Tag: life

Articles, Roy Porter

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY TO YOURSELF

| Roy

MARK 5:28 – FOR SHE SAID, IF I MAY TOUCH BUT HIS CLOTHES, I SHALL BE WHOLE.

SHE WAS A BLESSING TO HER OWN CAUSE.

SHE SAID TO HERSELF WHAT SHE KNEW SHE COULD HAVE.

MANY PEOPLE TALK THEMSELVES OUT OF VICTORY.

WHAT WE SAY TO OURSELVES IS VERY IMPORTANT.

LUKE 15:17 – AND WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF, HE SAID, (TO HIMSELF), HOW MANY HIRED SERVANTS OF MY FATHERS HAVE BREAD ENOUGH AND TO SPARE, AND I PERISH WITH HUNGER?

WHEN THE PRODICAL SON CAME TO HIMSELF, HE BEGAN TO SPEAK WISDOM TO HERSELF.

WHAT HE SAID TO HIMSELF GAVE HIM STRENGTH TO RISE AND RETURN TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE. HE SAID, I WILL RISE AND GO TO MY FATHER’S HOUSE. HIS NEED JARRED HIS MEMORY OF HIS FATHER’S HOUSE, AND THE ABUNDANCE THERE. 

IT CAUSED HIM TO TALK TO HIMSELF OF WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO: RETURN TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE.

EXODUS 3:3 – AND MOSES SAID (TO HIMSELF), I WILL NOW TURN ASIDE, AND SEE THIS GREAT SIGHT, WHY THE BUSH WAS NOT BURNT.

MOSES FOUND PURPOSE WHEN HE TALKED TO HIMSELF – I WILL NOW TURN ASIDE AND SEE THIS GREAT SIGHT. 

HE TALKED HIMSELF INTO DOING SOMETHING WISE. 

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY TO YOURSELF!

JOB 9:27 – IF I SAY (TO MYSELF), I WILL FORGET MY COMPLAINT, I WILL LEAVE OFF MY HEAVINESS, AND COMFORT MYSELF.

   NUMBERS 13:33 – AND THERE WE SAW THE GIANTS, THE SONS OF ANAK, WHICH COME OF THE GIANTS: AND WE WERE IN OUR OWN SIGHT AS GRASSHOPPERS, AND SO WE WERE IN THEIR SIGHT.

WE WERE IN OUR OWN SIGHT. THEY WERE SAYING TO THEMSELVES, WE ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO RECEIVE WHAT GOD PROMISED US.

THE ENEMY DEFEATED THEM IN THEIR OWN THOUGHTS, THEY TALKED THEMSELVESM INTO DEFEAT.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY TO YOURSELF.

YOU WILL SPEAK FEAR, UBELIEF AND DOUBT TO YOURSELF AND BE DEFEATED.

SEE YOURSELF IN CHRIST, VICTORIOUS IN ALL OF HIS PROMISES. WHY NOT TALK VICTORY TO YOURSELF, FOR THAT IS GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU.

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Articles, Roy Porter

HOLY GHOST POWER

| Roy

ACTS 1:14 – THESE ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THE WOMEN, AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS, AND WITH HIS BRETHREN.

THEY WERE WAITING IN OBEDIENCE.

LUKE 24:49 – AND, BEHOLD, I SEND THE PROMISE OF MY FATHER UPON YOU: BUT TARRY YE IN THE CITY OF JERUSALEM, UNTIL YE BE ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH.

JESUS COMMANDED THEM TO TARRY IN JERUSALEM UNTIL THEY RECEIVE POWER FROM ON HIGH.

JOHN 20:22 – AND WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE BREATHED ON THEM, AND SAITH UNTO THEM, RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST:

THESE  PEOPLE, CONTINUING IN PRAYER HAD ALREADY RECEIVED THE NEW BIRTH, THEY WERE ALREADY BELIEVERS, WAITING ON POWER FROM HEAVEN.

BEFORE THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS, THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS WITH THEM, BUT AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME  INSIDE THE BELIEVERS, BUT NOW HE COMES UPON THEM.

IN THE YEAR 1978, I PERSONALLY RECEIVED THIS EXPERIENCE OF PENTECOST.

I PRAY IN TONGUES EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE.

WHAT A BLESSING TO PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

I CORINTHIANS 14:14 –  FOR IF I PRAY IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE, MY SPIRIT PRAYETH , BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS UNFRUITFUL.

PAUL SAID, “I THANK MY GOD, I SPEAK WITH TONGUES, MORE THAN YE ALL.”

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

BITTERNESS

| Jeanette

PROVERBS 14:10 – THE HEART KNOWETH HIS OWN BITTERNESS; AND A STRANGER DOTH NOT INTERMEDDLE WITH HIS JOY.

BITTERNESS IS DEFINED AS ANGER, DISCONTENTMENT, HEAVINESS, CHAFE. CHAFE MEANS ANNOYED, IRRITATED.

EPHESIANS 4:31,32 – LET ALL BITTERNESS, AND WRATH, AND ANGER, AND CLAMOR, AND EVIL SPEAKING, BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, WITH ALL MALICE: AND BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.

SO IT SEEMS, IN THESE VERSES, BITTERNESS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH UNFORGIVENESS.

IT IS STANGE TO ME THAT A WOMAN LIKE HANNAH COULD BE STRUGGLING WITH BITTERNESS:

I SAMUEL 1:10 – AND SHE WAS IN BITTERNESS OF SOUL, AND PRAYED UNTO THE LORD, AND WEPT SORE.

IF YOU RUN A WORD SEARCH, YOU WILL FIND THIS BITTERNESS IN HANNAH WAS THE SAME KIND OF BITTERNESS SCORNED IN EPHESIANS 4:31.

TO FIND OUT WHY HANNAH WAS BITTER, WE HAVE TO READ I SAMUEL 1:2-8 – AND HE (ELKANAH)  HAD TWO WIVES; THE NAME OF THE ONE WAS HANNAH, AND THE NAME OF THE OTHER WAS PENINNAH: AND PENINNAH HAD CHILDREN BUT HANNAH HAD NO CHILDREN. 

AND THIS MAN WENT UP OUT OF HIS CITY YEARLY TO WORSHIP AND TO SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD OF HOSTS IN SHILOH.

AND WHEN THE TIME WAS THAT  ELKANAH, OFFERED (WENT TO WORSHIP), HE GAVE PENINNAH HIS WIFE, AND TO ALL HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS, PORTIONS:

BUT TO HANNAH HE GAVE A WORTHY PORTION (WE COULD SAY A DOUBLE PORTION); FOR HE LOVED HANNAH: BUT THE LORD HAD SHUT UP HER WOMB.

AND HER ADVERSARY ALSO PROVOKED HER SORE (TORMENTED HER), FOR TO MAKE HER FRET, BECAUSE THE LORD HAD SHUT UP HER WOMB.

AND SHE DID SO YEAR BY YEAR, WHEN SHE WENT UP TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, SO SHE (PENINNAH PROVOKED HER); THEREFORE SHE WEPT AND DID NOT EAT.

THEN ELKANAH HER HUSBAND SAID TO HER, HANNAH, WHY WEEPEST THOU? AND WHY EATEST THOU NOT? AND WHY IS THY HEART GRIEVED? AM I NOT BETTER TO THEE THAN TEN SONS?

NEITHER OUR JOYS NOR OUR SORROWS CAN BE WHOLLY SHARED WITH ANOTHER; NO PERSON STANDS IN SUCH INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH US, OR CAN PUT THEMSELVES SO ENTIRELY IN OUR PLACE, AS WE FEEL WHAT WE FEEL.

THERE ARE MANY DARK SPOTS, MANY GRIEFS, OF WHICH OUR BEST FRIENDS KNOW NOTHING; THE SKELETON IS LOCKED IN THE CUPBOARD, SO-TO-SPEAK, AND NO ONE HAS THE KEY BUT WE ALONE.

BUT WE CAN TURN WTH CONFIDENCE TO JESUS WHO KNOWS US BEST, WHO WEPT HUMAN TEARS, AND BORE OUR SORROWS, AND WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE.

HE HAS TAKEN HIS HUMAN EXPERIENCE WITH HIM TO HEVEN. AND WHEN WE TAKE OUR FEELINGS AND HURTS TO THE LORD, AND BEGIN TO FORGIVE AND SURRENDER THAT THING THAT HAS WORKED ITSELF FROM UNFORGIVENESS TO BITTERNESS OF HEART, WHOLLY TO THE LORD, WE FIND JOY THAT, ALSO, NO ONE ELSE CAN SHARE.

HE IS NOT A STRANGER TO “GRIEF TURNED TO JOY.”

THERE IS A SAYING, “NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES SO WELL AS HE THAT WEARS IT;” AND ANOTHER, “TO EVERYONE, HIS OWN CROSS SEEMS HEAVIEST.”

WHEN A PERSON’S MIND IS SENSITIVE IT IS EASILY DEPRESSED BY GRIEF; BUT WHEN IT IS ELATED BY JOY, IT SHOULD RECEIVE IT’S PLEASURE AND RELIEF WITHOUT ARROGANCE AND RUDENESS.

IN CHAPTER I OF Ist SAMUEL, WE FIND HANNAH PRAYING, AND VOWING TO TH LORD IF HE WOULD GIVE HER A SON, SHE WOULD GIVE THE CHILD TO THE LORD ALL HIS LIFE. SHE WAS PRAYING, WITH ONLY HER LIPS MOVING, BUT HER VOICE WAS NOT HEARD.

ELI, WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS INTOXICATED, TOLD HER TO QUIT DRINKING, BUT SHE ANSWERED THAT SHE HAD NEVER DRANK WINE NOR STRONG DRINK; THAT SHE WAS SORROWFUL IN SPIRIT.

SHE TOLD HIM SHE WAS NOT A WICKED WOMAN, BUT THAT SHE WAS POURING OUT HER SOUL BEFORE THE LORD.

ELI RESPONDE BY SAYING, “GO IN PEACE, AND MAY THE LORD OF ISRAEL GRANT YOUR PETITION WHICH YOU HAVE ASKED OF HIM.”

VERSE 20 – HANNAH BECAME PREGNANT AND IN DUE TIME BORE A SON AND NAMED HIM SAMUEL (HEARD OF THE LORD), BECAUSE, SHE SAID, I HAVE ASKED HIM OF THE LORD.

WHEN BITTERNESS SETS IN, IT IS SEEN AS A VIOLATION TO THE WAYS OF GOD, FOR GOD HAD A PLAN AND PURPOSE. 

WHEN IN HER TROUBLE, HANNAH WAS LED TO PRAY FERVENTLY, AND HER PRAYER WAS ANSWERED: GRIEF AND SORROW AND BITTERNESS GAVE PLACE TO REJOICING. THE FAMILY WAS BENEFITTED; AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD WERE GREATLY BLESSED. 

SO IN HIS WONDERFUL WORKING, GOD “TURNED THE CURSE INTO BLESSING”!!

    *Part II coming soon.

 

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

HOW TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD

| Jeanette

Most of us know we can’t hide from God, because He sees and knows all.

He continues to deal with those who run from Him, because it’s not His
will that any should perish.  He will continually, draw them to Himself, but we do
have a will of our own. He will draw us but His desire is, that we come to Him freely. This is why
He gave us a choice.

When we do come to Him, and receive Him as our personal Savior, He then, deals with
us: first, as babies, on milk; and then expects us to grow-up.

When we raise our children, we expect things out of them, but we do have to teach them.  If they don’t grow up properly, we begin to have trouble with them and they can cause us much heart ache.

Well, God has guidelines and rules, similar to the rules we enforce on our children.

We offer our children many advantages.  Most of the time they don’t see that until they grow-up.  This is the samewith God and His children.

Some of our advantages of being God’s children are:

1-
His giving of His only begotten Son’s life for our Eternal life

2-
A personal relationship with Him where we can communicate through prayer, and see our prayers answered

3-
The precious promises in His Word

4-
The way to live a victorious life here

5-
Healing and deliverance

6-
The fruit of the Spirit

7-
We can operate in His gifts

8-
Heaven, when we leave here

9-
We will rule and reign with Him in the future Millennial Reign of Christ

And much, much more.

But, we have a part to play in this, which is the difference in having the favor of God, that
we all want, or we could receive the judgment side of God which brings with it much trouble.

We are always telling our children, when we send them out to play, “Stay out of trouble.”  You got it! —– With God It’s the same. We know if we break the rules, we are in trouble.

Today we are going to learn:
How to stay out of trouble with God:

Many of us have tried to make a deal with God. We say “If You will do this, I will do that.”

This is not how God operates. We have His Word: if we will do this, He will do that.  We’re always trying to ‘get the cart before the horse’ (so to speak).

WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD BY BEING OBEDIENT: Our relationship with
God, and our anointing has much to do with our obedience to Him.

Acts 5:29,32
– Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said,  We ought to obey
God rather than men.

And we are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.

John 15:10 —- If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.

And

1 John 3:22 —- And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

Matthew 7:21 —- Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

God Word is very clear about how to follow His will—we must trust and obey.

One of my most quoted Scriptures is found in Proverbs 3:5,6 —-
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own
understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct thy paths.

We are instructed to trust and obey and leave the rest to Him.

He can cause circumstances around us to change.  All He wants usto do, after trusting and being obedient, is to do good when it is in our power to do so; but the most important of all requirements, is to spend
time with Him each day.

SEEKING THE LORD CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:

This is where we get direction, and are refreshed by His presence.

How can we know what He desires of us, unless we have a relationship with Him?

Seeking Him, by spending time with Him, and praising and worshipping Him, brings relationship.

It can keep us out of trouble, even though, most of our trouble, is brought-on by our decision
to ‘do it our way’.

Acts 17:27 — That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far away from every one of us.

2 Chronicles 15:2 — The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.

Lamentations 3:25 — The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.

And

Ezra 8:22 — The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all that forsake Him.

WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT THE FLESH:

Romans 8:12,13 —- Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Or we could say, we are not obligated to our carnal or old sinful nature, to do what it begs us to do.

Verse 13 — For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body (that is die to self), ye shall live.

Let’s explain it this way.  If you keep on following theold sinful nature, you are lost and you will perish, but
if through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and it’s evil deeds, you shall live.

You might say, ”This is hard to do”.  Well, — I can tell you, it can be done, with the help of Jesus Christ.  Ask the Lord to help you.

Look at Titus 2:11,12 —- For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE TAKE THE WALK OF LOVE:

1-

Brotherly love

2-
Loving God

Let’s start with brotherly love:

There are probably many words that are the opposite to the word love, but the most prominent is hate.

There are others that could describe the lack of brotherly love, like despise, judgmental, unforgiveness,
and the list goes on.  I ‘m sure you could think of others right-off, and you would be right, but this will do for
now.

1 John 2:10, describes those
who love their brother (talking about other believers), as abiding in the
light. — He that loveth his brother
abith in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling (or error) in him.

1 John 4: 7,8 —- Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love.

E M Bounds, on prayer, says,
“By prayer, the ability is secured to feel the law of love, to speak according to the law of love, and to do everything in harmony with the law of love.”

We need divine aid to act brotherly.

Jesus, our perfect example, was and is a devoted friend.  He gave His life willingly that we might live.  He
gave us Eternal life.

We need to judge our love walk.

JUDGING OURSELVES CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:

Corinthians 11:30,31,32 —- For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (or are dead).

For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

But  when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be
condemned with the world.

To judge self, is when  the believer sees self as God sees him.  He will renounce or forsake self.
It is replacing the self life with the Christ life.

To judge self is to deny self.  This is more than self-denial.  Self-denial is denying one’s self of the gratification or enjoyment of the flesh.  If we practice self-denial only, it is treating the symptom and not the cause.
But when we judge self, we are attacking the cause.

*To judge self, is to lose the self-life and find the Christ-life:

Galatians 2:20 — I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

*To judge self, is to no longer be self-conscious, but to become Christ conscious:

Matthew 28:20 — Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. Amen.

*To judge self, is to no longer be self controlled, but become Christ controlled:

Acts 9:6 — And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me do?
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told
thee what thou must do.

*To judge self, is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem others better than self:

Philippians 2:3 — Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

*To judge self, is to become selfless or unselfish.

We are to search-out our lives, to see if there be any wicked way in us, and get rid of it, by askingGod to cleanse or take it out of us, so we can stay out of trouble with God and be a part of that Church without spot or wrinkle.

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

THE LIFE GIVER

| Jeanette

 Nowhere in the Bible do we find where Jesus came to bring death. Everywhere He went, He brought life. He is the access to the Father, the only access. He raised the dead.  He gave eternal life through His death. 

In John 10:9-11 Jesus said,  –

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

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

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

Jesus is the door to the sheepfold.

He is the way of life. 

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

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

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

Why?  Because He watches over us.

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

The Shepherd died, that we might live.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The choice is ours.

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

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

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

For you who did not pray that prayer with me,

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

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

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

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

Jesus is Life.  He is still giving life.

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

Think about it.  Everlasting life.

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

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

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

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

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

Thank You for saving me.

bondage, 

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

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

      Eternal life

      Peace

      Joy

      Abundant life

      Heaven

      Escape from hell

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

Choose the life giver.

 

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY

| Jeanette

JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY

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

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

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

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

Wow!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

     

 

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THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND

| Roy

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

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

HIS PURPOSE WAS TO ANNOUNCE THE APPEARING OF THE MESSIAH.

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

THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND, OR IS PRESENT.

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

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

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

JESUS TAUGHT AND PREACHED THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

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

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

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

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

GOD’S GOVERNMENT IS THEOCRATIC. GOD IS SOVERIGN.

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

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

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

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

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

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

IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.

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

HE CREATED EVERYTHING WE SEE AND DON’T SEE.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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GOD’S MIGHTY STRENGTH

| Roy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OUT OF WEAKNESS YOU WILL BE MADE STRONG.

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

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

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

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FRUIT OF ASSOCIATION

| Roy

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

AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONDUCT IS EXTERNAL, SEEN FROM WITHOUT.

CHARACTER IS INTERNAL, OPERATING WITHIN.

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

 CHARACTER IS THE ROOT AND CONDUCT IS  THE FRUIT.

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

MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW  .

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

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

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HELP MY UNBELIEF

| Roy

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

LIMITED FAITH IS MOTIVATED BY FEAR AND UNBELIEF.

LIMITED FAITH RESTRICTS THE POWER OF GOD.

LIMITED FAITH IS CONTROLLED BY CIRCUMSTANCES.

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

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

FAITH RELEASES THE ANIONTING AND ALSO FAITH RELEASES ANGELS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

       

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