Andrew Wommack’s life, to me, is an inspiring one– inspired by God’s Word and by Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Andrew’s said that the Bible has been the main source of his daily reading material–the highest “faith course.”
While serving in Vietnam, it had kept him in peace; and its guidance, thereafter, he found never to cease. His Charis Bible College, set amid mountain scenes, now offers teaching on what mountain-moving faith means.
In his own life, he’s seen miracles, as he’s stayed fed on the Word, seeing loved ones even raised from the dead. Healing–a major victory Jesus won for us on the cross, is taught at his school, in addition to how to rescue the “lost.”
The bountiful blessings of a life lived following the Lord are among the many truths, there, that are underscored. He teaches on not limiting God, which, over the years… he’s seen God confirm, for He wants to conquer our fears.
Reading material abounds, but, as said, just one Book built Andrew’s faith in God–“The Gospel Truth” that he took. On his regular programming, he shares in a humble way… of the grace of God he’s learned of and relies on every day.
P. A. Oltrogge
p.s. And a major complement to him is Jamie, his lovely wife; her talents and support have greatly blessed his life!
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 KJV
“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24
Lord, let me give You a honeycomb of praise, in thanks for Your great love and care.
And may my words carry sweetness to those who feel “low,” so they can get up from there.
Acts of service done for others, in Your Name, are honeycombs that “speak” stronger than a shout;
But if friends don’t happen to send a honeycomb for my day, Your Word always gives honeycombs throughout.
P. A. Oltrogge
“How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:103-104 NKJV
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34 RSV
“I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your mercy is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the clouds.” Psalm 108:3-4 NKJV
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 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 3:21-23 RSV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NASB
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:3 NASB
“Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility, count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 RSV
“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love foroneanother, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” 1 Peter 4:8 NKJV
“A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Proverbs 25:11 AMP
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
Psalm 23; Psalm 91; Psalm 119:105 Luke 12:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7
Cleanse me of worry, oh Lord. I lay my concerns at Your feet, for it’s only in letting You solve them that these problems will meet their defeat.
When worrisome thoughts do come around, I’ll trust You to help me to stand my ground. Worry can only cause hurt in a life– It can touch others, as well, and even cause strife. For worry is a poison to resist and forsake– Instead, from God’s goodness and mercy I’ll take.
So thank You for cleansing me of worry, reminding me to turn up the PRAISE, for You are a God of deliverance and peace, and it’s only Your banner I’ll raise!
P. A. Oltrogge
“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 comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NASB
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. God is to us a God of deliverances; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death.” Psalm 68:19, 20 NASB
“Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity, for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:1-4 NKJV (and the entire Psalm)
“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 KJV
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 KJV
“All My Life You Have Been Faithful,” an encouraging message by Pastor George Pearsons, is available at http://www.emic.org where you can view the entire service from yesterday, or scroll in to 50:00 just for the message.
…I join others in praying that all people disturbed by, or participating in, conflicts in any area of the world will find the reason for living…through Jesus, our Savior and Lord; but today I write this on behalf of the mothers of Ukraine….those who had to flee and those who are yet there. Mothers can be like angels on this earth, yet they need real angelic help themselves and do pray for it, too.
In order to protect their innocent and beloved children, many Ukrainian mothers left the comfort of hearth and home. And most had to leave there hurriedly, not knowing how far, or for how long, they would roam.
We’ve all seen the heart-wrenching pictures of young children in travel, carrying their favorite toys. Husbands, fathers, sons, and older brothers were left behind, while mothers left in order to preserve their precious girls and boys.
On this Mother’s Day, we lift them all up in prayer… to you, God, for help–You fashioned “a mother’s heart.” Give them special peace as they serve their families now; we pray that the war, from their homeland, will rapidly depart.
Of course, we pray, as well, for the many men in the fight, who’ve displayed love of their country and have been so bold. Certainly their families are prominent daily in their thoughts… Let’s believe that accounts of angelic protection, over many lives, will be told.
P. A. Oltrogge
Psalm 91:
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!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day;
Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not approach you.
You will only look on with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.
For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down,
Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him.
With a long life I will satisfy him, and let him behold My salvation.
Due to copyrights, I can’t simply reprint a portion from Reinhard Bonnke’s book, Living a Life of Fire. He’s now in heaven; but since he cared so greatly about the soul of every individual, I believe he would be glad of the sharing of this incident, related in his book. I attempt here to tell it mainly in my own words for the benefit of those who may not have time to read the entire book.
Reinhard’s father, Hermann Bonnke, had served in the German army during World War II, though he had not liked seeing the rise of the new head of Germany. He never joined the Nazi party. Amazingly, he did not know of or learn of the atrocities committed towards the Jewish people in the concentration camps until nearing the very end, close to the time of the German defeat, when the war was being brought to a close by the allied forces. That was especially grievous for him to learn of because as a believer, he regarded the Jews as the chosen people through whom God had revealed the Messiah, Jesus, the Savior of all mankind.
While in a British prison barracks himself, then, for German soldiers, one day he had been excused from work detail due to not feeling well. As he lay in his bunk, with great despair and remorse, he repented to the Lord for having served in Germany’s army and told Him that for the rest of his life, he would dedicate it to serving Him. Suddenly, he heard a door open and some footsteps coming his way, so he rolled from the bunk to stand, in order to meet whoever it might be.
There, in a pure white robe, with Middle Eastern sandals on His feet, walking toward him was a Man, smiling, with His hands out as if to embrace him. When Hermann reached for His hand, he saw that it had been punctured completely through, by the force of a Roman nail. It was Jesus, and He said to him, “Hermann, I am so glad you are coming!” But just as quickly as He had arrived, He vanished before Hermann’s eyes.
Why that supernatural incident occurred, we can only speculate. To our minds, it might have been because he was in such despair over what he had been a part of, albeit unknowingly. Perhaps it was due to his own or due to the prayers of others. However, of course, it was a treasured moment that remained with Reinhard’s father forever. After he was released from prison, he did become a pastor for the rest of his life.
I retell this story, in case you feel despair over anything you’ve done, (you can be forgiven), or if you feel despair over some other kind of circumstance, or even the present state of world problems–remember what we have to look forward to. Every believer in Jesus can think of the wedding feast or marriage supper of the Lamb, (Rev. 19:9) to which we’ve been invited. We can picture Jesus saying the same thing to us if we’ve received Him as our Savior and Lord (whom we’re privileged to serve while here on our earthly journey), and have accepted His invitation to that great occasion.
Therefore today, if you are a believer, insert your own name, and hear Jesus saying to you, “_________, I am so glad you are coming!”
P. A. Oltrogge (Inspired by the autobiography of Reinhard Bonnke)
Most of you, who’ve come across this blog, don’t even need a reminder, but here, once again, are some ministries offering opportunities to help show the love of Christ. Featured is an article reprinted with permission. Let’s persevere in prayers of faith, believing for answers to prayer–even the miraculous–over places which are experiencing severe adversities and war….
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'” Matthew 25:34-40
The following comes from the Slavic Gospel Association:
It has been said that children are windows into the souls of their parents. But children can also be windows into all that is occurring around them. Children are quite observant of their surroundings, and their view of the world has not yet been infused with the countless considerations of politics and social issues along with concerns about health, finances, and a future. They simply see the world for what it is to them. When children gathered around Jesus they saw His goodness, kindness, and love and they listened intently to His teaching. They had no reason to believe otherwise, and their simple faith was on display. Jesus commented on their unfettered faith that “to such belongs the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). In the same way children also react to the violence and evil in this world. They don’t understand it, cannot rationalize or justify it, and only see it simply as hideous, crying out in pain and fear when they see it. So it is to a seven-year-old little girl in eastern Ukraine that we turn.
Vlad is a faithful pastor who delivers food and the Gospel to many in the war torn villages in eastern Ukraine. As we have shared before, these villages already suffer from the ongoing conflict (since 2014) and now suffer even more with the wider-scale war. Vlad handed little Polina a loaf of bread that was like gold to her, and she sang a song for him of her own creation. Polina sang, “I am appealing to adults to stop the war, and I will color the spring for you with bright colors—the sun smiling in the sky. I will stop crying, and will fear no more. Where the war goes on, one cannot play games, or gather flowers. And I can’t understand why innocent children die where the war goes on.” Simply there is the beauty of life and the ugliness of that which destroys life.
And there in the midst of the suffering was Vlad—bringing Polina and her mother bread, along with groceries and the Gospel. Pastor Vlad himself had been captured in 2014 and tortured, and he captured her song on video with others standing nearby. After a recent trip to Polina’s village, Vlad added, “Today was very scary for us. People live in fear day and night. People die and it seems like life is worth nothing. This war brings great grief, very great, but also our prayers to God. Lord please stop them!” Vlad and Polina both do not know what the outcome will be. But both pray for a day with no more fear and no more tears. And therefore, groceries and the Gospel continue, for the ultimate day in which the tears stop and the fear is gone in heaven. With childlike faith in Jesus, we can be certain that day will come.
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 righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
Israel was experiencing the oppressive war machine of their enemies. They were dismayed, disillusioned, and dejected. They were fearful of what may yet happen. Into this context, God speaks to them through His prophet Isaiah. God, through Isaiah, assures them He is with them, He will strengthen them, help them, and uphold them in the difficulties produced by war. With God is hope and the message of hope. The hope begins by knowing the one true God. The one true God is known only through God the Son, Jesus Christ. Once genuine hope is known in Jesus Christ, the great promises and assurances of God are directed toward those who place their trust in Him. Even though Israel was experiencing the tragedy of war, God was providing them with hope through His faithful servant.
It is such a blessing to read of Pastor Vlad who brings the message of hope, not a general message of hope, but the very specific message of hope found in God alone. While ministering with groceries to those who desperately need food, he speaks of the hope that is uniquely found in God through Jesus Christ. He speaks of hope that ministers to the depths of the soul, to all who turn in repentance toward God and faith in Christ Jesus. Those who embrace the message of the Gospel, by faith, come to know the reality that God indeed is their God, that He will strengthen them and uphold them while living in the ugly and tragic reality of war. We are grateful for each one who prays for the faithful servants in Ukraine and Russia, and for the hope of the Gospel to be realized in the lives of many who hear the Gospel.
Please Pray Today:
Praise God that through His Son Jesus, there will be a day that all fear will be gone and there will be no more tears for those who believe in Him.
Pray for the little children like Polina who suffer greatly in Ukraine under this brutal conflict.
Pray for faithful believers who, at the risk of their own lives, race into the conflict to bring the hope of Jesus Christ and aid to those suffering—especially the children.
“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’
“Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, ‘This Man is calling for Elijah!’ Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.
“The rest said, ‘Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.’
“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
“So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!'”
Matthew 27:45-54 NKJV
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23 KJV
Jesus felt the severity of being forsaken by God, expressing that on the cross.
His suffering there, He endured for us, so we would never have to experience that loss.
The loss of closeness He’d always felt to His Father had, momentarily, left Him shaken.
Yet He said, “It is finished,” knowing it was the Father’s plan that He had surely undertaken.
From His birth, He was called Emmanuel, “God With Us,”–being what it has meant.
We, as believers, will never be forsaken because of the Son, whom God has sent.
Emmanuel, God with us… You see, we are not alone. Emmanuel, God with us… Through the birth of a Child, God’s presence was shown. He wouldn’t leave us without knowledge of His love, But made Himself known, coming down from above. Emmanuel, God with us… From God, the Father, came a Baby so mild. Emmanuel, God with us… God’s Son was embodied in a holy Child. Born of a virgin, the handmaiden of the Lord— From His life, the goodness of God would be poured. After humble beginnings in a manger stall, His name would become great—He would die for all, So that any individual living on this earth Could personally know their God of great worth. Emmanuel, God with us… It’s the greatest name known. Emmanuel, God with us in Jesus, And now we need never be alone!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Jesus shouted to the crowds, ‘If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know His commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells Me to say.’” John 12:44-50 NLT
“…For He Himself has said, “Iwill neverleaveyou nor forsakeyou.“ Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
In troubled times, when things look bad, we may be tempted to lose faith in God’s nearness and grace; (“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10) but we always know that God is good and is with us–being forsaken is never the case. So we continue to pray, serve, and persevere. He lives in us and is always here….
Praise the Lord!
“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
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory…” Colossians 1:27 KJV
I can’t start my day, Lord Jesus, without first turning to You. I need Your promised help to be able to see things through.
I need to know You’ll be walking with me, steadying me on my feet, to handle any challenges today that I might possibly meet.
Of course, I know Your assurances, as written to us in Your Word; but folding my hands in prayer to You reassures me that You’ve heard.
I’m relying on You for strength and peace and a faith that won’t retreat. On paths my feet will tread, may I “see” beside my own, Your sandaled feet.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 KJV
“Hold thou me up and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.” Psalm 119:117 KJV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
“Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.” Proverbs 3:23 KJV (and all of Proverbs 3)
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11 NIV
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 NLT
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea….” Psalm 46:1-2 KJV
“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Psalm 46:7, 11
“I indeed baptize you with water, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Said of Jesus by John the Baptist) Matthew 3:11 NKJV
…and we continue to pray, Father, for thosewho are faced with the reality of war or persecution to truly sense Your presence as they look to You and Your Word to strengthen them and help them….For the war to cease and for Your peace, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
“He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth….” Psalm 46:9
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5
Jesus, You are the True Vine, to which I’m blessed to have a strong connection. It’s through Your truths and the Holy Spirit You sent, that I find wisdom and direction.
Before learning to trust Your guidance, I attempted some plans of my own. But they only showed me my need to draw close–to You at Your heavenly throne.
There, You’d waited patiently for me, to learn more about You and abide… in the peace of Your presence in order to bear fruit, by which Your Father is glorified.
It’s written in Your Word, that I’m seated with You, together in the heavenly places; I’m an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ, so I receive of divine daily graces.
“Much fruit” are actually the words that this portion of scripture has detailed; You will perfect a good work in me, so I won’t be a branch that has failed.
Without You, I can do nothing; but, by drawing from the Vine, I become able to tell of the One who changed water into wine–the best at the wedding table.
Many other miracles can come to mind as I think back on all that I’ve read: Parables shared and words that were prophetic are among the things that You said.
In and through You, I’m the kind of branch that remains and continues to thrive, sharing through kind deeds and words about Jesus, our God, who is very much alive!
P. A. Oltrogge
“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:6-11
“You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me.” John 15:3-4 (New Living Translation)
“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'” John 8:31-32
“Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away; behold new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7
“The spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” Romans 8:16-17
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 KJV
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 KJV
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6
“For with God nothing will be impossible.”Luke 1:37 (the angel Gabriel to Mary)
“Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.'” Mark 9:23
“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” Matthew 19:26
“And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.'” Matthew 17:28-21
Prayer (and fasting, as we feel led of the Lord), PRAISE, faith in the name and blood of Jesus–His finished work through the cross (in remembrance of Him, taking communion), and belief in God’s Word and His grace will move us to that “Possible” place….
Be encouraged at http://www.josephprince.org through his message today on the power of God’s Word, and by reading the praise reports at the site.
The Porch of the Lord 