Tag: judgment

Articles, Roy Porter

DON’T STOP SHORT OF OF THE PROMISE

| Roy

NUMBERS 13: 30-33  AND CALEB STILLED THE PEOPLE BEFORE MOSES, AND SAID LET US GO UP AT ONCE, AND POSSESS IT; FOR WE ARE ABLE TO OVERCOME IT.

BUT THE MEN THAT WENT UP WITH HIM SAID, WE BE NOT ABLE TO GO UP AGAINEST THE PEOPLE; FOR THEY ARE STRONGER THAN WE.

AND THEY BROUGHT UP AND EVIL REPORT OF THE LAND WHICH THEY HAD SEARCHED UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, SAYING, THE LAND, THROUGH WHICH WE HAVE GONE TO SEARCH IT, IS LAND THAT EATETH UP THE INHABITANTS THEROF; AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE SAW IN IT  ARE MEN OF GREAT STATURE.

AND THERE WE SAW THE GAINTS, THE SONS OF ANAK, WHICH COME OF THE GAINTS; AND WE WERE IN OUR OWN SIGHT AS GRASSHOPPERS, AND SO WE WERE IN THEIR SIGHT.

THE  HARDEST MILE TO RUN IN A MARATHON RACE IS THE LAST MILE.

HERE WE SEE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, WHO SAW THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD COME ON PHARAOH. THEY SAW THE POWER OF GOD MANIFEST IN SIGNS AND WONDERS.

THEY SAW JEHOVAH GOD, PART THE RED SEA AND BRING THEM ACROSS ON DRY GROUND.

BUT AT THE ENTRANCE INTO THE PROMISED LAND THEY STOPPED SHORT.

THEY WERE AT THE DOOR AND GAVE UP.

FEAR AND UNBELIEF CAUSED THEM TO SEE THEMSELVES UNABLE TO ENTER INTO THE PROMISE.

JESUS NEVER PROMISED IT WOULD BE EASY TO OBEY HIM.

HE NEVER PROMISED THAT WE  WOULD NOT FACE GAINTS IN THE LAND.

THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID TO MUCH THINKING AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW, INSTEAD OF WHAT GOD SAID.

GOD NEVER USED THE WORD FAILURE, FEAR, UNBELIEF. GOD HAD THE GRACE AVAILABLE, HE HAD ANGELS THERE TO HELP.

SAMSON KILLED ONE THOUSAND PHILISTINES WITH A JAWBONE OF A DONKEY.

GIDEON CONQUERED THE ENEMY WITH A SMALL ARMY.

HOW DID THESE THINGS HAPPEN? IF GOD BE FOR YOU WHO CAN BE AGAINEST YOU.

I HAVE RUN MANY RACES FOLLOWING GOD’S WILL AND PURPOSE, THE LAST MILE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PLACE THE DEVIL TRIED TO GET ME TO GIVE UP. JUST BEFORE THE FINISH OF SOMETHING THE DEVIL WILL THROW THE BIGGEST DEVILS AT YOU.

HE WILL TRY FEAR, DISCOURAGEMENT, DISAPPOINTMENTS, REJECTION FROM PEOPLE, CRITICISM. YOUR VISION WILL BE QUESTIONED BY OTHERS. YOUR MOTIVATES WILL BE QUESTIONED, AND IF THE DEVIL GETS REAL MAD, YOUR CHARACTER WILL EVEN BE QUESTIONED.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS AND THE MISSION YOU ARE ON, DON’T TRY TO JUSTIFY YOUR CALL FROM GOD.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE PROMISES FROM GOD, TO TAKE YOU TO VICTORY WILL KEEP YOUR VISION ALIVE AND YOU WILL NOT GIVE UP RUNNING THE LAST MILE.

REMEMBER THE LAST MILE IS WHERE MOST PEOPLE GIVE UP. DON’T LOOK BACK, DON’T LOOK AT THE SPECTATORS.

DON’T LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE  QUITTERS, THEY QUIT AT THE LAST MILE AND THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO FINISH AND ENTER INTO THE PROMISES.

HABAKKUK 2;3  FOR THE VISION IS FOR AND APPOINTED TIME, BUT AT THE END IT SHALL SPEAK, AND NOT LIE; THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT; BECAUSE IT WILL SURELY COME, IT WILL NOT TARRY.

IT HAS SURLY COME, WE ARE THE GENERATION OF HARVEST, HOLINESS, AND SIGNS AND WONDERS.

SAINTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE UNDER ATTACK, THE ENEMY IS TRYING TO STOP US AT THE LAST MILE OF THE RACE.

I REFUSE TO GIVE UP, THROUGH THE STRENGHT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE WORD OF GOD.

GRACE SHALL CARRY ME TO THE FINISH LINE.

 

 

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

LISTEN

| Jeanette

MANY OF US HAVE MUCH TO SAY; SOME MORE THAN OTHERS.

WE WANT TO BE HEARD.

LORD, HELP US TO LISTEN; HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SPEAKING TO US, AND REALLY HEAR WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY.

WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO SHARE THEIR HEART WITH US, WE SOMETIMES RATTLE-ON, GIVING ADVICE, WHEN WE ARE NOT REALLY HEARING WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.

GUILTY? WELL, SO AM I.

WE WANT TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS FOR THEM.

IN COUNSELING, WE ARE TOLD NOT TO MAKE A QUICK JUDGMENT THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE DISCUSSES THEIR PROBLEMS WITH US. LET THEM HAVE TIME TO HEAR THEMSELVES SPEAK IT OUT.

SOMETIMES, WHAT THEY HEAR FROM THEIR OWN MOUTH SOUNDS SILLY TO THEM AFTER THEY PUT IT IN WORDS. OCCASIONALLY, THEY SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEM BY WHAT THEY HEAR.

WE ARE TO LISTEN, SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR HEART IN WHAT THEY ARE  REALLY WANTING TO SAY WITHOUT STATING IT.

SOMETIMES, IT IS SO HARD TO SPEAK IT OUT.

A LISTENING EAR IS OF GREATER IMPORTANCE THAN A THOUSAND WORDS UTTERED TO THE PERSON DESIRING COUNSELING.

IF WE LISTEN, WE WILL HEAR.

EVERONE NEEDS A LISTENING EAR AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE.

I BELIEVE IF PARENTS WOULD LISTEN INSTEAD OF LECTURING THEIR TEEN, THEY WOULD LEARN A GREAT DEAL FROM WHAT THEY ARE NOT SAYING. THEY WILL BEGIN TO OPEN-UP AND SHARE THEIR HEART, AND FEARS WITH YOU.

DON’T GET SO BUSY THAT YOU CAN’T HEAR THEM. IF THEY OPEN-UP TO YOU, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO GUIDE THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

TEENS REALLY DO WANT THEIR PARENT’S APPROVAL; AND EVEN IF THEY SAY THEY DON’T WANT ATTENTION, THEY ARE ACTUALLY SAYING TO YOU, “I WONT ASK FOR IT, BUT I WILL DO ANYTHING I HAVE TO DO TO GET IT!”

MOST PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT A MATTER; THEY JUST WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL SOMEONE WHO WILL LISTEN.

AT TIMES, THEY HAVE THEIR MINDS MADE UP PREVIOUSLY, ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO BEFORE THEY GET THERE, THEY JUST WANT TO SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE.

WHAT THEY ARE WANTING TO SAY, COMES OUT AFTER A WHILE, OR AFTER A FEW TIMES OF TALKING ABOUT IT. THEY START TO FEEL AT EASE WITH YOU AND SHARE WHAT IS ON THEIR HEART.

HAVING SOMEONE TO LISTEN IS OF GREAT VALUE TO A TROUBLED SOUL. IT COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE COMMITTING SUICIDE, AND NOT COMMITTING SUICIDE

WE JUST DON’T KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO LISTEN.

TRY THIS EXPERIMENT: WHILE CARRYING ON A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE; STOP TALKING, AND LISTEN.

THE WORD LISTEN IS USED ONLY ONCE IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, IN ISAIAH 49:1. IT IS A HEBREW WORD: SHAMA (SHAW-MAH’), WHICH MEANS TO HEAR INTELLIGENTLY, CAREFULLY, ATTENTIVELY. IT ALSO IMPLIES OBEDIENCE.

IN FIRST KINGS 8:30 – SOLOMON ASKED GOD, …AND HARKEN THOU TO THE SUPPLICATION OF THY SERVANT, AND THY PEOPLE, ISRAEL, WHEN THEY SHALL PRAY TOWARD THIS PLACE: AND HEAR THOU IN HEAVEN THY DWELLING PLACE: AND WHEN THOU HEAREST, FORGIVE. SOLOMON USED: HEARKEN, HEAR,HEAREST.

ALL THREE WORDS ARE DEFINED THE SAME AS THE WORD, LISTEN: TO HEAR CAREFULLY, INTELLIGENTLY, AND ATTENTIVELY. SO, LISTEN AND HEAR MEAN THE SAME IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE, AS WELL AS OUR MODERN LANGUAGE.

SO STOP TALKING, AND LISTEN, AND YOU WILL SEE GREAT RESULTS.

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

THE BRUISED REED

| Jeanette

SOMETIME BACK, THIS PHRASE, BRUISED REED, CAME INTO MY SPIRIT AND KEPT COMING OFF AND ON UNTIL I SEEMED TO FORGET IT.

BUT SHORTLY AFTER, MY LORD SPOKE TO ME IN MY TIME WITH HIM, TO MEDITATE ON THIS AND KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT UNTIL HE OPENED IT UP TO ME.

I AM SURE MANY SERMONS HAVE BEEN PREACHED ABOUT THE WORD “REED” CONCERNING THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR LORD, BUT I SENSED HE WANTED TO SHOW ME MORE CONCERNING HURTING PEOPLE, WHETHER SAVED OR UNSAVED.

SO, THIS IS THE MESSAGE. I WILL SHARE IT WITH YOU AS HE OPENED IT UP TO ME.

REED IS MENTIONED IN THE SCRIPTURES MORE THAN BRUISED, BUT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING SAID, WE WILL LOOK AT BOTH MEANINGS AND HOW THEY ARE USED.

BRUISED MEANS, CRACK IN PEICES; CRUSH; DICOURAGE; OPPRESS; STRUGGLE TOGETHER.

REED MEANS (BY RESEMBLANCE), A ROD FOR MEASURING; SHAFT; TUBE; STEM; CANE; REED;CALAMUS (A SLENDER, CLIMBING PALM PRODUCING  CANES); A STALK.

ISAIAH 42:3 – A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND THE SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUENCH: HE SHALL BRING FORTH JUDGMENT INTO TRUTH.

I GET FROM THIS SCRIPTURE, THAT THE BRUISED AND BROKEN; THE CRUSHED, DISCOURAGED, AND OPPRESSED STRUGGLING SOUL IS NOT WORTHLESS TO THE LORD.

MANY TIMES WE MARK PEOPLE OFF AS NO-GOOD; BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT RELATIVE YOU LOVE DEARLY WHO IS AWAY FROM THE LORD? OR WHO IS GOING THROUGH THE MOST HORRIBLE TIME IN THEIR LIFE? DO YOU MARK THEM OFF? NO! YOU TRY TO HELP THEM. YOU PRAY FOR THEM, AND HOPE THEY WILL GET HELP OR CHANGE.

WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THEM TO CHANGE. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WORTHLESS SOUL WE THINK IS USELESS TO THE LORD, OR EVEN ONE WHO HAS HURT YOUR FAMILY TO THE PLACE THAT YOU WISH THEY WERE DEAD? WHAT ABOUT THEM?

JUST AS GOD FORGIVES US, WE HAVE TO FORGIVE THEM BEFORE BITTERNESS SETS IN AND MANY ARE DEFILED (HEBREWS 2:15).

HOW WE ACT AFFECTS THOSE WATCHING OUR LIVES.

AS WE APPROACH THE CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD, WE NEED TO BE MUCH IN PRAYER CONCERNING THAT PERSON IN OUR FAMILY WHO CAUSES THE MOST TROUBLE, AS OUR FAMILIES COME TOGETHER.

MANY TIMES THEY ARE FEARING THEMSELVES, HOPING THEY DON’T SAY THE WRONG THING, AND WISHING THEY WERE DEAD, SO THEY WON’T EVEN BE IN THE PLACE TO CAUSE TROUBLE.

THEY SOMETIMES ARE DEALING WITH THEIR OWN SECRET PAIN AND WE JUST SEE THEM AS A BIG PROBLEM WE WISH WOULD JUST RESIGN FROM THE FAMILY OR GO AWAY.

FAMILY GATHERINGS SHOULD BE A TIMES OF PEACE AND JOY. SO WHAT DOES A PERSON DO WHO DREADS FACING THAT PERSON WE DISLIKE SO MUCH? WE ARE ALL AFFECTED!

SEARCH YOUR HEART. MAYBE YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CAUSES THE PROBLEM BY YOUR UNBELIEF, YOUR LACK OF TRUST THAT GOD CAN HANDLE ALL OF THIS, AND YOU BEGIN SPREADING YOUR CONCERNS THROUGH-OUT THE FAMILY.

EVENTUALLY, A FIRE IS STARTED, AND ALL ARE CONCERNED, AND EVEN DREAD THE GATHERING. THIS SHOULD BE A TIME OF LOVE AND HEALING.

BEGIN NOW. PRAY FOR THAT PERSON YOU DISLIKE.

THEY COULD BE THAT SMOKING FLAX JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT HERE, …AND THE SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUENCH…

IF JUDGMENT COMES UPON A PERSON, GOD IS THE ONE WHO WILL DO IT. NO MATTER WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO YOU OR YOUR FAMILY, THEY STILL HAVE SOMETHING IN THEM THAT GOD LOVES. THERE MAY NOT BE A FIRE THERE, BUT THERE IS STILL SMOKE THAT REPRESENTS THERE COULD BE A FIRE IF YOU PRAY FOR THEM; AND GOD, IN TURN, KINDLES THAT FIRE, AND MAKES THEM INTO WHAT HE WANTS THEM TO BE.

JAMES 3:8,9a,10,19,25 –

      …AND IF YE FULFILL THE ROYAL LAW ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURE, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF, YE DO WELL:

     BUT IF YOU HAVE RESPECT OF PERSONS, YE COMMIT SIN…

      FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL KEEP THE WHOLE LAW, AND YET OFFEND IN ONE POINT, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL.

      WHEREFORE, MY BELOVED, LET EVERY MAN BE SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO WRATH:

      FOR THE WRATH OF MAN WORKETH NOT (DOES NOT PRODUCE) THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.

      BUT WHOSO LOOKETH INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY, AND CONTINUETH (OR LIVES)  THEREIN, HE BEING NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER, BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, THIS MAN SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIS DEED.

JESUS DIED FOR THAT PERSON YOU DISLIKE SO MUCH.

NO MATTER HOW WORTHLESS OR USELESS IN THE WORLD’S SIGHT, EVERY PERSON IS IMPORTANT AND WORTHWHILE TO GOD.

ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU THE ROOT OF THEIR PROBLEM. TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEM, EVEN IF THEY ARE DEAD WRONG ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL. DON’T BE INTIMIDATED BY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING, BUT PRAY THEY WILL SEE THEM THROUGH GOD’S EYES LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO DO.

MATTHEW 12:9-20 – AND WHEN HE WAS DEPARTED THENCE, HE WENT INTO THEIR SYNAGOGUE:

      AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN WHICH HAD HIS HAND WITHERED. AND THEY ASKED HIM, SAYING, IS IT LAWFUL TO HEAL ON THE SABBATH DAYS? THAT THEY MIGHT ACCUSE HIM.

      AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, WHAT MAN SHALL THERE BE AMONG YOU, THAT SHALL HAVE ONE SHEEP, AND IF IT FALL INTO A PIT ON THE SABBATH DAY, WILL HE NOT LAY HOLD ON HIM, AND LIFT HIM OUT?

      HOW MUCH THEN IS A MAN BETTER THAN A SHEEP? WHEREFORE IT IS LAWFUL TO DO GOOD ON THE SABBATH DAYS.

      THEN SAYETH HE TO THE MAN, STRETCH FORTH THINE HAND. AND HE STRETCHED IT FORTH AND IT WAS WHOLE, LIKE THE OTHER.

      THEN THEN PHARISEES WENT OUT AND HELD COUNCIL AGAINST HIM, HOW THEY MIGHT DESTROY HIM.

      BUT WHEN HE KNEW IT, HE WITHDREW HIMSELF FROM THENCE: AND GREAT MULTITUDES FOLLOWED HIM, AND HE HEALED THEM ALL;

      AND CHARGED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD NOT MAKE HIM KNOWN:

      THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH THE PROPHET, SAYING,

      BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BLOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED: I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL SHOW JUDGMENT TO THE GENTILES.

      HE SHALL NOT STRIVE NOR CRY; NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.

      A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND A SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUEINCH, TILL HE SEND FORTH JUDGMENT INTO VICTORY.

HERE WE SEE BRUISED REED MENTIONED AGAIN WHERE JESUS QUOTES FROM ISAIAH 42:3.

JESUS IS SO GENTLE THAT HE WILL NOT BREAK A BRUISED REED, NOR QUENCH SMOKING FLAX. WHAT OTHERS WOULD TREAD UPON OR CAST INTO THE FIRE, HE WILL STOOP AND PICK UP AND SAVE; WHAT OTHERS WILL CRUSH AND QUENCH IT’S DYING SMOKE, AS THE REMNANT OF A TAPER, HE WILL NOT QUENCH; BUT WHERE THERE IS LIFE, HE WILL GIVE LIGHT, AND WHILE THERE IS LIGHT HE WILL SUSTAIN IT. HIS TREATMENT OF THE BELIEVER WHO IS THE WEAKEST, AND, SO TO SPEAK, LEAST ALIVE, IS MARKED BY LONGSUFFERING AND GENTLENESS.

WHEN THE MAN CAME INTO THE TEMPLE WITH THE WITHERED HAND, JESUS KNEW IF HE HEALED HIM ON THE SABBATH DAY, HE WOULD BE CRITICISED BY THOSE, HIS ENEMIES, WHO WERE JUST WAITING TO TRAP HIM.

JESUS KNEW WHAT HIS ENEMIES WOULD DO, BUT HE HEALED THE WITHERED HAND ANYWAY. 

IF ONE PERSON ACTS LIKE JESUS AT YOUR FAMILY GATHERING THIS YEAR, IT WILL INFLUENCE OTHERS  TO DO THE SAME, BUT IF THAT REBELLIOUS PERSON WHO CAN’T FORGIVE, STARTS SOMETHING, DO LIKE JESUS DID, DON’T EVEN TRY TO DEFEND YOURSELF. LET THEM SAY WHAT THEY WILL, AND GET BUSY IN ANOTHER ROOM. SOMETIMES SILENCE BRINGS CONVICTION. NO ONE CAN HAVE A HOT ARGUMENT WITH THEMSELVES ALONE.THEY WILL LOOK FOOLISH!!!

IF ANYONE KEEPS LOOKING STEADILY INTO GOD’S LAW FOR FREE MEN, HE WILL NOT ONLY REMEMBER IT BUT WILL DO WHAT IT SAYS, AND GOD WILL GREATLY BLESS HIM IN EVERYTHING HE DOES. (JAMES 1:25 LB).

MERRY CHRISTMAS!I HOPE THIS WILL BE YOUR BEST EVER. MAY THE SAVIOR LEAD YOU AND ME THROUGHOUT THE THE HOLIDAYS AND ALL OF LIFE.     

       

  

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