HOW THE DEVIL CAN WORK FOR YOU -PART II

November 22, 2011June 15, 2013 | Jeanette

JOD 12:6 – THE TABERNACLES (OR TENTS) OF ROBBERS PROSPER, AND THEY THAT PROVOKE GOD ARE SECURE; INTO WHOSE HAND GOD BRINGETH ABUNDANTLY.

HERE, JOB GOES BACK TO HIS MAIN ARGUMENT, AND MAINTAINS THAT, THE WHOLE COURSE OF EARTHLY EVENTS BEING UNDER GOD’S DIRECTIONS, ALL THE RESULTS ARE TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO HIM, AND AMONG THEM BOTH THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED, AND, BY PART OF REASONING, THE SUFFERINGS OF HE RIGHTOEOUS.

THIS IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT GOD IS UNFAIR, IT MEANS THAT GOD IS LONGSURRERING AND USES THE WICKED TO BRING FORTH THE MEANS, OF THE END OF HIS PURPOSE.

THE WICKED WILL ALWAYS BE PUNISHED, AND THE RIGHTEOUS WILL ALWAYS VICTORIOUS IN THE END; EITHER HERE OR IN THE WORLD TO COME.

GOD IS GOOD, THEREFORE HIS PLANS SRE GOOD. HIS PLAN CANNOT BE DEFEATED.

IN THE END, JOB WAS PRIVILEGED TO REALIZE THAT GOD HAD A WONDERFUL PLAN THAT HE COULDN’T SEE. HE CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT HIS SUFFERING HAPPENED FOR A LARGER PURPOSE —-EVEN IF HE COULDN’T PERSONALLY UNDERSTAND THAT PURPOSE. HIS EYES BECAME OPEN TO THE FACT GOD IS GOOD, HE CARES ABOUT HIS PEOPLE, AND HIS PLAN CAN’T BE DEFEATED, NO MATTER WHO IS USED TO BRING IT TO PASS.

ISAIAH 19:14 – THE LORD HATH MINGLED A PERVERSE SPIRIT IN THE MIDST THEREOF, AS THE DRUNKEN MAN STAGGERETH IN HIS VOMIT.

AMOS 3:6 – SHALL THERE NOT BE EVIL IN THE CITY, AND THE LORD HATH NOT DONE IT?

TO BRING EGYPT INTO SO DISTRACTED A STATE, THE HAND OF GOD HAD BEEN NESCESSARY. HE HAD INTRODUCED INTO THE NATION A SPIRIT OF PERVERSENESS. THOSE IN WHOM THE SPIRIT WAS HAD, THEN LED EGYPT ASTRAY IN ALL HER DOINGS. THEY HAD MADE HER LIKE A DRUNKEN MAN, WHO STAGGERS ALONG HIS PATH, AND SLIPS IN HIS OWN VOMIT.

LONG -CONTINUED SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY PRODUCES OFTEN A SORT OF INTOXICATION IN A NATION.

WE SEE HERE THAT GOD HAS CONTROL OVER MAN’S CIRCUMSTANCES. EVEN IN OUR REBELLION, GOD CAN WORK HIS PURPOSES THROUGH THEM ALL.

I WAS STRUGGLING ABOUT HOW TO END THIS MESSAGE AND REALLY WANTED GOD’S MIND.

DURING MY TIME WITH THE LORD THIS MORNING, HE SPOKE THIS TO ME:

“NOW TRUST ME TO GIVE YOU THE ENDING OF THIS MESSAGE. THE REASON YOU HAVE STRUGGLED WITH IT, IS BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THE EXPOSING OF THE ENEMY’S PLANS. IT EXPOSES THE FACT, THAT ALTHOUGH HE GOES AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF MY OWN CREATION, I STILL TAKE HIS REIGNS AND HE CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS ALWAYS THAT I AM IN CONTROL OF MY CHILDREN’S DESTINY EVEN THOUGH THEY RUSH AHEAD AND BRING DELAY TO THEIR OWN HURT. I WILL ALWAYS SUCCEED IN MY WAY OF DOING THINGS. I KNOW THAT YOU DON’T ALWAYS SEE THAT I AM IN CHARGE, BUT I EVEN USE HIS PLANS TO FULFILL MY PURPOSE. HE THINKS HE IS A MATCH FOR ME, BUT HE HAS NEVER BEEN A MATCH FOR THE ONE WHO CREATED HIM. HE IS YOUR ENEMY, BUT I USE HIM AS A PUPPET IN MY PLANS. HE THINKS HE CONTROLS THE LIFE OF A SINNER, BUT HE ONLY FOOLS HIMSELF INTO THINKING IT. I AM ALWAYS COAXING AND TURNING THE SINNER HERE AND THERE TO SEE THE TRUTH AND COME TO MY PLAN OF SALVATION AND FREEDOM FROM THE BONDAGE SATAN HAS THEM TRAPPED IN. YOU SEE IT ALL THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES. AS YOU SEE IT, I AM ACTUALLY REVEALING IT TO YOU. THE DEVIL HAS NO POWER OVER ME AND MY PLANS. I JUST USE HIM. THE SINNER HAS A WILL TO CHOOSE, BUT I ALLOW HIM TO BE MOVED HERE AND THERE; BUT THE ULTIMATE CHOICE IS UP TO HIM TO CHOOSE ME AND MY LIFE FOR HIM,—OR SATAN’S. I MAKE SURE THOUGH, THAT, THAT SINNERHAS EVERY CHANCE TO SEEK THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I MOVE HIM HERE AND THERE, AND WATCH OVER HIM LIKE A SHEPHERD HIS SHEEP, BUT WITH THE GREATEST LOVE AND CARE THAT NO ONE CAN MATCH. YES, THE DEVIL THINKS HE IS IN CHARGE HERE, BUT I NEVER GAVE HIM FULL POWER. HE IS …THE PRINCE AND POWER OF THE AIR…, BUT HE WILL NEVER BE KING. I HAVE THE PLAN FOR HIS DESTRUCTION ALWAYS IN MIND. HE KNOWS MY PLAN BUT THINKS HE HAS THE POWER TO BEAT IT. HE IS NEVER IN CHARGE OF MY CREATION, NEVER!”

“IT IS IMPORTANT THAT MY CHILDREN KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THIS. THIS IS NOT A NEW REVELATION, BUT A REVELATION LONG FORGOTTEN BY MAN. I AM READY FOR THIS TO BE REVEALED TO MY CHURCH.”

Articles, Jeanette Porter

FROM GOD TO THE NATIONS

October 31, 2011June 15, 2013 | 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!!!

Articles, Jeanette Porter

WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE

October 22, 2011June 16, 2013 | Jeanette

MAY GOD BLESS THIS MESSAGE AND YOU

MARK 1:10-13 – AND STRAIGHTWAY COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER, HE SAW THE HEAVEN’S OPENED, AND THE SPIRIT LIKE A DOVE DESCENDED UPON HIM: AND THERE CAME A VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING,THOU ART MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. AND IMMEDIATELY THE SPIRIT DRIVETH HIM INTO THE WILDERNESS FORTY DAYS, TEMPTED OF SATAN; AND WAS WITH THE WILD BEASTS; AND THE ANGELS MINISTERED UNTO HIM.

OUR MESSAGE, TODAY, WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF VERSE 13: TEMPTED OF SATAN. JESUS WENT FORTH WITH DIVINE POWER, THE HOLY SPIRIT COMPELLED HIM, WITH GREAT ENERGY; SO THAT OF HIS OWN ACCORD HE WENT FORTH, ARMED WITH DIVINE POWER, IN THE DESERT. IT WAS A WRESTLING PLACE WITH SATAN.

THERE, CHRIST AND ANTICHRIST MET AND ENTERED INTO A CONFLICT ABOUT THE ISSUE ON WHICH OUR SALVATION DEPENDED.

I KNOW THROUGH EXPERIENCE, WHEN A CHRISTIAN IS JUST ON THE THRESHHOLD OF THEIR MINISTRY, THEY MEET SATAN, OR HIS DEMONS, HEAD-ON. THERE IS A TIME OF TESTING.

CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE, SHOWS US HOW TO DEAL WITH SATAN’S ATTACKS, IN THIS SAME ACCOUNT, IN MATTHEW AND LUKE, WHERE HE USED THE SCRIPTURES AGAINST SATAN.

WE COULD LEARN MUCH FROM THIS STORY, AS TO BE PREPARED BEFORE THE ATTACKS COME. JESUS’ MINISTRY WAS ON THE EDGE OF BEGINNING IN FULL POWER, AND THEN THE ATTACKS CAME.

IT SEEMS TO ME, JESUS COULD HAVE SKIPPED THIS PROCESS, BUT I BELIEVE HE DID THIS FOR YOU AND ME. HE COULD HAVE SPOKEN TO SATAN, BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS, AND SATAN WOULD HAVE HAD TO TURN-TAIL-AND-RUN. THIS MAY SEEM STRANGE TO YOU, BUT LOOK WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS FOR US: HE WENT WILLINGLY, OF HIS OWN ACCORD. HE DID THIS FOR YOU AND ME. HE MET SATAN HEAD-ON. HE KNEW HE HAD THE ADVANTAGE, BUT SATAN’S DEFEAT WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. THREE YEARS, OR SO, LATER, SATAN’S WORK AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD WAS DEFEATED ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY; AND JESUS’ RESURRECTION.

WE NEED TO REMEMBER JESUS: AS THE WORD, WAS THERE IN HEAVEN WHEN SATAN AND A THIRD OF THE ANGELS WERE CAST OUT OF HEAVEN.

WHY HE THINKS HE CAN STILL WIN, I DON’T KNOW.

SATAN WAS NO MATCH FOR JESUS, THERE IN THE WILDERNESS. WE KNOW, IN HUMAN FLESH, HE SUFFERED AS MAN; BUT HIS MIND DID NOT HAVE TO BE RENEWED TO THE WORD OF GOD, LIKE DOES OURS, BECAUSE HE WAS AND IS THE WORD. HE DID STUDY THE SCRIPTURES FROMT THE TIME HE WAS A CHILD, BUT HE KNEW HIS DESTINY. AND HE KNEW HE HAD THE SPIRIT WITHOUT MEASURE. IT MAY BE HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT HE WAS GOD IN HUMAN FLESH.

WHEN WE ARE SERVING GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS; AND THE ATTACKS COME AGAINST US,WE GO TO THE WORD OF GOD FOR HELP. WE MIGHT READ JAMES 1:2-4 – MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS: KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE. BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK, THAT YE MIGHT BE PERFECT AND ENTIRE, AND WANTING NOTHING.

IF WE DON’T GO THROUGH THESE ATTACKS, KNOWING, THROUGH CHRIST, WE WILL WIN, WE WILL NOT HAVE LEARNED ANYTHING; AND THE NEXT ATTACK WILL DESTROY WHAT CHRIST IS TRYING TO TEACH US.

WE CAN ONLY COMBAT THIS TYPE OF ATTACK, WITH OUR KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF THE SCRIPTURES. IT’S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO KNOW WHAT THE WORD SAYS, WE HAVE TO PRACTICE USING IT. SATAN WILL THEN KNOW WHERE WE STAND, AND FLEE. ALTHOUGH, HE DOES COME BACK AFTER A WHILE, AND TRY IN ANOTHER AREA.

WE THEN, STAND STRONG, AND THIS NEW ATTACK WILL NOT TROUBLE US, AS MUCH AS THE LAST ONE; BECAUSE EACH TIME, WE GET STRONGER, MORE MATURE IN THE LORD, AND WILL COME TO THE PLACE THAT WE LACK NOTHING. PRAISE GOD!

MOST OF OUR BATTLES ARE IN THE MIND, SO WE HAVE TO REMEMBER: THE BATTLE IS THE LORDS.

IN THE WILDERNESS, JESUS ALSO ENCOUNTERED WILD BEASTS (MARK 1:13). THIS SHOWS THE EXTREME SOLITUDE OF THE PLACE. IT SHOWS ALSO THE INNOCENCE OF OUR LORD, THAT THERE IN THAT WILD DESOLATE DISTRICT, AMONGST LIONS, AND WOLVES, AND LEOPARDS, AND SERPENTS, HE NEITHER FEARED THEM NOR WAS HE INJURED BY THEM. HE DWELT AMONGST THEM AS ADAM LIVED WITH THEM IN HIS STATE OF INNOCENCE IN PARADISE. THESE WILD BEASTS RECOGNIZED AND REVERED HIM AS THEIR CREATOR, AND THEIR LORD (PULPIT COMMENTARY).

CHRIST HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY TO USE HIS NAME, SO WE NOW HAVE MORE AUTHORITY THAN WE HAVE EVER TAPPED INTO,

MISSIONARIES HAVE TOLD STORIES ABOUT THEIR ENCOUNTERS WITH WILD BEASTS. I REMEMBER ONE, WHERE, IN INDIA, THERE WAS A MAN WHO GOT SAVED, AND TRAVELED INTO THE VILLAGES OF THE JUNGLES TO SHARE THE GOSPEL. ONE DAY HE WENT INTO A VILLAGE WHERE HE SHARED THE LORD, AND AS HE WAS BEGINNING TO LEAVE THE AREA, HE REALIZED HE WAS LOST. HE ASKED DIRECTIONS, AND TWO MEN SPOKE-UP AND INTENTIONALLY, GAVE HIM INCORRECT DIRECTIONS. THEY WERE HEATHEN, AND DIDN’T LIKE HIM SHARING THE GOSPEL IN THEIR VILLAGE, AND SEEING THEIR PEOPLE COME TO JESUS. THE MINISTER, ALONE, AND UNKNOWINGLY, WENT THE WAY THEY SAID AND GOT LOST. HE WANDERED AROUND AND AROUND UNTIL IT GOT DARK. WHEN IT GOT DARK, IT WAS COLD. HE WAS SO TIRED, HE SAID, “LORD, I CAN’T GO ANY FURTHER. MAKE ME WARM.” HE LAY DOWN AND WENT TO SLEEP. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD GO TO SLEEP AND FREEZE TO DEATH. THE NEXT MORNING, HE AWOKE WITH WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A WARM BLANKET OVER AGAINST HIM, BUT WHEN HE OPENED HIS EYES, IT WAS A BENGAL TIGER. AT FIRST HE WAS FRIGHTENED, BUT HE REALIZED, GOD HAD SENT THIS TIGER TO KEEP HIM WARM AND ALIVE. HE REMAINED STILL AND WAITED. THE TIGER GOT UP AND WALKED AWAY; BUT AS IT WAS LEAVING, IT STOPPED, AND TURNED AROUND; LOOKED AT THE MISSIONARY, AS TO SAY, “YOU’LL BE ALRIGHT NOW”, AND THEN DISAPPEARED OUT OF SIGHT. THE MISSIONARY SAID, GOD SENT HIM A STRIPED BLANKET TO KEEP HIM ALIVE.

WE DON’T KNOW ALL THAT HAPPENED TO OUR LORD JESUS IN THAT WILDERNESS, CHILD OF GOD, BUT OUR GOD CAN AND WILL DO ANYTHING!!

WE DON’T THINK THE ANGELS HELPED JESUS THROUGHOUT THE TEMPTATION. ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, IT WAS AFTER THE TEMPTATION AND THE WILD BEASTS. IT WAS THEN THE ANGELS APPEARED TO HIM. HE HAD SAID HE COULD HAVE CALLED DOWN TWELVE LEGIONS OF ANGELS AND STOPPED THE CRUCIFIXION, BUT HE DIDN’T (MATTHEW 26:53).

HE DID ALL THIS FOR US, TO SAVE US AND TAKE US TO A HIGHER UNDERSTANDING OF HIMSELF AND TO A HIGHER LEVEL OR PLACE WITH HIM.

GOD COULD HAVE DONE IT ANOTHER WAY, BUT HE CHOSE TO DO IT THIS WAY. FOR US. PRAISE GOD!

Articles, Jeanette Porter

SWEET SLEEP

October 21, 2011June 16, 2013 | 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.

Liberty Ministries Church Intl

Tag: morning

HOW THE DEVIL CAN WORK FOR YOU -PART II

FROM GOD TO THE NATIONS

WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE

SWEET SLEEP