You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
Slide Forward – Rick Bagwell
Tag: forgive
Understandings and Misunderstandings – Jeanette Porter
You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
Faith and Confidence – Rick Bagwell
You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
DELIVERANCE OF THE ABUSED & HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD
MANY SEX CRIMES CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE CRIMINAL BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED AT SOME POINT IN THEIR OWN LIVES. THIS DOOR FROM WHICH THAT SPIRIT CAME IN TO THEM, COULD HAVE BEEN OPENED FOR THIS DEMON TO SURFACE AND START WORKNG, THROUGH A GENERATIONAL PROCESS, OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN INVITED IN BY THEIR OWN LUST.
PARENTS, OPEN YOUR EYES, CHILDREN EXPERIMENT WITH THEIR BODIES. THEY KNOW TOO MUCH, TOO SOON.
THEY ARE AROUND OLDER CHILDREN WHO EXPOSE THEM TO EXPERIMENTATION, AND THEN THEY TAKE FROM THERE.
BEGIN TO QUESTION YOUR CHILDREN. QUIT BEING AFRAID TO BE CALLED ‘NOSEY.’ BE NOSEY, ASK QUESTIONS, SEARCH THEIR ROOM PERIODICALLY. LOOK FOR SIGNS LIKE: BED-WETTING, CHANGE IN ATTITUDE, EXTREME SHYNESS, UNUSUAL CRYING, POOR SELF- IMAGE, AND THERE ARE MORE.
DON’T LET THE CHILD CONTINUE TO SILENTLY HURT INSIDE; FEEL TORMENTED WITH THE MEMORIES; AND THE ANGER BE SHOWN ON THE OUTSIDE.
GIRLS SEEM TO HURT MORE INSIDE, AND BOYS SEEM TO SHOW IT MORE ON THE OUTSIDE.
WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS GROWING UP WE HAD AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY. I NEVER ALLOWED HER FRIENDS OR FAMILY VISITORS TO ENTER A ROOM AND CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND THEM. IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR, CHILDREN CAN BEGIN A LIFE OF HURT THAT WILL FOLLOW THEM: SOME FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
BE NOSEY, PARENTS! TAKE IT FROM SOMEONE WHO HAD WOUNDS AND SCARS MOST OF HER LIFE.
IT HAS AEFFECTED ME EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY IN WAYS THAT ARE INDESCRIBABLE.
HOW DID I GET RID OF IT?: THROUGH FORGIVING THE ABUSER AND KNOWING THAT THE REAL ABUSER WAS THE DEMON IN OPERATION THROUGH THAT PERSON OR PERSONS.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE AN ABUSER: HE OR SHE IS USALLY SOMEONE WHO HAS A PASSION FOR CHILDREN THAT IS NOT NORMAL. MY HUSBAND NOTICED AN OLDER MAN WHO CAME INTO THE CHURCH THAT ACTED STRANGE TOWARD SMALL BOYS. THIS MAN SELECTED ONE SMALL CHILD AND GAVE HIM A LOT OF ATTENTION. WE WARNED THE PARENTS WHO TURNED AGAINST US BECAUSE HE APPEARED TO THEM A LOVING, CARING, ELDERLY MAN WHO MEANT NO HARM.
STILL, SEEING HIS POSESSIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARD THIS CHILD, MY HUSBAND ALERTED THE MEN OF THE CHURCH AND HE WAS BEING WATCHED FROM ALL SIDES. WE DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE THE MAN AND FOUND OUT HE HAD ALREADY SERVED TIME FOR MESSING WITH LITTLE BOYS IN A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS BY CALLING THEM ON HIS PHONE AND SAYING SEXUAL THINGS TO THEM. WE ALERTED THE FAMILY WHO STILL DOESN’T BELIEVE US, AND THEY LEFT THE CHURCH, THINKING WE HAD JUDGED HIM UNFAIRLY.
IT’S EVEN HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO ACCEPT, IF IT IS A FAMILY MEMBER, BECAUSE EITHER THEY DON’T WANT TO BELIEVE IT, OR THEY DON’T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT. IT’S MORE PAINFUL WHEN IT’S FAMILY FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
HOW DO I GET MY CHILDREN TO TALK? – THIS IS THE HARDEST PART. THE CHILDREN SOMETIMES LOOK-UP-TO, AND CONFIDE IN THAT PERSON. THEY GIVE THEM A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION; BUY THEM GIFTS; TAKE THEM PLACES; SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM, PERSONALLY.
IN MY CASE, AS A SMALL CHILD, IT WAS THE PROMISE OF A BRIDE DOLL; ALONG WITH A THREAT OF MY DADDY KILLING MY GRANDFATHER AND GOING TO JAIL. — THIS IS VERY PERSUASIVE FOR A SMALL CHILD. A CHILD’S IMAGINATION SOMETIMES MAGNIFIES THE THREAT. THE ABUSER WILL SOMETIMES TELL THE CHILD, “I’M AN ADULT, AND NO ONE WILL LISTEN TO YOU. THEY WON’T BELIEVE YOU.”
I NEVER TOLD UNTIL MY GRANDFATHER DIED. I WAS A YOUNG ADULT WITH A CHILD OF MY OWN, AND CARRIED THE SECRET AROUND WITH ME MOST OF MY LIFE AND ALSO, IT TORMENTED ME ALMOST DAILY. IT AFFECTED EVERY PART OF MY LIFE.
ONCE I HEARD A DISCUSSION BY PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCOLOGISTS WHO SAID IT WAS GOOD FOR A CHILD TO HAVE SEX WITH AN ADULT: IT PREPARES THEM FOR THEIR SEXUAL ADULTHOOD.
EITHER THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, OR THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH SOME SORT OF UNHEALTHY AND UNGODLY SEXUAL ACTIVITIES THEMSELVES.
SOME ARE SO DEVASTATED: THEY COMIT SUICIDE. AND OTHERS WHOM WE HAVE DEALT WITH, ARE SERVING TIME FOR THINGS THEY GOT INVOLVED WITH TO SOOTHE THEIR EMOTIONAL PAIN: DRUGS AND ALCOHOL; AND SOME BECAME PROSTITUTES BECAUSE THEY BECAME ADDICTED OR THE LUST SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG THEY COULD NOT BE SATISFIED.
IS THERE DELIVERANCE FOR THE ABUSED? – YES. IT TAKES TIME, AND IT TAKES PRAYER, BUT THE FIRST STEP, IS TO TELL.
WE HAVE TO FORGIVE THE ABUSERS AND PRAY FOR THEM, BUT WE DON’T HAVE TO PUT OURSELVES, OR THOSE OF WHICH WE ARE RESPONSIBLE BACK IN THE SAME PLACE TO BE ABUSED AGAIN.
TEACH THEM TO PRAY; AND ASK GOD TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, NATIONWIDE, AND AROUND THE WORLD.
A HEALTHY CHILDHOOD IS A PRICELESS INVESTMENT.
BITTERNESS PART II
MANY TIMES, WE JUST CAN’T ACCEPT THE TRIALS AND EVENTUAL END OF OUR TROUBLES AS AN INCREASE IN OUR LIVES. ALL WE CAN SEE IS THE NOW. USUALLY OUR TRIALS ARE ONLY A FORERUNNER OF THE JOY TO COME. WHEN IT CONCERNS WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT US, IT IS REJECTION BY THAT PERSON’S ACTIONS THAT TROUBLES US THE MOST, EVEN IF WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS UNTRUE.
IN HANNAH’S CASE, SHE DIDN’T RETALIATE AGAINST HER HUSBAND’S OTHER WIFE (POLYGAMY WAS TOLERATED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, BUT FORBIDDEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT), BUT PATIENTLY ENDURED ALL THE REPROACHES CAST UPON HER, YET SHE WEPT AND DID NOT EAT.
THERE WAS A REASONING IN THE MIND OF PENINNAH FOR HER TORMENT OF HANNAH: BECAUSE HER HUSBAND LOVED HANNAH MORE. SHE HAD FALLEN INTO A STATE OF JEALOUSY, BY WHICH SHE JUSTIFIED HER ACTIONS.
IF WE COULD JUST “GET-IT”, THAT GOD CARES ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN OUR LIVES, AND, AS A CHRISTIAN, WE HAVE THE PROMISE THEY WILL TURN OUT FOR OUR GOOD, WE WOULD HAVE JOY IN THE KNOWING THAT IT WILL NOT STAY THE WAY IT IS NOW, BUT THAT GOD WILL SOMEHOW TURN IT ALL AROUND.
ANOTHE EXAMPLE OF BITTERNESS IN THE BIBLE, IS ABOUT SIMON WHO WAS A SORCERER. HE WAS IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS. WHY? BECAUSE WHILE HE WAS A SORCERER, BEFORE HE RECEIVED SALVATION, IT WAS SAID ABOUT HIM, WHEN HE BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE, “THIS IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD.” BUT AFTER SALVATION, HE NO LONGER HAD THE EVILPOWER.
ACTS 8:9-11; 13; 18-22 – BUT THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN CALLED SIMON, WHICH BEFORE TIME IN THE SAME CITY USED SORCERY, AND BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA, GIVING OUT THAT HIMSELF WAS SOME GREAT ONE:
TO WHOM THEY ALL GAVE HEED, FORM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST, SAYING, THIS MAN IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD.
AND TO HIM THEY HAD REGARD BECAUSE OF LONG TIME HE HAD BEWITCHED THEM WITH SORCERIES (WITCHCRAFT).
THEN SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED ALSO; AND WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED, HE CONTINUED WITH PHILIP, AND WONDERED, BEHOLDING THE MIRACLES AND SIGNS WHICH WERE DONE.
AND WHEN SIMON SAW THAT THROUGH LAYING ON OF THE APOSTLE’S HANDS THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN, HE OFFERED THEM MONEY.
SAYING, GIVE ME ALSO THIS POWER, THAT ON WHOMSOEVER I LAY MY HANDS, HE MAY RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST.
BUT PETER SAID UNTO HIM, THY MONEY PERISH WITH THEE, BECAUSE THOU HAST THOUGHT THAT THE GIFT OF GOD MAY BE PURCHASED WITH MONEY.
THOU HAST NEITHER PART NOR LOT IN THIS MATTER, FOR THY HEART IS NOT RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.
REPENT THEREFORE OF THY WICKEDNESS, AND PRAY GOD, IF PERHAPS THE THOUGHT OF THINE HEART MAY BE FORGIVEN THEE.
VERSE 23 – FOR I PERCEIVE THOU ART IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS, AND IN THE BOND OF INIQUITY.
THEN ANSWERED SIMON, AND SAID, PRAY YE TO THE LORD FOR ME, THAT NONE OF THESE THINGS WHICH YE HAVE SPOKEN COME UPON ME.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE? WHY WAS PETER SO UPSET WITH SIMON? BECAUSE ALL THE GIFTS AND CALLINGS OF GOD ARE FREE, AND NONE COULD BE OBTAINED BUT THROUGH GOD, AND NOT FOR A PRICE. JESUS HAD ALREADY PAID THE PRICE ON THE CROSS.
SIMON HAD GIVEN UP HIS UNHOLY GIFT OF WITCHCRAFT, BUT HIS FLESH STILL LOVED THE EXCITEMENT OF THE SUPERNATURAL AND THE ATTENTION IT BROUGHT HIM. HE SAW SOMETHING THAT WAS MANIFESTED ON THOSE RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST AND THAT THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM IN SUCH A SUPERNATURAL WAY THAT OTHERS SAW SOMETHING HAPPEN, THAT HIS FLESH WANTED THIS POWER.
BUT WHAT WAS HIS BITTERNESS? I BELIEVE THAT HE NO LONGER HAD THE POWER TO THRILL PEOPLE LIKE HE ONCE HAD, AND SEEING THOSE WHO HAD THE POWER OF GOD ON THEM, HE WAS JEALOUS: WHICH IS A PART OF BITTERNESS.
THE GALL: A PERSON, A WICKED PERSON, WHOSE LIFE AND BEHAVIOR IS OFFENSIVE TO GOD. I T MEANS THIS WAS THE DEEPEST KIND OF BITTERNESS, BECAUSE IN HIS MIND HE WAS ASSOCIATING THE EVIL SUPERNATURAL WITH THE DIVINE.
HEBREWS 12:15 – LOOKING DILIGENTLY LEST ANY MAN FAIL OF THE GRACE OD GOD; LEST ANY ROOT OF BITTERNESS SPRINGING UP TROUBLE YOU, AND THEREBY MANY BE DEFILED (OR HOW YOU ACT AFFECTS THOSE WATCHING YOUR LIFE).
THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS, IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED BITTERNESS THAT COULD SPRING-UP UNEXPECTEDLY AT ANY TIME AND TROUBLE THE PERSON WHO POSESSES IT. IT CAUSES THEM TO SAY THINGS THAT CAUSES DISCORD IT THE BODY OF CHRIST AND FAMILIES, AND CAN DEFILE MANY.
THOSE WITH IT, MOST OF THE TIME, DON’T BELIEVE THEY HAVE IT, OR DON’T EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE IT, BECAUSE IT IS SO EMBEDDED DOWN DEEP WITHIN. IT HAS TAKEN ROOT IN THEIR PERSONALITY, AND HAS BECOME A PART OF THEM.
TO GET RID OF IT, THEY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE IT, AND ASK GOD TO EXPOSE IT TO THEM; CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE; AND BAPTIZE THEM WITH LOVE.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME, ALARMINGLY, THEY HAVE HAD IT SO LONG, THEY WANT TO KEEP IT. SO, MANY ARE DEFILED AND ARE AFFECTED, OR SHOULD I SAY INFECTED.
EVEN IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE A PORBLEM, ASK THE FATHER TO SHINE A LIGHT ON IT, AND SHOW YOU IF ONE EXISTS. IF IT DOES, GIVE IT TO GOD AND ASK HIM TO DELIVER YOU. ASK HIM WHAT CAUSED IT TO TAKE ROOT, AND EXPOSE IT TO YOU. THEN FORGIVE.
THE SECRET PLACE
Psalm 91:1-4
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:
my God; in Him will I trust.
Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with His feathers,
and under His wings shall thou trust :
His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Woman of God, do you feel alone today,
longing for a touch of God in your life?
Today is that day for you.
Today is the day that Lord hath made,
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
He desires that you rejoice and be glad.
No, you can’t change the things going on around you, but God can.
He can also give you the grace and joy you need for the day.
Beloved, begin your day in the secret place of the Almighty,
and you will definitely abide under His shadow.
You will never be alone again. You will never feel forsaken again.
Tell Him how you feel, turn your day over to Him: today and every day.
Don’t waste them with doubts and fears.
You who are not saved, pray this prayer with me and mean in from the heart.
“Jesus, come into my heart and save my soul. Forgive me of all my sins. I desire to serve you. I turn my life over to you. Thank you for saving me, and I ask You to deliver me from all unforgiveness of others and from every other stronghold in my life. I will never be alone again.”
“Thank You, Lord, for saving and delivering me. I am saved!”
If you prayed this prayer with me, I now ask you to take another step and write me at:
LMCI
PO Box 9315
Greenville, SC 29604
Email me: jeanette@lmcigreenville.org
I will write you back.
Welcome to the family of God. You too are now a woman of God.
When you write, I will send you a booklet on the next steps.
Now, let’s go on with our study of the Scriptures.
When we abide under the shadow of the Almighty, we will be able to say
… He is my refuge and my fortress… Nothing will ever come your way that God can’t take care of. He not only wants you to give your troubles to Him, He also wants you to leave them with Him, and not take them back.
God’s presence is the only refuge from trouble.
He alone has your answer.
…in Him will I trust or confide…
Tell Him your situation.
It’s good at times, to confide in people,
But sometimes, woman of God, they will “blab”,
but God will never “blab”.
You can trust Him to silently begin to solve your problems
and give you joy along the way, through them.
Verse 3 says, …Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler…
Do you know that the enemy of our souls, Satan, has a snare or trap for all of us.
As we abide under the shadow of the almighty, He will make us aware of the traps and snares Satan has planed for us, so we can avoid them.
I’ve been told that some of my listening audience is incarcerated.
Well, your body may be locked-up, but your spirit can be free and stay free.
Verse 3 says also …He shall deliver thee from the noisome pestilence…(raging epidemic).
SARS is the most feared epidemic in our society today.
We need not fear. We only need to ask God for protection.
The Prophets foretold the epidemics would come, and wars and rumors of wars.
I feel Jesus’ coming is so soon we can almost feel His breath surround us.
Have you ever watched a mother hen cover her chicks with her feathers?
It is a precious sight to see the little one’s run fast to get under her feathers. She does this when danger is near.
Verse 4 reads …He shall cover thee with His feathers…
Woman of God, when you see trouble coming, don’t run from God,
but run to God. Get snuggled-in under His feathers.
Also in verse 4 it says …and under His wings thou shalt trust…
There is no love greater than a protecting, saving love.
…Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).
We not only have protection from enemies, but so much more than that.
Picture to yourself what the shelter of the wing of the mother-bird is to her young, and it will tell you what the precious promise of our text means to the believer.
It means happy content and comfort.
The soul is happy in God.
Our life is hidden with God.
See how the young brood is hidden under their mother’s wing?
There is a nearness to the heart of God.
The young birds can feel the beat of their mother’s heart.
So the soul of the sheltered one beholds and feels the love of God.
Who can imitate it?
Only through God, can we really, really love.
This is not promised to everybody, but only to those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High.
Those who abide in and are ever trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our time has gone by so fast.
I really enjoy our time together.
Woman of God, Trusting is the key to peace with God. Anything else is far short of what we can have.
“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
And remember, Nothing is impossible with God!
JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY
JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY
I would like to thank my heavenly Father for making this ministry possible, and giving me the grace to follow Him.
Our Scripture reading is found in Genesis Chapter 37, and Ephesians 5:28-33.
When we think of jealousy and rivalry, our minds go back to times in our lives when we have seen this in action. Could be, our actions, or the actions of others around us, or it could be what we hear from the media; but wherever we hear it, or experience it, we know it is rampant on this globe.
It is very important we know what the Bible has to say about it, so we can avoid it.
Jealousy means: Possessiveness, resentfulness, morbid suspicion, mistrust, and flaming anger.
Rivalry means: Competition, opposing, striving to win, struggle to surpass, contest, battle of wills.
Wow!
You might say, “I read in the Bible where it says, God is a jealous God.”
You’re right. We are going there first.
Exodus 20:5,6 —-Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them (referring to idols),nor serve them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.
God said it. I am a jealous God.
God will not give His glory to another.
He will not tolerate a rival near His throne.
He is not jealous as the Greeks thought; of mere success, or greatness; but He is very jealous of His own honor, and will not have the respect and reverence which is due to Him, given to other beings or objects.
What about family ?
There has always been jealousy and rivalry in the family:
Marital
Siblings
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
and so on —-
There has always been jealousy and rivalry in the Church family
And jealousy and rivalry in the work place.
But God wants us to get above that and come out to freedom from this torment, because …jealousy has torment… attached to it.
Let’s look at a family situation in Genesis 37:4,11,18,28,31-32,35, where jealousy between brothers causes much pain to the family.
Our story begins when Joseph was only seventeen years old.
He was shepherding the flock with his brothers, and brought his father a bad report on them. (verse 2)
Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age and made him a coat of many colors. (verse 3)
4- And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaecably to him.
5- And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren (brothers): and they hated him yet the more.
He had dreamed they had bowed down in respect to him. (verse 7)
This caused them to hate him more. (verse 8)
In verse 9 and 10, he dreamed another dream, and told it to his brothers and his father. But his father rebuked him and said to him, What is the meaning of this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow down ourselves to the earth and do homage to you?
Verse 11 —- Joseph’s brothers envied him ; but his father observed the saying (his father took notice of the saying and pondered over it)
Although Joseph was seemingly trying to do the right thing, and his brothers were doing evil things, it seems to me these kinds of dreams should have been kept in his heart, and not shared with his brothers.
We see here to, his father did correct him when he needed it.
In our day and time we would call this a dysfunctional family, because the other brothers were the sons of two other wives. (verse 2)
Joseph was their half brother.
One day, when the brothers were feeding and shepherding their father’s flock; Israel told Joseph, “Go see whether or not everything is all right with your brothers and with the flock, and report back to me”. (14)
18 – And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
And they said to each other, “Here comes this dreamer, and master of dreams. Let us kill him and throw his body in some pit ; then we will say to our father, some wild beast has devoured him; and we will see what will become of his dreams!” (verses 19,20)
Reuben heard it and said, let’s not kill him, for Rueben’s plan was to rescue him, and take him back to his father. Reuben said, “Shed no blood.” So they took him and stripped him of his coat of many colors and cast him in a well-like pit with no water; and sat down to lunch. (verses 21-25)
25- When they looked up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, going on their way down to Egypt.
26- And Judah said to his brothers, What do we gain if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?”
27- Let us sell him to the Ishmaelites. And they sold him for twenty pieces of silver, which is a sermon of it’s own, because Jesus was betrayed and sold-out for twenty pieces of silver: —- but let’s go on.
28- And They took Joseph into Egypt.
29- Then Reuben , who had not been there when the brothers plotted to sell the lad, returned ; and behold, Joseph was not in the pit.
31,32- They killed an animal, dipped it in the blood and sent it to their father.
34- And Jacob tore his clothes, would not eat, and went into mourning.
35- His sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said “I will go to my grave to mourning for my son.”
And his father wept for him.
36- And the Midianites, and Ishmaelites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.
39:2- But the Lord was with Joseph.
As the story goes on we see Joseph being put down and then being lifted up to the number one place next to Pharaoh.
God had given to him the gift of interpreting dreams, and used this gift to lift him up to this great position to eventually help his family in a time of famine, to keep them alive, and because his family had to come to Egypt where they could buy food, they in due time, did bow before Joseph, because reigned next to Pharaoh.
H
In this story, we see sibling rivalry in the worst degree. Jealousy and rivalry which led to hate and anger and a conspiracy to do harm followed by lies to cover-up. After which, grief filled the family.
Many do not actually carry-out what they think to do to their siblings, but to hate them shows what is in their heart.
Christians struggle with jealousy at times, which brings on curses and severe problems to come upon them, if not dealt with.
I can think of other accounts of jealousy that arises in families, such as one family member is more prosperous than the other.
A Mother-in-law may be jealous of her Daughter-in-law, or the other way around. Sometimes they may see each other as rivals for his attention.
I tell you, this should not be going on in the life of a Christian.. It is walking in the flesh. This brings so much trouble into the family that does not need to be there. Get over it! It grieves your relationship with God.
Woman of God, understand this: the love the son has for his mother, is different from the love he has for his wife. To try to cause division between either of these two relationships will backfire on you.
Listen to this Scripture in Ephesians 5:28-33 —-So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: (or just like the Lord does the Church).
For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
For this cause (or this reason) shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.
Nevertheless let everyone of you in particular (or personally) so love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence (or honor) her husband.
Mother-in-laws sometimes think their son or daughter could have done much better in choosing their spouse: but many times they are looking at the faults of the in-law, and they fail to see their child’s imperfections.
There should be a love bond between in-laws because of the marriage bond of their child to the one they choose.
God If that child of yours is so perfect and intelligent and such a magnificent Christian, why do you think they made such a bad choice?
Think about it!
I tell you, if more time was spent trying to understand, and praying for that child’s spouse, there would be more peace and harmony in their lives, as well as your relationship with your child; not to mention the relationship between you and God.
If there is no harmony in the family, the children pick-up on it and become like you.
I am sorry to say, jealousy and rivalry are rampant in the Body of Christ as well as in family life.
This shouldn’t be. Allow the Holy Spirit to convict you and change you into that person that overlooks the faults of others.
Pray this prayer with me: Father, I want to be like Jesus. Help me to deal with any jealousy or rivalry in my life. I repent of it. I know it hurts my relationship with You. Please forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. Bring harmony in every area of my life. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
HOW TO DEAL WITH OFFENCES
Luke 17:1 – Then said He (Jesus) unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
A fact: It is impossible to live as a Christian and not be offended. The purpose for offences, is to stop God’s purpose.
People don’t mean to offend us; but sometimes they do so because they don’t understand what God is doing in our lives. Sometimes they offend us because they are jealous.
Different reasoning brings offences, but the purpose is to destroy God’s purpose.
Matthew 16:13-18 – When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Phillipi, He asked His disciples, saying,whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, but whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.
Peter received divine revelation of who Jesus was, but did not understand the purpose of Jesus.
When Jesus began to explain the purpose of God for His human life, Peter did not understand, which offended Jesus.
Peter, unknowingly, tried to stop the the purpose of the Father through Jesus.
Matthew 16:21-23 – From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee. But He turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Personally, I believe that all offences come from the forces of the enemy to stop the purpose of God. People who understand who God is, don’t understand how God is working-out his purpose.
Children of God don’t get offended by lost people. Offences come from other Christians.
We loose the mind-set of God because we are not seeking God, and we get the mind-set of the flesh.
When we have been hurt, we want to retaliate. We get a mind-set (or savourest) the things of men and fall into the purposes of Satan. Then we become the offender, and our actions offend the other little sheep; and in the middle of our crusade to get revenge, we stop or hinder God’s purpose.
His kingdom must be more important than our pride.
I have been an offender, and I have been offended.
There is a cross I must pick up.
Peter wanted Jesus to be the Christ, but he did not want the suffering Christ. He wanted salvation without suffering.
We want salvation without suffering. We want salvation without denying our flesh.
For God’s purpose to come, we must sometimes suffer; and even though we have been offended, we must forgive the offender. If we don’t, we will stop or hinder God’s kingdom purpose and hurt innocent Christians who are bystanders.
Luke 17:1-5 – Then said He unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: bur woe unto him, through whom they come! It was better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him: and if he repent thou shalt forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day and turn again to thee sayng, I repent: thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Faith produces obedience, when we choose to obey, the grace of God comes and we can pray with power. Forgiveness is a choice. We make a mental deicision to forgive hurts, trespasses. Jesus is teaching us in the next verse to speak to the very root of the problem, again forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision.
If we hold on to offences we either hinder or stop God’s purpose in our lives . We must speak to the tree of unforgiveness, this thing that is trying to grow in our lives.
Praying , and saying, Lord I choose not to receive this offence in my life, I Choose to forgive. I choose blessing and not curses. I refuse to loose my victory. I will not allow unforgiveness to hinder that powerful anointing for His purpose on by life. I will forgive them even if they never ask me to. I speak to every mountain of bitterness that has tried to attach itself to me, Go and be cast into the ocean of forgetfulness, I am free and blessed. Peace and joy will fill my life and the heavens are open to my prayers. Glory to God!
Child of God, please don’t take this as that I am judging, but as I am trying to help someone because I have fallen in this trap before myself.
