Today I have responsibilities that call; I may not be able to get to them all.
I like to think back on visits I’ve made to peaceful wooded paths or a quiet glade.
At such places, it’s natural to pause and reflect on the Lord, our Creator, and give Him respect.
But amidst crowded sidewalks or busy streets, I can praise you, God, and remember our “retreats.”
P. A. Oltrogge
“And He (Jesus) said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’….” Mark 6:31 NKJV
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 NKJV
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11 NIV
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3 KJV
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 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 8:38-39 KJV
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
Exodus 33:14; Psalm 23; Psalm 91; Psalm 119:105; John 14:27; John 20:21
“And it came to pass in those days, that he (Jesus) went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
“And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
“Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
“Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
“And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
“And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
“And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
“And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.” Luke 6:12-19 KJV
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“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
“Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. (stopped)
“And Jesus said, ‘Who touched me?’ When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, ‘Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?’
“And Jesus said, ‘Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.’
“And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
“And he said unto her, ‘Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.'” Luke 8:43-48 KJV
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Notice, in these accounts, it’s said that (healing) virtue went out from the Lord. Healing can be as simple as accepting or taking the Lord’s gift, thanking Him, saying, “Thank You, Lord…I receive of Your healing virtue.”
“Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Claim the name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus that was shed. Enforce His victory over the devil–say, all his schemes are dead. Use the Word, “NO weapon formed against me shall prosper (or succeed).” “Jesus, the Son, has made me free; and I am free indeed!”
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, Proverbs has stated. That, and our God-given authority have largely been underrated. More widely now these things are taught, with an emphasis on praise. Trust God’s goodness and mercy to follow you, throughout all of your days.
P. A. Oltrogge
“NO weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’? Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.'” John 8:31-36
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and overallthepoweroftheenemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19
Excerpt from Acts: “Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: ‘Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, and faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.’” Acts 3:11-16
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.” Philippians 2:8-10
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6.
“…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19
“If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:6-7
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 NLT
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,” from Psalm 103:1-5
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1
“Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens.” Psalm 113:1-4
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live….” Deuteronomy 30:19
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6
“I have been crucified with Christ” is my Biblical decree….“and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
I need have no fear of death, for I’ve already “died.” Thanks be to God for eternal life through His Son crucified!
Not only that, but abundant life is mine today as well, for Jesus rose from the dead in victory over all the power of hell.
And by the Holy Spirit, He guides me day and night. In our God is the fountain of life; in His light, we see light.
P. A. Oltrogge
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NASB)
“I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (AMP)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18
“For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light, we see light.” Psalm 36:9
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”John 5:24
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11-12
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’” John 11:25
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:17-19
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2
“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Revelation 1:17-18 KJV
Psalm 116:15 Isaiah 25:8 Matthew 10:28 Luke 10:19 John 3:16 John 5:24-30 John 14:1-3 Romans 6:1-14 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 Philippians 3:20-21 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 John 3:14 1 John 5
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 NASB
Like a tree firmly planted by streams of water–
that’s what each of us will become, as God’s son or daughter,
when we meditate, continually, in God’s written Word.
Our growth in Christ will increase–it can’t be deterred.
Jesus reminded us that man doesn’t live by bread alone–
It’s by regular feeding on God’s Word that we will have grown
to be strong trees in a mighty “forest,” the planting of the Lord–
rooted in God, our mighty fortress, our faith having soared.
P. A. Oltrogge
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 18:2 KJV
“For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore, for thy name’s sake, lead me, and guide me.” Psalm 31:3 KJV
“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 and all of Psalm 91
You may enjoy visiting Covenant Family Church for “church” via conference call on Sundays at 10:50 a.m., (Eastern Standard Time). Just make the call and enjoy the “live” message. The telephone number is (609) 663-1557. Website: http://www.covenantfamily.cc
Though I don’t post them, I do receive and read comments which, at times, come in. Regarding one that was recent, please know that I do pray for those who follow The Porch of the Lord blog and will pray for the particular needs you mentioned. This blog was begun to share the gospel and to encourage one’s faith regarding the trials of life–somewhat, through the poetic messages, but mainly through the truth of the scriptures, meditating upon them and declaring them.
God bless today and always,
P. A. Oltrogge
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
If ever there was a subject that should be put into poetic form, it’s that of the magnificent rainbow, which can suddenly appear after a storm.
As the sun starts shining, it’s especially vivid, after the rain has poured; and its message comes from God, as it’s the signature of the Lord.
He said that He was setting His bow in the clouds, to always remind afresh, of His covenant made with Noah and his sons, and every living creature of all flesh…
that never again would He send a flood to cover the entire expanse of the earth. To all successive generations, the rainbow’s reminded of this covenant of great worth.
We remember today that Noah was a real person, who steadfastly undertook…the building of a great ark by God’s direction, no matter how, to others, that would look.
It took many decades to accomplish the task, and there never had been a flood. Today, God is offering the safety of an ark that was “built” by Jesus’ sacrificial blood.
God is not willing for any to perish. He’s giving much time to accept His invitation, to enter into the ark of the Lord–His provision for any person of any nation.
When I see the rainbow there in the sky, I’m reminded of God’s covenant made to mankind–including the one He made for us through Jesus, the greatest covenant He wants all of us to find.
P. A. Oltrogge
“But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall enter the ark….” Genesis 6:18
“Then God said, ‘I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.’ Then God said to Noah, ‘Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.’” Genesis 9:14-17
“For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28
“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6
“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” John 1:16-18
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
“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.” John 3:16-17
I well remember when a young woman in my church, who had had a pelvic fracture due to an accident was healed at a morning service during praise. She suddenly realized she was standing normally. Later, x-rays confirmed the miracle.
The following are from the booklet, “Confessions for ‘Whole’ Life” by Sandra Kennedy Ministries. These regard pain…
Isaiah 53:4 The Lord bore this pain in His own body. Therefore, I don’t have to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 God is faithful and has made a way of escape out of this pain.
Mark 4:39 I speak to the pain center of my brain and the nerve endings and I say, “Peace, be still.”
Mark 11:23 I speak to the mountain of pain and I say to you, “Be thou removed.”
Song of Solomon 1:3 Your name, Lord, is as ointment that soothes my pain.
Psalm 103:3 The Lord heals all my diseases and all associated pain.
Psalm 40:17 The Lord is my God and my Deliverer, and He will deliver me from this pain.
and others, including scriptures for many other afflictions. The booklet is available at: http://www.sandrakennedy.org
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
He strengthens me; HE strengthens me…
With each step forward, He strengthens me;
with each step up, He strengthens me.
If I suffer a setback, He strengthens me.
If I feel weak, I’ll resist being distraught…
No, “He strengthens me” must be my thought,
for that is what the scriptures have taught.
This confidence I have, for I’m blood-bought.
So, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might,”
just as David found strength in God for a Goliath fight!
P. A. Oltrogge
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” Habakkuk 3:19 NLT
“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV
“Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ ” Joel 3:10 NKJV
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11 NIV
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:23 KJV
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28 NASB
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2 NKJV
“(The Armor of God) Finally, Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” Ephesians 6:10 NASB
“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands….’” 1 Samuel 17:45-46 NASB
“For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall.” 2 Samuel 22:30 NKJV
“For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
“For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places.” Psalm 18:28-33 NKJV
Photos/Pixabay
Postscript: Whatever you have to do, the Lord will see you through!
For “101 Things God Said About Healing,” Old Testament and New, go to http://www.moorelife.org and click on “Word Supply” and then “Resources,” and scroll down in order to click on and view the healing scriptures.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14
Be blessed to read/listen to today’s post, “The Cape Henry Assignment” by Dutch Sheets at: http://www.givehim15.com
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For…
“He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
1 Peter 3:8-12 NKJV
It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!
The Porch of the Lord 