Growing From Life Lessons

There are two places in life where you find the most clarification: rock bottom and new experiences.

 

When a person finally hits a very low place, or even rock bottom, to the point that all of their ego is removed, it is there where they finally reflect on their lives. They consider the wrong they’ve done to other people. They start wanting to change and correct their mistakes, and become open to the advice and correction and help of others, which they had previously rejected. Pride prevents this from happening, but once pride is finally gone, a person is usually, then, ready to turn their lives around.

 

The other place is with new experiences… TRULY NEW experiences, like living in a foreign country or being exposed to something that you have NO CONTROL over. It brings about a sense of humility, but also exposes a person to a larger world, opening their mind to greater possibilities and deeper understanding beyond their typical box that they have been limited within.

 

The danger is that, once they start feeling better from that place of great pain and sorrow… or become re-acclimated to the normal… all of that desire to change or grow tends to go away, and they start back doing the same thing again. People then “forget” about the negative ways they treat others and the “bigger picture” ways of thinking and return to their normal.

 

If only they could hold on to those changes found on each side of the spectrum. One good foundation is to use the Spiritual Hierarchy of faith to bring and keep balance and a foundation that can be built on and maintained for self improvement. The spiritual hierarchy is basically a way to rank what’s important and prioritize your life accordingly.

 

1. Keep God first. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). Invest in your spirit by reading the sacred knowledge, praying, meditating, and treating each other with the love of God.

 

2. Keep family second. This does not contradict with the first because God commands us to love our families. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Timothy 5:8) “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22). “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” (Ephesians 5:25) “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12) “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

 

3. Treat others right. “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:” (James 2:8). Treat other people with respect and consideration. Help those who you can help with the love of God, but those who reject God’s peace, “shake the dust off of your feet.”

 

Using this hierarchy, we keep balance. If friends or strangers cause conflict with family, you place the higher priority on family, even if it means to sacrifice what you’re trying to accomplish with the friends or strangers. If friends, strangers, OR family, compromise your faith or obedience to God, you place the priority on God, which is eternal.

 

In doing so, you establish a strong foundation that can withstand the pressures and issues of life. Likewise, you then have a foundation to build upon for those lessons that you learned at those pivotal times at rock bottom or in the new experiences. You cannot grow without being on good ground, and the best ground is balanced properly. At this point, seeking first the kingdom of Heaven, properly prioritized, as your proper focus, shall bring everything else in order. Hold on to the lessons that you learn at the pivotal moments, and grow from them with a proper foundation. Be blessed.

 

By the grace of God,

 

~Kelvin

The True Civil Warfare

Ephesians 6:12 – For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

While the vast majority see only physical conflicts, naming each other as enemies in the civil unrest, the deeper cause lies beneath the surface. Until the deeper issues, the deeper principalities that fuel hatred and selfishness rather than love and selflessness, are resolved, the fruit of violence and destruction will continue to bloom.

The seeds behind the manifestation are found in the mentalities and attitudes that lack love, empathy, and compassion. Of a nation of supposed Christians, the lack of tolerance and eagerness to engage in aggression are overwhelming. This does NOT represent the way of Yehsua, for if we shall be of Christ, let us be! The people are tired and fed up, and on all sides of the issues, frustration is at its peak, so let those of us who ARE in understanding of these deeper issues, these principalities and powers, stand in the spiritual gap to quell the chaos and war against the spiritual wickedness!

Large Churches and Money

“The church” often comes under a lot of criticism for their large buildings and monetary spending. Yet, not all of it is justified. Let’s consider some things:

• A large amount of “rich” pastors don’t even take a salary from their churches, but make their money from the sell of books, audios/videos, private businesses, and workshops/speaking engagements that are held outside of church services. Criticizers will often be accepting of anyone other than pastors being rich via the same means, but not pastors.
• The sizes of the mega-churches are usually to accommodate the sizes of the congregations. Keep in mind that a large responsibility of the church is to be a spiritual TRAINING facility for the people in the congregation. It should be a comfortable place to worship and provide a comfortable experience. Truth is, if the same criticizers did visit and it was uncomfortable (too crowded, hot, muggy, poor sound, disorder, etc.), they’d be the first to complain about that.
• Outreach is VERY important, and any church that is not also taking care of the poor, needy, sick, widows, is definitely missing the mark. One thing a lot of criticizers don’t know, however, is that a good majority of them actually DO these things. Many of these churches actually have active clothing banks, food banks, prison ministries, and more, but it’s so easy to assume that people fail to actually take the time to know.

Overall though, I can understand the general criticism of the way things often appear from the outside looking in. You will see the huge buildings and think, what about all the poor people? But, there is often more than meets the eye. And just like with anything else, it’s easy to have opinions on what we do not know.

From the position of ministry, I’d only say to the criticizers the same that I’d say to those who criticize ANYTHING, “love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no one out there who hasn’t been criticized by others who don’t know their situation. Just the same as we ALL have faced criticism by those who don’t understand, we should take care not to do the same for this is where the lesson of being judged by the same measure we judge others truly comes in.

The church is an organization just like any other, and though there are some who DO misuse funds, there are also many who do the right thing. And in such, we must be slow to assume, and quick to learn. And if they do misuse their funds, God will rectify it. Either way, a majority of the churches are doing the right thing and are sincere in their pursuit of doing God’s will, but if we do feel like a church isn’t, then we should step up and do those thing that we think should be happening ourselves.

Feeling the Holy Ghost

I was online recently, on Facebook, and in one of the groups that I am in, someone posted the above picture.  I could easily become offended, but instead chose to use this type of ignorance as a teaching tool. Christianity is one of, if not THE, most hated and criticized religion in the world.  This is no surprise though, for even the Messiah forewarned us of this:

John 15:20 – “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.”

We were already warned that we would be persecuted and hated for believing.  That, however, is not the point of this post.  Rather, we want to talk about why the Holy Ghost is not seen outside of church, per this meme.

Actually, the Holy Ghost IS RECEIVED outside of the church! Now, this meme is more likely referring to the display of people dancing around and shouting. While such may be a display of the excitement and power felt during praise in the presence of God, the Holy Spirit is greater and has a larger effect than that.  The primary function of the Holy Ghost is to comfort, teach, and intercede for us.

John 14:26 – But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Romans 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The aspect of the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues (which edifies the speaker whereas prophecy edifies the church) and resulting in such excitement as though it feels “like fire” shut up in one’s bones is legitimate though. But the idea that the jumping around and praising in the middle of a department store aisle is a little far fetched.  Why does it primarily happen in church?

1. God inhabits the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3). People primarily praise and worship in the church building.  It is a place of safety where believers can feel comfortable praising and letting loose spiritually, just like the nightclub is a place where partyers feel comfortable doing their dancing.
2. There is a time and place for everything. (Ecclesiastes 8:6)  Everything that we do has a purpose and time. And though we pray without ceasing, and are always in the presence of God, in the general marketplace we let our light shine through our behavior and righteousness.  All things should also be done decently and in order.
3. An ideal place for worship and praise is at the altar. (Psalm 43:4). The altar represents where sacrifices were held, and in the New Covenant, we are called to give the sacrifice of praise. (Hebrews 13:15).

Overall, the meme is a meme for a reason.  Unfortunately though, many people don’t understand the inaccuracy of such things and believe or agree with anything that crosses their path. For the sake of truth, however, the Holy Ghost is felt by believers in all types of settings. I’ve felt the presence of the Holy Ghost in a room by myself during private worship, as do many others. But… to those who don’t KNOW the Spirit, who don’t KNOW God, they would not understand. But for those who do, enjoy the blessings of His presence wherever you are!

Real Preachers, Sexual Purity

So I was watching “Preachers of L.A.” and was shocked when Pastor Deitrick Haddon acted presented himself so confused when his friend advised that he was 49 and still a virgin. It is a surprising situation in this world where everything is so sexualized, BUT Deitrick seemed to act as if something was wrong with this minister for saying he will be okay if he never has gets married and have sex.

It was even more odd that he tried to reference the Bible about how God made Eve from Adam’s rib and he needs to get a woman.

If anything, he should applaud this man for his spiritual discipline, as determined and focused as a monk without the separation from the world. Even more, where’s the regard for the scripture?

1 Corinthians 7:8-10 (NIV)
8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

If the church or representatives thereof will not celebrate holiness, why will anyone else? Praise be unto God for those who stand in the gap and remain in the pursuit of holiness!

How To Let Go

I heard someone say that she wished her loved ones would just forget about the wrong that she had done and move forward.  The idea is a nice idea, that when we do wrong others would forgive and forget.  In fact, the first part of that is simply to forgive.  But, as hard as it may be to forgive, it is even harder to forget.

You will actually often here people say, “I do forgive you, but I will NEVER forget!”

The Word of God often tells us to forgive. In fact, it says in Matthew 18:20-22, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

It also says, “And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” (Luke 17:4)  So, we can clearly see that forgiveness is essential.  But, let’s get to this business about forgetting.

Forgetting something is the equivalent of something dying out.  Habits, knowledge, ideas, etc., are established by constant repetition of them, and likewise, they end by constant neglect of them.  If you want for people to forget about something, you just discontinue the behaviors that remind them of it.  Likewise, if you want to forget something that someone did to you, you also have to starve it by stop talking about and thinking about it.  (If you want to know how to stop thinking about it, you must learn to catch it at first thought and challenge/rebuke it with a counter thought against it – see 2 Corinthians 10:5)

The more that those reminders are neglected and REMOVED (if it’s a behavior), the more it will start fading from memory until eventually it will be so far in the back of your or their head that it seems weird to even bring it up anymore.  Then, just like in Job 18:16-17, the past “…roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.  His REMEMBERANCE SHALL PERISH from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.”

Starve the memory of your past mistakes by eliminating the behaviors that surrounded those mistakes (true repentance), and in doing so, the memory of those mistakes will fade into oblivion.  And then though some people who have no life of their own may still try to bring it up beyond that, it would be so awkward on them because you are so much more different than that mistake once made.

Bless you,

~Prophet Besodeiah

Do Them All

None of your God-given talents are meant to be wasted or muffled! You may be an evangelist, but have a passion and skill for hip-hop. Some would call this a conflict of interest, but the truth is that God gave you both your callings and your gifts, even those that some people would find questionable because of their limited traditional understanding that is based more on tradition than the Word itself. It is your God-given purpose, however, for you to use both.

This is where it is going to get sticky though…

Some people feel like their skill is sexual, or violent, or some other taboo. But even with that, there is a purpose. Your sexual prowess was given to you not to be loose and “spread the love” but rather that you would be a gift to your spouse in support of his or her great mission in life. Your violent gift is not about being criminal but rather making you a warrior who can protect the weaker people who don’t have the ability to protect themselves. And likewise, your other”taboo” gifts also have an honorable purpose to use them for instead of the taboo purposes that they are normally associated with.

Your gifts and skills are not meant to be muffled! Use them, no matter what they are, in service to God’s will and plan. Your superior drug selling skills (sampling, marketing, selling, financials) can be used honorably in terms of entrepreneurship to take care of your family the right way. Former prisoners, as inventive as they can be, can use those same skills to now invent things to save lives instead of to take them. None of your skills are in vain. Use them for the greater good, and God’s glory.

They were given to you as gifts. Enjoy them, and allow them to make room for you. Remember…

Proverbs 18:16 – A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

No More Fear

Ice Cube’s song said, “if you’re scared, go to church.” Beyoncé’s song said, “if you’re scared, call that reverend.”

Unfortunately, these days the church is full of fear! It should be a safe haven for those who are afraid, suffering, hurting, sick, depressed, sad, etc. And the church, believe it or not, should be fearless, like ancient Zulu warriors!

Matthew 10:28 – Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Yes, church, you should NEVER be afraid of man!! All men are created equally, and you are just as much of a danger to any man as any man is to you. And even if another person succeeds in killing your body, “we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

So yes, it is quite unfortunate that so many reverends, so many priests, so many in the church are so fearful. People of God, you have DEMONS that you have to battle, why in the world are you afraid of fragile humans and their dumb opinions??

Rise up, people of God!!! Stop living in fear: fear of rejection, anger from others, disappointment of others, verbal and physical attacks, and more… You have God (YHWH) on your side and within you!!! Stop being afraid because “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

They make fun of the church now being a place for the fearful, as in the church being full of fear. It should be a place for the fearful to find refuge and protection by the FEARLESS body of Christ! So, if people are afraid, let them come to the church. But let the church be bold and fearless enough to welcome them in. No more fear church! No more fear!!!

~Prophet Besodeiah

Mistake of Correcting Unbelievers

Trying to teach people to trust God’s discipline and correction without first demonstrating and giving them an appreciation for His love is like expecting someone to pet a growling, barking dog just because you told them it was friendly.

No one is going to accept discipline, being told certain actions are wrong, when they have no comprehension of the love reasoning behind it.

It is the same way with children. Without a foundation of love and trust, they will automatically assume you are trying to limit them when you tell them “no” rather than to protect them out of love. And with their lack of experience-gained wisdom that you have, there is no way they can truly understand your reasoning; it has to come from trust/faith, just as following God’s restrictions come from trust that He had a perfect reason for His guidelines, and it is all for the greater good.

Meditation Elevation

Stop losing your peace because of things that don’t matter in the first place. Your mind is always so occupied by unfruitful concerns about who is saying what about you, what negative things the future holds, what happened back then, and the mess you’re dealing with right now.

When you are consumed in your mind, so shall your reality be also. Your mind must be freed in order to be free indeed in life. Change your mind, and you change your reality.

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God

Learn to ignore what doesn’t matter. This is a basic principle of meditation. Keep your mind focused on that which is worthwhile, without reaction but just observation, and gain control over the ideas and thoughts you accept and reject.

Philippians 4:8
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.

2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Stop being controlled by your thoughts, but learn to master them, and as you master your thoughts from within, you master your life externally.

Bless you,

~Prophet Besodeiah