YOU DON’T HAVE TO HATE SOMEONE TO NOT LOVE THEM…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
FOR WHEN YOU DON’T HATE THEM, BUT YOU DON’T LOVE THEM EITHER…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

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They say there’s a thin line between love and hate. It may not be that the line is so thin, but that people should be totally honest with themselves, because God knows the heart. The fact is…YOU DON’T HAVE TO HATE SOMEONE TO NOT LOVE THEM.

The enemy knows that God commanded us to love everyone….

EVERYONE means EVERYONE.

That’s why he (the enemy) manipulates situations and circumstances to provoke us to NOT LOVE someone who mistreats us, or someone we close to us. He convinces people to engage in behavior to where what we feel for them may not be HATE, but it’s definitely not LOVE.

He then he manipulates you to lie to yourself and say “I love everybody” because it’s the right thing to say, but your feelings and behavior don’t reflect love.

God didn’t tell us to LIKE everyone…but to LOVE everyone.

Just as Jesus says in

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WOULD YOU ‘REALLY’ DO MORE IF YOU HAD MORE?

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What if God gave you unlimited financial resources…what would you do?

What good would you do?

Who would you help?

What if God gave you a voice…a platform to speak to the world?

What would you say?

What causes would you speak out for?

How responsible would you be?

What if you had unlimited free time?

No job to report to?

No clock to punch?

What would you do with your time?

How would you spend it?

You can tell what you WOULD DO THEN by WHAT YOU’RE DOING with the financial resources you have now, whether it’s little or much.

Even if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you have the means to help someone in need…your $5 gift or meal can change someone’s world.

You can tell by what you’re doing with your platform now.

What do you say? What don’t you say. What you post or publish? Which conversations to ‘speak up’ and which do you remain silent. How responsible are you with your voice now? Do you speak or post without thinking… praying?

What you’re doing with the time you have now? Do you say you don’t have time? Or, is it that you just don’t TAKE time?

There’s much Kingdom work that takes place through people who have no more free time than you…they just make time.

More money…More influence…and more time only empowers us to be more of who we already are.

Luke 21:1-4 (NKJV)

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

IF THE ‘BIG O’ WAS TOO BIG (GOD’S WISDOM)…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
GOD THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

Thy Kingdom Come…

When you stop and take look, you can see God’s wisdom in everything…and I mean EVERYTHING!

God’s first institution established in His Kingdom was the family. He put man and woman together with a plan. He told us to be fruitful and multiply because God wasn’t going to continue creating men from dust or women from men’s ribs.

God gave us the gift of physical intimacy (sex) to bring children into the world, and to enhance our marriages. God wants us to enjoy one another just as much as he wants us to enjoy Him, and that’s  very clear in the bible.

Proverbs 5:19 (NKJV)

As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be enraptured with her love.

Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)

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

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GOD WANTS INTELLIGENT BELIEVERS…

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Daniel 12:4 (NKJV)

“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.”

The bible says that in the last days there will be a great increase in knowledge.

That same knowledge that gives us the amazing technology we enjoy…

That same knowledge that gives us the wondrous advances in medicine…

That same knowledge that sends humans into space…


Is the same knowledge that is now trying to say there is no God…

Is the same knowledge that says the bible isn’t God’s word…

Is the same knowledge that says Yeshua, Jesus Christ, is not the Son of God…

Is the same knowledge that’s using the bible against itself, saying, “That’s not what it really means when it says…”

God wants intelligent Christians to “contend for the faith” as mentioned in Jude verse 3.

God wants knowledgeable Christians to reason with unbelievers and skeptics to plant good seeds.

God wants smart Christians to reason with people of other religions, so they can come to know the one true and living God.

God wants intelligent Christians to reason with other believers to bring about more unity in the Body of Christ.


We need to be able to talk to people, not just preach to them.

We need to be willing to hear what they have to say.

We need to know some of what they believe to have an intelligent conversation with them.

We need to know God’s word…history…culture…so we can intelligently share what we believe, and why we believe it.


Notice how the Apostle Paul reasoned with the Epicureans and Stoics, Jews and Gentiles with respect. (Acts 17:16-34)

Notice how the Apostle Paul reasoned with unbelievers without putting them down or disparaging what they believed. (Act 17:22-23)

Notice how not everyone, but some returned to hear more of the Gospel. (Acts 17:32)


Yes, God wants us to be anointed.

Yes, God wants us to have faith.

Yes, God wants us to be virtuous…

But He wants us to be knowledgeable too…

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NKJV)

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

When the bible says “Study to show yourself approved…”(2 Timothy 2:15) that means study the bible and beyond so we can be INTELLIGENT BELIEVERS.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

MY PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY…

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I pray that God gives you the strength to continue hoping for better.

To rebuke the spirits doubt…

To rebuke the spirits fear…

To rebuke the spirit of complaining…

To rebuke the spirits of anxiety…

To rebuke the spirits of regret…

To rebuke the spirits of resentment…

To rebuke the spirits of depression…

To help you avoid worrying…

That He helps any area of unbelief…

To increase your faith through His Spirit and the good seeds that have been planted in you.

That He give increase to the goods seed you have planted for His name sake and for you.

To kill the bad seeds that you have planted that they do not rise up against Him or you.

That His peace guard your heart and mind,

That He protects you…covers you…and allow His angels to keep watch over you…

That He meets you at every point of need…

And, that you can be everything He called you to be in this day…

So that others can be drawn to Him through you.

In the Name and Authority of His only begotten Son, The Living Word, Yeshua, Jesus the Anointed One.

Amen!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

YOUR HIDDEN TALENT

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
WHEN YOU’RE GOOD AT SOMETHING YOU DON’T LIKE…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

20160902_084426.jpgYou’re more talented than you may think, and those around you may notice…it’s hidden, but still SOOOOO OBVIOUS! So many people have jobs they don’t particularly like, or have burned out in a job they used to love. They have to work with people with whom they don’t click, or just don’t like. They have to manage their lives with not enough money or resources…but yet they still MAKE IT HAPPEN EVERY DAY.
I think it’s a greater accomplishment to be great at what you hate than to flourish at what you love.

If that’s you, stop right now and give God a praise…HALLELUJAH!!!! God gives us everything we need that pertains to life and Godliness…

2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

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THE LIES WE DON’T INTEND TO TELL (MOST OF THE TIME)…

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SOME OF THE BIGGEST LIES WE TELL ARE…

Not intentionally (most of the time)…have any of these come from your mouth????

I love you…

I’ll pray for you…

I’ll call you back…

That’s okay…

I’m okay…

What’s wrong? “Nothing!”…

That’s hilarious…(and you don’t laugh)

Oh yeah, I remember that…

I don’t remember…

I don’t have it on me…(when asked for money)

That tastes great…

You look great…

I like that…

I’ve got your back…

I love everybody…

I don’t see color…

I’m doing this for you…

That didn’t bother me…

I don’t even care…

I’m over it…

It doesn’t matter…

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 12…

 Matthew 12:36 (NKJV)

 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Take a moment and thank God for His grace and mercy for the lies we tell…intentional and unintentional.

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

MEEKNESS ISN’T WEAKNESS…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

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We love displays of strength in our society, which is most often portrayed through aggression, profanity, fighting, overpowering others and getting even.

Many of our favorite movies are of ‘heroes’ saving the day through a fight. We love to see the guy who was ‘picked on’ finally overpower the bully.

Many times people don’t feel satisfied unless they have ‘given a piece of their mind’ to someone who has crossed them or tried to take advantage of them.

Our society doesn’t feel you have won unless you have ‘kicked their a**’).

We must be careful that we aren’t crossing over into the some of the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5 when we are defining strength, such as  hatred, contentions dissensions or outbursts of wrath.

God is more impressed by inner strength. It takes more strength to RESTRAIN than to RELEASE and lash out.

Our society calls those…

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WHINING IS A CALM TANTRUM (From my archives)…

 

wp-1487025381459.jpgHow does it make you feel when you hear someone whining?

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)

 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!

 

 

 

 

 

DON’T LET YOUR FAILURES SILENCE YOU…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
JUST BECAUSE YOU MESSED UP DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN’T SPEAK UP…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

wp-1479501771869.jpgThe enemy wants you to keep your head down. The enemy wants 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 FAILURES AND FLAWS. He wants you to feel unworthy to speak up or ‘live out loud’ for Christ. You may have made huge mistakes, FINANCIALLY, IN RELATIONSHIPS, even MORALLY…you know what haunts you.

Please notice that God continued to use David as a psalmist and leader, even after he had a man killed to take his wife, 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…

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ARE YOU IN A RUT?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

No matter how successful, everyone falls into a rut sometimes. I’m talking about beyond the financial rut we can all fall into, but also physical, emotional, relational or especially SPIRITUAL.

Ruts along our journey have their place in our overall purpose. A well-placed rut, or ditch has a way of keeping us humble…

Yeah…let’s look at our ‘rut’ as a ditch. Have you ever fallen into a ditch?…a big ditch?

You could have:

Carelessly fallen into the ditch…

Been pushed or tricked into the ditch…

Or, the ground on which you were standing could have just collapsed.

Just been in the wrong place.

Either way…you fell and you’re in a ditch.

Sometimes if you fall into a big ditch, you can’t just climb out in the same place from which you’ve fallen.

Sometimes you have to walk for a while in that ditch until you can find the right place…

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REAL LOVE ISN’T JUST STATED…IT’S DEMONSTRATED!

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LOVE IS STRONGEST AS A VERB!

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

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

You can’t wait until the next time you hear his or her voice.

You spend an hour saying goodbye on the phone.

You get excited and nervous when you see they’ve sent you a text message.

You don’t care where you go or what you do as long as you’re together. Just the thought of him or her makes you smile.

You’re proud to have them by your side…falling and being in love feels great!

God wants us to fall in love with Him through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Yeshua), just as He’s fallen in love with us.

He doesn’t want a one-sided relationship.

God wants you to look forward to and enjoy talking to Him. He wants you to get to know His heart in His word.

He wants intimate fellowship with you in worship and praise…

He wants you to long for His presence…

He wants you to gladly let the world know you belong to Him and He belongs to you.

And, He doesn’t want you to be ashamed of Him, but proud to have Him by your side.

In fact…

Jeremiah 9:24 says, “but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

However, Jesus also says in…

Mark 8:38, “8 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Jesus didn’t just say He loves us, He proved it for dying for our sins…


REAL LOVE ISN’T JUST STATED, IT’S DEMONSTRATED!

LOVE IS STRONGEST AS A VERB!

PEOPLE DON’T KNOW YOU LOVE THEM, UNTIL YOU SHOW YOU LOVE THEM!


He put Himself to open shame for us on the cross in the face of His enemy…that’s love!

He died for people He knew would never acknowledge or accept Him.

He keeps on loving us when we ‘cheat’ on Him daily, when we willingly choose the enemy over Him!

We, however, throw people away for little or nothing…

The Lord longs to have us in His presence forever…

Matthew 17:24a

24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am…”

Do you love Him?

Are you in love with Him?

Do you look forward to seeing Him when he returns?

Sometimes, after a while, couples have to fall back in love with one another.

I encourage you today, if you already haven’t, to fall in love with Jesus….

If your love has been a little ‘cold’…fall back in love with Him.

Most Christians claim to love Him, but don’t just say it…demonstrate it.

 

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

CRAVING WHAT WE DON’T NEED…

IN CASE YOU MISSED…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!


Yesterday I was thirsty and craving for a soda (a good strong fountain Coke) all day long. I had water readily available and it would not only quench my thirst, but it is exactly what my body needed. But, I didn’t drink what I NEEDED because my body is CRAVING a soda…what I didn’t need. The soda is filled with sugar and acid, and it has absolutely no nutritional value to my body. In fact, I most of the time I’m still thirsty after I finish a soda. It only satisfies WHILE I’m drinking it and I usually finish a soda craving another…but the water will satisfy quench my thirst and satisfy my body’s NEED.

How many times do we do the same thing spiritually. In John 6, after Jesus had fed over 5000 people many followed Jesus, but they weren’t seeking Him for HIM, they were seeking Him because…

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DON’T ASK GOD TO LEAVE FOR A DEMON TO COME IN…

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

Temptation, no matter what kind, is a demon asking to come into your house. Giving in is just like saying, “Welcome, come on in, God can you please step out,  I’ve got company”. Don’t ask God to leave so a devil can come in. Most of the time the demon is looking for a place for him and his friends to hang out, in fact they want to move in. Walk in the Spirit, put on the whole armor of God and keep the devil out. Don’t ask God to leave for a demon to come in.

Matthew 12:43-45 (NKJV)

43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes…

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DON’T BE SELFISH WHEN YOU FORGIVE…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

Watch out when people say, “forgiveness isn’t for them, it’s for you”. When we offend God and He forgives us, He does it for US and not HIM.

Forgiveness is a SELFLESS act that God commands us to do for one another as He does for us. It’s another way we conform to His character and His image. It releases the FORGIVEN from the guilt of the offense and releases the FORGIVER from the burden of holding on to what leads to bitterness and wrath. It is the most powerful tool available to us to maintain good relationships because that’s how God maintains His relationship with us…by continually forgiving us.

Don’t make forgiveness a SELFISH act by approaching it carnally as many well-meaning people do by saying it’s for YOU and not the offender…that’s making something selfish and perverts the Holy intent of the GIFT of forgiveness. That’s what the…

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GET PISSED OFF ‘JUST’ ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE…

Don’t get angry AND sin; Get angry AT sin…

Matthew 21:12-13 (NKJV)

12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

As Jesus walked in and saw the building dedicated to God’s worship being used for commerce, He was filled with anger.

He wasn’t consumed with anger…

He wasn’t ‘mad’…

He wasn’t pissed off…

It was a controlled, righteous anger.

God’s righteous anger is noted throughout the bible, but God doesn’t angry AND sin;

He gets angry AT sin.

God tells us to get angry and sin not…


Ephesians 4:26 (NIV)

“In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry…”


God doesn’t expect us to get angry and stay angry.

God doesn’t expect us to get angry and lose control.

God DOES expect us to get angry sometimes though…

He just expects us to get angry at the right things.

We are to get angry enough at…

Evil…

Injustice…

Disobedience…

Poverty…

Hunger…

Racism…

Corruption…

Bullying…

Abuse…

Drugs…

Crime…

War…

Abuse…

Oppression…

Homelessness…

Hunger…

Favoritism…

Cronyism…

Atheism…

False teaching…

False prophets…

Ignorance….

We’re supposed get angry enough to do something!

Our anger should turn into PASSION that fuels ACTION.

Think about what makes you angry. And pray for wisdom to do something about it with a level head, yet walking in the Fruit of the Spirit.

Just as Christ did, we are to get angry AT sin, not angry AND sin.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

BE SOMEONE’S HERO TODAY…YOU HAVE THE POWER!

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You don’t have to be superhuman to be someone’s hero today…

You don’t need x-ray vision, just an eye that can see someone in need…

You don’t need super hearing, just an ear to hear when someone pleads…

You don’t have to have super strength, just be strong enough to ease someone’s load…

You don’t have to be able to fly, just the ability to encourage and lift up a heavy soul…

You don’t have to be made of steel

just have a loving heart that’s able to feel.

You don’t have to wear a cape

just to look the hills to He who makes you capable.

You don’t have to be immortal,

to teach someone about life eternal.

Your sacrifice of time, attention, concern and love can save someone’s life..or soul.

You have the power to be someone’s hero today…Christ gave it to you when He died.

John 14:12

 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

IS YOUR FAITH BIG ENOUGH…WHAT DOES GOD CONSIDER ‘MUSTARD SEED’ SIZED FAITH?

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We quickly say, if you have the faith of a grain of mustard seed you can move mountains!

We quickly say, all it takes is a little faith!

That may be true, but think about two things….

  1. How much faith does Jesus call ‘little (mustard seed) faith’?

  2. Jesus constantly rebuked His disciples for having ‘little’ faith.

Too many Christians are content with ‘little’ faith, as if that’s all we need.

In Matthew Chapter 17, while Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James and John…a father brought his son to the other disciples, hoping they could cast out the demon in his son. They could not do it. After Jesus cast out the demon, His disciples asked why they couldn’t do it.

Jesus was frustrated with them. They had already seen Him feed thousands. They had seen him heal and deliver, but still Jesus told them, “BECAUSE OF YOUR LITTLE FAITH”.

Matthew 17:19 ( NKJV)

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

After seeing Jesus show His power and love, the faith they had still wasn’t enough to help that man and his son.

Not only is the Lord IS NOT satisfied with LITTLE FAITH, but the little faith we settle for MAY NOT even be mustard seed faith to God.

Is simply believing mustard seed faith? Well the demons believe and tremble…

James 2:19 (NKJV)

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Do you believe but are still easily consumed by worry? Maybe your faith is too small.

Matthew 6:31 (NKJV)

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Do you believe but don’t really trust God? Maybe your faith is too small.

James 1:6

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 

Do you pray but aren’t really satisfied until you’ve talked to a person? Maybe your faith is too small.

Matthew 6:6

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Do you read the bible but don’t believe EVERYTHING in it is true, whether symbolic or literal? Maybe your faith is too small.

2 Timothy 3:16-16 (KJV)

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Do you believe God will forgive you for EVERYTHING you’ve done wrong? Maybe your faith is too small.

1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

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

Do you believe that with God ALL things are possible? Maybe your faith your is too small.

Matthew 19:26 (NKJV)

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Before you become satisfied with your ‘mustard seed faith’…make sure that you even have that much.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

ARE YOU IN YOUR SPIRITUAL RED ZONE?

I case you missed it For Super Soul SONday…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

Remember, in sports the defense always(or resistance) intensifies when the team is about to SCORE…

So, the offense can’t get weaker, but STRONGER! If the devil seems to be attacking you harder, you might be in your SPIRITUAL RED ZONE.

Stand firm!

Don’t back down!

STEP UP YOUR GAME!!!!

SCORE!!!!
1 Peter 5:8-9
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
BE BLESSTIFIED!

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IS GOD GETTING ANYTHING OUT OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU?

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Isaiah 43:7 (NKJV)

“Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

Do you love God?

I mean do you really love Him, or were you just taught that loving God is the ‘right thing to do’?

Do you love God or are you just afraid to say that you don’t?

If you love Him, are you in relationship with Him?

If you are in relationship with Him, is He getting anything out of the relationship? We enter relationships with other people for various reasons…love, friendship, fellowship, family, business, pleasure, protection, etc.

Why did you enter YOUR relationship with God?

For love?

Friendship?

Fellowship?

Business?

Blessings?

Protection?

Salvation?

God entered relationship with us to…

Love Him…

Glorify Him…

Communicate…

And, to fellowship with Him through one another.

For whatever reason we entered our relationship with God, we want to make sure He is getting something out of it, and that it’s not just a one-sided relationship.

We must make sure we are spending quality time with him every day.

Who wants to be in relationship with someone who doesn’t enjoy talking to them and spending quality time with them?

Who wants to be in relationship with someone who only comes to them when they want something?

Who wants to be in relationship with someone who only wants to be with them for what they can do?

That’s how some people treat God.

People claim they don’t have time to spend quality time in God’s word, but are on social media and reading their favorite books every chance they get.

People claim they love God, but never show that love by sharing their faith WITH UNBELIEVERS or serving Him through serving one another.

Read Isaiah 43:7 and Ephesians 2:10 and look at just two of the many reasons that God created us…then ask yourself…

Is God getting what He deserves out of my relationship with Him.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

WHY DOES GOD ‘TEST’ US WHEN HE ALREADY KNOWS…

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Why does God test us when He already knows what we will do?

He doesn’t have to ‘find out’ how strong we are…He already knows.

He doesn’t have to see what we will choose…He already knows.

Yes, God tests us so WE can see how strong we are…or aren’t. Just like any other assessment, tests let us know where we stand, and where we need to grow.

Tests allow others to benefit from witnessing our strength, and to learn from our mistakes…

However, there is one more reason God tests us that is so obvious in scripture, but we if we aren’t careful we’ll miss it…


God somtimes wants to prove a point to the enemy.

God knows the outcome beforehand, but the enemy doesn’t.


The enemy thinks he can tempt you to do anything he wants and put God to open shame.

God loves it when we prove the enemy wrong ‘to his face’. Much like if an attractive rival tempts your spouse. This rival taunts you and tells you he or she can have your spouse any time they wish. You know for yourself that your spouse is attracted to the rival, but they still don’t give in. You didn’t have to make prevent your spouse from giving in…they willingly rejected the rival.

This happened ‘in a sense’ with Job…

Job 1:8-12

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.

Next time you’re tested, put your name in Job’s place…

“Consider my servant ________.”

Show the enemy that he doesn’t know you better than God does.

Let God prove to the enemy, that you’re stronger than he thinks.

Make God shine in the face of the enemy.

2 Timothy 2:3-5 (NKJV)

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

DOES GOD KNOW YOU?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

wp-1486217605345.jpgHow horrible would it be to live a life with someone only to find out you never REALLY knew them?! Either they lived a lie or you did. Now, I’m not talking about little lapses in their character, but when they were truly portraying themselves to be someone they weren’t…for what ever reason.

Jesus said there will be many that say ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And His response will be, ‘depart from me, I NEVER KNEW YOU, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:22-23). This implies that though they outwardly did good, their motives or lack of true faith made Jesus view them as evil. Even though these people CLAIMED to profess His name, their hearts were not with Him. This is the essence of hypocrisy, which He scolded the Pharisees…

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WORK YOUR GENIUS!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

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Identify…

Perfect…

and Work YOUR genius

to the glory of GOD!

That’s why HE gave it to YOU…

and only YOU!

No one else can do what YOU were placed here to do, so don’t leave it undone.


YOU are GOD’S gift to the world that He wrapped in your skin!


No one else can do what YOU were created to do…

You’re EXPERT and GENIUS at being YOU!

So be unapologetically YOU!

Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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YOUR SUPERPOWER…

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“I’m only human!”

That’s our excuse sometimes when we sin and make mistakes.

We’re all sinners saved by grace. We all fall short of God’s standards.

We are all human beings… being human. But, to say, “I’m ONLY human” isn’t completely true.

1 John 4:4 teaches us that we’re the children of God, and that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.

We who are in Christ have His Holy Spirit, our helper and comforter (John 14:16), to give us power over the enemy.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) is living in us.

When we walk in His Spirit, His power is working in us to overcome our flesh (Galatians Chapter 5).

God’s Spirit makes us more than human. He makes us SUPERHUMAN.

He gives us the power to stand against evil, and do great things for the Kingdom of God.

He gives us the power to resist temptation…

The power to keep going when our physical strength is gone…

The power to turn hearts to God…

The power to make disciples.

His Spirit is our SUPERPOWER to set the standard of behavior for the world….

He’s our power to FLY above what the world is doing to remain ethical and just…

He gives us the STRENGTH to lift and carry heavy burdens…

He gives us X-RAY VISION to discern, so we can see things from God’s point of view…

He gives us the POWER to have joy in the midst of trouble.

So, whatever you are facing today…

whether it be…

Temptation…

Frustration…

Intimidation…

Humiliation…

Degradation…

Remember…

You are God’s…

CREATION!

You are His child.

You have His power to change your world, and the world around you for Him!

So, Superman of God… Superwoman of God…

Go get ’em!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

TRADITIONS FROM HELL: WHEN ‘RITES’ OF PASSAGE ARE WRONG…

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If God makes it so easy to join His organization (Romans 10:9), why do we make it so hard to join  some of ours?

I was watching a television show in which a young lady hoping to join a prestigious college band was beaten into intensive care during her initiation, and it was swept under the rug and defended by those in authority to protect their tradition.

I’ve heard many comment and reason that such behavior is just ‘part of the process’…that some initiations and inductions are just ‘part of growing up’.

I’ve heard that enduring this foolishness with others breeds loyalty, brotherhood/sisterhood, comradery, etc.

Now, I’m sure some of you reading will defend it out of loyalty to your own beloved organizations and traditions, but if you’re a Christian…if you know God’s word…if you know the character and culture of His Kingdom…and if you’re honest with yourself, you know it’s not of God and makes no sense.

If it’s not of God, then it’s of the devil…

If it’s of the devil, then it’s straight from Hell.

How do I know it’s not of God?

Because God made joining His organization EASY for us!


It’s interesting how so many organizations, teams, clubs etc. make it so DIFFICULT to join…initiations, rituals, rites of passage, hazing, traditions…while, God makes it so EASY!

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)

 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 


The Body of Christ, His church is the most prestigious ‘organization’ of this earth and beyond.

The benefits of membership are eternal…

Yet, God makes it so easy to become part of His family.

But,

So many earthly organizations feel it’s such an honor to be inducted into their ranks that some have even died trying to get in. When you think about it…it’s quite absurd that people have shed blood to join some groups but…

Yeshua, Jesus Christ, paid the price of our admission to His church with His blood…

 Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)

But He was wounded for our transgressions,He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

One of Jesus’ greatest battles was against foolish, senseless tradition (Matthew 15:1-20).

No organization on earth supersedes God’s and should never be no more difficult to become a part of than His church.

Even though some have even perverted and complicated ‘membership’ in His church, that was never His intention.

When any organization makes potential members submit themselves to violence, vulgar and profane language, embarrassment and possible harm as conditions of joining…those activities are not of God.

This is not an indictment on all organizations that require some sort of ‘proving grounds’, but when it crosses God’s line, it’s gone too far.

Don’t get caught up trying to hold onto, defend and condone traditions from Hell.

No rite of passage should provoke you to do wrong.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

THE MORNING GOD TOLD ME TO GO TO THE JAIL INSTEAD OF CHURCH…

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If you feel God is placing it on your heart to move, to act, to do something. Test it by the Word of God, pray for wisdom, guidance and protection…then move!

I learned this lesson the hard way several years ago…

One morning while getting ready to go to church I received a phone call from a young friend of mine from jail…

He said, “Brother Al, I need to talk to you brother! I can’t do this! This is my third time being locked up, and I know that I will be away from my family for a very long time. I really need to talk to you!”

I responded, “Okay, I will stop by to talk to you as soon as I get out of church”.

I had ministered to this brother by phone and letters while he was in prison before. My phone would ring and I’d hear… “You have a call from ____________ at the ____________ Center for Corrections.” I would quickly respond, “Yes”.

He was very sincere, and He told me that he had been brought back to Christ while in prison. Not only that, He felt God had called Him to be a minister.

After being released he, came to church and was given the opportunity to preach his first sermon, “Are You Lame” from Acts Chapter 3. His sermon was very good. He then told me he was anxious to go and witness to the people he used to ‘run with’. Those who were his ‘partners in crime’…both figuratively and literally.

I told him, “I admire your passion to reach back and grab them, but PLEASE don’t do it until you’re strong enough, so you aren’t drawn back in. I then reminded him of the warning in the bible…

Galatians 6:1

 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. 

 And also,

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV)

 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

He did in fact try to reach back, and unfortunately, he got drawn back in. That’s why he was calling me from jail.

Well, as I said…He asked me to come and talk to him that morning, and I told him that I would as soon as I got out of church.


While I was in church, he hung himself and died.


My church should have been at the jail that morning.

I let him down…

 I let God down…

For religion…

For duty…

For tradition…

For ‘a form of Godliness’…

I missed the entire puropse of what church equips us to do. (Ephesians 4:12)

I missed an opportunity to save a life.

This is one of the reasons Jesus said…

Matthew 9:13 (NKJV)

 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’[a] For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”[

This is one of the reasons the bible says…

James 2:15-17 (NKJV)

 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

This is one of the reasons the bible says…

1 John 3:17 (NKJV)

 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

 And most definitely why Jesus said…

Matthew 25: 31-40 (NKJV)

 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy[c] angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

God told me to move that morning and I ignored Him, because I felt I was doing the right thing. But, had I looked closer at the word of God…I would have quickly gone to the jail.

If you feel God is placing it on your heart to move, to do something, to bless someone, to pray for someone…test it by His word…pray for wisdom, guidance and protection…and do it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

IF THE DEVIL WAS BOLD ENOUGH TO CONFRONT JESUS, THEN YOU KNOW…(WHEN THE PAWN CONFRONTED THE KING)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

wp-1485971445285.jpg WHEN THE PAWN CONFRONTED THE KING (MATTHEW 4:1-11)

Criminals, thugs and bullies typically like to prey on those who they view as weak.

But our adversary the devil is different. He isn’t overly concerned with the weak.  There’s no need for him put much effort into those who are weak in the faith because they are already ineffective in the Kingdom of God.

He wants to make the strong grow weaker…catch them…or provoke them into weak moments.

The devil launches his most vicious attacks on those who are strong in the faith…

Those who are intentional about pursuing their purpose…

Those who are bearing good fruit…

Those who are effective in the Kingdom of God.


Remember the devil had the nerve to approach Jesus, Yeshua, Himself in the wildersness.


If the devil was bold enough to confront Jesus in the wilderness (John 4:1-11), the Son of God, the Living…

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IT PAYS TO PRAY…(PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS)!

Here’s a creative way to plant good seeds for God… If you truly believe in the power of prayer, put your money where you mouth is…pay someone to allow you to pray with them.

The Lord told us to make disciples…

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

 19 Go therefore[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

As we mature in our faith in God, it becomes more of a priority and a challenge to find ways to bring others into a relationship with Christ, or to be a blessing to other believers.

While out jogging one day, I felt compelled to ask someone if I could pray with them. As I ran, I found myself looking for people who looked approachable. Coming to the end of my run I saw a man sitting on a bench and I asked him, “Are you a Christian?”. He kindly replied, “Sorry, no I’m not”. I said, okay thank you and then prayed for him to myself.

Not too much later, God poured something awesome into my spirit…

Would that man have allowed me to pray a short prayer with him if I offered him $5? I will blow that much money on something I don’t even need. 

How many people, believers or non-believers will allow you to pay them to pray with them and for them if you offered to pay them? 

Why not?

We pay for everything else we want.

We spend our money on what’s important to us.

Isn’t it worth a few dollars to ‘buy’ an opportunity to share God’s love?

So…

Even though I rarely carry cash, I decided to start keeping a couple of five dollar bills in my pocket…just in case.

Later that afternoon, I went back out in downtown Memphis TN and saw a couple pouring water in their radiator. I asked if they needed help, and they replied, “No.” I then asked if they were Christians and they said, “Yes”. I asked the man if I could pray with them, as he began to shake his head NO, I presented a 5 dollar bill and said, “I’ll give you 5 bucks if you let me…he then said, “Yes”.

I prayed a short, but meaningful prayer and went on my way. I then prayed that that encounter be good seed in good soil.

I’m a firm believer that God hears the sincere prayer of a believer…

James 5:16 (NKJV)

16 Confess your trespasses[a] to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

I also know that God expects us to pray for one another…

1 Timothy 2:1 (NKJV)

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

You never know when your prayer might come at just the time someone needs it…

You never know when your prayer might be confirmation for someone…

You never know when something may happen that reminds someone of your prayer and reveals God’s power…makes God seem that much more real to them.

Yes, some people will say no. And, some may even be unreasonable. That’s why the Apostle Paul asked for prayer the he be delivered from wicked and unreasonable men…

2 Thessalonians 3:2 (NKJV)

And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

If you’re serious about your responsibility to make disciples and encourage others…

If you’re sincere in looking for creative ways to draw people to Christ…

If you want more opportunities to be a blessing to others…

If you truly believe in the power of prayer…

Then put your money where your mouth is…show someone that prayer pays!

If you try it, come back to this post and let me know.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

 

 

YOU BETTER FIND A WAY TO LOVE THEM…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT. GOD DOESN’T LOVE YOUR ENEMIES ANY LESS THAN HE LOVES YOU!

Minister Aldtric Johnson M.A.'s avatarBE BLESSTIFIED!

wp-1479767916629.jpg God doesn’t love your enemy any LESS than He loves you.

The enemy is working hard to provoke us to disappoint God. One of his methods is manipulating interactions and relationships to convince us to hate someone else. Or, even if we don’t hate them (at least that’s what we say) we definitely don’t LOVE THEM.

The enemy doesn’t just try to convince us to hate your ‘enemies’, but he tries to convince us to hate people we once loved…

Spouses…

Brothers…

Sisters…

Parents…

Friends…

People who you know and don’t know…

Coworkers…

Pastor…

Officials…

Police officers…

Racists…

Other cultures…

Other nationalities…

Other religions…

Other lifestyles…

No matter who they are, what they do, or what they’ve done…

Even if they’ve hurt you…even if they hurt your loved ones…even if they hate you…

Even if they are living outside of the will of God…

You better FIND A WAY…

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FAITH VS. SCIENCE…

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It’s amazing how a person can be born, educate his or her mind that not only God gave them, but God ‘activated’ and conclude there is no God.

Science explains the physical world…

Faith explains the spiritual world…

Even the greatest scientific mind that tries to deny the existence of God can not explain his/her own consciousness…

State of being…

His or her own essence of life.

Oh, he or she can explain what it is…but not how it is.

Yes they can explain that we have billions of neurons, but not how the brain makes us aware.

Why?

Because God makes the brain make us aware.

When He decides it’s time for it to stop working, there’s nothing science or medicine can do to make it alive again.

Notice that the chronology in Genesis is the same as science explains.

First, nothing…

Then water…

Then the creatures in the water…

Then the creatures on land…

And, finally humans!

I believe that faith doesn’t deny God’s existence, but proves it.

I believe that science gives a physical explanation for the spiritual.

God has ‘allowed’ humans to accomplish many things, but…

In all God has allowed man to accomplish…he can’t create a LIFE or make a DAY.

Psalm 139
You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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