REAL BIBLE MOMENTS
Things Not Cool With God
Proverbs 11 has a whole list, but we’re picking verse 22. This chapter tells us righteousness is good, but wickedness and its effects are really bad. The book of Proverbs isn’t about going deep into meta-bible-physics. It just tells us what we need to live a good life every day while managing to be spiritual and overcome—all by giving us practical advice.
To All The Pretty Ladies
Have some discretion. Be careful, tactful, demure, prudent, delicate, and don’t reveal things that are meant to be private.
A Gold Ring In A Pig’s Snout
No matter how beautiful, a fine piece of gold jewelry just isn’t as lovely when it’s in a pig’s nose.
As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. Proverbs 11:22
Modesty, anyone?
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
A lot from last weekend:
Accountability for being the light of the world.
How we’re representing ourselves—everywhere.
Not getting trapped under the weight of covetousness and envy—sins that can take root, become obsessive, and take over our soul. Yikes.
THE MESSAGE
Charity Is Not About Time. It’s About Eternity.
Brother Nobles has been teaching that charity isn’t pigeonholed into certain characteristics. It’s So Much Bigger.
Charity is supposed to be us—everywhere we go and everything we do. Don’t leave home without it. Don’t stay home without it. Don’t take it off. It’s your skin, your insides, your thoughts, your actions, your belief, your soul. You live it, breathe it, pray it, speak it, treat people with it. Get the idea?
To Infinity And Beyond
Prophecies, gifts, speaking in tongues will only get us so far. Things we hold dear will fall by the wayside. Charity has been around as long as God and will last as long as God—because it is God.
If you’ve been following the messages on Charity, don’t drop the ball now.
Knock, Knock
Who’s there?
God—Behold He’s standing at the door. Just say “Come In”.
In Matthew 7, Jesus reminded us if we ever need anything, just knock, and He’ll open the door.
Here’s the thing.
God opens the door, but we have to walk through it.
You knocked. God opened the door. Now come inside.
When God opens a door, He’s got plans for you. Don’t just stand there and let it be a moment in history that passes you by.
I’m Watching You
God can read, and He sees how we’re presenting on social media. Brother Nobles reminded us of 1 Thessalonians 5 about abstaining from even the appearance of evil.
We are accountable for our actions—everywhere.
Who Run The World And The Four Winds?
God. He chooses when and where the four winds blow. When He needs assistance, He’ll let the right people know. Until then, simmer down and take your hands off the wind machine. You’re stirring up trouble.
If this message feels like we need to police our social media, it’s probably because we need to police our social media. Think: political, social, ungodly, and ANYTHING that divides.
Don’t Blow It
The four winds are mentioned throughout the Bible. Winds are blowing now and a division is happening in this country. Make no mistake—it is of God. However, it is not our business to promote the winds on social media.
Spiritual Adulting
God called us to be the light of the world, and with that comes great responsibility. Be mindful of how we represent ourselves. Keep everything we do on social media guarded. We are accountable to God. Don’t take being His light, lightly.
Upright and sensible behavior goes with living the good life the Lord has given us.
Have You Considered?
How we express ourselves to the outside world is what we will attract. As God’s people, we should be a direct reflection of Him. It’s on us to make sure we aren’t misrepresenting Him or His ways.
That Should Be Mine
Well hello, envy. Charity envieth not—unlike those who feel they deserve something someone else has. Don’t envy your brother’s gifts.
It’s Spreading
Don’t envy family. Friends. Neighbors. Their items. Their conditions. Their spirits.
It’s A Full-Blown Case
You know envy has reached magnitude proportions when it ends up in Proverbs 23:17.
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.
We’re now envying sinners. ‘But they have 32 boats and three vacation homes—where they are chilling every weekend on a lake and having cookouts while I’m at church.’
Don’t get caught up in other people’s lives to the point you envy their lifestyles. That’s deadly.
Another Deadly Sin
Covetousness is Idolatry. What?! Paul said so in Colossians 3. For example, if we covet a job, we become so focused on it that it becomes idolatry. Covetousness: you strongly and desperately want another’s possession or condition.
Died Of Consumption
The more you focus on what you’re coveting, the more space in your heart and mind it occupies, leaving little room for God. You can’t stop thinking about it until it finally eats you alive.
Shady Dealings In Psalm 106
This chapter is a case where envy turned to idolatry. God’s people forgot their savior, who had done wondrous works for them. They did not destroy the nations God commanded them, but were mingled with the heathen where they learned their works and served their idols, which were a snare to them.
When God Tells You To Get Rid Of Something, You Best Do It
In Joshua 6, the Israelites were instructed to destroy everything after the walls of Jericho fell. They were to keep NOTHING, or the whole camp of Israel would be cursed and troubled. By Joshua 7, the Israelites were defeated and God told Joshua it was because there were accursed items being hidden in the camp.
Joshua called forth all the households one-by-one. They were all clean . . . except one. Looking at you, Achan.
In Joshua 6, when Achan came upon a nice Babylonian garment, 200 shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold, he coveted it all, stole them, and hid the items in his tent. It caught up with him.
And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. Joshua 7:20-22
God told Joshua to destroy Achan and every person and thing associated with him. Get envy and covetousness out of your tent. After a while, God has no mercy.
Sorry. Did 1 Corinthians 13 Get In The Way Of Our Ego?
Maybe. Charity doesn’t brag or boast itself like a cloud without rain. When we make ourselves something we’re not, we can’t back it up. Like charity, Elder didn’t look for personal prestige. He directed us to have a personal walk with God, and build God’s spirit in us, not our own. When you lift yourself up, that’s meant to prosper you. It profits God nothing.
Nothing in charity and the nature of God promotes itself.
Ask Jesus And The Ex-leper
Jesus healed the leper in Matthew 8, and immediately said, “Tell no man.” Today, if a man healed someone, he’d start a ministry like ‘Hezekiah’s Healing Hands Ministry’ and make a name and profit for himself.
Jesus was sending a direct message about charity. He did not want himself lifted up. It was God who healed the leper. He made sure we, and everyone in Matthew 8, knew—it’s all God.
It’s Not Up To Us To Urge God To Hop To It In Punishing The Wicked
Would you speed up the just desserts already?
Deep breath. First, pray for others to see the right way. Second, if people are doing wrong and enjoying a sweet life and you’re worried they’re getting away with evil, CHECK YOURSELF—not them.
Psalm 37:1-3 Says, Focus.
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
God and the Ministry see things we do wrong, but there are times and seasons they let us fight our way through. Guard ourselves to not jump in—it’s the business of God and the Ministry.
GOOD TO KNOW
We’re sharing a testimony we hope will inspire and encourage you to let God help—should you ever fall into a pit.
Just A Pit Stop
God gave us an apostle who knew how to help us not get stuck in the pit. Years back, Elder LaFleur took us to a place—Trenton, NC—to get us out of a pit, and God delivered us right then and there. If you’re stuck in a pit, you cannot move forward.
Our Hearts Stopped In Amazement As We Soaked It All In
When we walked into the room, the spirit of God was so thick. The sweet music was encompassing us like a blanket while the Elder’s voice rose like a gentle wave then swelled through the people. It was apparent that each night the room was drenched in the spirit of God. There were times we didn’t want to breathe for fear of breaking the moment. We were so completely engrossed in the words Elder was saying and in the Holy Ghost that time seemed not to move. It was one of our most impactful encounters we’ve ever had in the presence of God.
This encounter will be forever embedded in our memory and known as “Our Trenton Moment”.
As the meeting progressed, everyone listened intently, and God’s anointing lingered heavily. Everything fell into place and superseded all we ever had before those nights in Trenton. The Lord knows what He’s doing—let Him lead. Thank God for His love and mercy on our lives. Thank God we had an apostle who knew to take us there and trusted God when it mattered the most. Elder had so much love and wisdom.
It’s Time To Live Again
If you’re in the pit, God’s hand is reaching down—let Him pull you out. Your spiritual life won’t survive down there. TRUST HIM. He’s bringing you to higher ground where there is so much more than you ever knew!!!
HOW WE’RE WINNING
We are running into the strong tower and staying there for safety—where the winds won’t blow us off course.
We are presenting ourselves Godly in everything, everywhere—including social media.
We are inclining our hearts unto His testimonies, and not to covetousness.
We are keeping our minds on God instead of envying others.
We are striving to be beacons of light that bring glory to God!
Thank you for joining us on this journey. Stop by and see us sometime. We’re either worshiping God, hearing an awesome message, praying at the altar, or fellowshipping—whatever we’re doing, we’d love to include you!
Thank you once again for words to live by. These words bring the components charity right into our daily lives. Causes me to look within to make sure I don’t have these things hidden within.Thank you Sis. Lisa and all the bridge staff for your time in bringing us these wonderful posts.
Charity will make us the light of the world. People will be able to see it without us having to say one word.
I had a person just today ask me where I went to Church. I gave her a card and let her know she would be very welcome. All she did was observe how I handle myself and something ( we know ) drew her. I am thankful for the teachings of the Ministry through the Word of God.
These messages on Charity have been so beneficial in my life. I’m striving to not just put it on, but to not take it off. It’s so easy to let go of it in certain situations but if it wasn’t attainable, we wouldn’t be reading about it in Gods word. I’m so thankful for this wonderful ministry and all of Gods people.