Author: Jeanette

Articles, Jeanette Porter

A Word From God

| Jeanette

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.

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

NEVER LAY YOUR WEAPONS DOWN

| Jeanette

WE ARE TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE THAT WE HAVE WEAPONS. THESE ARE NOT FLESHLY WEAPONS, BUT WEAPONS OF A SPIRITUAL NATURE. THESE WEAPONS GUARD OUR SOUL.

FIRST, WE HAVE WEAPONS AGAINST THE WORLD, WE CALL FAITH.

 I JOHN 5:4 –  FOR WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMETH THE WORLD: AND THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, EVEN OUR FAITH.

 THIS FAITH IS THE PRODUCT OF OUR BELIEF THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD (V.5).

THE NEXT WEAPON IS AGAINST SATAN, THE ENEMY OF OUR SOUL, WHICH IS THE COMPLETE ARMOR OF GOD FOUND IN EPHESISNS 6:11-18 –

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL, FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES (PLACES OF AUTHORITY). WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL TO STAND, STAND THEREFORE, HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH, AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND YOUR FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; ABOVE ALL TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUINCH THE FIREY DARTS OF THE WICKED. AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION, WHICH IS THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD. PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYERS AND SUPLICATIONS IN THE SPIRIT. 

YES, PRAYER IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST TOOLS, OR WEAPONS IN WARFARE. WE CANNOT GO TO BATTLE WITHOUT IT.

THE LAST WEAPON I WILL MENTION IS THE WEAPON AGAINT THE FLESH. THIS WEAPON IA THE SPIRIT. 

GALATIANS 5:16-25 – 

THIS I SAY THEN, WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND YE SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH. FOR THE FLESH LUSTETH AGAINST THE SPIRIT, AND THE SPIRIT AGAINST THE FLESH: AND THESE ARE CONTRARY THE ONE TO THE OTHER: SO THAT YE CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT YE WOULD. BUT IF YE BE LED BY THE SPIRIT, YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW. NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE MANIFEST (PLAIN), WHICH ARE THESE; ADULTRY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, LASCIVIOUSNESS, IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, HATRED, VARIANCE (DISCORD), EMULATIONS (JEALOUSIES), WRATH, STRIFE, SEDITIONS (DIVISIONS), HERESIES (FALSE DOCTRINES), ENVYINGS, MURDERS, DRUNKENNESS, REVELLINGS  (WILD PARTIES),  AND SUCH LIKE: OF THE WHICH I TELL YOU BEFORE, AS I HAVE ALSO TOLD YOU IN TIME PAST, THAT THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS  SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

BUT THE FRUIT OFTHE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, AND 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  (IT’S PASSIONS) AND LUSTS. IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT…!        

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

CASTING YOUR CARES

| Jeanette

CASTING YOUR CARES

 

Today’s message is a topic all Christians deal with on a regular basis “CASTING YOUR CARES”.  I pray you will be free from cares as we come to the conclusion of this mssage.

 

Our Scripture reading is found in 1 Peter 5:7.  

 

When I think of this topic, my thoughts go to fishing with a rod and reel, where we cast the lure or bait into the water.

The Scripture says 1 Peter 5;7,  —- Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

Care means anxiety, burden, anything that emotionally weights us down.

 

The problem, the most of us, have with this is, that we cast our cares and then reel them back in again.  He wants us to break the line and let it go.

We are all alike, you know.  We all do it.

Why can’t we just let it go?

The last part of that verse reads …for (or because) He careth for you.

We know we have better things to do with our thought-life.  If He cares for us, He must be the only one who can handle that care.

 

Look with mw at Mark 4:18,19 —- And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the Word,

      And the cares of this world, … entering in, choke the Word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Here, Jesus is talking about the sowing of the seed which represents the Word of God. 

The cares of this life can weight a Christian down, so that they have no joy; and their peace goes right out the window, so to speak.  We forget who we are in Christ.

We get anxious, we get tense and agitated, and speak short to people: not meaning to, but we do it.

 

John 14:1a says, —- Let not your heart be troubled:…

Cares can cause heart trouble and panic attacks.

He careth for you, means to me: He will take care of it.

Cast that thing that is troubling you over to Him.  Don’t try to be the lord of your life.  Let the Holy One have it.

He created you, why do you think He won’t handle every situation in your life?

All He wants us to do, is cast it on Him, and trust Him to take care of it.

 

I have, taped on my computer, Scripture verses.  I also have a statement I copied from some book or source, that says, “I AM WITH YOU ON EVERY OCCASION”.  Each time I read it, a peace settles over me, because, if I know anything about God, He cares, and is with me at all times.

 

We are yoked together with Him:  Jesus said in Matthew 11:29,30 —-

       Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

      For My yoke is easy, and My burden (or load) is light.

 

Dr. R.W. Shambock tells the story about when he was a little boy: how he spent the Summer with his uncle on the farm. 

He, being a city boy, didn’t know anything about farm life.  He eyed this big strong mule; and watched his uncle harness it to a yoke.  Then, his uncle did a strange thing:  He took another mule, and yoked it together with the  strong one:  but this one was skroney and looked very weak. It swayed in the middle.

They were harnessed to pull a heavy load.    —-

Well, Shambock started protesting, kicking his uncle in the shin, pleading with him, not to let that weak mule pull such a heavy load.

His uncle said, “You don’t understand, the strong mule is doing all the work, the weak one is just going along for the ride!”

 

Well, woman of God, this has stayed with me ever since that tent meeting, and I can still see the picture in my mind.

 

We pray, give it to God, and He carries the load for us.

I am not saying we are not required to do our part.

We have to pray and give it to Him.

 

That weak mule could have tried to get ahead of the strong one, and forced the load upon himself, by trying to pull a load he couldn’t handle,

but when he relaxed and let the strong one take the lead, he didn’t have to strain against the burden.

 

This load you are carrying, is too big for you.  You have tried to deal with it your own way, but have not been able to shake that thing off.

You go to sleep with it on your mind, and wake-up with it on your mind.

 

It’s like a poster I had once, where a man is walking down a railroad track with a Volkswagen on his back.  He is bent way over from the load.

In his hand, you can see a train ticket.  A train is passing by him on the other side.  He could have put down that heavy load, and let the train carry him and the car.  He already had his ticket.

 

Likewise, we who are born again, have our ticket in our hand: it is our prayer-life.

The troubles of this life, don’t have to weight us down.

We can enter that rest God promised us, and take that ride through life, with Jesus, or we can go to heaven early with a heavy burden. 

 

I firmly believe, many heart attacks, and other life threatening diseases are brought-on by the cares of this life.

Now, relax, and ask God to take that thing, which has you so distracted, and anxious. —- Find a verse of Scripture that suits your situation, and stand on it.

The Lord’s desire for us is, that we find that place of rest.

 

Matthew 11:28 —- Come unto Me (or move toward Me), all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Repent of not trusting,  believe His Word, and He will take care of that thing.

 

If God is speaking to you today, about something that has you weighted you down, cast it on Him, His shoulders can handle it.

 

Woman of God, when we try to take that thing into our own hands, and don’t trust God with it, it can become a bigger mess than we started out with.

So, turn it over to God, and I promise you, although there may be some reaping on the part of the guilty, it will be resolved, in the best way, for all those involved.

 

Do the messages, God gives me for this Broadcast, speak to Me?

Yes.  I needed this one today: 

But the experiences of failures and victories in my life on this point make me know God will take care of this one too, If I give it to Him.

I try to stay in a place of rest with Him, and I know I will see His glory in every situation. —- For, He is with me, in every episode of my life.

 

These messages are to bring you the truth of the Word of God.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

 

Pray this prayer with me:

      Father, I ask You to take this care that is troubling me right now.  For I am casting it over onto You.  I can’t work it out for myself.  Please take it, and turn it around for the good for all those involved.

In the mighty Name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.

 

Now, sit down, and write me:

      Jeanette Porter

      PO Box  9315

      Greenville, SC  29604

Or E-mail me at:

      lmcigreenville@aol.com     

Share with me your testimony.  I would love to hear from you

 

Until next week.

 

    

     

     

 

 

 

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

THE LIFE GIVER

| Jeanette

Nowhere in the Bible do we find where Jesus came to bring death.

Everywhere He went, He brought life.

He is the access to the Father, the only access.

He raised the dead.  He gave eternal life through His death. 

 

In John 10:9-11 Jesus said, —

      I am the door; (or I am the access to the Father) by Me if any man enter in, He shall be saved and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  

      The thief cometh not, but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

      I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.

Jesus is the door to the sheepfold.

He is the way of life. 

Who would shut-up the way of life, to live the way of the world?

We are in this world, but not of this world.

By Him, we have eternal life, but we can also move about on this earth, living in two worlds (heaven and earth), freely, with His guidance, without fear of the enemy.

Why?  Because He watches over us.

He is our Shepherd; the Good Shepherd.  He watches  over us individually, with tender care, and self sacrificing love.

The Shepherd died, that we might live.

 

 Also, our Shepherd knows when it is time for us to go home to heaven.

At that time, He will call us.  But before that, He will prepare us for our journey.

Many are afraid of death.  They walk around in fear of the unknown.

We, as children of God, are to have life each day and not dread and fear of death.

 

For, Jesus came that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly:  More than we can possibly use.  Abundant supply.

Those who receive life from Him, have within them, continual sources of life for others.

We witness: they get saved: they witness: others get saved; and it goes on…

 

Those in their graves, who are dead in Christ, will know life again. This is our Blessed Hope.

1 Thessalonians 5:14, 16-18 —-For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep (or die) in Jesus will God bring with Him.   

       For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

      Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

      Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

Part of our abundant life in Him, is to know these things, this great promise of being able to be with our loved ones, when the end of this age comes, who died in-Christ.

Every day, I go to Greenville from my house, I have to pass by my Daddy’s grave.  I have the peace of knowing his soul and spirit are not in that grave, but are with Jesus.  Only his body is left there, but it will be resurrected on that day of the Rapture, and if I am passing by that way  at the time his body leaves that grave, I can watch it come up and meet the Lord in the air with My Daddy.

To me, it’s as though he is on a trip and will soon return to me.

 

Woman of God, it is an abundant life when we know that we know we are ready to meet the Lord, should He come today.

 

Sinner, don’t be left behind. Trust Him today to care for you as your good shepherd.

Jesus loves you; He gave His life for you.  You are not really living until you put your life in His hands.  I’ve heard people say, “I’m not ready, I am still young.  I want to live my life they way I choose.”

What are you giving up to invite Him into you life?  I’ll tell you.  You are giving up eternal torment and destruction for eternal life;  You are giving up hell for heaven; you are giving up the lordship of Satan, for the Lordship of Jesus Christ;  you are giving up no peace for the “Prince of Peace.

Some women tell me they are afraid their boyfriend or husband will get mad or even leave them if they ask Jesus into  their lives.  Would you sell your soul to the devil for someone who wants you to go to hell, and to be eternally separated from God?  He doesn’t love you, he loves himself, he loves the sin you share with him.  He is just like the devil, when he gets through with you, he will laugh at you.   This might seem harsh , but believe me, I have seen too much of it.

We can decide to serve God and live according to His standards, or we can set our own standards and live outside His blessings.

The choice is ours.

 

Proverbs 8:36 —But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul: all that hate Me love death.

Romans 6:23 —For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There is coming a time when all this will be played back in your mind computer.  You will remember when you were witnessed to about your soul’s destination.  Their is only one way you can be born again, saved from destruction:

For you who did not pray that prayer with me,

Invite Jesus into your heart now,  don’t live another day without Him, there is no promise of another chance.

God is righteous and demands full obedience from His creation.  He will not tolerate unrighteousness, and designed hell to eternally house those who are not willing to submit their lives to Him.

 

 

 

There is no other way to the Father but through Jesus.

Jesus said in John 14:6 … I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father, but by Me.

Jesus is Life.  He is still giving life.

      John 3:16 — For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Think about it.  Everlasting life.

Look at verse 17,18 —-For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

      He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God

Pray this prayer with me, and receive Jesus, by faith, as your Lord and savior:

Jesus, come into my life, and save me.  I am sorry for my sin, I repent of my sin. I am tired of trying to live my life, my way. I give my life to You.

Deliver me from every stronghold of bondage. In Jesus name I pray.

Thank You for saving me.

 

If you prayed this prayer, please write me. and I will send you a booklet on the next steps:

 

      Woman of God

      PO Box 9315

      Greenville, SC 29604

Or E-mail me at

      lmcigreenville@aol.com and tell me what is going on in your life: your struggles, your victories.

 

We have already seen where Jesus Christ is life, conqueror over death, and the only way to the Father.

There are also special promises from God for those who serve Him;

      Eternal life

      Peace

      Joy

      Abundant life

      Heaven

      Escape from hell

There is a great contrast between heaven and hell, and both are real places: one to joy and one to darkness with no hope.

Choose the life giver.

 

Until next week.

 

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

THEY ENDURE BUT FOR A TIME

| Jeanette

 

There are many times in the book of Revelation, where we are instructed to endure to the end.  Today we are going to discuss endurance out of the account of Mark four. For those who are not familiar with this text: Jesus is the sewer and the Word of God is the seed.  We are the soil.

Whether we are the good ground or the stony:
is up to us.

 

Mark 4: 16,17 —- And these are they likewise which are sown
on stony ground; who, when they have heard the Word, immediately receive it
with gladness;

And have not root in themselves, and so
endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction (or hardship, trouble) or
persecution ( or torture or oppression) ariseth
for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

 

Many of us have gotten a
glimpse of heaven in a mighty service or a revelation from God in our private
time with Him.  The word we received was
alive to us and in us.  We knew it was
just what we needed.  Everything was so
clear: God had it all under control, and we were in His hands.  Nothing could shake that.  It was settled. But then, afterward, when
affliction or sorrow or persecution arose, because of the Word, we immediately
become offended, displeased, indignant, and resentful.  Our affections are divided.  We had more of the rocky than the good soil
in our hearts.  No wonder we could not
endure.  The Word of God could not strike
a deep root in our souls.

 

This is when we were not
constant in the faith; and in our hour of temptation, we faltered.

 

I see this so much among
believers.  They are rooted in the
Word.  They didn’t take what Word they
got, and meditate on it until it could get down in their spirit man.  It seemed to only help the hour or the day
they heard it.  Then, BOOM! It was gone.

 

Brothers and sisters, we
have all been there.

 

Getting rooted and grounded
takes time.

 

The Word has to become alive
in our spirits to produce faith to endure.
We have to speak it everyday; eat and digest it, so to speak.

 

You could say, “I spoke the
Word over Aunt Lucy, but she died. The Word don’t work”.

 

Our Lord warns, we will
encounter such cases, which first excite hope, and expectation, and then clouds
the soul of the Christian laborer with disappointment and grief.

 

The Word in us is supposed
to produce fruit.  But to endure, we have
to prepare the soil.

How do we prepare the soil?

Look at Matthew 13:19-21
—- When anyone heareth the word of the
kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one (Satan) and catcheth away that which was sown in his
heart.  This is he which received seed by
the wayside.

But he that received the seed into stony
places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon (or in a while) with joy
reveiveth it.

Yet hath he not root in himself, but
dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the
word. By and by he is offended.

From this
account in Matthew we see this same story which we know as the Parable Of The
Sower.  We know Satan is the one who
steals the Word, and we know He is the one who causes trials and persecution.

 

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH SATAN’S
ATTACKS

 

So, to prepare the soil, we
have to deal with Satan’s attacks.  He
comes immediately to rob from us, the Word we received with joy.

 

It’s no wonder he hates the
Word of God, and does all in his power to steal it from us.

 

Look at what Psalm 119:105
has to say about the Word:

Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

It shines like a light on my feet and directs
them where to go.  It keeps us from
stumbling.

 

Verse 11 —– Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might
not sin against Thee.

 

Acts 17:11 —- These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they (talking about the Jews in the synagogue at
Berea) received the word with all
readiness of mind (or we could say with a ready-mind), and searched the scriptures daily , whether those things were so (or
true).

The word shows us what is
true and what is error.

 

We could go on to John 17:17
were we are told we are sanctified through God’s truth, because His word is
truth:  That God will , through His word,
set us apart to Himself.

 

In II Timothy 3:15,16, we
find the word is …able to make us wise
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

And that it is
God-breathed …and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

God reveals Himself through
His word;  and in it, He shows us how we
are to live after we become a Christian.

His word has an authority
which far reverses the ambition for greatness seen in secular philosophers.

And I Peter 2:2,3 tells us,
His word causes us to grow up in Him.

And Joshua 1:8 —- This book of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all
that is written therein: for then thou
shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

In this verse alone, we are
told we can be prosperous and successful if

We speak the Word

We meditate the Word day and night

We do what it says

 

It’s  no wonder the devil wants to steal it!

 

 

 

Jesus used the Word against
Satan.  During His temptation in the
wilderness, Jesus said, “It is written, It is written, It is written,” after
which, Satan left Him for a season.

 

We are instructed also, in
Mark 16, to use the name of Jesus.  He
has given us that authority.  Look at
verse 17a —- And these signs shall
follow them that believe: In My name they shall cast out devils;…

This is one of the last
instructions given by Jesus before He ascended into heaven, —– and verse 20
reads like this —-And they went forth,
and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word
with signs following. Amen.

They were not alone in their
commission, this verse says the Lord was working with them. Also we see here, that
signs follow the word.

 

DON’T GET DISTRACTED, STUDY THE
WORD

Another way to prepare the
soil, for the Word is not to let distractions, around us, keep us from studying
the Word of God.

II Timothy 2:15 —- Study to show thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

It is not enough to read and
study the Word, we have to be able to know how to use it.

 

USE THE WORD AGAINST SATAN

Jesus knew which part of the
Word to use against Satan during His temptation.  He quoted the Scripture that fir the
situation.

Look at Matthew 4 starting
with verse 1

Then
was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when He had fasted forty days and
forty  and forty nights, He was afterward
ahungered.

And when the tempter came to Him, He
said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

But He answered and said, It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God.

 

THEN Satan did a strange
thing: He quoted a Scripture to Jesus: verse 6 —- And saith unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for
it is written,

He
shall give His angels charge concerning thee;

and in their hands they shall bear the
up,

lest at any time thou dash thy foot
against a stone.

Now, let’s read that verse
from the Old Testament, from which He is Quoting, Psalm 91:11 —- For He shall give His angels charge over
thee, to keep thee in all thy ways …

He left out that last
part.  Why? Look at it again …. to keep thee in all thy ways…—-
Because the omission of this sentence alters the whole character of the
quotation, taking into account that the word, ways, implies ways
appointed by God.

 

Then once again, the devil
tempted Jesus; and once again Jesus used the  Word of God against him.

 

In the next part to this
temptation of Christ, Satan said in verse8 and 9

—-Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and
showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And
saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and
worship me.

Verse 10 —- Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hense (or
be gone!), Satan:  For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord
thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.

Ten, in verse 11, the devil
left Him, and angels came and ministered unto Him.

 

Jesus was tempted on three
levels:

1-
Physically

2-
Spiritually

3-
Intellectually

Each of which, He won, using the Word of God.

He quoted the right Scripture for each attack.

He knew how to combat every blow.

 

If we know the Word, we should know who we are in Christ.  This will give us an advantage over the enemy
of our soul.

If we know the Word, we know our future.

If we know the Word, we know God will always fight our battles, and
bring us the victory.

If we know the Word, we know Satan’s future.  Aso it would be good to remind him and
ourselves, of this fact.

 

 

Say it with me,

“Satan, your kingdom is
coming down”

“The blood of Jesus is
against you!”

“I can do all things
through Christ which strengthenth me.”

“No weapon formed against
me shall prosper”

and on and on, we can go.

 

All of God’s children go through attacks of Satan, trying to steal the life
out of us: which is God’s Word; but isn’t it wonderful, that when we are rooted
and grounded in the Word, we can endure until the end.

At that point, he will never again cause us to doubt God and His word,
nor can he steal from us.

 

I will leave you with these last two verses:

1-
Romans 8:31b —- …If God be for us, who can be against us?

2-
Isaiah 40:8 —- The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but
the Word of our God shall stand forever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Bless the name of the Lord!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

WAIT

| Jeanette


Someone told me you can’t
get ahead of God, but I tell you, I did once, and got myself into all kinds of
problems that could have been avoided.

Wait means to tarry; to
expect; to look patiently.

You see, I had an experience
with God like I never had before.  It was
my first, I call, supernatural experience.

I was reading an article in
a magazine about  street children in
Mexico who were being cared for and feed by a man whose heart went out to
them.  The presence of God came upon me
and I began to weep uncontrollably. He spoke to me, “You will be involved with
children like this.”

I set out from that day to
make it happen.  I knew nothing about
waiting on God, and following Him.

I was a school crossing
guard at that time.

One day my Lieutenant came
to me, and told me he had recommended me for a job in the police
department.  I would be working with
juveniles.  I thought, “This is it. I’ll
will be working with troubled children”.
I was so happy.  I had
found my place in the kingdom, or so I thought.
The plan at the police department, was to put the first women on the
force.  They could go straight to the
individual divisions, without going into the uniform patrol.

I went for the evaluations,
and passed them all.  Then they set me up
for a physical, by the City Doctor.
Unexpectedly, he found a problem in my abdomen, and sent me to the City
surgeon.  Upon his examination, he found
a large mass.  I failed the medical
exam.  I was heart broken.  My dreams of helping troubled youth had
crashed to the ground.

I asked if the job would be
still open after I had my surgery, and was told it would.  I couldn’t wait, I flew trough a quick
recovery, and went back to get my job.
When I got there, they told me the procedure had changed for women
officers, I would first have to go in uniform patrol, and then later I could
apply for the other position.  I was
crushed.  What was going on?  Had I missed God?

Well, to make a long story
short, God would wake me up at night, and say, ”No.”  I didn’t understand.  Here I was so close to my vision, and it was
God who was saying no.

My husband didn’t understand
me at all, and I’m not sure I did.  All I
wanted to do was to find my place in God’s
kingdom, and follow Him.

My husband was delighted I
was in the Civil Service but he didn’t too much want me to go into uniform
patrol.  I would be in danger.

The morning I was to go for
my strength and agility test, I put out a fleece.  “God if you don’t want me to take this job,
don’t let my car start.

You see we had a new car,
and it was not probable that it wouldn’t start.

I put in the key, and to my
surprise, it wouldn’t hit-a-lick.  I
called my husband, and then called in and said, I you have a job in parking
control I will take it.  They did and I
did.  Still, every night, the Lord would
wake me and say, “No”.  My husband didn’t
understand, but I quit the job after five months of torment to my mind.

Later we began to go on
missionary trips; and guess where we went first?  To an orphanage in the Dominican Republic,
where street boys are housed and fed and taught the Word of God.

We are still going there and
are supporting them each month through the ministry.  My daughter also spent three and one half
years there as a missionary.

Our ways are
not His (God’s) ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts.

Look at Isaiah 30:21 —- And thine ears  shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This
is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to
the left.

And 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.

Where did I go wrong?

I got ahead of God. I tried
to make it happen.

Many women of God receive a
calling, and get so excited; they run with the calling before they get wisdom
from God in what direction He has planned for them.

James 1:5 —- If any of you lack  wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to
all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

He wants us to seek Him
first, and then follow His leading.

Psalm 32:8 —- I will instruct thee and teach thee in the
way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

When a minister takes off quick without spending much time with the Lord alone, he can get off the track quick, and live out the mistakes he makes by trying to do it himself.  Rest in the Lord, wait for Him to open those
doors, and then quietly go through them.

This is not always easy for
our generation that has fast food, quick service, and appliances that do
everything for us.

Don’t kick yourself if God
is pointing you out, just repent of trying to do it yourself, and fall in line
behind Him.  He can take your mistakes
and turn them into good.  It’s not as
though you were trying  to do something
wrong from your heart.  It’s just that
you didn’t wait on Him.  You took the
lead.

The Holy Spirit is our Guide
—- John 16:13 —- Howbeit when He, the
Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not
speak of Himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall He speak: and He
will show you things to come.

The Holy Spirit can and does
come upon us and show us things in the future, but remember, it is the
future.  If it were right now, He would
show us that too.

We just have to learn from
our mistakes and remember, His way is best for all concerned.

I Thessalonians 5:24 —- Faithful is He who calleth  you, who also will do it.

When we abide in the vine we
can bear much fruit, but apart from Him we can do nothing. (John 15)

We learn we can do nothing
without Him, and we are nothing without Him. But Phillippians 4:13 reads
—- I can do all things through Christ
which strengthens me.

How does He strengthen
us?  Through our time with Him, in our
Secret place.  By going to Church,
fellowshipping with other Christians, and Christian books and Christian media.

When we spend time seeking
Him, we will find Him.

He hasn’t left us, we just
get too busy.

When a pastor or minister
has a moral failure, it can be traced back most of the time, to his or her lack
of personal time with the Lord.

I have seen this
happen.

Sometimes they get so
popular, they think they are above sinning.

Even if you don’t seem to
have time, woman of God, make time.  He
is waiting to give you direction, to comfort you and give you that peace that
passes all understanding.  Every voice
you hear is not God.

Every direction is not God.

He is only a prayer away, as
the old saying goes, and those who miss their time in prayer miss the strongholds
being pulled down around them, and their family, and ministry.

We have to grow-up in the
Lord and we can be victorious every time.

Our enemy will put obstacles
in our path, but through Christ, and when we abide or live in Him he makes us
wiser than our enemies.

 

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WORDS PART III

| Jeanette

EPHESIANS 4:13 – LET NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD TO THE USE OF EDIFYING (OR BUILDING UP), THAT IT MAY MINISTER GRACE TO THE HEARERS.

ALL OF US NEED TO BE BUILT-UP OR EDIFIED. OUR FAMILY MEMBERS NEED TO HEAR WORDS COMING FROM OUR MOUTH’S THAT ARE BLESSINGS AND NOT CURSES.

TIMOTHY IS PAUL’S SON IN THE SPIRIT. LISTEN HOW HE BUILDS TIMOTHY UP.

II TIMOTHY 1:13 – HOLD FAST THE FORM OF SOUND WORDS, WHICH THOU HAST HEARD OF ME, IN FAITH AND LOVE, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

TO TIMOTHY, MY DEAR BELOVED SON: GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE, FROM GOD THE FATHER AND CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

FAITH, BEING THE POSITIVE, OR BLESSINGS; AND FEAR BEING THE NEGATIVE, OR CURSES: LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING VERSES:

II TIMOTHY 1:3-5 – I THANK GOD, WHOM I SERVE FROM MY FOREFATHERS WITH A PURE CONSCIENCE, THAT WITHOUT CEASING I HAVE REMEMBRANCE OF THEE IN MY PRAYERS NIGHT AND DAY;

GREATLY DESIRING TO SEE THEE, BEING MINDFUL OF THY TEARS, THAT I MAY BE FILLED WITH JOY:

WHEN I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE UNFEIGNED LOVE THAT IS IN THEE, WHICH DWELT FIRST IN THY GRANDMOTHER LOIS, AND THY MOTHER EUNICE; AND I AM PERSUADED THAT IN THEE ALSO.

TIMOTHY HAD A GRANDMOTHER AND A MOTHER, WHO LOVED HIM, AND INFLUENCED HIS LIFE.

THAT PERSON THAT IS PRAYING FOR YOU AND INFLUENCING YOUR LIFE, TO SERVE GOD, AND HIS PURPOSE FOR YOUR FUTURE.

MAYBE THEY ARE PRAYING, “DON’T GIVE-UP ON HER, LORD: MAKE HER SWEET, JUST LIKE JESUS.”

SOME OF YOU ARE REALLY HURTING BECAUSE OF THE THINGS SPOKEN OVER YOU IN YOUR PAST, AND EVEN NOW, YOU STILL HEAR THOSE WORDS, FOLLOWING YOU, AND SCREAMING OUT AT YOU.

THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO DO, IS GIVE IT ALL TO GOD; AND THE NEXT STEP IS TO FORGIVE THAT ONE WHO HAS HURT YOU WITH THEIR WORDS OR IN ANY WAY.

THIS MAY SEEM STRANGE TO YOU, BUT TO BE FREE, THIS HAS TO TAKE PLACE.

YOU MAY EVEN NEED TO FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR THOSE CURSES YOU HAVE SPOKEN OVER YOURSELF OTHERS.

MAYBE, YOU MAY NEED TO ASK THEM TO FORGIVE YOU, AND THAT FROM NOW ON, YOUR WORDS TO THEM ARE LIFE, AND BLESSINGS.

DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE…     PROVERBS 18:21

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FROM GOD TO THE NATIONS

| Jeanette

AS I BEGAN MY TIME WITH THE LORD THIS MORNING, HE, IMMEDIATELY, BEGAN TO SPEAK THIS MESSAGE THAT FOLLOWS.

SINCE I KNEW IT WAS FOR THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, I FELT IT SHOULD BE PASSED ON TO YOU.

          “THESE ARE DAYS OF GREAT UNCERTAINTY AMONG THE NATIONS. THESE ARE TIMES OF MUCH UNREST AROUND THE GLOBE.YOU ARE TO PRAY FOR THE NATIONS. THESE ARE DAYS WHEN PEOPLE ARE DEPENDING ON MAN TO SAVE THEM OUT OF THE SNARE OF SIN AND DEATH. BUT MY WAYS ARE BEST FOR ALL THOSE WHO DESIRE FREEDOM. FREEDOM HAS ALWAYS COME WITH A PRICE; BUT STILL, THIS IS BETTER THAN ALL THE BONDAGE BEING SUFFERED BY MANKIND. YOU ARE TO PRAY FOR A MOVE OF MY SPIRIT, MY POWER, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD: THAT MY KINGDOM WILL COME TO THIS EARTH, LIKE NEVER BEFORE. THE PEOPLE ARE FALLING, FALLING, FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.—-THEY HEAR A VOICE HERE, THEY HEAR A VOICE THERE; AND WHEN THEY HEAR IT, THEY THINK THEIR HOPE IS CENTERED ON THOSE VOICES.—-BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, IF YOU WILL ONLY HEAR ME AND MY VOICE, YOU WILL KNOW PEACE AND SAFETY.—-TODAY IS THE DAY TO BEGIN TO SEEK MY FACE ABOVE ALL OTHER! AND SEEK MY WILL FOR EACH LIFE.—- AHEAD ARE TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY LIKE NEVER BEFORE. COME TO ME AND ALLOW MY COMFORTOR TO TAKE CHARGE, AND YOU WILL KNOW THE CALM IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM.”

THIS IS A CALL TO PRAYER FOR THE NATIONS!!!

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AT THE APPOINTED TIME

| Jeanette

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.  

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WE SEE WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

| Jeanette

MANY TIMES WE HAVE A MIND-SET ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE WHEN WE LOOK. IF WE ARE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO SEES EVIL IN EVERYTHING, WE WILL FIND IT; ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR GOOD, WE WILL FIND IT. OUR GAS TANK CAN BE HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY.

IF WE FEEL INSECURE AROUND PEOPLE, WHEN WE ARE WITH MORE THAN ONE, WE FEEL INTIMIDATED, THAT THEY ARE TOGETHER AGAINST US EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT. WE CAN SAY TO OURSELVES, “THEY ARE FRIENDS, BUT THEY DON’T LIKE ME,” OR WE COULD TELL OURSELVES, “I DON’T LIKE THEM, THEY ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER.

THESE FEELINGS USUSALLY COME FROM A BAD PAST EXPERIENCE, OR THEY COME FROM A COMPETITIVE NATURE YOU HAVE DEVELOPED BY WANTING TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.

THIS TYPE OF PERSON IS MISERABLE AND DOESN’T EVEN LIKE BEING AROUND THEMSELVES. THIS KIND OF THINKING USUALLY COMES FROM CHILDHOOD, WHERE WE WERE AT ONE POINT, THE CENTER OF ATTENTION; AND WHEN SOMEONE ELSE STEPPED INTO THE SPOTLIGHT, WE FELT LEFT OUT. I CALL THESE PEOPLE “CENTER-STAGE” PEOPLE. THEY ARE MISERABLE WITHIN AND WE DON’T LIKE BEING IN THEIR COMPANY, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO “POUT”; OR IF THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO TARE DOWN THAT PERSON THEY FEEL COMPETITIVE WITH. OR MAYBE THEY WILL EVEN CAUSE A SCENE JUST TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.

SOMETIMES THAY WILL JUST AVOID YOU SO YOU WILL SEEK THEM OUT TO FIND OUT WHAT’S WRONG. THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU OR THEM.

I HEARD A PASTOR SAY ON TV TODAY, THAT AFTER HE WAS BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, HE LOST THAT FEELING OF HAVING TO BE RECOGNIZED.

WHEN THIS TYPE OF ATTITUDE IS DEVELOPED IN US, IT IS HARD TO BREAK. MOST OF THE TIME, THE WAY YOU SEE IT, IS THE PROBLEM. THIS MUST HAVE BEEN OF CONCERN ALSO IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES.

PHILIPPIANS 2:4 – LOOK NOT EVERY MAN ON HIS OWN THINGS, BUT EVERY MAN ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS. THE WAY THE WORLD IS——“PUSH YOURSELF FORWARD. BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.” BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT JESUS TAUGHT, NOR LIVED. VERSES 5-8 – LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS: WHO BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD: BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION AND TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT, AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN: AND BEING FOUND IN FASHION AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF…

PAUL POINTS OUT HERE THE CAUSES OF DIVISIONS WHICH EXISTS AMONG CHRISTIANS, ONE OF WHICH IS VAIN GLORY: PERSONAL VANITY; THE DESIRE TO BE NOTICED, AND THE HATRED OF OWNING-UP TO BEING WRONG. WE CALL THIS SELFISHNESS OR SELF-CENTEREDNESS. A SELF-CENTERED PERSON IS THE WORSE OF THE TWO. A SELFISH PERSON IS ONE WHO WANT EVERYTHING FOR HIMSELF: BUT A SELF-CENTERED PERSON THINKS OF NO ONE BUT HIMSELF; AND THINKS THE WORLD SHOULD REVOLVE AROUND HIM. 

SELF-CENTEREDNESS MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THOUGHT, FEELINGS, AND ACTIONS.

ALL OF US ARE A LITTLE SELFISH BY NATURE. WE ARE THE ONE THAT LIVES IN OUR BODY. IT’S INTERESTING TO ME, THOUGH, THAT WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES IN, HE BEGINS TO REVEAL TO US ALL TRUTH ABOUT OURSELVES AND OUR MOTIVES: IN ALL WE SAY AND DO.

WHY NOT ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE TO BE RIGHT FOR A CHANGE?

WHY DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING?

IT’S BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO BE COUNTED WRONG. THERE IS A SAYING THAT BARES REPEATING: “I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I THINK I’M RIGHT.”

THIS WOULD STOP A LOT OF BICKERING BACK AND FORTH IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. WHO KNOWS? IN SOME THINGS THEY COULD BE RIGHT!

THE REASON WE HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM OF LOOKING ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS MORE THAN OUR OWN, IS BECAUSE WE WERE BORN WITH A SIN-NATURE. WE HAVE TO ALLOW GOD TO CHANGE US. WE NEED THE MIND OF CHRIST TO PUT-ON TRUE CHRISTIANITY. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

IT’S EASY FOR US AS MORE MATURE CHRISTIANS TO DEVELOPE A DISLIKE AND DISTRUST FOR A CERTAIN PERSON; AND WHEN THEY COME INTO THE ROOM WHERE WE ARE, WE FREEZE-UP ON THEM, SOMETIMES WE JUST MOVE TO ANOTHER AREA BECAUSE WE JUST CAN’T STAND BEING AROUND THEM. 

I FIND THIS MORE IN SPIRITUALLY SENSITIVE PEOPLE, WHO DISCERN DEMONIC OPERATION IN THAT PERSON.

THEY JUDGE THE PERSON, AND NEVER PRAY FOR THEM OR TRY TO FIND SOME GOOD IN THEM.

IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO ASK GOD FOR WHAT IS IN OPERATION THERE AND GO OUR KNEES IN PRAYER AND BIND UP THAT SPIRIT INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO WILL LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE FOUND OUT, —– OR THINK WE SUSPICIOUSLY KNOW ABOUT THEM.

WE SHOULD GO TO OUR KNEES AND BIND UP THAT SPIRIT SO THAT PERSON CAN BE FREE.

THEN, WE NEED TO CHECK OURSELVES WITH THE BOOK OF JAMES TO SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING IN US WE NEED TO BE FREED FROM.

PAUL GAVE GREST ADVICE IN PHILLIPPIANS 2:2, WHERE HE SAYS, —-THEN MAKE ME TRUELY HAPPY BY LOVING EACH OTHER, WORKING TOGETHER, WITH ONE HEART, ONE MIND, ONE PURPOSE.

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