A place of refreshment, the porch of the Lord…
Pull up a chair, take in spiritual air.
Jesus always has time, and His is the power–
Receive there His touch in this end-time hour.
Like Mary, take time to sit at His feet;
Come to His porch for relief from life’s heat.
Only one thing is needful and truly can please–
His Word and His presence, felt on each breeze.
He offers living water, quenching everyone’s thirst;
And that’s yours there daily, by seeking Him first.
There’s joy on His porch, with your sisters and brothers,
As you find your needs met while caring about others.
The healing and peace which only Christ can bring
Are found there at all times—an everlasting spring.
Taste there His love, so generously poured;
Your “cup will run over” on the porch of the Lord.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’ And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things; But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'” Luke 10:38-42 NKJV
Jesus Christ of Nazareth had taken His destined place
On a cruel cross upon a hill–for the task He’d been born to face.
His sinless life had made Him the chosen Lamb of God–
Though now He sits at God’s right hand and bears a Shepherd’s rod.
Three days after Christ’s burial, and just at the brink of dawn,
Some, in love, had come to the tomb and had found that His body was gone.
But the pain of their grief concerning His death had then given way
To amazing angelic tidings on that glorious Resurrection day! Jesus, the Man on the center cross, on the hill of crucifixion had been
The focus of God’s judgement upon all of mankind’s sin.
But now, with joy, the angels reminded that just as He had said, Jesus, God’s Son, had risen in victory, up from the dead!
His Father’s gracious plan of redemption for all people had been met;
And, therefore, all of their sins, a holy God could now forget!
There’s just one requirement remaining; and it’s your choice–
To believe in your heart He’s Savior, and confess it with your voice.
Angels rejoice in heaven over one sinner who’ll repent,
And put their faith in Jesus Christ–the One Whom God has sent.
P. A. Oltrogge
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus….” Romans 3:23-24
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10
“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 (NASB)
“For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, nowis the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
“Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Isaiah 53:12
Scriptures: NKJV or as noted
Resurrection references: Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20
Christ and the Rich Young Ruler by Pauline Voorhees Eikenberry
A rich young ruler, with eternal concerns, made a mental list–
Then sought out Christ to see if there was anything he’d missed.
In contemplating heaven, he hoped he’d done God’s will
By following His laws, from his youth, but wondered still.
He addressed Christ as a good teacher, but didn’t realize
That Christ wasn’t just a good teacher, but God before his very eyes.
He asked the Lord what he could do to aid him on eternity’s quest,
And Jesus confirmed that to keep the commandments is best.
The young man replied he’d done that from as early as he could recall–
Then Jesus told him of his need to follow Him and surrender all.
His wealth and possessions had become too strong of a hold
And kept him from seeing the purity of God’s desires–true gold.
With sadness, the ruler left because he couldn’t see the reward.
He hadn’t yet grasped the higher life offered through Christ, the Lord.
You see, making Christ your Lord doesn’t actually cost–in fact, it pays,
With dividends of God’s blessings throughout all your days.
The greatest blessing of all is getting to know God as you should–
A loving heavenly Father whose care and plans for you are good.
Then, committing your life and resources, in faith, as He leads
Will help you to reach exactly those He knows of who have needs.
God knows that when possessions become your highest treasure,
You’ll fail to find the things that He knows are of greater measure.
Christ looks for our faith and love for Him and where our loyalty lies;
Let’s not fail to see that investment in His Kingdom is certainly wise.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Now behold, one came and said to him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So He said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But, if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
The Lord was working out a major plan to set free–the captive Hebrew people of old. There would be ten plagues, so the actions of Moses and Aaron would need to be brave and bold.
When they came before Pharaoh, they had commands from the Lord on what to say or do, to warn him of, or initiate, every plague that his nation was soon to go through.
The ninth plague of darkness was so severe that the Egyptians couldn’t get around. For three days, the darkness was “felt” and thick, in the air and on the ground.
One of Egypt’s chief deities was the sun “god,” so such darkness proved the Lord’s might, to prevail over any of the “gods” of the Egyptians. Only His power could end the dark night.
But the Hebrews were under God’s protection; and, in the midst of that constant night, there was light in Goshen in their dwellings because God was in charge of their fight.
Today, people experience darkness, not of God and not a kind where you can’t visibly see, but darkness in their minds when they’ve not recognized “the door,” through which anyone’s able to go free.
Jesus pointed the way, saying, “If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” You can experience “Goshen” through God’s Son yet today, and you’ll have all of the light that you’ll need.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.’ So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” Exodus 10:21-23
“Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.’” John 8:12
“If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” words of Jesus in John 8:36 KJV
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” John 1:6-9
“Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:22-23
“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.’” words of Jesus in John 10:9-10 NASB
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10
“You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” Psalm 18:28 NIV
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 NASB
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” Proverbs 4:18 NASB
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10
“For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.’ We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
“Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:16-21 NLT
“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.” John 1:12 KJV
If you’ve not yet received Jesus as your Savior and Lord, through a heartfelt prayer, let today be the day…
It is Thursday morning, and I’m so grateful to God for such a beautiful gathering yesterday evening at Tim’s House! Our good friend, Dave, (Sweet Baby Ray) brought a delicious meal and, as always, spent time visiting with old and new friends. There is truly a family experience at Tim’s House that only God could make possible among our group as well as volunteers, and it’s easy to see that people are so happy to see each other. Loneliness is something many people experience, especially for those who struggle with homelessness, and I love that God created this community.
We read from the Book of Acts, Chapter 1, last night and the conversation around the Scripture was powerful and people were saying with smiles on their face, “I feel something here! I feel God’s love here! This is God!” I was talking to a 77-year old man (newer to our group) at the end of the evening and told him how happy we were that he was there with us, and then a few of us gave him a hug. He has been homeless for years and doesn’t smile and often has his head down and doesn’t talk much, but he broke into this very sweet smile and said, “I’m a loner and keep to myself and I was taking it all in during the Bible Study and listening and it feels good to be here – I don’t feel alone and I’ll see you on Friday.” We are helping him apply for subsidized housing and it’s unimaginable that at age 77 he is outside.
Having a safe place to call home is one of the most basic human needs. It is more than just a roof over someone’s head. People experience stability, dignity, rest, safety, hope for rebuilding. It is difficult for someone to take care of their physical or mental health or work when they do not know where they will sleep each night. But, through God’s help, one person at a time, doors for housing are miraculously opened.
A young woman who has been homeless for years and has tried to keep a part-time job (but lost it) is finally going to be moving into Mercy Housing (a room with a kitchen and bath in a building) in a few weeks, and she is so happy and said she has a hard time really believing that she will finally be living in her own place. That’s the experience of most of our friends–that they can’t let themselves believe it will really happen until the moment they open that door with their own key! I’ll keep you posted regarding what she may need to get set up. We are all so happy for her at Tim’s House.
And yet, another man shared last night that he is now homeless again because of a paperwork ‘glitch’ that happened at the place where he was staying…but we’re helping him, talking to the people in his building, making arrangements for emergency housing because he is disabled, and he has a family at Tim’s House and we have God. “With man these things are not possible, but with God all things are possible!”
Thanks to you, also, for all that you do to help us provide for our friends.
Everyone loves to see our good friend, Sweet Baby Ray, who comes to Tim’s House each month.
…the poem, below, was written as a confession of faith, which any believer could use….
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”…from Psalm 107
God has given me a spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind…
When I thank Him for His goodness, that’s what I will always find.
The Old Testament account of Joseph tells that he was sold to be a slave;
but his faith in God’s love sustained him with the courage to be brave.
Never a day goes by me, or a night when I need to sleep,
that His love isn’t reigning over me–I trust His promises, He’ll keep.
The Lord is a refuge and stronghold in trouble, the Word of God has declared.
So we pray, believing for His goodness over those who may have despaired.
Even in dark days that are clouded with wars or rumors of a war…
abiding in Him, it’s a good fight of faith–the cross of Jesus has gone on before!
P. A. Oltrogge
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:11-12
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 RSV
“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Psalm 9:9 NIV
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” Psalm 42:5
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39
“I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14 AMP
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:5-7
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before. Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the Foe; Forward into battle See His banners go! Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before.
2 Like a mighty army Moves the Church of God; Brothers, we are treading Where the saints have trod. We are not divided, All one body we, One in hope and doctrine, One in charity. Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before.
3 Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane, But the Church of Jesus Constant will remain. Gates of hell can never ‘Gainst that church prevail; We have Christ’s own promise, And that cannot fail. Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before.
4 Onward, then, ye faithful, Join our happy throng, Blend with ours your voices In the triumph song: Glory, laud, and honor Unto Christ, the King; This thro’ countless ages Men and angels sing. Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23 KJV
(The hymn, Onward, Christian Soldiers, was written in 1864 by Sabine Baring-Gould, and the music composer was Arthur S. Sullivan)
A place of refreshment, the porch of the Lord… Pull up a chair, take in spiritual air. Jesus always has time, and His is the power– Receive there His touch in this end-time hour. Like Mary, take time to sit at His feet; Come to His porch for relief from life’s heat. Only one thing is needful and truly can please– His Word and His presence, felt on each breeze. He offers living water, quenching everyone’s thirst; And that’s yours there daily, by seeking Him first. There’s joy on His porch, with your sisters and brothers, As you find your needs met while caring about others. The healing and peace which only Christ can bring Are found there at all times—an everlasting spring. Taste there His love, so generously poured; Your “cup will run over” on the porch of the Lord.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’ And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things; But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:38-42 NKJV
“But one thing is needful…” verse 42, KJV
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalm 23:5 KJV
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Today, if you feel alone with some worrisome cares,
come sit with other believers outside on the porch chairs.
Join me in praying for those who follow these posts…
He’ll perfect what concerns us, as we trust the Lord of Hosts!
For our country, for our futures, we continue to believe…
for all of the good things that He said we could receive.
Of those suffering for their faith, today, we’re reminded;
we pray for them and their enemies, who are spiritually blinded.
We’re strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…
His Word lights our path as we fight faith’s good fight!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Finally, my brethren, bestronginthe Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
“Fight the goodfightoffaith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” James 5:13-18
I’ve often shared on the Porch of the ministry of Rev. Keith Moore, especially his Faith School. Today I’d like to share help beyond that at his website: http://www.faithlife.org
You may have explored and found the following already, but if you click on “Word Supply” and then “View All,” you can scroll down to find his Books and Music, which are free to enjoy on line.
Book Topics:
Tithing Today Victory Over Death Do Yourself No Harm God Loves Me God’s Will to Heal
“I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1
When troubles disappoint, overwhelm, or sometimes shock, remember, then, what time it is–it’s always Praise o’clock!
As much-loved members of the Good Shepherd’s flock, His goodness makes us praise Him all around the clock.
After praise and a mighty shout, the walls of Jericho fell down flat. The people followed Joshua’s instructions, and that was that!
When Daniel faced the lions in their den ’til morning light, an angel at Praise o’clock came there to keep their jaws shut tight.
Paul and Silas were imprisoned; their feet were placed in stocks; but they just sang with all their hearts, and made that prison rock!
If your prayer is for a miracle, but it seems to be “out of stock,” don’t give up, don’t give in–look at the time, it’s still Praise o’clock.
Surely when the way seems hard, there’s an answer to any “block,” for continually and forever, the correct time is Praise o’clock!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:15 NKJV
“O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.” Psalm 95:1-7 (NASB, Ryrie Study Bible)
“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height–to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” Ephesians 3:14:21 NKJV
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 NKJV
“Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 RSV
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It’s in serious times or circumstances that it’s exactly right to praise God in expectation of His help. At the same time, we take our authority, through the blood and name of Jesus, over evil spirits that would hinder or harm in any circumstance, as we’re seated with Christ in the heavenly places, far above them. (Reference Ephesians 1:18-23 and 2:4-10)
“What time is it?” can also make us contemplate the time of Jesus’ return. We’re to occupy until He comes…
“And as they heard these things, he (Jesus) added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, ‘Occupy till I come.’” Luke 19:11-13 KJV
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1–2
There’s protection in these days from plague, danger, storm and flood. It’s found through faith in Jesus Christ and the power of His blood. Remember to use the authority that God has given you. Resist the devil before, or even as, adverse things try to break through.
We’re to imitate our Lord who commanded the stormy sea, “Be still!” It’s not a time to doubt He’ll back you up–but to know He will! Psalm 91 and other covenant promises of God are yours to claim. You’ve got His power; you’ve got His authority; and you’ve got His mighty Name!
The gift of righteousness through Christ is yours, most importantly to know of all. The more we realize this, the more we’ll believe we receive answers when we call. Despite our failings, when God sees us, He sees the righteousness of His own Son. And the Bible says God will perfect the good work in us that He’s begun.
We gain in faith through hearing God’s Word, our sure foundational base, which helps us to grow strong in assurance–about His all-encompassing grace. Just trust Him now, as it’s being taught to a much greater extent. His blood, His Name, His Word, His authority–for our well-being these were meant!
P. A. Oltrogge
“And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33
“And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ (right up to the time of His return), developing (that good work) and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” Philippians 1:6 (AMP)
“For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.’” Luke 10:19-20 (KJV)
“Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18
“So be subject to God. Resist the devil (stand firm against him), and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (AMP)
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!’” Psalm 91:1-2
“No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.” Psalm 91:10 and all of Psalm 91
Hebrews 12:24; Hebrews 13:20-21 (the blood of Jesus)
Acts 3:6; Acts 3:16; Acts 4:7, 10, 12, 17, 18 (the name of Jesus)
Ephesians 6:10-17 (the armor of God)
“Only believe!” (from Mark 5:36 and Luke 8:50)
And growing in exercising our authority in Christ–that needed boldness–can be gained by the help of various other ministries previously noted on this blog.
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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
So many religions speak of various ways to address pleasing God all of your days.
Five times a day, you could be down on your knees, with prayers to the god you hope to please.
But, really, these things are ritual merely and can’t please Him, no matter if done so very sincerely.
But there is a way to come to God, and it’s by looking to the road that Jesus has trod.
He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He paved the way for you through much strife…
released upon Him as He went to the cross, where He suffered in pain so you wouldn’t be lost
to the God who loves you and calls to you now to embrace His Son, Jesus, to Whom, one day, every knee will bow.
But only grace, through faith, is involved—all works are in vain. Through Jesus’ righteousness, our salvation is made plain.
You may want to fall to your knees when you recognize all that was done…by a God who loved so greatly, He gave His only Son.
P. A. Oltrogge
“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:14 NLT
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The LambofGod who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” spoken by Jesus in John 3:16-17
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’” John 14:6
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” spoken by Jesus in John 17:3
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26
“But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23 NLT
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
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“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11 NLT
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“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7
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“In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
“That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.
“For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.
“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:22-28 NLT
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“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:9-11
I’ve gotten to know some of you a little by your having sent a comment or “Like,” which I’ve appreciated and was encouraged by as I’ve traveled down the blogging pike.
So, especially, during these difficult times, when I don’t hear from you in a while, my heart is touched; and I pray to the Lord that He’s surely watching over you, His dear child.
I pray the same for all of the “Porch” readers…. and I’m thankful for you who’ve signed up for its posts. I know that you want to meditate on God’s Word and that you pray to and honor the Lord of Hosts!
P. A. Oltrogge
“And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and loveoneanother, just as he commanded us.” 1 John 3:23 NLT
“With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18 NASB
“Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah” Psalm 24:9-10 NKJV
“How blessed is the man…(whose) delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” (from Psalm 1:1-3 NASB)
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Be strengthened by the following various series at the Joseph Prince website: “Live Without Fear,” “Unlock the Power of the Holy Communion,” “Victory Starts Here,” “Truths About the Rapture,” “God Still Heals,” “Flourish in the Famine,” and “Best of Joseph Prince.” http://www.josephprince.org
He offers many books as well, such as “Destined to Reign” and others.
At the Joseph Prince website, are wonderful messages and praise reports. At the site, it is encouraged to share via Facebook, e-mail, etc., so here is just one praise report today. For more, visit: http://www.josephprince.org
No More Brain Hemorrhage by Declaring God’s Promises
Two years ago, my mother-in-law, Adalgisa, was hospitalized with a severe headache. Doctors found a large spot on her brain, and they couldn’t understand exactly what it was or what was causing it.
They did not exclude the worst diagnoses, but they could not understand why Adalgisa, while having such a large spot on her brain, did not have any other symptoms besides a headache. She was not paralyzed, she was perfectly conscious, her senses functioned well, and her body had no other issues.
My husband and I refused to accept the possible bad diagnosis and told Adalgisa to do the same. Initially, she was very discouraged. She attends another church because she lives a little far from us, and she didn’t know how to claim all of God’s promises for her life. However, we explained to her how the Lord took her sickness on His body at the cross and that by His stripes, she was already healed.
We taught her how to partake of the Holy Communion with the right revelation. Every day, we went to the hospital, bringing a bit of bread and a bit of wine to partake in the Holy Communion together. We also applied anointing oil over, speaking over her with the right revelation.
We also taught her to proclaim her righteousness in Christ, to declare healing for every part of her body, especially for her brain, to command every organ to function as God designed, to cast away that spot on her head, and to believe and declare that as Jesus is, so is she in this world.
Further medical tests showed that the spot was a large hemorrhage in her head, but doctors still did not understand what was causing it. Many believers told me to pray that the doctors would quickly find the cause of that hemorrhage in her brain, but I chose to pray by giving thanks to the Lord for Adalgisa’s healing, even if doctors did not understand anything. I wanted to focus only on Christ and His work, not on the doctors or circumstances.
By the grace of God, Adalgisa’s condition improved day by day. After fifteen days, she was discharged because the hemorrhage was reabsorbed, and she was very well physically, without any headaches. Today, she is completely healed, and she lives a perfectly normal life to the glory of the Lord!
I thank you, Pastor Prince, for preaching the pure gospel of grace without compromise, because in it is the power of God for our lives. The revelations about healing and every blessing we have in Christ, the revelations about the importance of the Holy Communion, and every other revelation focused on Christ are the most precious things we can enjoy. Truly, the gospel of grace revealed is life for everyone who receives it.
My pastor first heard you preach in Palermo, South Italy, in 2010, and from then on, his ministry was completely transformed. He decided to start translating your sermons into Italian to share them with our church, and I’ve been translating them for him. I think I will never stop translating your sermons because they help us to know the Lord more and more.
God bless you, Pastor Prince, and your wonderful family.
The Porch of the Lord 