You finally got it! That promotion you worked so hard for, or it may be that you didn’t earn or deserve it. Either way, you got it.

The first thing you want to do is make sure that it’s from God. But, how can you tell? It’s really very easy.

Here are 7 quick ways to tell whether your promotion or job is a blessing or a curse in disguise.

Make sure the expectations of your new duties don’t…

1. Make you behave contrary to God’s will.

2. Make your compromise God’s character and integrity.

3. Prevent you from attending regular worship service.

4. Force you to make a choice between your career/occupation and your calling.

5. Force you to be disrespectful to others

6. Force you to endorse, encourage or excuse ungodly lifestyles.

7. Did you pray about it first?

Number 7 is really big. I probably should have put it first, but it would have messed up my transition:-) How can God bless something that you didn’t pray about first? Making any decision, but especially big decisions without God is foolishly stepping out on your own.

Remember, no matter what your role, job title, or job description…you are God’s representative at work. You are His ambassador…

2 Corinthians 5:20(NKJV)

²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

Even in an ungodly culture, God has sent you behind enemy lines to set the standard of behavior in the most difficult circumstances.

If God gave it to you…Congratulations!

If not, you would be better off with less money if it comes between you and God. And, any influence you may have lost in the world is multiplies in God’s Kingdom.

Mark 8:36-37 (NKJV)

³⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?³⁷ Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

BE BLESSTIFIED.

An astronaut slowly and quietly drifted off into deep, dark space in a movie I recently watched. It made me think about God’s omnipresence and omnipotence. He is everywhere at the same time. He has all power. Some say He is the universe, but God made the universe, so He goes beyond its vastness.

If that astronaut had accepted Yeshua, Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, though his body drifted…he was not lost in space.

My wife and I shared the most beautiful thought…

Even if you were 1,000,000,000,000 light years away in space, you would still be just as close to God as you are right now.

Jeremiah 23:23-33 (NKJV)
“Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord,
“And not a God afar off?

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Before you react. Before you judge. Before you say yes or no. Before you look. Before you answer that text. Before you snap. Before you ‘get even’.

Make sure he, she or they aren’t a test.

When you accepted Christ, you made a commitment to God. You made a commitment to your husband or wife. You made a commitment to your family. You made a commitment to God children…

To remain in God’s character. Conform to the image of His son. To keep your marriage vows. To do your job as if doing it for God Himself. To be a light. To set the standard of behavior in difficult circumstances.

Maybe that person who…

Is attractive to you…

Who says all the right things…

Maybe that person who won’t accept your apology…

That person who disrespected you publicly.

Maybe that person who betrayed you…

Who lied to you.

Who refuse to help you, when you know that they could.

Maybe that person…those persons…that group…that love one…

Maybe they are a test.

Not, for God to know what you will do, because He already knows. But, a test for you to see where you really stand with Him. To reveal your lever of spiritual, physical, emotional and psychological…

Strength and weakness! To reveal your true character and level of integrity.

So you can know where you need to grow.

Maybe it’s a test.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

There may be some reason that you aren’t looking forward to or may even be dreading tomorrow. It could be because of challenges in your relationship(s), on your job, your health. It could be that your paycheck will not be enough to take care of your obligations. It may be a promise you made that you already know you can’t fulfill. You may have robbed Peter and still don’t have enough to pay Paul. You may be separated from loved ones and support.

It may be the expected or the unexpected.

I’m not here to promise a miracle if you share this post.

I’m not even promising tomorrow will be better or even arrive.

God hasn’t promised us tomorrow…but He has given us today.

That’s why He said…

Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)

 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

If you have the strength or means to read this post or have it read to you, then God has abundantly blessed you.

In fact, no matter how much or how little money, food, clothing, strength or hope you have, He’s given you more than enough for today.

Those days in your past that you have dreaded, even if they were as ‘bad’ as you expected…you’re still here.

The truth is that God is sovereign to do what He pleases with each day and each person He made.

He loves us, and no matter how bad it may seem, He’s working all things together for our good…

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

 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.

The fact is either we trust Him or we don’t. Don’t worry about tomorrow if you don’t trust God with today.

Reach down inside and praise God and tell Him you love Him and trust Him with today.

If you don’t know what to say, I suggest…

Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The “Dark Room”, that’s what they called the room on the 4^th floor in which the Information Technology team worked. They were intentionally shut off from the rest of the building…There were no windows. They enjoyed the privacy and freedom from interruption, but unless they left the room, they didn’t know if the sun shined or if it rained.

Unfortunately, one day something went wrong with the alarm system, and they didn’t get warning there was a fire in the building. As Jim, the Department Manager opened the door he noticed smoke coming from the stairwell designated as the fire exit. He quickly told his team they must hurry into the fire exit before it’s too late. However, rather than rush into the fire exit as Jim said, the team immediately team looked at Dorothy, who was an Analyst.

Why?

Because Dorothy was the person on the team everyone went to with their problems. She was kind. Dorothy always seemed genuinely concerned. She always listened. She always honored her commitments. She remained calm at times of crisis, and she very rarely complained. In fact, she was almost always positive in negative situations.

They liked her.

They respected her.

They trusted her.

Jim had the TITLE, but Dorothy had the INFLUENCE.

Dorothy paused a moment and deduced the fire might have actually been set in the fire exit , and she advised to take the main stairwell, which would normally be avoided. The team quickly moved on Dorothy’s advice and exited the building.

You don’t have to be the President, CEO, Governor, Mayor, General Manager, Director or Pastor to change things…all you need is influence.

When people feel you believe in them, they will believe in you.

Remember, Jesus took a rag-tag group of men, and inspired them to change the world after a shameful death.

If you inspire people, make them smile, or comfort them, they will always value you.

Use your influence to be a blessing to the Kingdom of God…

Use your influence to save souls…that’s why God gave it to you.

1 Corinthians 1:27 (NKJV)

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

One of the most precious gifts from God is freedom. Just as America celebrates its freedom each July 4^th, most nations, cultures or races that had one time been oppressed in some form stop to celebrate their independence.

In the book of Joshua , after God established Israel as a nation. we read what will be a common phrase in the bible established Israel in the promised land…

Joshua 21:44New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴⁴ The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand.

King Solomon also recognizes that God has given him and the nation rest from all enemies or adversaries…

1 Kings 5:4New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence.

But unfortunately, each time that Israel was granted peace and freedom from adversaries, that rather than growing closer to God, they eventually used that peace and freedom to begin compromising their relationship with God and began serving other God’s, allowing their leisure to become a distraction…

Judges 2:11-12 (NKJV)

¹¹ Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; ¹² and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger.

Even though King Solomon initially used God’s rest from enemies to build the temple, he eventually began using his peace and freedom from calamity to marry many unbelieving wives who led him to compromise his relationship with God to please his wives…

1 Kings 11 (NKJV)

11 But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— ² from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. ³ And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. ⁴ For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. ⁵ For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. ⁶ Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. ⁷ Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. ⁸ And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

These are just two examples of how Israel and Solomon squandered their ‘rest’ from enemies…they squandered their freedom.

When Israel allowed their freedom to become a distraction, God always allowed them to become oppressed to bring their hearts back to Him.

I just want to use this as a quick reminder that freedom is a gift of God. And that we should never take it for granted.

I also want to remind us, that just as Solomon initially used his rest to build the temple and write numerous Proverbs, that we should use our freedom to honor God, build His Kingdom and share His truth.

We should not use our freedom as an opportunity to…

Become disobedient to God’s word.

Live or endorse lifestyles contrary to His word.

Become negligent in or totally abandoning His worship.

Or totally turn to other Gods.

It’s God’s will that we enjoy our freedom.

It’s God’s will that we use our freedom to glorify Him.

It’s God’s will that we use our freedom to grow closer to one another.

It’s His will that we use our freedom and peace to make our lives and the lives of others better.

Use your freedom to grow stronger and not weaker…

Don’t squander your freedom.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

How does it make you feel when you hear someone whining? Isn’t it annoying?

Whining is a total waste of energy…

It’s a verbal expression of worry…

Whining is a verbal pity party.

Whining is a form of complaining, and God hates complaining …

1 Corinthians 10:10 (NKJV)

Nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

It establishes the whiner’s perceived weakness and powerlessness.

Not one time in scripture do we find Jesus whining…

He rejoices…

Luke 10:21a (NKJV)

²¹ In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…

He weeps…

 John 11:35 (NKJV)

³⁵ Jesus wept.

He rebukes…

Matthew 17:8 (KJV)

 ⁸ And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

He even pleads….

Matthew 27:46

⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”^[a]

But, He never whines.

Very few people want to hear you whine…

Very few times does whining change the situation….

Have you ever noticed how a group of people whining together feed into each others’ misery?

It becomes a pity party…they validate one anothers’ complaints but accomplishes nothing.

Yes, there are times that we are displeased, dismayed, overlooked, overworked, unappreciated, unhappy…

Sometimes we may even need to rebut, rebuke, protest or protect our interest…

But, do it in strength not weakness.

Don’t whine…

Turn your WHINING INTO WORSHIP

Turn your PITY PARTY INTO A PRAISE PARTY!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Evening Epiphany…

Live a life for God so significant, that the impact, legacy and influence you leave behind is so powerful, that those who oppose your wish you were still alive.

Matthew 27:54 (NKJV)

 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

One of the most precious, personal and intimate things you can share with someone…is a memory. A moment that you experienced together…good or bad.

Not necessarily the BIG moments, but the seemingly small and trivial.

The memories in your mind and spirit are between only you, the person with whom you share them, and God. That’s true intimacy.

We’re always making memories with our loved ones.

Make them good…

Because one day, that’s all you will have.

1 Corinthians 2:11(NKJV)

 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

History didn’t take place in black and white…

It wasn’t experienced in 8mm…

A lifetime wasn’t lived out in a chapter that records it.

The past can’t be contained in a book or scroll…

The past was it’s past’s future.

Those before us days and nights were just as long as ours.

They had hopes and dreams just as we do.

History was influenced by names we will never know, and countless others whose lived and died in anonymity, but were still important to those in their lives.

Today, you’re younger than you will ever be again….enjoy it.

Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

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

I’m sorry if I post too often but, there’s inspiration and revelation everywhere…

In the good and the bad,

In the beautiful and the ugly,

In right and wrong,

In the profound and the profane,

In righteousness and in evil,

In the light and in darkness,

In peace and in chaos,

In work and in leisure,

In worship and in rebellion,

In hope and in hopelessness,

In contentment and regret.

In God’s word and the absurd…

I have to write. I have to share

Because there is inspiration and revelation everywhere…

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 Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

What’s trivial to one could change someone else’s world.

Harmonizing…Measuring…Reconciling everything I see with God’s word is therapy for me…

I’m sorry if I share too much. But, if I don’t…I may go crazy.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

QUICK ENCOURAGEMENT…

When your best isn’t good enough for them…That’s their problem, not yours!

Matthew 10:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

BE BLESSTIFIED

Jonah 1:1-3

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.

Have you ever noticed how we ask children, “What to you want to BE when you grow up?”…Rather than, “What do you want to do?” That’s because we often define ourselves by what we do, rather than who we are.

When you think about it, some jobs or careers other than those directly related to ministry are also ministries…teaching, medicine, leadership, 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.

But, my career is my occupation…my family and my ministries are my calling.

Careers can change, but your calling is the reason you’re still on this earth. You choose your career, but God chooses your calling.

The apostles had occupations/careers. They were fishermen(Matthew 4:18-22), tent makers (Acts 18:1-4) a tax collector (Matthew 9:9-13), and Paul was a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5), but we didn’t get the Gospels and God’s word because of their careers or occupations. It was because of the calling on their lives.

REMEMBER, Jesus had an occupation. He was a carpenter…WE DIDN’T GET SALVATION BECAUSE JESUS WAS A CARPENTER! 

Jonah ran from his calling and found himself in the belly on a great fish (Jonah 1:17) to get him on task. God intervened to shift his focus. 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 career, that you neglect or ignore your calling. 

If God has to help you refocus, it may not be comfortable, but His will, will be done.

Relentlessly pursue your calling and be everything God created you to be.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Anyone who involved in ministry or cause that wears the name Gospel have either gone through or are going through periods when he or she may feel their efforts aren’t getting the attention or ‘support’ that it deserves.

You know that you’re anointed. You have prayed over your decisions and you feel confident that you’re doing just what God called you to do.

But, when we deliver a message, sing a song, write a song, book or blog, launch a ministry…invest our heart, soul, passion and yes, money into our ministry…it can be devastating when people don’t seem to ‘feel it’, accept it or appreciate it.

Other than my blog, I collaborate with my wife (GospelJazz recording artist Mechelle Johnson) to write songs for our music/marriage ministry. I have been an ordained minister for over 21 years, and I have found myself second guessing my callings and investments because of the response. I found myself comparing myself and my wife to others doing the same thing (big mistake). I found myself sometimes getting upset at God because He hadn’t made things happen fast enough for me or us (Lord please forgive me). Have you?

Then I was reminded of something. The apostles were blessed to get out of town sometimes with their lives. They narrowly escaped being killed. They were beaten and imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2(NKJV)

 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, ² and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

I’m reminded of what Jesus warned in the book of John…

John 16:2(NKJV)

 ² They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

They couldn’t download music help keep them inspired. They were going on 100% Holy Spirit!

Many of us have been spoiled by ‘amens’, captive audiences and spiritual celebrity. From the local church level to Gospel recording artists to national and international…sincere Christians can become intoxicated by the attention.

The very anointing that makes us so powerful for God can become a stumbling block when we use it to benefit ourselves or feed our egos whether than glorify the name of God.

We, myself included, can find ourselves whining and complaining if we aren’t accepted as we would like to be…

We can find ourselves begging for support and votes for awards instead of delivering what God has given us…

We can find ourselves watering down our message for mass acceptance.

If what we’re doing bears the name GOSPEL, then you must maintain the integrity of the message and count the cost. Even if it’s Gospel entertainment (and there is a place for good wholesome Gospel entertainment) be prepared for the fact that everyone may not accept what you have to share. Or, it may never be as ‘you’ envisioned.

When the notoriety means more to us than the message then the enemy has found a way to distract us.

We must be careful to never compare our progress, success or what we perceive as the lack thereof to that of others.

Galatians 6:4-5 (NKJV)

⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load.

What if John the Baptist had compared himself to his cousin Jesus?  He obviously entertained some doubts considering he sent his own disciples to see if Jesus was really, ‘the one’, or should they look for another…

Matthew 11:2-3 (NKJV)

 ² And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of^[a]his disciples ³ and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

It’s only human to want to be well received, get positive feedback and be successful according to the world…but if what we’re are doing bears the name of Christ, that can’t become the focus.

If you find yourself whining, and begging for support, or chastising others for not paying enough attention to you…stop it today and focus on planting those seeds that God ordained you to plant. You never know when and how He chooses to give the increase in His own timing.

I pray in the name of Yeshua, Jesus Christ, that God keeps you encouraged and focused. God bless your ministry, and please pray for us as well.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Have you ever noticed how some people will ALLOW a coach to ‘cuss’ their children…

How they expect a drill Sargeant to sternly say anything get the best out of a soldier…

But, get angry (pissed off) at the preacher for a raised voice, or using sharp words to reprove and rebuke.

2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV)

 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine

To REPROVE is to disapprove, to chide to the face as worthy of blame, to expose, to convict.

To REBUKE is to reprimand, strongly warn, restrain.

EXHORTATION is encouragement..

Those who believe the word of God and accept the authority and hierarchy in the church understand what God expects of a Pastor.

Jesus, Yeshua, Himself spoke strong words to the religious leaders, those who were closest to Him, and those who rejected Him…

Hypocrites…( Matthew 15, Matthew 23)

Perverted…(Matthew 17)

Brood of vipers…(Matthew 12, Matthew 23)

Foolish…(Luke 24)

White-washed tombs…(Matthew 23)

And most offensive of all, He called them BASTARDS…

John 8:37-45 (NKJV)

 37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with[l] your father.”

39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.”

Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

 Read all of John 8 for context. They got so angry at Jesus that they took up stones to kill Him.

After calling the Pharisees hypocrites, the disciples told Jesus…

Matthew 15:12 (NKJV)

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

 Remember, Jesus’ rebukes were not just for the hypocritical religious leaders, but also for those closest to Him as in Matthew 17:17.

We must be reminded that love isn’t always delicate, sugary sweet words, warm feelings and heavenly promises…sometimes it’s a reminder of Hell.

When a parent disciplines or gives a child strong correction, it doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t love them.

God will hold the preacher accountable when the people aren’t warned about sin, which sometimes applies to the preacher too.

Ezekial 33: 1-9 (NASB)

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, ‘If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman, ³ and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people, ⁴ then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. ⁵ He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life. ⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away ^[a]in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman’s hand.’

⁷ “Now as for you, son of man, I have ^[b]appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a ^[c]message from My mouth and give them warning from Me. ⁸ When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will 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 from your hand. ⁹ But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life.

And, warning people about sin isn’t judging, warning isn’t condemnation, it’s helping the hearers avoid condemnation.

Let us all listen with spiritual ears, when we hear words of correction, and always measure it against the word of God and not our feelings.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

If you really love The Body of Christ…His church, you want to see it grow.

So, why is it that so many people could care less about going to church?

Even sincere people who say the believe in God, but prefer NOT to attend or become a committed member of a local congregation.

I’m not here to impress you with a bunch of stats about how many people do or don’t attend church…we all know people who don’t go, or who used to go. Why?

Let’s look at 3 of the reasons why people don’t go to church. If we are honest with ourselves, we can understand why. But, let me be responsible enough to say that even though these reasons may be ‘good’…they are still POOR excuses.

1. IT’S EASY TO DO WHAT YOU WERE RAISED TO DO…

 Many of people who were raised in church, or raised as a Christian can find themselves looking down on those who weren’t. When we are serious about trying to convince those who are either of other faiths or non-believers to come to Christ, we are trying to convince them to turn their backs on what they were raised to believe. Now think about it. If you are established in your faith in Christ, how easy would it be for someone to ‘convert’ you and turn your back on Him? Not very likely huh? Well that’s their reason. Jesus Himself struggled with getting the Jews to rethink what they have always been taught to see how He came to fulfill the law. Look at how many times in Matthew 5:21-48 that Jesus said, “You have heard…but I say…”

2. MANY PEOPLE IN CHURCH ARE SELF-RIGHTEOUS…

 There are those in the church who can come across as if they do no wrong. That they are never tempted. That the sins they commit are not as bad as those who don’t go to church. They make holiness seem so difficult and obtainable, that many conclude, “Why try?” “ I can never get to that level.”. Many can make Christianity seem so rigid, stiff and serious that many can conclude that, “I don’t want what they have.” It’s good to have passion for God, but when we become spiritually arrogant or ever zealous, we can turn people away, rather than attract them to Christ. For more on this read my post, CAN WE BE TOO RIGHTEOUS?

Remember Ecclesiastes 7:16 says, “Do not be overly righteous,” Nor be overly wise:..”

I didn’t mention hypocrites in church on purpose. Yes, I know that is a common ‘reason’, but I don’t think it’s a good reason, because people encounter people who aren’t genuine in every other walk of life…jobs, teams, organizations, but they don’t use that as a reason or excuse to reject those activities, organizations and entities.

3. THOSE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH ARE WEAKER THAN YOU…

I can’t count the times I have heard my fellow ‘church people’ be critical of people who got offended and left the church. Those who came for a little while, and for what ever reason…they quit. I have seen so many of my fellow Christians look down upon those who make any and every excuse for not going to church. This is something that we in the Body of Christ must remember…those people who make excuses ARE WEAKER THAN YOU. They are either not in Christ or babes in Christ. They are immature in the faith or have no faith. They are acting the way they are supposed to act.

It is our challenge to study, collaborate and pray for wisdom and strategies to reach those who are weaker than we are…and not just throw them away. This is when Philippians 4:13 is most powerful..

¹³ I can do all things through Christ^[a] who strengthens me.

Of course these aren’t the only reasons that people don’t go to church, but they are three good reasons, and a good place to start addressing the ‘unchurched’ or ‘underchurched’. They are three almost justifiable reasons…but in God’s eyes, they ARE NOT good excuses.

God doesn’t accept our excuses…

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 Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

God has given everyone a measure of faith and the ability to grow in Him…

Romans 12:3 (NKJV)

 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Let’s address the reasons and take away the excuses.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

How many times have you heard someone say, “The Lord is waiting on you?” Or, “God is waiting to see what you’re going to do.”

Yes, God is patient.

Yes, God is longsuffering.

Yes, God gives us time to change and grow.

But, does He really ‘wait’ on us?

Why does Isaiah Chapter 30 say…

Isaiah 30:18 (NKJV)

 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him

Think about this…

God exists outside of time.

He is the first and last…

The beginning and the end.

He already knows every decision we will make. From His perspective everything in our future has already happened…and you can’t WAIT for what has already happened. You can’t ‘wait’ to read the sentence you just read.

When the bible says God is waiting it means He is giving us time. It’s for our benefit.

When you’re in a deep sleep, when you’re under anesthesia, unconscious or even in a coma, you are outside time. Those INSIDE time are waiting for you to get up, but you are unaware of time.

That’s why some children go to sleep early on Christmas Eve…because they don’t want to wait for Christmas, so they STEP outside of time in sleep, so they don’t have to wait.

God delays His wrath.

God delays His judgment.

But, He who is not within the boundaries of time doesn’t have to wait.

I think waiting should be added to list of things God can’t do…

Die…

Lie…

Fail…

Wait.

2 Peter 3:8 (NKJV)

 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

BEBLESSTIFIED!

Inspiration doesn’t always come from what’s beautiful or encouraging.

Use your mistakes, betrayals, abuses, trials, regrets as the inspiration for your testimony…to fuel your creativity, your passion…your purpose!

Learn to pull inspiration out of your desperation!

Before you read any further, yes I’m aware of Genesis 2:7, but consider this…

God the Father is a spirit. He’s a life-giving spirit. He is life.

John 4:24 (KJV)

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth

1 Corinthians 15:45 (NKJV)

And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.”^[a] The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Romans 8:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

If God breathed, that would mean He would have to have His life sustained. He sustains life.

It would mean He had lungs which, would mean could die.

He can’t die…He won’t die…and if we accept Yeshua Jesus Christ we won’t SEE death either.

John 8:51 (NKJV)

⁵¹ Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

Oh yeah…I know what you may be thinking. what about Him ‘breathing’ the breath of life into Adam? It doesn’t mean He literally placed His ‘mouth’ over Adam’s nose and exhaled. God is presented anthropomorphically (ascribing human attributes to something or a being that’s not human) often in the bible. He’s a spirit…no hands, feet or even a heart. God doesn’t need a ‘brain’ to have thoughts. He just simply presents Himself that way in His word to help us understand how He interacts with us and the natural world. 

Speaking of the natural world, think about it…Plants produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, but they don’t inhale or exhale. God uses them to produce the life sustaining oxygen that our mortal bodies need to survive.

 God doesn’t have to inhale or exhale to ‘breathe’ life.

Even His word is ‘God-breathed’ inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16), that isn’t literally exhaled from holy lungs, but spiritually inspired directly from the ‘mind’ of God (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Does God have to breathe? I don’t think so…God is breath.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Can God restore your marriage? Yes.

Can God restore your family? Yes.

Can He help touch the heart of your rebellious child? Of course.

Can the Lord help you overcome addiction? Yes.

Is God able to heal sickness and disease? For sure.

Can He rebuke the devourer for your sakes and restore your finances? Definitely.

Is God able to send you the spouse that was meant for you? Yes.

Can God turn around an impossible situation? With God all things are possible.

People ‘come to God’, ‘join church’, ‘take the preachers hand’, ‘get saved’ for innumerable reasons.

Sometimes they come to Christ because they want Him to change their life for the better.

Sometimes they come because their friends or cousins have come.

Sometimes they even come because their parents have pressured them to do so.

A relationship with God has definite benefits, but that’s not the reason we should come to Him.

Notice what Jesus told the crowd who followed Him after feeding over 5,000 people…

John 6:22-27 (NKJV)

 ²² On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered,^[c] and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— ²³ however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— ²⁴ when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. ²⁵ And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

Yeshua, Jesus Christ gave us a powerful lesson in why we should come to Him. For salvation FIRST!

Why did you come to Jesus? For who He is, or for what He can do?

1 Peter 1:8-9 (NKJV)

⁸ whom having not seen^[a] you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

You see the flyers, promotions and announcements all the time…Conferences, Conventions and Revivals.

Let me be clear that I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with them, but I have a question.

Have we had enough Revivals, Conferences and Conventions?

Are all of our evangelism efforts focused on preaching to people who are already saved?

When when was the last time you witnessed to someone who was an unbeliver, or from another religion? Or, are we just encouraging one another?

If our CONFERENCES and CONVENTIONS aren’t leading to CONVERSIONS, are they just glorified parties or spiritual pep rallies?

Honestly, isn’t the word going forth with power every week be enough?

There’s not one Pastor that will tell you he is not being effective in His assignment.

If the word is going forth with power all year long…why do you need a revival?

If the word is going forth with power every week, aren’t we already, ‘equipped for the work of the ministry’?

Ephesians 4:11-12 (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,

There’s nothing wrong with Christians getting together for encouragement and even entertainment, but sometimes we must call it what it is.

The fact is that those of us who are diligent about attending church and studying our word…we are already equipped.

If you want to go to every spiritual PEP RALLY that’s fine…as long as you are actually GETTING IN THE GAME!

Come on Body of Christ…

It’s time to change the world!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

God had Abraham send away Hagar and Ishmael…

Genesis 21:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

We all know that Isaac favored Esau, which means that Jacob had to notice.

Genesis 25:28 (NKJV)

Thank God for your father.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Do you ‘look’ like your father?

Do you have his eyes? nose? hair line? walk?

Sometimes people can walk up to you and quickly tell that you look JUST like your father. Sometimes a child can not look much like their father, but as they get older their appearance conforms MORE to his image. That is the perfect analogy to us and our Heavenly Father.

We were all created into his image (Genesis 1:27), but God is invisible, so that doesn’t mean that we ‘look like Him’. It means we are created to ‘be’ like Him…to have His character…to love like Him…to have His behavior, as He tells us to be holy because He is holy. When we walk in His Spirit, we ‘look like Him’. He sent His Son, Yeshua Jesus Christ, who is the living word, to be our example in the flesh, and in Romans 8:29, we are to be conformed into the image of His Son.

The more we grow spiritually, the more we look like Jesus. But, Jesus also told those who opposed Him, the religious leaders, that they ‘looked like’ their father the devil….

John 8:44-45 (KJV)

“44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

He told them this because they behaved like the devil and not God. They didn’t have God’s character, they had the devil’s.

Who’s your daddy today? Who do you look like spiritually? As you get older, whose image are you conforming more to? I hope it’s your Heavenly Father. Give God a Happy Father’s Day by committing to walk in His Spirit.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The enemy wants you to keep your head down. The enemy wants to keep you silent about the Lord.

The enemy wants you to sit down on your calling, anointing and purpose. He does this is by manipulating you to FOCUS ON YOUR MISTAKES, FAILURES AND FAULTS.

He wants you to feel unworthy to speak up or ‘live out loud’ for Christ. You may have made huge mistakes, financially, in relationships, morally, and of course spiritually…you know what mistakes haunt you.

Please notice that God continued to use David as a psalmist and king, EVEN AFTER he had a man killed to take his wife.

God was not SURPRISED when David sent Uriah to the hottest part of the battle to be killed…

God was not SURPRISED when David slept with Bathsheba…

Remember, God knew what David was going to do when He FIRST anointed Him years before.

God didn’t tell him that he couldn’t continue to serve as King (2 Samuel 12:1-13). In fact, some of David’s most powerful psalms came AFTER his greatest sin. God still kept His promises to David. Yes there were consequences for his sin, but he was still a man after God’s own heart, because HE REPENTED.

Our greatest challenge sometimes is walking with spiritual confidence, walking with our heads up, speaking in God’s authority when people KNOW HOW WE HAVE MESSED UP. God is raising us up to walk boldly for Him even in the midst of our humanity.

Paul spoke boldly even though he persecuted the church and consented to the death of Christians, such as Stephen (Acts 7:1-60, 8:-1).

Peter stood strong for Christ even though he openly denied Him at the darkest hour. (John 18:13-27).

So, if people tell you, “You can’t tell me anything based on what you’ve done!” You tell them, “God has given me grace and mercy, and allowed me to still be here to tell you DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES THAT I’VE MADE”.

So even if you’re working through the consequences of your mistakes, God expects you to keep your head up and speak boldly, in love for Him.

Sometimes it takes years to work through the process of restoration and recovery, but that doesn’t mean you are to be silent in the meantime.

Be encouraged! Keep your head up! Stand up, and Speak up for the Lord!

BE BLESSTIFIED!