God demands that we walk in the Fruit of His Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Unfortunately, our Western culture considers these qualities to be weakness, and too many Christians conform to that foolish thinking.
When we exemplify the characteristics stated above in our behavior…we are conforming into the image of the Son of the Living God. .
Romans 8:29 (NKJV)
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
The Fruit of His Spirit, just as fruit identifies the type of tree, identifies whose spirit lives in us. There are only two, God’s Holy Spirit or the enemy…and they are mutually exclusive, both can abide in you at the same time.
1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
However, in our society today everybody seems to wants to be..
BAD,
TOUGH,
“DON’T TAKE NO SH**!”
Too many Christians are too quick to tell you…
“You better be glad you didn’t know me before I was saved!”
“Don’t make me go back to my old self!”
” I’ll pray for forgiveness!”
“I would do it all over again!”
“You don’t want this smoke!”
Taking glory in the flesh, instead of the Fruit of the Spirit.
In movies and television shows we celebrate the “Alpha” male or female who beats up the enemy. We celebrate when the so-called ‘nerd’ finally gets fed up and beats up the bully. But, when a character backs down from a fight we are disappointed.
Even in politics, too many people in the Body of Christ are impressed by strong words, profanity, threats and aggressive language from our leaders instead of holding the leader accountable for that behavior…because the devil has convinced them it’s strength.
To make a long story short…if it’s not The Fruit of the Spirit, it’s from the devil, and Yeshua called it out, not in the sinners, but in the religious leaders.
John 8:44 (NKJV)
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.
Remember this, time after time God punished His people for facilitating a culture that spread violence throughout the land. This wasn’t because of ‘sinners’, heathens, or pagan, but His peoples’ spiritual compromise…
Ezekiel 8:17 (NKJV)
17 And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose.
Clenched fists can’t receive blessings like open hands.
Threats and curses should not come out of the same mouth that was created to bless.
James 3:10 (NKJV)
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
Don’t let the devil convince you to conform to his image instead of that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Have you ever heard anyone make this statement, or have made it yourself?
“You won’t go to Hell for doing it.”
Too many Christians feel as though as long as they are paying their tithes and going to church regularly that, ‘they’re good’.
Sometimes times there will be an issue or behavior that is questionable or vague, or maybe not even addressed directly in the bible. Many times there will be an issue or behavior that we really enjoy, but there is reason to believe it might be displeasing to God. Then there are issues that are addressed, but many people either don’t make the connection, or don’t care about how those issues relate to us today.
There are many Christians who don’t only define themselves as children of God, they also define themselves by ‘their’ zodiac sign.
How does God feel about someone asking, “What’s your sign?”
Zephaniah 1:5-6 (NKJV)
5.“Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD, But also swear by Milcom (or Molech) 6.Those who have turned back from following the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him.
“I’m a Gemini so you better watch our for me….”
“I’m a Pisces so you can trust me…”
You get the picture?
Most of us know that it became very popular in the latter part of the 20th Century to refer to zodiac signs to determine if two people were compatible in relationships.
Some people will even check out their daily horoscope for guidance for the day. How many Christians have you seen post the daily horoscope on their timeline?
Have you ever taken the time to research the origin of zodiac signs. Think about this…zodiac signs are treated as proper nouns.
Check this out…
Deuteronomy 4:19 (NKJV)
And take heed, lest you lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.
Remember, worship is beyond ‘going to church’. Think about Romans 12:1…
Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Our worship extends into how we live our lives on a daily basis. God expects us to get our guidance from Him and Him alone. He has given us His Holy Spirit to lead us, guide us, convict us, to help us make the right decisions.
Isaiah 47:13 (NKJV)
13 You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, And the monthly prognosticators Stand up and save you From what shall come upon you.
One of the beautiful things about the Old Testament is that it gave us extreme examples of what behavior God loves and what behavior He hates. Even though Jesus fulfilled the law, we can gain great insight looking at the behavior of ancient Israel and how God reacted to it.
Think about this. When Moses was given the task of going into Egypt to free the children of Israel, God told Moses to tell them, “I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14). I AM is God’s name. It’s who He is. It’s His essence. It’s what He does. And so are you. Be very careful what you say behind your, “I am”. Check this out…BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY BEHIND YOUR, “I AM…”
“I am a Virgo.” “I am a Libra.” Do you feel comfortable defining yourself as something God has forbidden?
Do you feel comfortable getting guidance from something God has forbidden?
Do you feel comfortable choosing a mate based on something God has forbidden?
Do you feel comfortable basing your personality on something God has forbidden?
Or, do you enjoy it so much that right now you are reasoning within yourself how I’m wrong and looking for verses or justification to keep doing it. That may be a ‘sign’ that you are too connected to it.
Well if God forbids it, why do the personality traits seem so on point sometimes? We all know that the enemy disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).
But, here’s the number one reason I think that people of God should ignore the horoscope…
BECAUSE IT HURTS GOD!
Even if He won’t send you to Hell for it. Even if you think it’s harmless. If God said don’t do it, that means it hurts Him. When you love someone, there’s some things you don’t do not because you think they will leave you, but because you know it hurts them.
Have you ever noticed that before God got angry, He was always hurt first? Have you noticed how God sometimes pleaded with and appealed to Israel like a hurt lover?
Micah 6 1:3 (NKJV)
“Oh My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.”
The #1 reason we should ignore the horoscope is because it hurts the God of our Salvation.
Please think about this before you ask someone, “What is your sign?”
It happens every New Year. Many preachers giving promises of peace and prosperity from the pulpit. First of all let me say that sometimes God does send prophetic proclamations of good news to His people, but not every year.
There are many preachers out there who make the same promise
every year…
“This is your year!”
“This is your season!”
But, the prophets in the bible didn’t always deliver good
news. In fact, many times they were tasked with warning the people of what was
to come. God is loving enough to not let His people be caught off guard without
warning.
But, beware of preachers who deliver only good news.
Promising prosperity and good news every year plays on the
emotions and hopes of those who God has entrusted to watch over their souls.
Unfortunately, many preach through their flesh whether than God’s Spirit…
Some to feed their egos…
Some to keep members engaged…
Some to manipulate money out of the people…
How is EVERY YEAR GOING TO BE YOUR SEASON?
Remember what God told Ezekiel…
Ezekiel 33:1-9
(NKJV)
Again the word of
the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your
people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the
people of the land take a man from their territory and make him
their watchman, 3 when
he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the
people, 4 then
whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the
sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the
trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who
takes warning will [a]save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees
the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned,
and the sword comes and takes any person from among
them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at
the watchman’s hand.’
7 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have [b]delivered your soul.
Think of all the pride, arrogance, curses, blasphemies, abominations, insults that are released daily. Much of this behavior comes from those who call themselves believers.
How much it comes from you?
So many times we expect to give our worst and receive God’s best.
This type of preaching is like quenching your thirst with cola or alcohol. It may feel refreshing, but it’s actually dehydrating you.
I pray that God grants you a year of peace and prosperity…but I can’t promise it.
There are as many internal church and denominational church cultures as there are churches and denominations.
And, there are several denominations that feel dancing before God is an acceptable form of worship…
2 Samuel 6:14 (NKJV)
14 Then David (A)danced[a] before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing (B)a linen ephod. 15 (C)So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
Psalm 149:3 (NJKV)
3 (A)Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
This article is for those who feel dancing is an appropriate part of worship, not to debate whether it is or, not to judge those who do or don’t.
So, here’s the question…in many of the churches that DO incorporate dance into their worship, there are a few specific ‘dance steps’ that are often done during worship. These steps are typically called THE HOLY DANCE.
My question is when and where did these particular steps become the designated HOLY DANCE, and why are any other dance steps that ARE NOT sexually suggestive considered taboo and inappropriate for worship?
There’s an unexplainable, intangible anxiety that sometimes troubles a creative spirit craving a connection with the eyes, ears and attention of the millions who will appreciate and be blessed by what God has placed inside them.
A fervent frustration…
A relentless restlessness…
A chronic concern…
A sudden sadness…
For those who will admit it…it’s an occasional inner storm of anger, jealousy, and envy of those who have a huge audience and squander it on foolishness or their own ego.
IT’S WHEN YOUR CREATIVITY IS CRYING.
Writers…
Bloggers…
Artists…
Songwriters…
Musicians…
Singers…
Actors…
Inventors…
Chefs…
Photographers…
Painters…
Preachers…
Ministers…
Speakers…
Does your creativity ever cry?
Keep sharing what God has placed inside you!
Appreciate the audience that God has given you!
God will make sure your gift reaches everyone whom He intends.
Trust Him and be faithful, even if your audience is just one person.
Ecclesiastes 11 (NKJV)
11 Cast your bread (A)upon the waters, (B)For you will find it after many days.
The fun and rush of the holiday season can be intoxicating. The trill of seeing someone open a gift that they really wanted can provide quite the emotional high. If this one done within our budget, then all is well but…THEN comes December 26th..
If we spent money we couldn’t afford…used money for our bills…borrowed money for gifts or simply over spent, we can come down hard off that high straight into anxiety, worry, buyers remorse, stress and even depression…You’ve got a HOLIDAY HANGOVER.
When the real world comes calling…we remember that bills, obligations and commitments didn’t stop for Christmas.
If you do have a holiday hangover, I offer the same remedy as for a hangover from alcohol…time.
And just as someone whose been drunk with liquor…next year remember how you feel right now when you’re tempted to drink from the same bottle of HOLIDAY SPIRITS next year.
Proverbs 23:29-35 (MSG)
Who are the people who are always crying the blues? Who do you know who reeks of self-pity?
Who keeps getting beat up for no reason at all? Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot? It’s those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business. Don’t judge wine by its label, or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor. Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with— the splitting headache, the queasy stomach. Do you really prefer seeing double, with your speech all slurred, Reeling and seasick, drunk as a sailor? “They hit me,” you’ll say, “but it didn’t hurt; they beat on me, but I didn’t feel a thing. When I’m sober enough to manage it, bring me another drink!”
The people who are closest to you. The people who you enjoy being around most, and who most enjoy being around you.
Our circles really say quite a bit about who we are.
It’s interesting to see YOUR place in YOUR circles. All circles have those who have the greatest influence…they are the leaders. And, some have those who are either followers, or just glad to be in a group of people like them.
I think that people can be defined by three types of circles. Circles with people who are:
Surviving…
Thriving…
And,
Nosediving…
SURVIVING
These people have one basic thing in common. They are all making it. They are all getting by, but they are all JUST getting by. They are doing what it takes to survive, and there’s not much more time or money to do anything else. Some are content with this and some aren’t, but they are all just surviving. Within, the group of ‘survivors’ there are still some who are ‘surviving’ better than the others in the group. If this is you, where do you fall in place with your group of survivors?
THRIVING
This group also one thing in common…they are all doing extraordinarily well. They are living in ‘overflow’ of everything they need and the freedom, ability and access to what they want. But, much like the NBA team with players who are superstars, while others are multi-million dollar superstars…they are all in the same prosperous circle, but some are prospering much better than others. If this is you, where do you fall in your thriving circle?
NOSEDIVING
This circle’s common denominator is struggle. Not only is surviving a struggle for those in this circle, but it seems that everyone seems to be losing ground. They aren’t necessarily lazy, but some may be. They may work hard. They may even be wise, but have unfortunate circumstances. Even in this group, some are losing ground faster than others. And, within this circle are leaders and those who have greater influence. It this is you, where are you in your circle?
What ever your circle may be, you can still be a light for God…you can still be a positive influence. Because the truth is that these circles will always exist…
And, God needs to be found in all of them.
Remember this…
1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
So, no matter what your circle, make sure that you aren’t just the GOOD influence, make sure you’re the GOD influence.
Don’t worry about tomorrow, if you don’t trust God with today.
There may be some reason that you aren’t looking forward to or may even be dreading tomorrow…. next week… or next month. 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.
If you’re worried about tomorrow… next week… or even next year…
SNAP OUT OF IT! And, make a conscious effort to do everything you can to enjoy every minute… every second… every hour of 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.
Have you ever noticed what Jesus told the crowd after He fed over 5000 people. He called them out for not valuing the miraculous signs He did and the fact that He was doing the works of the Father. He pointed out that they were just following Him because He fed them. In other words, they valued Him, but only for what they could GET OUT OF HIM. They valued what He could do, not who He was…
John 6:26 (NLT)
26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.
Think about the people in your life who truly value you and who you are. These are the people who value the ‘INTANGIBLES’ that you bring to the table. Those closest to you; who enjoy quality time with you; those who are genuinely concerned about you; those who truly miss you when you aren’t around. They make your life worth living.
They are the people who will be there for you whether you’re up or down, through good and bad. They value helping YOU look good…These are the people who VALUE YOU.
Then there are those people who value the ‘TANGIBLES’ that you bring to the table….
Your skill-set…
Your finances…
Your talents…
Your innovation…
Your muscle…
Your hustle.
They may never even acknowledge that they value you, but they prove it through their actions. However, they ONLY value the ‘tangibles” that you bring to the table.
These people could care less how you feel. They aren’t genuinely concerned about you, and they don’t want to spend any quality time with you. They value how you make THEM look good. These are the people who VAL-USE YOU.
Pray for the discernment to distinguish between the people who VALUE you, and those who VAL-USE YOU.
They’re everywhere…
In your family…
On your job…
In your church…
Everywhere.
And, be conscious of the people you may be VAL-USING in your life.
Don’t wait until December to study Yeshua’s birth.
John 4:24 (NKJV)
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The traditional ‘nativity scene’ depicting the night that Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) was born is a favorite Christmas decoration and reenactment.
Of course it features Mary, Joseph, the Baby Jesus, the shepherds, and the Magi or ‘wise men’ from the East.
There’s only one problem…
The Magi or ‘wise men’ were not there that night…not yet.
When you read the account closely, the location that the wise men found Jesus was not a stable, and He was not in a manger. He was no longer an infant, and Joseph was not present when the wise men visited.
Matthew 2:11 (NKJV)
11 And when they had come into the HOUSE, they saw the YOUNG CHILD with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Luke 2:15-16 (NKJV)
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
It says very clearly that they arrived at a house, that Jesus was a young child, and His father wasn’t there at the time. At the scene of the birth Jesus is called a Babe, while at the scene with the wise men He is called a small child.
Notice also that the events recorded in Matthew 2:1-12 took place AFTER Yeshua was born. And, one must consider the took some time…
Matthew 2:1-12 (NKJV)
Now AFTER Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, [a]wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the [b]wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
After the LORD was born, the wise men traveled to Jerusalem after seeing the star and inquired of where they could find Jesus…that took some time.
After hearing of this, Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes and asked them where Christ was born…that took some time.
Herod then secretly requested that the wise men come to him. After determining when the star appeared, he asked the wise men to CAREFULLY (take you time) search for the “young child”… that took some time.
After finding the LORD, the wise men didn’t return to Herod, but went straight to their own country, further implying a longer journey…that took some time.
Consider this from my post, “Accepting That Something You’ve Sincerely Believed Is Wrong”…
According to verses 9-10, when they came to where the star stood over where the YOUNG CHILD was (not baby), they came into THE HOUSE (not stable) and found Jesus with His mother (Joseph wasn’t present at the time).
According to verse 12, after being warned in a dream, they departed into their own country…you can’t do all of that in one night’s time.
In verses 16 Herod ordered that all male children age 2 and under be killed…because that’s when the star first appeared.
After the wise men leave, that’s when Joseph’s name reappears as he takes his family into Egypt.
Some people are so accustomed to believing the wise men were there in the stable, that rather than accept that may not be true and they came later, we start trying to find a way to prove what wish to believe is true…rather than seek the real truth.
The fact is that the shepherds and wise men visited Jesus on two different occasions, possibly separated by about two years.
Many of those who have the traditional nativity scene ingrained in their minds may ask, “What does it matter?”
Again, because God said that anything done to worship Him MUST be done in spirit and not truth. Unfortunately, Christians are notorious for twisting and compromising to fit traditions and their will instead of God’s.
If you’re going to celebrate the Son of God’s birth, do it in SPIRIT AND TRUTH!
Let me preface this piece by saying this piece is not addressing dangerous, abusive relationships.
We all encounter people who ‘get on our nerves’. We all have people in our families, workplaces, and even churches who love to cause trouble, drama and who cause us high levels of stress and anxiety.
Some people have a chronic propensity to bring negativity to every interaction.
One of the most common and seemingly practical pieces of advice is to remove the people toxic people from our lives…but does the Bible support that teaching?
It sounds good in blog posts, self help books, sermons, and motivational speeches, but how does God expect us to handle the situation?
Notice that God told Ezekiel that He was sending Him to…well a nation of ‘toxic people’.
Ezekiel 2:3-5 (NKJV)
3 And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. 4 For they are[a]impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ 5 As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.
God equipped Ezekiel for the challenge, and He is trying to equip us…
Ezekiel 3:7-9 (NKJV)
7 But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are[a]impudent and hard-hearted. 8 Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ, sent His disciples into ‘toxic situations’…
Matthew 10:16 (NKJV)
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless[a] as doves.
The fact is that Jesus gave us instructions for how to handle people who intentionally antagonize us…
Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)
44 [a]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Notice that the Lord didn’t say avoid your enemies, block those who curse you, and remove those who spitefully use and persecute you from your life.
God expects us to strong enough to be light, and a positive spiritual influence to those who are ‘toxic’. The very person or persons that you have decided to eliminate from you life might have been specifically sent into your life to benefit from your light.
Let’s say you’re one of those people on social media who announce they are unfriending or blocking the ‘negative or messy’ people from their lives. These are people who haven’t unfriended or blocked you from their lives, even though they may be sometimes annoyed by your passion or love for God. You may be the only light they see in a sea of the craziness on social media.
God expects us to be strong and grow in wisdom, knowledge, understanding, love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness, self-control and faithfulness enough so we can represent His glory and image in every relationship and interaction.
This is when what God told us through the apostle Paul is the most powerful…
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
13 I can do all things through [a]Christ who strengthens me.
Before you get rid of someone toxic, why not pray for the strength, wisdom and patience to be a blessing to them?
What if Jesus had decided to reject the negative people in His earthly ministry?
Before you block their calls, what if blocked yours?
Have you ever noticed that some people are naturally funny? They have a wit so quick, you wonder, how could they think of that so fast.
Why?
Think about these verses in the context of laughter…
James 1:17 (NKJV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Romans 12:8 (NIV)
8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously;if it is to lead,[a] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)
22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,[a] But a broken spirit dries the bones.
I’m convinced that comedy is a God-given spiritual gift of exhortation.
I mean, what is more encouraging than a good laugh? A well-placed laugh in a good sermon only helps keep the audience engaged and possibly drive a point home.
The bible tells us that one of the promises from God is that we will all see trouble during our days on this earth…
Job 14:1(NKJV)
14 “Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and full of trouble.
It’s God’s gift of laughter that gets us through many of those tough days.
I’m convinced that God has appointed some of us Ministers of Laughter…
So, do you know anyone with a special anointing to make the best situations better and inject some encouraging humor into the worst. Those who can make us smile when we feel like crying. Is it you?
Unfortunately, many comedians and comediennes use their gift to glorify the enemy through vulgarity and profanity, but that doesn’t mean the gift isn’t from God. It’s just misdirected.
Are you a Minister of Laughter? If so, walk in your anointing. You’re important to the Kingdom of God!
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
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.
Yehovah Yireh provides perfectly through our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
We must always be careful that we never dishonor Him because we have our wants confused with our needs.
It didn’t take long for Israel to get tired of the ‘bread from heaven provided by God…
Numbers 11:1-20 (NKJV)
11 Now (A)when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; (B)for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the (C)fire of the Lordburned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. 2 Then the people (D)cried out to Moses, and when Moses (E)prayed to the Lord, the fire was [a]quenched. 3 So he called the name of the place [b]Taberah, because the fire of the Lord had burned among them.
4 Now the (F)mixed multitude who were among them [c]yielded to (G)intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: (H)“Who will give us meat to eat? 5 (I)We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6 but now (J)our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”
7 Now (K)the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium. 8 The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and (L)its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil. 9 And (M)when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.
10 Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and (N)the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. 11 (O)So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the [d]burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, (P)‘Carry them in your bosom, as a (Q)guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You (R)swore[e] to their fathers? 13 (S)Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ 14 (T)I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and (U)do not let me see my wretchedness!”
16 So the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me (V)seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and (W)officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and talk with you there. (X)I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. 18 Then you shall say to the people, [f]‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept (Y)in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. 19 You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 20 (Z)but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have (AA)despised the Lord who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, (AB)“Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?” ’ ”
How many times have you looked in the refrigerator, pantry or cabinet and said, “There’s nothing to eat” because it wasn’t what you wanted?
How many times have you complained about the job you prayed for and God is using to sustain your life this season?
How many times have you complained about the spouse, children or family that God gave you because they don’t always see eye-to-eye with you? Remember the children of Israel complained in the wilderness against Moses’ leadership over and over again.
Complaining is one of the sins that pisses Him off the most…
1 Corinthians 10:10 (NKJV)
10 nor complain, as (A)some of them also complained, and (B)were destroyed by (C)the destroyer.
Remember, complaining is the opposite of thanksgiving.
And I must admit that it’s very rare that I like it.
It’s very hard for me to hear.
Sometimes, I think it’s not fair.
I will think to myself, “You didn’t say the ‘N-WORD’ to him…or to her!”
I know that God is sovereign, and He can say whatever He wants to say.
I know He loves me…knows what’s best for me…and everything He does is always working for my good.
I know He knows me better than I know myself.
Yes, I trust Him, and I submit to His perfect will for my life.
But, that doesn’t make it hurt any less when God decides to respond to me with…
The ‘N-WORD’
Sometimes I reason within myself, He really didn’t mean that.
Sometimes I will keep pushing, trying to force a different response…
But, still His answer remains to be…
The ‘N-WORD’
As much as He loves me and gives me all of what I need and some of what I want…
Sometimes God has to say…
The ‘N-WORD’ to me
As much as I don’t like it, I still love Him and trust Him.
I take peace in the fact that His grace is always sufficient for me.
How do you react…
When God tells you “NO”?
2 Corinthians 12: 8-9 (NKJV)
8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Should there be consequence for when reasonable expectations aren’t met on the job? Yes, of course!
But, in our current culture it’s become all to common for a boss to ‘chew out’ and employee who isn’t meeting those expectations…who makes a mistake…who needs correction.
No matter where someone sits on the hierarchy of organizational structure, the fact is that workers are all just people doing a job to take care of their families or themselves…to make a living.
It’s true some jobs are much more impactful on society if someone messes up, for example if someone is setting up an operating room for emergency surgery, but the fact still remains that all workers are equal citizens doing a job.
But think about this. Outside the workplace, your boss is just another person. He or she is someone else’s wife, husband, son, daughter, father, mother…just a person. They have absolutely NO authority over your life outside of your commitment to the company or organization.
Because we are all just equal citizens trying to make a living, no one has the right to overly assertively reprimand another adult at work. Offices, factories, schools and churches are not the military.
No one has the right to belittle you… insult you… embarrass you… or even threaten you because they think that’s leadership. This usually happens when the correction is affected by emotions.
Every organization has consequences in place for when expectations aren’t met.
Verbally warn me with respect!
Write me up!
Demote me!
Fire me!
But no one has the right to belittle, insult, embarrass, threaten or treat another adult like a child, even if they have organizational authority over them.
Real leadership isn’t achieved through fear, intimidation, or adult bullying.
When a person is hired, make sure that the progression of consequences are clear, and proceed through them with respect.
No one wants to be disrespected, not even when they mess up.
Matthew 7:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
It’s undeniable that sincere, devoted Christians don’t always agree on the interpretation and application of God’s word…the bible.
How many times have you been in a discussion and someone uses scripture to support ‘their’ point and you think to yourself, “Ummm, that’s not what that means.
One of the main reasons that there are so many different groups or denominations within Christianity is because sincere Christians don’t agree on what was meant by what God said in His inspired word.
“Once Saved Always Saved”
No music instrumental music in worship service
Speaking in Tongues
Proper dress for men or women
Female ministers and pastors
Proper day to worship
Should we celebrate holidays
Tithing
Clean and unclean foods
Should there be priest in church
Is it a sin to drink alcohol
These are just a few of the points in which sincere Christians disagree, unfortunately sometimes to the point of contention. Whether it be huge doctrinal issues or individual disagreements in navigating ‘real life’ situations, too many times Christians are at odds when the word of God clearly said…
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Jesus Christ Himself was continually called a devil because He challenged how the religious elite interpreted and viewed the scriptures.
So, how do you know who is right and who is wrong? NO ONE!
It’s not about US being right or wrong, but who is in harmony with God’s truth. We must be careful not to fall into the mindset of trying to prove we are right. We didn’t create the world. We didn’t die on the cross. We have no authority to be ‘RIGHT’.
So our goal isn’t to be right, but to be in agreement with God’s truth. We can only have unity in the body of Christ when we adopt this mindset. Here are a few ways to tell who is in harmony with God’s truth.
Those who are willing to…
ACCEPT NO GROUP HAS IT ALL RIGHT
It’s interesting how groups and denomonations are so different, but each thinks they are ‘the closet to the truth’. As we grow in our faith, we realize that God doesn’t change, but our theology evolves and changes. That’s what Jesus did. He challenged their theology. Look at some of Jesus’ statement I Matthew 5…
Matthew 5:17(NKJV)
17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill…”
27 “You have heard it said…”
31 “Furthermore it has been said…”
33 Again you have heard it was said to those of old…”
We have to mature and secure enough to realize that we can challenge our theology, grow and change our thinking without implying that the word or God has changed. Every group, just as the religious leaders in the New Testament has to be willing to accept that they are currently believing and practicing some things that ARE NOT in harmony with God’s truth.
Have you ever noticed how a negative person can sap the energy out of a room? Have you ever noticed how negativity can steal the joy from a moment? Have you ever noticed how a person who complains can convince a person who is completely content and satisfied to be unhappy?
This is why God hates pessimism. This is why God hates negativity. This is why God hates complaining…7 REASONS GOD HATES COMPLAINING…
Remember that God had promised Israel victory, but they had to go in and claim the Promised Land that He had committed to giving them. As they travelled in the wilderness, Moses sent out spies to ‘check out the land’. To make a long story short, Joshua and Caleb brought back positive news in the form of a good report. However, the other spies brought back negative news and pessimism in the form of a ‘bad report’…
Numbers 13:21-33 (NKJV)
21 So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath. 22 And they went up through the South and came to Hebron; Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 Then they came to the [a]Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. 24 The place was called the Valley of [b]Eshcol, because of the cluster which the men of Israel cut down there. 25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days.
26 Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly [c]flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”
30 Then Caleb quieted thepeople before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the [d]giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like[e] grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
Numbers 14:1-4 (NKJV)
14 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why has the Lord brought us to this land to [a]fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”
This pessimism and negativity pissed off the God of our Salvation because it discouraged the people! It pissed Him off A LOT!
Numbers 14:11-25 (NKJV)
11 Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject[a] Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the [b]signs which I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
13 And Moses said to the Lord: “Then the Egyptians will hear it, for by Your might You brought these people up from among them, 14 and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, Lord, are among these people; that You, Lord, are seen face to face and Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying, 16 ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people to the land which He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’ 17 And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying, 18 ‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’ 19 Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”
20 Then the Lord said: “I have pardoned, according to your word; 21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord— 22 because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, 23 they certainly shall not see the landof which I [c]swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. 25 Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.”
How many times have you negatively influenced someone who was perfectly content? How many times have you spread the contagious spirit of negativity?
God gets just as angry now as He did then. As a matter of fact, His extreme judgments in the Old Testament are recorded for us as examples of how angry pessimism, negativity and complaining makes Him…
1 Corinthians 10:1-10 (NKJV)
10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us [a]tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
As much as we are working hard to prevent the spread of contagious diseases, please make sure that you aren’t responsible for contributing to the pandemic of pessimism.
John Chapter 17 records the real ‘Lord’s Prayer’, as Matthew 6 gives us the model prayer. In John, He prays for Himself, His disciples and finally those who believe in Him through the disciples words…us.
It’s interesting of all things He could pray about, in verses 20 through 24 He prayed for…
Unity… Agreement… ONENESS!
Why?
Because three of the most powerful forces on this earth are…
LOVE…
HATE…
and…
UNITY!
It would be impossible for the Gospel to spread, the church to grow and families to survive without unity.
Notice what the bible says about agreement…
Genesis 11:6 (NKJV)
6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people ARE ONE and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.
Amos 3:3 (NKJV)
3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all [a]speak the same thing, and that there be no [b]divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
It was through ‘agreement’ and ‘unity’ that the devil was able to provoke rebellion in heaven leading to him and those who united with him being kicked out…
Revelation 12:7-9 (NKJV)
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they [a]did not prevail, nor was a place found for [b]them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
However, the ultimate agreement is in heaven…
1 John 5:7 (NKJV)
7For there are three that bear witness [a]in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
So, if our Savior was intentional enough to pray for agreement, I encourage you to be intentional to specifically pray for agreement EVER DAY in…
Your marriage…
Your family…
In your local church…
In the Body of Christ…
In your government…
On your job.
And especially pray for unity with God… That you are ONE with Him and He is ONE with you, just as He is ONE with our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah. Pray for this every day, and if possible every time you pray.
Notice how many times the Lord says or infers ONE in His prayer for us…
John 17:20-26 (NKJV)
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who [a]will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be ONE as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be ONE in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be ONE just as We are ONE: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in ONE, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Remember, this isn’t just a prayer, it’s the Lord’s passion. And, it should be ours too.
Don’t let a mistake get you down.Making things right with God is easy.Just acknowledge your mistake (sin) to Him and make a sincere commitment to never do it again.If you hurt someone else, ask them to forgive you if possible.Ask God for His help so that you don’t do it again.Don’t put yourself in the position to do it again.Even if people don’t forgive you, go forward on confidence and enjoy the fact the God has forgiven you through His Son and our Savior, Yeshua, Christ Jesus. 1 John 1:9(NKJV)If weconfess our sins, He isfaithful and just to forgive usoursins and tocleanse us from all unrighteousness.BE BLESSTIFIED!
Anyone who reads my writing knows I love to clarify anything that can be misunderstood or twisted. Anyone who has read my writing or watched any of our #SONdayBlessing videos knows I love, cherish, respect and honor my wife. I consider us to be equals in our marriage and I am fully aware of God telling us in 1 Peter that we are to honor our wives, and not doing so can hinder our prayers…
1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV)
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
I am fully aware and happily accept the husband’s responsibility to love our wives as Christ loves the church. This is the sacrificial love that’s is defined in Ephesians…
Ephesians 5:25-29 (NKJV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
That being said, now let us consider what the word of God says in 1 Corinthians Chapter 11…
1 Corinthians 11:8-9 (NKJV)
8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
I feel that each husband should treat his wife as if she is his QUEEN, and vice versa. However, anyone who believes the bible is the word of God knows what God said before He created woman…
Genesis 2:18 (NKJV)
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
God created man to be the head. But, as my father-in-law Pastor Lonnie Black has said for years…
“God created man to be the head and not the headache.” Pastor Lonnie Black
We live in a society today that more and more behaves as if man was created for woman than woman for man. That the husband is to submit to his wife, rather than woman submit to her husband.
Even thepopularcliche, HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE eludes to that.
We live in a society today where the husband is expected to ‘answer to his wife’…to go out of his way to make her happy…to work himself to the bone in order to get her whatever she wants…to submit to her when there is a disagreement…that if a woman allows her husband to ‘tell her what to do’ she is being weak. And, that if a husband isn’t giving his wife everything she desires, he is less than a husband.
Television, film, music and especially reality shows and social media support this (Think of all the “HOUSEWIVES” shows…there’s one to target various cultures). It’s art imitating life and art further shaping behavior and the narrative of male/female relationships.
In a sense, we have made our QUEENS…KINGS.
Marriage is not 50/50, it’s 100/100. It’s woman submitting to her husband’s authority in the home and enjoying his covering and protection. But, at the same time, marriage is the husband not abusing his authority, and considering his wife as an equal in all decisions. However, when decisions are made in the home, God will hold the husband (head) accountable…especially in regard to worship being established.
If you haven’t already, step back and take a look at what’s on television, movies and social media. Listen to much of the popular music these days. Listen to many of the conversations. Many people have gone beyond treating wives like QUEENS, to making them KINGS.
Husbands and wives…let’s be good to one another. Let’s love, trust, honor and support one another, but let’s not forget God’s order.
People are constantly looking for answers to crime. I hear cries for police and politicians to find solutions. The truth is that police and politicians can’t stop crime.
Politicians and leaders can ONLY MAKE laws.
Police can ONLY ENFORCE the law.
But neither can make anyone obey the law. Neither can instill the character, integrity, self-control, discipline, respect for the lives, property and opinions of others necessary to reduce or cure crime. Even God Himself watched His people struggle with trying to live up to the standards of the Law, but the Law’s purpose is define right and wrong, to give us boundaries and God’s standards. God Himself gives us the responsibility and power to ‘do the right things’. God has a cure for crime, and it’s really simple…
1. Submit to His will
2. Let His love rule in your heart (let love be the filter for your decisions)
3. Walk in His Spirit
4. Learn to Control Our Emotions
(1) God’s will always puts what’s best for us first, so submitting to His compels us to always do what’s best for one another…
Philippians 2:3 tells us to…
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit and to esteem others better than himself. It’s God’s will that we put others first.
(2) When we allow love to be the filter through which every decision is made, we will not do anything to harm our neighbors…
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 eloquently describes the behavior and character of love…
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(3) When we walk in the Spirit, it makes it more difficult to follow through on the urges of our flesh that can lead to crime, as Galatians 5:16 makes very clear…
Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
(4) I feel that EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE is the most powerful tool God has given us to cure crime. Psychology Today defines Emotional Intelligence as the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. This is behavioral science that is in perfect harmony with scripture…
Colossians 3:5-7 (NKJV)
5 Therefore PUT TO DEATH your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.8 But now YOU YOURSELVES ARE TO PUT OFF all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth
1 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)
So PUT AWAY all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
Ephesians 4:31 (NKJV)
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander BE PUT AWAY from you, along with all malice.
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
God commands that WE OURSELVES lay aside, put away, put off, and put to death those things that cause us to stumble.
Most crime comes from a failure to control emotions…
Anger
Lust
Jealousy
Depression
Boredom
Greed
Even apathy leads to sins of omission. Stop and think of various crimes and how they can be linked back to an emotion. We must facilitate cultures of emotional control for crime to reduce. Police can’t do it, Politicians can’t do it, Marches can’t do it…only submitting to God will solve our crime problem. Laws makes our MINDS aware of ‘right and wrong’, but change comes from the HEART.
Most people who grew up in or around church, or were raised with a belief in God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or those who have come from unbelief to belief will all quickly proclaim, “I love God!”
But, do you love Him? Or do just feel it’s the right to say? You may even be afraid not to say it. Which is a healthy fear and reverence of God, but still isn’t love.
When you love someone, you want to be in their presence as much as possible, in fact you look forward to it. When you love someone you want to know what’s important to them. When you love someone you don’t want to hurt them, intentionally or unintentionally.
When you love someone you want to grow closer to them. When you love someone, you enjoy talking about them. Many people when they are honest with themselves love their favorite team, their car, their guns, their _____________ more than they love God because that’s what they love talking about.
When you love someone you aren’t afraid to show affection for them in public. I’m not talking about kissing…I’m talking about holding their hand, hugging them…you aren’t ashamed to let the world know you love them. Some of the same people who get hoarse at a ball game are ashamed to praise God publicly even in worship. Too many Christians are too ashamed to even bless their food in public. Are you ashamed to lift up your hands in public and say ,“Hallelujah, I love you LORD!” Or, are you afraid people with think you’re crazy. Do you reason that, “It doesn’t take all of that to love God”. But, when you love someone, you aren’t concerned with what is minimal or necessary. You’re more than happy to do what is ‘extra’ for them
When you love someone you aren’t just in relationship with them for what you can get out of them. You aren’t just in the relationship for the benefits. When you love someone you can talk to them for hours. How often do you talk to God and fellowship with Him prayer, just because it’s peaceful…not asking for anything, just spending quality time with Him?
When you love someone, you love listening to ‘mood’ music with them. You love listening to music that makes you feel closer to one another. You love sharing ‘your song’. I’m not saying you have to listen to Christian music all of the time, but I wonder how many Christians are perfectly comfortable never listening to some form of Gospel music…except when they are in church.
When you really love someone, what they think about you matters to you more than anyone else in the world. You want their love…their respect…their devotion…their affection.
How can one really love God and either never, seldom or randomly read His word? God knows we have the opportunity to fellowship with Him in His word whenever they please. Many claim they don’t have time, but that’s simply not true. Many people, when their honest with themselves, love social media, their favorite fiction or non fiction book, or whatever else they love to do in their spare time more than they love the word of God. What’s the first thing you check each morning? Your social media? The news? The weather? Your horoscope? Or, God’s ‘status’ and what He has ‘posted’ in His word.
It’s in His word we fellowship with Him. It’s in His word we find out what pleases Him. It’s in His word that we find out what He loves and what He hates. His word gives us both comfort and correction.
When you love someone, living to please them is not a burden, but a blessing…
1 John 5:3 (NKJV)
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
I challenge you today to ask yourself, “Do I really love God, or is it just the right thing to say”. Yes, you believe in Him. Yes, you fear Him. Yes, you respect Him. Yes, you reverence Him. Yes, you pray. Yes, You, go to church…
But do you love Him?
And finally, think about this…
Most people quickly claim that want to go to heaven or live eternally in His presence, but I contend that if you don’t genuinely enjoy reading His word, fellowshipping with Him, worshiping Him, being in His presence, even going to church now, what makes you think you will want to do it forever?
Remember, real love isn’t just state, it’s demonstrated…
Romans 5:8 (NKJV)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
It’s unfortunate that too many times, Christians totally disregard what God said. Christians will claim to live by God’s word where it’s convenient for their own personal theology, but in places where it challenges their beliefs or behavior, many totally disregard what the word says explicitly.
“You’ve got common sense.”
“God didn’t mean that”
“Times are different now!”
“They don’t know who they’re messing with!”
“Don’t make me revert back to my old self!”
“I haven’t always been saved!”
These are just a few of the statements made when people want to exercise their own authority over God’s word.
One such statement and commandment that Yeshua (Jesus) made was when He clearly told us to TURN THE OTHER CHEEK…
Matthew 5:38-39 (NKJV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
There’s no IFs, ANDs or BUTs about what Jesus said. We are not to resist an evil person, but we are to do exactly what He did before He was crucified…
Luke 22:64 (NKJV)
64 [a]And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?”
Many Christians are quick to teach their children that if someone hits you, that you are to hit them back. “Don’t let anyone think you’re afraid of them.”
Others will say that God allows you to defend yourself.
They are correct that God allows you to defend yourself WHEN YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER. But, someone trying to humiliate or intimidate you by slapping you or striking you is totally different from someone tackling you or trying to overcome you physically. It’s totally different that when someone is really threatening your life.
HERE’S THE PROBLEM WITH IGNORING TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK…
Yes, God give us permission to defend our lives, but when our lives aren’t in danger, its not about self defense…IT’S ABOUT PRIDE!
Pride and the sins that come from pride (arrogance, jealousy, envy, wrath, revenge, etc.) are the reasons that disagreements escalate…
families are dysfunctional…
friendships end…
crime is prevalent in so many cities…
and wars strike up around the world.
Too many Christians are ‘ready for a fight’!
Too many Christians are fantasizing about a situation where they have to ‘stand their ground’!
Too many Christians don’t trust God to fight their battles! (Read 2 Chronicles Chapter 20).
Too many Christians are ready for a physical fight because they don’t trust God to fight their spiritual battles.
We can’t cherry-pick our way through the bible asserting our own authority over God’s. That’s idolatry, and He’s not having it.
We live in a highly interactive world. Everyone has a platform, especially through social media, to express themselves. We interact with one another in our families. On your jobs. In our schools. As the bible says, “as we go out and as we come in”, we are almost always interacting with someone.
Whoever is reading this is interacting with me right now. What I’m writing right now may be foolishness to you. You may consider it stupid. You may consider it offensive. If so, after reading you have a choice. Do I respond? Or, do I just move on? And, thus to the crux of my short message here…
When you hear something. When you read something. When someone comes ‘head on’ to you with something that you consider FOOLISHNESS…what do you do?
SOME FOOLISHNESS DOES NOT DESERVE A RESPONSE, WHILE OTHER FOOLISHNESS DEMANDS ONE.
Some foolishness would die if we would just allow it. While other foolishness is like a spark ready to spread like wildfire.
How do you know?
Well, you have to pray for discernment. Discernment is an aspect of wisdom, and God will grant it in abundance if you ask Him.
James 1:5 (NKJV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Notice how sometimes Jesus responded to those who opposed Him, and sometimes He was rather assertive.
Matthew 15:1-12 (NKJV)
15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; [a] and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’[b]5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’[c] Thus you have made the commandment[d] of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And[e] honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”[f]
10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
While other times, He didn’t say a word…
Matthew 27:12-14 (NKJV)
12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV)
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
But, when you DO respond, remember this…
Respond in wisdom.
Respond with reason.
And, please don’t respond in your raw emotions.
We must realize when we are planting a seed of righteousness, and a seed of foolishness.
Proverbs 29:11 (NKJV)
11 A fool vents all his feelings,[a]
But a wise man holds them back.
While many Christians are conscious of ‘politicized’ sins and feeding conspiracy theories, there’s 3 sins and conspiracies that have slipped through their radar and been accepted.
Yes, abortion is sin. Yes, homosexuality is sin. Many people who identify as Christians are passionate about rebuking and rejecting these sins, as they should be. However, these aren’t the only abominations in the bible. The fact is that many evangelicals reject some sins while excusing those that either don’t bother them, or that they want to continue committing.
So, if you want liberals to accept that abortion and homosexuality are sins, are you willing to accept…
1. Allowing your children to participate in Halloween is symbolically sacrificing them to idols?
God became very angry at Israel for adopting the customs of the heathen and sacrificing their children to Molech and allowing them to ‘pass through the fire’. Halloween’s roots are undeniably pagan. Either a Google search or scholarly research can easily prove that. The devil knows he can’t get Christians today to ‘sacrifice’ their children literally, so he does it symbolically to spite God. The easiest way for the enemy to allow sin to continue through generations is to make people feel as though their children are missing out on something, and that’s what he does. God made it clear that we are not to ‘learn the way of the heathen’…
Jeremiah 10:2-5 (KJV)
2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them?
If you want liberals to accept that abortion is wrong, are you willing to accept that Halloween is a pagan practice that should immediately be removed as a National holiday (holy day)?
2. Calling our celebration of our Lord and Savior’s resurrection ‘EASTER’ is blatant blasphemy?
It’s undeniable that the name EASTER has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus Christ, (Yeshua the Messiah). It is derived from the name of a pagan goddess named Eostre, who is the same goddess as Ishtar, and Ashtoreth who God continually rebuked and punished Israel for worshipping. The devil has allowed this worship to continue by defiling the celebration of Yeshua’s death, burial and resurrection. Notice what God told His people before they entered the promised land…
Joshua 23:6-7(New King James Version)
6 Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 and lest you go[a] among these nations, these who remain among you. YOU SHALL NOT MAKE MENTION OF THE NAME of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,
God is very clear here. DO NOT MAKE MENTION. But, the devil has convinced Christians to do exactly that EVERY TIME they refer to a day set aside to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection. Putting any name where God’s name belongs is BLASPHEMY. Look at how angry God was at His people acknowledging idol Gods when they were rebuked for worshipping Tammuz who is directly associated with Ishtar…
Ezekiel 8:14-18 (NKJV)
14 So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for [a]Tammuz.
15 Then He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these.” 16 So He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house; and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east.
17 And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”
These are the abominations that got His people exiled into Assyria and Babylon. It’s amazing how Americans who are so concerned with losing their freedom ignore the sins that actually made Israel lose their freedom — the Spiritual adultery, not the actual heathens in the land themselves.
If you want ‘sinners’ to accept that abortion and homosexuality is sin, are you willing to accept that calling our Savior’s resurrection celebration ‘Easter’ and continuing the customs of hunting eggs, especially in church is blasphemy and an abomination?
3. Celebrating our Savior’s birth by erecting a tree in your home is setting up a shrine to an idol in your home?
It is also clear that the origin of Christmas trees is pagan as well. I myself had vacillated about this for years. But, notice what Encyclopedia Britannica says concerning Christmas trees…
“according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, “The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmas time.”
It is clear what God told His people in Jeremiah when referencing how they harvested trees to carve idols…
Jeremiah 10:2-5 (NKJV)
2 Thus says the Lord:
“Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the peoples are[a]futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. 4 They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple. 5 They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good.”
Too many Christians are perfectly comfortable telling their children that Santa Claus is watching them all year. They are comfortable letting their children think that Santa Clause “knows when they are sleeping, and knows when they are awake…knows if they’ve been bad or good.” Only God can do these things! This again is blasphemy. The devil has convinced Christians that it’s harmless, but notice that God states in Ezekiel 8:17 that God doesn’t see anything as trivial…”Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here?” Again, one of the enemy’s strategies to allow sins to go on for thousands of years is to convince people that their children are missing out on something.
The fact is that if God forbade all of the three practices above, they are symbolically very much like the ‘accursed things’ that Achan coveted from the heathen people of Ai. He took it and hid it bringing the wrath of God on himself and his family. Please go back and read Joshua Chapter 7.
If you find yourself searching for excuses to prove the above statements wrong, if you’re ‘pushing back’, then you’re no different than the ‘sinner’ who supports abortion or homosexuality — they are all equal abominations to God.
Too many people, as the Apostle Paul said, have a zeal or passion for God, but not according to knowledge. And, just like the people of that day, we have gone about to ESTABLISH OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Romans 10:2-4 (NKJV)
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Too many people politicize the sins that bother them, while excusing those that don’t. They excuse the sins they wish to continue. Many of these sins are the very sins that provoked God to enough anger to send them into exile.
I have heard so many people give the reason for their political choices based on ‘sins’ as ‘the lesser of two evils’. In God’s eyes sin is sin, so there is no lesser of two evils.
Let me first say this is NOT a condemnation of football. I enjoy football. I enjoy playing and I enjoy watching. But, the purpose of this article is for my fellow Christians who enjoy football to give themselves a self-examination…
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.
I’m talking about going beyond enjoying football to loving it. I’m talking about going beyond loving it to allowing it to become your God.
How? At what point?
Football may have become your God when…
You put regularly going to or watching games before going to worship (whether you worship on Saturday (College) or SONday (Professional)…
Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV)
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
You know all the players on the roster of your team – all their stats from high school, college and professional, but you can’t name the 12 disciples…
When you do more evangelism and witnessing for your team than you do for Christ…
When you talk more about the game on Saturday or SONday and say absolutely nothing about the sermon, worship or spiritual seed that was sown in you over the weekend.
When you become more offended when someone disrespects your team or favorite player than when they disrespect God…
When you lift up your hands and shout, cheer and celebrate your team but are ashamed to or claim ‘it doesn’t take all of that’ for God…
Psalm 134:2 (NKJV)
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord.
When you don’t mind sitting through triple overtime for a game but complain if the preacher preaches ‘too long’…
When you teach your children that football (games, practices and discipline) is more important than worship by allowing them to miss church for it…
When you allow a coach to use profanity and unholy language to get the ‘best’ out of your child when the bible forbids use of this type of language…
Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers
When people can tell that you’re a fan but can’t tell you’re a disciple…
When you regularly put it before your family…
When you’re more proud of your team than you are your Savior…
You get more angry at your quarterback getting sacked than you do about Jesus being nailed to the cross…
When this cross…
Means more to you than this cross…
Be honest with yourself. Enjoy football, but God knows what comes first in your heart, and He refuses to come second.
How much are you worth? Can you really quantify your value to…
Your job?
Your family?
Your church?
Your relationships?
Your world?
God has created us and gifted all wonderfully and uniquely. No one else can be as good at being you than you!
Psalm 139:13-14 (NKJV)
13For You formed my inward parts; You [a]covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for [b]I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
It’s our responsibility to recognize, nurture and perfect what God has placed inside of us. And to use it not only to sustain our lives, but to build God’s kingdom and make the world a better place.
Luke 12:48
(NKJV)
48 But
he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten
with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required;
and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
God has created us all with great value!
So much so, that no one should ever be able to pay us what we’re worth.
How much money do you make? What’s your salary? What’s your
hourly wage?
Do you feel that’s ALL your worth?
Do you feel that’s ALL you bring to the table?
We should all be irreplaceable…
Not only in our job descriptions but also in the intangibles. There should be a void any time we leave a workplace, relationship, church etc.
Your energy, positivity, love…your very presence should be missed. You should bring those things that can’t be trained or taught….
Those things that go beyond experience, such as being the person everyone looks to in a crisis.
Even if they can replace YOU, they should never be able to replace WHAT YOU DO!
Anytime you feel you aren’t bringing enough to the table…YOU AREN’T.
We’re placed here to be God’s representatives in every environment and relationship we occupy. God blesses us to bring glory to God through the anointing on our lives, the gifts He’s giving us and the seeds we sow.
My wife found some beautiful, fun rainbow colored curtains for our granddaughter’s playroom. After we put them up, being visible from the outside, we both thought what if people think we are supporting ‘Pride’?
The rainbow is a sign of God’s promise…
Genesis 9:13-15 (NKJV)
13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenantbetween Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Genesis 9:13-15 (NKJV)
God promised to never destroy the world again with water. Yes, there have been catastrophic floods since then, but none like the one in Noah’s time.
The rainbow is a sign of God’s promise and I believe that to be true.
In the past few years those who wish to legitimize the sin of homosexuality have claimed the rainbow as the symbol of their movement. First of all I don’t hate anyone who is gay, but I do believe it is a sin equal to fornication, adultery, and other sexual sins. I also admit that I’m not perfect…my family and God continually reminds me of the areas in which I need to grow. However, it is our responsibility as Christians to hold one another accountable, so calling out sin is not judging someone, as some love to shout when someone else calls out any of the works of the flesh…
Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
That being said, I feel using the rainbow to symbolize PRIDE is wrong for two reasons…
Because the cause is a sin…
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [a]homosexuals, nor [b]sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
And, because pride is a sin…
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [a]homosexuals, nor [b]sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
So, the curtains hang in her playroom reminding us of God’s promise… we reclaim it in the name of Yeshua the Som of God.
“THERE IS NO ‘U’ IN FOOLISHNESS. LET’S KEEP IT THAT WAY” BEBLESSTIFIED.COM
There’s nothing wrong with a good laugh. We need laughter to provide balance to the emotional rollercoaster life. In fact, even the Word of God says…
Proverbs 17:22New King James Version (NKJV)
22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,[a]
But a broken spirit dries the bones.
But where do we draw the line between good humor and foolishness? We have all laughed and found amusement in things that are displeasing to God.
Jokes that are crude, lewd, insulting, demeaning, disrespectful, blasphemous and intentionally or unintentionally unholy.
Look at how the bible defines a ‘fool’…
Psalm 14:1 (NKJV)
14 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.
Psalm 53:1(NKJV)
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good.
Anything that ‘denies’ not only denies God’s existence, but His holiness, His truth, His integrity, His sovereignty.
Any thing that denies godly character or the character of those made in His image, the fruit of His Spirit, as I said earlier…that is blasphemous and foolish.
That doesn’t mean that you have to be serious all the time or even totally avoid the humor in sex, and other taboo topics in life. We just have to be careful with how we share them.
“THERE IS NO ‘U’ IN FOOLISHNESS. LET’S KEEP IT THAT WAY.”
BE BLESSTIFIED! 