Now Think On This - Steve Martin: God's Word

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Saturday, September 19, 2015

Sometimes I Feel Like Jonah - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Sometimes I Feel Like Jonah

- Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

"When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it. But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry." Jonah 3:10-4:1.” NASU

Yes, sometimes I feel like Jonah. I can get tired (angry?) of the continual lack of repentance in our land, and the seemingly non-judgment or inaction of the Lord regarding it. When will enough be enough, and it just end.

I certainly can also understand the disciples reaction about a village’s response, when they asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven. As recorded in Luke 9:51-56, “When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem.

When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." And they went on to another village.” (NASU)

In the first Scripture above written about Jonah and Nineveh, when the Lord called Jonah to travel to that city, to warn the people of impending judgement, he ran the other way, believing why bother, for the Lord would be merciful anyway. He did not want to do what it was going to take, to tell it like it was, as the word from the Lord was to be delivered. The prophet would have rather let them perish for the evil that they had committed. After all, they deserved it.

And the disciples, after seeing that the Samaritans were not receiving Jesus into their midst, because He was a Jew travelling to Jerusalem, they wanted to have them burned alive. This was even after Jesus had been with His team for three years, and had already resurrected. Surely they must have known the Lord’s heart of compassion, and were to be as He had taught them of His love, “…for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.” Luke 9:56

How often I find myself just wanting the Lord to quickly now put an end to all the sin, all the evil, all the wicked actions that keep going on and on. When Lord, will you finally put a stop to that which is so opposed to You and Your commands, and bring Your Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven? Will it be soon?

But once again I must realize that the Lord saved me as a sinner, waiting for that time when I came to repentance and acceptance of His substitutional, sacrificial death on the cross. He called to me, as He put people in my life who were willing not to judge me with fire and brimstone, but loved me enough to share the Good News of the Gospel with me. I am eternally grateful they did.

As we are now the Lord’s hands and feet on earth, we have been called to share His love to a dying world of sinners, that they too might receive Him, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ, into their lives. He has been patiently waiting for those who will yet hear, repent, and receive eternal salvation. He has commissioned us to be the ones to tell them.

Judgment is coming. These last days are revealing the time is drawing to an end. Prophetic words from centuries gone by are coming to pass in our lifetime, before the final preparation and ingathering takes place.

My prayer is that you and I will not allow our hearts to grow cold, and let the dying die, while we wait for His plans to be fulfilled.

“And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:4-14 NKJV

May the Holy Spirit give us the love of God for the nations. May we pray, seek His face, and do as we have been instructed – to be bold in proclaiming His Word of salvation.

May His Kingdom come. Maranatha Lord Jesus.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

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Now Think On This #179 “Sometimes I Feel Like Jonah” by Steve Martin

Date: In the year of our Lord 2015 (09.15.15) Tuesday at 6:00 pm in Charlotte, NC

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

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Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Guidance - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Guidance

- Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 3-:21 NASU

We all need guidance in our life. The Lord promises to give it to us, if we ask Him.

While some would choose to just keep walking in the way that seems right to them, the Lord says that if we seek Him, He will show us the right way. Whether that would be a decision we need to make in marriage, buying a home, making a job change, or knowing what to do with one we ourselves are giving care to, the Lord has promised that He has the answer if we but ask. We can receive wisdom from the Lord.

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8 NASU

Over the many years I have walked with the Lord, there are several ways He has given me to help in my decision making, and to know if the answer is His will or not. I would like to share them with you, as you seek Him for guidance.

1. Daily reading of God’s Word will bring guidance. There are many directives in His Word that we can already know what His will is, as they have been given as our daily life’s road map. With these already written down for us in His Word, He has already spoken what is truth. We can base our decisions on those standards, and not the world’s ways. At other times the Holy Spirit will have a verse or two “jump out at you” while reading, quickening your spirit, to give you an answer to your question.

2. If the Lord has already blessed you with a mate (a wife in my situation), ask them to pray along with you concerning the situation. Discernment given to them can be an affirmation to what the Lord would speak to you. A pastor or close friend can also pray and ask the Lord for a word for you, as long as you don’t trust solely in them, but the Holy Spirit’s word. There is wisdom in the counsel of many.

3. A prophetic word has often been an encouragement to me when received. Given by one who has the gift of prophecy has been very helpful, as the Lord will use them to bring enlightenment. If you know someone who has the gift of prophecy, ask them to seek the Lord on your behalf. Be mindful that you will always need discernment in receiving any word given by another, so as not to just go by what another would say. A word received is just another piece of the puzzle to consider.

4. Circumstances do play a role in discerning the will of the Lord. Something may happen that seems to come “out of the blue”, or “it just happens”. Consider that the Lord is using that circumstance to bring further guidance. At times circumstances can also occur that will keep you from going a certain way. The Lord is known to use those in directing your path.

5. The Holy Spirit can speak a word to you quietly in your thoughts. That sense of “Where did that come from?” thought may very well be the Holy Spirit nudging you, sharing with you a message in regards to the situation. It may just be a simple word, but that word can very well be just what you need. He may also use a dream or vision to guide you. Don’t dismiss those thoughts, but ponder them for further confirmation. Write them down so you don’t forget them. The fulfillment of that dream or other supernatural method of bringing you a directive may occur later,

6. The timing of the Lord is vital to making the right decision. He is not in a hurry to just lay out His will for you, giving you all the steps at once. He delights when you take the proper time to seek Him. Often He will give you one step at a time. If He delays in giving you an answer (or what we many times deem as a delay), know that it is because He is lining up other situations that may have to come about before your time is now.

7. Once you believe you have received the answer, have confidence in Him and make the move. Carry out what He has told you in obedience. Faith is always necessary when walking in the right way. Do not let the enemy bring doubt or try to make you second guess what you believe is right. The peace of the Lord should be with and in your spirit.

Though the enemy may try to bring confusion and double-mindedness along the way, the peace of the Lord will be present if you have made the right decision. As one teacher would say, “You know in your knower” that the decision you made is the one from the Lord. Carrying out that decision may take you on a rough road, but it will be the right road to take. There are many examples of taking the right road, even when the journey will not be so pleasant. Jesus’ crucifixion is a prime example.

Many good books have been written by trusted authors/teachers on how to seek the Lord’s guidance. One of the best ones I ever read, simple but very instructive, was by Bible teacher Bob Mumford in the 1970’s It is called “Take Another Look At Guidance.” The 20^th year edition was printed again by Lifechangers in 1993, and can be found on Amazon.com.

Another highly recommended Bible teacher is Derek Prince, who has several spoken and written words on guidance. His material can be found at www.derekprince.com, or www.derekprince.org.

I myself have published two books that are helpful in learning to walk in the Lord’s guidance. One is entitled The Promise – One Man’s Journey To See God’s Word Revealed. I share my life’s journey and how the Lord led me. It can be purchased at Amazon.com. Look here.

Another one is Prophetic Stories: Signs Along The Way. I share several chapters on how the Lord gave me words and dreams that gave guidance to myself and others. Look here.

The Lord Jesus does not want us to just let “whatever will be will be” for us. He wants to continually have His Holy Spirit give us instruction on how to walk in the way, and which way that is. Whether in making a life changing decision or one that seems too little to bother Him with, He has given us the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. He is always there for us. (John 14:26)

It is a journey of faith as we walk with the Lord. We must continually seek the Lord for His will and way, trusting that our times are in His hands, and that He wants the best for us and those we live amongst. As you learn to seek Him in all your ways, He will bless you with goodness.