Why would someone want to be around people they have nothing in common with? Most people even if they are not born-again don’t enjoy being around people who are always negative and complaining. No one generally enjoys being around people who are irritable and grouchy. Unless you have a similar attitude or display like behavior, these are not personality traits that people beat the door down or wait in long lines to fellowship with.

Alliance is defined as a close relationship, based on similar objectives or characteristics.

Why would you want to associate with drug addicts if you don’t do drugs? What would be the draw or the common bond that encourages union? One might say well, “I’ve known old so and so for years he’s like a brother/sister to me.” So are you saying you like being around Ted the wine-o just because he reminds you of your past? Or is it a deeper bond for mere selfish purposes? You are now the CEO of a bank but you like hanging around drunks because you guys knew each other when you were children. What kind of mind set is that and how could that be productive for you? If you are trying to help Ted come up to where you are that’s different and generally does not take a close relationship to do that, you can help someone without forming an alliance with them. The truth of the matter is that it’s not really about Ted at all; it’s about you and your refusal to grow-up. The bible says, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Your lack of spiritual discipline to cut off potentially harmful and dangerous relationships is a sign of immaturity and selfishness. You really don’t want Ted to change because if he did you wouldn’t have anywhere to go or hang-out to complain or flesh out. Ted provides you with the ungodly environment and friendship that you seek to selfishly gratify your flesh. When Ted curses and tells dirty jokes, it doesn’t bother you, because your unbridled flesh wants him too. You like being around Ted because he watches porn on TV and if anyone ever saw you looking at this with Ted, you can just simply blame it on Ted. You quickly explain, “Boy that Ted is a mess, always complaining and watching all that filth on TV, that’s why nobody likes to be around him.” But yet you are always around him, why? What does Ted do to help promote character in you? What is Ted saying that is helping you to prosper and increase in your life? What kind of mentor is Ted; would you let him mentor your children? Whose being deceived here, you, Ted or both?

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:32

We all from time to time have to be around people with unpleasant attitudes and undesirable behaviors not necessarily because we wanted to but because we have to.

Could it be that you are not advancing and making progress in your life toward your God given destiny because the evil root of Ted’s words have corrupted or choked the Word of God that was sown in your heart. You and Ted serve and live in two totally different kingdoms, how can you have such a close union? You are not an exception to the rules. Wake up, before you end up, in a place called nowhere!

Many Christian’s today are unequally yoked in ungodly alliances. They fellowship with people daily who consistently live lifestyles that are opposed to God’s kingdom, yet they say that they love God. Ephesians 5:11 declares, “Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.” If you live like this around people like Ted you will either draw them to a close relationship with Christ or repel them to where they don’t want you around. If Ted likes being around you and is not being draw by the light that should be bright in you could it be that you are luke warm. Are you being a stumbling block to Ted just to fulfill your uncontrolled fleshly desires?

Remember, the Apostle Peter was warming himself by the fire of the world when he denied Christ.

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17

Ask the Holy Spirit today, to lead and guide you into Godly relationships and divine fellowships to help you grow and fulfill your destiny. Inspire to be around people who love being around God, people who have a heavenly purpose and vision.

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John 16:12-14

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Jesus made it very clear from this scripture, who He had appointed to guide His church. He gave the Holy Spirit to every believer to escort and pilot us in the way of truth. God did not just leave us truth but He also provided the one who would Help us comprehend it. When Jesus spoke these words to His disciples they were mere unchanged men because Jesus had not given His life on the cross yet. Jesus told them that He had many, not a few but many things to say to them but because the Holy Spirit was not living in them yet they would not understand or comprehend the meaning of His words. If we are to live by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth (Matthew 4:4), it is so important that we have understanding. Just hearing the word of God without understanding what was said leaves the hearer no better having heard. The bible says we should not just be hearers of God’s word but doers (James 1:22-23), however, if there is a lack or breech in ones understanding how can they accurately obey. How many times have you set in a lecture, conference, class, or group of one or two people and everyone heard the same thing but when questioned concerning what you heard, it was very clear not all had the same understanding. Well, God wants all of His children to be on the same page and with clear understanding of what He has spoken.  God did not ask us to put our own twist or interpretation on His message. We are commanded in the book of Revelation not to add to or take away from God’s word.

Many times God may speak one word to you during a time of fellowship or prayer with Him. For instance, you may hear the word “go.” Well most people are familiar with the natural meaning of the word go. Go is a very simple, basic, elementary word that most people would not need much explanation or interpretation. However, God revealed to us in Isaiah 55:9, that our thoughts (human intellect), are no match for His thoughts. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit we would begin to reason in our mind what God meant when He spoke the word “go.” But God did not want our earthly lives to be lead by human reasoning. Human nature does not like being out of control, it wants to be in charge and out in front all the time, that’s why we must yield to the Holy Spirit. We must welcome and surrender to the comfort of the Holy Ghost at all times. The Holy Spirit will not intervene if you want to be the one in front and in control. The bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:6, to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. The word humble means to submit and the phrase mighty hand of God means; God’s control or authority. We must submit and yield our whole being to God’s governing authority. Our heavenly Father loves us and He will never force or drive us into submission. He is not referring to the human perspective of submission but rather a divine revelation of love which produces submission. When we become intimately acquainted with Love it is easy to surrender and/or submit to it because there is no fear in love. Perfect Love cast out fear (1 John 4:18). God is Love and there is no darkness in Him (1 John 4:16). If you Love God then you will follow Him, let Him lead the way. You are not a robot but a spirit being created by God and given the power of choice.

God will give us the understanding of what He is saying to us if we continue to seek Him for more. Don’t get ahead of God just wait upon Him and lean not to your own understanding but acknowledge Him and He will direct your path ( Proverbs 3:5-6).

So choose to allow the Holy Spirit to go before you and be your guide every day in every way. He will never lead you astray!

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Psalms 2:4

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. 

You can be assured that when God laughs He is not being funny or carnal. God does nothing without purpose. God never speaks an idol word. Whenever God utters anything from His mouth; no matter if it is a word or just a sound or groan, it has a specific purpose. Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Laughter is a form of communication through expressive sound. People laugh for different reasons and purposes. For instance, you may think that someone is laughing because they are happy but in reality they are laughing because they are nervous. I believe laughter can come from your spirit, soul or body. Every time you and I laugh it is not coming from our spirit man because the purposes for which you are laughing maybe different at any given time.

The scripture declares that God laughs not giggles. Giggling is synonyms with nervous or silly laughter. I believe that when God laughs at the enemy His laugh releases power. I believe when God laughs demons tremble. I believe when God laughs chains of bondage are broken and captives are set free. I believe when God laughs blind eyes (spiritual and physical) are opened. I believe when God laughs doors of opportunity swing open for the fulfillment of destinies. I believe when God laughs depression flees like a defeated coward. I believe when God laughs drug addicts are instantly set free and stay free.

God does nothing in vain. He is not just sitting in the heavens laughing for sport. So the next time you meditate on the truth that God laughs, go deeper and see Him destroying the works of the enemy!

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Emotions: Friend or Foe?

Many people have a misconception concerning our God given emotions, and they group them in with the five physical senses of the human body. However, our emotions are of the soul, and they were created by God with a purpose. Emotions are no less important than the other elements of the soul; our mind and will. But if they are left undeveloped and conformed to the nature of fall man they can be very destructive. Emotions are often related to feelings, and episodes of tearful woe. They are stereo-typed with menopause and mental instabilities; such as nervous breakdowns and immature whining and pity parties. Emotions are thought of as mood swings and unstable, irrational changes in behavior. They are seen as a weakness, something to be avoided and never cultivated to be an asset.

Our God given emotions are not part of the curse as some may think. Emotions when properly understood and skillfully employed in a human beings life can complement and strengthen their relationship and intimacy with God and others. Emotions can help maintain our inner man’s flaming fire of passion for God and His Kingdom, assisting with the fulfillment of our Divine destiny and finishing one’s course in life. A runner with zeal and passion for his race is more likely to train harder, press further and sacrifice more than someone who is mediocre and has no fervor whatsoever for the game. Emotion is not an island and is never to be solo in its endeavors but is a support to the spirit of man. On the other hand, emotions ungoverned by the word of God and the Spirit of God can cause shipwreck to the human spirit.

The human body has many parts and each part has a function yet all the parts work together to help the body fulfill its purpose. The soul also was created by God with more than one part and all the parts are to work together to help the spirit of man fulfill his destiny. There was not one part of mans being, spirit, soul or body that was created by mistake or without meaningful purpose.

As we seek to Detoxify our soul and rid it of all harmful, destructive and deadly toxins, the various parts of our soul will begin to  take on new character and  regain original purpose. When we submit our whole being; spirit, soul and body to the word of God and allow it to transformation us from the inside out  we will experience the benefits of each member of our beings true purpose. Don’t settle for the lie that your emotions are of the curse and therefore should be avoided and left undeveloped thus preventing them from glorifying God.

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Philippians 3:13-14

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

Forget defined:

• Neglecting, no longer caring for.

• Forgotten, given over to oblivion, i.e. uncared for.

When someone chooses to forget they choose to: not remember, to stop thinking about, to put out of your mind, to disregard, to put behind you, to overlook and not recall.

You neglect or refuse to give any attention or care to that which you choose to forget.

You don’t nurse it or feed it, you don’t cuddle it or comfort it; you totally neglect it. If you neglect something long enough it will die. Stop sympathizing and nourishing thoughts of rejection. Stop cuddling the wrong treatment you received in the past, it no longer has significance in your life. Stop remembering and rehearsing your past, let it go, starve it out. Don’t prop it up on a mantle for all to see who walk by but sit it out for the trash man to pick up on garbage day. Yes, they did hurt you, as a matter of fact they hurt you numerous times but you must get your eyes off them and redirect your focus to Jesus. Love voids out all suffered wrongs and lets God be the Judge and Jury. Love doesn’t plot on how to get even but rather meditates on ways to bless its enemies and do good to those who despitefully use them.

There is power in love to forget. Love not only empowers one to forget but also to forgive. The Love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit destroys also the effects of the past. It can root out, pull down and destroy everything connected to the past; as it then builds and plants that which provides a bright prosperous future.

Many times it may seem difficult or even down- right impossible to forget the past because many times we see residuals of it every day. You may sometimes see the person who hurt you on a daily basis. You may sometimes have to interact daily with the one who betrayed you and disregarded prior commitments to you. You may have to work with co-workers who have in times past persecuted you and treated you harshly. You may have to communicate with a spouse who was unfaithful and trampled under feet your marriage covenant. You may have to continually deal with a relative who has wronged you but promises it will never happen again yet they never seem to change from their evil ways. All of these things and more can cause a person to think that forgetting the past is impossible but nothing is impossible with God.

When we choose to forget the past it is not based on what someone else does or does not do. Forgetting the past is trusting God. The people, places and things of your past may never change but that doesn’t mean you have to stay trapped back there with them. When you chose to obey the word of God: forgiving and forgetting, you release your own heart from captivity and prove that you trust God. Our future is bright when we keep a steady gaze on Jesus; the author and finisher of our faith.

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Soak defined:

• To penetrate something by saturating it and passing into pores or small holes.

Similar words to soak are: immerse, steep, marinate, infuse, saturate, and bathe.

There is a difference between soaking something in water and just merely dipping something in water. When you dip something in water it is just a brief encounter, then you quickly remove it from the water, However when you soak something it is a lengthier period of time that you leave it in the water or substance. Soaking requires patience. Many times people get in a hurry and don’t let what is immersed absorb all that it needs to.

Colossians 3:16

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.

The word richly in that verse means abundance. Let the word of God live in you in great quantity, not just a little bit. In order for God’s word to live in us richly we need to immerse or soak ourselves in it so that it can permeate and saturate every fiber of our being. When something is soaked it becomes weighty, heavy or solid. This weightiness and/or solidity becomes the anchor of our spirit, soul and body. It is the rock that causes us not to be moved. When we become rooted and grounded in God and His word we become unshakeable.

Many times when you soak something it gives the soaking agent time to remove old callous things and yet at the same time penetrate and expand useful things. When the word of God penetrates and fills your heart, it begins to expand and enlarge it, giving way to the greater and thus becoming more useful.

Dehydration is a dangerous depletion or lack of water in the body, resulting from an inadequate intake of fluids or excessive fluid loss. Loss of fluids can result from various assaults on the body such as: disease, trauma, profuse sweating, prolonged heat exposure, etc. When the body is dehydrated the person can become confused, weak, delirious, experience visual disturbances and a host of other malfunctions. If we compare this to spiritual dehydration we can see some of the same devastating manifestations. People began to lack spiritual perception which distorts Godly vision; they begin to experience spiritual weakness resulting in poor judgment and increased carnality. We see manifestations of spiritual delirium, anxiety, fear, sleep deprivation, creativity retardation, speech deficits, and a host of other things. Spiritual dehydration can put a person’s spirit in a state of shock. Listen, child of God, we should never allow our spirits to get to the point of spiritual dehydration. We must endeavor to stay full!

Daily soaks in God’s word causes us to overflow with the life and light of God. Our lives then become prosperous and we have good success. God told Joshua to meditate His word day and night; well I think that could very well be a form of soaking. Lightly wetting yourself with the word of God does not produce good success, the gentlest breeze can quickly dry that from your skins surface. However when we soak, it goes deep inside, filtering through every pore, reaching every part of your being.

So purpose in your heart this year to take frequent soaks in the Word of Life and watch your life overflow and grow more and more!

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Isaiah 54:17

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Weapon defined:

• A device designed to inflict injury or death on an opponent.

This scripture declares that no device designed by the kingdom of darkness against your life can prosper against you. So no matter what you maybe going through at this very moment, it is written, “No weapon formed against thee shall prosper.” God will not fail you, He is for you not against you. The lies that have been spoken against you shall not prosper. The disease that has been sent to destroy you shall not prosper. It doesn’t matter what the device maybe just know it will not prosper.

The word prosper means to flourish or thrive. The power of God has stripped the devices of the enemy of the ability to flourish or thrive against you, they can not stay alive when God’s Word and power show up.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1John 5:4-5

We win!

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Matthew 26:6-13
Now when Jesus came back to Bethany and was in the house of Simon the leper, A woman came up to Him with an alabaster flask of very precious perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, For what purpose is all this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor. But Jesus, fully aware of this, said to them, Why do you bother the woman? She has done a noble (praiseworthy and beautiful) thing to Me. For you always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me. In pouring this perfume on My body she has done something to prepare Me for My burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news (the Gospel) is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be told also, in memory of her.
This woman honored God with her best. She could have went and bought some cheap perfume and pretended in front of the people to be doing something noble but her heart was not to impress those standing around, she wanted to honor God. Sometimes people do things to impress other people in an effort to sway their opinion of them or for some other selfish gain. Trying to impress people is empty labor; very hard work with little or no gain. This many times can lead to unnecessary emotional pain, frustration and disappointment. The truth is that it’s only when we please God can we have a fruitful and successful return on our investments. Human beings can never reward you like God can.

Jesus said, How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? (John 5:44)

Impress defined

•  to affect or please somebody greatly. To have a strong, usually favorable effect on the mind or feelings of somebody.

The woman who poured costly perfume on Jesus was focused on honoring God not people. She chose to hear from heaven and follow through with the instructions that filled her heart and mind. Honoring God has everything to do with following His plans and purposes. When we live a life that overflows with rich wisdom from God, it will always lead us to do the right things for the right reasons and be at the right place at the right time.
This woman obviously took to heart all that Jesus had been saying about His death, burial and resurrection and sought to honor Him in helping Him to prepare for His ultimate sacrifice.

Jesus is coming back soon just like He said. There are ways we who believe can honor Him and prepare for His soon arrival. Choose today and every day to honor Him with your best. He is worthy!
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When you are online on a computer your status is considered active. This can apply in the spirit as well as in the natural. To be active is to be: lively, energetic, vigorous, full of life, on the go, full of zip and dynamic. When a person’s status is offline they are considered to be inactive. To be inactive is to be: motionless, stationary, unmoving, immobile, stopped, stilled or dormant.

What is your status, are you on or off, active or inactive?

Jeremiah 1:12 describes our God as being an active God, “Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.”

God is not dormant or stopped, He is on the go doing His will and fulfilling His good pleasure. God is not asleep on the job, He is not only alert but He is active. God is always online, in step and right on time. God is never late but always ready and willing to participate in bringing His word to pass in our lives. The bible reveals that the word of God is active, operative and energizing.

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 AMB)

As children of God we should be developing into looking just like Him. If God is active then we should be active or change whatever is inactive in our lives so that we can look more like Him. When I refer to God being active I don’t mean He is busy running all over the place from one thing to another, frantic and chaotic. No, God has purpose in everything He does. His activities are not driven or controlled by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and pride of life; they are not vain or selfish. God’s activeness is born out of love. Love never fails.

Looking like God means doing what we see Him do and saying what we hear Him say.

James 1:25 says, “But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).”

We must be active doers of God’s word not just hearers. You can fool some of the people some of the time but you can never fool God. Being a hearer of God’s word only, will bear fruit of inactivity. It will be evident eventually that this person’s status was offline. Sometimes people will log on to their computers and appear to be online but in reality they have walked away from the computer and have become distracted by something else. Have you ever known someone who outwardly appeared to be actively doing the word of God and obeying His will but in reality they have spiritually walked away and are distracted by other things? We are considered active when we hear and do what we hear. We become active through practice and participation.

So what is your status, are you on or offline, active or inactive?

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I know your [record of] works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message and have not renounced or denied My name. Revelations 3:8 (AMP)

God’s plans for your life are amazing. The gifts and callings that He has specifically designed for your earth walk are nothing short of wonderful and glorious. However they are also serious business. God never develops plans and purposes that He doesn’t intend to come to pass. Your presence in the earth today is no mistake or merely coincidental. Oh no my friend, you were strategically placed here for a Divine purpose and it’s time for you to acknowledge that plan and purpose and get down to business. Some of you reading this blog know just what I’m talking about, you’ve played “hooky” and/or been MIA (missing in action) long enough. God needs your active participation in His vineyard. Why are you sitting idle in the field as if there is no Kingdom work to be done? God has set doors for you to walk through at set times in your life. Don’t be lazy and miss your moment of entry or exit through the doors of opportunity God has placed in your path.
You must decide to “keep (God’s) Word and guard (His) message for your life and the lives of those whom He has chosen for you to influence. There are people who need you to mature and develop in your place of purpose. There are people who need the gifts God has placed inside of you. Don’t be afraid! Be strong and courageous. God needs YOU! He’s counting on you. Jesus asked His disciples to pray with Him during a very crucial time in history but they fell asleep right in the middle of the battle. Again, God needs YOU! Please stay awake during this very crucial time, your participation is needed in God’s business. Don’t let past persecutions or afflictions distract and/or keep you from your future obedience. Stop trying to amuse yourself with empty trifles of this life, in an attempt to fill time. Look up! Look up! There is a door open before you that no man can close. A door leading to a room filled with unimaginable opportunities specifically designed with you in mind.

Isaiah 25:1 (AMP)

O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things, even purposes planned of old [and fulfilled] in faithfulness and truth.

The plans and purposes God has for you can never be aborted by anyone or anything but you. When you and I decide to live by faith (the unseen) and not by what we see we choose to please God. (Hebrews 11:6). It takes faith to walk through new doors and access new opportunities afforded to you by God. It takes strength and courage to have good success in the purposes of God. Shake off the bad attitudes that lead to unfruitful and reckless lives and throw away the old baggage (childish ways etc.) that are no longer useful. “Put on the new man” and suit up for success. You’re on your way to brighter days as you fulfill the purposes of Christ for your life with joy!

Just start by daily putting one foot in front of the other (trust and acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and He will direct your path – Proverbs 3:5-6) and before you know it you’ve already walked through the door.

1 John 2:17 (AMP)

And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.

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