Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

BLESSINGS

The LORD's blessing enriches, and struggle adds nothing to it.
Proverbs 10:22

It is the LORD's blessing that makes a person rich, and hard work adds nothing to it.
Proverbs 10:22

We all love blessings often they are unexpected where someone shows appreciation for us. Then there are blessing we seek for, pray for, hope for, and even fight for!

Hebrews 3:11 as I swore in my wrath, 'They will not enter into my rest.'"{Psalm 95:7-11}

Hebrews 3:18 To whom did he swear that they wouldn't enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

Hebrews 4:1 Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.

Blessings are a very power tool that like most things on our earth which can be used for good, or evil. Each of us as Christian's want to be blessed by our Heavenly Father, subsequently, leaving us equally vulnerable to wicked people and spirits giving us false blessing misleading us into a false knowledge of God. Hence, Eve example, in seeking a blessing from Satan causing her own spiritual death, and eventually her husband's, and the human race still in their loins.

John 4:10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

Genesis. 3:2 The woman said to the serpent, "Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat, 3:3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 3:4 The serpent said to the woman, "You won't surely die, 3:5 for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Truth of Blessings

Are we easily flattered? Do we feel blessed over others, that is, as special, like we are in better position with God, above others, having a closer standing with God where he favors us over them? Jesus Christ while on earth in his flesh was tempted by Satan the Devil, Satan used flattery on Christ by offering him all the kingdoms of this world, can you imagine?

Psalms 5:9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue.

Proverbs 6:24 to keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife's tongue.

1 Thessalonians 2:5 For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness).

But what lessons can we take away from Christ story? Jesus may have thought like so many religious people do that he could do good through such power by being world ruler. That his special love for God could be applied, and legislated through world governments if he were ruler. Money could be funneled into programs to feed the poor and take care of sick the elderly, because of his love for the Father.

Proverbs 18:7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Proverbs 11:9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.

Proverbs 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

Matt.4:3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4:4 But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"{Deuteronomy 8:3} 4:5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 4:6 and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will put his angels in charge of you.' and, 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don't dash your foot against a stone.'"{Psalm 91:11-12} 4:7 Jesus said to him, "Again, it is written, 'You shall not test the Lord, your God.'"{Deuteronomy 6:16} 4:8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 4:9 He said to him, "I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me." 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, "Get behind me,{TR and NU read "Go away" instead of "Get behind me"} Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.'"{Deuteronomy 6:13}

Was Christ flattered by the offer of such power that men sought and fought one bloody war after another to gain? No! He was not, Christ did not seek a truth by picking fruit off of a corrupt tree, he did not look for good fruit on a corrupt tree. In fact, when someone not a king or important person called Jesus good, Christ was faithful even in the least of his thoughts.

Luke 18:19 Jesus asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one--God.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.

He ask the man? “Why do you call me good only one is good, God!”
No Jesus was having none of it, self worship, placing himself and his own life above the will of his Father. He did not feel as so many Christian's do today entitled, special, so what ever they set their good motives too - it has to be from God.

John 2:25 and because he didn't need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.

Matt.7:17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. 7:18 A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.

Jesus did not fall for old trick of flattery like Eve whom thought her self-goodness entitled her to know what God's knew, as his equal. So many Christian's believe because of their good heart which they have judged as good that what ever they do in this life is God's works, blessed by him. Such is shocking, but it is nevertheless true! They don't test themselves against the Christ, or even the apostles, but rather against themselves, they measure out their own worth as God's works, they measure against their own judgment of themselves nullifying any negative feed back from Christ or God.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don't you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.

Romans 8:29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}

Blessing From the Evil One

The fundamental truth of our bibles is that Satan has mislead all the nations, and anyone on earth that tries to serve God. In fact, it gets so bad in the last days that we were warned that even God's chosen ones are mislead if it were possible by Satan!

Every government on earth since man created governments uses blessing, gifts, flattery to reward those giving them strength, honor, and power. Why would we as Christian's not think Satan is going to use the same on us if we are given to flattery? Our bibles are full of bad examples of people that thought they were better, chosen, special. who were mislead into fighting against God's people, into denying God.

2 Peter 2:15 forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing;

Jude 1:11 Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah's rebellion.

Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

Seeking Blessing

First, because this topic is offensive to those that have allowed themselves to be mislead into all sorts of false knowledge from false blessing let us state the whole premise of Christianity. None of us are any better, none of us are deserving of gifts, that is, blessing because we posses some gift, such as knowledge, or a certain personality trait or because of our looks etc. . .

Christ did not feel entitled, he never felt himself above being tested, or that others should wait upon him hand and foot because of his great knowledge of his Father, and/or the truth. He never felt his motives were so pure that he could not be mislead, he understood what is common to all fallen flesh, and worshiped only his heavenly Father as the source of life, and the rightful ruler over his life, whatever that would bring him, and/or cost him.

Philippians.2:1 If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, 2:2 make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 2:3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; 2:4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. 2:5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, 2:6 who, existing in the form of God, didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. 2:9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2:12 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Christ understood what many of us can't seem toget that true worship comes from love, God is love, and because love only looks to the good, it cannot take, it gives, and what it gives is not entitlements, but gifts of love as blessing to those it loves, which is given freely. Subsequently, for us to say God owes us something in the way of a blessing is a demand, of our flesh, which cannot know God.

James 4:1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members? 4:2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask. 4:3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures. 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously"? 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."{Proverbs 3:34}

Who is the Lord of our fallen flesh, who is the blesser of the fallen flesh is it not the creator of the fallen flesh, Satan the Devil? We are told unequivocally, when we seek blessing from the desires of our flesh that God will not bless them because blessing evil only propagates more evil, that is, weed seeds growing into a doctrine of false teaching that many will follow.

Proverbs 1:19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

Isaiah 56:11 Yes, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds who can't understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.

Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

Philippians 3:8 Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ

1 Timothy 6:5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.{NU omits "Withdraw yourself from such."}

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Getting into a frenzy in our fallen flesh to gain a blessing because of some fear, some work of our flesh in jealousy, greed, friendship, recognition of us being a good person is not God's will, nor does he bless it with his righteous Holy Spirit.

James.1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}, when you fall into various temptations, 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 1:4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him. 1:6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. 1:7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 1:8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 1:9 But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;

In fact, if we read our bibles we are not at war with flesh and blood, including our own when it really wants some blessing materially. Jesus made no bones about this very fundamental truth of our prayers, what exactly we are to pray for?

Matt.6:10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. 6:11 Give us today our daily bread. 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 6:13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.{NU omits "For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen."}' 6:14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 6:15 But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

2 Timothy 3:2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Hebrews 13:5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you."{Deuteronomy 31:6}

The Curse of Blessing

Few Christian's can say when they get a blessing from God for something they have been praying for time and again that their blessing is without pain. Yet, that is the truth of God's blessing, his blessing is with our struggles, our pain or the many problems that come from false blessing we have been fooled, and the fights and works of the flesh accompany those blessing are proof they are not of God!

Matt.7:16 By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

A brother set out to have a new truck, and he prays over and over again to God for it. He then looks for sign and wonders trying to get his blessing from God's, what is the answer on the matter? Finally, he see some sign that he has been looking for and moves to purchase his new truck. Than the pain of payments, insurance, worries, fights with his wife over money and extra work he must do to make the bills, but still he justifies his actions when he helps move a neighbor with his truck he is easily satisfied that all the pain was worth it and helping someone proves the blessing was from God. When simply renting a truck would of saved so much trouble, so it wasn't the need, but the want of a new truck.

James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.

James 1:15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. 1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers. 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

This is the truth of our fallen fleshes desires, if Christ had used the same thought process when Satan offered him the kingdoms of this world he would of found blessing and cursing in all his ways, but why? Simply put, he would have made himself a god, choosing what is good and what is evil for his life. Lets put it another way, he would have chosen what his own blessing were going to be despite God choice in the matter.

Luke 22:41 He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed, 22:42 saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." 22:43 An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.
22:44 Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. 22:45 When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief, 22:46 and said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."

Such blessings are going to bring both good and evil because man was put out of the garden out of God into thorns and thistle to deal with their own ways.

Gen. 3:16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. In pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." 3:17 To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife's voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 3:18 Thorns also and thistles will it bring forth to you; and you will eat the herb of the field. 3:19 By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

How was Christ blessed by God, we need not ask if we are a Christian's, it certainly was not with a corporate job, so he could do more for his Father in heaven. It was not with a great home, or without suffering, or with profound knowledge of end time prophesy, or even honor among men. Christ accepted whatever God gave him as love, he did not see himself as deserving more or as a put down depriving him of something he wanted.

Seeking Unrighteous Blessing

Let us not be fooled when we seek blessing to satisfy our flesh and its craving, that is, the lust of this world, in all its showy display of ones means of life, we will be blessed by Satan to mislead us into all kinds of problems that will go with his the blessing, that is, our struggles in fighting to have the thing we want. On the other hand, when we seek God's blessing in faith, that is, trust God is love and cannot leave us, we will soon divide the flesh and its lust from the truth of the Spirit. Learning our blessings are treasure in heaven from the power of God Holy Spirit in it fruit bring peace in our lives with hope, joy, and love. There will be no pain from our struggles in our flesh in God's eternal blessings, for he is not evil handing us a serpent when asking for a fish.

Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. In you will all of the families of the earth be blessed."

Psalms 37:26 All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His seed is blessed.

Psalms 65:4 Blessed is one whom you choose, and cause to come near, that he may live in your courts. We will be filled with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.

Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Don't fear what they fear, neither be troubled."{Isaiah 8:12}

1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.

James 5:11 Behold, we call them blessed who endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the Lord in the outcome, and how the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

We will not be bitten by constant pain of a deadly snake bit spending all our efforts in justifying that such is from God. We will let go of those lies for the truth, and rest, instead of fight in Christ our life. Satan war is to uses every deceptive means to mislead God's children, but Christ has conquered Satan world in a perfect mind that did not mislead him, or will it mislead us, if we set it on truth, not what we think truth is, taught us by those seeking unrighteous blessing on this earth to justify a material thing they want and struggle not to let go of.

Matthew 6:19 "Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal;

Col.2:2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 2:3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. 2:4 Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.

Let us not twist God or Christ words into a justification by scriptures so we can obtain to a goal we are seeking as though the project is God's will. We know what God's will is for those belonging to Christ, look at what Christ did on earth, and his hand chosen disciples, the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem above? Why indeed would we think we are the exception and that we can follow another course?

Hebrews 13:6 So that with good courage we say, "The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?"{Psalm 118:6-7}

1 John 2:1 My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor{Greek Parakleton: Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, and Comfortor.} with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
Such thinking has built a huge empire of thousand's and thousand's of false religion getting blessing to support there projects, but all, have good and evil in them. All must continue in boasting in the good to justify the evil, that some good is God's will and its better than none.

1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers,

1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.

Romans 1:23 and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.

Matt.7:17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. 7:18 A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. 7:19 Every tree that doesn't grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.

Many, not a few, will be mislead into this false line of reasoning when Christ comes to take out his wheat class from the weeds, then they will say, that is, the weeds, "Lord! Lord! Look at the good we done, overlook the evil in the same tree. Look how good and righteous our hearts were in wanting to do good for you.”

Matt. 7:22 Many will tell me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?' 7:23 Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.'

Please note, our treasure are where? Please note the world does not know the works of God. Are we saying God is not working today because we cannot see his works in material blessing, in building, organizations, governments, commerce, the things of this world?

Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Philippians 2:21 For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:20 Isaiah is very bold, and says, "I was found by those who didn't seek me. I was revealed to those who didn't ask for me."{Isaiah 65:1}

John 8:50 But I don't seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.

John 6:26 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.

Luke 12:29 Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.

Luke 12:30 For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. 12:31 But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

Luke 13:24 "Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.

When did we do it to the least of these Christ brothers? Why would the sheep have to ask that question if they knew the truth of God's works? Why didn't the world know Christ, how is that possible when God sent him to die for their sins. Why did they not know him, because they deny his works, his works were the Father works, but why could they not see them?

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

1 John 4:5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

1 John 3:13 Don't be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him.

Who's works are we seeing, who's works are being blessed?

John 5:36 But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

John 6:28 They said therefore to him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of God?"

John 14:10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works.

John 15:24 If I hadn't done among them the works which no one else did, they wouldn't have had in. But now have they seen and also hated both me and my Father.

Completed: November 06, 2016