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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. MANY PEOPLE IN CHURCH ARE SELF-RIGHTEOUS…

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

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

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

3. THOSE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH ARE WEAKER THAN YOU…

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

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

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

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

God doesn’t accept our excuses…

Romans 1:20 (NKJV)

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

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

Romans 12:3 (NKJV)

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

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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

Yes, God is patient.

Yes, God is longsuffering.

Yes, God gives us time to change and grow.

But, does He really ‘wait’ on us?

Why does Isaiah Chapter 30 say…

Isaiah 30:18 (NKJV)

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

Think about this…

God exists outside of time.

He is the first and last…

The beginning and the end.

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

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

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

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

God delays His wrath.

God delays His judgment.

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

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

Die…

Lie…

Fail…

Wait.

2 Peter 3:8 (NKJV)

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

BEBLESSTIFIED!

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

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

Learn to pull inspiration out of your desperation!

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

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

John 4:24 (KJV)

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

1 Corinthians 15:45 (NKJV)

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

Romans 8:11 (NKJV)

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

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

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

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

John 8:51 (NKJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Can God restore your marriage? Yes.

Can God restore your family? Yes.

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

Can the Lord help you overcome addiction? Yes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sometimes they come because their friends or cousins have come.

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

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

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

John 6:22-27 (NKJV)

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

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

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

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

1 Peter 1:8-9 (NKJV)

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

 BE BLESSTIFIED!

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

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

Have we had enough Revivals, Conferences and Conventions?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV)

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

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

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

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

Come on Body of Christ…

It’s time to change the world!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

God had Abraham send away Hagar and Ishmael…

Genesis 21:14 (NKJV)

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

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

Genesis 25:28 (NKJV)

Thank God for your father.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Do you ‘look’ like your father?

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

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

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

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

John 8:44-45 (KJV)

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

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

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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

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

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

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

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

God was not SURPRISED when David slept with Bathsheba…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

When everyone’s playing his or her own God-given role in God’s Kingdom…there’s NO competition!

Competition only arises when someone seeks or feels threatened by someone else’s assignment.

Matthew couldn’t do James’ assignment.

John couldn’t do Paul’s assignment.

Peter wasn’t sent to the Gentiles, Paul was. If Peter started trying to plant churches for the Gentiles, that would have caused competition for Paul’s assignment, and neglect to Peter’s. The Kingdom would have suffered.

Jesus can’t even do the Holy Spirit’s assignment.

The Holy Spirit didn’t save you…the Son did (Matthew 18:11). Jesus doesn’t convict you…the Holy Spirit does (John 16:8). One God, with three different ‘assignments’ or authorities.

You can’t do my assignment, nor can I do yours.

There are people who God has assigned for you to reach…and no one else.

No one else is equipped to complete your assignment but you.

Too many people in ministry, in music ministry, in churches, are competing because we aren’t focused enough, satisfied with or aware of our own assignment.

For example, I think that so much Gospel music within genres sounds the same because artists are pressured to do what sells, rather than what God places in them…in other words, to do what someone else is doing!

Notice what 1 Peter Chapter 4 says…

 1 Peter 4:9-10 (NIV)

9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.10 Each of you SHOULD USE WHATEVER GIFT YOU HAVE RECEIVED to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its VARIOUS FORMS.

If you don’t like someone’s preaching style…maybe they weren’t assigned to you.

If you don’t like someone’s singing style…maybe they weren’t assigned to you.

If you don’t like Gospel hip hop…may be it’s not meant to reach you. The music is the medium, but the ministry is in the lyrics.

God knows what rhythms and melodies touches each person emotionally, just as a love song touches someone in love…so everything isn’t for everybody.

If you aren’t getting the response from your ministry that you hoped for…maybe you are trying to reach people who weren’t assigned to you.

Also remember this…

Some assignments will reach more people than others, and that’s okay. The pastor of a small congregation is just as important to his 50 members as the pastor of a large is to his 5000…the pastor of the smaller church shouldn’t question, judge or be jealous of the larger…just be true to his assignment.

We can’t let the enemy trick us into comparing ourselves to others.

Ministers,

Preachers,

Pastors,

Evangelists,

Musicians,

Artists,

Writers,

Authors,

and yes Bloggers!

You don’t have to be threatened by or jealous of others ministry, calling anointing or ‘following’. We’re all supposed to be on the same team.

Galatians 6:4-5 (NKJV)

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The Lord gave us a model prayer in Matthew 6: 9-13…some call it The Lord’s Prayer. Beyond that model we have access to God to talk to Him about all of our concerns in the Name (authority) of our Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus Christ.

It is also essential that we intercede for others in our prayers…even our enemies. But there our two ‘topics’ unfortunately sometimes omitted, often unintentionally, from our prayer lives. These are two things that the bible gives clear examples of how important it is to God that we include in our regular prayers.

I just want to give you a quick reminder that you don’t forget to pray for…

1. JERUSALEM

I can’t make it any more clear than…

Psalm 122:6-9 (NKJV)

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls,
Prosperity within your palaces.”
8 For the sake of my brethren and companions,
I will now say, “Peace be within you.”
9 Because of the house of the Lord our God
I will seek your good.

2. PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

The persecution of Christians didn’t stop with Saul or Tarsus, Nero, or even in the Middle Ages. There are still Christians being persecuted, imprisoned and executed for the sake of the Gospel today. There are those who put themselves in harm’s way to share God’s word.

It is important that the Body of Christ remain in constant prayer for those who are enduring hardship for the Kingdom of God.

Remember what happened when Peter was put in prison for certain death, until the church prayed…

Acts 2:1-17 (NKJV) 

Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant[a] prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and fromall the expectation of the Jewish people.” 12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” 16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Why do we as a nation ‘under God’, who acknowledges His the presence and sovereignty by asking people in court to back up their testimony by SWEARING on a bible in which He clearly forbids swearing and taking oaths? Jesus Himself said…

Matthew 5:33-37 (NKJV)

³³ “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

And, this was reaffirmed in the book of James…

James 5:12 (NKJV)

¹² But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.^[a]

Why do we ask our leaders who are ordained by God..

Romans 13:1(NKJV)

13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

…to take an oath of office on a bible the clearly forbids us to swear.

If someone doesn’t believe in God or acknowledge the bible to be His inspired word, then what do we accomplish by asking them to swear or take an oath on it? As a matter of fact, it’s silly if not foolish to trust that swearing on a bible reinforces anyone’s testimony, especially someone who is accused of a crime.

What greater weight or significance does ‘putting your hand on the bible’ or over your heart have to imply that one feels more compelled or bound to tell the truth?

The truth is…we are asking people to do is to SIN before you testify or begin your term in office.

When we act in direct opposition to what God has told us to do, that is rebellion and of the devil.

I recommend that you’re asked to testify in court, that you affirm to tell the truth without placing your hand on the bible. Let your “yes” be “yes”, and your “no” be “no”.

Don’t let the law provoke you to sin.

It seems to me that those who began the practice of swearing on the bible – didn’t read the bible.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that worship takes place IN the church, but real ministry takes place OUTSIDE the church.

A good friend of mine once told me of a youth pastor friend of his who was eating dinner in a casual dining restaurant with a bar. The youth pastor noticed two young men at the bar from his church whom he hadn’t seen in attendance for a few weeks.

He got up from his table and approached the young men and asked them how they were doing.

He made casual conversation, told them he genuinely missed them in church, and thta he looked forward to seeing them the coming weekend…

He then did something unexpected…He then paid for their drinks. Those young men were at church the following week!

That youth pastor didn’t judge, chastise or preach to them…but met them where they were.

In fact, he did what Jesus did in John 2:1-12. At the wedding party, in order to show His power, when the wine ran out, Jesus figuratively ‘bought the drinks’.

In order to bring people to Christ, we must learn to meet people where they are. We must be able to meet them at their level of development.

We can’t be effective for the Lord of we act as though we are above others,  because we are all sinners saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8).

We must be humble enough to meet people where they are physically, financially, socioeconomically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Be sensitive to the fact that everyone will not be…

as mature as you…

cultured as you…

strong as you…

as wise as you..

…or as spiritual as you.

The benefit of your maturity and strength as that you can meet others at their level to help them grow. Rather than be critical of the behavior of those who are lost, we should pray ask God for wisdom for the best way to make a connection with them. They are merely acting according to their level of development. Rather than be critical of someone who joined your church, but has missed several services, or got mad about something and left,  we should ask God for wisdom on how to reach out to them in love, remember they are still immature in their faith.

The apostle Paul said he became all things to all men that he might save some. He didn’t mean he was hanging out with sinners to party with them, but for the sake of the Gospel he met them where they were spiritually,  socially and culturally to bring them to Christ.

Be willing to meet people where they are…because that’s where God met you.

1 Corinthians 6:19-23

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law,[c] that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God,[d] but under law toward Christ, that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Romans 12:16

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Stay woke is an urban idiom that implies stay informed to the truth in the midst of biased, filtered information…Don’t get hypnotized by current trends, pop culture or status quo…Don’t let it dictate your thinking. It can also infer don’t believe your own hype.

That being said, from a Christian point of view it simply means don’t get caught up in the world.

I can’t say it any better than how God said it through the Apostle Paul…

Romans 13:11-14 (NLT)

11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. WAKE UP, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

I once heard a man tell his son in the barbershop, “Son, you aren’t old enough to ‘cuss’. When are you old enough to cuss?

America is obsessed with profanity. The enemy has convinced people it makes…

Words more powerful…

Jokes more funny…

Arguments more convincing…

Authority more authoritative…

Good parents will allow coaches to ‘cuss’ their children to ‘get the best out of them’.

People who deal with those who use profanity claim you have to ‘speak their language’ to get through to them.

Our movies, television shows, comedians, songs and sometimes even those in authority reinforce a culture of profanity.

God said very clearly that we are to not allow corrupt, unwholesome, coarse language come from our mouths…

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.

He said that we aren’t to participate in or entertain ourselves with coarse joking…

Ephesians 5:3-4 (NKJV)

³ But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ⁴ neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 

His word tells us that we are to only use words that build others up (Ephesians 4:29)…

But, far too many Christians justify, use and excuse ‘cussing’, profanity and vulgarity. And, it goes beyond ‘stumping your toe’. It’s far too many in the Body of Christ who use it in their daily language.

What’s the harm?

Well, here are 5 Catastrophic Implications of when Christians ‘Cuss’

1. IT’S OPEN REBELLION AGAINST GOD

If God forbids us to do something, then it’s rebellion. All sin is rebellion against God’s will for our lives. But, profanity is OPEN rebellion, letting the world know we’ve made a decision to disobey God verbally. Just as our children embarrass us, it puts God to open shame. Remember this…

1 Peter 2:12  (NLT)

¹² Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.^[a

2. IT’S FROM THE DEVIL

Profanity and cursing is straight from the devil. So many people say “Hell yeah! “Hell no!” Or, even jokingly “Hell to the naw!” to emphatically drive home their point when Jesus Himself tells us…

Matthew 5:37 (NKJV)

³⁷ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

God told us that unclean language is from the devil himself. It is not of God. When we decide we have to resort to profanity to get our point across, or to reach someone else who uses it, we are implying that God can’t handle it, but the devil can.

3. IT JUSTIFIES ‘CUSSING TO THOSE WHO ARE WEAKER

When some who are weaker hear those who they respect ‘cuss’, it can justify that it’s okay to do it. “Wow, if I hear __________ use that type of language, knowing what a devoted Christian he or she is, then it must not be that wrong. When we make it easier for someone else to sin, then we become a stumbling block to them, and don’t forget what Jesus said about that…

Matthew 18:6 (NKJV)

⁶ “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

4. OUR WORDS HAVE POWER

God’s word gives us some powerful reminders in the power of our words…

Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

 James 3: 5-10 (NKJV)

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 

 And, what Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 12 is very powerful, but often overlooked…

Matthew 12:36-37 (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. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Those scriptures speak very well for themselves to drive home the point that words can both bless and curse, and that…

God leaves no room for ‘slips of the tongue’. That’s why we should never take grace for granted. 

5. ALL OF OUR WORDS ARE A TESTIMONY 

Our testimony is evidence of not only who we are now, but who we were when we are gone. Both our actions and words are our testimony, but our words are our verbal testimony. Our words are what release the power of God into the atmosphere, out lives and the lives of others, but they also can release the power of the enemy. Remember that it’s our testimony…our words that give us the power to overcome the enemy…

Revelation 12:11(NKJV)

¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Your words play a huge role in how people perceive you and whether or not they take you seriously when you speak as a Christian. Think for a minute..Do you know anyone who is KNOWN as a powerful encourager? Now, do you know anyone is KNOWN for their dirty mouth? See what I mean?

Be careful what you say. As Christians we must never reinforce a ‘culture of cussing’.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We have to be very careful of people who either twist scriptures or don’t understand them. There are many people today who claim that WE ARE ALL gods because they misrepresent or misunderstand Psalm 82:6…

⁶ I said, “You are gods,^[b]

And all of you are children of the Most High.

The word ‘gods’ here comes from the Hebrew name for God… Elohim, which is a plural noun. It is the word that implies God is one God with three authorities as indicated in Genesis 1:26a

 ²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…”

But, it also denotes when God delegates authority to humans, such as judges and leaders. He demands righteousness and justice from those whom have been granted authority. He demands that they don’t show partiality, and defends those who are powerless.

It speaks of delegated authority and not deity. Yes we belong to God, but we are not gods

Don’t let anyone deceive you with clever words or cherry picking scripture. Every scripture must be harmonized with the entire word of God.

Yes, we are made in God’s image. Yes, we are sons and daughters of God when we accept Yeshua, Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior…

But NO, we are not GODS. There is only one true and living God. The Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting.

Psalm 82(NKJV)

82 God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
He judges among the gods.^[a]
2 How long will you judge unjustly,
And show partiality to the wicked? Selah
³ Defend the poor and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
⁴ Deliver the poor and needy;
Free them from the hand of the wicked.

⁵ They do not know, nor do they understand;
They walk about in darkness;
All the foundations of the earth are unstable.

⁶ I said, “You are gods,^[b]
And all of you are children of the Most High.
⁷ But you shall die like men,
And fall like one of the princes.”

⁸ Arise, O God, judge the earth;
For You shall inherit all nations.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Doubt does not limit God. It limits us…

Psalm 78:40-41(NKJV)

How often they provoked Him in the wilderness,

And grieved Him in the desert!
⁴¹ Yes, again and again they tempted God,
And limited the Holy One of Israel.
⁴² They did not remember His power:
The day when He redeemed them from the enemy,

James 1:6-7 (NKJV)

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; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Don’t just have faith…live it!

Serving God, especially through serving one another, can sometimes be thankless, unappreciated and quite frankly seem unrewarding.

Most of the good that we do may go unnoticed. This can be hard when your sacrifice your time, your money…even your reputation for the sake of God’s kingdom.

If we aren’t careful, we can find ourselves in our human moments regretting the good that we do or done, especially when we see those who could care less about God prospering and even mocking believers. Or, we see those who are looking at God as a genie in a bottle brag about their prosperity is due to their faithfulness, so what’s wrong with you.

God allows us the space to have brief human moments, and even ask Him as we would our parents…

“Why?”

“How Long?”

“Why me?”

“Why us?”

“Why do THEY deserve such good ‘fortune’?”

Notice what Psalm 73:12-14 says…

Behold, these are the ungodly,

Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
¹³ Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
¹⁴ For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.

 The Psalmist laments saying in so many words, “Have I repented for nothing?” “I’m still troubled all the time!”

God knows we are flesh…dust…human and will feel weak sometimes (Psalm 103:14, Matthew 26:1)

 But, pay close attention to how strong Psalm 73 finishes. We are reminded that God will eventually deal with the ungodly. The Psalmist then repents and then…

TURNS HIS PITY PARTY INTO A PRAISE PARTY…

Psalm 73:18-28 (NKJV)

 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
¹⁹ Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
²⁰ As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.

²¹ Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
²² I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
²³ Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
²⁴ You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

²⁷ For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
²⁸ But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.

When you feel discouraged about the good you do, let me encourage you with the word of God…

Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)

⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

You’re walking to lunch, and you have just enough cash to purchase your own lunch. Let’s assume:

You’re living paycheck to paycheck…

You have no more cash…

Payday is still three days away,

But, you do have plenty of food at home.

As you approach the restaurant a homeless man asks you not for money, but if you will buy him something to eat…what do you do?

I will let God answer…

Matthew 5:42 (NKJV)

⁴² Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

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?

James 2:14-17 (NKJV)

¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 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 itprofit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Matthew 6:(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. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Your sacrificed meal can be an answer to someones prayer, and is ALWAYS an example of God’s love.

Remember, if you have enough for today…you’re rich. 

BE BLESSTIFIED!