The Blind Side

Have you ever seen the movie "The Blind Side", Its a compelling true story about a young man named Michael Oher. He was abandoned by his mother and later adopted by a family that put him in private school and found he had a gift for football. Though he was very big, He was a gentle giant with a good heart and nature. He was great at protecting and providing security for the left side (the blindside of the quarterback.)

We must begin to make a conscious effort to protect our blindside. The only way we can do this is by understanding where our blindside is.

Here are just a few: anger,isolation,anxiety,addiction,boundaries or lack of boundaries. If any of these go unchecked it will cause us to make bad decisions that will cause us to get tackled from the blindside.

The Blindside of your decisions:
* Stop making decisions that lead to the decisions of making bad decisions.
I remember the time a young man wanted to change his life and entered the Minnesota Teen Challenge. Now his decision making process didn't start out good, He had a desire to change, but never took or received to heart the new life he was being offered. On a daily basis he would talk about the drugs he used or how bad he was on the streets. One day a serious problem took place that he was directly involved in. When we as staff tried to correct him, help him, minister to him, He wouldn't receive it. And left storming out the door. Three weeks later we received a phone call  from his family stating that  he was found in a hotel room overdosed on herion with the needle still stuck in his arm. His wrong decision cause him the ultimate decision of life.

James 1:19-21 


Don't glorify or justify your decision

*Glorify: Always boasting bout your life, what it was like back in the day, How you were this or that.

*Justify: I have a right to be like this because of what somebody did to me in the past. If they get to do it, I get to do it.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 
"The heart is the most deceitful things there is, and desperately wicked. No on can really know how bad it is, Only the Lord knows. He searches all hearts and examines deepest motives so he can give to each person his right reward. According to his deeds, how he has lived."

Examine your decisions

*Are these people good for me?

*Why do I feel this way?

*Is thinking about this all the time good for me?

Lamentations 3:40
"Let us examine ourselves instead, and repent and turn again to our Lord."

2 Keys that protect your blindside:

Take daily inventory of your heart. (Lamentations 3:40, Proverbs 3:5-6)
  -Just like a business takes inventory of its stock, we must take inventory of whats in our hearts.
  - Watch out for pride, our pride can limit our ability to be honest when taking inventory.

Lets use these keys to protect us from the blindsides of out life.

God loves you and so do I

Live A Thank-Filled Life

In order to live a thank-filled life, we need to be grateful for our life. And there's a difference between the two.

*Grateful: Warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefit received.

*Thankful: An act of expressing gratitude or appreciation

Be grateful for the blessing and benefits in our lives.

Create an atmosphere of being thankful


Psalms 100:4
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name.

Lack of being thankful will cause you to be in darkness

Romans 1:18-22
¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
 ²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools


Being thank-filled will produce acts of thankfulness and peace


Colossians 3:15-17
¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


God loves you and so do I

Taking out the Garbage

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "For the weapon of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling of the strongholds, Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself  against the knowledge of God, Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your cares on him for he cars for you."

Psalms 27:10 " When my Father and Mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me."

When we're feeling overwhelmed with stress, We're encouraged to cast our anxiety/ care onto God. He's not a stern judge waiting for us to break under our worries. He actively wants to   help carry our burdens.

Psalms 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, And he will sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

God can be trusted with our anxiety and concern. Here we've invited to hand our worries and problems over to God. Who can handle them better then we can. He'll never let you down.

Don't let your anxiety and worries bring you down, Christ actively encourages us to trust him with our hearts and concerns.

God loves you and so do I

Are You In Season?

Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall. These are the season we look forward too. Some people enjoy spring because it ushers in the season of growth,change,and newness of life. Others enjoy summer they love to get out of the house, enjoy all that summer has to offer. Boating, biking, and barbeque's. What about fall people enjoy this season for the beautiful colors as the leaves change, nature walks, and the wonderful smells of pumpkin and apple. Or maybe you like winter. You like to snow mobile, ski, and maybe ice fish! 

Each of us love different seasons, but what about season's of life? There are season's of test and trial, season's of love, joy, and peace. The season of victory and defeat. God has different season's for us, to prepare us, to help us operate here on earth. To ultimately bring him glory in what we do.  So... are you in season? 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

^" There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,  a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."

There is a season for every area of our life. Now there are some important things in our season's that we must know. First, we must identify the season that we are in. If you were a baseball fan, you wouldn't show up to a game in the middle of December, When you know that football season is in full swing. You have to know what season you are in. So ask the Lord and he will show you. 

Psalms 16:7-8

"I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."



Season of Preparation:

There are not a lot of farmers out there that will tell you, you can plant any kind of crop in any kind of dirt. If there's a lot of rocks, debris, or harmful chemicals in your dirt it may not be ready for planting. So like the farmer ready's his dirt, We must ready our hearts to receive the help from God.  

1 Samuel 7:3

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths^[a] from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”


Season of Planting:
Now if we are farmers and we are in planting season. We might be ready to plant corn, wheat, or beans. But since we believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus tells us exactly what we need to plant in Mark 4:14 it says "The sower sows the word." The word of God is the only thing that can bring change in our hearts. Mark 4:20 says "But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."  The word of god will always bring crop!

Season of Watering:
Every farmer likes a good rain, because all his crops need it for growth and performance. So do we need the rain of the holy spirit, and the best part is. He (holy spirit) reigns inside of us.  John 7:37-39 says 
"On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing^[a] in Him would receive; for the Holy^[b] Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

Bless God now Jesus has been glorified and the holy spirit has been given to us. To rule and reign forever, A never ending supply of living water to keep us refreshed. 

Due Season:

When a crop is ready to be harvested, its ready for people to take pleasure in it. When God brings our due season it's not just for ourselves but for others to partake. This is why it is so important for us not to give up or lose hope. Because its not just are life on the line, but others as well.  Galatians 6:9-10 says 

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Your due season comes to provide fruit for others to enjoy or be blessed. 

God loves you and so do I

 

Guilty By Association Part 2

Last week we looked at good associations and good covenants. We saw how Joshua and Caleb walked into the promised land together because of there relentless faith in god's promise's. We saw the covenant relationship between Elijah and Elisha there faithfulness was rewarded with a double blessing.  And we saw Jesus sharing his heart with the one's he was closest too. All different covenant relationships, all beautiful to each parties. And beautiful to us as well.



But what about bad associations and bad covenants? We all have had them. A relationship with a man and a women, a wrong covenant between business associates and partners, Or just plain bad choices for people. We have all dealt with bad covenant s or associations, Lets take a look at some in the bible.

Cain and Abel:
Genesis 4:1-9
 ¹ Adam^[a] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.^[b] She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth^[c] a man.” ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.    Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. ⁴ And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
 ⁶ Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
 ⁸ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”^[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
 ⁹ Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
   “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Cain brought the lord an offering, but Abel brought what he thought was best first and god honored it. Where as for Cains offering, god rejected it because it was not his best. Cain was angry, sad, and depressed. But for all the wrong reason's. Verse 8 said " Now Cain said to his brother Abel; "Lets go out into the field"  While they were in the field Cain attacked Abel and killed him." His brother was not the reason God rejected his offering, It was from Cain's lack of effort with his offering. God always wants us to do our best. Cain did not master his sin, but his sin mastered him. Cain let jealousy take over and destroy him. Maybe some of us have had relationships were we allowed jealousy to come in and take over. We blame the wrong person or don't take responsibility of our actions. We need to master our sin nefore we do something we regret.

Sampson and Delilah:
Judges 16:4-20 
⁴ Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. ⁵ The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels^[a] of silver.”
 ⁶ So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”
 ⁷ Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”
 ⁸ Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. ⁹ With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.
 ¹⁰ Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”
 ¹¹ He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”
 ¹² So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.
 ¹³ Delilah then said to Samson, “All this time you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.”
   He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric ¹⁴ and^[b] tightened it with the pin.
   Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.
 ¹⁵ Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” ¹⁶ With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.
 ¹⁷ So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”
 ¹⁸ When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. ¹⁹ After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.^[c] And his strength left him.
 ²⁰ Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”
   He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him.

This bad covenant was based on lies and  deception. In verse 5 it says; "And the lord of the philistines came to her and said:" Entice him and see where his great strength lies." "So we may overpower, bind him and subdue him."

Delilah was willing to sellout her own houseband for pieces of silver.
Later Sampson was saved because he fully relied on god and kept pressing him day after day.

"If I am saved my strength shall go from me, And I shall become weak ad be like other men."


David and Saul: 
1 Samuel 18:5-16
 ⁵ Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
 ⁶ When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. ⁷ As they danced, they sang:
   “Saul has slain his thousands,
   and David his tens of thousands.”
 ⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
 ¹⁰ The next day an evil^[a] spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
 ¹² Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul. ¹³ So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. ¹⁴ In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.

Saul became jealous and angry of David, because the people loved David and god was with him. David never walked in anger toward Saul, but walked wisely.

Verse 13-15 says; "So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in there campaign. In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, He was afraid him.

1 Chronicles 16:22
"Touch not my anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm."

David Spared Saul:
1Samuel 24:3-10
³ He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. ⁴ The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said^[a] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.  ⁵ Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. ⁶ He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.” ⁷ With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
 ⁸ Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. ⁹ He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? ¹⁰ This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’

Even when David had the opportunity to kill Saul he wouldn't do it. He knew that the office of king Saul stood in was anointed and holy.

If we think right, We will act right. Even when things go wrong, The lord is in it to help us get it right!

God loves you and so do I.


   

Guilty by Association: Genesis 17:1-9

Relationships are a vital part of our lives, But many of us don't get the best value God has for us in relationships. We see in the bible that God puts a heavy demand on relationships or associations, He calls them covenants. 

Covenant: Is a contract or agreement between two or more parties that do or do not do something specified. 

Abraham and God walked in a covenant relationship. God himself chose Abraham to have a committed relationship with him, And Abraham was blessed because of it. Genesis 22:16-18

¹⁶ and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, ¹⁸ and through your offspring^[a] all nations on earth will be blessed,^[b] because you have obeyed me.

Because Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son for the cause of the covenant, In turn God withheld nothing from Abraham. That's why we are blessed today. 

Let's look at some covenant relationships: 

Joshua and Caleb  

Numbers 13:30

³⁰ Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it. 

Numbers 14: 1-10

¹ That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. ² All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! ³ Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” ⁴ And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

 ⁵ Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. ⁶ Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes ⁷ and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. ⁸ If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. ⁹ Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

 ¹⁰ But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 

Numbers 14: 6-14

⁶ Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes ⁷ and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. ⁸ If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. ⁹ Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
 ¹⁰ But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. ¹¹ The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? ¹² I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.”
 ¹³ Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them. ¹⁴ And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, LORD, are with these people and that you, LORD, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

David and Samuel:

1 Samuel 16: 19-23
 ¹⁹ Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” ²⁰ So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.
 ²¹ David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. ²² Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
 ²³ Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Elijah and Elisha:

 2 Kings 2: 1-6
¹ When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ²Bethel.”
   But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
 ³ The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?”
   “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”
 ⁴ Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho.”
   And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
 ⁵ The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?”
   “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”
 ⁶ Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.”
   And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.


2 Kings 2: 9-15
⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
   “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
 ¹⁰ “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”
 ¹¹ As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. ¹² Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
 ¹³ Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.
 ¹⁵ The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.


 Matthew 17: 1-9
 ¹ After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
 ⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
 ⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
 ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
 ⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Now that you've seen a few covenant relationships, I hope you have a better understanding. 
Next week we will look at a few bad examples of covenant relationships.

Be Blessed! 
 

What You Don't Know "Will Hurt You"

I remember hearing people say things like, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.”  The person usually saying that, was operating under the impression that they were looking out for the best interest of someone else that didn’t need to know the whole story or what was really going on.  Now my personal favorite was, “No news is good news.”  Meaning, if I didn’t hear news or information on something, good or bad, than I can assume that everything was alright or ok.  Now you may feel that theres a time and place for actions such as these.  Or maybe you want to get all spiritual on me and use part of a scripture that says, “Do not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.”  First, the scripture doesn’t say that.  In Matthew 6:3-4 (NKJ), “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.  That your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”  This is clearly referring to being a blessing to people and not bragging about it.  This has nothing to do with deceiving others or yourself.  God wants us to know and have knowledge of, most importantly, Him.  So that we will be used of Him and walk in the blessing He has for us.  Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”  So “what you don’t know, will hurt you.”

What you have not known: Deuteronomy 13:1-4 (KJV), ¹ “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, ² and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ ³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁴ You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him." The first mistake the word shows us here is listening to wrong information. Verse 2 'Let us go after other gods' - which you have not known-'and let us serve them'. Now lets not limit this to just another beflief or religion but things that take priority or value above God (job, relationships, family, material things) these are gods that you have not known , but some believers get caught up in pursuing them for a long time or chasing them the rest of thier lives, but God says in Exodus 20:3 "you shall have no other gods before me." Now why did he say that? Because God knows what we set our affections on, priorities on, or put our attention on, will become our god.

Secret entices: Deuteronomy 13:6-7 ⁶ “If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, ⁷ of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth," People who suffer with addictions fall victum to this most of the time. People entices them, running after them to serve thier gods of addiction, to become a slave to meth and crack and to be enslaved be alchohol and porn, the secret desire (wrong desires of thier hearts , that they haven't layed down to the Lord. So it lays dormant until someoone or something wakes it up. What are the secret entices that are dormant  but not dead in your life? Maybe its unforgiveness, gossip, anger, abuse, someone, back stabbing, or adultery.

Its a test to serve the one you love: Deuteronomy 13:3 "³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." Noe the test is not for the purpose of tempting you. The devil is in the tempting business, not God. God is in the proving business. First thing he proves is that you are who he says you are (read 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV ) (read 1 Peter 2:9 NKJV)  then he proves ro to your enemy that you are who you said you are (read Phillipians 4:13 and 1 Peter 2:4-6.)

Victory in our love: Deuteronomy 13:4 "⁴ You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him." We show our love to God by walking after him and by having a relationship with him (read John 10: 4, 27.) We know his voice and he knows us, when we both know each other we dont worry about what to do, we just follow.

Fear the Lord (not like a terrorist): Reverence him excedingly. Deuteronomy 6:24 "²⁴ And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day." Keep his word (read Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrew 4:12) when we follow after him , have a relationship with, reverence(him) and love him, God will destroy all false gods in your life, never to be constructed in your life again! Deuteronomy 13:16 ^"16 And you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and completely burn with fire the city and all its plunder, for the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again."

God Loves you and so do I.