Tag: rest

Articles, Jeanette Porter

Christ’s Invitation To Rest

| LMCI

David prayed in his time of distress:
Psalm 55:6-
“And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭55:6‬ ‭(KJV)
How many time have we felt like that?

CHRIST’S INVITATION TO REST
Matthew 11:28-30-
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭(KJV‬‬)

Come unto Me– this is Christ’s first recorded general invitation to all men to come to salvation.

The last one is Revelation 22:17-
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:17‬ ‭(KJV)

There is a rest coming to those of affliction who rest in our Lord. This is not only at the Day of the Lord, when Jesus comes back, we can also rest daily in Christ Jesus.
To me, Matthew 11:28-30 is a what we call a DOUBLE REFERENCE.

Psalm 37:7-
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬
(Rest here means to be silent to.)

The yoke mentioned, when Jesus said, My yoke is easy, and My burden is light, means there is no bondage connected with His yoke for us. It actually is a place of spiritual and physical rest.

The yoke we have to resist, is the yoke of our own flesh; misinterpretation of Scripture; and what other well meaning people try to put on us.

There is freedom and rest in Christ Jesus our Lord. Be free to serve Him.

Share
Articles, Roy Porter

HOW TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD

| Roy

MATTHEW 11:28 – COME UNTO TO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.

JESUS THE KING GIVES AN INVITATION TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

PEOPLE WAS LABOURING AND BURDENED UNDER THE TRADITIONS OF MEN, UNDER ORAL LAWS ADDED TO MOSES LAW.

THE BURDEN UNDER THE LAW WAS BECOMING HEAVY, HEAVY BURDENS. THE LAW WAS A SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US TO CHRIST. OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AS FILTHY RAG’S. MAN MUST HAVE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. THE LAW BECAME WORK’S OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WITHOUT FAITH.  THAT WAS NOT GOD’S INTENT, PEOPLE BEGAN TO WORSHIP THEIR WORKS AND NOT THEIR GOD.

RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS WILL NOT BRING GRACE AND TRUTH, WORKS ARE THE PRODUCT OF FAITH.

THERE MUST BE REDEMPTION AND REVELATION, MAN CAN’T  PRODUCE THIS, IT CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD.

WHEN JESUS SAID COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN.

HE WANTED SOMEONE WITH FAITH SAY, YES YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, YOU ARE THE REDEEMER. PETER GOT THIS REVELATION FROM THE FATHER’

NOW JEW OR GENTILE CAN ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY THIS REVELATION, THEY CAN RECEIVE THE NEW BIRTH.

JOHN 3:3 – JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM, VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO THEE, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

1ST PETER 1:23 -BEING BORN AGAIN, NOT OF CORRUPTIBLE SEED, BUT OF INCORRUPTIBLE, BY THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH LIVETH AND ABIDETH FOREVER.

JOHN 1:1,2 –IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.

THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD.

JESUS IS THE WORD MADE FLESH, THE SECOND PERSON OF THE GODHEAD. THE LAMB OF GOD, THE SINLESS SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS, JEW OR GENTILE, WHOSOEVER WILL LET HIM COME.

JOHN 1: 11-14

HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN, AND HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT.

BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED  HIM, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE sons OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME, WHICH WERE BORN, NOT OF BLOOD, NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH, NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD.

AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US, (AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER) FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.

ISAIAH 7:14 – THEREFORE THE LORD HIMSELF WILL GIVE YOU A SIGN: BEHOLD A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE, AND BEAR A SON, AND SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL (GOD WITH US).

GENESIS 3:15 AND I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN THEE AND THE WOMAN AND BETWEEN THY SEED AND HER SEED: IT SHALL BRUISE THY HEAD, AND THOU SHALT BRUISE HIS HEEL.

THE SEED OF THE WOMAN IS THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE SEED OF ABRAHAM IS JESUS.

GALATIANS 3:16 – NOW TO ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED WERE THE PROMISES MADE, HE SAITH NOT, AND TO SEEDS, AS OF MANY; BUT AS OF ONE, AND TO THY SEED, WHICH IS CHRIST.

WE WERE ALL BORN INTO SIN BECAUSE OF THE FALL OF MANKIND IN THE LOINS OF THE IST ADAM.

WITHOUT THE NEW BIRTH WE ARE ALL UNRIGHTEOUS, NO GOOD WORKS WILL MAKE US RIGHTEOUS, NO RELIGIOUS GROUPE CAN MAKE US RIGHTEOUS.

WE ARE SINNERS NEEDING  FORGIVENESS, AND NEEDING A SAVIOUR.

JESUS SAID COME UNTO ME ALL YE.

WE ARE ONLY COMPLETE IN HIM, WE CAN ONLY REST IN HIS REDEMPTIVE WORK ON THE CROSS. IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THIS REPORT YOU HAVE REVELATION OF WHO JESUS IS. 

GOD SO LOVED THE LOST WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.

JESUS IS THAT REST, HE SAID IT IS FINISHED. THER IS NO OTHER WAY TO GOD THAN THE CHRIST. GOD HAS NO OTHER PLAN TO REDEEM MANKIND.

THIS REDEMPTION COMES FROM GOD, THIS REVELATION COMES FROM GOD. THIS IS HIS PART.

THE RESPONSIBILITY TO OBEY AND RECEIVE IT IS UP TO US, THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW HIM IS OURS.

HE WANTS TO GOVERN OUR LIFE, BY HIS WORD, AND BY HIS SPIRIT, AND BRING US INTO HIS PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE. HE IS THE KING OF GLORY.

PRAY THIS PRAYER AND LEARN OF HIM, THAT IS THE PART WE ARE RESPONABLE FOR, LET THE YOKE OF HIS KINGDOM GOVERNMENT COME UPON US AND LEARN OF HIM.

PRAY, JESUS I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, MY REDEEMER, COME INTO MY HEART, I GIVE YOU MY LIFE.

IF YOU PRAYED THAT PRAYER, AND MEANT IT WITH YOU HEART, IF YOU HAVE A BIBLE READ THE BOOK OF JOHN 1ST AND THEN READ MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE AND THE REST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BEFORE YOU READ THE OLD.

WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

IF YOU PRAYED THIS PRAYER AND ACCEPTED JESUS AS YOUR LORD, PLEASE EMAIL ME AND I WILL PUT YOU ON OUR PRAYER LIST. 

EMAIL:  roy@lmcigreenville.org 

               

Share
Articles, Roy Porter

THE PREACHER THAT QUIT

| Roy

I KINGS 19:1-4 

AND AHAB TOLD JEZEBEL ALL THAT ELIJAH HAD DONE, AND WITHAL HOW HE HAD SLAIN ALL THE PROPHETS WITH THE SWORD.

THEN JEZEBEL SENT A MESSENGER UNTO ELIJAH SAYING. SO LET THE gODS DO TO ME, AND MORE ALSO, IF I MAKE NOT THY LIFE AS THE LIFE OF ONE OF THEM BY TOMORROW ABOUT THIS TIME.

AND WHEN HE SAW THAT, HE AROSE, AND WENT FOR HIS LIFE, AND CAME TO BEER-SHEBA TO JUDAH, AND LEFT HIS SERVANT THERE.

BUT HE HIMSELF WENT A DAY’S JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS, AND CAME  AND SAT DOWN UNDER A JUNIPER TREE: AND HE REQUESTED FOR HIMSELF THAT HE MIGHT DIE; AND SAID IT IS ENOUGH; NOW, O LORD, TAKE AWAY  MY LIFE; FOR I AM NO BETTER THAN MY FATHERS.

ELIJAH THE PROPHET WHO HAD CHALLENGED THE PROPHETS OF BAAL, CALLED FIRE DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN, KILLED THE PROPHETS OF BAAL, PRAYED DOWN RAIN OUT OF HEAVEN. WHAT A VICTORY.

JEZEBEL THREATENS HIS LIFE, FEAR  GRIPES THE  MIND OF  ELIJAH. ELIJAH HAD BEEN SO BOLD WITH GREAT FAITH, BUT KNOW HE HAS FORGOTTEN THE POWERFUL RELEASE OF GODS POWER INTO HIS LIFE. 

THIS SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL BROUGHT FEAR, DISCOURAGEMENT AND CONFUSION UPON HIS MIND. ELIJAH LOST HIS VISION, HIS PURPOSE WAS FORGOTTEN. HE RAN FROM GOD, HE RAN FROM MINISTRY, HE RAN FROM JEZEBEL. HIS PURPOSE AS GODS MAN DIDN’T MATTER ANYMORE.

HE WAS FEARFUL, DEPRESSED, DISCOURAGED, DISILLUSIONED, FULL OF SELF PITY. HE LEFT HIS SERVANT BEHIND AND TOOK OFF.

THROUGH THIS EXAMPLE OF THE ATTACK ON ELIJAH’S MIND, I UNDERSTAND THE WAY SATAN ATTACKS AFTER GREAT SPIRITUAL VICTORIES. 

DISCOURAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE DEMONS IN THESE LAST DAYS. FEAR IS ITS SISTER.

I HUMBLY TELL YOU, I HAVE FELL UNDER THIS ATTACK MANY TIMES, AFTER  GREAT VICTORIES COME ATTACKS. DRY  SPELLS AND ATTACKS AGAINEST THE MIND.

I HAVE LEARNED TO REST, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN I MINISTER TO OTHERS AND GIVE OUT THE ANOINTING ON MY LIFE, THAT I MUST PULL AWAY FROM MINISTRY AND BUILD UP MY INNER MAN THROUGH PRAYER, WORSHIP AND THE WORD OF GOD.  READ A CHRISTIAN BOOK, LISTEN TO TAPES OR CD’S ON FAITH. SERVE THE MASTER AS A GOOD SERVANT IN HIS PRESENCE. THE WAR WE ARE IN IS A SPIRITUAL WAR AND MUST BE FOUGHT WITH THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH. I AM CONVINCED  ELIJAH FELT COLD SPIRITUALLY, HE FELT LIKE GOD HAD DESERTED HIM. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE ANOINTING THAT WAS ON ELIJAH WHEN HE CALLED THE FIRE OF GOD DOWN ON THE SACRIFICE. HOW HE FELT WHEN HE PRAYED DOWN RAIN. NOW ELIJAH FEELS NOTHING. DEMONS ATTACK HIS MIND, HE FEELS DESERTED BY GOD, HE THINKS HE’S THE ONLY ONE SERVING GOD. DESERTED BY GOD HE TURNS TAIL AND RUNS, HE QUITS. HE HAD NO FAITH OPERATING, I HAVE BEEN THERE, CRYING OUT ACCUSING GOD OF NOT CARING. WE LEARN BY OUR MISTAKES. WE MUST KEEP THE FAITH AND CLAIM VICTORY REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE SEE OR HEAR.

ELIJAH COULD SEE THE PROPHETS OF BAAL BUT COULDN’T SEE THE DEMON’S ATACKING HIS FAITH.

AFTER GREAT  SPRITUAL VICTORIES WE NEED TO REST OUR MIND AND BODIES, YOUR SPIRIT CAN BE STRONG AND YOUR BODY TIRED, THIS WILL MAKE YOU WEARY IN WELL DOING.

JESUS PULLED AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE TO PRAY AND SEEK THE FATHER, HE RESTED AT TIMES IN THE PRESENCE OF THE FATHER. HE WAS IN A HUMAN BODY HE COULD GROW TIRED.

MARK 6:31

AND HE SAIN UNTO THEM, COME YE YOURSELVES APART INTO A DESERT PLACE, AND REST A WHILE FOR THERE WERE MANY COMING AND GOING, AND THEY HAD NO LEISURE SO MUCH AS TO EAT.

ELIJAH HEARD THE STILL SMALL VOICE OF GOD ON A SECLUDED MOUNTAIN.

ELIJAH’S MINISTRY IS NOT OVER YET. HE  AND MOSES CAME DOWN ON A MOUNTAIN IN ISRAEL AND TALKED TO JESUS ABOUT HIS SUFFERING IN JERUSALEM. ELIJAH WILL BE ONE OF THE PROPHETS THAT WILL PREACH ON THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM IN THE 1ST PART OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. FOR  THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS HE WILL PREACH THAT JESUS IS THE JEWISH MESSIAH WHO CAME AND WAS CRUCIFIED FOR  THEIR SIN. HE WILL PREACH JESUS CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED. AND THAT HE IS COMING AGAIN TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH. HE WILL DO MIRACLES AND CALL DOWN FIRE OUT OF HEAVEN. 144,000 JEWS WILL BE SAVED AND PREACH THE GOSPEL. ELIJAH WILL BE  THE FORERUNNER OF THE RETURN OF KING JESUS TO JERUSALEM. THE MINISTRY OF ELIJAH WILL BE SEEN AROUND THE WORLD BY TELEVISION AND INTERNET, PREACHING THE GOSPEL.

DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THIS PREACHER STAYED QUIT. NO ELIJAH IS STILL IN THE MINISTRY WAITING FOR HIS PULPIT AGAIN, TO PROPHESY TO KINGS AND PREIST AND TO ALL THE LOST THE KING IS COMING, KING JESUS.

CAN I TELL YOU THAT YOUR MINISTRY IS NOT OVER EITHER, YOU ARE JUST GETTING STARTED. GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH YOU. THE GIFTS AND CALLING OF GOD IS WITHOUT REPENTANCE. STIR UP THAT POWER THAT IS INSIDE OF YOU, LET THE ANOINTING OF GOD REFRESH YOU AND GIVE YOU NEW VISION.                     

Share
Articles, Jeanette Porter

You Alone

| Jeanette

YOU ALONE

I seek Your face, O Lord my God,
My heart, it trusts in You.
I need Your touch, Your plan, Your peace:
This is what I need, it’s true.

I give You all I have to do,
And all my life and will.
I give You everything that comes my way,
And to You alone I yeild.

There are those who know You, Lord,
Who go through trials galore.
I want to help , but how can I?
It’s You they need the more.

For what You do to help them, Lord,
Is show them how to live,
And cast their cares upon You, Lord,
And rest upon Your will.

I have a peace in all of this,
But at times it brings me down.
So here it is, Lord, I give it You,
And rest myself in You alone.

*(This poem – given to Your servant, friend, during our time together, Lord)

Share
Articles, Jeanette Porter

CASTING YOUR CARES

| Jeanette

CASTING YOUR CARES

 

Today’s message is a topic all Christians deal with on a regular basis “CASTING YOUR CARES”.  I pray you will be free from cares as we come to the conclusion of this mssage.

 

Our Scripture reading is found in 1 Peter 5:7.  

 

When I think of this topic, my thoughts go to fishing with a rod and reel, where we cast the lure or bait into the water.

The Scripture says 1 Peter 5;7,  —- Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

Care means anxiety, burden, anything that emotionally weights us down.

 

The problem, the most of us, have with this is, that we cast our cares and then reel them back in again.  He wants us to break the line and let it go.

We are all alike, you know.  We all do it.

Why can’t we just let it go?

The last part of that verse reads …for (or because) He careth for you.

We know we have better things to do with our thought-life.  If He cares for us, He must be the only one who can handle that care.

 

Look with mw at Mark 4:18,19 —- And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the Word,

      And the cares of this world, … entering in, choke the Word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Here, Jesus is talking about the sowing of the seed which represents the Word of God. 

The cares of this life can weight a Christian down, so that they have no joy; and their peace goes right out the window, so to speak.  We forget who we are in Christ.

We get anxious, we get tense and agitated, and speak short to people: not meaning to, but we do it.

 

John 14:1a says, —- Let not your heart be troubled:…

Cares can cause heart trouble and panic attacks.

He careth for you, means to me: He will take care of it.

Cast that thing that is troubling you over to Him.  Don’t try to be the lord of your life.  Let the Holy One have it.

He created you, why do you think He won’t handle every situation in your life?

All He wants us to do, is cast it on Him, and trust Him to take care of it.

 

I have, taped on my computer, Scripture verses.  I also have a statement I copied from some book or source, that says, “I AM WITH YOU ON EVERY OCCASION”.  Each time I read it, a peace settles over me, because, if I know anything about God, He cares, and is with me at all times.

 

We are yoked together with Him:  Jesus said in Matthew 11:29,30 —-

       Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

      For My yoke is easy, and My burden (or load) is light.

 

Dr. R.W. Shambock tells the story about when he was a little boy: how he spent the Summer with his uncle on the farm. 

He, being a city boy, didn’t know anything about farm life.  He eyed this big strong mule; and watched his uncle harness it to a yoke.  Then, his uncle did a strange thing:  He took another mule, and yoked it together with the  strong one:  but this one was skroney and looked very weak. It swayed in the middle.

They were harnessed to pull a heavy load.    —-

Well, Shambock started protesting, kicking his uncle in the shin, pleading with him, not to let that weak mule pull such a heavy load.

His uncle said, “You don’t understand, the strong mule is doing all the work, the weak one is just going along for the ride!”

 

Well, woman of God, this has stayed with me ever since that tent meeting, and I can still see the picture in my mind.

 

We pray, give it to God, and He carries the load for us.

I am not saying we are not required to do our part.

We have to pray and give it to Him.

 

That weak mule could have tried to get ahead of the strong one, and forced the load upon himself, by trying to pull a load he couldn’t handle,

but when he relaxed and let the strong one take the lead, he didn’t have to strain against the burden.

 

This load you are carrying, is too big for you.  You have tried to deal with it your own way, but have not been able to shake that thing off.

You go to sleep with it on your mind, and wake-up with it on your mind.

 

It’s like a poster I had once, where a man is walking down a railroad track with a Volkswagen on his back.  He is bent way over from the load.

In his hand, you can see a train ticket.  A train is passing by him on the other side.  He could have put down that heavy load, and let the train carry him and the car.  He already had his ticket.

 

Likewise, we who are born again, have our ticket in our hand: it is our prayer-life.

The troubles of this life, don’t have to weight us down.

We can enter that rest God promised us, and take that ride through life, with Jesus, or we can go to heaven early with a heavy burden. 

 

I firmly believe, many heart attacks, and other life threatening diseases are brought-on by the cares of this life.

Now, relax, and ask God to take that thing, which has you so distracted, and anxious. —- Find a verse of Scripture that suits your situation, and stand on it.

The Lord’s desire for us is, that we find that place of rest.

 

Matthew 11:28 —- Come unto Me (or move toward Me), all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Repent of not trusting,  believe His Word, and He will take care of that thing.

 

If God is speaking to you today, about something that has you weighted you down, cast it on Him, His shoulders can handle it.

 

Woman of God, when we try to take that thing into our own hands, and don’t trust God with it, it can become a bigger mess than we started out with.

So, turn it over to God, and I promise you, although there may be some reaping on the part of the guilty, it will be resolved, in the best way, for all those involved.

 

Do the messages, God gives me for this Broadcast, speak to Me?

Yes.  I needed this one today: 

But the experiences of failures and victories in my life on this point make me know God will take care of this one too, If I give it to Him.

I try to stay in a place of rest with Him, and I know I will see His glory in every situation. —- For, He is with me, in every episode of my life.

 

These messages are to bring you the truth of the Word of God.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

 

Pray this prayer with me:

      Father, I ask You to take this care that is troubling me right now.  For I am casting it over onto You.  I can’t work it out for myself.  Please take it, and turn it around for the good for all those involved.

In the mighty Name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.

 

Now, sit down, and write me:

      Jeanette Porter

      PO Box  9315

      Greenville, SC  29604

Or E-mail me at:

      lmcigreenville@aol.com     

Share with me your testimony.  I would love to hear from you

 

Until next week.

 

    

     

     

 

 

 

Share
Articles, Roy Porter

REST IS COMING/A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR ROY

| Roy

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. – Hebrews 4:9

The Lord brought my attention to this Scripture today. I know that many Christians are in the fire of trials and trouble.

But I believe God is going to give you rest from these troubles.

He will not allow more to come on us than what we can bear.

Rest is coming.

Share
Articles, Jeanette Porter

AT THE APPOINTED TIME

| Jeanette

MANY PEOPLE STRUGGLE FROM HEARING FROM GOD, AND TODAY I BELIEVE YOU WILL BE ENLIGHTENED ON THIS SUBJECT.

GENESIS 8:14 – IS ANYTHING TO HARD FOR THE LORD? AT THE TIME APPOINTED I WILL RETURN UNTO THEE, ACCORDING TO THE TIME OF LIFE, AND SARAH WILL HAVE A SON.                            GENESIS 21:1,2 – AND THE LORD VISITED SARAH AS HE SAID, AND THE LORD DID UNTO SARAH AS HE HAD SPOKEN. FOR SARAH HAD CONCEIVED AND BARE ABRAHAM A SON IN HIS OLD AGE, AT THE SET TIME OF WHICH GOD HAD SPOKEN TO HIM.

THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD “APPOINTED” IS, ASSIGNED OR ARRANGED.

HOW MANY OF US HAVE HEARD FROM THE LORD, AND BECAUSE IT DIDN’T HAPPEN WHEN WE THOUGHT IT SHOULD, WE SAID,”MAYBE THIS WAS IN MY MIND; MAYBE I DIDN’T REALLY HEAR FROM GOD.”

THIS IS WHEN DOUBT COMES IN AND FAITH GOES OUT.

II SAMUEL 17:14 —-HERE WE FIND ABSALOM, TRYING TO TAKE OVER DAVID’S KINGDOM; BUT DAVID WAS CHOSEN BY GOD AS KING. AND EVEN THOUGH DAVID IS RUNNING IN THE NATURAL, HE KNOWS HIS APPOINTMENT—-FOR THE LORD HAD APPOINTED TO DEFEAT THE GOOD COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL, TO THE INTENT THAT THE LORD MIGHT BRING EVIL UPON ABSALOM. 

     15:31 – AND ONE TOLD DAVID, SAYING, AHITHOPHEL IS AMONG THE CONSPIRATORS WITH ABSALOM. AND DAVID SAID, O LORD, I PRAY THEE, TURN THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL INTO FOOLISHNESS.

DAVID HAD A REBEL SON, ABSALOM, WHOSE PLAN WAS TO TAKE OVER THE KINGDOM GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD. FOR THE PROMISED SEED TO COME : JESUS, WAS TO COME FROM THE LOINS OF DAVID.

ABSALOM TOOK COUNSEL FROM TWO MEN, BUT HE ACCEPTED THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL, ONE OF DAVID’S COUNSELORS WHO JOINED IN THE CONSPIRACY WITH ABSALOM AGAINST DAVID, THE KING.

WHEN SOMEONE TOLD DAVID THAT AHITHOPHEL, HIS OWN ADVISOR, WAS BACKING ABSALOM, DAVID PRAYED, “O LORD, PLEASE MAKE AHITHOPHEL GIVE ABSALOM FOOLISH ADVICE.” 

AS SOON AS HE HAD FINISHED PRAYING, AND HAD REACHED THE TOP OF THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, WHERE PEOPLE WORSHIPPED GOD, DAVID FOUND HUSHAI THE ARCHITE WAITING FOR HIM. BUT DAVID TOLD HIM, “IF YOU GO WITH ME, YOU WILL ONLY BE A BURDEN. RETURN TO JERUSALEM AND TELL ABSALOM, I WILL COUNSEL YOU AS I DID YOUR FATHER. THEN YOU CAN FRUSTRATE AND COUNTER AHITHOPHEL’S ADVICE. SEND WORD BACK TO ME WHAT IS GOING ON.”

SO WHEN DAVID’S FRIEND, HUSHAI, ARRIVED, HE WENT IMMEDIATELY TO SEE ABSALON.

ABSALOM ASKED HIM, “WHY AREN’T YOU WITH DAVID?” AND HE ANSWERED, “BECAUSE I WORK FOR THE MAN WHO IS CHOSEN BY THE LORD AND BY ISRAEL, AND ANY WAY, WHY SHOULDN’T I? I HELPED YOUR FATHER AND NOW I WILL HELP YOU!”

THEN ABSALOM TURNED TO AHITHOPHEL AND ASKED HIM, “WHAT SHALL I DO NEXT?” AHITHOPHEL TOLD HIM, “. GO SLEEP WITH YOUR FATHER’S WIVES, FOR HE HAS LEFT THEM HERE TO KEEP THE HOUSE. THEN ALL ISRAEL  WILL KNOW THAT YOU HAVE INSULTED HIM  BEYOND RECONCILATION, AND THEY WILL SUPPORT YOU.”

SO ABSALOM DID EVERYTHING AHITHOPHEL TOLD HIM, UNTIL ONE DAY AHITHOPHEL ASKED FOR TWELVE THOUSAND MEN TO GO AFTER DAVID AND KILL HIM WHILE HE WAS DISCOURAGED.”HE AND HIS TROOPS WILL BE THROWN INTO A PANIC AND EVERYONE WILL RUN AWAY,” HE SAID. BUT ABASOLOM ASKED HUSHAI HIS OPINION.

“WELL,” HUSHAI REPLIED, “THIS TIME I THINK AHITHOPHEL IS MISTAKEN. YOU KNOW YOUR FATHER AND HIS MEN; THEY ARE MIGHTY WARRIORS AND ARE PROBABLY AS UPSET AS A MOTHER BEAR WHO HAS BEEN ROBBED OF HER CUBS.

YOUR FATHER IS AN OLD SOLDIER AND ISN’T GOING TO SPEND THE NIGHT AMONG THE TROOPS. HE HAS PROBABLY ALREADY HIDDEN IN SOME PIT OR CAVE. WHEN HE COMES OUT AND ATTACKS AND SOME OF YOUR MEN FALL, THERE WILL BE PANIC AMONG YOUR TROOPS AND EVERYONE WILL START SHOUTING THAT YOUR MEN ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED. THEN, EVEN THE BRAVEST OF THEM WILL BE PARALIZED WITH FEAR, BECAUSE ALL ISRAEL KNOWS WHAT A MIGHTY MAN YOUR FATHER IS AND HOW COURAGOUS HIS SOLDIERS ARE.’

“I SUGGEST YOU MOBILIZE THE ENTIRE ARMY OF ISRAEL. AND I THINK YOU SHOULD PERSONALLY LEAD THE TROOPS. THEN, WHEN WE FIND HIM, WE CAN DESTROY HIS ENTIRE ARMY, SO THAT NO ONE IS LEFT ALIVE.”

THEN ABSALOM AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL SAID, HUSHAI’S IS BETTER THAN AHITHOPHEL’S.” FOR THE  LORD HAD APPOINTED TO DEFEAT THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL, WHICH REALLY WAS  THE BETTER PLAN; SO HE COUD BRING DISASTER UPON ABSALOM. —-AND HE DID.

WHEN GOD GIVES US A WORD, THAT HE IS GOING TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE, IT IS BEST FOR US TO KEEP OUR MOUTHS SHUT UNTIL THE APPOINTED TIME, AS WAS IN THE LIFE OF ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH (LUKE 1). THE ANGEL TOLD HIM WHILE HE WAS DOING HIS SERVICE TO GOD IN THE TEMPLE, THAT HIS WIFE, ELIZABETH, WOULD HAVE A SON NAMED JOHN. BECAUSE OF ZACHARIAS’ UNBELIEF THE ANGEL STRUCK HIM DUMB UNTIL THE APPOINTED TIME.

WHEN GOD DECIDES TO DO SOMETHING, HE HAS A PURPOSE AND A PLAN HOW HE WANTS IT CARRIED-OUT.

THE BEST  THING WE CAN DO, IS WAIT IT OUT UNTIL IT COMES TO PASS. IT IS VERY EASY FOR US TO GET INTO UNBELIEF. WHEN WE GET TIRED OF WAITING, WE CAN BRING AN ISHMAEL INTO OUR LIVES, AS DID ABRAHAM AND SARAH. THEN WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE ACTIONS THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

WHEN THE PROMISE DOES COME, WE FIND WE CAN ENJOY IT LIKE GOD PLANNED IN THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ISHMAELS TO DEAL WITH.

WHEN WE BEGIN TO QUESTION GOD—-WE SHOULD BE SAYING, “GOD, I TRUST YOU WITH JUST THE RIGHT TIMING, AND I TRUST YOU WITH WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND ME.”

IN THE BOOK OF ESTHER, ESTHER’S UNCLE, MORDECAI HAD TOLD HER. “NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO ACT. NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO REVEAL YOURSELF.”

ESTHER 4:14 – FOR IF THOU ALTOGETHER HOLDEST THY PEACE AT THIS TIME, THEN SHALL THEIR ENLARGEMENT (OR HELP) AND DELIVERANCE COME FROM ANOTHER PLACE; BUT THOU AND THY FATHER’S HOUSE SHALL BE DESTROYED: AND WHO KNOWETH WHETHER THOU ART COME TO THE KINGDOM FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?

BY MAKING HER MOVE AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, SHE DESTROYED ALL THE ENEMIES PLANS.  

Share
Articles, Jeanette Porter

SWEET SLEEP

| 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. 

Share