Category: Jeanette Porter

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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Articles, Jeanette Porter

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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Articles, Jeanette Porter

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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Articles, Jeanette Porter

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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SWEET SLEEP

| Jeanette

SLEEP IS IMPORTANT TO OUR DAILY HEALTH.

OUR BODIES CAN GO  JUST SO MANY HOURS WITHOUT IT, THEN MAJOR PARTS OF OUR BODIES BEGIN TO BE FATIGUED  AND OR EMOTIONS BECOME ALL OUT OF SORTS; WE CAN’T THINK CLEARLY, AND OTHERS AROUND US ARE AFFECTED.

IT WAS EASIER FOR US TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST WHEN OUR EMPLOYMENT WAS FARMING AND PHYSICAL LABOR; BUT NOW, WE ARE BOMBARDED WITH MUCH MENTAL STRESS: ON THE JOB AND AT HOME. WE HAVE MACHINERY AND ALL KINDS OF APPLIANCES NOW, THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE OUR WORK EASIER BUT WE JUST SEEM TO “ADD-IT-ON” INSTEAD OF REST WHILE WE CAN.

SOME YEARS BACK, I HAD AN ILLNESS, THAT REQUIRED MUCH REST AND SLEEP.  I QUICKLY NOTICED HOW THE NAPS I WAS TAKING WERE HEALING. IWAS WEARING OUT MY BODY AND WAS ALL STRESSED-OUT.

SLEEP IS DEFINED AS A STATE OF COMPLETE OR PARTIAL UNCONSCIOUSNESS.

IN THE SCRIPTURES, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 21 REFERENCES, AND MAYBE MORE, REFERRING TO SLEEP OR THE LACK OF IT.

SLEEP IS DESCRIBED AS SLUMBER IN PROVERBS 6:4,10.          PROVERBS 3:24, IT IS DESCRIBED AS SWEET – WHEN THOU LIEST DOWN, THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID: YEA, THOU SHALT LIE DOWN, AND THY SLEEP SHALL BE SWEET. HERE, IT SAYS…THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID…

SO WE MUST ASSUME, FEAR KEEPS SOME FROM HAVING SWEET SLEEP.

VERSE 25 – BE NOT AFFRAID OF SUDDEN FEAR , NEITHER OF THE DESOLATION OF THE WICKED, WHEN IT COMETH; AND VERSE 26 READS –  FOR THE LORD SHALL BE THY CONFIDENCE, AND SHALL KEEP THY FOOT FROM BEING TAKEN.

MANY PEOPLE ARE PARALIZED WITH FEAR, AND FEAR BRINGS WITH IT TORMENT. WE ARE TOLD IN THE BIBLE, THAT FEAR IS A SPIRIT; IT IS A HARASSING DEMON THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM BEING AT PEACE SO THEY CAN’T ENJOY A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP.

SOMETIMES GOD USES THE LACK OF SLEEP FOR HIS PURPOSE:               IN DANIEL 8:18, DANIEL WAS GIVEN A PROPHETIC VISION IN HIS SLEEP: – NOW AS HE WAS SPEAKING WITH ME, I WAS IN A DEEP SLEEP ON MY FACE TOWARD THE GROUND: BUT HE TOUCHED ME ND SET ME UPRIGHT  ( OR MADE ME STAND UP).

IN DANIEL 2:1, WE SEE WHERE THE INABILITY TO SLEEP IS CAUSED BY WORRY – NEBUCHADNEZZAR DREAMED DREAMS…WHEREIN HIS SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED, AND SLEEP BROKE FROM HIM (HE COULD NOT SLEEP). WORRY CAN CAUSE ANY OF US TO HAVE INSOMNIA. IN ESTHER 6:1, THE KING COULD NOT SLEEP BECAUSE GOD WANTED HIM TO READ THE BOOK OF CHRONICLES.

INTERCESSORS AND MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, CAN’T SLEEP BECAUSE GOD HAS A PURPOSE IN MIND: MOSTLY, SO THEY CAN PRAY AND INTERCEDE ABOUT SOMETHING OR FOR SOMEONE.

PETER WAS FAST ASLEEP IN A PRISON (DUNGEON). JAMES HAD ALREADY BEEN BEHEADED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE GOSPEL, AND PETER WAS NEXT IN LINE: ACTS 12:1-11 – NOW ABOUT THAT TIME HEROD THE KING, STRETCHED FORTH HIS HANDS TO  VEX CERTAIN OF THE CHURCH. AND HE KILLED JAMES THE BROTHER OF JOHN WITH THE SWORD. AND BECAUSE HE SAW IT PLEASED THE JEWS, HE PROCEEDED FURTHER TO TAKE PETER ALSO. (THEN WERE THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD).  AND WHEN HE HAD APPREHENDED HIM , HE PUT HIM IN PRISON, AND DELIVERED HIM TO FOUR QUATERNIONS OF SOLDIERS TO KEEP HIM; INTENDING  AFTER EASTER (PASSOVER) TO BRING HIM FORTH TO THE PEOPLE. PETER THEREFORE WAS KEPT IN PRISON; BUT PRAYER WAS MADE WITHOUT CEASING OF THE CHURCH UNTO GOD FOR HIM. AND WHEN HEROD WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM FORTH, THE SAME NIGHT PETER WAS SLEEPING BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS: AND THE KEEPERS BEFORE THE DOOR KEPT THE PRISON.

     AND BEHOLD, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM, AND A LIGHT SHINED IN THE PRISON: AND HE SMOTE PETER ON THE SIDE, AND RAISED HIM UP, SAYING, ARISE UP QUICKLY. AND HIS CHAINS FELL OFF FROM HIS HANDS. AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HIM, GIRD THYSELF, AND BIND ON THY SANDELS. AND SO HE DID. AND HE SAITH UNTO HIM, CAST THY GARMENT ABOUT THEE, AND FOLLOW ME. AND HE WENT OUT, AND FOLLOWED HIM; AND WIST NOT THAT IT WAS TRUE WHICH WAS DONE BY THE ANGEL; BUT THOUGHT HE SAW A VISION. WHEN THEY WERE PAST THE FIRST AND SECOND WARD THEY CAME UNTO THE IRON GATE THAT LEADETH INTO THE CITY; WHICH OPENED TO THEM OF HIS OWN ACCORD. AND THEY WENT OUT, AND PASSED ON THROUGH THE STREET; AND FORTHWITH THE ANGEL DEPARTED FROM HIM. AND WHEN PETER WAS COME TO HIMSELF, HE SAID, NOW I KNOW OF A SURETY, THAT THE LORD SENT HIS ANGEL, AND HATH DELIVERED ME OUT OF THE HAND OF HEROD, AND FROM ALL THE EXPECTATION OF THE JEWS.

THIS WAS A TRYING TIME IN OUR HISTORY WHERE THE CHURCH WAS GOING THROUGH HARASSMENT AND PERSECUTION. WE FIND PETER FAST ASLEEP IN A PRISON.

BECAUSE HEROD, THE KING, SAW HOW IT PLEASED THE JEWS TO WATCH JAMES BE KILLED BY THE SWORD, THAT HE DECIDED PETER WOULD BE NEXT: AFTER THE PASSOVER.

SOMETIMES WE FIND IT HARD TO SLEEP AFTER WE HAVE PASSED THROUGH A TRIAL DURING THE DAY OR WE ATE PIZZA LATE IN THE EVENING.

THIS STORY OF PETER AMAZES ME BECAUSE PETER KNEW WHAT WAS TO TAKE PLACE THE NEXT MORNING, YET WE FIND HIM THE NIGHT BEFORE WHE WAS TO BE EXECUTED, AN A DEEP SLEEP, CHAINED BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS, AND GUARDED WELL.

HEROD’S GREAT DESIRE TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE BY GIFTS AND SHOWS OF BLOOD TO WIN THEIR FAVER, HAD BEEN FOILED. HE WAS PLANNING TO BRING PETER UP ONTO A STAGE OR SOME HIGH GROUND WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE COULD SEE HIM CONDEMNED WHICH WOULD BE AS GOOD THEM AS A GLADIATORIAL SLAUGHTER TO A ROMAN AUDIENCE.

THIS IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION WAS JUST THE RIGHT TIMING FOR A MIRACULOUS EVEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. WHEN THE BATTLE SEEMS THE HOTTEST, THE VICTORY IS USUALLY THE SWEETEST.

SUDDENLY, THE LIGHT SHOWN IN THE PRISON! THE ANGEL HAD TO AWAKE PETER OUT OF A VERY DEEP SLEEP AND RESCUE HIM AS THE SOLDIERS SLEPT ON DUTY. THIS, BY THE WAY, IS AN UNFORGIVABLE ACTION OF A SOLDIER. THIS WAS HIS DEATH WARRENT.

WHY DID PETER HAVE SUCH A CALM DEEP SLEEP ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS INTENDED DEATH? BECAUSE HE KNEW HE WAS IN THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD, AND KNEW IT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A BATTLE GOING ON FOR HIS LIFE. PETER LIVED WHAT HE TAUGHT THE CHURCH.

WE LEARN SWEET SLEEP AND REST FROM THESE GREAT SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS; BUT THERE IS ONE MORE WAY WE LEARN: AND THAT IS THROUGH EXPERIENCING GOD’S PROMISES THROUGH OUR BEING TESTED.

LAST NIGHT I WAS STUNG IN THREE PLACES ON MY BODY BY A SCORPION IN BED DURING MY SLEEP. THE LAST TWO STINGS CAUSED ME TO JUMP OUT OF BED AND TURN ON THE LIGHT. THERE HE WAS, A BROWN SCORPION, READY TO STING AGAIN. MY HUSBAND SOON CAPTURED MY LITTLE ENEMY, AND I WENT BACK TO BED, AFTER CHECKING FOR MORE OF HIS LITTLE SCORPION FRIENDS. —-DID THIS KEEP ME AWAKE? NO! —-I WENT BACK TO SLEEP, LEAVING MYSELF IN THE HANDS OF THE ONE WHO IS FAITHFUL: MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. 

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WHAT HAPPENED TO INNOCENCE?

| Jeanette

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT VALUES AND OUR CHILDREN. EVERYONE OF US WOULD SHIELD OUR CHILDREN NOW, BUT WE CANNOT.—-WHY? WE ARE AFRAID IF WE DO NOT TEACH THEM ALL ABOUT LIFE, NOW, THEY WILL LEARN IT SOME OTHER WAY. AND THIS IS TRUE.

MEDIA, SCHOOLS, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS: ALL INFLUENCE OUR CHILDREN. I”M SURE YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT; BUT ARE WE GOING TO SIT BACK AND SEE THIS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN?

MY MOTHER AND I WERE HAVING A MOTHER-DAUGHTER DAY YESTERDAY, AND AS-YOU-WILL, WE BAGAN TO TALK ABOUT FAMILY.

WE WENT HERE AND THERE, AND THEN MOTHER BEGAN TO TELL ME ABOUT THE BIRTH OF HER BROTHER AND SISTER WHO ARE TWINS.

I WAS AMAZED TO HEAR THE STORY.

SHE SAID, “IN MY DAYS, AS A CHILD, WHEN A BABY WAS COMING, THE OTHER CHILDREN IN THE HOME DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THEY WERE GETTING TO HAVE ANOTHER BROTHER OR SISTER.

THE PREGNANT MOM WOULD HIDE THE BABY CLOTHES AT A NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE, SO THEY WOULDN’T KNOW.”

I STARTED ASKING MOTHER, “WHY?”

THEN I REALIZED THE ANSWER—-THEY WANTED THE CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE CHILDHOOD IN INNOCENCE, UNTIL THEY WERE OLD ENOUGH TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT SEX.

THE PARENTS WOULD NOT LIE TO THEM, SO THEY JUST KEPT QUIET ABOUT IT.

ANYWAY, GRANDMOTHER WAS ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH, SO HER NEIGHBOR TOOK ALL THE CHILDREN HOME WITH HER, AND SNUCK BACK WITH THE BABY CLOTHES AND BLANKET.

THEN IT HAPPENED! OUT COME MILDRED!!

MOTHER SAID, “IN THOSE DAYS THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW IF YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE A BOY OR GIRL, OR EVEN IF YOU WERE EXPECTING MORE THAN ONE.”

I GUESSED THAT WAS WHY THEY PUT DRESSES ON BOYS AS WELL AS GIRLS; I DON’T  KNOW.

THERE WERE MANY GUESSES, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION, WHETHER THE MOTHER WAS BIGGER IN FRONT, OR BIGGER FROM THE BACK VIEW. NO ONE KNEW FOR SURE BUT GOD HIMSELF.

MOTHER CONTINUED, “AS SOON AS THEY GOT MILFORD CLEANED-UP, WRAPPED-UP—-TO THEIR SURPRISE, OUT CAME MILFORD! TWINS!!

THERE WERE NO CLOTHES FOR MILFORD, SO GRANDMA’S NEIGHBOR HAD TO RUN QUICKLY BACK HOME TO GET A BLANKET.”

I LOVE THIS STORY. THIS WAS A STORY I NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

I ENJOYED IT, BUT IT GOT ME TO THINKING.

WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE INNOCENCE OF OUR SMALL CHILDREN?

WHY HAVE WE ALLOWED FAMILY VALUES TO BECOME SO POLLUTED?

WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?

MANY OF OUR SMALL CHILDREN KNOW MORE THAN I DID WHEN I GOT MARRIED.

THERE SHOULD BE A TIME OF INNOCENCE—-UNDISTURBED.

I KNOW YOU ARE ASKING,”HOW CAN WE KEEP OUR CHILDREN FROM GETTING ABUSED IF THEY DON’T KNOW?”

I BELIEVE THE TIME TO TELL THEM SOMETHING IS WHEN THEY BEGIN TO ASK QUESTIONS. BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO TELL THEM EVERYTHING: JUST ENOUGH TO SATISFY THEM.

LEAVE OFF THE “CABBAGE PATCH,” AND THE “STORK STORY,” AND TELL THEM THE TRUTH: JUST ENOUGH TO SATISFY THEIR CURIOSITY, BECAUSE TOO MUCH WILL ONLY CONFUSE THEM, AND CAUSE THEM TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS.

MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD, IF WE DON’T DO SOMETHING, THIS SPIRAL WILL CONTINUE DOWN HILL.

THE WORLD, AND EVEN SOME PSYCOLOGISTS, WOULD TELL YOU IT IS GOOD FOR CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE SEX EARLY. THEY SAY IT WILL PREPARE THEM FOR ADULTHOOD.

THIS IS A LIE FROM SATAN.

I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE, WHAT IT CAN DO TO AN INNOCENT CHILD TO BE VIOLATED AT AN EARLY AGE.—-IT CAUSES THEM TO FEEL INFERIOR, AND MANY END UP IN MENTAL INSTITUTIONS; OR THROUGH UNCONTROLLED ANGER, EVEN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. SOME END UP IN HOMOSEXUALITY.

THEY ARE NOT PREPARED FOR SUCH AN ADULT ACTION.

YOU MIGHT THINK MY GRANDMOTHER MORTON WAS TOO PRIMITIVE!

WELL, AT LEAST MY GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER WERE DOING SOMETHING!!—-THEY WERE TRYING TO KEEP THOSE LITTLE ONE’S INNOCENT, UTIL THEY ERE READY TO EXPERIENCE LIFE.

YOU CAN CALL IT TOO PROTECTIVE IF YOU WANT, BUT WHAT IS GOING ON NOW IS FAR OUT OF HAND.

OUR TEENS, ON THE AVERAGE, ARE EXPERIENCING ACTIVE SEX LIVES. WHEN THEY MARRY, MANY OF THEM WON’T EVEN REMEMBER HOW MANY PARTNERS THEY HAVE HAD SEX WITH ALREADY.

CHILDREN SEE SO MANY ADULT PROGRAMS, THEY WANT TO BE AN ADULT TOO FAST: TOO FAST FOR THEIR MINDS AND BODIES.

CHILDREN ARE DATING CHILDREN. WHEN PUBERTY BEGINS, NUMEROUS CHILDREN HAVE ALREADY SEEN MANY SEX SCENES ON TV AND INTERNET WITH NO FILTERING. 

THEY ACT OUT WHAT THEY SEE, NOT WHAT THEY ARE TOLD.

ALONG WITH SOME OTHER MINISTERS, I HELPED MINISTER DELIVERENCE TO A THREE YEAR OLD CHILD. HER STORY GOES LIKE THIS: SHE HAD VIEWED HER MOTHER AND MEN IN BED, AND SHE WAS TRYING TO HAVE SEX WITH HER DOLL REPEATEDLY.  THE GRANDMOTHER BEGAN TO NOTICE WHAT SHE WAS DOING, AND BROUGHT HER FOR HELP.—-SHE RECEIVED DELIVERANCE.

I HAD A SUSPICION, ALSO, SHE MAY HAVE BEEN MOLESTED.

I AM HORRIFIED, THAT WE AS ADULTS, HAVE ALLOWED THINGS TO GET SO FAR OUT OF HAND.

YOU MIGHT SAY, “I AGREE, BUT WHAT CAN I DO?”

WE NEED TO PRAY, AND ASK GOD FOR A PLAN. HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THIS DOWNWARD SPIRAL. WE NEED TO WATCH WHAT WE BRING INTO OUR HOMES. 

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXAMPLE WE SET.

WE NEED TO STOP LETTING OUR CHILDREN START DATING BEFORE THEY ARE READY. 

WE NEED TO STOP RIDING OUR CHILDREN AROUND WITH THEIR DATES, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE.

BELOVED, IF THEY ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE, THEY ARE NOT MATURE ENOUGH TO DATE. SOMETIMES, I THINK PARENTS PUSH THEIR CHILDREN INTO DATING. 

YOUR CHILD IS NOT READY FOR WHAT THEY MIGHT EXPERIENCE. 

PEOPLE YOU TRUST MAY NOT PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST.

WE NEED TO BEGIN AGAIN, AND TAKE CHECK ON OUR VALUES.

PROVERBS 7:7,8 – AND BEHOLD AMONG THE SIMPLE ONE’S, I DESCERNED AMONG THE YOUTHS, A YOUNG MAN VOID OF UNDERSTANDING, PASSING THROUGH THE STREET NEAR HER CORNER, AND HE WENT THE WAY OF HER HOUSE…

THIS IS DESCRIBING A YOUTH, NOT A MAN.—-SHE GOES ON TO TELL HIM THE MAN OF THE HOUSE IS GONE ON A TRIP AND NO ONE IS HOME. 

VERSES 21,22,27 – WITH HER MUCH FAIR SPEECH SHE CAUSED HIM TO YEILD, WITH THE FLATTERING OF HER LIPS SHE FORCED HIM. HE GOETH AFTER HER STRAIGHTWAY, AS AN OX GOETH TO A SLAUGHTER, OR AS A FOOL TO THE CORRECTION OF THE STOCKS; HER HOUSE IS THE WAY TO HELL, GOING DOWN TO THE CHAMBERS OF DEATH. (OR IF YOU WANT TO FIND THE ROAD TO HELL, LOOK FOR HER HOUSE.)

CHAPTER 2:17 – WHICH FORSAKETH THE GUIDE OF HER YOUTH, AND FORGETTETH THE COVENANT OF HER GOD.

SHE HAS FORSAKEN WHAT SHE WAS TAUGHT BY HER PARENTS, AND BECAME ARROGANT, AND TURNED HER BACK ON GOD. 

I THANK GOD FOR CHRISTIAN VALUES, MY PARENTS INSTILLED IN ME AS A SMALL CHILD. THEY TOOK ME TO CHURCH. THEY TAUGHT ME TO PRAY AND READ THE BIBLE EVERYDY. I LEARNED THAT AT HOME.

MANY WANT THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO HAVE GOD AND HIS PEACE REST UPON THEM, BUT WE DON’T TO PAY THE PRICE OF DISCIPLINE.

TIS IS NOT TO BRING YOU TO CONDEMNATION, BUT TO SOUND AN ALARM.

PROVERBS SUMS IT UP THIS WAY (22:6)  WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPAKE AS A CHILD, I UNDERSTOOD AS A CHILD…

A CHILD UNDERSTANDS AS A CHILD AND SHOULD BE PROTECTED: DON’T FORCE THEM INTO ADULTHOOD.

THERE IS NO CHILD-CARE LIKE THE CARE OF A LOVING GODLY MOTHER AND FATHER (OR FATHER).

THE GREATEST ANSWER IS PRAYER: PRAY FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN.

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APPEARANCES

| Jeanette

I ASK YOU TO READ THIS MESSAGE WITH AN OPEN MIND AS I, AS AN OLDER WOMAN, TEACH YOU WHAT GOD HAS LAID ON MY HEART TODAY.

IN SCRIPTURE, WE ARE TOLD TO ABSTAIN FROM CERTAIN THINGS AND ACTIONS, SUCH AS: FORNICATION (I THESSALONIANS  4:3); ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL (I THESSALONIANS 5:22); AND FLESHLY LUSTS (I PETER 2:11).

GIRLS (AND GUYS), GOD HAS GIVEN A BEAUTIFUL BODY TO REJOICE IN.

ALL OF US ARE …FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE…(PSALM 139:14).

WHEN GOD CREATED WOMAN, HE FORMED HER FROM ONE OF ADAM’S RIBS; WHICH WAS THE FIRST RECORDED SURGERY. GENESIS 2:21-23 – AND GOD CAUSED A DEEP SLEEP TO FALL UPON ADAM, AND HE SLEPT: AND HE  TOOK ONE OF ADAM’S RIBS, AND CLOSED UP THE FLESH INSTEAD.

          AND THE RIB WHICH THE LORD HAD TAKEN FROM MAN, MADE HE A WOMAN, AND BROUGHT HER TO THE MAN. WOMAN MEANS: “AT LAST THIS ONE.” WHY DID ADAM CALL HER “AT LAST THIS ONE?” BECAUSE ALL THE ANIMALS CREATED HAD A MATE.—-…AND THE LORD GOD SAID, IT IS NOT GOOD THAT MAN SHOULD BE ALONE; I WILL MAKE A HELP MEET FOR HIM (ONE SUITABLE TO HELP HIM) (GENESIS 2:18).

SO HERE WE GO! IT IS GOD’S PLAN THAT MAN IS ATTRACTED TO WOMAN, AND WOMAN TO MAN.

IN GENESIS 4:1, WE SEE …AND ADAM KNEW EVE HIS WIFE; AND SHE CONCEIVED…

SEX BEGAN.

BEFORE THE FALL, AND RECOGNITION OF GOOD AND EVIL, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR ONE MAN ONE ONE WOMAN TO BE CLOTHED IN GARMENTS. THEY WERE CLOTHED IN THE LIGHT OF GOD, IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN WHERE THERE WAS NO SIN OR CORRUPTION. ALL WAS PURITY AND PEACE. THERE WAS NO SEXUAL CONTACT BETWEEN ADAM AND EVE BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A PLACE OF HOLY COMPANIONSHIP.

DID GOD KNOW THEN THAY WOULD FALL AND SIN? YES, BECAUSE THE SCRIPTURES SAY IN REVELATION 13:8b – …THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD…SO WE SEE, GOD MADE PROVISION FOR OUR SINS BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, BEFORE CREATION. GOD KNEW THE CHOICES OF MAN TO COME, AND GAVE US A SAVIOR THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. IT WAS GOD’S DIVINE PLAN THAT HIS SON WOULD DIE FOR US, AND RISE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY, AND ASCEND BACK TO HEAVEN TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US. WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME TO JESUS. COME TODAY.

AFTER GOD PRONOUNCED THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN, IT IS RECORDED THAT HE CLOTHED ADAM AND EVE, AND AS HIS WIFE, SHE CONCEIVED A CHILD.

OUR AGE IS NOW CALLED A SEXUAL REVOLUTION: WITHOUT RESTRAINT, PORNOGRAPHY, FREE SEX, HOMOSEXUALITY OT OF THE CLOSET, EXPOSING ONE’S BODY, AND EVERYTHING GOES.

NOW, INSTESD ABSTAINING FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL, IT IS TO BE TOLERANT OF EVIL; DO YOUR OWN THING; MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES! —-WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE, BUT TAGGED-ON ARE THE CONSEQUENCES, OR COULD WE SAY, THE HARVEST OF OUR CHOICES.

TAKE THE CHOICE OF FORNICATION OF WHICH THE DEFINITION IS: SIN, ADULTRY, INFIDELITY, EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR (ACTUALLY IT MEANS ANY TYPE OF SEXUAL PERVERSION, EVEN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. 

LOOK AT I THESSALONIANS 4:3-5– FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, EVEN YOUR SANCTIFICATION, THAT YE SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM FORNICATION:

          THAT EVERYONE OF YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW TO POSSESS HIS VESSEL IN SANCTIFICATION AND HONOR;

          NOT IN THE LUST OF CONCUPISCIENCE (PERSONAL DESIRE), EVEN AS THE GENTILES (HEATHEN) WHICH KNOW NOT GOD. 

WHEN THE CHOICE TO FORNICATE IS MADE, THERE ARE MANY CONSEQUENCES THAT EVOLVE. IT OPENS THE DOOR TO AIDS, VENEREAL DISEASES, HEARTACHE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, UNWED PREGNANCY, ABORTION, AND THE LIST GOES ON; NOT TO MENTION DOSOBEDIENCE TO,  AND CHASTISEMENT OF GOD. MOST SAY GUILT IS THE HARDEST TO OVERCOME.

WHAT ABOUT OUR APPEARANCE, WHICH INCLUDES CHOICE OF CLOTHING, OUR ACTIONS; WHO WE TRY TO IMITATE; ANYTHING THAT WOULD GO UNDER THE APPEARANCES WE WANT TO REVEAL TO OTHERS WHO ARE WATCHING OUR LIVES?

ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL  (I THESSALONIANS 5:22).

I WAS TOLD BY AN ACQUAINTANCE OF MINE, WHO CONFESSED TO BE A CHRISTIAN, “IT DOESN’T MATTER THAT I AM LIVING WITH A MAN TO WHICH I AM NOT MARRIED. WE DON’T SLEEP TOGETHER.”

I KNEW THE CONSEQUENCES SHE COULD FACE BECAUSE A MAN AND WOMAN LIVING IN AHAOUS TOGETHER, ALONE, WHO ARE ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER, SPELLS FORNICATION.

I SAID TO HER, “WE ARE TOLD TO ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL.” SHE GOT VERY QUIET AND CONVICTION SET IN. PRAISE GOD, THROUGH A DANGER TO HERSELF, SHE GOT OUT OF THAT SITUATION. FROM THAT DAY SHE STAYED CLOSE TO THE LORD, AND SHE WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD TWO YEARS AGO.

WHAT ABOUT MODESTY?  I PETER 2:11 – DEARLY BELOVED, I BESEECH YOU AS STRANGERS AND PILGRAMS, ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS (DESIRES) WHICH WAR AGAINST THE SOUL;

STUDIES SHOW THAT MALES TEND TO BE MORE VISUALLY ORIENTED THAN FEMALES WHEN IT COMES TO SEXUAL AROUSAL. CHRISTIAN WOMEN, THEREFORE, HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO TEMPT MEN BY THE WAY THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES. WE MUST KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE EXAMINE PAUL’S INSTRUCTION TO TIMOTHY THAT WOMEN’S CLOTHING SHOULD BE MODEST, DECENT, AND PROPER. I TIMOTHY 2:9a,10 – IN LIKE MANNER ALSO, THAT WOMEN ADORN THEMSELVES IN MODEST APPAREL, WITH SHAMEFACEDNESS (REVERENCE TOWARD GOD, AND DECENCY; RESPECT) AND SOBRIETY (OR SELF CONTROL, SOUNDNESS OF MIND) …WHICH BECOMETH WOMEN PROFESSING GODLINESS) WITH GOOD WORKS.

THIS IS NOT THE DO’S AND DON’T”S—-IT IS ABOUT POWERFULLY COMMUNICATING OUR INDIVIDUAL VALUE AS WOMEN AND RESPECTING THE VALUE OF MEN. JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE KINGDOM, MODESTY ISN’T ABOUT RULES AND REGULATIONS—-IT IS BORN IN THE REALM OF MOTIVES OR ISSUES OF THE HEART.

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