Tag Archives: satan

Be Thou Enlightened, Reminded & Encouraged

As we move along our walk in Christ, we cannot soon forget that Satan and his minions never sleep like men do, nor do they require substance to exist. So while their mission is to defeat you by placing stumbling blocks in your christian walk, they do not rest or take vacations. For their sole purpose is delay your understanding and purpose with God. They do not give up on their quest. This way we have to be aware of the Devil and his minions tricks, and antics. The Word of God 2 Corinthians 2:11 says 
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Let us not forget to stand strong and be not dismayed at the things we’re going through. It is the trying of our faith and the hardening of our resolve to never give up nor surrender to the systematic attacks of the devil and his minions. 

It seems like when it rains it pours. In our life when we go through one thing, it seems like a succession. Don’t think it abnormal because Satan is attacking us constantly. We ask the Lord “Why?!” But think about this, when you know that you can go through and get through the other end of the test, you know that you are going to succeed and be victorious, because your faith outweighs you being scared. Know this, the trying of your faith makes you have patience to hang in there. When your patience is secure and strong, no matter what people do to you, those individuals who are used by Satan don’t know that they are being used. Don’t get mad at them, the only time you should get mad is at yourself is when you fall for what they’re doing, via Satan. 

Matthew 4:1-11 

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Matthew 4:1-11

It says in the Word that He was hungry; He was fasting for so long, and in the process of being hungry Satan came. What does that mean? Satan won’t attack you at your strongest point because he’ll have a battle on his hands. He’ll attack you at your weakest point. He comes like the snake that he is, slithering in, whether through people, situations, or through your mind. He attacks, and attacks you at your weak state, and begins to consume you. Satan knew the state Christ was in. Satan knows the state you’re in. His minions are constantly watching, knowing what state you’re in. So Satan is looking at Christ, knowing who He was, the Son of God. Satan wanted Jesus to use His authority to change stones into bread. To change something for His flesh. But Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. If you think that going to work everyday so you can go buy groceries to eat is living, then you don’t even know what you are or who you are, or aware of what you can be because you’re caught up in the cares of this life. You are not in tune to who God wants you to be. The only way to do that is to look for your life in Christ, not your flesh and the world. Its by the Word of God that you have life. Out of His mouth He’ll give you things of understanding, direction, focus; its when we get at that cross roads, one to the right and one to the left, and you’re at the fork of it, and you ask “where do I go from here?” At the crossroads of life is where Satan appears. That crossroads doesn’t mean life is over, but comes down to the point of making a decision or situation in your life.

Satan comes and show you a short term picture, not the long term. We who move in society today, we don’t want to wait for anything. Satan knows that, that is why he shows you a short term, glorious picture of what can be or could be, but he never shows you the consequences until after the fact. Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple. Satan will show you some good things. Take a little time from your prayer life; take a little time from going out to help others; take a little time from doing Church work, and you will have all the things you want. But what opportunities will you miss? The opportunity to witness to a soul who was just about to take its life, or the next move of God. But Satan won’t show you these things, he only wants to show you what will please your flesh. Jesus threw the Word of God to that temptation and that is what we should do. Satan always reminded Jesus He was the Son of God. Satan will do that to you too. You are a Child of God, so its like an indictment. So whatever you do from this point on, you already know the consequence of your actions. So Satan says “whenever I go before your Father, I will accuse you.” Satan wants to openly shame you before your God. 

Satan usually attacks, one after another. You’re so tired after one test, that you stumble into the next test, and you ask the Lord what you’ve done to get the next test. Satan thought that because God was in flesh form that He was tempted easily by the things of this world. So what does that tell you? As long as your mind is locked on the flesh things of this world, then Satan can tempt you. God keeps those in perfect peace who’s mind is stayed on Him. If your mind is to be something in the world, and with other people, then Satan has you in his back pocket. If your desires are for this world and the things of this world, Satan has you, and you will fail every test that Christ allows to be placed on you. Satan roams about this world seeking whom he will devour. He can only do so to those whose mind is not set on Christ. The cares of this life are not my concern. I pray for this world and the leaders in this world, but the cares of this life are not my concern. 

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.


Matthew 5:1-16

We are suppose to exemplify Christ upon this Earth. It is not for our glory but for His glory. When people look at you and you exemplify Christ, people see Christ through you, and glorify God, not you. When you get a bottle of water do you look more for the water or the bottle? We are the bottle, and the water is Christ within us. People can see Christ through you and they will glorify God. 

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.


Matthew 5:17-20

You are representing Christ, because you should be doing more than what other religions of the world are doing because you belong to Him. All things are possible if you believe. If you don’t believe then things will not be done in His name for what you asked. Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of everyone else who isn’t under Christ, you won’t go to Heaven. Well what have you done to bring someone else to Jesus? We didn’t have time, we didn’t have money; Did you ask? Yes. But with what intention did you ask? To satisfy your flesh to impress. 

21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.


Matthew 5:21-48

As we go about our daily walk in our Christian walk, we should always remember to be mindful of what we say, do, how we act; this is what we have to give an account for at the time of an offence or situation. However, more than that, what is your attitude in your time of testing and trial? Are you in a prayerful state, or are you complaining and whining through the whole thing? Did the Lord at one time complain and whine when He was being whipped for us? What is your attitude in your test? If the Lord allows you to go through, know this, He will bring you through because He won’t put anymore on you than you can bear without giving you a way of escape. As children of God going forth in Him, we are too emotional. We have a central mindset on us. Our cenergy, is focused more on how we feel and how we’re being treated. Very few people care about really how they’re hurting others. Its always “what they’ve done to me” or “what they’re doing to me.” As Children of God, we can’t have a selfish nature, because that leaves us open to the tricks and antics of Satan. It makes opportunity for him to defeat you. 

How Much of what You Do is for You, Not Jesus

Do we ever think how much of our day is spent concerning us than the things of Christ? As we ponder here in the house of God today, what has been your most involved thought this morning? Even before you started your day this morning, or even now. Do we ever realize how much of our day we spend thinking about what is most important to us personally and not of Christ or of benefiting of others? Sometime we, exclusive of Christ, can be the most
selfish people there are, because our hearts are so much involved with our desires, that evil thoughts
can invade our hearts. We tend to think that we need this or that, when Jesus said in Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Jesus also said that we should take more care for the things of others than ourselves. In a nut shell, how well do we know ourselves and what are our motives in Christ Jesus? Why do you do the things you do? Is it because you love Him, fear Him, or because you have nothing else to do?

Luke 6:44-48
For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

Many people in Church today are showing up. To do what? Absolutely nothing. It becomes a routine or pattern. “I come to Church because I’ve been told to come to Church,” or because “The scripture says fail not to assemble yourselves together.” Its better that there be two honest people in the Church, than a whole Church full of folks that have the Devil in them. Anybody can see a body, anybody can have a body. But nobody knows about the body that is coming in. We all pretend we are of One Body, but the body doesn’t know about its own body. “We are of the Body of Christ.” Are we in the Body of Christ? If so, what body is that? The Word of God say that if you’re apart of My body the things I do you’ll do…the things I say you’ll say. The first part of Luke 6:44-48 says for every tree is known by its own fruit. Isn’t that something? You know an apple tree because you see apples on them; a lemon tree because you see lemons on them; a peach tree because it has peaches; a plumb tree because it has plumbs; and a pear tree because it has pears. You know everything by the fruit it bears. You plant seeds for potatoes and you get cucumbers how will you feel? So we want what we want, and everything that looks like what it looks like is suppose to be what it is. So when we see the Children of God walking down the street do we know if they are apart of the body? Everyone has a “talking game,” but you’re known by your fruit.

What is you’re foundation? How did you set your foundation? Was it built upon the words of other people, and not on the Word of God? When you build upon the words of other people and not the Word of God, its easily manipulated and washed out of you and replaced with what you heard. When you go to an all you can eat, buffet style restaurant, grabbing your plate, you don’t put everything on the buffet on it. You pick and choose exactly what you want. Are the people of God today, picking and choosing what Word they want in their foundation? If you don’t choose the right things in your foundation, you have no glue that will bring everything together. All of the Word of God is good for the edification of the Body, so we shouldn’t pick and choose. We take the time to pick and choose what we want to believe from God, but not what God wants to believe in us. Its not what you want, its what you need. You need this because God needs to perfect in you a thing. What is our purpose here in the world? To be a light for the world. But our lights are dim. What is your foundation today? How much of what we do is for us and not Christ?

Ephesians 4:20-27
But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your
wrath: Neither give place to the devil.

If you’re foundation in Christ is true and sure, why is your conversation sounding like when you were in the world? Was your foundation structured and sure? You’ve already been taught of Him. What part of the teaching did you hear and not hear? If you’ve been taught Christ, then your foundation should be sure. The only thing you should be concerned about is how to walk in Christ. You will get flustrated. Flustration leads to disappointment, and disappointment leads to being disappointed in yourself. You’re foundation may be sure, but things come by that may shake your foundation. Then you have to look back and see what caused the shaking. Were you being the “old you?” Its comfortable to be the “old you,” but the “new you,” isn’t so much. The “new you,” pushes you outside your comfort zone. Don’t give place to the devil. Don’t give him the keys to your house. Whatever was in our foundation that shook it, its a door way for Satan.

Isaiah 43:6-7
I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

So as you can see we were made for God’s glory, not for our own. Nobody can do what each of us can do, because He has assigned it us. So why procrastinate? Why are we only motivated to do something when it fit our needs? How would you feel if someone didn’t appreciate the gift you’ve given them? Would you give them a gift again? A poem by C. T. Studd from “’Twill Soon Be Past” reads “Only one life ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Even though this is not in the Bible, I can see why this phrase has stood the test of time because when you look at your life it will tell others the truth about how you are or were your life is in Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Psalms 37:7-10
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

You must be patient. You cannot put God on a time schedule. What happens when you’re patient? In your patience, you shall inherit the Earth.

John 15:16-20
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

I’ve Been there For You, Will You be there for Me?

Have you ever been in a situation where you knew you should have died? Have you ever had that type of situation? How about when you got in a heated conversation that was going good at first then all of a sudden it went bad quickly, and it became so surreal? In that when you look at that term surreal, it means an effect, or fantasy, unreal, unearthly, strange, freakish, dreamlike. Have you ever been in a situation like that, were it was unfolding before your face, it  start going that way fast and you couldn’t stop it? Then all of a sudden the Lord steps in and you don’t know it, but the situation changes, the atmosphere changes. Things started to calm down and goes back to a normal state. Have you ever been in a situation like that, which blew your mind? You know it should have gone somewhere else? At the end you looked at one another and said “Whoa, what just happened?” The Lord had to step in and squash yours and their temper, because Satan already threw his hand in and caused it to go out of wack. When it was all over, it seemed so surreal, unearthly.

Jesus has been intervening in our lives when we ask, for a long time. But we just equated it something normal, coincidence. There has always been something like that which has happened in our life, and you blow it off and make it seem lesser. Everyone around gets in trouble and you walk away unscathed. Have you ever been in that situation? Since Christ has been standing up for you and been there for you, can you do that for Him? Can you say in your heart, mind, and thoughts, with the different situations that have happened in your life, when He asks you, can you stand for Me, when everyone around you can’t or wont? Can you allow Jesus to work through you what he will for the time or the situation? Can you allow that? Do you remember when I was with you, when the circumstances seemed uncanny? Those moments that were close. Diving down the road, doing things, and all of a sudden a car comes another way in a split second where we know that we should have hit it.

The Lord loves His people. When you have a purpose in Christ, He makes sure that your life is different even when you don’t think it is. Everyone who comes around your life is blessed, and they don’t realize its the presence of God. Even you don’t know what blessings are bestowed upon you. The light Jesus is trying to shine through you, its not for the benefit of you, but others to see Christ in and through you. You don’t have a light. Its not you that He wants to shine, its Him that He wants to shine through you. Men will see you and give Him the glory. He’s been with you since you were a little child. Satan wants to destroy that in you so that he can win over God’s will for you. I say this to my daughter every time I see her “when you were a little child, you use to walk around the house, arms raised giving glory to God.” But Satan sifted your life, bringing people around you whose spirit was negative to defeat your walk, and defeat you even finding out who He is.” My daughter’s Grandmother always wanted to grab her and pull her to herself, and when my daughter would go to bed, she would lay down with her. But what is wrong with that, she was only her Grandmother? Satan will use whomever he will use. have you ever heard the phrase “transference of spirits?” That spirit will get on you because of touch or proximity. Satan brings people back from your past, and they are eager to hug you to be alone with you. Have you ever noticed when you leave an old friend who you always had problem with you feel like something had lifted, right? but when they came back in your life you felt very heavy and burden. My daughter had that spirit transfer onto her. She would start throwing tantrums, and quick to get a attitude about anything when she never had a tantrum before. She took on the ways and attitude of her grandmother, who had an attitude with people who wouldn’t do what she wanted them to do and she would curse them out. Transference of spirits its real people, It doesn’t matter if they’re family or friends. That negative spirit was transferred to my daughter, so what ever evil spirit is upon a person its will be transferred to the other person then they will begin take on that person mindset and attitude of the evil spirit have.

People rarely transfer positive things in your life, but they will tell you negative things in the form of gossips and that just jump off there lips to you. Have you ever found yourself walking into a situation, and coming out acting like it was your situation? Well you try to blow it off and say that it just who you are trying to take ownership of it, when you never behaved that way before until after that situation. No it isn’t you, its that situation that you just came out of. Satan is not trying to possess you, he wants to delay you. for example: What would happen to if you got to a train, or bus, or plane late? It would leave without you, right? Some people come into your life to delay your growth or walk in life, because they are under a evil or demonic influence that has delayed them. That is why your walk is a selfish walk. At the final judgment Who has to stand before Christ for you, you or the people who influenced you? You have to be concerned about you. But if your brother, sister in Christ Jesus is trying to get up, help them as best you can. But when their struggles has become a part of your struggles in life, you have to know when to cut bait, and run, in other word let there struggle go. Its not an easy thing to choose Jesus over family. but even in bible; Matt 10:37, luke 14:26 it reads, that you can’t love you mother, father, sister, brother, more than Him. Because they will cause you to turn away from Him. They know him or love him, and out of your love them you’ll wind up not loving Me base up on there will and understanding then you’ll wind up walking way from Me. Its a terrible things to look back over your life and say, what could have or what should happen if I had done this or that. Satan will bring back to your mind these type of though to condemn you, he will say thing s like, “You were doing good, You were on fire for Christ, you were in his will Now look at you now “! An for us human  we don’t want to be single out or accused and the finger is being pointed at us.

In this day and age the biggest problem in the world, is worrying about what other people will say or is say about you!. Why do we spend hours in front of a mirror doing our hair or putting our clothes on and …etc.? Even when you have your day off, you don’t stay in front of the mirror the same way. Why? Because you don’t really care about all that and you don’t have to pretend anymore, you can just be real. That mindset leaves you after you get a certain age. We’re so concerned about what people say about us that we put the fake smile on, when we feel rotten inside. If your life is so wrapped up in that type of mindset, you can never serve God fully. We need to be more concerned about our souls, because the outer appearance fades. But will your love for Christ fade? Does you salvation depend on how your outer appearance is?

Hebrews 13:1-9

Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

The Lord sends angels down to check up on us. Hebrew 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Mr. or Ms.  just got a brand new car, I need a brand new as well. Mr. and Mrs. just got a brand new house, I need that too. Mr. or Ms. just got a brand new cloths and shoes, I need that. Don’t talk about things that meet your vanity, your conversation should never be about that. What is content? Satisfied. When you’re satisfied with something are you concerned about someone else’s stuff? Oh Lord, they just got the latest MacBook Pro. If you’d never seen them, would you want a Mackbook Pro? Be content. Lord I don’t have what other people have, nor do I own what other people own. What is that saying? Doesn’t your Father know what you have need of? A lot of times we talk to the Lord like we’re ignorant. Lord I don’t have! You don’t have it because you don’t need it. We need to be content. Lord they’re going out and witnessing to 1000 people a day, I only witness to one person, be content its not the number he is looking for you might witness to over a 1000 people, and out of that 1000 only 2 people come to know Jesus, its about letting the word of Jesus be heard so that Christ sheep will hear his voice but a stranger want follow john10:1-27 .

When God tells you something today, will it be the same tomorrow? We think Jesus is like us. We change our minds everyday. But God is not like that. If He told you something in the Word, He won’t change it Malachi 3:6. If He did, He would be inconsistent. If the Word says today you shall not steal or lie, it won’t change tomorrow.

Philippians 4:4-8

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Even when there is disagreement between two people, you can agree to disagree. Then you move on and leave it alone. Kind words turns away wrath. Don’t sit there and fuss with someone. They don’t know, but Satan is using them to jack you up. People are not going to agree with everything you decide to do in your life. Why? They don’t know where they’re going, and they don’t want you to get yours before they get theirs. The Lord is telling you to walk on because its you that has to give an account of your life, not them. People don’t care about you. A lot of times people get jealous because you’re not riding along with them. When someone jumps out in front like they know where they’re going, then the others want to slow them down. This is how people react when you’re growing and they’re not. You don’t have time to worry about someone else problem. Because its someone else’s problem let them work and walk it out.

In conclusion, read Deuteronomy 31:1-6

And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said. And the Lord shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed. And the Lord shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

I’ve been there for you will you be there for Me? When you’re around others what manor or conversation do you have? When you’re in confrontation, how is your attitude in that? What is the result after that situation? Can you walk away with a good heart, and no angry feelings? Are the results to the point where God will be happy?

Don’t allow someones sinful nature to destroy your soul. People who are governed by sin or flesh, they want to bind you with their mess so that you can’t do the will of God in your walk!.

Follow Peace with All Men

Romans 12:18

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

People are watching us each and every day. They are use to people saying “I go to Church,” or my parents my mother, sister or father went to church.” That is fine but is the Church in you or are you in the Church? There are people who are in the Church, but He wants the Church to be in us. Its not a facility or edifice, the Church is the people of God, filled with the Holy Ghost, inside of us where the Holy of Holies resides. We are the example this world needs in this day, in this unconscious world of sin. People are doing things today with no retribution, not caring if it hurts others. We are doing things that are not conducive to being Children of God. We all say that we love the Lord. We sing songs of accolades and of love but we don’t mean them. People here us singing those songs, but then we walk out in violence. We are very negative. Do Christianity and negativity go together? No. So why are we so negative?

Y’all know when people get on your nerves and then they say they’re just playing. We can’t allow ourselves to fall in the traps of this world. People draw you in. Satan has been doing it for years. If he can’t get you physically he’ll get you financially, so you can’t do anything you want to do. You can’t even go out a buy a hot dog. I can’t go out and buy a bag of chips. You go around saying I can’t. Satan knows how to reach you by how you’re effected in your walk. In decisions. If you’re habitual. That is why some of us can’t take drugs. You shouldn’t take drugs in the first place. We can’t smoke weed because we’ll be hooked. They say it calms their nerves. We make up every excuse.

Live: To exist; to be; to aspire. To live through an amount of time.

You should exist peaceably. To exist to be understood. To exist to live in harmony with one’s self and ones God. To live to be; to exist to be. You think about the emotions; to be caught up in a quiet emotion. To look at the Hebrew word Shalom: completeness. You look at the word welfare. If you’ve ever been around Hebrews or Muslims they say Shalom. Peace be with you, and they return the peace back to you. To make peace and shalom; to be complete and sound; to be perfect. Is everyone perfect and complete? Is everyone’s heart where it should be? Are you all clear with your focus where it should be? Is it foggy or misty? The Lord tells us He keeps those in perfect peace whose mind is set on Him. If you are not focused on the things and situations in your life, then you won’t stay in peace, because these folks will drive you up the wall.

What do bill collectors do? They collect your money, caring nothing about the bills. Now think about this, when you make a bill with someone they ask for your name, address, phone number. Why? So if you’re negligent with your bill they can reach you. You can’t live in peace if someone is blowing up your phone about a missed payment every week. It doesn’t feel good when you miss a payment does it? Because they add up. You miss this month, then another month. You’re jacked up because you’re worried about what you will do next. Now your unstable because it has rattled your foundation of peace. All the while you are building up with stress. You’re not happy. Now you have family members that will bug you to no end. “Can you give me some money… can I come to your house?” If you have a relationship, they’re bugging you. Are we going out tomorrow…are we going to meet…because you said we were going to meet? You have the bill collector, your family, your spouse…they you say Lord deliver me. Its just too much on me I’m stressed. Then the Pastor says, I need you to go out and witness with this group today. Are you at peace? You’re mad with the people who keep calling you, then you’re mad with your cousin, you’re mad with your spouse, then you’re mad with the Pastor and they’ve done nothing. No one likes when someone else is coming after you. So people say they’ll turn it all over to God. But we don’t do that. We’re Indian givers; give things, then take them right back. This is the same thing we do to the Lord. “Lord take all my burdens, I surrender all,” we say. As soon as we give them to Him, we go back home, sit at the table and lament over our issues. We take them right back from the Lord. We ask the Lord to heal us. If we pray and the Lord doesn’t answer right away, we start going through saying it didn’t happen. Are you feeling at peace? We’re stressed as stressed can be. We can’t even think about helping anybody in the Lord when we are stressed.

The Lord wants us to know one thing, He’ll keep you in perfect peace, even when you cause mess in your life. How many people know that if something costs $900 and you only have $200 to your name, you don’t purchase it? You don’t go get a loan to make up the rest of it. Some of us haven’t learned that yet, knowing we get $200 a month, why make a $900 loan that will collect interest? It will take you how many months just to get $900? We should know better. Why should you buy a brand new car when you can’t even afford a used one? People stress you so you’ll make the wrong decision, but by that time you’re caught. Now we’re pressured, we make decisions, have relationships, make deals and bargains, out of stress, and in the process of it, peace is tip toeing out the door. We don’t realize it. When we enter into contracts or deals, makes sure its not of stress, not of duress, but rather looking at the future of that same thing.

We look at relationship. Being in relationships isn’t free, every time I pick them up, I have to spend money for gas. They’ve got to eat so I have to feed them. They’ll want a gift so I have to buy them something. You ever heard the term “we can live on love?” You can’t pay with love when you are trying to buy a happy meal at McDonald’s. It costs money. The Bible says that no one should take something upon themselves without counting the cost. How many can repair a car, or rocket engine, or electronics? So why would you buy a car that has a rocket engine or radio? So when it doesn’t work anymore, there it stays because you can’t fix it. What will it cost me to maintain something. You have to count the cost in your life. Its always good to understand if you want to succeed in something, count the cost first. Everyone is always saying go ahead and do what pleases you, and they don’t have a dime to help you keep it. You have all their weights on your life, tons and tons of weights on your life. Why are the bill collectors constantly calling? Because you wanted something that someone else had and you can’t afford it. You know there are some people who will buy a game system before they buy food or clothes? We’re stressed to the max, we can’t be at peace. When you are stressed are you peaceable with all men? No, you’re upset and you speak to them firmly.

We can’t walk peaceable with all men because of all the stress. We begin to act attitudinal with people. If we go back to the word Shalom. Peace. You go to some place and a person overcharged you and you don’t realize until 2 days later. You can’t go back because too much time has lapsed. Then you become stressed about that. Love of money is the root of all evil. Under stress in life is unnecessary. You don’t need the stress in your life. Follow peace.

When you allow your soul to be caught up with the thoughts and emotions of your physical man, there can be no peace of joy in the Holy Ghost in your life. Satan come to steal, kill and destroy you. Who cares about you better than you? When you get into a situation and your life is at stake, we think about our immediate things. When I was sick in the hospital, I was thinking about how I would pay the hospital bill. This society has groomed us to be worry warts. If you allow your soul to be caught up with what your flesh is doing, you cannot, you cannot live a holy life. It will keep you from finding out who Jesus is. Its not about you.

We get it confused saying that our lives are all about us and what we can get out of it. Our lives are about being available for God to use us.

How Bright is Your Bulb?

Be grateful for a giving heart, for a loving, giving, excited heart; exited about what God has for you. And what God has for you is His will for you. So we need to make sure that we allow God to be number 1 in our lives. At this time, we have to give honor to whom honor is due. Know this, how long halt you between two opinions? The Bible tells us to let your light so shine so that men will see you, but give God the glory for it. So let’s give God His due. My old Bishop use to say give the man his dough. This is God’s time, so take everything off your mind.

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Shine. Shine. Let your light so shine. How are you shining? What do people see imminating out of you? Do they see the light of God? Do you represent Him, or is it what He represents in you? We need to understand one thing, we need to let Christ shine through us. Because if He doesn’t shine and we do shine, we will start leading people astray. Because its about the God in us.

The Greek words for shine is Lampo meaning shine like a torch. The word torch has been used so many times throughout history, even when they show men in a cave, they have a lit torch so they can see their way through the darkness. If you are light, then people can see the path that leads to righteousness through you. Let your light so shine. So you are that torch that will guide people to Christ. Now, the word torch is more often used in England, because they call a flashlight a torch. So we represent the flame of God. Its an awesome thing to be a representation of something that you believe in; that you love. If you love somebody, and you say, I’m coming in the name of the one I love, Jesus. In the natural sense you are always proud to represent your significant other. But think about it, how do you shine? Do you shine with that representation or are you shining of something else like mess or your burdens?

You’ve seen people loaded down, carrying the weight and burden of someone else. Then they come and say “Let me pray for you.” Then you should say “That’s ok, I prayed last night.” You don’t want them to lay hands on you. You don’t what them to pray for you because whatever is on them will transfer onto you. The Bible says lay hands on no man suddenly. If you are praying for someone on the other hand, you don’t pray for what they want, because you don’t know what they want. They may be going through, so don’t pray that they come out of it or that God delivers them from it because you know why? God wants them to go through, because you don’t know their life what they’ve been through, you don’t know what they need to go through so they can get through! So you pray that the Will of God will be done in their lives. When you aren’t around them you don’t know what they’re doing. People do mess, and try to get you to pray for them so their mess can go forward. Oh no! Its called validation of prayer. They need you to quantify what they’re doing. That is why the Bible says lay hands on no man suddenly. I will pray true enough, I will pray for you, and your family. You don’t have to pray out loud. The scribes and pharisees did it all the time. No, you pray “I pray the Will of God in your life.” They look at you like “but why aren’t you praying for my benefit?” The best way to help someone who is going through is to stand back and pray from a far. You get up on them and touch them and whatever is on them you may you go through. You lay hands on them, and then others on others, and then we’re all jacked up. How bright is your bulb? Could some of the things we’re going through be because of who we’ve been with? How bright is your bulb? You’re looking kind of dim.

A light designates some place of shelter or desire to be at. So when you are a light you are showing detail of everything. In the dark you can’t describe anybody. In the light you can tell what is what. For example, when you come to a crossing in a road, there are lights up there. What are the major colors? Red, green and yellow. We know what those mean. Stop, go and slow down. Some of you see a green light, that means to go as fast as you can, and yellow is go faster so you can beat the yellow light. When you come to a railroad crossing and the gate goes down, and the lights are flashing what do you do? Its not for you the snake through the gates and try to go through. It means stop and wait for the train to come. We have to pay attention because we know that those things are there for us to be cautious.

Can you use a black bulb to get through the dark? There are black bulbs, that are ultraviolet, but you can’t look in the dark. Can you look in the dark with a black bulb? No. You need something bright to light your path. The blind can’t lead the blind. You don’t know anything about anything but you’ll try to tell me how. Understand this, we can’t come to conclusions in our lives that we want to follow the correct path and the thing that illuminates in our hearts and minds we need to follow because it looks bright to us. Not every light leads to the right destination. If you wear the light of Christ, when you’re going through is your light bright? No. How can it be? Its just like a flash light. How many walk around the house at night with a weak flash light? Do you still use it? No because its dim. Associate that with your Christian walk. Now the world can see when there are things that are on you, and you want to pray for whom? You don’t want someone coming to you with a weak light, and you don’t want your light to be weak. What happens to a remote with a weak battery? How long does it take you to realize your bulb and battery are low? That means you’re not charged up by the Holy Ghost. “I’m strong, I understand, I have Christ in me. He’s all I need,” you say. Is He really all you need? If He is, then why is your battery so weak? How did it get that way? You got that mindset that “I’m going to ‘Jesus’ until I drop.” Then you go to Him and say Jesus why am I like this? He’ll say “Did you take a look at your battery?” But you say “Lord, You are the supercharge of batteries.” He’ll say “But didn’t I tell you to rest?” Jesus even got away from the crowd to pray, in one piece, not in bits and pieces. We don’t understand that our batteries need to be recharged as a Child of God because if you don’t you get the wrong information. How bright is your bulb? Just like the old scary movie. Someone walks in with a torch, and the wind is blowing, and just before it goes out something strange passes your way, and then the torch blows out.

People will drain you until there is nothing left but a spark and then there are those who try to take the spark! People plug into you and their meter goes up, but then your meter goes down. Then they get mad at you when you don’t have enough juice to power them up. Then they ask what’s wrong with you? Your bulb doesn’t look very bright. Well because you drained me! 10 wise and 10 foolish brides in Matthew 10, the 10 foolish immediately asked, can I used your battery back up!? And the wise said, well you could have bought one of these, just go down to the store and buy one. Well you have enough to give me some the foolish said. You saw that your meter was low, how is that going to help you?

When your fishing around to look for power, and you don’t get on your knees and plug it in the wall, if you’re there just the drain something and don’t recharge it back. Its just like the person who doesn’t understand the Word of God and goes out and tries to get a quick word and tries to explain it to someone else based on their skewed understanding. How bright is your bulb? Are you exuding Christ or exuding you? People who don’t have a clue and don’t have the light in them will always want to be around those that do, but they are like leeches.

You know what leeches do? Suck the blood out of you, because there is life in the blood, and they won’t let go until they are full. So we have spiritual leeches who don’t know anything about Christians and don’t have a clue about what a christian really is. They don’t know about humility, long suffering, but they know about complaining and whining. They don’t know the Word, but they look to you. They go to you for the word, prayer, and everything, because they can’t go for themselves. Can you get a letter through to Christ, my phone is being blocked. Why does a person get blocked? Because they don’t want to hear from you. Folks will use that to drain you, they’ll go to other people to hear from you because they can’t hear from you. Spiritual leeches need someone to latch onto to get to where they need to get to. They look for life in something because they’re dead, and can’t communicate with the One who give us power. I can’t get the Holy Ghost, but I know its in you and I know what it looks like. You are carrying Duracell, not those dollar store batteries that last long enough for you to get the product home and then go out. When everything else dies, Duracell endures. When everything else fails the Holy Ghost endures. People know that. That is why people mimic the Holy Ghost, they mimic tounges, because they want people to see that they have power, because as a Christina you can’t walk without power. I need to tap into that power. Even though you mimic and look the part, everyone can see that your bulb isn’t even bright, but its off. You have to be aware of these spiritual leeches.

To keep your energy up and the Holy Ghost up inside you, you need to take time in prayer. Those quick fixes “Jesus give me strength, you know and understand me. Amen.” How would you like if someone you love just said I love you and then quickly leaves? You wouldn’t, so does Christ want that? Now, where is quality time you spend with Christ? On the go? On the TV? Online? Why? Don’t have to give an offering. I can get the Word for free because I’m one of those spiritual leeches. How can you hear if you don’t have a preacher and how can he hear unless he’s been sent?

How many have battery back ups? Your battery back up should be your Bible. How many have phones? You are the phone. Getting on your knees makes the connection. Everything you need to live according to holiness and godliness is the Bible. Is the anointing enough in your life that you can hear from God and activate in God? Or do you have to go get one of those generators to activate in God? Picture this, all Christians are trying to get started in the morning, and you look over the horizon and see them all trying to crank a generator? The whole point is let your light so shine, the Holy Ghost shine. How can it shine if you haven’t feed it lately? Can your car get somewhere if it has no gas? No. So if you don’t have the anointing and Holy Ghost in your life, you can’t go anywhere. You may sound good and look good, that car may be beautiful and nice looking, but will it go anywhere? There may be some gorgeous and fine looking saints, who look presentable, but they aren’t going anywhere. Have you ever gone to a church and left there more depleted than when you came in? No power left in the house. The problem is we’re always trying to leech and latch onto others, when we should get it for ourselves. Maintain your bulb by being around people who will fill you up, not those who will drain you.

 

Matthew 25:1-12

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

 

The Lord may need to take something away from you, to break something in your life, because He needs to lead you, because you aren’t listening to Him. So He has to break things in your life that you thought were secure. When God is getting ready to do something awesome in your life, watch how many old people and situations Satan throws up in your life again. Stay away from people that steal your light and your life. Make sure you stay around people who will encourage and inspire you; people who are blessed, who really genuinely care about you. Not people who are validated by your presence. You need to get away from them, because they can’t stand on their own 2 feet, and don’t look back. They are leeches in your life and when they drain your for themselves, they don’t care about you. Its time to let go. If they are draining you, they don’t love or care about you. The Lord said in the last days it would be husband against wife, sister against brother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law; I know you love them and care about them, but love them from a far, let them go. Its either the Lord or you. The Lord doesn’t drain you so let the other person go. Remember the Bible tells us to love one another. The people of God are your friends but you still have to love them, because you have the same goals in mind, and that is to be with the Lord, and we get there being of one mind, conversation and thought. Support each other, love each other, and care about each other.