COLLATERAL DAMAGE OR COLLATERAL BLESSING

COLLATERAL DAMAGE OR COLLATERAL BLESSING
WHICH DO YOU BRING WITH YOU?
COLLATERAL: RUNNING SIDE BY SIDE OR PARALLEL
DAMAGE: INJURY TO A PERSON ( SPIRIT, SOUL, BODY, FINANCIALLY, OR SOCIALLY, OR PROPERTY
BLESSING: BENEFITS NOT EARNED
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE GREATEST BLESSING EVER GIVEN?
LET’S LOOK AT THAT BLESSING. THE GREATEST BLESSING EVER GIVEN WAS RECORDED IN LUKE 2: 1-15
Luke 2:1-15
1. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
THE FUTURE AND DESTINY OF MANKIND ( THE HUMAN RACE ) WAS LAYING IN A MANGER WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES. JESUS WAS AND IS THE ANSWER TO ALL MANKIND’S PROBLEMS. HE RESTORED OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER GOD. HE SHOWED US WHAT THE FATHER WAS LIKE.

Passage Acts 10:38
38. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Passage Luke 4:18-19
18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord
[ NOTICE HE DID NOT SAY A FEW OF OR SOME OF BUT HE SAID (THE) AS IN ALL OF THEM, AND (THEM THAT ARE ) AS IN ALL THAT ARE BRUISED. HE LEFT NO ONE OUT.
JESUS WAS A BLESSING FROM BIRTH
Passage Luke 23:46
46. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Passage Luke 24:6-8
6. He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7. Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8. And they remembered his words,

Passage John 3:16
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
THROUGH DEATH AND RESURRECTION HE REMAINS A BLESSING
HE THEN COMMISSIONS US TO GO AND BE A BLESSING.
Passage Mark 16:15-18
15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.



Passage Acts 3:19
19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
BLOTTED OUT: TO OBLITERATE, ERASE
COLOSIANS 2:13-15
13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
HE ERASED FOREVER THE ORDINANCES AGAINST US
Passage Isaiah 43:25:
25. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Ephesians 5:1
1. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
WE ARE TO BE LIKE HIM TO ERASE PEOPLES PAST AND NOT REMEMBER IT AGAINST THEM ANYMORE.
THE GREATEST BLESSING OF ALL TIME CAME TO RESTORE US TO AND SHOW US THE FATHER. WE ARE TO LIVE OUR LIVES IMITATING THE FATHER AS DEAR CHILDREN. ( THE WORD FOLLOWERS LITERAL MEANING IS IMITATE ) THERE ARE MANY PLACES LOST PEOPLE GATHER TO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY WHAT THEY CALL LIFE. SOME GOOD AND SOME BAD. BOWLING ALLEYS, POOL HALLS, SWIMMING POOLS, DANCES, MOVIES, BARS, CLUBS , GROUPS, RIDING AROUND, THEME PARKS LIKE SILVER DOLLAR CITY, AND ETC. I WAS LIKE EVERY OTHER LOST SOUL GROWING UP. I DID WHAT I COULD TO HAVE FUN AND LIVE LIFE. THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAD PROBLEMS WITH OTHERS AND A FEW THAT HELD GRUDGES, HOWEVER IN MY OBSERVATIONS AS I REFLECT I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE HOLDING PEOPLE TO THE SINS OF THEIR PAST AS I HAVE SEEN "CHRISTIANS" DOING IT. I CAN ONLY USE EXAMPLES THAT I KNOW ARE TRUE , I WILL NOT MAKE ANY UP AND I WILL NOT USE THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE IN MY EXAMPLES. THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT THOSE PEOPLE DID YEARS AND DECADES AGO. THE SAD THING IS AS PROFESSING CHRISTIANS WE ARE NOT TO DO THAT. MANY ARE HOLDING PEOPLE TO THEIR PAST AND MOST OF THEM HAVE GIVEN IT TO THE LORD AND BEEN FORGIVEN AND GONE ON. THEY DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT ANY MORE. AND IF THEY HAVEN’T GIVEN IT TO THE LORD IT STILL ISN’T ANYONE’S PLACE TO HOLD THEM TO IT. IT’S THE PLACE OF THE TRUE CHRISTIAN TO RESTORE THE ONE WHO’S MISSING THE MARK IN LOVE. THE PROBLEM IS WITHIN THE ONE HOLDING THE OTHER ONE TO THEIR PAST.
REMINDS ME OF A STORY ABOUT TWO MONKS WALKING ONE DAY. AS THEY APPROACHED A STREAM THERE WAS A LADY STANDING THERE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO CROSS. THE OLDER MONK OFFERED TO CARRY HER ACROSS. SHE ACCEPTED THE OFFER, AND HE CARRIED HER ACROSS AND SET HER DOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE. THE MONKS WENT ON BACK TO THE MONASTERY . LATER THE ON THAT EVENING THE YOUNGER MONK SAID TO THE OLDER ONE, WE TOOK A VOW TO NOT TOUCH A WOMAN YET YOU CARRIED A WOMAN ACROSS THE STREAM. THE OLDER ONE SAYS IT IS NOT ME WITH THE PROBLEM, FOR I PUT HER DOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE AND WENT MY WAY. IT IS YOU WITH THE PROBLEM FOR YOU ARE STILL CARRYING HER IN YOUR MIND. THAT WAS AN ILLUSTRATION. NOW FOR A TRUE EXAMPLE THE NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THE GUILTY. WELL LIKE I SAID I WON’T USE NAMES. COUNTLESS TIMES I’VE HEARD A CERTAIN PERSON’S NAME MENTIONED AND THEN THE SAME PERSON ALWAYS SAYS, " NOW IS THAT THE WOMAN THAT HAD A CHILD OUT OF WEDLOCK?" THE CHILD OF THAT WOMAN IS NOW OVER 30 YEARS OLD, AND YET THIS ONE PERSON IS STILL HOLDING HER TO HER PAST. WHY DO PEOPLE DO THAT? SOME SAY THINGS LIKE THAT TO GIVE THEMSELVES A SENSE OF BEING ABOVE OR BETTER IN COMPARISON , ALL THE TIME THEY ARE BEING SELF-RIGHTEOUS AND SINNING IN THEIR ACTIONS. THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON WE ARE TO JUDGE AND THAT IS OURSELVES. THERE IS ONLY ONE FOR US TO COMPARE OURSELVES TO AND THAT IS JESUS. IF WE JUDGE OTHERS WE WILL BE JUDGED. IF WE SHOW MERCY WE WILL RECEIVE MERCY.