Isaiah 43:7 (NKJV)

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

Do you love God?

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

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

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

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

Why did you enter YOUR relationship with God?

For love?

Friendship?

Fellowship?

Business?

Blessings?

Protection?

Salvation?

God entered relationship with us to…

Love Him…

Glorify Him…

Communicate…

And, to fellowship with Him through one another.

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

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

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

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

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

That’s how some people treat God.

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

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

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

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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

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

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

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

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

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

God somtimes wants to prove a point to the enemy.

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

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

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

This happened ‘in a sense’ with Job…

Job 1:8-12

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

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

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

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

“Consider my servant ________.”

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

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

Make God shine in the face of the enemy.

2 Timothy 2:3-5 (NKJV)

³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

“I’m only human!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He gives us the power to resist temptation…

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

The power to turn hearts to God…

The power to make disciples.

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

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

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

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

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

So, whatever you are facing today…

whether it be…

Temptation…

Frustration…

Intimidation…

Humiliation…

Degradation…

Remember…

You are God’s…

CREATION!

You are His child.

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

So, Superman of God… Superwoman of God…

Go get ’em!

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How do I know it’s not of God?

Because God made joining His organization EASY for us!

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

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)

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

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

The benefits of membership are eternal…

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

But,

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

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

 Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No rite of passage should provoke you to do wrong.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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

I learned this lesson the hard way several years ago…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Galatians 6:1

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

 And also,

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV)

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

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

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

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

My church should have been at the jail that morning.

I let him down…

 I let God down…

For religion…

For duty…

For tradition…

For ‘a form of Godliness’…

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

I missed an opportunity to save a life.

This is one of the reasons Jesus said…

Matthew 9:13 (NKJV)

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

This is one of the reasons the bible says…

James 2:15-17 (NKJV)

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

This is one of the reasons the bible says…

1 John 3:17 (NKJV)

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

 And most definitely why Jesus said…

Matthew 25: 31-40 (NKJV)

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

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

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

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

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

Science explains the physical world…

Faith explains the spiritual world…

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

State of being…

His or her own essence of life.

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

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

Why?

Because God makes the brain make us aware.

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

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

First, nothing…

Then water…

Then the creatures in the water…

Then the creatures on land…

And, finally humans!

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

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

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

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

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

BE BLESSTIFIED!

How real is God to you?

Are you able to leave some troubles and concerns with Him alone?

Many times we will pray about a concern and claim we are going to “Let go and let God”, only to not be truly satisfied until we have talked to a “real” person” about it.

There are some situations in which your spouse, parents, friends, counselor or pastor will not be able to give you the answer you NEED (not want), or give you peace in your heart.

When we are truly at peace after talking to God, that’s when He will sometimes send us confirmation through another person.

At times we must prove to ourselves that God is real, and that we have the true intimate relationship He seeks to have with us.

There are some burdens, situations and issues that were created for just you and God!

These are the times we need to truly take to the Lord and leave them there…don’t talk to anyone else about it…and still have peace in your heart that God has heard you and will respond in His timing.

Prove to yourself that God is real to you…leave it with Him.

1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)

 Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

When you think about it, our relationships here on earth horizontal examples of our vertical relationship with God.

Example: Parents, think about your relationship with your children. You brought them into the world. You love, provide for, and nurture them. You took care of them when they couldn’t take care of themselves.

How does it make you feel when your children don’t appreciate what you do or have done for them?

How much does it hurt you when your children only come to you when they want something?

But, how great does it make you feel when your children are truly grateful?

How does it make you feel when they tell you that they love you just because…

When they want your advice…

When they just want to talk to you…just want to be in your presence?

Think of how you feel when someone mistreats them. Sometimes you run to their rescue, but sometimes you teach them how to be strong for themselves.

When they’ve done wrong think of how after you punish them and correct them, you quickly remind them of your love.

In our earthly relationships (horizontal), sometimes we are selfish and hurt the ones we love the most.

Sometimes we take advantage of their love.

But, sometimes love is so rich and wonderful; we wish the moment could go on forever.

Genesis 1:27 tells us we were made in God’s image.

We look like Him. But, how can we look like an invisible God?

God created us with the capacity and ability to love like Him…

To feel like Him…

To hurt like Him…

To have His character…

When we display the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22 in our lives, (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) we are ‘looking like Him’.

The next time you get frustrated about the way that your children, husband, wife or those who are supposed to be closest to you treat you or make you feel(horizontal), be reminded of how God feels when we treat Him the same way (vertical).

What’s on your mind?

The preposition “on” implies making physical on contact with, as resting on the surface.

So, when I ask what’s ON your mind lately, I’m not talking about what passing thought you had, but what are you meditating on lately?

Proverbs 23:7 tells us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Everything we do begins with a thought, our moods, temperament, behavior and character are all determined by what’s on our mind.

Whether we react spontaneously or after considering consequences, it still comes from our thoughts.

Our passions spring forth from our thoughts.

We are bombarded everyday with things fighting for room in our mind, to the point some of the stimuli we didn’t notice consciously will manifest in our dreams at night.

The devil only has limited influence in our lives, and that influence has to be surrendered to him.

That’s why he tries to send customized temptations, designed according to your personal desires to infect your thoughts…These can even be sometimes disguised as blessings.

When our thoughts are consumed with deceitful lusts and pleasures (Ephesians 4:22), the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10), revenge, jealousy, anger, envy, hate, or any of things manifested from the works of the flesh in Galatians 5: 19-21, we can find ourselves to be the enemy of God in our minds (Colossians 1:21) and not walking in the Spirit.

EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN’T CONTROL WHAT RUNS ACROSS YOUR MIND, YOU CAN CONTROL WHERE WHAT STAYS.

God told us, that we can have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

We must first and foremost meditate on God’s word day and night as He said in Joshua Chapter 1.

We must always watch how we feed our senses…

We must always watch what we allow through our eye and ear gates.

We must always have an attitude of forgiveness, even if we haven’t received an apology, so we don’t meditate on how we’ve been hurt.

We must take personal responsibility for the current state of our lives so we don’t let blaming others lead to bitterness.

We can’t let our negative thoughts infect the thoughts of others.

AND,

We must always maintain a thankful attitude towards God because He always provides and protects us perfectly.

In short, we need to take heed to…

Philippians 4:8,

 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things”.

 Think about it…

BE BLESSTIFIED!

We hurt each other. Sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally.

Sometimes we hurt the ones we love the most.

Why?

God tells us that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Maybe that’s the problem sometimes. Do we know how to love ourselves?

Do we love ourselves as we should?

Think of all of the things you have done…

All of the places you have gone…

All of the things you have said that weren’t good for you.

Think of all the things that people eat, drink, consume that aren’t good for them.

Think of all the situations people subject themselves to, fully knowing it’s not good for them.

We put ourselves in unhealthy relationships.

We hurt ourselves for instant gratification.

We subject ourselves to harm physically, emotionally and spiritually…no one else has to do it, we do it to ourselves.

Maybe that’s the problem. We hurt each other and don’t know how to love each other because WE DON’T FULLY KNOW HOW TO LOVE OURSELVES.

We can sometimes replace a healthy love of self with a form of idolatry, where we are arrogant, filled with pride, conceited and narcissistic.

That’s why we have to read God’s word and ask God to teach us to love ourselves the right way.

When you pray, how often do you ask God to teach you to love yourself?

How often do you ask God to help YOU LOVE YOU?

That’s not a selfish prayer because yes, we must LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL, but we can’t LOVE ONE ANOTHER properly, until we learn to LOVE OURSELVES first.

Today, let’s ask God to help us love Him, and OURSELVES as we should.

Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV)
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[d] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

When were your good ol’ days…the best days of your life?

When were you happiest?

Is it now? I hope so.

If not, was it because of a particular place? a person? people? things? a time? Or a combination of these?

How did you know you were happiest then? I’ve heard many people say “those were the best days of our lives and we didn’t know it”. Have you ever thought that or said that?

Sometimes they people say they were actually happier at a time when they had less. Why were they happier then?

Maybe it was their frame of mind.

You may not be able to relive or recapture the time but you can change your frame of mind today.

God tells us to be content in whatever state we are in.

In Philippians 4, the apostle Paul tells of how he had learned to be content in all situations.

The bible is full of verses on the power of contentment and a renewed mind. With contentment there is peace, with peace there is joy, and with joy there are good days.

God tells us Himself that he wants us to enjoy our days, that this is our gift from Him (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13) and that He plans better days for us ( Jeremiah 29:11).

But the key to our good days is our made up mind.

Psalm 118:24 should be our daily affirmation and declaration, “This is the day the Lord has made;”.

But, God is not going to force you to have a good day, the day is the gift from God, it’s up to you how you unwrap it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

The apostle John was one of Jesus’ closest disciples. He was present throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth and authored the books of First, Second and Third John, as well as the Book of Revelation. But, how did he receive The Revelation? He wasn’t sitting in a His comfortable, climate controlled room typing into His laptop. He was exiled on the Greek Island of Patmos under Roman persecution for the Testimony of Yeshua, Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:9

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Yes, John was there when Jesus performed his miracles, when He walked on water, when He healed and brought back people from the dead. He was there when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper…when He was betrayed. Yes, John responded to Jesus call to…

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

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

…and answering that call is why he was exiled on the Island of Patmos. He was being persecuted for the Gospel. But, God allowed it…

But why? Why did God allow His servant to be exiled? Especially if he was busy about his Father’s business? Could he not have given John The Revelation at his house? Could he not have given it to him in a dream as he slept cozy in his bed?

Could it be that God had to move every other distraction out of the way for an experience and Revelation of this magnitude and importance. Did John need to be isolated, ‘sanctified’ or ‘set apart’ to this extreme so God could reveal His plan for our future?

Could it be that God made sure that not only John’s mind was clear, but that he left without any doubt…THAT WAS GOD!

I think so!

In fact, I think we have all of us in the Body of Christ have had our own Island of Patmos, even if we didn’t recognize it.

We can get so busy with our day-to-day lives that we aren’t taking the time to really hear from God. We can even be so busy working for the Kingdom, that we aren’t slowing down enough and emptying ourselves enough to receive…fresh revelation that God has for us and those in our circles of influence.

You may have had an accident or sickness that slowed you down.

You may have lost a job or relationship that was distracting you from your true purpose.

You too may have even been jailed or imprisoned for something you did not do. Why would God allow that?

I wrote this article after being inspired by a friend who told me he had foot surgery that caused him to be home from his job for six weeks. He said during that time he grew so much closer to God, and he was given fresh revelation from scriptures he has heard and read his entire life.

What’s unfortunate is that sometimes when God ‘exiles’ or us from our lives so that we can hear from Him, we don’t recognize it. We may see it as misfortune. We may use that time selfishly for ourselves, or may even use that time for the enemy.

Stop and think back on your life.

Has God tried to isolate you for His purpose? Did you make the most of that opportunity, or squander it?

Make sure you are making yourself available to God to speak to you. Disconnect yourself from the world, job, family…distractions and make yourself available to God.

I know that personally, I can take better advantage of the opportunity of fasting to empty myself and afflict my flesh so that God doesn’t have to do it for me.

Pray for wisdom and discernment to recognize if God has you on your own Island of Patmos’ to speak to you, and give you fresh revelation.

If you’re in that season right now…use it.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

John 21:1-14 (NKJV)

After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: ² Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately^[a]got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. ⁴ But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”

They answered Him, “No.”

⁶ And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will findsome.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

⁷ Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. ⁸ But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. ⁹ Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

¹¹ Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

¹⁴ This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

Jesus let the disciples fish all night, and they caught nothing. He could have showed up sooner. He let them fish all night long. If they had given up and left, they would have missed the miracle…

Joseph’s long night (Genesis 37-45)…

Before he was sold into slavery, his brothers didn’t like him. In fact, they hated him. Think of how horrible it was for those closest to you, those who should have your back to want you dead. Joseph dealt with that before he was sold into slavery.

Joseph was the sold into slavery at age seventeen, but it wasn’t until he was thirty years old that he was given authority in Egypt. Again we can quickly read his story, but his days and nights were just as long as ours.

It was his faith, relationship and devotion to God that got him through his longs nights after being accused of sexual harassment and thrown into prison for years. Of, having hope of getting out of prison only to be forgotten and remaining an additional two years (Genesis 40-41).

 I could go on and on with examples in the bible of people enduring ‘long nights’

As we read through the bible it’s easy to read several chapters, which can cover hundreds or thousands of years in an afternoon.

We must remember, that these people who God chose to use in His word, were just like us. They had full lives. THEIR DAYS AND NIGHTS WERE JUST AS LONG AS OURS.

Jesus let them fish all night and they caught nothing. If they had given up and left, they would have missed the miracle…

If some things have worked out when you wanted…how you wanted…the way you wanted, you would have…

Missed your miracle…

Given credit and glory to yourself or someone else…

Missed an important page in ‘your story’…

Stay strong in the Lord and keep the faith as you go through the ‘long nights’ in your life. No matter how long or dark, remember God is still there. If you keep the faith, you can be sure that things all things will work together for your 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.

And, even if we brought our ‘long night’ ourselves. Remember that God has not forsaken or forgotten you.

Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)

 ⁵ For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.

BE BLESSTIIFED!

Do you know anyone who you would describe as a MEAN PERSON?

Do they claim to be a Christian?

Do you know anyone who is stressful to be around?

Everyone one is mean sometimes, and no one is mean all the time, but unfortunately, some Christians are mean most of the time.

They may not even intend to be mean, or they may take pride in it. They may consider themselves to be passionate, or strong, or steadfast, or strict.

The truth is that mean Christians ARE NOT walking in the Spirit.

There’s a difference in being aggressive and assertive. There is a difference in being strict and mean….strict is diligence and the demand for adherence…”sticking to it”.

Mean is an unkind, hurtful and cruel attitude. A person can be assertive but respectful.

A person can be strict but, loving and kind.

God is strict in what He demands of us, but loving. He doesn’t even MAKE us obey Him. He merely sets His standards and expectations.

But, being mean is being cruel, overly harsh, unkind and disrespectful. Too many Christians take pride in being mean and view kindness and meekness as weakness.

You can even be mean and nice at the same time (you can be nice to get into position to stab someone in the back), but you can’t be mean and kind at the same time (because kindness is a Fruit of the Spirit, not niceness).

Too many people enjoy hurting others, establish how ‘strong’ they are, or hide insecurity through being mean.

Too many try to hide their own inabilities and shortcomings by being mean. And worst of all, too many try to represent Christ by being mean.

They treat unbelievers, the lost, and even Christians who don’t believe EXACTLY as they do with contempt.

We can’t CONVERT anyone or bring anyone to Christ being mean-spirited!

God commands that we be tender-hearted, gentle and kind (Ephesians 4:32). Being mean is totally opposite to the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

 Too many Christians and churches have done more harm than good, and turned the weak away from the faith by being mean.

We must not let our passion for God and His Kingdom to give us an excuse to be mean.

Some people have a more natural mean disposition, and others have had life make them more harsh, but we can’t allow that to be an excuse to be mean if we claim to be of Christ.

We can’t just say, ‘that’s just the way I am!”

You aren’t obligated to excuse mean people. And, you can overcome a natural propensity to have a mean attitude.

That’s why the bible says…

Philippians 4:13

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

That’s why the bible says…

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Being mean is a STRONGHOLD, it is an aspect of PRIDE, and opposite of every FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. Let us examine ourselves and our attitudes to make sure we aren’t hurting the cause of Christ by being mean…and pray for those who are.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

​

Is your family dysfunctional? 

Is there dysfunction on your job?

Is there dysfunction in your church?

Is dysfunction in churches your excuse for not joining and attending?

Dysfunction is an unfortunate ‘norm’ of our imperfect world.

Jesus told His disciples in…

John 6:70…

Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?

The disciples were constantly bickering about which of them would be greater (Luke 9:46, Luke 22:44). 

Peter denied Christ…

Judas betrayed Him… 

Many other disciples left Him when they felt His words and expectations were too difficult John 6:60-66. 

In the early days of His earthy ministry, even Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe He was the Christ (John 7:5)…

Even Jesus’ group and family had dysfunction. 

Eve was the first one to allow an ‘outside influence’ come between her marriage. 

Adam and Eve’s son killed his brother.

Isaac loved Esau more, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Jacob and Esau were at odds. 

Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons. 

Those brothers hated Joseph so much that they sold him as a slave. 

David, a man after God’s own heart, had a dysfunctional family.

His son Amnon rapes his sister Tamar. 

Absalom, one of David’s other sons had his brother Amnon killed, and tried to kill his father David for his throne….I could go on and on.

If there is one thing that’s constant in the bible…it’s dysfunctional families. 

Yes you can be anointed and dysfunctional…

The greatest men and women used by God…the anointed of God, who He used as the pillars of our faith had dysfunctional families….But, they all went on to fulfill God’s purpose in their lives. 

They functioned in dysfunction.

Sometimes we feel bad about the dysfunction in our families, but when we read our bibles, we find out it’s more normal than abnormal. 

If your family has dysfunction, that makes you a prime candidate to be used by God. 

In fact, in…

Matthew 10:34-36, Jesus Himself said, 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn“‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 

Why is this? 

Because when Jesus is introduced to a family or household, everyone may not believe in Him at once. Sometimes there is division in families over spiritual things (choice of church, giving, etc.). 

Don’t be discouraged because there is dysfunction in your family, job or ministry. 

What matters is how you FUNCTION IN THE DYSFUNCTION. 

Make sure YOU are grounded in the Word of God. 

Work to be a peacemaker and a peace keeper (Matthew 5:9).

And most importantly pray for AGREEMENT and ONENESS in CHRIST just as He did in John 17:21-23. 

Make this your daily prayer during your quiet time with God, and pray with your spouse for agreement in your marriage. 

Call your family together and pray for agreement….EVERY DAY. 

Don’t feel that you are disqualified by God because of dysfunction in your family or group…just make a commitment through God to FUNCTION IN THE DYSFUNCTION! 

Peace and agreement to you and yours!

BE BLESSTIFIED!