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Who Do Men Say You Are?

In this world today, most people want to be seen and recognized by someone, or individuals they are close to, to appear as someone who is mysterious, interesting, fun, loving or faithful. We would do almost anything that we think may grip the attention of others so they’ll notice us or at the very least look in our direction. It is as though we were some colorful birds of Africa trying to attract the attentions of the opposite sex for mating. This will is so strong that we would even go out of our character to be looked upon as a person everyone wants to be around or connected to. Why is the need to be connected so prevalent? Well, the truth of the matter is that there is built in every human being the need to be seen by their Creator; understood by their Creator. Like a child to their parents which needs to be accepted by them, looking for their love and pride; that is why human beings tend to be drawn to people with power or the “right stuff.” Some form or another, we’ll do anything to be associated with them, or power, money, or all three.

This is really serious because we find ourselves even in the Church being drawn to that magnetic personality of the Pastor or the Elder who is ministering. We want them to see us. We’re the ones that shout the loudest “hallelujah,” so that leaders can recognize us, especially if he is a Prophet so he can prophecy on our life. Even on our jobs we say we want to keep a low profile, but we really want to be seen and recognized for the work we’ve done. We want to be seen, heard and recognized. We as the real Saints of the One true God, you know the One that was crucified, non other than Jesus Christ of Nazareth, say we want to be connected to Him, we want to be around Him, were attracted to Him, but we don’t walk like it or live like it. Satan thought he’d caught Christ getting Him on the cross and crucified. Little did Satan know that Jesus was God in flesh, that Jesus was fulfilling prophecy. Had Satan known, he would not have caused Christ to be crucified. We know today that Jesus was God in the flesh. As Saints, we understand that John 1:1 says in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. Then that Word became flesh and lived among us. We beheld Him as the only begotten Son of God. He couldn’t be “God” in His natural form, because we can’t perceive or look at that because no sin can bask in His presence and live. He couldn’t come down as God to us, so He had to choose a form that created the 1st sin—the flesh. He came down as the One and only living God. That is why He had to be had by a virgin. He couldn’t come through a woman who’d seen other men, because that flesh would have been tainted with the sins of someone else. He came through a woman who knew no man. It wasn’t that she was special. He could have come through any woman who knew no man, but He came through Mary because she was of the line of David, the scriptures prophesying that He would come down through the line of David. Most people beheld Christ as just a baby, because they saw Him come from the womb of a fleshly woman, not realizing that He had to be born of a woman, just like men are brought forth in childbirth, so that He could hold sin captive in that flesh. He came into sinful flesh, because the flesh sins, and knows no good. He came down to take that stigmatize out of the flesh, because He knew no sin throughout His whole walk. He walked in His walk of righteousness, to prepare Him for what He would do at the end. Christ gave His life for us, because Adam and Eve made that great mistake when they sinned in the garden, being told not to do something they ought not do. That sounds like saints in Church today. Don’t do this, but they do it anyhow. It’s amazing how people use their own minds to manipulate what God has said to do. Satan knew that Jesus was God in flesh. He sought every opportunity to confuse, confront, and divert Christ in His mission to die for men’s sins. He saw God in the form of flesh, and He knew that God would not reach out of His flesh, and save Himself, when He’d already come to die for the sinful flesh. Satan knew God well enough that when He says He’ll do something, He won’t interfere with it. Its the same way in our lives. God won’t interfere in our lives unless we ask Him to. If we ask Him to, He’ll see whether its good for us to go through. We may need to learn a lesson from that task. Christ knows who you are and what you need for your growth in your walk. When you’re strong willed about who your God is, Satan can do nothing to deter you. It’s when we have doubts about our salvation that Satan creeps in with an unholy doctrine or a misunderstanding of the Word of God. We still want to give our love, time, reverence and obedience to Satan through sin. If you sin, you’re doing what he wants you to do. You give sin your love, time, reverence and your obedience. We’re obedient to sin. Didn’t you know your being obedient to Satan? What is sin? An immoral act against God.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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. 


Galatians 5:19-21

Who do men say you are? You’ll find out who you are if these thing are named among you? Are you a Child of God or are you walking in vain? Lean not to your own understanding because we have been inundated with half truths, that it is sometimes hard to know which way to go or what to choose. But if you want to know the truth look for it at the foundational beginnings of the written word of God with an open, sincere heart and mind. As you draw closer to the truth, you will draw closer to the real One and only true God who became flesh and dwelt among us, in the person of Jesus Christ. He came to correct the sin that was committed by Adam and Eve, by dying for our sins on the cross that we could be with Him forevermore. Please don’t allow any person or words of people to keep you from going home. We are so drawn to people who are popular, wealthy or good looking. Why do you think the basketball stars, football and hockey players are so sought after? We look to see someone whom we can associate with, because we like what they’ve done, and want to be like them. Looks are not all they seem. You think you have a wonderful rose, then you find out that its a carnation with a lot of thrones on it. That is why we get carried away over soap operas, reality shows; we look up to those individuals because we aspire to be like them. We see the different shows, and entertainers that come out, musicians and others in their area of expertise. We can’t sing but we sure wish we could sing like them. We buy their albums and we just don’t support them, but we support their lifestyle even if they are Satan worshipers. We’ll spend $40, $50 up to $100 for a football ticked, but we’ll say we won’t give our money to anyone in the Church because all they’ll do is get rich from me. But where is the money going you gave to the sports arena? The owners keep it and give some to the players.

We’re so lost in our way of thinking. But when something goes wrong, because you gave $5 in an offering 10 years ago in a Church, you think that is still suppose to carry on to help pay for the burial expenses of a relative who died. When the Pastor speaks questionably, then we get defensive. Its not the point of letting the relative be buried, but when they want you to bury their folk, they want you to put on the burial, wake and repass, and supply everything. They look at you and say they gave money. They want you to go out of your way to do everything, and you don’t know what has happened in the life of that person. They want you to make up a lie to put that relative in heaven, and foot the bill for her burial. But you didn’t give anything.

We have to realize that just because a person cries “Lord, Lord, I’m Your child, have I not done all these wonderful things in Your name? I’ve prayed and I’ve done this.” But you had your own form of truth and were self-righteous. That is why a lot of people will be fooled, and if you miss out on the rapture, that is it, there is no second chance. If you try to its too late. We don’t see that. People can only see the here and now, where they are enjoying themselves now. They don’t want to go to a Church where they tell them they are doing wrong. We have to walk up right, circumspectly with the mind of God.

22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town. 27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? 28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. 31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. 34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark 8:22-38

People want to be seen, heard, and at the forefront of what’s going on. He’d just gotten healed; a miraculous thing. When Jesus asked His disciples who do men say I am, they gave various answers.

Now, who do men say you are? Who do men and women, leaders, children, people around you say you are? Is your walk indicative of who they say you are? You want them to know you by your walk, not by your attitude or character, because the character may be flawed. But in your walk in Christ you’re trying to become unflawed. When you look at modern day language, Christ was asking what the talk about town was. They answered John the Baptist? Why? Because he went around doing the same things John did. But Christ asked His disciples who they thought He was. Peter said He was the Christ. The Lord then taught them that He must suffer many things. Peter rebuked Him, but Jesus rebuked Peter saying “get thee behind me Satan.” When we become a part of the House of God, then we have to realize that when God says things to us, we can’t examine what He says in a carnal mindset. Its just like when He told Nicodemus “you must be born again.” Nicodemus thought that he had to go back into his mother womb again. This is what we do as humans. We self examine with our own carnal mindset. We have to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Christ had to carry His cross which represented the weight of the world and sin on His shoulder. So take up the mess in your life, get rid of it, and follow Jesus fully. Not part-time. There are many part-time Christians, who are only so when its convenient. When you become a light of righteousness to people whom you are around, they feel guilty.

Is anything worth who you are? Some people say that they sold their souls to the Devil. But you can’t give something that isn’t yours. Its just like when Satan tempted Jesus in the dessert. Satan tried to give Him something that was already His. That is what He does to us, to confuse us. People are really drawn in by the falseness of it all; by confusion. They are really carried away by individuals who are deceived; those who want to be important and powerful. Its really funny that we are so drawn into those things. The Bible tells that the love of money is the root of all evil. You’re thought about what you can do with that money will drive you against the principles of God.

Satan never did like you in the first place or love you, because he can’t love or like anything. But he is good at 2 things: deceiving, and lying. He has a tract record. This is what proves it. Throughout all generations all he’s ever done was lie and deceive people. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Forsake the cares of this life and join Jesus Christ. Be drawn into the things of God, His attributes. Don’t be drawn into this world. They want so much and give so little. Christ gives you all and only wants one things from you, that is love.

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What Do You Expect More Back than What You Are?

It’s amazing to me that most people tend to allow their flesh to get the best of them to the point where they begin to say “Why can’t I have that,” or “I don’t deserve this,” or “why am I not receiving of good things?” You ever thought that you might not be good, or that you cause a lot of mess? The Bible says we reap what we have sown, and that is a serious thing. When we do harm to other people, and we’re caught, we plead amnesty and mercy. Why do you expect a righteous judgement for yourself, but you don’t give righteous judgments. Hence comes in the old proverbial saying “I’m sorry.” Were you sorry when you committed the lie? We’ve changed the lie so now there are white lies. I didn’t know they came in colors; a red and yellow and blue one, with varying degrees. You remember when you told a half truth, you gave a long intricate story, to see that what were you saying got lost in the intricacies of the statements and the psychological statements. At the end of it, those paying close attention will say, “Ok what do you want me to do now?” People get before a judge and say “judge I’m a victim of my environment. I was raised by my mother, denied by my father, abused by my brother and neglected by my friend. Judge you have to understand I’m a victim of the circumstance.” Not realizing these questions: do you know what love is, or what harm is and not harming others? Then if you do, you don’t want others to hurt you because it hurts. So why are you hurting them? Why do we expect a liar to tell the truth? Why do we expect a crook to do good? We expect people to look at us and give us every benefit of a doubt, but we never look at them and give them a benefit of a doubt. How can you want people to pay attention to you when you don’t pay attention to others? If you want a leader to listen to you, then you have to listen to leadership. We want people to do what we want them to do and receive how we want to be received. Listen to this, we try our best to sway the opinion of others to see our side of life, so we can justify our existence and things we do. We want to sway people to our decisions. When you set your mind to do something, you think considerably about it. You just don’t go and do something by impulse. You justify before you lie, so you just-a-lie. When you get caught doing something you should not have been doing, why are there a lot of buts and things start smelling? When you think about justifications you can’t even come up with any. We want the best response when it is favorable for us. We ask for justification for our actions from everyone, wanting people to think the best of us. You remember being kids…you’d do something but get your brother or sister in trouble. But when you get caught, you start pleading for mercy. But your brother or sister you didn’t show mercy to. How can you plead for mercy when you can’t give it? We all want people to pay attention to us right? How can you expect people to pay attention to you when you don’t to them? Don’t ask something of someone you can’t give out.

You know what this shows? That that individual is aware of wrong doings or sin. What are you doing when you allow a lie to take place to cause someone else to get hurt? We don’t want to admit it but we know whats right and wrong. We all know what pain is right? We’ve all felt pain. Is pain a good thing to you? We don’t like our emotions, feelings, or bodies to be hurt. What do we consider that to be? Bad. So if you don’t want to be hurt, then other people too don’t want to be hurt. So what is sin? Causing someone else hurt. When you do something that causes another person pain, then you have sinned. We try to lie out of it because we are afraid of the repercussions of what will happen. We don’t want to receive the results of our pain, so we lie out of it, so no one will hurt us. If we can’t lie out of it, we’ll look at the other person and try to justify out of it. We know that to cause harm on someone the judgement of causing harm is even worse, so we lie out of it. We try to make amends with ourselves so when it comes to light that we’ve done something wrong, we won’t look bad. Every time we try to justify a lie in our lives, what do you think we commit toward Christ, in our Christian walk? I think the majority of people who are living their lives as a child of God don’t really understand what their walk is all about. It’s a systematic way of our trying to present ourself to make sure everyone is doing the same things. What do we do to get someone to do good back to us even though we’ve done bad to them?

1 Kings 3:15-25

And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

Today we’d just get a DNA test, but Solomon did not have those sorts of tests in those days. Look at the judgement the one woman wanted and look at the mindset of the other woman. One didn’t care about killing the child, and the other wanted the child to live. The point is, the Wisdom of God knew the heart of the woman who was the mother of the child. The woman who killed her child accidentally, was looking for a favorable judgement from the king concerning the child. She gave a long story about the dilemma. This is what we do when we’ve done wrong and want mercy. Why did Cain slay his brother? Jealousy. So was the other woman jealous that her child was dead and the other not? So is the spirit of Cain alive and well with us? Why do we do things against other people? “Oh you’re a favorite of so and so. You’re liked and loved better than me.” Now the other person is jealous. Oh the Lord of Lord’s and the King of King’s likes Able’s offering better than Cain’s best watermelon, stalk of celery or ear of corn. So Cain went away upset, while Able gave the Lord something living and not dead. The Bible said that Able’s blood cried out from the ground because life is in the blood, not in a fruit or vegetable, even though it may have been the best kumquat you may have had. That spirit is still in us today. People get jealous if another person in Church can pray better. Some of us may not have talent at all, and we get jealous and get like Cain. “You think you’re something don’t you?” that Cain spirit building up. The very first time we see that someone who has talent fail, we belittle them. That Cain spirit is running rampant in the Church today. Pastors getting jealous of pastors. You can’t allow the spirit of Cain to come in. Don’t look for anything and it’s not in you. You can’t allow the spirit of Cain to come in. Why do you expect more than what you are? Why do you expect God to give you more and you don’t have anything or do anything that deserves more? Why do you expect more from God than what you give to Him? Why do you expect more from Him when that little He gave you, you don’t even use that? Why do you must have, when you aren’t even faithful over the little things. What does a criminal usually say when you catch him? “I’m not guilty.”

There are things we do, and we tell people not to do. If we can’t be what we’re suppose to be, don’t ask someone else more of what you can’t do yourself. Don’t expect anything from someone else, that you can’t do yourself. As a leader anywhere you go, your word has to be final. If you are not submissive and humble, then you can’t be a good leader. If you can’t listen to your leader, don’t expect someone else to listen to you. If you can’t be submissive and humble, don’t expect it from others. If you can’t be passionate and compassionate to people, don’t expect it when they hear your concerns. Whatever we expect from others we need to do ourselves.