"the Five Porches Of Misery."

On my way to a revival, the Lord said he wanted me to speak on the subject of “Get off the porch.” As a trucker with many years of experience driving across the continental United States and parts of Canada, I thought the Spirit of God was having fun with me. He sometimes loves to play Bible trivia with me.

One time, the Lord showed me in a vision a sign that read, "Read Luke 25 every day." Beloved, Luke ends at chapter 24, but he also wrote the book of Acts, and Luke 24 ends with Jesus blessing his disciples at Bethany. Acts 1 begins where Luke left off and shows Jesus at Bethany blessing the disciples, The word says that as they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received him out of sight. The word says that this happened at the Mount of Olives or Olivet.

I thought the Spirit of God was playing trivia with me because we have a saying on the CB radio to a slow truck holding up the left lane: “Big truck, if you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.” Beloved, this phrase means staying in the right lane if you cannot run the speed limit. At the time, I did not know what He was speaking in my spirit until He spoke clearly, “Preach on the Five Porches of Misery.

Beloved, I knew exactly what he was speaking about. The five porches of Bethesda serve as a powerful symbol representing the diverse forms of suffering and struggles people are called to endure.

In John 16:33, the Lord tells us that we can find peace in Him. He reassures us that we do not have to face our trials alone and acknowledges that we will encounter tribulation in the world. Finally, He reminds us that He has overcome the world.

In the chart below, I clearly outline five key aspects that illustrate how each of the five porches powerfully represents lost and broken humanity, specifically in the context of pain and hardship. This encompasses physical ailments, emotional distress, and spiritual turmoil.

1. Physical Ailments: Many people gathered at Bethesda had physical disabilities, representing those suffering

from chronic illnesses or disabilities.

2. Emotional Pain: The porches can also signify emotional struggles such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness

experienced by individuals feeling abandoned or hopeless.

3. Spiritual Despair: Waiting for healing reflects spiritual emptiness and a longing for connection with God,

illustrating how some may feel distant from divine mercy.

4. Social Isolation: Many were left alone at the pool, highlighting societal neglect and feeling unseen or unheard

by others.

5. Desperate for Change: Waiting signifies a deep yearning for transformation and healing spiritually, physically,

and emotionally.

MY CONCLUSION

Sometimes, we encounter difficult times and may get upset at those who cause our problems. We may even get angry with ourselves and question if God truly loves us. These are normal emotions we have all experienced; if we have not, human nature says we will. However, this study is about human suffering and the importance of keeping our eyes on the one who made the way for us to inherit eternal life.