Tag: VERSES

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, Roy Porter

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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Articles, Jeanette Porter

WORDS PART III

| Jeanette

EPHESIANS 4:13 – LET NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD TO THE USE OF EDIFYING (OR BUILDING UP), THAT IT MAY MINISTER GRACE TO THE HEARERS.

ALL OF US NEED TO BE BUILT-UP OR EDIFIED. OUR FAMILY MEMBERS NEED TO HEAR WORDS COMING FROM OUR MOUTH’S THAT ARE BLESSINGS AND NOT CURSES.

TIMOTHY IS PAUL’S SON IN THE SPIRIT. LISTEN HOW HE BUILDS TIMOTHY UP.

II TIMOTHY 1:13 – HOLD FAST THE FORM OF SOUND WORDS, WHICH THOU HAST HEARD OF ME, IN FAITH AND LOVE, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

TO TIMOTHY, MY DEAR BELOVED SON: GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE, FROM GOD THE FATHER AND CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

FAITH, BEING THE POSITIVE, OR BLESSINGS; AND FEAR BEING THE NEGATIVE, OR CURSES: LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING VERSES:

II TIMOTHY 1:3-5 – I THANK GOD, WHOM I SERVE FROM MY FOREFATHERS WITH A PURE CONSCIENCE, THAT WITHOUT CEASING I HAVE REMEMBRANCE OF THEE IN MY PRAYERS NIGHT AND DAY;

GREATLY DESIRING TO SEE THEE, BEING MINDFUL OF THY TEARS, THAT I MAY BE FILLED WITH JOY:

WHEN I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE UNFEIGNED LOVE THAT IS IN THEE, WHICH DWELT FIRST IN THY GRANDMOTHER LOIS, AND THY MOTHER EUNICE; AND I AM PERSUADED THAT IN THEE ALSO.

TIMOTHY HAD A GRANDMOTHER AND A MOTHER, WHO LOVED HIM, AND INFLUENCED HIS LIFE.

THAT PERSON THAT IS PRAYING FOR YOU AND INFLUENCING YOUR LIFE, TO SERVE GOD, AND HIS PURPOSE FOR YOUR FUTURE.

MAYBE THEY ARE PRAYING, “DON’T GIVE-UP ON HER, LORD: MAKE HER SWEET, JUST LIKE JESUS.”

SOME OF YOU ARE REALLY HURTING BECAUSE OF THE THINGS SPOKEN OVER YOU IN YOUR PAST, AND EVEN NOW, YOU STILL HEAR THOSE WORDS, FOLLOWING YOU, AND SCREAMING OUT AT YOU.

THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO DO, IS GIVE IT ALL TO GOD; AND THE NEXT STEP IS TO FORGIVE THAT ONE WHO HAS HURT YOU WITH THEIR WORDS OR IN ANY WAY.

THIS MAY SEEM STRANGE TO YOU, BUT TO BE FREE, THIS HAS TO TAKE PLACE.

YOU MAY EVEN NEED TO FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR THOSE CURSES YOU HAVE SPOKEN OVER YOURSELF OTHERS.

MAYBE, YOU MAY NEED TO ASK THEM TO FORGIVE YOU, AND THAT FROM NOW ON, YOUR WORDS TO THEM ARE LIFE, AND BLESSINGS.

DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE…     PROVERBS 18:21

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

LYING THOUGHTS

| Jeanette

THIS MESSAGE TODAY INVOLVES EVERY PERSON ON THE PLANET EARTH.

AS THIS MESSAGE UNFOLDS, YOU WILL BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD’S THOUGHTS ARE NOT OURS, BUT THEY SHOULD BE.

THE WORD THOUGHT IS DEFINED AS THE REASONING OF THE MIND; LYING, AS THE MANIFESTATION OF UNTRUTH.

SO, LYING THOUGHTS COULD BE EXPLAINED THIS WAY: MANIFESTATIONS OF UNTRUTHS BY THE REASONING OF THE MIND. OUR MINDS SEEM TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING WE SAY OR DO.

IN ROMANS 12:1,2 WE ARE TOLD TO PRESENT OUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, AND NOT TO BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLDS WAY OF THINKING, BUT TO BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF OUR MINDS: THAT WE MAY DEMONSTRATE WHAT IS  …THAT GOOD, AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.

SO TO STOP THINKING LYING THOUGHTS, WE HAVE TO RENEW OUR MINDS TO THE WORD OF GOD, AND NOT HOW THE WORLD THINKS.

 II CORINTHIANS 10:4,5 –   (FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL, BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONGHOLDS;)

     CASTING DOWN EVERY IMAGINATION, AND EVERY HIGH THING (OR PROUD THING) THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST.

A THOUGHT STARTS OUT AS A SEED, AND BECOMES IMAGINATION; AND THEN A STRONGHOLD OF THE MIND. THIS NEGATIVE SEED IS PLANTED BY THE ENEMY, SATAN.

IF WE CAN CONTROL THE SEED STAGE, HE CAN CONTROL THE HARVEST.

WE HAVE A CHOICE IN THE MATTER: WE CAN ALLOW THE THOUGHTS TO STAY, OR FIND OUT WHAT THE WORD SAYS, AND THINK ON THOSE THINGS.

PHILIPPIANS 4:9 –   THOSE THINGS, WHICH YE HAVE BOTH LEARNED, AND RECEIVED, AND HEARD AND SEEN IN ME (PAUL) DO: AND THE GOD OF PEACE SHALL BE WITH YOU.

WHAT WE ALL NEED IS PEACE.

WE ARE TOLD TO THINK ON THESE THINGS IN PHILIPPIANS 4:6-8: WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE, HONEST, JUST, PURE, LOVELY,  OF GOOD REPORT; AND IF THERE BE ANY VIRTURE OR PRAISE …AND THE GOD OF PEACE SHALL BE WITH YOU.

SO, ANY THOUGHT THAT DOESN’T MEASURE-UP TO THESE VERSES, HAVE TO BE LYING THOUGHTS.

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

IF YOU SAY IT YOU MUST BELIEVE IT

| Jeanette

THE LORD SAID TO ME, “YOU KNOW HOW I MOVE ON YOU, BUT YOU ARE NOT IN A PLACE TO JUDGE ANY OF MY REASONS FOR DOING WHAT I DO. THERE IS SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW YOU ABOUT MY WAYS THAT WILL BEGIN TO UNLEASH THOSE DESIRES FOR SERVICE IN YOU. YOU SAW WHAT I DID FOR THAT WOMAN LAST NIGHT ON TV, WHO FELL SUCH A LONG DISTANCE DOWN, AND THE MIRACLES THAT SURROUNDED HER FALL. WELL, SHE KNEW MY WORD, AND CLAIMED IT EVEN WHEN SHE WAS NOT IN TROUBLE, AS THOUGH SHE COULD BE. IT WAS A FEAR FOR HER THAT SHE COULD GET INTO TROUBLE SOMEHOW, BUT, NEVERTHELESS, SHE HAD MY WORD AND EVEN USED IT IN HER TROUBLE. SHE NOW HAS A FIRE FOR MINISTRY. SHE HAS A SUPERNATURAL TRUST IN ME THAT WAS RELEASED AS SHE SPOKE AND CLAIMED MY WORD IN HER SITUATION OF LIFE, AND DEVELOPED A SUPERNATURAL REALM OF FAITH.

WHAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU, IS THAT WHAT YOU SAY IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT. TO DEVELOPE THIS IN YOUR LIFE, I WANT YOU TO BEGIN A MESSAGE CALLED: IF YOU SAY IT YOU MUST BELIEVE IT.”

“TURN IN YOUR BIBLE AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE VERSES TO START WITH. I LOVE YOU AND I WILL DEVELOPE YOU INTO WHAT I WANT YOU TO BE. TRUST ME, I AM YOUR LORD, AND GOD. I BLESS THIS MESSAGE..”

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME OUT OF OUR MOUTH’S THAT WE DON’T REALLY BELIEVE WHEN WE SAY THEM, BUT WHEN WE BELIEVE WHAT WE SAY, WE HAVE THE RECIPE FOR ACTION TO TAKE PLACE. IT WILL HAPPEN!

MARK 11:22,23 – AND JESUS ANSWERING SAITH UNTO THEM, HAVE FAITH IN GOD.

          FOR VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY UNTO THIS MOUNTAIN, BE THOU REMOVED, AND BE THOU CAST INTO THE SEA; AND SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, BUT SHALL BELIEVE THAT THOSE THINGS WHICH HE SAITH SHALL COME TO PASS; HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH.

A MOUNTAIN, IS ANYTHING IN YOUR PATH THAT THAT BLOCKS YOU FROM REACHING THE GOALS YOU WANT OR NEED.

          …WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY UNTO THIS MOUNTAIN…I HEAR PEOPLE ALL THE TIME SAY, “YOU GET WHAT YOU SAY.” I’VE MADE THIS STATEMENT BEFORE MYSELF, BUT THANK GOD! I HAVEN’T GOTTEN EVERYTHING THAT HAS COME OUT OF MY MOUTH; AND NEITHER HAVE YOU!

THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A CONTRADICTION TO YOU, BUT WE ONLY GET WHAT WE SAY IF WE BELIEVE WHEN WE SAY IT, THAT IT WILL COME TO PASS.

WHEN THERE IS A DISAGREEMENT GOING ON, SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY WHAT THEY MEAN, AND THEY GET WHAT THEY SAY; AND SOMETIMES THEY SAYWHAT THEY DON’T MEAN, AND LATER, AFTER ALL IS OVER AND THE AIR SETTLES, EVEN IF THE HURT IS STILL THERE, THOSE PEOPLE DON’T GET WHAT THEY SAY.

A CHILD MIGHT SAY IN ANGER, “I WISH YOU WERE DEAD!!” OR “I HATE YOU!”  BUT MOST OF THE TIME, AFTER THEIR ANGER IS OVER, THEY ARE HUGGING AND SAYING, “I LOVE YOU.”

WHAT HAPPENED?

THEY DIDN’T LIKE WHAT WAS GOING ON, SO THEY SAID THOSE COMMON WORDS FOR A CHILD IN ANGER.

SINCE OUR UNIVERSE WAS CREATED WITH WORDS, AND ALSO, I BELIEVE THE LAST BATTLE WILL BE FOUGHT AND WON WITH WORDS COMING OUT OF THE MOUTH OF OUR KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

WORDS HAVE TO BE A POWER SOURCE OF ACTION.

WE CALL THE BOBLE THE WORD OF GOD, AND THIS IS TRUE, BECAUSE THE BIBLE MADE UP OF WORDS.

BUT  THE BIBLE DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER BOOKS, IS THAT IT IS SUPERNATURAL. IT IS INSPIRED BY GOD ALMIGHTY, AND THE WORDS WERE FORMED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON THOSE WHO PENNED THEM.

GOD BELIEVES WHAT HE SAYS, SO ALL OF IT HAS TO COME TO PASS. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! AND IT IS CONTINUALLY COMING TO PASS.

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

THE TRIED

| Jeanette

BEING TRIED IS NOT THE EASIEST PART OF BEING A CHILD OF GOD.

WE ARE TRIED MANY TIMES BY THE USE OF FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, CHURCH MEMBERS, AND ENEMIES OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

WE ARE TRIED BY OUR OWN IMAGINATIONS GOING WILD.

WE ARE TRIED BY BY OUR REACTIONS TO CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE BATTLEFIELD AS WE SERVE THE LORD. BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS, I SAMUEL 17:47b – THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S.

WE DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT OUR BATTLES.

TRIALS COME, MY FRIEND, THEY COME.

BUT WE SHOULD REMEMBER: TRIALS ARE LIKE A TUNNEL. THEY HAVE A BEGINNING AND AN END. WE CAN SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF A TUNNEL. BUT WHILE GOING THROUGH A TUNNEL, THERE IS DARKNESS BEFORE THE LIGHT.

BUT AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE THE SENSE THAT WE ARE STILL MOVENG FORWARD, NO MATTER HOW DARK IT MAY SEEM.

THIS IS LIKE THE TIMES WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF BEING TRIED. WE REALIZE HOW POWERFUL THE GRACE OF GOD REALLY IS: HOW HE IS IN CHARGE, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO STRENGTH OF OUR OWN.

OUR TRUST CANNOT BE THE FLESH; FLESH WON’T HELP: IT HAS TO BE GOD WHO IS CARRYING US THROUGH.

PSALM 66:8-12 –  O BLESS OUR GOD, YE HIS PEOPLE, AND MAKE THE VOICE OF HIS PRAISE BE HEARD:

WHICH HOLDETH OUR SOUL IN LIFE, AND SUFFERETH NOT OUR FEET TO BE MOVED.

FOR THOU O GOD, HAST PROVED US; HAS TRIED US AS SILVER IS TRIED. 

SILVER, ACCORDING TO ANCIENT METHODS, REQUIRED A PROLONGED PROCESS OF REFINING BEFORE IT COULD BE PRONOUNCED PURE.

SO YOU COULD SAY IT THIS WAY, “YOU, THROUGH A LONG PROCESS, HAVE PURIFIED US WITH FIRE.”

VERSES 11,12 – THOU BROUGHTEST US INTO THE NET; THOU LAIDEST AFFLICTION UPON OUR LOINS. THOU HAST CAUSED MEN TO RIDE OVER OUR HEADS; WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRE AND THROUGH  WATER: BUT THOU BROUGHTEST US OUT INTO A WEALTHY PLACE. 

THE MEANING IS, YOU CRUSHED US DOWN UNDER A HEAVY WEIGHT, OR LAID GREAT BURDENS ON OUR BACKS. MEN CAME AGAINST US TO HARM US, BUT IN THE END, YOU BROUGHT US OUT INTO WEALTH AND GREAT ABUNDANCE, A PLACE OF REFRESHMENT, A PLACE OF LIBERTY.

VERSES 16-20 – COME AND HEAR, ALL YE THAT FEAR GOD, AND I WILL DECLARE WHAT HE HATH DONE FOR MY SOUL. I CRIED UNTO HIM WITH MY MOUTH, AND HE WAS EXTOLLED (OR CELEBRATED) WITH MY TONGUE.  

IN ALL THESE VERSES, IT SEEMS THE PSALMIST HAS BEEN THROUGH A TERRIBLE TRIAL. HE BEGAN TO PRAISE GO WITH HIS MOUTH AND TELL OTHERS HOW GOD BROUGHT HIM OUT.

BUT GOD DID MORE THAN JUST BRING HIM OUT OF HIS TRIAL, HE MOVED HIM INTO A PLACE OF REFRESHMENT, A PLACE OF LIBERTY, A PLACE OF BLESSING.

HE WAS ELEVATED INTO ANOTHER LEVEL WITH GOD BY THE PASSING OF THIS GREAT TRIAL.

I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENS TO US AFTER WE HAVE BEEN TRIED.

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