Tag: spirit

Articles, Jeanette Porter

BITTERNESS

| Jeanette

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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Articles, Roy Porter

DESPERATE PRAYER

| Roy

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

Mark 10:46 – And they came to Jericho: and as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus sat by the highway side begging.

Jericho means place of  fragrance.  Jesus was passing out of Jericho on His last journey to Jerusalem when He passed blind Bartimaeus. Jericho was the home of someone in the lineage of Jesus, a woman named Rahab, a Gentile harlot, who helped spies sent out by Joshua to spy out the land. 

How wonderful it is that even though we have a past, being sinners, Jesus passes through our lives with the sweet fragrance of salvation,  if we will cry-out to Him in faith.

Bartimaeus was the son of Timaeus. The only thing we know about Bartimaeus,  he was the son of Timaeus. The only thing we know about Timaeus, he was the father of Bartimaeus.

They were nobodies. They were unknowns until the Holy Spirit put them in the Bible. Jesus came to save us, nobodies and make us somebody: sons and daughters of God; a kingdom of priests.

Bartimaeus sat by the highway side, begging everyday, rain or shine. His day was the same old thing every day with no hope for things to be different. But one day, blind Bartimaeus heard about Jesus of Nazareth. He heard of the miracles and the signs and wonders. Someone must have told him about the teaching, preaching, and healings that Jesus did. Bartimaeus understood Jesus was the Jewish Messiah,the Son of David.

Bartimaeus heard a great noise coming from a crowd of people passing by. Bartimaeus asked, Who are all these people?

Mark 10:47 – And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

Bartimaeus couldn’t see, but he could shout. He used his faith to cry out to Jesus. He was physically handicapped but his spirit and soul was determined to get the attention of Jesus and be healed. He cried out and asked, Have mercy on me. It was covenant prayer, confessing by faith. He knew who Jesus was: the promised Messiah, the seed of Abraham, the son of David, the Jewish Messiah, the One who came to give mercy to those who will believe in Him.

Everybody is not happy with a desperate person who knows who Jesus is and will not shut up.

Now,  Bartimaeus is shifted to a seeking mode, he is seeking Jesus for his need. Some people stop after asking. Not blind Bartimaeus, he has faith that will not be quiet, he will seek his Healer.

Mark 10:48 – Many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

The number of people following Jesus, we do not know, but probably many of them did not have the understanding of who Jesus was, but Bartimaeus did, he knew Jesus was God, come in the flesh, Son of David,Virgin born Son of God.

This asking, seeking, confessing his faith, stopped Jesus, He stood still.

Mark 10:49 – And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise: He calleth thee.

Jesus stood still and commanded them to call Bartimaeus. Jesus wasn’ t ignoring Bartimaeus, but was listening to his faith cry out. Jesus stood still and let a blind man come to him. This would seem cruel to some who don’t understand that true faith will overcome every roadblock, every hindrance, every handicap. Desperate people do desperate things to get to Jesus. He didn’t say to Jesus, I can’t come to You, I’m blind. He got up and throwed off his beggar’s garment. He would never need it again. And he went to Jesus Faith never complains, faith receives.

Mark 10:51 – And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto  Him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

Why would Jesus ask a blind man a question like that? Couldn’t he see the man was blind? Bartimaeus had cried out and asked for mercy. he cried out again, seeking the Lord’s attention, now he is standing at the door, knocking for his miracle, crying, Lord, that I might receive my sight. God knows what we need before we ask, but we must ask and seek Him,  and continue to knock until the answer comes.

Mark 10:52 – And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received h is sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Some people think God does not heal people anymore.  But the Bible says, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Salvation of a soul comes by faith in Jesus. Bartimaeus was healed by his own faith. So was the woman with the issue of blood. If faith in Jesus still saves the soul, Will it not bring healing to the body? Will faith not bring answers to all our prayers, to all of our needs? Yes, it will . God responds to faith when we pray in His will: His Word is His will  Barimaeus asked, seeked and knocked, and got his need met. So can we.

Matthew 7:7 – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you;…

      

 

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

HOW TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD

| Jeanette

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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Articles, Jeanette Porter

JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY

| Jeanette

JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY

I would like to thank my heavenly Father for making this ministry possible, and giving me the grace to follow Him. 
Our Scripture reading is found in Genesis Chapter 37, and Ephesians 5:28-33.

When we think of jealousy and rivalry, our minds go back to times in our lives when we have seen this in action.  Could be, our actions, or the actions of others around us, or it could be what we hear from the media; but wherever we hear it, or experience it, we know it is rampant on this globe.

It is very important we know what the Bible has to say about it, so we can avoid it.

Jealousy means:  Possessiveness, resentfulness, morbid suspicion, mistrust, and flaming anger.
Rivalry means: Competition, opposing, striving to win, struggle to surpass, contest, battle of wills.

Wow!

You might say, “I read in the Bible where it says, God is a jealous God.”
You’re right.  We are going there first.
Exodus 20:5,6 —-Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them (referring to idols),nor serve them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children unto the third  and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
      and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.
God said it. I am a jealous God.
God will not give His glory to another.
He will not tolerate a rival near His throne.
He is not jealous as the Greeks thought;  of mere success, or greatness; but He is very jealous of His own honor, and will not have the respect and reverence which is due to Him, given to other beings or objects.

What about family ?
There has always been jealousy and rivalry in the family:
Marital
Siblings
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
and so on —-

There has always been jealousy and rivalry in the Church family
And jealousy and rivalry in the work place.
But God wants us to get above that and come out to freedom from this torment, because …jealousy has torment… attached to it.

Let’s look at a family situation in Genesis 37:4,11,18,28,31-32,35, where jealousy between brothers causes much pain to the family.
Our story begins when Joseph was only seventeen years old.
He was shepherding the flock with his brothers, and brought his father a bad report on them. (verse 2)
Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age and made him a coat of many colors. (verse 3)
4-  And when his brethren saw that their father loved him  more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaecably to him.
5-  And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren (brothers): and they hated him yet the more.
He had dreamed they had bowed down in respect to him. (verse 7)
This caused them to hate him more. (verse 8)
In verse 9 and 10, he dreamed another dream, and told it to his brothers and his father. But his father rebuked him and said to him, What is the meaning of this dream that you have dreamed?  Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow down ourselves to the earth and do homage to you?
 Verse 11 —- Joseph’s brothers envied him ; but his father observed the saying (his father took notice of the saying and pondered over it) 
Although Joseph was seemingly trying to do the right thing, and his brothers were doing evil things, it seems to me these kinds of dreams should have been kept in his heart, and not shared with his brothers.
We see here to, his father did correct him when he needed it.
In our day and time we would call this a dysfunctional family, because the other brothers were the sons of two other wives. (verse 2)
Joseph was their half brother.

One day, when the brothers were feeding and shepherding their father’s flock; Israel told Joseph, “Go see whether or not everything is all right with your brothers and with the flock, and report back to me”. (14)
     18 – And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
And they said to each other, “Here comes this dreamer, and master of dreams.  Let us kill him and throw his body in some pit ; then we will say to our father, some wild beast has devoured him; and we will see what will become of his dreams!” (verses 19,20)

Reuben heard it and said, let’s not kill him, for Rueben’s plan was to rescue him, and take him back to his father.  Reuben said, “Shed no blood.”  So they took him and stripped him of his coat of many colors and cast him in a well-like pit with no water; and sat down to lunch. (verses 21-25)
25-  When they looked up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, going on their way down to Egypt.
26-  And Judah said to his brothers, What do we gain if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?”
27-  Let us sell him to the Ishmaelites.  And they sold him for twenty pieces of silver, which is a sermon of it’s own, because Jesus was betrayed and sold-out for twenty pieces of silver: —- but let’s go on.
28-  And They took Joseph into Egypt.
29-  Then Reuben , who had not been there when the brothers plotted to sell the lad, returned ; and behold, Joseph was not in the pit.
31,32- They killed an animal, dipped it in the blood and sent it to their father.
34-  And Jacob tore his clothes, would not eat, and went into mourning.
35-  His sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said “I will go to my grave to mourning for my son.”
And his father wept for him.
36-  And the Midianites, and Ishmaelites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.
39:2- But the Lord was with Joseph. 
As the story goes on we see Joseph being put down and then being lifted up to the number one place next to Pharaoh.

God had given to him the gift of interpreting dreams, and used this gift to lift him up to this great position to eventually help his family in a time of famine, to keep them alive, and because his family had to come to Egypt where they could buy food, they in due time, did bow before Joseph, because reigned next to Pharaoh.
H
In this story, we see sibling rivalry in the worst degree.  Jealousy and rivalry which led to hate and anger and a conspiracy to do harm followed by lies to cover-up. After which, grief filled the family.

Many do not actually carry-out what they think to do to their siblings, but to hate them shows what is in their heart.

Christians struggle with jealousy at times, which brings on curses and severe problems to come upon them, if not dealt with.
I can think of other accounts of jealousy that arises in families, such as one family member is more prosperous than the other.

A Mother-in-law may be jealous of her Daughter-in-law, or the other way around. Sometimes they may see each other as rivals for his attention.
I tell you, this should not be going on in the life of a Christian..  It is walking in the flesh.  This brings so much trouble into the family that does not need to be there.  Get over it!  It grieves your relationship with God.
Woman of God, understand this: the love the son has for his mother, is different from the love he has for his wife.  To try to cause division between either of these two relationships will backfire on you.
Listen to this Scripture in Ephesians 5:28-33 —-So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
      For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: (or just like the Lord does the Church).
      For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
      For this cause (or this reason) shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
      This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.
      Nevertheless let everyone of you in particular (or personally) so love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence (or honor) her husband.
Mother-in-laws sometimes think their son or daughter could have done much better in choosing their spouse: but many times they are looking at the faults of the in-law, and they fail to see their child’s imperfections.
There should be a love bond between in-laws because of the marriage bond of their child to the one they choose. 
God If that child of yours is so perfect and intelligent and such a magnificent Christian, why do you think they made such a bad choice?
Think about it!
I tell you, if more time was spent trying to understand, and praying for that child’s spouse, there would be more peace and harmony in their lives, as well as your relationship with your child; not to mention the relationship between you and God.
If there is no harmony in the family, the children pick-up on it and become like you.
I am sorry to say, jealousy and rivalry are rampant in the Body of Christ as well as in family life.
This shouldn’t be.  Allow the Holy Spirit to convict you and change you into that person that overlooks the faults of others.

Pray this prayer with me: Father, I want to be like Jesus. Help me to deal with any jealousy or rivalry in my life.  I repent of it. I know it hurts my relationship with You. Please forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.  Bring harmony in every area of my life. In Jesus Name I pray.  Amen.
   

 

     

 

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Articles, Roy Porter

THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND

| Roy

MATTHEW 3:2  –  AND SAYING, REPENT YE: FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.

JOHN THE BAPTIST, THE COUSIN OF JESUS, THE FORERUNNER OF THE KING IS SPEAKING HERE.

HIS PURPOSE WAS TO ANNOUNCE THE APPEARING OF THE MESSIAH.

HIS PURPOSE WAS TO PREACH THE PREPARATION OF THE HEART TO RECEIVE HIM.

THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND, OR IS PRESENT.

THE LORD IS ENTERING INTO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE, SETTING UP HIS GOVERNMENT IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE EARTH.

REDEMPTION WOULD BE COMPLETED AT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST THE KING.

REVELATION OF THIS REDEMPTIVE ACT OF GOD WAS BEING REVEALED TO JOHN THE BAPTIST’S FOLLOWERS.

JESUS TAUGHT AND PREACHED THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

MATTHEW 4:17 –  FROM THAT TIME JESUS BEGAN TO PREACH, AND TO SAY, REPENT: FOR THE KNIGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.

THE KINGDOM IS PRESENT: REPENT, HAVE A CHANGE OF MIND, THE MESSIAH IS HERE WITH GRACE AND TRUTH.

JESUS WAS SAYING, I HAVE COME UNTO MY OWN JEWISH PEOPLE, RECEIVE ME, I AM THE PROMISED MESSIAH: KING JESUS.

THE SAME MESSAGE IS BEING PREACHED AND TAUGHT TODAY: REPENT OF ANY HOPE OF EVER ENTERING INTO GOD’S KINGDOM WITHOUT KING JESUS.

GOD’S GOVERNMENT IS THEOCRATIC. GOD IS SOVERIGN.

GOD’S GOVERNMENT IS NOT A DEMOCRACY: A GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE.

GOD’S GOVERNMENT IS NOT A REPUBLIC: GOD DOESN’T ANSWER TO THE MAJORITY.

GOD ISN’T VOTED IN TO OFFICE; AND HE CANNOT BE VOTED OUT.

NO TELEVISION PERSONALITY CAN SOVERIGNLY TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN BE SAVED, UNLESS THEY SAY WHAT THE KING SAID.

NO COLLEGE PROFESSOR CAN TELL YOU HOW TO BE SAVED UNLESS THEY TELL YOU WHAT THE KING SAID.

NO RELIGIOUS LEADER CAN TELL YOU HOW TO BE SAVED UNLESS THEY TELL YOU THE WORDS OF THE KING.

IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.

IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED MAN IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

HE CREATED EVERYTHING WE SEE AND DON’T SEE.

GOD IS THE SOVERIGN AUTHORITY, HE WILL SET UP A LITERAL KINGDOM ON THIS EARTH SHORTLY.

TO ENTER INTO HIS KINGDOM, YOU MUST DO IT HIS WAY, NOT MAN’S WAY, NOT THE DEVIL’S MANY WAYS: WHICH IS ALL DECEPTION AND LIES THAT SEND PEOPLE TO HELL; BUT THE WORD’S OF THE KING IN HOLY SCRIPTURE.

JOHN 14:6 –  JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.

WE MUST HUMBLE OURSELVES LIKE A CHILD, AND ASK JESUS TO COME INTO OUR HEART, AND ACCEPT HIM BY FAITH AS OUR REDEEMER: AND GOD’S GOVERNMENT WILL ENTER INTO YOUR HEART.

HIS CONSTITUTION IS THE BIBLE; THE WORDS OF THIS BOOK WILL COME OFF THE PAGES INTO YOUR HEART.

PRAY, AND ASK GOD TO FILL YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER.

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Articles, Roy Porter

GOD’S MIGHTY STRENGTH

| Roy

PHILIPPIANS 4:13 – I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME.

PAUL WAS SAYING I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH EVERYTHING CONTENT. SATISFIED WITH MY PRESENT CONDITION, BECAUSE OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. HE CAN CARRY ME THROUGH ANY HARD PLACE AND ALSO HE CAN CAUSE ME TO ENJOY  ABUNDANCE, OR TO BE IN NEED.

PAUL WAS CONTENT IN CHRIST REGARDLESS OF HIS CONDITION. PAUL KNEW HE HAD THE ABILITY AND THE STRENGTH TO FACE ANYTHING AND DO ANYTHING THROUGH CHRIST.

THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES GIVES US STRENGTH AND ABILITY FOR EVERY SITUTATION OF LIFE. THAT STRENGTH  AND ABILITY COMES FROM THE ANOINTING THAT ABIDES IN US THROUGH JESUS. WE CAN BE STRONG IN FAITH THAT COMES BY HIM.

THE GREEK WORD FOR STRENGHTENED IS USED IN OTHER SCRIPTURE. HE WORD STRONG; ALSO ENABLED, IS USED TO EXPLAIN THE WORKING OF GOD IN OUR LIFE.

THIS GREEK WORD FOR STRENGTH IS FOUND ONLY IN BIBLICIAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL GREEK, MEANING TO MAKE STRONG; VIGORUS; TO STRENGTHEN.

GOD IS EQUIPPING US WITH THE POWER NECESSARY FOR THE TASK SET BEFORE US.

WHATEVER THE PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WHATEVER ABILITY WE NEED IN EVERYDAY LIVE, IN CHRIST, WE ARE EQUIPPED WITH HIS POWER AND STRENGTH.

AS A CHRISTIAN, STRENGTH LIVES IN US, BUT OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM ABIDING IN HIM. RELATIONSHIP, FRESH EVERDAY, DEVELOPES PASSION FOR GOD. WE BECOME STRONG IN FAITH AND POWER.

THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY WEAK. CHRIST ABIDES IN THEM, BUT THEY DON’T ABIDE IN HIM. THEY QUOTE THE SCRIPTURE BUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IS NOT A PRIORITY WITH THEM.

TO ABIDE IN CHRIST IS TO LIVE IN AWARENESS OF HIS EVER ABIDING PRESENCE.

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT FEEL IT, BUT YOU WALK BY FAITH, PRAYING IN FAITH, STUDYING HIS WORD IN FAITH, WORSHIPPING IN FAITH.

IF YOU ARE FAILING IN THIS AREA, REPENT AND ASK THE LORD TO REFILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT AND DRAW YOU TO HIM. ADMIT YOUR WEAKNESS AND ASK HIM TO TOUCH YOUR WEAKNESS WITH HIS STRENGTH.

EPHESIANS 6:10 – FINALLY  MY BRETHREN BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.

HERE IS A COMMAND.  THE VERSES THAT FOLLOW ARE RECIPES FOR STRENGTH: PUT ON THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER AND THE FAITH OF GOD WILL CARRY YOU TO PURPOSE AND STOP THE ENEMY.

ABILITIES WILL COME AND DEVELOPE IN YOUR LIFE, GIFTS WILL SHOW UP THAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD.

OUT OF WEAKNESS YOU WILL BE MADE STRONG.

HEBREWS 11:34 SAYS OUT OF WEAKNESS WAS MADE STRONG. 

OF COURSE THIS IS JUST PART OF THIS SCRIPTURE. GOD TOUCHES OUR WEAKNESS WITH HIS STRENGTH AND ENABLES US TO DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM, HE IS OUR STRENGTH, HE IS OUR ABILITIES, OUR FAITH COMES FROM HIM, HE GAVE US ALL A MEASURE OF FAITH. THAT FAITH CAN STAY SLEEPING INSIDE OF US ARE WE CAN STIRR IT UP AND IT WILL GROW. I CHOOSE TO USE MINE.

EVERYTHING GOD HAS PUT IN OUR HEART CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, THROUGH GOD’S MIGHTY POWER IF WE WILL OBEY HIM AND BELIEVE HIM. AMEN,  IN JESUS’ NAME.   

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Articles, Roy Porter

FRUIT OF ASSOCIATION

| Roy

EPHESIANS 4:22-24 – THAT YE PUT OFF CONCERNING THE FORMER CONVERSATION THE OLD MAN, WHICH IS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS;

AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND;

AND THAT YE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS. 

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD BRINGS CHANGE IN OUR LIVES, GOOD CHANGES , THAT  BRINGS GREAT JOY  AND PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.

JESUS BEGAN’S TO AFFECT OUR CONDUCT AND CHARACTER, AS WE READ THE WORD OF GOD AND DEVELOPE IN OUR PRAYER LIFE; WHICH INVOLVE’S WORSHIP. 

OUR DESIRE’S BEGIN TO CHANGE OUR CONDUCT BEGAN’S TO CHANGE.

THIS RELATIONSHIP BEGAN’S TO GOVERN OUR CONDUCT, AND CONDUCT REVEAL’S CHARACTER.

 CONDUCT IS WHAT WE DO, CHARACTER IS WHAT WE ARE.

CONDUCT IS THE OUTWARD LIFE. CHARACTER IS THE UNSEEN LIFE, HIDDEN WITHIN; YET EVIDENCED BY THAT WHICH IS SEEN.

CONDUCT IS EXTERNAL, SEEN FROM WITHOUT.

CHARACTER IS INTERNAL, OPERATING WITHIN.

GRACE  IS WORKING IN OUR LIVES PRODUCING CHARACTER AND GODLY CONDUCT.

 CHARACTER IS THE ROOT AND CONDUCT IS  THE FRUIT.

GALATIANS 5:22,23 – BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH.

MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW  .

AND THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS AND LUST’S.

PHILIPPIANS 2:13 – FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE.

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Articles, Roy Porter

HELP MY UNBELIEF

| Roy

MARK 9:23 –  JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, IF THOU CANST BELIEVE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH.

LIMITED FAITH IS MOTIVATED BY FEAR AND UNBELIEF.

LIMITED FAITH RESTRICTS THE POWER OF GOD.

LIMITED FAITH IS CONTROLLED BY CIRCUMSTANCES.

LIMITED FAITH DOESN’T RESIST OR FIGHT FOR THE PROMISES OF GOD, IT JUST LAYS DOWN AND DIES.

FAITH IS PRODUCED BY GOD’S WORD AND IS UNLIMITED, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THOSE  WHO BELIEVE. ANYTHING THAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR US BELONGS TO US.

FAITH RELEASES THE ANIONTING AND ALSO FAITH RELEASES ANGELS.

THE FATHER OF THE DEMON POSSESSED CHILD SAID, LORD I BELIEVE YOU CAN DELIVER MY CHILD, BUT HELP MY UNBELIEF.

WE ALL HAVE UNBELIEF, BUT JESUS CAN HELP US OVERCOME OUR UNBELIEF.

IF WE GET FULL,  AND STAY FULL OF THE LORD, UNBELIEF WILL DISAPPEAR AND FAITH WILL APPEAR.

IN THE BOOK OF ACTS WE READ OF A MAN CALLED STEPHEN, WHO WAS FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST AND FAITH. THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR UNBELIEF IN THIS MAN’S LIFE.

HE PREACHED WITH SUCH POWER, HIS SERMON’S WERE FULL OF THE WORD OF GOD. WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW HE GOT FULL OF FAITH AND POWER, HE WAS FULL OF THE WORD OF GOD.

THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER  FILLS OUR LIFE WITH FAITH AND POWER, A FIRE BURNS IN OUR HEARTS, A PASSION FOR MORE OF THE LORD. SO STRONG THAT THERE IS NO ROOM FOR UNBELIEF OR LIMITED FAITH. THE FIRE OF FAITH AND POWER THAT CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE FOR GREAT WONDERS AND MIRACLES.

WE CAN BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY GHOST AND POWER, THAT GIVES US A PASSION FOR PRAYER, WORD, AND WORSHIP.

DON’T LIMIT HOW MUCH OF GOD IS IN YOUR LIFE, LET’S BE LIKE STEPHEN: FULL OF FAITH AND POWER. WE MEASURE OUT HOW MUCH ANOINTING WE HAVE IN OUR LIFE.

GOD MAKES HIS PRESENCE AND POWER AND FAITH AVAILABE TO US, WE MEASURE OUT HOW MUCH WE WANT: WE CHOOSE.

I DESIRE HOLY GHOST FIRE TO SET THE CAPTIVE FREE, AND TO STAY FREE MYSELF: FULL OF FAITH AND POWER.

       

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Articles, Roy Porter

RED SEA LOOSES POSITION

| Roy

EZEKIEL 36:22-28 – THEREFORE SAY UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I DO NOT THIS FOR YOUR SAKES, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL, BUT FOR MINE HOLY NAME’S SAKE, WHICH YE HAVE PROFANED AMONG THE HEATHEN, WHITHER YE WENT.

AND I WILL SANCTIFY MY GREAT NAME, WHICH WAS PROFANED  AMONG THE HEATHEN, WHICH YE HAVE PROFANED IN THE MIDST OF THEM; AND THE HEATHEN SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, SAITH THE LORD GOD, WHEN I SHALL BE SANCTIFIED IN YOU BEFORE THEIR EYES.

FOR I WILL TAKE YOU FROM AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND GATHER YOU OUT OF ALL COUNTRIES, AND WILL BRING YOU INTO YOUR OWN LAND.

THEN I WILL SPRINKLE WATER UPON YOU, AND YE SHALL BE CLEAN: FROM ALL YOUR FILTHINESS, AND FROM ALL YOUR IDOLS, WILL I CLEANSE YOU.

A NEW HEART WILL I GIVE YOU, AND A NEW SPIRIT WILL I PUT WITHIN YOU: AND I WILL TAKE AWAY THE STONEY HEART OUT OF YOUR FLESH, AND I WILL GIVE YOU AN HEART OF FLESH.

AND I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS, AND DO THEM. 

AND YE SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND THAT I GAVE TO YOUR FATHERS; AND YE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD.

PROFANED – A HEBREW WORD, HALAL – A VERB, MEANING TO PIERCE. THE FIRST MEANING OF THIS WORD IS TO PIERCE OR WOUND, EITHER PHYSICALLY UNTO TO DEATH OR FIGURATIVELY UNTO DESPAIR.

THE OTHER MEANING IS TO PROFANE OR TO DEFILE, WHICH IS USED PRIMARILYOF CEREMONIAL OBJECTS OF WORSHIP.

GOD SHALL SANCTIFY HIS GREAT NAME BEFORE THE WORLD BY PERFORMING A GREATER MIRACLE THAN PARTING THE SEA. HE SCATTERED THE JEWISH PEOPLE AFTER THEY REJECTED AND PIERCED THEIR ONLY GIVEN WAY TO WORSHIP.

JOHN 4:21-26 – JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, WOMAN BELIEVE ME, THE HOUR COMETH, WHEN YE SHALL NEITHER IN THIS MOUNTAIN, NOR YET AT JERUSALEM, WORSHIP THE FATHER.

YE WORSHIP YE KNOW NOT WHAT: WE KNOW WHAT WE WORSHIP: FOR SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS.

BUT THE HOUR COMETH, AND NOW IS, WHEN THE TRUE WORSHIPPERS SHALL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH: FOR THE FATHER SEEKETH SUCH TO WORSHIP HIM.

GOD IS A SPIRIT: AND THEY THAT WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.

THE WOMAN SAITH UNTO HIM, I KNOW THAT MESSIAS COMETH, WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST: WHEN IS COME,  HE WILL TELL US ALL THINGS.

JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, I THAT SPEAK UNTO THEE AM HE.

ANYONE WHO REJECTS THIS WAY OF WORSHIP PROFANES THE NAME OF GOD. JESUS IS THE WAY, T HE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, NO WORSHIPS THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH THE SACRIFICE THAT WAS  OFFERED ON THE  CROSS BY JESUS. JEW OR GENTILE CAN ONLY WORSHIP THE FATHER THROUGH HIS CHOSEN SACRIFICE. IT IS PROFANE TO ATTEMPT TO WORSHIP GOD WITHOUT THE ONE THAT WAS PIERCED.

THERE IS A LAND COVENANT GOD MADE TO ABRAHAM. THERE IS A PEOPLE COVENANT GOD MAD TO ABRAHAM.  THE LAND IS ISRAEL, THE PEOPLE IS THE JEW.THIS COVENANT CANNOT BE BROKEN, GOD SAID I WILL BRING THE BACK TO THEIR LAND.

THAT IS THE FIRST PHASE, THE SECOND IS ONE DAY IN THE FUTURE, THE JEW WILL RECOGNIZE THEIR MESSIAH. THEN JESUS WILL ENTER INTO THEIR HEART AND THERE WILL BE A REBIRTH OF THEIR SPIRIT. A NATION IS REBORN AND THEN THEIR SPIRIT.

ON MAY 14 1948, GOD PERFORMED A MIRACLE GREATER THAN THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA, ISRAEL BECAME A NATION IN ONE DAY. THIS IS THE GREATEST SIGN THAT IT WILL NOT BE LONG UNTIL THEY RECEIVE  THE NEW BIRTH OF THE HEART.

JESUS IS COMING BACK TO JERUSALEM TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM, 144,000 JEWS WILL RECEIVE JESUS DURING THE FIRST  THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS OF TRIBULATION. ALL OF ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED AFTER JESUS RETURNS TO JERUSALEM.

ZECHARAIA 13:6 –  AND ONE SHALL SAY UNTO HIM,WHAT ARE THOSE WOUNDS IN THINE HANDS? THEN HE SHALL ANSWER, THOSE WITH WHICH I WAS WOUNDED IN THE HOUSE OF MY FRIENDS.

ROMANS 11:26 – AND SO ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: AS IT IS WRITTEN, THERE SHALL COME OUT OF SION THE  DELIVERER, AND SHALL TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB: 

     

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