Tag: plan
THE ACTIVITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A GREAT PART OF THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF THE BELIEVER. HE IS VERY ACTIVE IN ALL WE DO OR SAY IF WE WELCOME HIM. HE WANTS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED, FOR HE IS THE THIRD PERSON OF THE GODHEAD: GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE TRINITY. HE WAS ALWAYS GOD.
WHEN HE WAS ACTIVE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, IT WAS FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION.
THIS IS ALSO TRUE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, BUT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT FROM THE OLD, IS THAT WHEN JESUS CAME TO EARTH AND COMPLETED HIS WORK HERE, HE THEN WENT BACK TO THE FATHER AND SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ABIDE (LIVE) WITH US FOREVER, AS HE PROMISED IN JOHN 14.
CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE REALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PERVADES (SATURATES) THE ENTIRE BIBLE FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION.
MANY OLD TESTAMENT WRITERS REFER TO THE SPIRIT, AND ONLY THREE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS DO NOT ALUDE TO HIM (AND THESE ARE VERY SHORT – PHILEMON AND 2ND AND 3RD JOHN).
IT IS TRUE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE KEY FIGURE OF ALL GOD’S PLAN. THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF FOCUSES ATTENTION ON CHRIST AND SEEKS TO GLORIFY HIM (JN. 15:26; 16:14). BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS EVER IGNORED IN THE BIBLE OR THAT HE IS EVER TREATED AS SOME VAGUE INFLUENCE OR IN PERCEPTABLE ENERGY. HE IS RECOGNIZED AS A REAL PERSON WITH INTELLIGENCE, FEELING, AND WILL. 1
1. What The Bible Says About The Holy Spirit, p.10.
BITTERNESS
PROVERBS 14:10 – THE HEART KNOWETH HIS OWN BITTERNESS; AND A STRANGER DOTH NOT INTERMEDDLE WITH HIS JOY.
BITTERNESS IS DEFINED AS ANGER, DISCONTENTMENT, HEAVINESS, CHAFE. CHAFE MEANS ANNOYED, IRRITATED.
EPHESIANS 4:31,32 – LET ALL BITTERNESS, AND WRATH, AND ANGER, AND CLAMOR, AND EVIL SPEAKING, BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, WITH ALL MALICE: AND BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.
SO IT SEEMS, IN THESE VERSES, BITTERNESS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH UNFORGIVENESS.
IT IS STANGE TO ME THAT A WOMAN LIKE HANNAH COULD BE STRUGGLING WITH BITTERNESS:
I SAMUEL 1:10 – AND SHE WAS IN BITTERNESS OF SOUL, AND PRAYED UNTO THE LORD, AND WEPT SORE.
IF YOU RUN A WORD SEARCH, YOU WILL FIND THIS BITTERNESS IN HANNAH WAS THE SAME KIND OF BITTERNESS SCORNED IN EPHESIANS 4:31.
TO FIND OUT WHY HANNAH WAS BITTER, WE HAVE TO READ I SAMUEL 1:2-8 – AND HE (ELKANAH) HAD TWO WIVES; THE NAME OF THE ONE WAS HANNAH, AND THE NAME OF THE OTHER WAS PENINNAH: AND PENINNAH HAD CHILDREN BUT HANNAH HAD NO CHILDREN.
AND THIS MAN WENT UP OUT OF HIS CITY YEARLY TO WORSHIP AND TO SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD OF HOSTS IN SHILOH.
AND WHEN THE TIME WAS THAT ELKANAH, OFFERED (WENT TO WORSHIP), HE GAVE PENINNAH HIS WIFE, AND TO ALL HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS, PORTIONS:
BUT TO HANNAH HE GAVE A WORTHY PORTION (WE COULD SAY A DOUBLE PORTION); FOR HE LOVED HANNAH: BUT THE LORD HAD SHUT UP HER WOMB.
AND HER ADVERSARY ALSO PROVOKED HER SORE (TORMENTED HER), FOR TO MAKE HER FRET, BECAUSE THE LORD HAD SHUT UP HER WOMB.
AND SHE DID SO YEAR BY YEAR, WHEN SHE WENT UP TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, SO SHE (PENINNAH PROVOKED HER); THEREFORE SHE WEPT AND DID NOT EAT.
THEN ELKANAH HER HUSBAND SAID TO HER, HANNAH, WHY WEEPEST THOU? AND WHY EATEST THOU NOT? AND WHY IS THY HEART GRIEVED? AM I NOT BETTER TO THEE THAN TEN SONS?
NEITHER OUR JOYS NOR OUR SORROWS CAN BE WHOLLY SHARED WITH ANOTHER; NO PERSON STANDS IN SUCH INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH US, OR CAN PUT THEMSELVES SO ENTIRELY IN OUR PLACE, AS WE FEEL WHAT WE FEEL.
THERE ARE MANY DARK SPOTS, MANY GRIEFS, OF WHICH OUR BEST FRIENDS KNOW NOTHING; THE SKELETON IS LOCKED IN THE CUPBOARD, SO-TO-SPEAK, AND NO ONE HAS THE KEY BUT WE ALONE.
BUT WE CAN TURN WTH CONFIDENCE TO JESUS WHO KNOWS US BEST, WHO WEPT HUMAN TEARS, AND BORE OUR SORROWS, AND WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE.
HE HAS TAKEN HIS HUMAN EXPERIENCE WITH HIM TO HEVEN. AND WHEN WE TAKE OUR FEELINGS AND HURTS TO THE LORD, AND BEGIN TO FORGIVE AND SURRENDER THAT THING THAT HAS WORKED ITSELF FROM UNFORGIVENESS TO BITTERNESS OF HEART, WHOLLY TO THE LORD, WE FIND JOY THAT, ALSO, NO ONE ELSE CAN SHARE.
HE IS NOT A STRANGER TO “GRIEF TURNED TO JOY.”
THERE IS A SAYING, “NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES SO WELL AS HE THAT WEARS IT;” AND ANOTHER, “TO EVERYONE, HIS OWN CROSS SEEMS HEAVIEST.”
WHEN A PERSON’S MIND IS SENSITIVE IT IS EASILY DEPRESSED BY GRIEF; BUT WHEN IT IS ELATED BY JOY, IT SHOULD RECEIVE IT’S PLEASURE AND RELIEF WITHOUT ARROGANCE AND RUDENESS.
IN CHAPTER I OF Ist SAMUEL, WE FIND HANNAH PRAYING, AND VOWING TO TH LORD IF HE WOULD GIVE HER A SON, SHE WOULD GIVE THE CHILD TO THE LORD ALL HIS LIFE. SHE WAS PRAYING, WITH ONLY HER LIPS MOVING, BUT HER VOICE WAS NOT HEARD.
ELI, WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS INTOXICATED, TOLD HER TO QUIT DRINKING, BUT SHE ANSWERED THAT SHE HAD NEVER DRANK WINE NOR STRONG DRINK; THAT SHE WAS SORROWFUL IN SPIRIT.
SHE TOLD HIM SHE WAS NOT A WICKED WOMAN, BUT THAT SHE WAS POURING OUT HER SOUL BEFORE THE LORD.
ELI RESPONDE BY SAYING, “GO IN PEACE, AND MAY THE LORD OF ISRAEL GRANT YOUR PETITION WHICH YOU HAVE ASKED OF HIM.”
VERSE 20 – HANNAH BECAME PREGNANT AND IN DUE TIME BORE A SON AND NAMED HIM SAMUEL (HEARD OF THE LORD), BECAUSE, SHE SAID, I HAVE ASKED HIM OF THE LORD.
WHEN BITTERNESS SETS IN, IT IS SEEN AS A VIOLATION TO THE WAYS OF GOD, FOR GOD HAD A PLAN AND PURPOSE.
WHEN IN HER TROUBLE, HANNAH WAS LED TO PRAY FERVENTLY, AND HER PRAYER WAS ANSWERED: GRIEF AND SORROW AND BITTERNESS GAVE PLACE TO REJOICING. THE FAMILY WAS BENEFITTED; AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD WERE GREATLY BLESSED.
SO IN HIS WONDERFUL WORKING, GOD “TURNED THE CURSE INTO BLESSING”!!
*Part II coming soon.
A Word From God
It is up to you to trust Me each day with my plan.
It is up to you to follow Me as I lead.
I will never put you in doubt about anything.
There are those who don’t understand what I have taught you.
It is not that I don’t want to teach them, it is that they want some of their life’s control.
To allow me the honor of controlling their lives would give them all the stability they need.
When you need My time, I am here with you.
When you go, I go with you, but when you say, “Take control,” I know that whatever I want to do through you, I can.
I see your mind about this: it is to follow Jesus when He said, “I only say what the Father gives Me, and I only do what the Father says.”
This is what I want for you too, but to do this, you have to loose all control of each day, and trust Me with all that must be handled, even if it is something you don’t want to say or do.
It is up to Me to handle the outcome.
AT THE APPOINTED TIME
MANY PEOPLE STRUGGLE FROM HEARING FROM GOD, AND TODAY I BELIEVE YOU WILL BE ENLIGHTENED ON THIS SUBJECT.
GENESIS 8:14 – IS ANYTHING TO HARD FOR THE LORD? AT THE TIME APPOINTED I WILL RETURN UNTO THEE, ACCORDING TO THE TIME OF LIFE, AND SARAH WILL HAVE A SON. GENESIS 21:1,2 – AND THE LORD VISITED SARAH AS HE SAID, AND THE LORD DID UNTO SARAH AS HE HAD SPOKEN. FOR SARAH HAD CONCEIVED AND BARE ABRAHAM A SON IN HIS OLD AGE, AT THE SET TIME OF WHICH GOD HAD SPOKEN TO HIM.
THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD “APPOINTED” IS, ASSIGNED OR ARRANGED.
HOW MANY OF US HAVE HEARD FROM THE LORD, AND BECAUSE IT DIDN’T HAPPEN WHEN WE THOUGHT IT SHOULD, WE SAID,”MAYBE THIS WAS IN MY MIND; MAYBE I DIDN’T REALLY HEAR FROM GOD.”
THIS IS WHEN DOUBT COMES IN AND FAITH GOES OUT.
II SAMUEL 17:14 —-HERE WE FIND ABSALOM, TRYING TO TAKE OVER DAVID’S KINGDOM; BUT DAVID WAS CHOSEN BY GOD AS KING. AND EVEN THOUGH DAVID IS RUNNING IN THE NATURAL, HE KNOWS HIS APPOINTMENT—-FOR THE LORD HAD APPOINTED TO DEFEAT THE GOOD COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL, TO THE INTENT THAT THE LORD MIGHT BRING EVIL UPON ABSALOM.
15:31 – AND ONE TOLD DAVID, SAYING, AHITHOPHEL IS AMONG THE CONSPIRATORS WITH ABSALOM. AND DAVID SAID, O LORD, I PRAY THEE, TURN THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL INTO FOOLISHNESS.
DAVID HAD A REBEL SON, ABSALOM, WHOSE PLAN WAS TO TAKE OVER THE KINGDOM GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD. FOR THE PROMISED SEED TO COME : JESUS, WAS TO COME FROM THE LOINS OF DAVID.
ABSALOM TOOK COUNSEL FROM TWO MEN, BUT HE ACCEPTED THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL, ONE OF DAVID’S COUNSELORS WHO JOINED IN THE CONSPIRACY WITH ABSALOM AGAINST DAVID, THE KING.
WHEN SOMEONE TOLD DAVID THAT AHITHOPHEL, HIS OWN ADVISOR, WAS BACKING ABSALOM, DAVID PRAYED, “O LORD, PLEASE MAKE AHITHOPHEL GIVE ABSALOM FOOLISH ADVICE.”
AS SOON AS HE HAD FINISHED PRAYING, AND HAD REACHED THE TOP OF THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, WHERE PEOPLE WORSHIPPED GOD, DAVID FOUND HUSHAI THE ARCHITE WAITING FOR HIM. BUT DAVID TOLD HIM, “IF YOU GO WITH ME, YOU WILL ONLY BE A BURDEN. RETURN TO JERUSALEM AND TELL ABSALOM, I WILL COUNSEL YOU AS I DID YOUR FATHER. THEN YOU CAN FRUSTRATE AND COUNTER AHITHOPHEL’S ADVICE. SEND WORD BACK TO ME WHAT IS GOING ON.”
SO WHEN DAVID’S FRIEND, HUSHAI, ARRIVED, HE WENT IMMEDIATELY TO SEE ABSALON.
ABSALOM ASKED HIM, “WHY AREN’T YOU WITH DAVID?” AND HE ANSWERED, “BECAUSE I WORK FOR THE MAN WHO IS CHOSEN BY THE LORD AND BY ISRAEL, AND ANY WAY, WHY SHOULDN’T I? I HELPED YOUR FATHER AND NOW I WILL HELP YOU!”
THEN ABSALOM TURNED TO AHITHOPHEL AND ASKED HIM, “WHAT SHALL I DO NEXT?” AHITHOPHEL TOLD HIM, “. GO SLEEP WITH YOUR FATHER’S WIVES, FOR HE HAS LEFT THEM HERE TO KEEP THE HOUSE. THEN ALL ISRAEL WILL KNOW THAT YOU HAVE INSULTED HIM BEYOND RECONCILATION, AND THEY WILL SUPPORT YOU.”
SO ABSALOM DID EVERYTHING AHITHOPHEL TOLD HIM, UNTIL ONE DAY AHITHOPHEL ASKED FOR TWELVE THOUSAND MEN TO GO AFTER DAVID AND KILL HIM WHILE HE WAS DISCOURAGED.”HE AND HIS TROOPS WILL BE THROWN INTO A PANIC AND EVERYONE WILL RUN AWAY,” HE SAID. BUT ABASOLOM ASKED HUSHAI HIS OPINION.
“WELL,” HUSHAI REPLIED, “THIS TIME I THINK AHITHOPHEL IS MISTAKEN. YOU KNOW YOUR FATHER AND HIS MEN; THEY ARE MIGHTY WARRIORS AND ARE PROBABLY AS UPSET AS A MOTHER BEAR WHO HAS BEEN ROBBED OF HER CUBS.
YOUR FATHER IS AN OLD SOLDIER AND ISN’T GOING TO SPEND THE NIGHT AMONG THE TROOPS. HE HAS PROBABLY ALREADY HIDDEN IN SOME PIT OR CAVE. WHEN HE COMES OUT AND ATTACKS AND SOME OF YOUR MEN FALL, THERE WILL BE PANIC AMONG YOUR TROOPS AND EVERYONE WILL START SHOUTING THAT YOUR MEN ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED. THEN, EVEN THE BRAVEST OF THEM WILL BE PARALIZED WITH FEAR, BECAUSE ALL ISRAEL KNOWS WHAT A MIGHTY MAN YOUR FATHER IS AND HOW COURAGOUS HIS SOLDIERS ARE.’
“I SUGGEST YOU MOBILIZE THE ENTIRE ARMY OF ISRAEL. AND I THINK YOU SHOULD PERSONALLY LEAD THE TROOPS. THEN, WHEN WE FIND HIM, WE CAN DESTROY HIS ENTIRE ARMY, SO THAT NO ONE IS LEFT ALIVE.”
THEN ABSALOM AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL SAID, HUSHAI’S IS BETTER THAN AHITHOPHEL’S.” FOR THE LORD HAD APPOINTED TO DEFEAT THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL, WHICH REALLY WAS THE BETTER PLAN; SO HE COUD BRING DISASTER UPON ABSALOM. —-AND HE DID.
WHEN GOD GIVES US A WORD, THAT HE IS GOING TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE, IT IS BEST FOR US TO KEEP OUR MOUTHS SHUT UNTIL THE APPOINTED TIME, AS WAS IN THE LIFE OF ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH (LUKE 1). THE ANGEL TOLD HIM WHILE HE WAS DOING HIS SERVICE TO GOD IN THE TEMPLE, THAT HIS WIFE, ELIZABETH, WOULD HAVE A SON NAMED JOHN. BECAUSE OF ZACHARIAS’ UNBELIEF THE ANGEL STRUCK HIM DUMB UNTIL THE APPOINTED TIME.
WHEN GOD DECIDES TO DO SOMETHING, HE HAS A PURPOSE AND A PLAN HOW HE WANTS IT CARRIED-OUT.
THE BEST THING WE CAN DO, IS WAIT IT OUT UNTIL IT COMES TO PASS. IT IS VERY EASY FOR US TO GET INTO UNBELIEF. WHEN WE GET TIRED OF WAITING, WE CAN BRING AN ISHMAEL INTO OUR LIVES, AS DID ABRAHAM AND SARAH. THEN WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE ACTIONS THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
WHEN THE PROMISE DOES COME, WE FIND WE CAN ENJOY IT LIKE GOD PLANNED IN THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ISHMAELS TO DEAL WITH.
WHEN WE BEGIN TO QUESTION GOD—-WE SHOULD BE SAYING, “GOD, I TRUST YOU WITH JUST THE RIGHT TIMING, AND I TRUST YOU WITH WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND ME.”
IN THE BOOK OF ESTHER, ESTHER’S UNCLE, MORDECAI HAD TOLD HER. “NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO ACT. NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO REVEAL YOURSELF.”
ESTHER 4:14 – FOR IF THOU ALTOGETHER HOLDEST THY PEACE AT THIS TIME, THEN SHALL THEIR ENLARGEMENT (OR HELP) AND DELIVERANCE COME FROM ANOTHER PLACE; BUT THOU AND THY FATHER’S HOUSE SHALL BE DESTROYED: AND WHO KNOWETH WHETHER THOU ART COME TO THE KINGDOM FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?
BY MAKING HER MOVE AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, SHE DESTROYED ALL THE ENEMIES PLANS.
BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD
LUKE 1:38 AND MARY SAID, BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD: BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD, AND THE ANGEL DEPARTED FROM HER.
HERE WE HAVE THE SUBMISSION AND COOPERATION OF MARY, TO THE PLAN AND PURPOSE OF GOD FOR HER LIFE.
MARY WAS IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH GOD’S PLAN FOR HER. SHE WAS CHOSEN BY GOD.
WE CAN’T BE MARY AND BE USED THE WAY SHE WAS, BUT GOD HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR EVERY PERSON BORN.
THERE IS AN ASSIGMENT FOR EVERY PERSON. WHEN WE SURRENDER OUR LIVES TO THE LORD, THE PROCESS OF PURPOSE BEGINS.
THROUGH RELATIONSHIP WITH A LIVING CHRIST, WE FIND THAT PURPOSE.
WE SAY TO THE LORD, “BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.”
THE PLACE OF REAL PEACE IS SURRENDER TO THE LORD AND HIS WILL.
THE PURPOSE FOR MARY’S LIFE CAUSED HER SOME TROUBLE. HER CHARACTER WAS QUESTIONED; JOSEPH DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD WAS DOING.
MANY TIMES PEOPLE WON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS DOING IN YOUR LIFE, BUT YOU MUST SAY, “LORD BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD,” REGARDLESS OF PEOPLE MISUNDERSTADING YOU.
LOVE PEOPLE, BUT PLEASE GOD, AND YOU WILL BE A JOYFUL PERSON.
AND AS MARY SAID, MY SOUL DOTH MAGNIFY THE LORD.
WHEN WE SURRENDER AND SAY TO THE LORD, “BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD,” OUR LIVES MAGNIFY THE LORD.
THE MEANEST AND THE BADEST
THE SCRIPTURES RECORD MANY WHO WERE DEMON POSSESSED AND HAD ALL KINDS OF DISEASES THAT ARE INCURABLE, BUT ALL OF THESE ARE NO MATCH FOR JESUS. HE SOUGHT AFTER THEIR SOULS.
MANY CHRISTIANS ARE BOUND-UP WITH THINGS THAT KEEP THEM FROM GOD’S BEST FOR THEM.
JOHN 4:9-14 – THUS SAITH THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA UNTO HIM, HOW IS IT THAT THOU BEING A JEW, ASKETH DRINK OF ME, WHICH AM A WOMAN OF SAMARIA? FOR THE JEWS HAVE NO DEALINGS WITH THE SAMARITANS.
THIS WOMAN KNEW NOTHING ABOUT JESUS, SHE JUST KNEW HE WAS A MAN, ALTHOUGH SHE DID BELIEVE THE MESSIAH WAS TO COME. BEING A SAMARITAN, SHE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY A JEW WOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER, MUCH LESS TALK TO HER.
JESUS HAD A PLAN IN MIND. HE DELIBERATELY WENT THROUGH SAMARIA FOR THIS REASON; TO TALK TO HER. HE WAS ALWAYS AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, EVEN IN HIS DEATH.
HE COULD HAVE GONE ANOTHER ROUTE WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR HIM, BUT HE HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT UP THE ROAD.
THERE WAS A GREAT CONFLICT BETWEEN THE JEWS AND THE SAMARITANS CONCERNING WHERE THEY SHOULD WORSHIP.
BUT JESUS HAD A GREATER MISSION THERE THAN JUST ONE WOMAN. HE KNEW WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO BRING REVIVAL TO THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA.
HE WAS ABOVE ALL PREJUDICE.
HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN WHERE TO WORSHIP, AS WHERE THE JEWS AND SAMARITANS, BECAUSE THE WORSHIP WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE. IT WOULD BE IN THE HEARTS OF THE BELIEVERS: THE JEW FIRST, AND THEN THE GENTILES.
MANY TIMES WE DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE CROSSING OVER HE PREJUDICE BARRIERS TO WITNESS JESUS TO THOSE WE CONSIDER OUR ENEMY, OR DIFFERENT FROM US. THEIR CUSTOMS SOMETIMES TURN US OFF, AND WE ARE SOMETIMES INDIFFERENT TOWARDS THEM, MAYBE EVEN AFRAID OF THEM.
JESUS BEGAN TO TELL THE WOMAN ABOUT HER LIFE THROUGH THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE. SHE HAD A BAD REPUTATION, AND ONLY THE MEN WOULD TALK TO HER.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT? SHE CAME TO THE WELL ALONE, NOT LIKE THE CUSTOMARY TIME OF THE DAY WHEN THE WOMEN GATHERED TO DRAW WATER.
JESUS GAVE HER THAT LIVING WATER THAT DOES NOT COME FROM THE WELL, IT WAS EVERLASTING LIFE!! SHE WENT AWAY WITHOUT HER WATERPOT, AND BROUGHT OTHERS TO THAT WATER THAT WAS NOT FROM THE WELL, AND THEY CAME TO JESUS AND RECEIVED SALVATION.
WE AS BELIEVERS ARE TOLD IN MATTHEW 28:19, TO …GO YE THEREFORE AND TEACH ALL NATIONS… BUT SOMETIMES WE SHUN THOSE OF WHICH GOD REALLY WANTS US TO WITNESS.
THE MOST UNLIKELY ONE’S ARE THOSE WHO ARE THE BIGGEST CATCH IN GOD’S KINGDOM.
HERE, I AM REMINDED OF A MISSIONARY TRIP, WHEN BEFORE GOING, I PRAYED, “GOD, GIVE US THE SOULS OF THE ‘MEANEST AND BADEST’ (WHICH IS NOT VERY GOOD ENGLISH, BY THE WAY), BUT NEVERTHELESS, THAT’S THE WAY I PRAYED.
WE WERE HAVING A TENT REVIVAL IN SOTO, A VILLAGE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
THE SERVICES WERE GOING WONDERFUL. GOD WAS MOVING.
THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN!! – THERE WAS A LOUD COMMOTION. I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, I WAS ERNESTLY PRAYING FOR A LADY WHO WANTED TO GET SAVED AND WANTED PRAYER FOR HER HURT LEG.
I WAS STILL PRAYING FOR HER LEG WHEN MY HUSBAND AND BILL POSEY YELLED TO US TO GET OUT OF THE TENT AND RUN INTO THE FIELD BEHIND THE TENT.
ROCKS WERE SAILING INTO THE TENT WITH MIGHTY FORCE!!
SOME OF OUR FRIENDS HAD COME TO THE REVIVAL WITH THEIR CARS AND TRUCKS. THEIR WINDSHIELDS GOT IN THE LINE OF FIRE, AND WERE CRASHED AND SHATTERED.
SOME OF THE YOUNG MEN FIGHTING, WERE INTOXICATED.
WE FOUND OUT LATER FROM MISSIONARY MITCH MARTINEZ, THEY WERE TWO FACTIONS ROCK BATTLEING, AND WE JUST SEEMED TO BE IN THEIR CROSSFIRE.
THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE RUSHED INTO VEHICLES AND SPED OFF, AWAY FROM DANGER.
I NOTICED MY HUSBAND, ROY PORTER, BILL , JERKED OUT TWO TENT POSTS, AND WERE READY FOR CONFRONTATION IF NEEDED BE.
THE NEXT NIGHT, ONE OF OUR FRIENDS, MIRIAM SANCHEZ, WENT TO THE POLICE AND ARRIVED WITH THREE POLICEMEN. ONE OF THEM WAS VERY BIG AND HAD KILLED SOME PEOPLE, SO HIS REPUTATION WAS WELL KNOWN AMONG THE PEOPLE.
EVERYTHING WENT WELL THAT NIGHT, AND THE POLICEMEN GOT SAVED.
THE THIRD NIGHT, WE HAD NO POLICEMEN. I GUESS THE POLICE THOUGHT WE DIDN’T NEED ANY BECAUSE THE NIGHT BEFORE WAS QUIET.
MY HUSBAND SPOTTED SOME OF THE ROCK THROWERS GATHER AROUND IN VARIOUS PLACES, SPREADING-OUT, HE HAD NO GUN, SO HE ASKED THE MISSIONARY FOR THIS WOODEN BRUSH. HE WRAPPED A HANKIE AROUND IT, AND STUFFED IT INTO HIS POCKET. IT REALLY DID LOOK LIKE A GUN.
THE WORD GOT AROUND, “THE PASTOR HAS A GUN.”
SOME SAID, “THE PASTOR????
HE ASKED SANDRA SLIGH TO PREACH FOR HIM, SO HE COULD KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS AND I WAS TO GIVE THE ALTER CALL IN WHICH ONE OF THE FACTION WHICH WAS INTOXICATED, GAVE HIS HEART TO CHRIST.
SOON AFTER, I SAW MY HUSBAND WITH TWO MORE. HE SAT THEM DOWN IN CHAIRS AND BEGAN TO TALK TO THEM, AS THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS DEALING WITH THEIR HEARTS.
BOTH YOUNG MEN GAVE THEIR HEARTS TO JESUS, AND SHORTLY AFTER, ONE OF THEM PULLED OUT A BUTCHER KNIFE AND HANDED IT TO ROY.
HE STILL TODAY HAS THAT BRUSH AND KNIFE IN HIS STUDY.
SEVERAL OF THE ROCK THROWERS GOT SAVED, AND STARTED A BASEBALL TEAM. I’M SURE YOU KNOW WHAT FABULOUS BASEBALL PLAYERS THE DOMINICANS ARE!
THE NEXT YEAR WENT THERE, AND PRESENTED THOSE GUYS A BOX OF BASEBALLS, AND THEY, IN TURN, PRESENTED ROY WITH A BASEBALL OF ALL THEIR SIGNATURES, WHICH STILL IS A PRIZED POSESSION OF HIS. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!!!
PURPOSE AND WAITING
THERE IS A PURPOSE FOR ALL GOD HAS DONE, IS DOING, AND WILL DO IN YOUR LIFE.
WE ARE ALL BORN WITH INTO THIS WORLD WITH A DESTINY OF GOD’S PURPOSE.
SOME OF US HAVE GONE OUR OWN WAY SO LONG, IT IS HARD FOR US TO IMAGINE GOD HAS A BEAUTIFUL PLAN IN MIND FOR US.
GOD USES PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES; AS WELL AS MINISTERING SPIRITS, WHICH HE ALSO CREATED FOR A CERTAIN PURPOSE.
WE ARE HIS CREATION AND WE BELONG TO HIM.
IN ECCLESIASTES 3:1 WE READ – TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, AND A TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN:
SO BY THIS SCRIPTURE, WE SEE THERE IS A SEASON AND A TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE; SO THIS MUST MEAN THERE IS A TIME FOR US TO BE BORN AND A PURPOSE IN THE MIND OF GOD FOR US TO BE BORN AT THAT APPOINTED TIME.
PURPOSE IS DEFINED AS: END OR AIM DESIRED; DESIGN; SETTLED INTENTION.
GOD CHOSE THE FAMILY INTO WHICH YOU WERE BORN.
YOU WERE NEVER A MISTAKE.
HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR PURPOSE?
ARE YOU STILL FLOUNDERING AROUND WITH THE CALL OF GOD ON YOUR LIFE?
HAVE YOU, AS YET, NOT FOUND YOUR PLACE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST?
MANY HAVE FELT THE CALL OF GOD ON THEIR LIFE, AND HAVE NOT FOUND THEIR PLACE AS YET; BUT THAT DOESN’T STOP THEM FROM “BLOOMING” WHERE THEY ARE PLANTED NOW, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN PLANTED BY NO CHOICE OF THEIR OWN.
THEY DO THE WAITING GAME. THEY WAIT ON GOD TO LEAD, AND THEY JUST FOLLOW, KNOWING THAT HE HAS THE RIGHT ROUTE FOR THEM TO TAKE AHEAD OF THEM.
HE KNOWS WHEN IT IS THE RIGHT TIMING, AND THE THE RIGHT CROSSROAD WHEN WE CROSS OVER INTO THE BEAUTIFUL PLAN TAILORMADE JUST FOR YOU.
SO HOW DO WE KNOW IT IS THE RIGHT PLAN WHEN WE ENTER IT?
WE ARE TO SEEK GOD FOR IT, TO RECOGNIZE IT WHEN IT ARRIVES.
MATTHEW 6:33 – SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.
WE ARE COUNSELED TO ASK, SEEK, AND KNOCK THROUGH PRAYER.
I HAVE FOUND, BY EXPERIENCE, THAT WAITING IS PART OF THE CALLING.
MANY DON’T LAST THROUGH THE WAITING PERIOD, THEY PROCEED AHEAD IN THEIR OWN WILL, AND I AM SORRY TO SAY, SOME FALL BY THE WAYSIDE. THEY REFUSED THE WAITING PERIOD OF THEIR CALLING OR APPOINTMENT..
I HAVE FOUND THE BEST THING TO DO WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW, IS TO REST AND WAIT.
ALSO, THERE ARE THOSE AROUND YOU WHO NEED YOU. FAMILY. MINISTER TO THEM WHILE YOU ARE WAITING.
BUT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES; THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT BE WEARY; AND THEY SHALL WALK AND NOT FAINT. ISAIAH 40:31
GOING THROUGH THE FIRE OF RESISTANCE
SO MANY WITH CALLINGS ON THEIR LIVES DON’T GO THROUGH WHAT I CALL PREPARATION PERIOD.
THEY RECEIVE THE CALL, AND DON’T WAIT ON GOD, BUT GO HEAD-ON INTO DISAPPOINTMENT, IF THEY DON’T STOP AND ASK GOD TO LEAD.
ACTS 14:22 – CONFIRMING THE SOUL OF THE DISCIPLES, AND EXHORTING THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, AN THAT WE MUST THROUGH MUCH TRIBULATION ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
DAVID IS A GOOD EXAMPLE WHO WENT THROUGHT THE FIRE OF RESISTANCE.
HE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO WAITED ON GOD.
I CAN SEE HIM ENJOYING HIS LIFE AS A SHEPHERD, AND KEEPING HIS SHEEP SAFE FROM THE BEAR AND THE LION, WHILE HIS SLING WAS IN REACHING DISTANCE, AND SPENDING TIME WITH GOD UNDER THE STARS: SINGING HIS INSPIRED PSALMS TO THE LORD, WHILE PLAYING THE MELODIES ON HIS HARP.
THERE IS NOTHING IN THE SCRIPTURES THAT COULD MAKE US THINK THAT GOD HAD A PURPOSE IN MIND FOR HIM TO BE KING DAVID (AT THIS POINT AND TIME), NOR THAT EVEN GOD WOULD CALL HIM …A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART…
HE WAS PROBABLY JUST AS SURPRISED AS ANYONE.
WHEN KING SAUL WAS TROUBLED BY THE EVIL SPIRIT, IT WAS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR DAVID TO BE THE ONE TO PLAY HIS HARP.
THE SAME THING FOR DAVID BECOMING A MIGHTY WARRIOR.
IT WAS GOD’S PLAN FOR HIM, BUT NEVER DO WE SEE DAVID TRYING TO MAKE A BIG NAME FOR HIMSELF.
MY FRIEND, DAVID PASSED THROUGH THE FIRE OF RESISTANCE FROM THE ENEMY OF HIS SOUL.
THE ONE HE HELPED AND HONORED, TURNED AGAINST HIM, AND EVEN DESIRED TO TAKE HIS LIFE.
THESE EVENTS JUST CAUSED DAVID TO BE STRONGER AND MORE PREPARED FOR THE PURPOSE AHEAD.
HE LEARNED WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN HE BECAME THE MIGHTY LEADER OF HIS PEOPLE.
HE WAS ANOINTED KING BY SAMUEL: I SAMUEL 16:1,13 – AND THE LORD SAID UNTO SAMUEL, HOW LONG WILT THOU MOURN FOR SAUL, SEEING I HAVE REJECTED HIM FROM REIGNING OVER ISRAEL? FILL THINE HORN WITH OIL, AND GO, I WILL SEND THEE TO JESSE THE BETHLEHEMITE: FOR I HAVE PROVIDED ME A KING AMONG HIS SONS.
THEN SAMUEL TOOK THE HORN OF OIL, AND ANOINTED HIM IN THE MIDST OF HIS BRETNREN: AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME ON DAVID FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. SO SAMUEL ROSE UP, AND WENT TO RAMAH.
SO DAVID TAKES OFF TO THE PALACE OF SAUL, PUTS SAUL OUT ON THE STREET, AND MOVES IN THE PALACE AND THEY ALL LIVE HAPPY EVERY AFTER????
NO! THAT’S NOT THE WAY GOD DOES THINGS.
DAVID WENT THROUGH MANY BATTLES, WAS ON THE RUN FROM SAUL, AND HAD TO HIDE OUT IN CAVES.
THE LIFE OF ALL GREATLY USED MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD THAT I KNOW ABOUT, HAVE SUFFERED MANY BATTLES, BUT AS THEY WON EACH BATTLE, IT MADE THEM STRONGER TO FACE THE NEXT ONE WITH GREATER VICTORIES EACH TIME.
IT SEEMS THAT THEIR FAITH BECAME STRONGER AND STRONGER TO KNOW GOD’S WILL AND THEIR PURPOSE IN GOD’S KINGDOM WOULD BE FULFILLED.
