"Holy Spirit" - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Holy Spirit

“Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:38-39, NKJV

Some know Him as the third Person of the Godhead, for He is. Others may know Him better as the Comforter, for He is that too. In fact, Jesus said that once He had ascended into heaven, He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. He did.

In some circles, He is known as Ruach HaKodesh, as so in the Hebrew language. (“Ruach” – Spirit, “Ha”- the, “Kodesh” – Holy.)

In the New American Standard version of the Bible, the Holy Spirit is spoken of 1,127 times. That may be surprising to many. Some think He quit His work on this planet after the first century. How sad is that? Especially if it was true.

We first read of Him in Genesis 1:2, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was unformed and void, darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the surface of the water.” (Complete Jewish Bible) 

Then a few verses later we read this in Gen 1:26-28, “Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (NKJV) The Trinity in action, in the very beginning. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

King David knew of the Holy Spirit, as recorded in Psalm 51:10-12, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” (NKJV)

Yeshua (Jesus) promised this in John 14:25-26, “I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Ruach HaKodesh, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything; that is, he will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (Complete Jewish Bible)

Throughout the Gospels, in the Acts of the Apostles (Messengers) and the Epistles, written primarily by Jews, the Holy Spirit continued to interact with mankind. He never would leave nor forsake.

Paul, formerly known as Saul, a Jew, both before and after he became a believer, was among the first to persecute the new believers in Yeshua. He was fully committed to doing so, and did quite extensively until he literally saw the light. Later he wrote this in his writings, speaking of the Holy Spirit’s continuing action in his life, and that of Timothy’s, his disciple, many years after Pentecost (Shavuot in Hebrew).

In 2 Timothy 1:13-14, Paul wrote to his spiritual son, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” (NKJV)

The dwelling of God’s Spirit continued throughout their lives.

Even Jude, in his short book, wrote in verses 20-21, “But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!” (THE MESSAGE)

Praying in the Holy Spirit was, and still is, a gift of the Holy Spirit. Some have long dismissed this to their own hurt, and thus lack spiritual power in their Christian walk today.

When Ruach HaKodesh fulfilled the promise of Yeshua (Jesus), in coming after Jesus’ ascension 50 days later on Pentecost (“Pente” - 50 in Greek) on the Lord’s Feast of Shavuot, He indeed empowered the previously fearful, carefully hidden away in the Upper Room. Those same 120 disciples (come with me to Israel and I will show you that location) were the ones who then changed the world through the mighty outworking of the Spirit in them.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a real thing. It is a much-needed experience in the life of the Church, the One New Man, to encounter the lies and deceit of the enemy we battle, and which the world glorifies. While satan the deceiver advances his agenda, it will be those walking, moving, and believing in the Almighty God, through the power of the Holy Spirit in them, who will be the ones putting up the fight to bring about the deliverance of souls, humans, for the Savior Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

By grace, I received the Holy Spirit’s baptism in my high school senior year, in 1973, even as a Roman Catholic. Since then, 46 years ago as of this writing, I have been praying in tongues, receiving prophetic words, seeing actual miracles of supernatural healing in “real” time, and knowing all the gifts of the Holy Spirit exist today. Because He does live and move daily in lives around the world, we are thus able to show what the world needs to know about and experience too.

If you walk with the Spirit of the Living God of Israel, Who energizes daily (for we all need Him), then great!

If not, then what are you waiting for? Ask. Seek. Knock. He will come. To you.

Now think on this and see what good things the Lord has in store for you and those around you.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

Please sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter: Now Think On This. The sign-up form is on our ministry website: www.loveforhispeople.blogspot.com

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Love For His People ministry

P.O. Box 414

Pineville, NC 28134

loveforhispeople@gmail.com

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Now Think On This #449 - in the year of our Lord 08.19.19 – “Holy Spirit” – Monday, 7:10 pm

All Nations - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

All Nations

Steve Martin

  

“All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.” (Psalm 86:9-10, NKJV)

If you consider the current status of the nations of the world, more than likely you would not say that they will ever magnify or acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the King of kings nor the Lord of lords. If fact, if you just for a moment think of those represented in the United Nations, your confidence that this will ever happen increases even more. Very few nations, if even a handful, call upon the Name of the Lord at this present time. Personally, I might consider two at most. Guess which ones?

And yet…the Scriptures state in many verses that ALL NATIONS will one day come and worship the Living God. In fact, this One and Only is the Living God of Israel.

Consider this verse, written by one of the minor prophets of Israel, a shepherd named Haggai.

“For thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:6-8, NKJV)

All nations will be shaken. Then they shall come to the Desire of All Nations.

In the spring of 1994, my good wife and I were included as founding members of All Nations Church, at the time just getting established in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. These first ones were Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda, Michael and Leslie Adams, Art and Ruth Maki, and a very nice lady many called Yoo-hoo, or sometimes Lois Hanks. She was the Chavda kids’ grandma nanny. They and all others called her Yoo-hoo because when entering a home she would announce her arrival with, “You Hoo”.

Later that summer the Chavdas and us moved our families to Charlotte, North Carolina, landing here ahead of two semi-loads hauling our belongings after the long 14-hour trip on July 4, 1994. The former 14 acres of Lamb’s Chapel property, now covered over by part of the huge development of Ballantyne in south Charlotte, including the once converted horse barn and all that became our church building, was the memorable scene of glorious nights, particularly with the weekly Friday all-night Watch of the Lord. (You can read much of these days in my book, The Promise – One Man’s Journey to See God’s Word Revealed, published in 2013.)

The church was so named All Nations because it was our belief that the Bible was true, and all people, from every tribe and tongue, would one day come to the Desire of All Nations, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach. And the Word of God is forever true. Haggai 2:6-8 was our Scripture.

In a Sunday morning, March 2019 gathering of Antioch International Church, located on the former Heritage USA (PTL) property, once holding the ministry of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Laurie and I, now members there, were part of the worship team as background vocals. (All Nations Church now resides just across the railroad tracks of that same property, which was part of Heritage USA, and once known as Fort Hope. I was still on staff there in 1999 as the Administrator when we purchased the 36-acres of good land.)

During one of the songs, as we were lifting up the name of Jesus, the Lord gave me a prophetic word. At the appropriate time, during an instrumental break, I loudly proclaimed that “All nations will come the Lord, for He is the King of kings and the Lord of lord. Even as the flags of the nations here wave above you (the near-ceiling walkway perimeter of the assembly room of The Barn is lined with a multitude of national flags from around the world) know that all nations will come and acknowledge Me as their Lord and King.”

The flags draped above the Barn assembly room of Antioch International Church

Fort Mill, South Carolina

As I later thought of it, to myself I wondered if all nations will indeed come, but then when it was confirmed in the written words which I checked out later in the Good Book, it truly will happen. There will be those from each and every nation that will come and bow the knee to the King of Israel, ruling from the holy city of Jerusalem.

There is also a warning given in several verses in the same Scriptures. Those people of the nations which refuse to give the proper homage to our God and His Only Son will pay the price of their pride, ignorance and obstinance.

“I will also gather all nations,

And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;

And I will enter into judgment with them there

On account of My people, My heritage Israel,

Whom they have scattered among the nations;

They have also divided up My land.

They have cast lots for My people,

Have given a boy as payment for a harlot,

And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.”

(Joel 3:2-3, NKJV)

My heart cry, reflecting that of my Lord and Savior Jesus, is that each and every one reading this message will choose now to be included with those, gathered from all nations, who call upon the Name of the Lord. Let all other names be called liars, but His Name, Adonai, Hashem, the Blessed Lord, be called the Name Above All Names, by all nations.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc. 

P.S. Thank you, Lord! My 400th message!

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$120 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Buy here: The Promise by Steve Martin

  

Please donate online safely through our website. Click here: DONATE  

(or use the DONATE  buttons on the blog.)

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc. 

P.O. Box 414   

Pineville, NC 28134

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

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.  Others will be thankful you did.

Now Think On This #400 - in the year of our Lord 03.17.19 – “All Nations” – Sunday, 4:45 pm

Merry Christmas! Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, has come! And He will come again! - Steve & Laurie Martin

Merry Christmas! Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, 

has come! And He will come again! 

Steve & Laurie Martin

Love For His People ministry

Charlotte, North Carolina USA

He Speaks In Many Ways - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

He Speaks In Many Ways

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Give ear and hear my voice, listen and hear my speech.” (Isaiah 28:23, NKJV) 

The Lord didn’t stop creating after the first seven days of creation. In fact, He likes being creative in how He speaks with us. He chooses to do that in many ways.

Each one of us hears differently. Each one receives from others in ways that may not be the same to the others.

There was a book written several years ago describing how each person receives love by unique methods, unlike what another may prefer. That is because we are all specially created. Each one of us has been put together and gifted with special receptions through our senses. Because of His amazing mind, and His continuing loving thoughts toward us, they come our way as such.

I can say that is how the Lord ministers to us as individuals, in His speaking to us. One of His delights in His relationship with us, as an individual, is through Him using creative ways. And each one of us will hear and respond accordingly.

Ever hear the story of the spider web in the corner of the red barn? (Having been raised in the center of America in the Midwest, in Iowa no less, I did!) When three different people looked at the insect hanging high above in the rafters, one person said immediately, “Kill the spider.” Another grabbed a camera and took different shots from different angles, noting the symmetry and beauty of the spun web. And yet another said to leave it alone, for it was catching bugs that we don’t want around anyway.

Each one perceived and responded differently to what they saw, because each of us have unique qualities about and within us. The Lord, the One who created these in us, has even chosen to share His thoughts to us in ways that we can relate to, based on our makeup.

For me, I like numbers. I guess I always have, even when I would go buy a candy bar as a little kid and base the choice purchase on the weight of the bar, getting more for the money, rather than if I really liked one better than another. I know, I know. But that’s the way I have been created.

Because of this numbers thing, here is a true story that occurred the day I retired from my Accountant’s job (surprised?!) on October 31, 2017. It reveals how the Lord loves to speak to me in a way that I fully comprehend.

As I drove that early Tuesday morning (6:00 am) north on I77 interstate in North Carolina, from my
home in Pineville to my job in center city Charlotte, I knew that my odometer would hit “8888” on the way. That in itself meant something to me. Here the Lord was going to have my car, a Hyundai Elantra, turn the mileage reading over to that specific number on my last day before my retirement. (I turn 63 on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2017.)

Knowing that the number “8” in the Judeo-Christian Bible represents “new beginnings”, I was so looking forward to this day, this month, this year in my life’s journey. He knows that numbers are a big thing in my life - clocks, spreadsheets, calendars – you get the point. And that is how He was speaking to me.

What made this extra special was the fact that at Exit 8, Remount Road to be exact on the interstate, was the one I came up to when the odometer turned over to “8888.” Now isn’t that something! I can’t make this stuff up!

The fact that my Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, chose to speak to me in this way was even more extra special. With four eights, “8888”, in front of my eyes on the dashboard when the odometer turned over at Exit 8, now there were “5” eights. This said to me that this day marked a new season of my life, and that the five eights represented the extra grace (5 means grace) that would start me off in this new beginning. And not only to begin afreash, but complete, the full purpose and calling on my life.

I give thanks that the Lord speaks to us. I rejoice that each of us can hear, see and feel His presence in the way that we can best relate to Him.

 

The Lord God Almighty, Creator of the Universe, choses to show Himself to us, individually and also collectively (see those signs in the heavens lately???) in ways that we can know for certain that He is living, He is active, and He wants us to know Him personally, being the Father that He is.

Need a word from the Lord? Ask Him even now. And be prepared to receive His unique way of speaking to your heart, your spirit, even your body, in a way that you can know for certain of His love for you. Trust me, He will.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter. Use the "Sign Up" button on our website, or go here: Sign Me Up!

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now. Click here: DONATE 

(or use the DONATE buttons on the blog.)

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc. 

P.O. Box 414   

Pineville, NC 28134

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

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.  We appreciate your help.

Now Think On This - in the Year of our Lord 11.02.17 - #327 – “He Speaks In Many Ways”

Thursday, 5:30 pm 

Salvation Belongs To The Lord - Now Think On This Steve Martin

Salvation Belongs To The Lord

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

"Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people.” (Psalm 3:8, NKJV)

Several decades ago we often sang in our church meetings a song with a title very similar to this verse, declaring that salvation belongs to our God. When I “googled” it, because my memory banks took too long to search all that is held within them (older age does that you know) I found the following from a YouTube description of the song listed:

“This song was recorded in the Integrity Hosanna's worship album ARMY OF GOD which was released in 1988. Worship leader for the album was Randy Rothwell. One year later Petra included this song in their Petra Praise released in 1989. So Integrity Hosanna was closer to the original.”

  

I knew I knew it from somewhere! I still have that cassette, as it was delivered in that format in those days from Integrity Music.

What exactly does it mean that salvation belongs to the Lord?

According to Strong’s Concordance, the English translation for salvation comes from the Hebrew word, “Yeshua”. Sound familiar? Of course, Jesus’ Hebrew name was/is Yeshua. He alone IS the Salvation of the World.

Most, if not all, who read my messages believe that the End of Days, the Tribulation period, is coming upon the earth. Though we don’t know the exact time (which some will use as an excuse to not watch or be ready) for only the Father Himself knows, we have been told in Scripture that we can certainly know the season. 

Just as a mother is about to give birth, though she and those around her may not know the exact time, they absolutely know when it is time to get ready for delivery, towards the very end of that nine-month baby’s growing period inside her womb. Her womb, that very place which should be the most protected one in the baby’s life, from the time of conception to their appointed time of birth.

In Revelation 7:9-17, we are given the picture of what is going on in heaven, at the throne of Jesus, from the Apostle John, one of the 12 Jewish ambassadors of Yeshua, during this age.

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,

Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,

Be to our God forever and ever.

Amen."

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"

And I said to him, "Sir, you know."

So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (NKJV)

The world needs saving. The nations in the world are in much turmoil, rage, anger, and lawlessness. Just keep watching the news. Times are changing, and it is not changing for the good.

It is happening. Just as the prophets spoke; just as Jesus (Yeshua) Himself said in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. 

The signs are all around us, forth telling those exact things which would take place before the Lamb of God returns as the Lion from the Tribe of Judah. 

Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Jews and Gentiles, all who call upon His name for salvation, is coming back for us.

While we have time yet with us, while there is still light before the darkness, we must work with His Holy Spirit to spread the Good News - that salvation from sin, death, destruction and all evil is found only in the salvation that belongs to the Lord. And He is so willing and loving to give it to all who call upon His Name.

“His blessing is upon His people.” (Psalm 3:8)

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

   

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now through our website by using the DONATE button on either side column.

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc. 

P.O. Box 414   

Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. (And all other social media platforms!)

 Steve Martin

Now Think On This - in the Year of our Lord 08.20.17 - #308 – “Salvation Belongs to The Lord” – Sunday, 4:30 pm