Spirituality 101: Learn to curb your appetite

[0:00] Hallelujah. Thank you for tuning in to this powerful message by David Entry at Karis Phase 2,! Our Christ-centered youth services. You can never find Christ outside of the open word of God.

[0:13] May Jesus Christ reveal himself to you as you listen. Today we want to go to Ephesians chapter 5. I want us to read verse 1, verse 2, verse 3, verse 4, verse 5, and then 6.

[0:27] And we are all going to read it out in unison. All right, is that okay? All right, let's go. Therefore, be imitative of God as dear children, and who in love as Christ also has loved us, and given himself for us, and offering a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma, for fornication and uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you as a fitting for saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

[1:23] Let no one deceive you with empty wives, for because of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the sands of disobedience. Amen. Amen. What? This is a lot. Verse 3 says that, But fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints.

[1:52] Saints are people who have been dedicated to God, and it's just fitting that some things are not found amongst us. It's just fitting. So, we have to work so hard that it doesn't become part of our testimony.

[2:08] Fornication should be part of our testimony. God doesn't befit you. You have been dedicated to God. You have been set aside for God.

[2:20] Fornication and the like are not suitable for you. It doesn't befit you. Look at somebody. Tell the person, fornication doesn't befit you.

[2:35] Fornication doesn't befit you. You know some people can't say it. Look at the person. It looks like God is trying to talk to you.

[2:50] He says that, but sexual immorality or fornication and uncleanness in all impurities or covetousness.

[3:01] Why are we leaving that out? What doesn't belong to you, you want it. You want something that doesn't belong to you. Whether it's somebody's girlfriend or boyfriend.

[3:14] Somebody's shoe or house. Somebody's examination results. Covertiousness is wanting to own what doesn't belong to you.

[3:30] You want to have it. It's not yours, but you want to take it and have it. That's covetousness. That's what the Bible says. Let your life be without covetousness. Hebrews chapter 13.

[3:43] Let your life, verse 5. Let your life be without covetousness. Let your conduct be without covetousness. And be content.

[3:54] The opposite of covetousness is contentment. What is contentment? You are happy. You are happy. The way you are.

[4:05] So you are not sad because of what you don't have. You are not sad because you are not in somebody's position. You are not sad because you have not got a new car like the other.

[4:18] You are okay until you saw somebody has got a car. And because they are. That is covetousness and it's opposite contentment. Contentment is you didn't have a car.

[4:31] Suddenly you realize that your cousin has bought a car. You are happy for him. But it doesn't bother. It has not made you sad. You are content with where you are. You see, it doesn't mean where you are is the best you can ever be.

[4:42] But it means you are not worried because others are in a better position. So it says, let your life be without covetousness. But with be content.

[4:56] The Bible says that godliness with contentment. You know, you might not have the best of jobs. But you are so happy you are in God.

[5:11] And so when sometimes you feel, oh, when will I get a better job? And this situation frustrates me. You encourage yourself because what's most important is you are in Christ. And with that you are happy.

[5:25] He said, having food and raiment. That's King James. Having food and raiment. Let us there with be content. I think Matthew chapter, first Timothy.

[5:39] All right. Having food and raiment. Give us New King James, please. Raiment is clothing. Okay. Having food and clothing. Because if you don't have food, you are dying.

[5:51] If you are not clothed, you are stuck in the room. You can't come out. You only go to your bedroom and bathroom. If it's a miracle, you can't come from your bedroom to your bathroom. Because you shed a hand. You know, but so clothing is covering and raiment.

[6:08] Clothing also means shelter. You have somewhere you can sleep. Those are the core foundational things of life. He said, if you can eat, you can't.

[6:18] It doesn't matter the type of food. If it's not killing you. You're having something to eat for strength. And something to clothe so that you can live a life. He said, let us there with having food and clothing.

[6:31] With this shall we be content. Okay. Okay. So it's not about what designer you are wearing. But it's about you have something to wear. Whether it's from E Street or Primark.

[6:45] Or Liverpool Street. Or M&S. It does not matter. You are not naked. Do you know, I found out that sometimes some of the ties you will buy from Gucci or LV are not different from, sometimes you buy from Primark and it's equally nice.

[7:13] It's just the name brand. And I found out that the name, when it comes to certain things, it doesn't even matter. Having food and raiment, let us therewith be content.

[7:29] So he says that fornication shouldn't be named amongst us. All impurities shouldn't be named. And covetousness. It's also among the top dangerous lists.

[7:41] I know you are not a fornicator. But you are very covetous. I know you don't engage in impurities.

[7:51] Well done. That's good. But why are you covetous? Why are you, I'm not coveting anybody's stuff. But you are not content. You are not content.

[8:03] Because if you didn't know that other shoe exists, you would have been okay with this. But because you knew there's something better, that's why, so it's the same as covetousness. Because you want that and you don't have it.

[8:16] So you are not happy with what you have. That's covetousness and contentment, they just, they are cousins. They go together.

[8:27] Be content. Listen, you have to, oh, thank you Jesus. One of the good true signs of spirituality is contentment.

[8:41] Work on yourself. Work on yourself. Work on yourself. Work on yourself. Work. Jesus said, a man's, a man's life does not consist in the possession of the, Luke 12, 15.

[9:03] A man, he said, take heed, beware, ah, it's there. Covertiousness. He said, be careful. Be warned about covetousness.

[9:14] Why? Because a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. See, covetousness has always to do with things you have.

[9:26] So, that's why he said, these people suppose, 1 Timothy chapter 6, from verse 4 and 5. He said, withdraw yourself from such people destitute of their truth. He says that, they suppose that gain is godliness.

[9:40] But, what did the opposite? He said, godliness with contentment is the gain. It's the greatest gain that you have God, you are genuinely working with God, and you are not so down because of material things you don't have.

[9:59] What others have which you don't have. How can you be a godly lady, and you are so down because others' hair are nicer than yours? And that's why you are down.

[10:13] Others' legs are longer than yours, and so you are down. Others are shorter than you. Listen, even if you are short, don't let it bother you.

[10:26] You can have seven cars, and your life is still like a cow. You can have a mansion, and you are very miserable.

[10:42] There are people who don't have any big house. They have a small place, but they are happy. Happy.

[10:52] The secret of happiness in life starts with contentment. Contentment. You were so happy about your examination results until you saw somebody's own better than yours, and then suddenly you are down.

[11:12] That is covetousness. That's covetousness. Life is not measured by what you own. That's what Jesus said.

[11:24] All right, let's look for, let's look at the New Living Translation, the message. Then it said, beware, guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much, I didn't even know that's what it said.

[11:36] That's exactly what it said. Yes. How many of you have heard about people who have so much money, but they are very miserable? A lot of rich people are poor.

[11:46] Please, it doesn't mean it's not good to have wealth. Bible talks about God also can make us rich. Yes. He gives riches. Yeah.

[11:57] 1 Timothy 6, verse 17. It says, God. It says that, Warn those who are rich, command those who are rich in this present age, not to be haughty, not to trust in uncertain riches.

[12:11] Say it again. Say it again. Uncertain riches. Uncertain riches. Pray for the last time. Last time. Uncertain riches. Uncertain riches. That means when you have riches, it's not stable. Riches can go anytime.

[12:21] So not to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to. So those who are rich, he said, God gave them the riches. Then the next verse, let them be rich in good works.

[12:34] Wow. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works. So God also gives riches. So I'm not knocking against riches, but what I'm trying to say is that the measure of your life, the quality of your life is not at the mercy of the things you possess or how much money you have.

[12:54] You can have a lot of money and still be miserable. Without God, you will fail miserably or you will succeed miserably.

[13:09] Without God, you will fail miserably or you will succeed miserably. There are people who are successful, but very miserable. Now, once you are able to restrict yourself from some things, you are training yourself to become great easily.

[13:27] Because greatness happens on the back of discipline. Restriction. If you don't learn to train yourself to be restricted, you cannot be great.

[13:40] You cannot break through. Is somebody learning something? Oh, yes. So you see how much damage is done to anybody growing up in a family and they don't have restrictions?

[13:52] You are damaged before you grow up. No restrictions. Eat whenever you like. Eat whatever you want. Say no at will. And what you'll know is no.

[14:04] How can a child's no be no? A child's no cannot be no. Adults make decisions for children. Children cannot be leading a family.

[14:16] Because the more restrictions a growing person gets, the better chances the person has to do well. Because the restriction helps you to know boundaries.

[14:29] Else your taste will destroy you. Because if you don't have boundaries, whatever you want, you go for it. And you end up going for what you are not supposed to have.

[14:39] So when discipline is lacking, people give themselves, they are governed, this is strong, thank you Jesus.

[14:52] When discipline is lacking, people are governed by their appetites. Appetites. Your appetite becomes your master. And they say, I don't know why I still watch hip pornography.

[15:06] I don't know why. Your appetite, is the appetite thing? Appetite. Taste. It's controlling you. So when people are growing and there are no restrictions around them, they grow up and they become subject to their wants, their desires, and their appetite.

[15:27] And when your appetite, your desires become your boss. How many of you know that there's disaster in the making? Disaster. Because there are so many things you are not supposed to do.

[15:40] Like over speeding. But sometimes you just want to do it. You want to do it. But when there's restriction or fear of punishment, it puts you under control.

[15:54] Many people end up in prison because of this problem. They can't restrict themselves. They may not be that bad. But at the spare of the moment, their feelings took over them and controlled them.

[16:09] So one of the signs of spirituality is that you are able to put yourself under restriction. A spiritual person cannot be covetous.

[16:22] A spiritual person, the more spiritual you are, the more you are able to walk away from material things. So covetousness.

[16:33] Let's look at the text again. Is somebody learning something? It says that, but fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you as is fitting for the saints.

[16:48] The next verse. Finally. I couldn't wait to go to the verse four. Neither filthiness nor foolish talking. Open your mouth.

[17:00] Anything you say it. Anything that comes. Nor coarse jesting. Give a, change that translation to New Living Translation.

[17:13] Obscene stories, foolish talk, and cause jokes. These are not for you. Sometimes, some jokes, you have to rebuke some people.

[17:26] Hey, excuse me. You can't, you can't joke. I don't, I don't, I don't accept things like that. Some of you must be able to tell people, no, no, no, no, I don't accept this.

[17:37] You can look at the Christians as I said, oh my God, your thighs are hot. Ah! That's disgusting.

[17:50] Shouldn't come out of your mouth. And don't be telling some Christian brother, as for that lady, if God give us amnesty one day. What I do with you. Is somebody learning something?

[18:09] Cause jokes, cause jesting. Some jokes is not worth cracking because you are Christian. Because, because Christ lives in you, you can't crack some jokes.

[18:20] Because you are not a fornicator, you can't crack some jokes. Because you are not convertious, you can't crack some jokes. So let's put all this, verse four again, not that filthiness, some things are disgusting, filthy things that have been going on behind the scenes.

[18:40] Let's, let's fight against it. Okay. Today God sent me to prophesy to somebody. You see I'm a prophet. Yes. I'm prophesying.

[18:52] It doesn't matter the state you are in, you must be quick to give thanks. Giving of thanks is fitting for a believer. Giving of thanks is fitting for a believer.

[19:03] Giving of thanks. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Your girlfriend or your husband to be, your wife to be, your husband to be, must know you to be somebody who is always quick to thank God.

[19:16] Always quick to say thank you Jesus. Glory to you. Thank you Lord. When you are around me, you always hear, thank you Jesus. Glory to Jesus. Thanks should always be more readily available or found in your mouth as a believer.

[19:31] So you see being a Christian is not just enough to be in church. But there are different things. Your language, the things that, the way you think, your attitude, your approach to life, the things that offend you, the things that you are willing to let go.

[19:48] These things are important. You will do well in life. Can I add verse 5? Sorry. Actually I was going to verse 6, isn't it? I read to verse 6.

[19:58] Alright, let's go to verse 5. For this, you know that no fornicators, fornicators, they don't have peace with God. Yeah. Tell somebody, fornicators don't have peace with God.

[20:11] Fornicators don't have peace with God. You remember we spoke about covetousness? Fornication is an extreme dimension of covetousness.

[20:26] That woman is not yours. That man is not yours. Proverbs says that anyone who goes into somebody's wife will not be innocent.

[20:37] So you see who goes into his neighbor's wife. You take a trip. I didn't see it.

[20:50] So is he who goes into his neighbor's wife. You've entered your neighbor's wife. My pastor, she wasn't married.

[21:02] She'll be one somebody's wife. It's not your wife. Yes. It's not your wife. It's somebody's wife in advance. Pastor, she says she will never marry.

[21:13] However, she's not your wife. She's somebody's. So, you can rephrase this word. Anyone who goes into someone who is not yours.

[21:27] You go there? What are you going to do there? He said, you enter there. You go into your... He says that.

[21:39] So, he says that. Whoever touches her shall not be innocent. I'm talking to a lot of people here who are not innocent. In your past.

[21:49] Sorry. Guilty. You've been caught. Red-handed. There's not...

[22:02] Shall not be innocent. It applies to ladies too. You have gone into somebody's future husband. Yes. You go into your neighbor's husband.

[22:15] He said you will not be innocent. God was planning to bless you, but now you are guilty. God was planning to favor your cause, but now you are guilty.

[22:28] I pray that may the mercy of God be mighty upon our lives. Amen. In the name of Jesus. Amen. Well, it says that, for this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

[22:51] What's the meaning of that? This is not just talking about heaven. You don't have inheritance in the kingdom of God. In Acts chapter 14, verse 22, they encouraged them.

[23:10] The Bible said they were strengthening their souls and their disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith. Say continue in the faith. Continue in the faith. Continue in the faith.

[23:22] In chapter 13, verse 43, they exhorted, they encouraged them to continue in the grace of God. Yes. When you are freshly born again and you are new and you are enjoying Christ, you have to be encouraging.

[23:38] Continue enjoying Christ. Yes. But that is a first level. To continue in faith is a stronger level. Wow.

[23:48] To continue in faith. Faith means a lot of other things have come in your understanding, in your emotions, in your intellect, and your will.

[23:59] You have been taught some things and you have come to a certain level. Now you are working in the faith. Not just enjoying Christ, but on the back of that, you are going stronger because you understand what you are doing.

[24:13] You are getting deeper and more established in the Lord. To continue, it says that they exhorted the disciples to continue in the faith, saying, before I read that, they strengthened their souls.

[24:29] So now your emotions, your thinking, your intellect have been strengthened. Which is, when you get born again, that's different. But as you stay in the Lord, what I'm doing, I'm actually strengthening people's souls.

[24:45] So most of you, when you are in a relationship now, your behavior will be different. Because you have been strengthening your soul, in your intellect, the way you process things. I'm telling you, some of you sisters, some people are in trouble because if they pass that nasty comment again about you, the way you rebuke them.

[25:03] Why? Because you have been strengthened in your soul. You have been strengthened and established in your soul. You know some things that are not entirely healthy.

[25:17] When there are people here who when they start dating or they are dating, they will never spend the night together in one room, even though nothing will happen. They will never do it. Why? Because their souls have been strengthened.

[25:29] It's the teachings. It's helped you. At least, even if you are weak in something, you know you are weak in something wrong. So, you don't settle and say, oh, that's what I like.

[25:40] At least, you are struggling to stop it but you know it's not right. So, it's good. Your soul is strengthened. So, they went around establishing or strengthening the souls of the disciples.

[25:51] That's what we are doing here. Exhorting them to continue, not this time, not faith, not grace, but continue in the faith, saying, we must through many tribulations, through many difficulties, enter the kingdom.

[26:07] What? But they are already in the kingdom. The kingdom is Christ. When Christ comes into your life, the kingdom has come into you. Jesus said, I think Luke 20 or so, he said, the kingdom of God is in your midst.

[26:22] Yeah. So, I am, I'm here as a kingdom. So, if you have Christ, you're actually in Christ. That's the kingdom. The kingdom is in you. When anyone who is born again is in the kingdom of God.

[26:35] Everybody who is born again, he said, for if, unless the man, chapter 17, right, verse 20. The verse 20 is the one I'm looking for. Verse 20 said, now, when he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God will come, he answered them and said, the kingdom of God does not come with observations.

[26:54] The next verse, he said, no, will you say, see here or see there. For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. It's here. And he was talking about himself being with them.

[27:07] The kingdom is here. Wherever Jesus is, the kingdom is. In Revelation, he said, I saw river of life coming before the throne, coming from, chapter 22. He said, I saw a river of life as pure as crystal coming, proceeding, and he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

[27:28] That river that flows is what the kingdom, an extension of the kingdom of God. And Christ is that river. When the water of life comes into you, the river of the kingdom has come into you.

[27:38] So what I'm trying to say is, if you are born again, you already are in the kingdom. You have tested the kingdom. So why is he saying that they told them with tribulation they must enter?

[27:51] But they're already in the kingdom. There is a dimension in the kingdom you have to be in. That is why he said that all those who do these things cannot enter. Because he was already writing to people in church.

[28:04] So for this, you know, that no fornicator, no fornicator, no clippers, no covetous man who is an idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom.

[28:17] You don't have inheritance. In other words, being established in the things of God. Some people want to be pastors. You cannot be a pastor with the kind of life you are living.

[28:29] You cannot accommodate these things and be an effectual man, a God, or woman, women, a God. You can't be a man, a God. And you can't be a woman of God's husband or a man of God's wife.

[28:44] You are not established in the kingdom. You have not entered the kingdom and be established in it. When you say you have entered the kingdom, it's like your entire constitution, your entire being has actually been so much involved in God.

[29:02] You are so much into this Christ. You can't enter the kingdom accommodating, fornication, unclean person, being an unclean person, covertuous person, an idolater, or anyone of such.

[29:18] You can't. Verse 6 says, let no one deceive you with empty words. King James says, vain.

[29:30] Empty words. What do you mean by empty words? That means words are containers. But there are some words that don't contain God. They don't transfer God. It's so empty.

[29:40] You hear them and it doesn't do anything to you positively towards God. It rather downgrades you. Empty words. The Bible calls that some people are vain talkers.

[29:52] Whee! Titus chapter 1 verse 10. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers. King James uses the word unruly.

[30:03] Many, there are many unruly, vain talkers and deceivers. They have gone out amongst us, from us and amongst you, and they are talking but they are not helping you.

[30:17] Like some people on social media, they are vain talkers. They are vain talkers. They are killing and stifling and choking and suffocating your spiritual life.

[30:31] Vain talkers. Oh, I like the way he's talking. I like the way he's talking. but it leaves you with void of the life of God. What you are saying is vain. It's empty. Empty words.

[30:43] Vain talkers. Deceivers. First Timothy chapter 1 verse 6. From which some have been straight have turned aside to vain jangling.

[30:58] Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Plenty talk void of the life of God. Some preaching can make you be screaming and shouting but it's void of the life of God.

[31:09] Vain talking. Empty words. Empty words are words that after you hear listen to this you like this after you hear you still can't do anything.

[31:24] So you are told God said thank God. That's a powerful statement. Thank God.

[31:35] Amen. Amen. You go and you couldn't even if I used to say thank you God but now you've lost all energy to say thank you God. After you heard the word it didn't give you any life of God to work with the word.

[31:50] Do you understand what I'm saying? So people can preach and tell you what to do but as to whether you'll be able to it will give you the life of God to do has a lot to do with how loaded God's life is in the teaching.

[32:05] So the difference between teaching and feeding is teaching informs your mind feeding nourishes your spirit. When you are nourished you can obey God.

[32:18] You get what I'm saying? When you are nourished you can obey God. Feeding nourishes you. That is why he says the shepherd I'll give them shepherds that will feed them.

[32:35] Jeremiah chapter 3 verse 15 I will give you pastors according to my head who will do what? Feed.

[32:46] Feed. Feed. Feed. Feed. Simon. John chapter 21 verse 15 Simon. Simon. Do you love me more than this? So he has said feed my lambs.

[32:58] Feed. Feed. He said take it to yourself Acts chapter 20 verse 28 and to the sheep or to the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseer.

[33:10] To shepherd. Some translations use shepherd. King James says to feed. Did you see that? Feed. Feed. Feed. Give them food to nourish because man must not live by bread alone but by everything.

[33:24] So the word of God is for feeding. Not only bread. The word itself is for feeding but I can feed you if I am not in touch with God.

[33:35] If I'm not working with God then I can only inform you. Not every teaching is feeding. some teachings are informing.

[33:47] It's like lectures. When you go to lecture when you go for lectures you are just being information is being passed to you but it's different from when you hear preaching.

[34:00] An anointed preaching feeds your soul. Feeds your spirit. Anointed preaching is not vain talking. Not least there are so many vain talkers online.

[34:16] Vain talkers nobody can even verify them. They are self-styled self-made authorities without any trail of credibility. Vain talkers.

[34:29] Vain talkers. Vain talkers. Verse 6 again. It says let no one deceive you with empty ways.

[34:41] Because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons. Okay. Let me put it in context and I finish. It said what he's been talking about let not fornication covetousness then he spoke about coarse joking and evil speaking all those things let's name it about.

[35:02] Then he goes on to say after he's saying all that for this you know that those who do that will not enter the kingdom of God. And he said let no one deceive you with empty ways.

[35:14] In other ways those empty ways are contrary to what he was saying. The empty ways saying about God understands you can't fornicate. It's not everybody.

[35:24] Nobody's perfect. Just that nobody's perfect. We all try. Be careful. I know some people come to you and tell you you don't have to serve in church to go to heaven.

[35:36] Excuse me. Your service is not going to take you to heaven but your reward in heaven will be determined by your service. I just want to enter.

[35:48] When you enter you realize that there are levels. He says the man the one the servant who knows his master's will and does not prepare himself or do according to shall be beaten with many stripes.

[36:04] People will receive blows. Blows. Blows. Blows. When Jesus comes you will beat you. You are born again but you will be beaten.

[36:16] Look at the next verse. Look. But he who did not know is different if he didn't know. Yet committed things deserving stripes shall be beaten with few.

[36:27] For everyone to whom much is given from him much will be required and to whom much has been committed of him they will ask for more.

[36:42] So the way you keep telling me pastor preach on preach on preach on is to make you put you in a state that God will demand more from you. Yeah. So you stay in church and let somebody give you vain talk and tell you serving in church doesn't matter.

[37:01] Let them give you vain talk. One of the easiest way you can build spiritual muscles is through service. It's through service. Who are you serving?

[37:14] You don't serve anybody. Everything should serve you. And yet you are not worried. And you have people who are telling you you don't have to serve. That's empty words.

[37:27] Vain talkers will deceive you. Vain talkers. So vain talkers move you away from the ideal of God. The things they say move you away from God's ideal.

[37:39] And at the end of the day you become a victim. Vain talkers. So let me finish the text. Is somebody learning something? Let no man deceive you with vain words.

[37:52] for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. These things are the things they mention. The children who are known in Christ that's the kind of things they do.

[38:04] And the wrath of God is coming upon them. God then you are in Christ and you are still doing these things and vain talkers are telling you it's okay. Now God kicked Adam and Eve out because of iniquity.

[38:20] Now you are outside and someone is telling you don't worry you can go iniquitize and go. You can be iniquitizing and still go in. No they were already in and iniquity came they were kicked!

[38:32] out you are out and somebody is telling you come with iniquity. That's vain talking. I see God helping you. May God protect you and your heart from the impact and influence of vain talkers.

[38:51] May God strengthen you. May he empower you. May he cause the heavens to open upon you and advance you radically.

[39:02] in the mighty name of Jesus so shall it be. Thank you for choosing to listen to this message by David Entry.

[39:12] We hope you are blessed by it. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms including TikTok and Threads. There's also many more messages to listen to from David Entry on all relevant streaming platforms and on the Karish Church app.

[39:28] Be blessed.