LORD, MAKE ME A BLESSING
LORD, MAKE ME A BLESSING
Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Dearly Beloved,
The lack of compassion and empathy within the world demonstrates that "Man cannot see beyond a choice he doesn't understand," that is, until he has been awakened and his mind renewed. It also helps to explain why the hardened hearts of men cannot understand and refuse to acknowledge that, if he does not love his brother, he goes against God!
Brethren, it is imperative that we not only be well-informed Believers, but born again to receive the Word and wisdom through God's Holy Spirit, as well as His protection through discernment from the lies of the adversary that have been spewed upon the world.
We will never be who God wants us to become, if we can't see who we are today and surrender to His Will and Way. God sees us as we are and loves us unconditionally, but, entreats us and pushes us to become who we should be. That is why the blinders and scales must be removed!
Did Jesus die in vain? Those who choose to remain unchanged, keeping their hands out for God's blessings are like the Pharisee and Sadducee who crucified His Son.
YES! You are and will be blessed; for God is a God of Grace and Mercy, but, what have you chosen?! The world is blessed; for God maketh the Sun to shine, allowing life and prosperity even to His Enemies! --But TRUE LIFE...TRUE PROSPERITY? Be sure that you haven't chosen the counterfeit, remaining in a state of darkness, refusing to SURRENDER ALL!
Pharaoh, a worshipper of pagan gods, was blessed, by the world's standards, so that he would be a blessing for others. God allowed his blessings, although they came through the pain, blood, sweat, death, tears, grief and agony of Israel, His chosen people.
Pharaoh's heart was touched by God to favor Joseph. Joseph's heart was touched with forgiveness and mercy to be a blessing to his brothers, who betrayed him, and a blessing to Israel.
Where are the TRUE BELIEVERS?
We cannot boast of being blessed, when our heart is lacking the love of God for one another! --When we would rather see our neighbors shunned, hated and considered to be ungodly and unworthy, for our own well-being. Forgive us, Lord. If we desire the Kingdom, we should want the same for our neighbor, doing what we can to shine the Light to help them to follow.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 King James Version (KJV)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Forgive us, Lord; for too often, we love to preach and teach Thy Word, but find it bittersweet to taste it ourselves and would rather despise the messenger, then humbly submit ourselves to correction. Blinded by pride, we cannot see Your love for us through your efforts to save us from ourselves.
Forgive us, Lord; for neither should we regard the person of men (status, race, religion, etc.). We must preach the TRUTH to ALL men.
SEEK HIS FACE
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
SEEK HIS FACE, not just His hands for blessings; for narrow is the way and straight is the gate.
The vast majority trying to find the road to life within God's Kingdom are distracted, looking to the left, looking to the right and looking back, believing they are better off with Pharaoh, living in the will and way of the world.
Seeking His face is not about desperation or being anxious, or even about knowing tomorrow is not promised to us. Seeking His face is about LOVING GOD with ALL YOUR HEART AND SOUL and IMITATING HIS CHARACTER, knowing who and what He is to man and within you! God is ALL IN ALL, To All!
Man continues to overlook the greatest commandments, which cover all the others, as told in Mark 12: 28-34 King James Version (KJV).
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
My Friends, a changed heart and a renewed mind prove that we abide in God's Holy Spirit, filled with the Perfect Love of Jesus, ergo, the Love of God, the love of Holiness and Righteousness! Some may think the TRUE Love of God is not urgent and can wait, but the state of world and the hearts of God's people show that it is necessary, now. Sometimes, until we become the victim, we don't see the need for change.
UNITY and PERFECT LOVE is not a VISION but God's COMMANDMENT! UNITY is a FRUIT of our LOVE, which brings PEACE. We walk by FAITH and bear GOOD FRUIT, wearing the Armour of God, our FEET shod with PEACE, which comes from the understanding of HE who is our PEACE!
Shall we continue to sin, reaping blessings for the sake of sin, crucifying Christ?
Galatians 5:19-26 (KJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
We ARE our brothers' keeper. This is why God tells us in Matthew 7:13,14...
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
MAN IS TOO DISTRACTED WITH HIS OWN WELL-BEING!
Let us consider that, God provided for the people of Israel through Joseph, under the authority of Pharaoh, by the people of Egypt. God made a way for Israel because He had opened the hearts of the Leaders. Pharaoh took Israel into his land because they were suffering and in need of refuge. Israel's bondage in Egypt came through the fear and hardened hearts of the leaders who followed and who had forgotten how Israel through JOSEPH had saved Egypt from death and destruction. God allowed the bondage to purify the hearts of His People!
It is a cycle, my Friends. We must help one another because the time will come, when we and our descendants will be in need of another person's and another nation's help!
GOD IS WATCHING!
REVELING in our blessings, knowing that we have refused to help others, makes one wonder, are they blessings or distractions to keep us from God's true blessing of His Only Begotten Son, who suffered and died for us that we would CONQUER the WORLD and come to know The TRUTH, The WAY and The LIFE to enter the KINGDOM?
The Bible, THE WORD OF GOD, is about CHANGING THE HEART OF MAN NOW! NOW is the time to mirror the image of God and BE LIKE HIM, living ABUNDANTLY in love, peace, joy, faith, trusting and obeying God. God told us to IMITATE Him, NOW. "Be ye holy, for I am Holy."
Those waiting, believing they will become like God will see that they have FAILED TO ENTER THE GATE and God does not KNOW THEM!
We must not mislead the people! YES, God sees and knows what we CAN BECOME, that is why He pursues our hearts NOW, not why he showers us with blessings. If that were so, what is the difference between a BELIEVER IN THE LIGHT and one who CHOOSES to remain in darkness and sin? Do we continue sinning because Christ was crucified and paid the price for our sins?
If we believe God is blessing us because of what he sees we will be, we ERR. He sees our RESISTANCE, DENIAL, UNWILLINGNESS TO SURRENDER and be what He would have us to be NOW. We are not just to count our blessings, but we must know that God counts us worthy to be blessed, because we are covered in the Blood of Jesus and have become HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS, having died to the flesh to CONQUER THE WORLD!
We must ask ourselves, DID CHRIST DIE IN VAIN?!!!
Or, perhaps the confusion lies in LOVING. What does it mean to LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES? For some, that depends on how you love yourself. But, what does God mean?
Jesus told His Disciples, love one another as I have loved you. We know that Jesus did as he saw His Father do, therefore, we are to do as our Father does.
If God blesses us because He loves us, so must we do what we can to bless our neighbor, because we love them in Perfect Love.
WHERE are the TRUE BELIEVERS? HOW NARROW IS THE WAY?
What is for the WORLD, is indeed for the world, but, as BELIEVERS, living in the world, we still must not do as we see the world do, or accept what the world does. "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!
Perhaps, the confusion lies in what is done in HEAVEN. How do we know what is done in Heaven? We have The WORD of GOD and the Father, Holy Spirit bear witness. Amen
HEARTS FOR GIVING THANKS
We can be BLESSED because of our leaders or shunned and despised; for within a DEMOCRACY, the LEADER'S heart reflects the will of the people. This is why the eyes of the world continue to be upon the United States of America.
My Brothers and Sisters, once again, by the Grace and Mercy of God, another Thanksgiving Day, a day designated for GIVING THANKS is upon us and within its meaning, we have a CHOICE to make.
God's way of 'giving thanks' is to BLESS others, that THEY ALSO may be a BLESSING TO OTHERS. As we sit down at our tables surrounded by the festivities that commemorate the day and those who have come before us, we have a CHOICE to make within our hearts. What MEANING will we take with us from this day to carry us forward and leave behind to GLORIFY GOD? WILL we take time to pray and give thanks to God? WHAT will we pray for and about? WHEN we have eaten of the fruit of our labor, will we have spent the day basking in our blessings? IF we have taken time to PRAY and give God thanks, have we given any thought to how WE can be a BLESSING TO AND FOR GOD?
We have a CHOICE to make in our hearts EVERY DAY, not just on Thanksgiving Day. Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV)
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
IN TIMES LIKE THESE, What should we ask for? What OR WHO should we SEEK? What shall we FIND? WHAT will be OPENED and REVEALED to us?
Should we have our hand out for MORE BLESSINGS, OR, should we ask to BE A BLESSING? Should we be content in SEEKING HIS FACE, so that we may IMITATE His Character? Will we find the NARROW PATH TO THE GATE AND JESUS IN OUR HEARTS? Will the gates of GOD'S KINGDOM be opened unto us and the GLORY of GOD be REVEALED THROUGH US?
WHOSE HEART will be filled with the glory of having taken in the treasures of the world? Whose mind will be too preoccupied with the savory meal before them to care for anything or anyone else in the world, who may not have?
OR, will we make the CHOICE to follow 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (KJV)
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, whom I hope and pray will live VICTORIOUSLY, this day and EVERYDAY, let us give thanks for who God IS and ask Him to MAKE US A BLESSING to others for the glorification of His Kingdom.
As we celebrate this day let us remember and pray for our Native American Brothers and Sisters, who continue to suffer injustice and be stripped of their land, history and rights for other's well-being. Forgive us, Lord. Let us remember all races, people and nations who have worked, struggled, suffered and died to build this country. "One nation under God?" May we strive for the vision and live for God's Kingdom!
Pray for our leaders and these United States of America. Pray that the people will, "humble themselves, and pray, and seek (God's) face, and turn from their wicked ways."
In Jesus most precious name, giving all thanks for His sacrifice for us to become like Him. May we all continue to press toward the mark.
your servant and soldier,
mishael
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REFERENCED SCRIPTURE
Matthew 7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Mark 12 King James Version (KJV)
12 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.'
8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?
36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
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