Some things never change. Yeshua the Messiah made the ‘religious people’ so angry that they wanted to kill Him, and with the help of the Romans they did…at least thought they did.

Many Christians of every race claim to be His disciples, but we prove how we would have responded if we lived then by how we respond today. We prove on which side of history we would have stood by where we stand now.

The fact is that many of the people who claim to be Christians would have rejected Jesus, and here are 8 reasons why…

1. WOMEN SUPPORTED HIM WITH THEIR MONEY

Few people ever talk about the women who followed Jesus and supported Him financially, Not, just the women, but the ‘type’ of women…

Luke 8:1-3 (NKJV)

Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and ^[a]bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, ² and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and ^[b]infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, ³ and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for ^[c]Him from their ^[d]substance.

So you had a woman who many believed was a prostitute, wives of ‘important’ men and many other women who were following the LORD and supporting Him financially — we all know that would be beyond scandalous today. How many men would co-sign on their wives following and giving money to a broke, uneducated, controversial traveling preacher?

2. HE THREATENED THEIR TRADITIONS

One of the most common complaints today is ‘cancel culture’. Too many people today are devoted to traditions, memorials, statues, etc. to the point of idolatry. Several of our modern traditions are clearly in direct contradiction to the word of God, such as swearing in officials…

Matthew 5:34-37 (NKJV)

³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let ^[a]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. (Can’t get more clear than that)

…but, some people would rather die than change. To many, patriotism, nationalism, racial pride, the economy and institutional traditions have become psuedo-religions. But, Yeshua made it clear that they were prioritizing their traditions over the Word of God…

Mark 7:7-9 (NKJV)

⁷ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—^[a]the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” ⁹ He said to them, “All too well you ^[b]reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

3. HE HELD THE ‘LEADERS’ ACCOUNTABLE

Jesus openly rebuked the Pharisees, Scribes and teachers of the law concerning their hypocrisy, arrogance and pride. These were equal to respected political, religious and professional leaders today. But the LORD called them out and pissed them off. No matter what political or religious affiliation, how to react when those whom they respect are held accountable?

Matthew 15:10-13 (NKJV)

¹⁰ When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” ¹² Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” ¹³ But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

Matthew 23:13-36 (NKJV)

¹³ “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. ^14 [a]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. ¹⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of ^[b]hell as yourselves. ¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ ¹⁷ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that ^[c]sanctifies the gold? ¹⁸ And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ ¹⁹ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? ²⁰ Therefore he who ^[d]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. ²¹ He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who ^[e]dwells in it. ²² And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. ²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. ²⁴ Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! ²⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and ^[f]self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. ²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and ^[g]adorn the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰ and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ ³¹ “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. ³³ Serpents, brood^[h] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? ³⁴ Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, ³⁵ that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. ³⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

4. HE WASN’T EDUCATED OR ‘CULTURED’

How many people only hire Pastors who hold multiple degrees? How many people don’t feel leaders are credible unless they have achieved an expected level of education or status? Many people were amazed at how well Jesus spoke because they knew He wasn’t educated.

John 7:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”

Even the Apostle Paul said we shouldn’t be overly impressed with words of man’s wisdom, but in the power of God…

1 Corinthians 2:4-6 (KJV)

⁴ And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: ⁵ That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. ⁶ Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

5. HE HUNG OUT WITH THOSE WHO RELIGIOUS PEOPLE LOOKED DOWN UPON

It’s amazing how we can allow our education, achievements, connections, affiliations, social status and even our faith to arrogantly allow us to think we are ‘better’ than others. We can look down on others because of the decisions thy have made…such as drug addicts, prostitutes, or homeless people…but, those are the people with whom Yeshua the Messiah came to make the most intimate connections. Many people today would complain about the company that Jesus kept, just as the ‘religious’ people did then.

Mark 2:13-3:6 (NKJV)

¹³ Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. ¹⁴ As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. ¹⁵ Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. ¹⁶ And when the scribes ^[a]and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, ^[b]to repentance.”

6. HIS ETHNICITY

The fact is that if Jesus came today of the same ethnicity, that many who so passionately claim to love Him would not accept Him as a leader. As much as it may be unintentional… cultural and racial biases are real. If Yeshua would have come during this era…born in the ‘Middle East’ (the fact that it’s even called Middle East relative to Europe) with the same skin tone, language, etc.,…how many people who call themselves Christians would actually follow Him? WHEN PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO LOVE ACCURATE HISTORY ARE COOL WITH A ‘EUROPEAN-LOOKING’ JESUS…

John 1:46 (NKJV)

⁴⁶ And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

7. HE DRANK ALCOHOL

How many people today would have rejected Jesus because of the fact that He drank wine? Some try to ‘sanitize it’ by saying that it wasn’t fermented, but that simply isn’t true. Jesus said Himself that unlike John the Baptist, he came both eating and drinking wine…

Matthew 11:18-20 (NKJV)

¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a ^[a]winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her ^[b]children.”

He was called a ‘winebibber’ because He drank wine. Did He get drunk? NO! But, how many self-righteous ‘Christians’ would rebuke Christ for drinking wine?

8. TODAY, JESUS WOULD BE A MILLENNIAL

How many ‘established’ leaders and Christians today wouldn’t take Jesus seriously because of His age? He began His earthy ministry at 30 years old.

John 8:57 (NKJV)

⁵⁷ Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

So, be honest with yourself…how would you have received Jesus if you lived back then? How would you receive Him if He had come in our generation?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Just a quick reminder that we’re never alone, and we’ve never been ever alone. Remember Hebrews 1:13-14…

Hebrews 1:13-14  (NKJV)

¹³ But to which of the angels has He ever said:

“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?

¹⁴ Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

And, what Yeshua, Christ Jesus, told us in the book of Matthew…

Matthew 18:10  (NKJV)

¹⁰ “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

God blesses us with heavenly ‘bodyguards’ and ‘personal assistants’ to minister to us and protect us.

We’ve all had dark moments when we’ve done and said things of which we are now ashamed.

We’ve all had moments of weakness and times when we were not representing the glory of God. .

Sometimes we may have been in a place or with a person or people with whom we shouldn’t or sometimes we may have been at home…’alone’.

We all haven’t had the SAME shameful moments, but we have all participated in some work or works of the flesh. Which of these have you been guilty of…?

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

Think for a moment of some of the things that your angel has had to…

Watch you do…

Hear you say…

Protect you from…

Rescue you from…

Hide you from the rest of the world to keep those moments between you, your angel and God.

Stop for a moment and thank God for your own personal angel, and tell Him “I’m sorry” for some of the things your angel had had to ‘put up with’ while taking care of you.

And, remember, we’re never alone.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I know I’m not the only one who sometimes struggles with this. I’m sincerely grateful and thankful for the level of blessing and favor on my life. I’m not talking about riches. I’m talking about being thankful that I have food, clothes, shelter, good health and a sound mind…for what many people call ‘the little things’. I’m thankful that my family is doing well, thankful for freedom, peace, safety and yes, I’m thankful for salvation.

But, sometimes I want more.

I would love for God to bless me to be able to support my family well through my writing and leave behind a financial heritage for my children. Ohhhh…that would be so awesome!  I would love to be able to do some of the things for my family that I know would make them happy. Who doesn’t want financial stability, good health and peace in their life.

I can’t count the times I’ve been praying to God asking Him to bless my life and stopped and just had to stop and say, “Thank you!”

Because you see, so many times when I’m asking for more, I think about so many who have less.

So many times when I lain in my bed worrying about something, I think about the fact that it’s a blessing to have a bed in which to worry. Someone, somewhere at that very moment is trying to sleep under a bridge

God tells us to be content, and I truly am…

1 Timothy 6:6-8  (NKJV)

⁶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, ^[a]and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

But, still I want more. Don’t you? I mean God also told us He would give us more, if we have our priorities straight…

Psalm 37:4-5  (NKJV)

⁴ Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit^[a] your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

Do you ever feel conflict over being thankful and wanting more?

How do we manage being content with our lives without being covetous?

If you have this conflict too, tell God thank you for the conflict. It’s a sign that you aren’t greedy or covetous.

Here’s a few simple tips on managing that conflict.

Please be careful when you…

Feel God owes you better.

Feel what you have isn’t good enough.

Ask God for more, more often than you thank Him for what you have.

Never pray for those who have less than you.

Lose that internal conflict between being thankful and asking God for more.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

As a man of faith in God, I enjoy many of the benefits that have come through science. But, when it comes to the origin of the universe, how life began on earth and many other things, science and religion are at odds. In those instances, I like to define science as the attempt to give a physical explanation to the spiritual world.

Even though they are at odds, the Bible and science agree in at least 3 areas.

1. LIFE BEGAN IN AFRICA/MESOPOTAMIA

Science

Most archeologists call eastern Africa the cradle of humankind. ‘Pre-historic’ remains have also recently been found in Morocco, which is still Africa.

The Bible

Scripture also affirms that life began in Africa. Notice the location given for the Garden of Eden…

Genesis 2:10-14 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. ¹¹ The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. ¹² And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. ¹³ The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. ¹⁴ The name of the third river isHiddekel;^[a] it is the one which goes toward the east of ^[b]Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

Wikipedia describes the location of these rivers…

Genesis 2:10–14 lists four rivers in association with the garden of Eden: Pishon, Gihon, Chidekel (the Tigris), and Phirat (the Euphrates). It also refers to the land of Cush—translated/interpreted as Ethiopia, but thought by some to equate to Cossaea, a Greek name for the land of the Kassites.^[22] These lands lie north of Elam, immediately to the east of ancient Babylon, which, unlike Ethiopia, does lie within the region being described.^[23] In Antiquities of the Jews, the first-century Jewish historian Josephus identifies the Pishon as what “the Greeks called Ganges” and the Geon (Gehon) as the Nile.^[24]

2. ENERGY CAN’T BE CREATED OR DESTROYED

Science

First of all in science, laws are absolute. They are non-negotiable. Even if we try to challenge or resist them with technology, the laws will always win. That being said, THE LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but only transferred from one form to another.

The Bible

God is absolute. He is non-negotiable. Even if we try to resist or challenge Him with our technology, God will always win. God is an all-powerful Spirit. He is eternal. He was not created and can’t be destroyed. And yes, He can be transferred from one form to another.

Isaiah 40:28 (NKJV)

²⁸ Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.

Philippians 2:6-7 (NKJV)

⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it ^[a]robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but ^[b]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

To me, The Law of Conservation of Energy sounds like science’s attempt to define God.

3. LIFE SPREAD FROM WATER TO LAND

Science

Most of us remember from school that our science books taught that the earliest and smallest life on earth was first in the waters and then on land.

The Bible

Whether you believe Genesis is literal or symbolic, a literal week or thousands of years, all believers in God agree that He created the heavens and the earth in the exact order of Genesis. And in that order, God created the waters and the creatures in the waters first, just as science teaches…

Genesis 1:20-21 (NKJV)

²⁰ Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living ^[a]creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the ^[b]firmament of the heavens.” ²¹ So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that both the Bible and science agree in such foundational areas. Here’s the thing. God created those brilliant scientific minds that contend He is not real. And, who can really prove that the sun is 93,000,000 miles away, or that the speed of light is 186,000 miles per second. Who can travel that distance or speed to prove it? It takes faith in the formulas and scientists who ‘discovered’ these scientific ‘facts’.

I guess science and the Bible agree on faith too.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Life can take people down many roads. As those roads are travelled sometimes people can find themselves in sinful or unhealthy relationships. It could be a spouse in an adulterous or a sinfully emotionally connected relationship. It could be a ‘boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. It could be a relationship with the ‘wrong crowd’ or with a person on your job. The bible tells us how we are to choose our relationships…

2 Corinthians 6:14  (NKJV)

¹⁴ Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what ^[a]fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what ^[b]communion has light with darkness?

Now, that doesn’t mean we don’t interact with people who aren’t believers, but it does means we need to be very careful who we are in close relationship with. When two oxen are ‘yoked’ they are connected and one can’t move forward or turn without the other.

So many times people have tried to end an unholy relationship with a conversation, an explanation, a meeting, an encounter one last communication or connection for ‘closure’. But, what that actually does is draws them back in and keeps them connected.

Trying to end a wrong relationship or even help someone else when you aren’t strong enough can make you stumble…

Galatians 6:1 (NKJV)

6 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Sinful relationships do not need closure. They ALWAYS need an abrupt end, no communication, no explanation…just STOP, immediately.

WARNING! DON’T ASK GOD TO MAKE YOU STOP_________

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I recently noticed a picture (meme) circulating on social media that shows the late Stephen Hawking, theoretical physicist and well-known atheist, featuring one of his quotes, “There was nothing before the Big Bang.” Most people know that many scientists assert that the universe BEGAN with a BIG BANG.

For Mr. Hawking to say there was nothing before the Big Bang still leaves to question what was that NOTHING, and how could NOTHING CAUSE AN EXPLOSION?

This is why I define science as our attempt to give a physical, biological or chemical explanation to a spiritual world. It’s how God allows to spiritual to manifest itself so it can be perceived within the ‘physical’ world and the realm of ‘time’.

This is why I believe that to some, the intelligence that God gave man to dominate the earth has become a curse…WHEN INTELLIGENCE HAS BECOME A CURSE…

So, I respond to the statement that “Before the Big Bang there was nothing”, with, “Eternity and God need no beginning”.

“In the beginning…” was written as a point of reference for the benefit of those of us who exist within the continuum of time.

Genesis 1 (NKJV)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was without form, and void; and darkness ^[a]was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

God is exists outside of ‘time’ and needs no ‘beginning’. Notice how the Complete Jewish Bible refers to God…WHY GOD DOES NOT NEED AN ORIGIN STORY…

Psalm 90:2 (CJB)

² Before the mountains were born,
before you had formed the earth and the world,
from eternity past to eternity future
you are God.

Notice how God described Himself to Moses as ‘I AM’…

Exodus 3:14-15 (NKJV)

¹⁴ And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” ¹⁵ Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’

I AM! ‘I’ is a personal pronoun and ‘AM’ is a being verb. God is THE eternal BEING and defined Himself as a BEING verb. Wow! That is no coincidence.

I’ve stated in other articles that our ‘spirits’ temporarily’ exist outside of ‘time’ when we’re in a deep sleep or under anesthesia. We can doze off or be put to sleep and not notice the time that elapsed while we were ‘out’. Also notice the fact that even though we were all alive and aware, our minds can’t remember the day we were born or when we reacted to stimuli when we were in the womb.

God has promised us eternal life and most of the time we think of an eternal future. However, God IS! He stands outside of time experiencing the past and the future as if it were happening right now.

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.

God is invisible, and it’s possible that the force and expanse that science wants to call ‘the universe’ is God. Even their ‘physical laws’ correspond with God’s spiritual essence…Energy can’t be created or destroyed, that’s God’s essence. If you believe energy can’t be created, then you can believe God didn’t have to be created. If you can see how the same internet can be ‘everywhere at the same time’, accessed in your bedroom, Texas, Aruba, or in space at the same time…then you can see how God can be everywhere at the same time.

May the Lord God of Israel from Eternity Past to Eternity Future bless you and keep you in the name and authority of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).

So, going back to the BIG BANG. When God created the universe and ‘said’ “Let there be…” I’m sure there was a physical manifestation of sound and an incredible release of energy in an explosion. To me, the BIG BAND only confirms God lives.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We have all been the antagonist in at least one chapter of someone’s story.

We’re not always the hero.

We’re not always the victim.

SOMETIMES, WE WERE THE DARK SIDE!

Sometimes we were the monster.

OUR CULTURE SOMETIMES CREATES MONSTERS WHO THINK THEY’RE HEROES! WE FIND WAYS TO MAKE OURSELVES FEEL BETTER WHEN WE WERE WRONG.

How many people have you given a good reason to hate you?

How many people has the enemy used you as a stumbling block?

Sometimes we were Pharaoh.

Sometimes we were Peter.

Sometimes we were Judas.

Always be willing to forgive, even when you feel they do deserve it, because there’s always someone who feels we don’t. HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT AN APOLOGY ( 8 TIPS)…

Think about all the times God watched us deny, and betray Him…yet He still is always ready to forgive us.

He expects us to do the same.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (CJB)

³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.

SOME OF OUR ‘HATERS’ HATE US BECAUSE WE’VE GIVEN THEM A GOOD REASON…

Is there someone that you owe an apology? And, remember if the offense was public, the apology should be public as well.

WHY A PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT DESERVES A PUBLIC APOLOGY…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

This article is primarily for those who call themselves to be disciples of Christ. God is sovereign. And His sovereignty is on His terms, not based on our terms and the narrative that we desire.

There are many who have judged within their hearts and others have vocalized or published that they don’t think George Floyd should be the face, or name for a movement. They feel he doesn’t deserve to be a martyr.

They feel this way because of his past, because of the mistakes he made and because of the life he lived.

I humbly submit to anyone who feels that way to consider this…

GOD STILL CHOSE JACOB (LIAR, DECEIVER & THEIF)

God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. But, most of you know what Jacob did. He lied to and deceived his father (with the help of his mother) to steal his brother’s blessing. (Genesis 27-29). God STILL CHOSE HIM to establish the blessing and heritage that He promised to Jacob’s grandfather Abraham. Does Jacob deserved to be honored? If that happened today, how do you think self righteous people would react?

GOD STILL CHOSE THE 12 PATRIARCHS (SCHEMERS, LIARS, MURDERERS, FORNICATORS)

God chose the 12 sons of Jacob (Israel) to be the foundation and patriarchs of His chosen people, despite their character flaws…

They hated their younger brother so much that they conspired to kill him, but later decided to sell him as a slave and allow their father to go for years thinking he was dead. (Genesis 37)

Jacob’s fourth born son, Judah, thought he was sleeping with a prostitute but was actually sleeping with his daughter-in-law, who was tricking him so that she could have children by him. When he found out that she was pregnant, he wanted her killed until she presented his signet ring to prove he was the father. So, he solicited a prostitute and bore children with his daughter-in-law. However one of Israel’s most prominent tribes bears his name (Judah means PRAISE). God STILL CHOSE HIM despite his character flaws. Does he deserve that? (Genesis 38)

GOD STILL CHOSE LEVI AND SIMEON (DECEIVERS AND MURDERERS)

A man named Shechem, a prince of a neighboring land, sexually violated their sister Dinah, however he fell in love with her and asked if he could marry her. Of course her brothers were pissed off. But, they agreed to allow their sister to marry him if he and all the men of the land would be circumcised. He happily agreed. Three days after they were circumcised, Levi and Simeon went and killed all the men while they were in great pain from the ‘surgery’. Even in their anger, this was deception and murder. God STILL CHOSE THEM to be among the patriarch of His chosen people. Their crime did not disqualify them.

GOD STILL CHOSE MOSES (MURDERER)

One day when Moses saw an Egyptian beating one of the children of Israel, he intervened, murdered him and then fled. God STILL CHOSE MOSES even though he committed this crime. Did he deserve to be chosen to deliver Israel from Egypt, lead them to the promised land, and present God’s law to them? Was God wrong? (Exodus 2)

GOD STILL CHOSE DAVID (ABUSED HIS AUTHORITY, ADULTERER, MURDERER)

Everyone knows the account of David and Bathsheba. How David saw her bathing and lusted after her, but it didn’t stop there. He abused his authority as king by summoning her, he slept with her and got her pregnant. To hide the pregnancy, he had Bathsheba’s husband Uriah, who was one of David’s mighty men of valor (very loyal to David), sent to the front lines of battle so that he would be killed. David then married Uriah’s wife. The prophet Nathan confronted David with his sin, and he sorrowfully repented. Their son Solomon, grew to inherit the throne and was the most wise man to ever live. God STILL CHOSE David in spite of this horrible sin. He is still considered to be a man after God’s own heart because of his repentance. Does he deserve that? (2 Samuel 11)

GOD STILL CHOSE SAUL, ALSO KNOWN AS PAUL (PERSECUTED THE CHURCH, IMPRISONED CHRISTIANS, CONSENTED TO THE DEATH OF STEPHEN)

Saul was passionate about persecuting the church. He was greatly feared by the early Christians, but God still chose him to be an apostle to the Gentiles. He called himself the least of the apostles because of his past. But, God STILL CHOSE HIM while he was on his way to Damascus breathing THREATS AND MURDER against disciples of Christ. Did Saul/Paul deserve this honor and responsibility.

God has always used imperfect people to carry out His perfect will. God has proven that He has the sovereign right to chose who He wants.

We are not allowed to critique who and why God chooses. We don’t determine the narrative based on what we feel the ‘qualifications’ should be.

Now back to George Floyd. Millions of people around the world of all races have been united to fight for social justice for Black people. That thrills me. Especially when I wonder how many Pastors week after week, and year after year and never preach a sermon about social justice and civil rights to their congregations. Quite frankly, many of the same people who frown on George Floyd’s past find every reason in the world to excuse Donald Trump’s who not only has never been known for his character, integrity or faith, but was unrepentant when confronted with statements he made about grabbing women by the vagina, and bragging about pursuing married women.

Plus, most of the people chosen in the bible didn’t ‘apply for the job’. And, George Floyd never volunteered to be a martyr.

John 8:7  (NKJV)

⁷ So when they continued asking Him, He ^[a]raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”

Please share and discuss.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

One of the greatest benefits of a relationship with God through Yeshua the Messiah is our own angels assigned to watch over us…

Hebrews 1:13-14 NKJV

¹³ But to which of the angels has He ever said:

^(A)“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?

^{14 (B)}Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will ^(C)inherit salvation?

Matthew 18:10 NKJV

¹⁰ “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven ^(B)their angels always ^(C)see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Think of all the shameful, dangerous, and embarrassing situations your angel has witnessed while watching over you.

Think of the battles your angels have had to fight in the spiritual world, contending against demons for you, just like Daniel…

Daniel 10:10-13 NKJV

^{10 (A)}Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. ¹¹ And he said to me, “O Daniel, ^(B)man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.

¹² Then he said to me, ^(C)“Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, ^(D)your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. ^{13 (E)}But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, ^(F)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.

So while you’re praying for peace in your life, marriage or family…

Please don’t forget to ask God to give your angels peace while they minister to you.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

God created the universe and the earth to be self-sustaining. There is evidence of His work that testifies of Him since He decided to create the continuum of time…

Romans 1:20 (NKJV)

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and ^[a]Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

But there are some things that God creates new every day just as He did manna for the Children of Israel.

Exodus 16:17-21 (NKJV)

¹⁷ Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. ¹⁸ So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. ¹⁹ And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” ²⁰ Notwithstanding they did not ^[a]heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. ²¹ So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted.

There are some things that can’t be carried over to the next day.

There are some things that can’t be carried over to the next moment.

There are some things that even though humans can make out of something that God continues to create out of nothing.

1. A DAY

Out of all of the accomplishments God has allowed humans to achieve through science, medicine and technology there is nothing humans can do to create A NEW DAY. There is nothing that we can do to prevent the next day from arriving. Only God can make a day. No matter what may keep you awake all night making you dread tomorrow…if Yeshua delays His return, the Lord will continue to do what no one else can…create a new day for you.

Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

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

2. A BREEZE

Have you ever wondered where a breeze comes from? Yes, science will tell you that a breeze is a product of the difference between the temperatures of the earth and land. As air rises and grows warmer over land and forms low pressure, it interacts with cool air in high pressure…then it travels accross water and land. As land heats up during the afternoon, air above it begins to rise forming a low pressure area near the land. Then cool air, situated in high pressure areas, spreads across the water and moves in over land. BUT WHO MAKES THIS HAPPEN EVERY DAY? God controls it.

Exodus 14:21 (NKJV)

²¹ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.

Mark 4:39 (NKJV)

³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace,^[a] be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

3 & 4. A BREATH & HEARTBEAT

Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that every time you exhale, God has a new breath waiting for you? Anyone who suffers from asthma will remind you to never take that for granted. That’s why it’s a shame that some people who God gives breath, uses that breath to say He doesn’t exist. Yes, God has allowed humans to make respirators to breathe ‘for us’. But, there are many people who are on life support who are actually dead because they don’t have ‘the breath of life’ inside them. God gives us a new ‘breath of life’ every time we exhale.

And, even while we sleep, our hearts keep beating. After each beat God continues to give us another each and every day. Even an artificial heart is nothing without a power source. God is the power source of the heart he created.

Genesis 2:7 (NKJV)

⁷ And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

5. NEW MERCIES

Grace is God’s unmerited favor towards His people, but everyone benefits from His mercy, whether they acknowledge it or not. It’s God’s mercy that prevents Him from dealing with us as we deserve. We are created in sinful flesh, and even when we try to do our best, we still fall short of His expectations. However, each day God gives us brand new mercies for each new day.

Aren’t you thankful that God doesn’t deal with you as your deserve? Aren’t you thankful that when God watched you stop and consider committing sin, knowing fully that it was wrong but still chose to do it anyway…yet God did not strike you down?

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)

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

Psalm 103:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

This list is not exhaustive. There are many things that require to be created new every day. THINK ABOUT IT…(the ability to think for yourself is one of them).

BE BLESSTIFIED!

1 Samuel 15:2-4 (NKJV)

² Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. ³ Now go and attack^[a] Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”

This is one of the most difficult pieces I have ever written.

If you accept the bible as the infallible word of God, then we must admit there are some difficult things within the word to understand and accept. As we view the word from a perspective thousands of years from when it was breathed into man, we find ourselves viewing it with a 21st Century perspective. This makes decisions that God made very difficult to understand and accept. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with admitting this.

One of the most difficult things for me to personally understand is when God commanded that His people kill everyone…men, women, children, cattle — EVERTYTHING! Why God? Why?

It’s also nothing wrong with admitting that we don’t know why God chose and chooses to do what He does. We just have to trust Him. Link: WHY IT’S OKAY TO ADMIT THAT WE DON’T KNOW WHY GOD DOES EVERYTHING HE DOES…

However, if we step back and look at both the Old and New Testaments from an eternal perspective, though difficult, some decisions become a little more clear.

I’m going to try and make this as concise as possible, so the scriptures I’m giving for reference are by no means exhaustive. I encourage you to please study this further for yourself.

So, let’s talk about why did God demand that Israel completely destroy everything?

1. THE OLD TESTAMENT GIVES US EXTREME EXAMPLES OF BEHAVIOR GOD HATES…

The Apostle Paul reminds us that everything written in the Old Testament was written for our example.

1 Corinthians 10:5-11 (NKJV)

⁵ But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. ⁷ And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” ⁸ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; ⁹ nor let us ^[a]tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; ¹⁰ nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. ¹¹ Now ^[b]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our ^[c]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Romans 15:4 (NKJV)

⁴ For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the ^[a]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope

First of all, let’s remember that God issues this severe judgment to His own people when they rebelled, not just ‘heathens’. Don’t forget how God allowed the ground to open up and swallow the entire families of those who were involved in Korah’s rebellion…

Numbers 16:31-34 (NKJV)

³¹ Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, ³² and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. ³³ So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. ³⁴ Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!”

God also reminded believers of our accountability in the New Testament…

1 Peter 4:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

That’s why we should never take for granted God’s grace and the fact that there is no condemnation when we truly repent and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior…

Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who^[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

2. GOD WAS FULFILLING HIS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM

The land that God promised to Abraham’s descendants was already inhabited. The inhabitants of those lands worshipped idols and did not accept the Lord God of Israel as the only true and living God. Therefore, God dispossessed those already living in these lands as Israel crossed the Jordan river and fought the people already living there…

Deuteronomy 3:2 (NKJV)

² And the Lord said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand; you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.’

Deuteronomy 11:23-25 (NKJV)

²³ then the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess greater and mightier nations than yourselves. ²⁴ Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the River Euphrates, even to the ^[a]Western Sea, shall be your territory. ²⁵ No man shall be able to stand ^[b]against you; the Lord your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon all the land where you tread, just as He has said to you.

3. IT WAS GOD’S JUDGMENT ON NATIONS THAT WORSHIPPED IDOLS & REJECTED HIM…

As God fulfilled His promise to Abraham, He pronounced judgment on those nations that rejected Him as the only true and living God.

Deuteronomy 9:4 (NKJV)

^{4 (A)}“Do not think in your heart, after the Lord your God has cast them out before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land’; but it is^(B)because of the wickedness of these nations thatthe Lord is driving them out from before you.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18 (NKJV)

¹⁶ “But of the cities of these peoples which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive, ¹⁷ but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the Lord your God has commanded you, ¹⁸ lest they teach you to do according to all their ^[a]abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God.

There are those who try and justify the violence and genocide of colonization in more recent history (such as towards Native Americans or slavery in America, but God is no longer fulfilling that promise to Abraham. That chapter in history has ended and God’s Old Testament judgments can’t be used to justify the greed of the more recent past centuries.

4. IT WAS TO DESTROY CULTURES & OBJECTS OF IDOL WORSHIP

As God dispossessed those living in the lands He was giving to His people, He instructed Israel to destroy all of the cultures and objects of worship to idol Gods. He didn’t want His people to assimilate to the point of defiling their worship for God with heathen practices.

Deuteronomy 12:2-3 (NKJV)

² You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. ³ And you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and burn their ^[a]wooden images with fire; you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place.

Jeremiah 10:2 (KJV)

² Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

Exodus 23:13 (NIV)

¹³ “Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips. (Think about this the next time you hear someone say “Happy Easter Day!”

It’s unfortunate that many Christians today still aren’t learning from these examples. Rather than destroying objects of pagan worship, too many of us incorporate them into our worship. for example: Link- NAMES MATTER: WHY WE SHOULD CELEBRATE JESUS’ RESURRECTION WITHOUT CALLING IT ‘EASTER’…

The fact is that even though God promised to curse those who disobeyed Him down through many generations, those curses can easily be avoided and removed by rejecting the ‘sins of our fathers’: Link: THE (1) ONE WAY TO REMOVE GENERATIONAL CURSES….

But, many of those who claim to believe in the Lord God of Israel through Yeshua the Messiah, rather than reject the sins of their fathers, instead ‘whitewash’ their history, justify, excuse and even celebrate their ancestors sins as heritage. They therefore pronounce themselves guilty of the same sins and worthy of judgement, as Jesus sharply told the religious leaders in Matthew Chapter 23…

Matthew 23:29-33 (NKJV)

²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and ^[a]adorn the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰ and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’

³¹ “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³² Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. ³³ Serpents, brood^[b] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?

It is very uncomfortable to acknowledge and address God’s endorsed extreme violence in the Old Testament. But, we can’t ignore it, but must try to understand it. By ignoring it, we lose all credibility among both believers and unbelievers. Don’t expect those who don’t believe in God to understand, the truth is, it’s difficult for believers to understand God’s judgments. We just have to trust Him.

And remember this: Link- GOOD NEWS: GOD’S ‘JUDGEMENT’ ISN’T ALWAYS PAINFUL…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

As you know banners, in the Bible standards or flags were set up to distinguish tribes. There is no record of ‘pledges’, but they were used during battle to give troops encouragement and a focal point.

Numbers 1:52 (NKJV)

⁵² The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies;

When God is our victory banner (Yehovah Nissi) He is our encouragement and focal point from one victory to another.

Psalm 20:5 (NKJV)

⁵ We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

Thus, our allegiance isn’t to a piece of cloth (which can become an idol), but to our God, our Elohim, the Father of our Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

After God gave Moses victory over the Amelakites he built an alter and called it , Yehovah Nissi (The Lord is my Banner).

Exodus 17:15 (NJKV)

And Moses built an altar and called its name, [a]The-Lord-Is-My-Banner;

Whenever you need encouragement, or to rally people together for a Godly cause, call on the symbolic name of God that specifically refers to that aspect of His character…and always let your first allegiance be to Him.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

After Jesus died on the cross, everyone who witnessed it went home thinking that He had lost…

Luke 23:48  (NKJV)

⁴⁸ And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.

 He allowed His enemies to abuse and mock Him…

Matthew 27:27-31  (NKJV)

²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the ^[a]Praetorium and gathered the whole ^[b]garrison around Him. ²⁸ And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. ²⁹ When they had ^[c]twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰ Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. ³¹ And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

He suffered embarrassment and shame in front of His supporters and allowed them to think He failed, because He knew that wasn’t the end of the story…

Hebrews 12:2  (NKJV)

² looking unto Jesus, the ^[a]author and ^[b]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.

Jesus is our perfect example of the fact that sometimes you have to let your enemies think they have won.

So, if it seems your adversaries, enemies or antagonists have the upper hand, keep trusting God.

Don’t take matters into your own hands seeking revenge, that belongs to God. But, God rise up to vindicate those who put their trust in Him…

Psalm 35:23-27 (NKJV)

²³ Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication,
To my cause, my God and my Lord.
²⁴ Vindicate me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.
²⁵ Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who rejoice at my hurt;
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
Who exalt themselves against me.

²⁷ Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
“Let the Lord be magnified,

Remember, revenge is taking matters into our own hands to satisfy our pride and bring glory to ourselves. But, waiting for God to vindicate us is putting our trust in Him to get His glory out of our situation…and our enemies will witness it, while our supporters praise God.

So, let them scheme, plot, conspire, mock, even strike you.

Let them fire you.

Let them abandon you.

Let them accuse you.

God is watching.

Let them think they have won just like Jesus did.

When they think they’ve won, they let their guard down. They shift their focus away from you, while God maintains His focus on you…and them.

Be patient and trust God, in His timing He will get glory from the anointing on your life and your situation while planting seeds of faith…seeds of repentance…seeds of salvation and seeds of much good fruit.

Just as Jesus claimed His victory three days and three nights later, you will enjoy your victory too in the presence of you enemies…

Psalm 23:5  (NKJV)

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.

So, don’t avoid your enemies. Stay strong and work your purpose. How can God prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies if you don’t invite them to the table?

BE BLESSTIFIED.

Remember this.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you will never think about what they did to you anymore.

It doesn’t mean that you won’t hurt when it crosses your mind.

Forgiveness means that you won’t condemn them anymore for what they did. It means that you no longer want to get even, or see them ‘get what they deserve’ for what they did.

Forgiveness means you want them free from the guilt of what they did. But, that doesn’t mean that it still doesn’t hurt or make you angry when you think about it. Especially if it’s someone who you truly love.

Yes, the bible says that when God forgives us that He forgets our iniquities and remembers them no more…

Hebrews 10:16-17  (NKJV)

¹⁶ “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” ¹⁷ then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Micah 7:18-19 (NKJV)

¹⁸ Who is a God like You,
Pardoning iniquity
And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in mercy.^[a]
19 He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.

You will cast all ^[b]our sins
Into the depths of the sea.

But, do you think that means that God no longer knows what we did? Of course not. If our All-Powerful God can no longer remember something that we can remember, that gives us more power than Him in that area.

When God forgives ‘and forgets’ it means that He no longer condemns us for that sin as long as we have truly repented. Notice that God would often remind Israel of the sins He had forgiven when they backslid because their repentance wasn’t real.

YES, EVEN GOD SOMETIMES BROUGHT UP THE PAST AFTER HE FORGAVE…

Do you think that when the Apostle Paul said, “forgetting those things which are behind…” that he meant he could no longer remember how he persecuted the church? No. It means he no longer let those thoughts rule him or influence his future.

Philippians 3:13  (NKJV)

¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have ^[a]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

So don’t beat yourself up because you still feel pain or occasional anger over something that you have forgiven. Just don’t linger on those thoughts. Remember, forgiveness is a continual process. You will continue to forgive ‘them’ in your mind over and over again.

The key is that they never know it.

WHY WE SHOULD STOP SAYING, “FORGIVENESS ISN’T FOR THEM, IT’S FOR YOU…”

LET’S TALK ABOUT WHEN FORGIVENESS IS REDUCED TO A SELFISH ACT…

ARE YOU EASY TO APOLOGIZE TO…?

WHY A PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT DESERVES A PUBLIC APOLOGY…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

If you’ve read several of my blog posts, you will find I’m intentionally redundant with this message…

I’m VERY concerned with not just the character of America, but also those who call themselves Christians.

I’m concerned with how much the sin of PRIDE has been validated, justified and excused.

PRIDE IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED BY GOD AN ABOMINATION!

Proverbs 16:5

⁵ Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join ^[a]forces, none will go unpunished.

Remember, that even though sin is sin, some sins make God more angry. That’s not hard to understand because some sins make us more angry. It would make you angry if someone mistreats you, but it make you more angry if they try to kill you.

So, PRIDE makes God more angry than some sins we may consider greater sins.

And, pride leads to the idolatry of worshipping (giving too much priority in our hearts) that which we are proud of…

Our country…

Our race…

Our heritage…

Our family…

Our children…

Our accomplishments…

Our education…

Our flag…

God has not given us permission to be proud of any of these things.

If your mind is immediately trying to find reasons to justify it, then you may be trying to impose your will over God’s word. That’s dangerous.

So, how should you feel about what you are PROUD OF?

It’s simple. From now on, anytime when you want to say…

“I’M PROUD OF____________________!”

Instead, say…

“I’M THANKFUL FOR ______________________!”

Don’t allow pride to become the accepted abomination. HOW PRIDE HAS BECOME THE ACCEPTED ABOMINATION…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Marriage is much sweeter with FLOWERS 🌺 and FRUIT 🍌!

Sex isn’t only for ‘procreation’, but it’s also for Godly ‘recreation’ within the boundaries of Godly marriage between a man and a woman. Unfortunately, from fornication, to adultery, to homosexuality, to pornography to cybersex…the enemy tries to provoke us to pervert God’s gift. However, God’s wisdom is interwoven into the ‘oneness’ of Godly intimacy.

Here are 11 of my BE BLESSTIFIED! articles about Godly sex, from a fresh “HEY, I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT LIKE THAT BEFORE” perspective…

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

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

3. ONLY ‘GODLY SEX’ IS GOOD SEX…

4. Godly Marriage: THE BLESSING IN WHEN YOU’RE NOT ‘IN THE MOOD’ AT THE SAME TIME…

5. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT BOOBS AREN’T JUST FOR THE BABIES…

6. HOME ALONE: THE BIBLE SAYS DON’T HOLD OUT ON YOUR SPOUSE!

7. FOR THOSE WHO SAY JESUS NEVER ADDRESSED HOMOSEXUALITY…

8. WHY IT’S STILL A SIN EVEN IF YOU WERE, “BORN THAT WAY”…

9. WHEN GOD EXPECTS US TO FORGIVE ADULTERY (CHEATING ON GOD)…

10. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT BOOBS AREN’T JUST FOR THE BABIES…

11. FINALLY HOME ALONE: THE BIBLE SAYS DON’T HOLD OUT ON YOUR SPOUSE!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

In today’s heated political, social, religious and anti-religious climate, between good discussions, debates, dialogue, commentary, arguing and talking AT one another… people love to preface and punctuate his or her points with “I HAVE THE FACTS TO BACK ME UP!”

If I learned one thing in my years as a Marketing Manager and professional Copywriter it’s that facts can be both interpreted and applied subjectively.

Every television station, radio station, business etc., can be #1 at the same time to a different demographic.

Medical research can be manipulated and delivered to satisfy the marketing efforts of pharmaceutical companies.

People have twisted God’s absolute truth to satisfy their own agendas and narratives.

People will quickly assume that the facts and research that fits their particular point-of- view as superior.

This is why in a court case, both the prosecution and defense present their OWN experts that support their OWN story…both armed with FACTS.

After those who sought to ‘kill’ Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) presented their ‘facts’, Pilate replied…

John 18:38 (NIV)

³⁸ “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.^(A)

John 14:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am ^(A)the way, ^(B)the truth, and ^(C)the life. ^(D)No one comes to the Father^(E)except through Me.

We must be honest with ourselves when handling ‘facts’ and the ‘truth’. Because ultimately it’s not about us proving we are ‘RIGHT’, but about us being in harmony with God’s truth.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Ephesians Chapter 5 is one of the most powerful scriptures that gives the true meaning for good preaching beyond salvation…

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NKJV)

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

In short, good preaching not only saves the soul, but equips God’s people to be mature, productive, in agreement and not easily swayed.

The scripture above defines ‘good preaching’, but unfortunately the opinion of ‘good preaching’ depends on the church culture. And, unfortunately, good preaching to many isn’t defined by the content, but by the delivery.

Yes, a good preacher has to be able to engage the audience and keep their attention, but there is a thin line sometimes between PREACHING and PERFORMANCE.

I’m also a firm believer that charisma helps a preacher be effective in delivery…

BUT,

We must not confuse charisma with anointing. Some people can get up and recite “Mary Had a Little Lamb” with such passion and exuberance that they can have a room full of people shouting…at nothing.

Here are 4 quick ways to tell PREACHING from a PERFORMANCE

SCRIPTURE

Have you ever heard a sermon that didn’t have a scriptural foundation? A text? What was that? It was nothing more than a motivational speech or a pep talk.

Beware of sermons that either have…

No scripture…

Not enough scripture…

Or, twisted scripture…

Remember, a sermon without a strong scriptural foundation is nothing more than a motivational speech or a pep talk…which have their place. But real preaching…

Saves us…

Challenges us…

Corrects us…

Convicts us…

Sometimes upsets us…

Encourages us…

Inspires us…

Teaches us…

It doesn’t JUST make us feel good and entertain us…ALL the time.

CLICHES & CONJECTURE

As I said in a previous post, that a well-placed cliché can enhance a sermon and really help engage the listeners. However, be very careful when you’re listening to a sermon that is…

FULL of clichés…

Full of the popular religious catch phrases of the time…

Full of language that is only intended for emotionalism and not edification.

You have to read the bible for yourself so you can know what’s scripture and what’s a cliché. I once heard someone say, “Like the bible says, give them their flowers while they live”…uhhh, that’s NOT in the bible.

You have to study the word for yourself so you can watch out for putting too much of personal opinion into how the scriptures are interpreted.  To make sure the sermon is not full of conjecture and conclusions based on the preachers opinion rather than inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

DID IT APPEAL TO YOUR FLESH OR YOUR SPIRIT?

 Yes, God wants us to have a good life on this earth. Yes, God wants us to enjoy ourselves according to His will.

But, be careful about sermons that ONLY appeal to ‘the good life here’. Be careful of sermons that only appeal to please your flesh and not strengthen your spirit. Many prosperity preachers have congregations full of weak and ineffective believers because they never hear…

The consequences of sin…

The consequences of bad decisions…

The necessity of self-denial and denial of flesh…

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross…

4. LEAVE OUT/ OR MISREPRESENT JESUS

Have you ever sat through an entire message only to not hear the mention of Jesus Christ once? That’s not preaching. In fact, the Apostle Paul warned the Galatians of those who come preaching “another gospel”…

Galatians 1:8-9  (NKJV)

 ⁸ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

 Again, as sermon that leaves out Jesus Christ is nothing more than a motivational or inspirational speech…not preaching. Sometimes this is meant to entertain, or convey what the preacher wanted to say…rather than what God wanted the people to hear.

Listen carefully at how Jesus is presented. Jesus is the Living Word, the Son of the Living God…He and the Father are One.

Be very careful about those who present Him as a ‘genie in a bottle’ who is on standby waiting to do what you want. Again, those messages are meant to appeal to your flesh.

I AM NOT CONDEMNING CHARISMATIC PREACHERS…

There is nothing wrong with a preacher who can with great energy and charisma deliver a message in a matter that the congregation is entertained as well as edified is fine…but real preaching has substance.

Never confuse charisma with anointing.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The bible is clear that Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) was tempted in ALL points just as we are. He was presented the same opportunities to sin, yet remained sinless. He was presented with the same ‘hard tests’ that are presented to each and every one of us.

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15 (NLT)

¹⁵ This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

Hebrews 4:15 (Complete Jewish Bible)

¹⁵ For we do not have a cohen gadol unable to empathize with our weaknesses; since in every respect he was tempted just as we are, the only difference being that he did not sin.

He was born into the weakness of sinful flesh, the same as ours, yet He made the choice not to sin.

Romans 8:3 (NKJV)

³ For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

This means that Jesus wouldn’t ask us to be tempted by any temptation that He didn’t endure and resist…ANY TEMPTATION.

Even the most vile, impulsive, freaky, passionate, carnal and visceral temptations that God allows to be presented to us…were presented to Jesus, and He resisted.

Now, I know this is going to threaten the theology of many, but this means Jesus had to have been tempted by…

Fill in the blanks…

______________.

______________.

______________.

Yep, and also _______________.

He loved us so much to allow the body He was given to be tempted by EVERYTHING, to show that we can overcome our fleshly desires and endure temptations.

The LORD did it to prove that even our most innate desires, even those that come ‘naturally’ to us are no excuse to indulge in them.

Too many times we want to twist the scriptures to fit our own perspectives, preferences, fears, ideas, and theologies. We try to sterilize our faith into ineffectiveness — we can’t ‘clean up’ the way Jesus was tempted, yet resisted.

Jesus walked in our shoes.

“He walked in our shoes,

so we could know,

that we can walk in this body,

and not wear out our ‘soles’.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Yehovah Yireh provides perfectly through our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

We must always be careful that we never dishonor Him because we have our wants confused with our needs.

It didn’t take long for Israel to get tired of the ‘bread from heaven provided by God…

Numbers 11:1-20 (NKJV)

11 Now ^(A)when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; ^(B)for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the ^(C)fire of the Lordburned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. ² Then the people ^(D)cried out to Moses, and when Moses ^(E)prayed to the Lord, the fire was ^[a]quenched. ³ So he called the name of the place ^[b]Taberah, because the fire of the Lord had burned among them.

⁴ Now the ^(F)mixed multitude who were among them ^[c]yielded to ^(G)intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: ^(H)“Who will give us meat to eat? ^{5 (I)}We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; ⁶ but now ^(J)our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”

⁷ Now ^(K)the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium. ⁸ The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and ^(L)its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil. ⁹ And ^(M)when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.

¹⁰ Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and ^(N)the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. ^{11 (O)}So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the ^[d]burden of all these people on me? ¹² Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ^(P)‘Carry them in your bosom, as a ^(Q)guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You ^(R)swore^[e] to their fathers? ^{13 (S)}Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ ^{14 (T)}I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. ¹⁵ If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and ^(U)do not let me see my wretchedness!”

¹⁶ So the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me ^(V)seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and ^(W)officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. ¹⁷ Then I will come down and talk with you there. ^(X)I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. ¹⁸ Then you shall say to the people, ^[f]‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept ^(Y)in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. ¹⁹ You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, ^{20 (Z)}but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have ^(AA)despised the Lord who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, ^(AB)“Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?” ’ ”

How many times have you looked in the refrigerator, pantry or cabinet and said, “There’s nothing to eat” because it wasn’t what you wanted?

How many times have you complained about the job you prayed for and God is using to sustain your life this season?

How many times have you complained about the spouse, children or family that God gave you because they don’t always see eye-to-eye with you? Remember the children of Israel complained in the wilderness against Moses’ leadership over and over again.

Complaining is one of the sins that pisses Him off the most…

1 Corinthians 10:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ nor complain, as ^(A)some of them also complained, and ^(B)were destroyed by ^(C)the destroyer.

Remember, complaining is the opposite of thanksgiving.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We all encounter people who hate us. speak badly of us, and work against us.

Sometimes it’s because of nothing that we have done, but, other times we’ve given them a good reason to be pissed off at us.

It may be someone who hates you, your family, your race, your faith, your nation…

It may be someone you know, or someone you’ve never met.

The success of their efforts is partially determined by our reaction.

When we waste our energy reciprocating anger, rage, wrath, and revenge…we are rewarding their efforts. That’s what they want.

DON’T ALLOW THEM TO REJOICE IN YOUR RANT!

Channel that energy into learning from your enemy.

Learn what they did well…

Learn from their focus and discipline…

Learn from their resilience, resolve, and persistence.

Absorb the blow, and fight a spiritual battle of humility and wisdom.

That’s how you get God, The Lord of Hosts, Yehovah Sabaoth to fight for you.

Uncontrolled anger and thirst for revenge are distractions, but Emotional Intelligence is a spiritual superpower!

Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ A fool vents all his ^(A)feelings,^[a]
But a wise man holds them back.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)

³¹ Get rid of^(A) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.^{(B) 32} Be kind and compassionate to one another,^(C) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.^(D)

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I’m admitting two things in this piece…

ONE: I’m jealous of something.

TWO: Foolishness could be considered subjective.

However, we were created in God’s image, meaning that we are capable of having His characteristics and attributes. One aspect of His character is Godly jealously. Our emotion of jealousy is an example of the fact that we are created in His image.

Exodus 34:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

Deuteronomy 4:24 (NKJV)

²⁴ For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Jealousy becomes a sin only when it’s perverted through our own pride.

God gets jealous when we put sin and other priorities before Him. We get jealous over the same thing sometimes don’t we?

So, that’s why I don’t feel so bad about the fact that I’m jealous of much of some of the foolishness that gets so much attention, and the success people enjoy from it.

As a blogger and published songwriter, of course I want my writings and music to be read by and listened to by millions upon millions.

I want people to be inspired, informed, challenged, admonished, amused, encouraged, entertained. I want their relationships to be enriched. I want them to grow with me as I struggle to master Emotional Intelligence. And, I want us all to be brought into more intimate relationships with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah).

I also admit that I want to enjoy seeing people blessed by what God releases through me, YES, I want to get credit for the work that I have done…

Proverbs 3:3-4 (NKJV)

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
⁴ And so find favor and ^[a]high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

Furthermore, as much as ‘foolishness’ could be considered a subjective term, I’m using it to describe behavior that is in direct contradiction to what God demands of those who consider themselves to belong to Him.

The fact is that some of the ‘stuff’ that ‘goes viral’, influences behavior, and leads to ‘success’ does so because of the support it receives from people who call themselves Christians. Some of those who overtly promote lifestyles clearly contrary to the word of God are encouraged and positioned as ‘wise’ by many believers. For example…

Yes, everyone has a right to live as they choose and endorse what they choose, but if many of the same people who claim to be Christian would give the same support to much of the Godly writing and music, it would boost the influence of writers and artists like myself.

I sometimes envy the success that people enjoy through what God considers sin. I admit that my jealousy vacillates from Godly jealousy to my own sin. f I’m a work in progress…

Psalm 37:1 (NIV)

¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;

Yes, I know know that ultimately God will make sure those who He intends to see or hear what I release…and I do trust Him with that. But, sometimes it’s good to vent responsibly, just like the Apostle Paul did when stating His rights as an apostle…

1 Corinthians 9:1-18 (NIV)

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? ² Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

³ This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. ⁴ Don’t we have the right to food and drink? ⁵ Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas^[a]? ⁶ Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

⁷ Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? ⁸ Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”^[b] Is it about oxen that God is concerned? ¹⁰ Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. ¹¹ If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? ¹² If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

So, if someone reads this and says, “He’s just jealous of the success of others.” I readily and humbly admit, “Yep, you’re right”.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Let me preface this piece by stating that I’m not saying this is ‘the mark of the beast’, but I am pointing out how easily the devil (I’m not capitalizing devil on purpose) is a great deceiver. I’m illustrating how even the greatest so-called theologians can take the word of God, which is so eloquently delivered in figurative language literally — especially in The Revelation and Daniel, and miss something that’s subtly obvious.

So many people are looking for microchips, tattoos, even the COVID-19 vaccinations as the mark of the beast from The Revelation

Revelation 13:16-18 (NKJV)

¹⁶ He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, ¹⁷ and that no one may buy or sell except one who has ^[a]the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

As people through the centuries have speculated as to what that mark may be, let me remind you that when God told us that He would write His word on our hearts, there are no literal words written on our hearts.

In the same manner, we could easily assume that having the ‘mark’ on our hand or forehead isn’t literal either. On our right hand could very well mean in the way we do things and on our forehead could mean the way we think.

Keeping that in mind think about the fact that the world has accepted the Gregorian calendar names months of the year and the names for days of the week. The months of the Roman calendar are named to honor a mix of gods, goddesses and rulers. The days of the week our named to honor Greek gods — idols.

No one can make a purchase, execute a contract without a date. Each time a date is written or printed on a receipt, contract or even a school assignment it is acknowledging an idol god, goddess or ruler other than the Lord God of Israel through our Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

It is impossible to legally by or sell without accepting the ‘mark’ that was left behind by those who created the Gregorian and Julian calendars.

Remember that God warned us through Daniel…

Daniel 7:25 (NKJV)

²⁵ He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute^[a] the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time.

Changing the calendar and days of the week could be a fulfillment of that prophecy.

Again, I’m not saying this is the actual mark of the beast, but illustrating how easily the enemy can convince the world to conform to his thinking and way of doing things.

Think about it, and read this WHY THE MARK OF THE BEAST WON’T BE A CHIP, BAR CODE OR TATTOO…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

One of the most disturbing and confusing accounts in the bible is that of when Uzzah reached out to prevent the Ark of the Covenant from falling and God struck him dead.

2 Samuel 6:6-8 (NKJV)

⁶ And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and ^[a]took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. ⁷ Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his ^[b]error; and he died there by the ark of God. ⁸ And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place ^[c]Perez Uzzah to this day.

Wow! That seemed so unfair. Uzzah obviously meant well and was paid with death.

Remember this…the Old Testament gives us numerous extreme examples of how God reacts to our behavior. These reactions teach and and leave examples of not only what He loves and what He hates, but also to what extreme. For example, when we totally forsake His day of rest every seven days, even under grace, to do work we could have easily done another day…God considers it worthy of death (Numbers 15:32-36). Yes, Yeshua said it’s okay to remove an ox from a ditch, but too many people have ‘oxen’ that fall in the ditch during the middle of the week and wait until The Lord’s Day to remove them.

Notice what God teaches through Paul about Old Testament examples…

1 Corinthians 10:1-10 (NKJV)

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, ² all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. ⁵ But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. ⁷ And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” ⁸ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; ⁹ nor let us ^[a]tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; ¹⁰ nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

So, what about Uzzah?

God said very clearly that no one was to ever touch the Ark of the Convenant, period. God said DON’T TOUCH IT.

When God says NO, He means NO!

Even though Uzzah was doing it for the right reason…NO still meant NO!. God left behind an example that we can never do something He told us never to do for what we judge to be the right reason.

Is it confusing? Yes. Even if it doesn’t make sense to us, it’s God’s word and remember what He told us through Isaiah…

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)

⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

One contemporary example of people doing the wrong thing for the right reason is when a parent gives their adolescent daughter birth control because they don’t want them to get pregnant, or gives their son condoms so they won’t get a sexually transmitted disease. If God commands no fornication, parents must as well. If the child choses to be disobedient, then that’s between them and God.

Can you think of when you many have done the wrong thing for the right reason?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

One of the first lessons that God teaches us in the bible was the responsibility that comes with knowledge…

Genesis 3:22-24  (NKJV)

²² Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— ²³ therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. ²⁴ So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

God has blessed us to be created in His image. One aspect of that is the ability to acquire knowledge. He even told us that in the last days there would be a great increase in knowledge…

Daniel 12:4  (NKJV)

⁴ “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

God has allowed us to have incredible advances in science, technology, medicine etc. Unfortunately much of the knowledge that we have acquired has convinced many that the one source of all knowledge, Yahweh, The Lord God of Israel from Everlasting to Everlasting does not exist. They have used that knowledge to decide for themselves that Yeshua, Christ Jesus was not God’s Son.

There is only one God and one Savior, and the two are One.

Even on a personal level, there are things we want to know. Always ask yourself are you ready for the knowledge that you are seeking.

“What have people been saying about me?”

“What are they whispering about?”

“Is my spouse being unfaithful?”

“Who are my real parents?”

“How many threats are there really to our national security on a daily basis?”

When you find out someone needs help and you have the means are you willing to help them?

When you find out what’s wrong with someone are you willing to be there for them?

When you begin to realize what God’s purpose is for your life, are you ready for the responsibility that come with it? Learning God’s word comes with great responsibility.

If you already knew the day you would die, would you spend your entire life obsessing over it?

“Have you ever gained some knowledge or information and then realized after you got it, “I’m not ready for this!”???

Approach all knowledge prayerfully and through the lens of God’s word. God doesn’t intend for us to have knowledge until we are spiritually mature enough to handle it.

1 Corinthians 3:2  (NKJV)

² I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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

It’s okay to ask God to hurry…

Psalm 70  (NKJV)

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

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

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

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

Psalm 71:12  (NKJV)

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

John 11:21  (NKJV)

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

Just remember to always…

Ask in humility…

Ask Him and do not tell Him…

Be willing to wait patiently on Him…

Isaiah 40:31  (NKJV)

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!