Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“While they were still praying, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, and they spoke God’s message with boldness.” (Acts: 4:31 Complete Jewish Bible)
Living these days in the USA would make you think that Christians have no say in what goes on in our country. If you listened to certain government “authorities”, daily newscasters, or the life-time educators in our public school system, you would think that believers no longer have any rights, that we are to “keep our opinions to yourself, in our church boxes on Sundays, and not say anything to anyone”, or we are stepping out of line. Oh really?
You know what will keep you from being bold? Believing the lie that as believers we are just to “love our neighbor”, keep to ourselves, and let whatever happens in our nation happen. After all, we don’t want to step on another person’s toes, or be looked upon as trouble makers, now do we?
Again, “Oh really?”
Where do you see that in your Bible?
Here is what my Bible says.
“So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
'Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.'
"For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:18-31 NKJV)
That is what my Bible says. And yours too. Read it.
It brings me great courage, and boldness myself, to hear men and women of God stand up, speak the truth, and let it be known that our country, founded on the eternal godly principles that is was - those of Judeo-Christian – will not just lay down and let the lies of the ungodly tell us what is to be.
It gave me great courage when our church opened its doors during this election year to hold a forum, having one seeking the office of the President of the United States to come and speak his mind. If we would have listened to the lies of “politically correct” people, we would have just had a one hour “sing and hold hands” meeting.
Enough already.
Believers, those of us empowered by the Living God of Israel, are to get up, stand up, and proclaim the full Gospel that the Lord Jesus Christ commissioned us to do. That begins with the salvation message, but then we are to continue on in forth telling the whole truth.
And here is another part of His whole truth.
1. Killing the unborn, God’s creation, is murder.
2. “Marrying” the same sex is wrong.
3. Fornication, pornography and adultery is not to be practiced and accepted in our society.
4. Saying Bible-believing Americans have to keep “separated” from government involvement is not the truth.
5. Letting Israel stand alone is going against God’s plan.
6. Sitting back and watching Christians be slaughtered by Islamic killers is not acceptable.
7. Letting America go to hell is not in the heart of our Lord.
The Living God of Israel, Whom has dramatically demonstrated His eternal love and goodness in bringing the Jews back to their Promised Land, is embolding His people in the other nations to stand up, let our voices be heard, and share the full Gospel of salvation and redemption.
We are the ones being called upon to do that which we have been apprehended to do.
I love it how the Scriptures proclaim this truth.
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:7-14, NKJV)
Now is the time. Now is the day. While it is still light, let us be about doing all that we have been apprehended for and given to do. The darkness is rapidly coming our way. In many cases it is smothering many already.
In His strength, wisdom and power, let’s get doing what He has commanded us to do.
So think on this, in the love of Jesus,
Steve Martin
Love For His People, Inc.
P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
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Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 01.17.16 - #234 –“BOLDNESS” – Sunday at 8:30 am
All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This
Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
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