Power of Your Love - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Power of Your Love

Steve Martin

“Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25, NASU)

The Apostle Paul, or emissary as some would translate, often got very real with his readers. Starting off as what he considered being the most, even chief, sinner of all, he became very transparent in his life, in knowing, and stating, who he really was, inside and out. No longer were there the flashy points, the haughty attitude he once had before his transformed life. What he had become was very different than who he had been.

God the Father had apprehended him through His Only Son Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, and molded him into one whom He could fully use. Though it was a very long process, as in most cases (it took Moses 40 years to get to that point, and after all, Rome wasn't built in a day either) in the end the coal had become a diamond and fully useful in the Lord’s service. A lot of pressure applied to certain things does that over many, many seasons.

In my younger, beginning point of the discipled years, I thought Paul was a bit arrogant when he spoke of being “the chief sinner.” I imagined him, in my own mind at least, wearing a badge proclaiming, “Look at me.” “See what I have accomplished.” Or simply, “Chief Sinner.”

Paul, Apostle of Christ movie (2018)

I no longer view him as being that. When he wrote to his spiritual son Timothy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all,” (1 Timothy 1:15, NASU) I now realize that he truly meant it. The Lord had taken one who had previously persecuted (killed) the new believers after Yeshua’s resurrection, thinking he was doing God a big favor by attempting to stop this new movement, and completely changed him. It still happens to saved ones.

Paul fully wrote, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:12-17, NASU)

Because of Who He is, our Lord can, and continually does, complete amazing reformations and transformations in the lives of those He apprehends, once they are grabbed hold of. They are then changed into a pure vessel. Though salvation of the spirit happens instantly at the time of re-birth (born again moment), the conversion of the soul is a lifetime process. But it does happen. Have hope!

Power of Your Love

As I still listen to one of my favorite songs of all time, Power of Your Love, sung by Darlene Zschech of Hillsong beginning in 1992 (*see lyrics below) I too am convinced that as the Lord points His finger on hidden areas of our lives, His purpose is to continue to create one who no longer seeks our own desires, looks out only for oneself, or strives to be the top dog among those among them. He is showing us those things that prevent us from becoming as He is, so we can fully become involved in that which He is doing.

The great thing about it is that the Holy Spirit, part of the Trinity and God-head, does the re-creation in us.

The process reminds me of the steadfast, continuing care it takes to plant and maintain a beautiful rose garden, but in and through the development, it brings love and joy to the Creator and His creation.

Purify my heart then, Lord, and continue to prune as You will, with the power of Your love. I want to be fully be used by You.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

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Now Think On This #383 - in the year of our Lord 01.20.19 – “Power of Your Love” – Sunday 6:50 am

Power of Your Love

Hillsong Worship

Lord I come to You
Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from the grace
That I found in You.

And Lord I've come to know
The weaknesses I see in me
Will be stripped away
By the power of Your love.

Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side.

And as I wait
I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
In the power of Your love.

Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see You face to face
The knowledge of Your love
As You live in me.

Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my life
In living every day
In the power of Your love.

Songwriters: BULLOCK GEOFFREY WILLIAM

Power of Your Love lyrics © Universal Music – 1992 Brentwood Benson Publ., Word Music LLC, Universal Music Brentwood Benson Publishing, Brentwood-Benson Music Pub, WORD MUSIC, LLC, WORD MUSIC, INC.

Closed Doors. Open Doors. - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Closed Doors. Open Doors.

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:10 NASU)

The Lord speaks to us in order to get us to where He needs us to be. If we listen, we will hear His voice, know His ways, and fulfill the purpose He has planned for us. Something good will come then.

Do you want Him to do that for you? Are you ready?

There have been many times when I was in a situation that I did not know what to do. I remember once needing to make a critical decision, which would affect not only myself, but my family, friends around us, and the employment I had at the time. It involved a move to another state, for a ministry job opportunity, but at the same time we would be leaving family and that life which we had been familiar with. Prayer, fasting, guidance from others, and the Holy Spirit speaking to me brought the right decision.

We moved. Thank you Jesus.

That may seem just a common situation to some, as many people move all the time. Some would think it was just a matter of time and we would have moved anyway. Or I would have figured it out by myself, given further research and just making the decision to do it, letting the results be as they would.

Maybe.

But then I wanted to depend on the Holy Spirit to guide our steps, so even in that common example I had learned to ask Him to help me. And as I continue to learn, as I am being trained, I will be able to hear His voice distinctly in those times when more difficult, pressing issues come my way, and I really need to know the way to go, and make the right choice. Life or death may depend on it.

In the Scripture given at the beginning of this message, Paul had been trusting the Lord for direction, seeking which way he was to go. He was willing to do what the Lord wanted him to do.  People were depending on him. His team needed his leadership, and he needed to get it right.

He thought it was one way, and so he proceeded, literally, down that road. But in his going, he was directed to another way, another place. It came in the form of a vision. Sometimes His word will come in a dream. Often He tells us in a simple thought in our mind, which hopefully we don’t dismiss as a random thought.

Whichever way He choices to guide, we must know it is Him, and respond in obedience. For Paul, later it became apparent that this was a critical step in his walk in taking the Gospel to the Gentiles, the non-Jews. If he had not been expecting guidance from the Lord, Europe may not have heard the Good News in this time they needed to.

Have you ever been in a place in your life where the doors seemed to keep getting shut? It didn’t work the way you had expected, hoped for, figured it would? Have you ever thanked the Lord later, after His perfect plan was then revealed to you down the road, and you realized how He stopped you from going that way, because He had something better up ahead, and you just had to wait a bit more?I am sure you have, just like it happened in Paul’s life. Just as it has already happened several times in my own, and also in yours.

“They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:6-10 NASU)

Paul was on the move. He had been wanting to go to Asia (modern day Turkey and surrounding lands), believing that was the next stop. But the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, did not permit Him. Why did that happen? How did that happen?

The time was not yet right for the one location. The Lord stopped Paul to reveal to him where he was to be. Supernaturally.

You too can hear the Lord’s voice. You too can learn to depend upon Him, to hear His quiet leading, for He is more than willing to speak to you. And when a door is shut as you start to walk through it, you will not get discouraged and give up, but will seek Him for the open door that He has on ahead for you. Through His Holy Spirit’s guidance He will show you the way.

Learning to hear and obey now will be vitally important for when we are put in a situation where knowing the right door to go through is the only one that will work. You may be trying to push open a closed door that would cause harm for you and those close to you, not realizing the right open door is just another step ahead.

Depending on the Holy Spirit to guide our steps, speak to us with His answers, and show us what is the open door, so we don’t try to break down the closed ones, is vital. In these days we are living in, you and I will need to know the way to go, how to go, and when to go. 

Having that close relationship with the Lord and the Spirit of God speaking and leading will not be a luxury, but a necessity.

So think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

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

We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to bless the families that we do in Israel, India, Pakistan and the hurting ones here in the USA. You also can share out of the abundance you have been given.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these messages minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Click here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: LoveFor His People. If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

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Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 01.26.16 - #238 –“Closed Doors. Open Doors.” – Tuesday at 4:30 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