BITTERNESS

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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FRUIT OF ASSOCIATION

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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I DESIRE INTIMATE TIME WITH YOU

“I DESIRE INTIMATE TIME WITH YOU.”

THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SPOKE TO ME THIS MORNING WHILE WE SPENT TIME TOGETHER IN OUR SECRET PLACE.

I KNOW SOME OF YOU THINK GOD DOESN’T SPEAK; AND OTHERS OF YOU THINK GOD IS LOOKING DOWN ON US, WAITING FOR US TO STEP OUT OF LINE, SO HE CAN BRING HIS WRATH ON US. BUT THIS IS NOT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE, NOR THE GOD WHO SPENDS TIME WITH ME EVERY DAY.

HE LOVES ALL CREATION AND HE DOES, OF COURSE, JUDGE SIN.

FIRST, LET’S EXAMINE HIS CHARACTER: HE IS LIFE; HE IS OUR PEACE; HIS BANNER OVER US IS LOVE; HE IS EVERYTHING WE NEED IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION; HE IS THE DIRECT OPPOSITE OF THE ENEMY OF OUR SOULS, SATAN.

NOW, LET’S LOOK AT SATAN’S CHARACTER: HE IS SELFISH;HE BRINGS PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEATH; HE IS LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE SOMEONE ON WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO BASE YOUR CHARACTER?

I FORGOT TO SAY, HIS END IS DESTRUCTION. HE DOES DESTROY, BUT IN THE END, HE WILL BE DESTORYED; ALONG WITH ALL WHO SERVE HIM.

TO FOLLOW GOD, IS TO BE WHAT HE WANTS US TO BE: BY ACCEPTING JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR, AND MAKING HIM LORD OF OUR LIVES.

IF WE WANT TO KNOW WHO TO BE INTIMATE WITH, WE LOOK FOR JUST THE RIGHT PERSON: THE ONE WHO IS FOR US AND NOT AGAINST US. LET’S DEFINE THE WORD INTIMATE: IT IS CLOSE IN FRIENDSHIP; WELL ACQUAINTED; FAMILIAR; AND CONFIDENTIAL.

WHY SHOULD WE EVEN SPEND THE TIME OF DAY WITH SOMEONE WHO DESPISES US AND WANTS TO TAKE US TO HELL?  THINK ABOUT IT!

WE HAVE MANUALS TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH EVERY APPLIANCE OR GADGET WE BUY. THEY CALL IT INSTRUCTIONS. IT TELLS US WHAT THAT THING WILL DO, AND EVEN WHAT IT WON’T DO. HOW DO THEY KNOW? IT HAS BEEN TRIED AND TESTED.

WELL, WE HAVE A MANUAL, THE BEST SELLER OF ALL TIMES, YEAR AFTER YEAR, CALLED THE HOLY BIBLE. IF WE WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GOD, OR SATAN, WE CAN FIND IT IN THIS MANUAL.

MY HUSBAND HAS STATED, REFERRING TO THIS, WHEN HE FELL IN LOVE WITH ME, HE WANTED TO KNOW ALL ABOUT ME. IF THERE HAD BEEN A BOOK WRITTEN ABOUT ME, HE WOULD HAVE READ IT TO SEE WHAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY.

I TELL YOU, WE CAN PLEASE GOD, BUT SATAN IS NEVER SATISFIED. HIS ONLY PLEASURE IS TO HAVE OUR SOUL AND DAMN IT TO HELL.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE MAKE CHOICES: SOME TURN OUT GOOD, AND SOME BAD; BUT I TELL YOU, THIS CHOICE TO SERVE GOD BRINGS EVERLASTING LIFE AND PEACE WITH IT. NOTHING ELSE WE CHOOSE WILL EVER STAND THAT TEST.

IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOOD AND TRUE, SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES. THEY BRING EVERLASTING LIFE.

EVERY OTHER gOD, LITTLE “g”, THAT MAN HAS SOUGHT OUT TO BE INTIMATE WITH, HAS BROUGHT DEATH OR BONDAGE. WHY SHOULD ANYONE AS INTELLIGENT AS WE THINK WE ARE, WANT TO SERVE AND ENTITY LIKE THAT?

TELL ME, HOW COULD WHOLE NATIONS WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN TO A gOD WHO REQUIRES THEIR DEATH, FOR FALSE BENEFITS, AND TEACHES THEM TO TAKE LIVES? HOW COULD THEY?

WHEN WE FOLLOW JESUS, WE ARE FOLLOWING HIM TO WIN THE LOST FOR CHRIST. AND HE BRINGS US INTO HIS PRESENCE.

THE ANOINTING OR PRESENCE WE FEEL WHEN WE WORSHIP GOD, JEHOVAH, IS PLEASURABLE. WE GIVE OUR LIVES TO HIM, AND I KNOW SOME HAVE DIED FOR HIM BY BEING MARTYRED, BUT NO ONE HAS EVER COMMITTED MURDER FOR HIM, KILLED UNBORN BABIES FOR HIM, NOR COMMITTED SUICIDE FOR HIM.

WHY DO  YOUM SUPPOSE THE MUSLIM god TELLS HIS FOLLOWERS NOT TO BE PROMISCUOUS, AND THEN TELLS THEM THEY CAN BE, IF THEY KILL AND COMMIT SUICIDE IN THE PROCESS? STOP AND THINK! IT IS IN THE KORAN, WHICH WE COULD SAY, IS THEIR MANUAL.

THERE ARE PRECIOUS SOULS IN THE BALANCE, AND WE SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHO WE SERVE AND COMMUNE WITH. EVERYBODY AFFECTS SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE.

MY HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS COMMUNION WITH HIS CHILDREN, AND ALL OF US HAVE A PLACE WITHIN OUR BEING, THAT WANTS TO WORSHIP SOMEONE OR SOMETHING.

THE MESSAGE I DESIRE TO GET ACROSS TO YOU, IS: WORSHIP THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD!

HE DESIRES TIME WITH YOU, BUT TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM, YOU HAVE TO KNOW HIM PERSONALLY.

MY FRIEND, ALL OTHER gods BELONG TO SATAN AND HIS KINGDOM. HE HAS JUST THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU, TO DECEIVE YOU INTO WORSHIPPING THAT FALSE god; BUT IN REALITY YOU ARE WORSHIPPING SATAN, AND HE LOVES IT.

GOD THE FATHER IS THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD; GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY GHOST: THREE IN ONE.

I HAVE READ THE REAL MANUAL, THE HOLY BIBLE, WRITTEN UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; AND I HAVE BEEN IN HIS PRESENCE, AND HAS SEEN HIS SUPERNATURAL OPERATION IN MY LIFE. HE HAS CHANGED ME, AND IS CONTINUALLY LOVINGLY CHANGING ME.

WHY DO I SERVE HIM? BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED ME, AND REACHED DOWN FOR ME. HE DREW ME TO HIMSELF. I ACCEPTED HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, AS MY SAVIOR AND HE CHANGED THIS GIRL INTO A WOMAN OF GOD WHO LOVES AND TRIES TO REACH ALL THE PEOPLE SHE CAN TO BRING THEM TO THE TRUTH.

I SPEAK BLESSINGS OVER YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS: SPIRITUAL, PHYSICAL, AND FINANCIAL BLESSINGS.

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MOUNTAIN PRAYING

MARK 6:46     AND WHEN HE HAD SENT THEM AWAY, HE DEPARTED INTO A MOUNTAIN TO PRAY.

AFTER TIMES OF GREAT MINISTRY, JESUS WOULD SEND THE PEOPLE AWAY AND SPEND TIME WITH THE FATHER IN PRAYER AND FELLOWSHIP.

THIS IS NECESSARY FOR ANY CHRISTIAN.

JESUS DID WHAT HE SAW HIS FATHER DO, HE WAS ABOUT HIS FATHERS BUSINESS.

JESUS LOVED THOSE PRIVATE TIMES WITH HIS FATHER.

SOLITUDE, SEEKING THE FACE OF THE FATHER, WORSHIPPING HIM.

THIS IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR EVERY CHRISTAIN. WE MUST PULL OURSELVES AWAY FROM MINISTRY, WORK, BUSINESS, PLEASURE AND EVEN FAMILY, TO HAVE QUITENESS WITH THE LORD.

WE MUST SETTLE OUR MINDS DOWN AND LET GOD REGAIN OUR THOUGHTS.

THE BURDENS AND CARES OF THIS LIFE CAN ME REMOVED IN HIS PRESENCE.

OUR WEAKNESS IS TOUCHED BY HIS STRENGTH.

HIS PRESENCE RENEWS OUR PASSION FOR HIM. WE CANNOT HELP OTHERS WITHOUT HIS ANOINTING. WE CANNOT HAVE HIS ANIONTING WITHOUT SPENDING TIME WITH HIM IN PRIVATE.

WE CAN TEACH WHAT WE KNOW, BUT WE CAN ONLY IMPART WHAT WE POSSESS.

WE CAN’T GIVE WHAT WE DON’T HAVE, AND WE CAN ONLY GET FROM HIM, WHAT PEOPLE NEED.

A WELL IS PERSONAL, BUT A RIVER BLESSES MASSES.

A RIVER FLOWS FROM SOLITUDE IN HIS PRESENCE.

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