Living in Troubled Times – Steve Hunt

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YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE THE TEST OVER

I HAVE BEEN TOLD, WHEN WE ARE TRIED, AND DON’T PASS THE TEST OF ENDURANCE, AND TRUST GOD TO FIGHT OUR BATTLE —- BY THIS, I MEAN, WE TAKE IT IN OUR OWN HANDS —-WE WILL AT SOME POINT IN LIFE, HAVE TO TAKE THE SAME TEST OVER AGAIN.

IT IS MUCH BETTER FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND WATCH GOD MOVE ON OUR BEHALF, AND WAIT IT OUT, AND LET GOD GET THE VICTORY FOR US, THAN TO HAVE TO FACE THIS AGAIN.

YOU WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN THROUGH A TRAIL, DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT; BUT YOU WILL FACE  ONE AT SOME POINT AND TIME AS YOU SERVE THE LORD.

II CORINTHAINS 8:2 –  HOW THAT IN A GREAT TRAIL OF AFFLICTION (OR IN A TIME OF MUCH TROUBLE)  THE ABUNDANCE OF THEIR JOY AND THEIR DEEP POVERTY ABOUNDED UNTO THEIR RICHES OF THEIR GREAT LIBERALITY.                                                                                                                                                    PAUL IS WRITING A LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS TO INFORM THEM OF HOW THE MACEDONIAN CHURCHES WHO WERE GOING THROUGH A TIME OF GREAT TROUBLE, WERE STILL FILLED WITH JOY THAT THEY COULD BE IN AN OVERFLOW OF GIVING TO THE CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM.

MANY OF US WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A GREAT TRIAL, WHETHER IT BE PHYSICAL OR FINANCIAL, WHATEVER IT IS, COULD LEARN FROM THESE MACEDONIANS. THEY WERE ONLY ACTING ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE PROMISES OF GOD.

THEY DIDN’T ALLOW SATAN TO STEAL THEIR JOY, AND THEY WERE SOWING AN OFFERING AGAINST THEIR OWN POVERTY TO MINISTER TO THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS. WHAT A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE TO US.

IF WE ARE BEING TRIED, WE SHOULD FIRST, PRAISE GOD THROUGH IT, AND THEN, TRUST HIM FOR THE OUTCOME.

ALSO, WE SHOULD ASK HIM, “LORD,WHAT CAN I LEARN THROUGH THIS?”

I PROMISE YOU, HE WILL SHOW YOU, AND BRING YOU TO A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW HE WORKS.

JAMES 1:2-4 – MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS  (OR VARIOUS TRIALS):

     KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH  (DEVELOPS)  PATIENCE.

     BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT  (COMPLETE) WORK, THAT YE MAY BE PERFECT  (MATURE)  AND ENTIRE, WANTING NOTHING  (OR LACKING NOTHING).

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN GOING THROUGH TRIALS THAT DEVELOPE PATIENCE, AND BEING TEMPTED TO DO EVIL. BEING TEMPTED TO DO EVIL , IS BEING DRAWN AND ENTICED BY YOUR OWN LUST.

GOD DOES NOT TEMPT MAN TO DO EVIL (JAMES 1:13-18).

JAMES 1:12 – BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION:  FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM.

JAMES TELLS US TO COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN WE FALL INTO TRIALS (VERSE 2), BUT HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT FALLING INTO SIN, HE IS TALKING ABOUT DISCOVERING THAT WE CAN FIND STRENGTH TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION AND ENDURE TRIALS, THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD AND HIS POWER.

WITHOUT THE POWER OF GOD IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER, TRIALS CAN CAUSE HIM OR HER TO BECOME BITTER AND CRITICAL AND LOOSE THE CROWN OF LIFE.

VERSE 12 READS …WHEN HE IS TRIED… THIS SHOULD TELL US  SOMETHING: WE WILL BE TRIED AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES. 

LETS PASS THE TEST THE FIRST TIME, SO WE WON’T HAVE TO TAKE IT OVER AGAIN!!! 

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OPEN HEAVEN

MATT. 7:7 – ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU, SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU.

THE DOOR TO THIS GREAT PROMISE IS JESUS. ASKING MUST BE DONE, BECAUSE WE HEARD SOMETHING OR READ SOMETHING, STATING,THAT WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS THE WILL OF GOD.

THE BIBLE SAYS  THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL ASK, OR CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED. IF WE BELIEVE THIS, WE CONFESS JESUS AS OUR SAVIOUR, AND ASK HIM TO COME INTO OUR HEART.

NOW THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF ASKING, WHEN JESUS COMES INTO OUR HEART, WE BECOME COVENANT CHILDREN, THIS IS THE DOOR WE OPEN BY FAITH TO LEGALLY ASK.

THE NEXT STEP IS SEEKING THE PERSON OF  GOD HIMSELF. SEEKING THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS CHRIST BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS INSIDE OF NOW, DIRECTING OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. THIS IS THE GREATEST, MOST REWARDING JOURNEY OF YOUR LIFE. SEEKING THE PERSON OF CHRIST. MANY PEOPLE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, BUT DON’T KNOW HIM. THEY KNOW ABOUT HIM, THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, BUT DON’T REALLY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. YOU CAN ONLY GET TO KNOW PEOPLE, THROUGH SEEKING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.

SEEKING THE LORD WILL BECOME YOUR PASSION. I DON’T WANT TO JUST READ A BOOK AND KNOW ALL ABOUT HIM, I DESIRE TO KNOW THE PERSON, NOT JUST THE HISTORY OF THAT PERSON.

THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WE CAN SEEK THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS OUR LORD, WE CAN SEEK JESUS, WE CAN SEEK THE HOLY SPIRIT.

MY PRAYER IS  SO OFTEN LIKE THIS: HOLY SPIRIT TEACH ME HOW TO HELP PEOPLE, DID JESUS SAY THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR TEACHER. HOLY SPIRIT SHOW ME WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THIS WORSHIP SERVICE, SO I CAN FLOW WITH YOU. I SEEK YOU LORD, SHOW ME WHAT YOUR WILL IS TODAY FOR MY LIFE, CONNECT ME WITH THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT ARE PURPOSED BY YOU THIS DAY.

WHAT A TRIP, WHAT A JOURNEY, WE HAVE IN LIFE SEEKING OUT THE LORD OF PURPOSE, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE HIM IN ALL OUR WAYS, IS TO MAKE HIM THE LORD OF OUR WAYS. ONLY THROUGH SEEKING HIM CAN HE DIRECT OUR PATHS.

I LOVE THE LORD SO MUCH, THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS PUT A PASSION IN ME TO SEEK THE PERSON OF GOD, MY LORD, MY SAVIOUR,MY KING. 

I DON’T SEEK HIM TO KNOW ABOUT HIM, THATS RELIGION, I SEEK HIM TO KNOW HIM, TO BE INTIMATE WITH HIM.

THIS IS THE JOY OF MY SALVATION, ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING. WHAT A PROMISE, WHAT A SAVIOUR.

KNOCKING IS THE LEGAL PART OF ASKING, SEEKING. THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING IS THAT TO DO ANY OF THE THREE STEPS, WE MUST MAKE CONTACT WITH GOD. THE WHOLE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE POINTS US TO OUR CREATOR.

AGAIN, KNOCKING IS THE LEGAL PART OF ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING. 

IN PRAYER, IT IS LIKE GOING BEFORE THE GREAT JUDGE OF THE UNIVERSE, HAVING LEGAL PROFF OF PETITION. BRING SCRIPTURE TO HIS REMBERANCE, QUOTING HIS WORD BEFORE HIM, THE PROMISES OF GOD, THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM. SAYING LORD THIS IS THE GROUNDS FOR MY RIGHT TO REQUEST THIS TO BE DONE FOR ME. YOU PROMISED THIS .

HE BOUND HIMSELF BY HIS WORD. WE HONOR HIM WHEN WE HONOR HIS WORD. HIS WORD IS TRUTH, THE MOMENT HE SPEAKS IT, IT BECOMES TRUTH. IT BECOMES LEGAL, IT IS LAW.

KNOCKING IS REMINDING HIM OF HIS PROMISE. SOMETIMES WE ARE IN TROUBLE AND NEED HIS HELP AND WE QUOTE HIM HIS WORD AND THE JUDGE SAYS, I SAID THIS BUT THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THIS, MY PART AND YOUR PART, I SAID I WOULD DO THIS, BUT YOU MUST DO THIS. YOU HAVEN’T DONE YOUR PART, YOU DID THE OPPOSITE. THEN WE MUST ASK FOR THE MERCY OF THE COURT AND CORRECT OR REPENT OF OUR DISOBEDIENCE. THANK THE JUDGE FOR MERCY AND TRUTH. IF THERE WAS NO MERCY AND ONLY TRUTH WE ARE IN TROUBLE. 

ALL THREE ASK, SEEK, AND KNOCK HAS A PURPOSE, EVERYTHING GOD DOES, HE DOES IT FOR MAN, TO BRING MAN TO HIM AND TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MANKIND, HIS CREATION. HE LOVES US, DON’T REJECT HIM OR IGNORE HIM. ASK SEEK AND KNOCK YOU WILL LOVE THE JOURNEY.                  

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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.

 

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THE SECRET PLACE

 Psalm 91:1-4  

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

 

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:

my God; in Him will I trust.

 

Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,

and from the noisome pestilence.

 

He shall cover thee with His feathers,

and under His wings shall thou trust :

His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

 

Woman of God, do you feel alone today,

longing for a touch of God in your life?

Today is that day for you.

Today is the day that Lord hath made,

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

He desires that you rejoice and be glad.

 

No, you can’t change the things going on around you, but God can.

He can also give you the grace and joy you need for the day.

 

Beloved, begin your day in the secret place of the Almighty,

and you will definitely abide under His shadow.

You will never be alone again. You will never feel forsaken again.

Tell Him how you feel, turn your day over to Him: today and every day.

Don’t waste them with doubts and fears.

 

You who are not saved, pray this prayer with me and mean in from the heart.

      “Jesus, come into my heart and save my soul.  Forgive me of all my sins.  I desire to serve you.  I turn my life over to you.  Thank you for saving me, and I ask You to deliver me from all unforgiveness of others and from every other stronghold in my life.  I will never be alone again.”

“Thank You, Lord, for saving and delivering me.  I am saved!” 

 

If you prayed this prayer with me, I now ask you to take another step and write me at:

         LMCI

         PO Box 9315

         Greenville, SC  29604

 Email me: jeanette@lmcigreenville.org

 

I will write you back.

Welcome to the family of God. You too are now a woman of God.

When you write, I will send you a booklet on the next steps.

Now, let’s go on with our study of the Scriptures.

 

When we abide under the shadow of the Almighty, we will be able to say

… He is my refuge and my fortress… Nothing will ever come your way that God can’t take care of.  He not only wants you to give your troubles to Him, He also wants you to leave them with Him, and not take them back.

 

God’s presence is the only refuge from trouble.

He alone has your answer.

 

…in Him will I trust or confide…

 

Tell Him your situation.

It’s good at times, to confide in people,

But sometimes, woman of God, they will “blab”,

but God will never “blab”.

You can trust Him to silently begin to solve your problems

and give you joy along the way, through them.

 

Verse 3 says, …Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler…

Do you know that the enemy of our souls, Satan, has a snare or trap for all of us.

As we abide under the shadow of the almighty, He will make us aware of the traps and snares Satan has planed for us, so we can avoid them.

 

I’ve been told that some of my listening audience is incarcerated.

Well, your body may be locked-up, but your spirit can be free and stay free.

 

Verse 3 says also …He shall deliver thee from the noisome pestilence…(raging epidemic).

 

SARS is the most feared epidemic in our society today.

We need not fear.  We only need to ask God for protection.

The Prophets foretold the epidemics would come, and wars and rumors of wars.

I feel Jesus’ coming is so soon we can almost feel His breath surround us.

 

Have you ever watched a mother hen cover her chicks with her feathers?

It is a precious sight to see the little one’s run fast to get under her feathers. She does this when danger is near.

 

Verse 4 reads …He shall cover thee with His feathers…

Woman of God, when you see trouble coming, don’t run from God,

but run to God.   Get snuggled-in under His feathers.

 

Also in verse 4 it says …and under His wings thou shalt trust…

There is no love greater than a protecting, saving love.

…Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

We not only have protection from enemies, but so much more than that.

 

Picture to yourself what the shelter of the wing of the mother-bird is to her young, and it will tell you what the precious promise of our text means to the believer.

It means happy content and comfort.

The soul is happy in God.

Our life is hidden with God.

See how the young brood is hidden under their mother’s wing?

There is a nearness to the heart of God.

The young birds can feel the beat of their mother’s heart.

So the soul of the sheltered one beholds and feels the love of God.

Who can imitate it?

Only through God, can we really, really love.

This is not promised to everybody, but only to those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High.

Those who abide in and are ever trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Our time has gone by so fast.

 

I really enjoy our time together.

 

Woman of God, Trusting is the key to peace with God.  Anything else is far short of what we can have.

 

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

 

And remember, Nothing is impossible with God! 

   

 

 

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HOW TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD

Most of us know we can’t hide from God, because He sees and knows all.

He continues to deal with those who run from Him, because it’s not His
will that any should perish.  He will continually, draw them to Himself, but we do
have a will of our own. He will draw us but His desire is, that we come to Him freely. This is why
He gave us a choice.

When we do come to Him, and receive Him as our personal Savior, He then, deals with
us: first, as babies, on milk; and then expects us to grow-up.

When we raise our children, we expect things out of them, but we do have to teach them.  If they don’t grow up properly, we begin to have trouble with them and they can cause us much heart ache.

Well, God has guidelines and rules, similar to the rules we enforce on our children.

We offer our children many advantages.  Most of the time they don’t see that until they grow-up.  This is the samewith God and His children.

Some of our advantages of being God’s children are:

1-
His giving of His only begotten Son’s life for our Eternal life

2-
A personal relationship with Him where we can communicate through prayer, and see our prayers answered

3-
The precious promises in His Word

4-
The way to live a victorious life here

5-
Healing and deliverance

6-
The fruit of the Spirit

7-
We can operate in His gifts

8-
Heaven, when we leave here

9-
We will rule and reign with Him in the future Millennial Reign of Christ

And much, much more.

But, we have a part to play in this, which is the difference in having the favor of God, that
we all want, or we could receive the judgment side of God which brings with it much trouble.

We are always telling our children, when we send them out to play, “Stay out of trouble.”  You got it! —– With God It’s the same. We know if we break the rules, we are in trouble.

Today we are going to learn:
How to stay out of trouble with God:

Many of us have tried to make a deal with God. We say “If You will do this, I will do that.”

This is not how God operates. We have His Word: if we will do this, He will do that.  We’re always trying to ‘get the cart before the horse’ (so to speak).

WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD BY BEING OBEDIENT: Our relationship with
God, and our anointing has much to do with our obedience to Him.

Acts 5:29,32
Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said,  We ought to obey
God
rather than men.

And we are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.

John 15:10 —- If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.

And

1 John 3:22 —- And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

Matthew 7:21 —- Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

God Word is very clear about how to follow His will—we must trust and obey.

One of my most quoted Scriptures is found in Proverbs 3:5,6 —-
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own
understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct thy paths.

We are instructed to trust and obey and leave the rest to Him.

He can cause circumstances around us to change.  All He wants usto do, after trusting and being obedient, is to do good when it is in our power to do so; but the most important of all requirements, is to spend
time with Him each day.

SEEKING THE LORD CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:

This is where we get direction, and are refreshed by His presence.

How can we know what He desires of us, unless we have a relationship with Him?

Seeking Him, by spending time with Him, and praising and worshipping Him, brings relationship.

It can keep us out of trouble, even though, most of our trouble, is brought-on by our decision
to ‘do it our way’.

Acts 17:27 — That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far away from every one of us.

2 Chronicles 15:2 — The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.

Lamentations 3:25 — The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.

And

Ezra 8:22 — The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all that forsake Him.

WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT THE FLESH:

Romans 8:12,13 —- Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Or we could say, we are not obligated to our carnal or old sinful nature, to do what it begs us to do.

Verse 13 — For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body
(that is die to self), ye shall live.

Let’s explain it this way.  If you keep on following theold sinful nature, you are lost and you will perish, but
if through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and it’s evil deeds, you shall live.

You might say, ”This is hard to do”.  Well, — I can tell you, it can be done, with the help of Jesus Christ.  Ask the Lord to help you.

Look at Titus 2:11,12 —- For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE TAKE THE WALK OF LOVE:

1-

Brotherly love

2-
Loving God

Let’s start with brotherly love:

There are probably many words that are the opposite to the word love, but the most prominent is hate.

There are others that could describe the lack of brotherly love, like despise, judgmental, unforgiveness,
and the list goes on.  I ‘m sure you could think of others right-off, and you would be right, but this will do for
now.

1 John 2:10, describes those
who love their brother (talking about other believers), as abiding in the
light. — He that loveth his brother
abith in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling
(or error) in him.

1 John 4: 7,8 —- Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love.

E M Bounds, on prayer, says,
“By prayer, the ability is secured to feel the law of love, to speak according to the law of love, and to do everything in harmony with the law of love.”

We need divine aid to act brotherly.

Jesus, our perfect example, was and is a devoted friend.  He gave His life willingly that we might live.  He
gave us Eternal life.

We need to judge our love walk.

JUDGING OURSELVES CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:

Corinthians 11:30,31,32 —- For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (or are dead).

For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

But  when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be
condemned with the world.

To judge self, is when  the believer sees self as God sees him.  He will renounce or forsake self.
It is replacing the self life with the Christ life.

To judge self is to deny self.  This is more than self-denial.  Self-denial is denying one’s self of the gratification or enjoyment of the flesh.  If we practice self-denial only, it is treating the symptom and not the cause.
But when we judge self, we are attacking the cause.

*To judge self, is to lose the self-life and find the Christ-life:

Galatians 2:20 — I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

*To judge self, is to no longer be self-conscious, but to become Christ conscious:

Matthew 28:20 — Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. Amen.

*To judge self, is to no longer be self controlled, but become Christ controlled:

Acts 9:6 — And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me do?
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told
thee what thou must do.

*To judge self, is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem others better than self:

Philippians 2:3 — Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

*To judge self, is to become selfless or unselfish.

We are to search-out our lives, to see if there be any wicked way in us, and get rid of it, by askingGod to cleanse or take it out of us, so we can stay out of trouble with God and be a part of that Church without spot or wrinkle.

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BATTLE PLANS

Intellegence report from military leaders: LARGE ARMIES COMING TO DESTROY JERUSALEM!!!

In response, King Jehoshaphat turned his troubles face to seek God.

The Lord said, “Be not afraid nor dismayed (fearful, confused, or discouraged) by reason of this great attack, for the battle  is not yours, but the Lords.”

When King Jehoshaphat received that word from the Spirit of  the Lord, he told his people, “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established (built-up, supported). Believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.’

Then King Jehoshaphat did a strange thing to many, he appointed singers unto the lord, to proclaim: PRAISE THE LORD; FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER!!!!!

The Lord responded by setting an ambush against the enemy.

Remember – The battle is the Lord’s – Seek Him. Praise Him!   (II Chronicles 20)

Sr. Pastor Roy Porter

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GRAVEYARD WORSHIP

MARK 14:3-9   AND BEING IN BEHTANY IN THE HOUSE OF SIMON THE LEPER, AS HE SAT AT MEAT, THERE CAME A WOMAN HAVING AN ALABASTER BOX OF OINTMENT OF SPIKENARD VERY PRECIOUS: AND SHE BRAKE THE BOX, AND POURED IT ON HIS HEAD.

AND THER WERE SOME THAT HAD INDIGNATION WITHIN THEMSELVES, AND SAID, WHY WAS THIS WASTE OF THE OINTMENT MADE.

FOR IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOLD FOR MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED PENCE, AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE POOR, AND THEY MURMURED AGAINEST HER.

AND JESUS SAID, LET HER ALONE, WHY TROUBLE YE HER? SHE HATH WROUGHT A GOOD WORK ON ME.

FOR YE HAVE THE POOR WITH YOU ALWAYS, AND WHENSOEVER YE WILL YE MAY DO THEM GOOD: BUT ME YOU HAVE NOT ALWAYS.

SHE HATH DONE A WHAT SHE COULD: SHE IS COME AFOREHAND TO ANIOINT MY BODY TO THE BURYING.

VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, WHERESOEVER THIS GOSPEL SHALL BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD, THIS ALSO THAT SHE HATH DONE SHALL BE SPOKEN OF FOR A MEMORIAL OF HER.

MAN HAS ALWAYS WANTED TO CONTROL HOW PEOPLE WORSHIP AND WHERE THEY WORSHIP.

NO ONE IS THIS HOUSE WAS OFFERING WORSHIP TO JESUS, BUT THIS WOMAN.

THIS ACT OF WORSHIP COST HER SOMETHING. WHEN SHE OPENED THE BOX AND BROKE THE SEAL AND POURED THE OIL ON JESUS’ HEAD.

TRUE WORSHIP DOESN’T ORGINATE FROM A RELIGIOUS SELF RIGHTEOUS SPIRIT, A PRIDEFUL SPIRIT CAN NEVER WORSHIP GOD.

THE FRAGRANCE WAS RELEASED WHEN THE WOMAN OPENED THE BOX AND BROKE THE SEAL.

THE HEART OF A PERSON HAS TO BE HUMBLED AND BROKEN BEFORE IT CAN WORSHIP GOD.

THIS SPIKENARD WAS A VERY FRAGRANT COSTLY OIL. IT WILL COST YOU SOMETHING TO TRULY WORSHIP GOD. CHEAPE OIL DOESN’T HAVE A GOOD FRAGRANCE.

WE HAVE TO BRAKE THE SEAL AND POUR OUR LOVE ON JESUS. WORSHIP IS NOT JUST WORDS BUT  A SURRENDERED LIFE.

TRUE WORSHIP IS ATTACHED TO THE NEW BIRTH, BUT IT IS ALSO ATTACHED TO DEATH. JESUS SAID THE ACT OF WORSHIP WAS DONE TO ANOINT BY BODY FOR BURYING.

TRUE WORSHIP IS ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, TRUE WORSHIP IS WHEN OUR OLD MAN IS BURIED AND WE HAVE RESURRECTED TO A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.

WORSHIP IS FROM A CHANGED HEART THAT PUTS MORE VALUE ON JESUS DEATH ON THE CROSS THAN ON MAN’S SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND MAN’S OPINION OF HOW TO WORSHIP.

WE MUST TAKE CARE OF THE POOR BUT IT CAN NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF THE CROSS. A PERSON CAN GO TO HELL WITH A FULL STOMACH OR AN EMPTY STOMACH, BUT HE CAN’T GO TO HEAVEN WITHOUT JESUS AND HIS CROSS.

TODAY WE HAVE A SOCIAL GOSPEL TRYING TO WORSHIP GOD THROUGH MANY WAYS.

GOOD WORKS IS NOT WORSHIP UNLESS IT COMES FROM FAITH IN THE DEATH OF JESUS AND THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

NO RELIGION WORSHIPS GOD, ONLY THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. JESUS IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE NO ONE COMES UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY HIM.

WHO GIVE MAN THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE HOW TO WORHSIP GOD, THE MURMURERS ARE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL. I SAY THIS WITH GREAT SADNESS. MANY GOOD PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HELL BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE FAITH IN THE WORK OF THE CROSS.

THIS WOMAN HAD FAITH IN JESUS AS THE JEWISH MESSIAH, SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING, SHE WAS ANIONTING HIM FOR BURYING.

GOD BORROWED A WOMB AND BORROWED A GRAVE.

JESUS DIDN’T LIMIT THIS GREAT ACT OF GOD TO JUST ISRAEL, BUT HE SAID IT WAS DONE, THAT THE GOSPEL OR GOOD NEW’S WOULD BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD.

THE HEAD IS JESUS, THE HEAD IS THE ANOINTING AND THE ANOINTER.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE HEAD (JESUS) YOU ARE DEAD.

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO SCOFFED AT THIS ACT OF ANOINTING THE HEAD FOR BURIAL, WHO GAVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO DECIDE WHO YOU WORSHIP.

GOD IS THE CREATOR AND THE SUPREME AUTHORITY, MANS RELIGION AND LEADERS CANNOT GET YOU TO GOD. ALL THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD THAT DENY THAT JESUS IS NOT ONLY THE SON OF GOD BUT IS GOD COME IN THE FLESH, THEIR TEACHING  IS A DECEPTION OF SATAN TO CARRY YOU TO HELL.

I SAY THIS WITH GREAT LOVE AND HUMILITY, IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE MERCY OF GOD I WOULD BE INVOLVED IN RELIGION. BUT GLORY BE TO JESUS I RECEIVED REVELATION OF THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION OF MY SAVIOUR, THE JEWISH MESSIAH JESUS.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE HIM IN YOUR HEART BY FAITH, YOU ARE LOST, AND ON YOUR WAY TO HELL.

COME TO HIM AS YOU ARE AND HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH HE WON’T LEAVE YOU THAT WAY. HIS GRACE WILL SAVE YOU AND GIVE YOU HIS CHARACTER AND CHANGE YOUR DESIRES.

CALL ON HIS NAME AND ASK JESUS TO COME INTO YOUR HEART.

 

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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.  

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