teams, organizations, causes, churches, and nations together. People celebrate soldiers…but not peacemakers. Jesus came to earth looking for a fight with the enemy….He came to establish peace between God and man.
1 Timothy 2:5 (ESV) For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man[a] Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 2:14 (ESV) For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
Colossians 1:20 (ESV) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
This peace didn’t come easily. Peace is overtaken in chaos…
Mark 4:39 (ESV) And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Jesus commanded that “Peace Be Still!” in the midst of a storm. That’s God’s perfect example of what takes place in the spiritual realm when a peacemaker goes into action. Everyone knows one of the best ways to get hurt is to attempt to break up a fight. In fact, most people advise that one doesn’t get involved.
When I was growing up in rural West Tennessee, we had a phrase we would say to prove we weren’t afraid…I AIN’T NO PUNK! The incorrect grammar was intentional for affect. “AREN’T PUNKS,” just didn’t seem as convincing to us.
Real peacemakers ain’t punks!
Real peacemakers ain’t afraid of fights…
Some real peacemakers look for fights.
Jesus confronted and was confronted by His family (John 7:5), the establishment/religious leaders (Matthew 25), his hometown (Mark 6:4), the government (John 19:11) and Satan himself (Matthew 4:1-11) to establish peace between God and us. Clearly, Jesus was (is) no PUNK.
Jesus left His peace, and His power for us…
John 14:27 (ESV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
And, Jesus promised a special blessing for peacemakers.
Matthew 5:9 (ESV)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
There’s a special anointing on those who are able to help others find common ground and resolve conflict. Those who can keep a cool head in the midst of chaos, conflict and crisis, and can maintain they’re composure when the parties who are fighting both, or all, turn on the peacemaker. But, did you catch that? If they ALL turn on the peacemaker…then he or she has gotten them to AGREE on something.
If you have a passion for peace, embrace it. If you’re the moral compass be strong. And, if that’s not you, be sensitive to those who are. They are the unsung heroes that God uses to command, Peace be still! Pray for them. Encourage them. And remember…they ain’t punks!
Matthew 18:7 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
Jesus warned in Matthew 18:7 that offenses are a part of this life. People will offend one another…sometimes intentionally…sometimes unintentionally.
In the context of the bible context, the definition of OFFENSE according to Strong’s Concordance is the Greek word SKANDALON: a stick for bait, a snare, a trap, a stumbling block. Strong goes on to say that figuratively the word means putting a negative cause-and-effect relationship into motion.
Merriam-Webster defines offense as:
1aobsolete : an act of stumbling barchaic : a cause or occasion of sin : stumbling block
2 : something that outrages the moral or physical senses
3a : the act of attacking : assaultb : the means or method of attacking or of attempting to score c : the offensive team or members of a team playing offensive positions d : scoring ability
4a : the act of displeasing or affronting b : the state of being insulted or morally outraged <takes offense at the slightest criticism>
5a : a breach of a moral or social code : sin, misdeedb : an infraction of law; especially : misdemeanor
Whether intentional or unintentional, offenses do just as the definitions describe, they are a snare, a trap and stumbling block to a person’s progress – an attack. In sports, war or any competition, in context of the biblical and contemporary definition, I define OFFENSE as…AN AGGRESSIVE ATTACK IN PURSUIT OF A GOAL.
OFFENSES are the devil’s offense. He uses them to make you stumble, distracted, weaker, off-course and provoke you to respond negatively with your emotions. We must be careful even when we have a right to be offended. Even when someone intentionally tries to offend you…even when you have a right to be upset, you must be careful that it doesn’t make you lose focus. Offenses are either make you retaliate (defense) or quit. They either make you give up or seek revenge, both of which God has commanded that we don’t do.
We are not to give up (2 Chronicles 15:7, Isaiah 41:10, Galatians 6:9, Joshua 1:9).
We are not to seek revenge (Romans 12:19, 1 Peter 3:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 2 Corinthians 13:11).
Offenses all too often provoke a negative emotional response: anger, rage, sadness, stress, jealousy, envy, confusion, disgust discouragement, shame, fear, discontent etc…etc…etc…
These negative emotions usually lead to negative moods, attitudes and behavior.
So, even when they offend or insult your integrity, family, friends, intentions, faith, religion, accomplishments, education, team, profession, heritage, neighborhood, history, background, church, beliefs, leaders….whatever. Stop and think of the many various ways you’ve been offended throughout your life. How did you react?
Think of how, even political campaigns, which should display integrity result to offending….sometimes the OFFENSE is to OFFEND.
Think of how in sports it’s common to TRASH talk….the OFFENSE is to OFFEND.
Think of how many times coaches insult or degrade athletes in an effort to get them to do better…the OFFENSE is to OFFEND.
Think of how many times law enforcement officers resort to ‘getting on their level’ in language and behavior to get through…the OFFENSE is to OFFEND.
Think of how Satan comes to STEAL, KILL and DESTROY (John 10:10) . How he goes around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8)…his OFFENSE is to OFFEND.
Even Jesus offended the Pharisees by His sharp rebukes (Matthew 15:12, Matthew 23). Jesus’ intent however was Holy. The Pharisees were offended because their hearts were dark and Jesus’ light offended them. Jesus was offending the devil. We must be careful when we find ourselves offended at the truth…offended at light. When the right thing offends us, that should lead to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:8-12).
Just as Jesus said, offenses are sure to come. Don’t let them make you trip, fall, stumble, throw you off course, make you lose focus or quit. Don’t let them provoke you to a negative response or bad moods, attitudes and behavior.
Let us make sure that we are not maliciously offending others…
And, if we do offend, let us make sure we’re not doing so maliciously
BE BLESSTIFIED!!!
Jesus offended the Pharisees. The fault comes where it comes from in the heart
If you were running for office in God’s Kingdom could you get enough votes to win?
Would you vote for yourself?
Would you have the love and passion for the Kingdom to do what’s best for the Kingdom first?
Would you have a platform? (Vision)
Would you have the experience? (Testimony)
Would you have the character? (Integrity)
What could derail your campaign? (Past)
News Flash!
You’ve already been elected by God…
2 Peter 1:10-11 Therefore brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fail.. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord answered Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:20 You’re an appointed Ambassador for Christ 2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
People are watching your campaign…
1 Peter 2:12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
God is depending on you to run a good campaign; you were born to run and born to win.
Sometimes we can be more afraid of the challenges and responsibilities of success than the disappointments or shame of failure.
I’ve had a fear of flying. I used to fly as a child regularly, but not in my adult life. I told everyone that flying made me feel sick, but the fact was that I was afraid. I was more afraid of what might happen. That fear kept me from destinations and opportunities that were just a flight away.
When I think of the disciples in the boat, it reminds me of being nervous on a plane. There were no planes in biblical days, but the potentials for fear were the same. The boat represents opportunities on the other side, but in that day someone could have been afraid to sail because the threat of sinking. That fear then could be equal to the threat of a plane crashing today.
There are many opportunities that can be accessed much more efficiently by flying, but fear can keep one from those opportunities. FEAR FIGHTS YOUR FAITH, and your faith is the key to your future. What are your fears keeping you from?
Fear of new relationships?
Fear of being alone?
Fear of embarrassment?
Fear of going back to school?
Fear of relocating?
Fear of your past being exposed?
Fear of the unknown?
FEAR OF FAILURE?
FEAR OF SUCCESS!
Think about how your fears have limited your life…
2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Fear is a sure sign of lack of faith. I’m not speaking of a healthy respect that we are commanded to have for God, or respect of genuine threats to our safety. I’m speaking of timidity, and anxiety that results from lack of faith that God can provide for, protect and guide us when we are stepping out on faith in wisdom to fulfill His purpose. The enemy wants to intimidate you to the point of fear because he knows it fights your faith. The enemy knows the potential on your life. The enemy knows what God has placed inside of you. He wants your fear to prevent you from stepping out on faith to fulfill your purpose. Think about it. God promised that all things will work for YOUR good when you are called according to HIS purpose. Arm yourself with the word of God first thing every morning ((Ephesians 6:16) FUEL YOUR FAITH, SO YOU CAN QUENCH THE FIERY DARTS OF THE devil. So, when FEAR FIGHTS YOUR FAITH…YOUR FAITH WILL WIN.
Don’t let your fears keep your from the blessings, opportunities and destiny that awaits you at your destination.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
One of my favorite groups is The O’Jays! Their smooth soulful music is definitely a part of the soundtrack of my life. Their 1972 single, “Back Stabbers” written by Leon Huff, Gene McFadden and John Whitehead, (I was only 3-years old when it was released) is one of my all time favorites and just as most of their other songs – the lyrics are very profound…
“(They smile in your face) All the time they want to take your place (Back Stabbers)”
There’s a reason that KINDNESS (from Greek word Crestotes in Galatians 5:22) is a Fruit of the Spirit and not NICENESS.
According to Strong’s Concordance KINDNESS denotes ones disposition and doesn’t necessarily refer to acts of goodness. Strong’s Concordance goes on to say KINDNESS refers to meeting real needs. Being KIND is acting for the good of people no matter what they do, how they treat you or how they react. KINDNESS is uprightness and goodness in action. It’s goodness provoked by the spirit of God. KINDNESS is acting for the welfare of those who challenge your love and stretch your patience.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV)
4 Love suffers long and is KIND; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [a]puffed up;
Acts of KINDNESS may not always feel good or be timely, but they are always best for the individual or group’s overall well being…thus goes the old saying, “God may not come when you want Him, but He’s always right on time!”
The enemy can use NICENESS as a tool to deceive and mask true motives and intentions. People can be nice to get in position to stab you in the back
“What they do? BACK STABBERS!”
Have YOU ever been nice to someone just to get what you wanted out of them?
We must always examine our motives to make sure we’re being KIND and NICE…and always watch out when people SMILE IN YOUR FACE.
23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.
Saul/Paul was well-known for persecuting the church.He was well-known and ruthless at it. He was there when they killed the Stephen and gave his full approval (Acts 8:1). Those who were in the church at the time feared him Acts, (9:26) however, among the Jews he was respected, prosperous, and successful…
Galatians 13-14
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
…until his encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus to further persecute the church (Acts 9).
Jesus changed his heart and his mission. God gave Him the gospel…A man who killed Christians! God gave him a special mission only he could accomplish. His name was changed from Saul to Paul and his passion against the church was redirected. There were people who NEEDED to see HIM work for Christ, needed to hear it from him. Not Peter James or John, but Paul. Be sensitive to where and who God sends you. There are people strategically placed in your path who need to hear YOU speak for Christ…see YOU work for Christ and share His love. Not me…Not your Pastor…Not Bishop TD Jakes, but YOU. They knew who you were. They knew how you were. They know what you used to do. They heard how you were. Even if they don’t know you, they may be able to connect with you because of your past…That’s ministry!
So, no matter how DARK your past, God can use it for His glory if you let Him…
Galatians 1:15-17
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
There’s someone who needs to see the change that God made in your life, and your love and passion for Him, and just as they did Paul, they will glorify God in you (Galatians 1:24).
The Lord spoke his word to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up, go to the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it, because I see the evil things they do.” 3 But Jonah got up to run away from the Lord by going to Tarshish.
Some jobs are also ministries…teaching, medicine, even law enforcement. Some jobs, in order to do them effectively you must have passion and a heart for people. You’re using your God-given abilities to earn your living. But, most jobs are occupations. They are what we do to sustain our lives, but they can change.
My job is my occupation, but my FAMILY and my MINISTRIES are my PURPOSE.
Occupations can change, but your PURPOSE is the reason you’re still here. You choose your job…but God chooses your PURPOSE, so work it relentlessly.
The apostles had occupations. They were fishermen(Matthew 4:18-22), tent makers (Acts 18:1-4) and even tax collector (Matthew 9:9-13), but we didn’t get the Gospel because of their occupations. It was because of their purpose.
REMEMBER, Jesus had an occupation. He was a carpenter…WE DIDN’T GET SAVED BECAUSE JESUS WAS A CARPENTER!
Jonah ran from his purpose and found himself in the belly on a great fish (Jonah 1:17) to get him on task. The men on the ship on which Johah boarded to flee even asked him, “What is your occupation?” (Johah 1:8). Don’t get so occupied with your occupation, that you neglect your purpose.
Relentlessly pursue your purpose and be ALL God created you to be.
It’s happened to most of us. You suddenly feel your muscles ache, fever, stomach ache and nausea…you have FOOD POISONING. Something you ate, something that was supposed to nourish you made you sick. Something that was supposed to give you strength made you weak, something that was supposed to help your body…hurt it.
Sometimes something can look delicious, smell delicious and taste delicious and still be deadly. Salmonella, Botulism, Listeria are just a few are bacteria that make good food toxic. They infect what’s good….You have fever, stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea because your body is trying to get rid of it. Your muscles ache making you weak and unfit for work.
The same is true with the WORD OF GOD.
THE WORD IS MEANT TO NOURISH YOU…
1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
THE WORD IS MEANT TO GIVE YOU STRENGTH AND INCREASE YOUR FAITH…
Romans 10:17 (ESV)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
THE WORD IS MEANT TO BUILD YOUR SPIRITUAL HOUSE AND THE BODY OF CHRIST
Ephesians 4:11-12
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
But, sometimes the Body of Christ can get SPIRITUAL FOOD POISONING…
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
Demons are like spiritual bacteria that want to infect you and the Body of Christ. Their goal is to deceive and pervert the teaching and preaching of God’s word. They influence the ‘message’ to come from flesh instead of spirit. They want to infect the word so that it’s carnal instead of spiritual…and it can be very subtle:
For example, many people have learned to give selfishly. They have been taught ONLY to give so they can receive a blessing. Not, out of love…Not, out of obedience…Not, out of concern for others…but so they can be blessed. Give so you can get! Yes, God is willing to pour out blessings that we don’t have room to receive, but if that’s the only reason we give, that reducing giving to a ‘blessing bill”.
Be careful when the word of God is cloaked in carnality, sometimes it’s unintentional – but most of the time it isn’t. Watch out when the message contains…
Too much prosperity
Too much condemnation
Too little bible
Too much personal opinion
Too much tradition of man
Lies
Hypocrisy
Selfishness
Racial Pride
Idolatry
Blasphemy (Some preachers actually want you to worship them, or yourselves)
Or, when it elicits emotions from flesh…for example, if it makes excuse for or justifies sin or causes you to take pride in the way you used to be. I have heard preachers say, “I haven’t been saved all my life” in an arrogant way that eludes to the fact that they can revert back to their old behavior, or in other words, ‘let the old become new again’
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
We have to read and study God’s word for ourselves and pray for discernment, so we can intelligently and responsibly listen to the word of God. Just like food poisoning, it can be disguised in eloquent words, charisma, elaborate presentation, engaging personality etc. It can sound good, look good and make you feel good, but it’s got to be in line with the bible and not twisted to fit a human agenda.
Spiritual food poisoning makes the Christian and Body of Christ weak, ineffective, unproductive and unfit for Kingdom work. It makes the Body of Christ sick. It actually does more harm than good…and it takes place in church.
The old adage that you are what you eat is true. It doesn’t just apply to allowing worldly influences to enter your spirit…but just as the bible says that the devil disguises himself as an angle of light…
2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV)
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
The enemy doesn’t mind you going to church or hearing the word, as long as he can come along and twist it….infect it and poison your spiritual food.
I often hear people lament that one of the reasons our public school systems have declined and are declining is because we have allowed prayer to be taken out of schools. I humbly submit to you today…
IF YOU’RE PRAYING AT HOME, PRAYER IS STILL IN SCHOOLS…
IF YOU PRAY OVER AND FOR YOUR CHILDREN, PRAYER IS STILL IN SCHOOLS…
IF YOU’VE TAUGHT YOUR CHILDREN TO PRAY, PRAYER IS STILL IN SCHOOLS…
I wonder how many of the people who complain about prayer being taken out of schools actually teach their children to pray, pray with their children or have family prayer at home.
God gave parents the responsibility to instill the appreciation for prayer in their children, promote a culture of prayer in the home, and let them know they can talk to God anywhere.
Deuteronomy 6:7 (ESV)
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
We must teach our children that God isn’t limited to where you pray! The church prayed for Peter in Acts 12 and God released him.
Acts 12:5-17 (NKJV)
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant[a] prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and fromall the expectation of the Jewish people.” 12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” 16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
The church didn’t have to GO to the prison to pray for Peter. God is omnipresent, everywhere at the same time.
When you pray WITH your child and FOR your child, God is with him, her or them IN the school. Consider this…if you allow prayer in schools, you have to allow ALL prayer. What if your child’s teacher isn’t Christian, and your child is subjected to the prayers of another religion?
Dear friends, don’t just pray individually, but I encourage you to make sure you’re having family prayer at home.
Spouses begin your day together on prayer.
Pray as a family.
Continue to pray for schools in your churches.
Pray for schools even if you don’t have children in school because good schools affect all of us. There is much power in praying TOGETHER…
Matthew 18:19-20)
19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
MOST IMPORTANTLY…if your children know how to PRAY FOR THEMSELVES AT SCHOOL…prayer is still and will always be in schools.
On Sunday, January 3, 2016, Pastor W. Michael Martin of Oak Spring Church in Arlington TN, stood boldly but lovingly before the congregation for which God holds him responsible and declared, “This year will be a year of challenges…” I remember getting a chill when that prophetic warning was declared. He didn’t promise…”This is your season!” “This is the year God is going to make it happen for you!” He declared challenges for our local body of Christ. That prophetic warning has proven to be true…
Deuteronomy 18:22 (NKJV)
22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
Watch out and beware of preachers and prophets who ONLY deliver good news! Who ONLY promise ‘breakthrough’! Who ONLY decree ‘overflow! Who ALWAYS promises this is ‘your season’. Every January, many preachers ALWAYS promise, “This is your year!”. If you look on some preacher’s social pages, websites and blogs, they state, “EVERYONE who reads this is about to receive ______________!” “God is about to turn your situation around!” They claim to be prophets but ONLY deliver good news and promises.
How dare you call yourself a prophet of God and deny the people of God the BLESSING of a prophetic warning! When you read your bible, you will find that most of the prophets in the bible were delivering BAD NEWS, PROPHETIC WARNING and REBUKE. From Ezekiel to Isaiah in the Old Testament, to John the Baptist and the Apostle John in the New Testament….biblical prophets didn’t always promise a ‘check in the mail’. They warned the people of God to change their ways, of coming judgment, calamity, wrath, persecution and trials. These warnings didn’t always make them popular with those who heard.
No one enjoys hearing the TORNADO WARNING, HURRICANE WARNING, THUNDERSTORM WARNING, FLOOD WARNING, STORM SIREN…but isn’t a blessing to be warned ahead of time and given an opportunity to prepare?
Yes, God delivers good news. That’s the definition of ‘The Gospel’, it’s the GOOD NEWS of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Yes, God encourages and blesses His people.
Yes, God promises blessings and joy for His people.
But, He also reminds us:
Psalm 34:19 (NKJV)
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Philippians 1:29 (NKJV)
29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
John 16:33 (NKJV)
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
It would not be fair for God to send a storm our way, and not warn us first. Be very careful of ministers, preachers and prophets who NEVER give God’s warnings. Be very careful of those who don’t mind allowing you to fall into a pit. Be very careful of those who don’t mind allowing you to be comfortable in your sin.
Quite frankly, those who ONLY give good news…Who degree a miracle in every prophecy are lying to you and on God.
It takes great courage to tell people what they don’t want to hear. Watch out for those who wish to entice you with smooth talking (Romans 16:18), and respect those who own their responsibility to tell us the truth.
Ezekiel 33:1-9 (NKJV)
Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’
7 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.
Back in the day, people used to get directions or purchase a road atlas or map, but now most people use GPS technology. They either have it in their car or on their phone. As you know GPS technology works off of the many satellites in space. All you do is put in your destination, and it GUIDES YOUR PATH TURN BY TURN until you, hopefully safely reach your destination.
You can call it GUIDANCE FROM BEYOND THE SKY.
The only problem is that sometimes you can LOSE your signal, and if you don’t have a map, atlas or WRITTEN directions, you can FIND yourself LOST.
Or, sometimes the GPS can take you on on route in which you did’t want to go.
I think by now you get the HOLY ANALOGY I’m making here. Some people trust their GPS more than they trust GOD. Our Heavenly Father is our GUIDANCE FROM BEYOND THE SKY! Our Father in heaven has promised to be a “Light unto our feet and a lamp unto our path”(Psalm 119:105). And better yet, He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5), so we will never LOSE GOD’S SIGNAL unless WE disconnect from Him.
God has given us His Holy Spirit as the SIGNAL to guide us, and His written instructions (His word) as our MAP and ATLAS to confirm the signal…
This is a good place for a Hallelujah and to praise God for His divine guidance and wisdom.
It’s okay to use technology, but we must make sure we don’t put more faith in our GPS than we do our GOD! Don’t lose your signal!
We must be careful that we don’t wish evil on our enemies or adversaries. Remember that it’s bigger than our disagreement them, or even the fact that they may hate us for no reason. They are God’s creation too. He wants them delivered too. When something bad happens to them, sometimes we find ourselves saying, “Good, that’s what they get!” When we judge in our hearts that they are getting what they deserve, we are setting ourselves up for the same judgment.
Galatians 1:23
BE BLESSTIFIED! 