Fruit. Gifts. We need them now. - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Fruit. Gifts.

We need them now.

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:18-20, NKJV)

Raiders of the Lost Ark main man Dr. Indiana Jones came face to face with evil. The opponent had pulled out a sword to attack him. What did he do? He pulled out his gun. Game over.

Source: Screen shot from movie "Raider of the Lost Ark"

Our weapons of war are going to be needing much more power than the enemy has that we will confront. We are going to need to pull out the living God of Israel’s big guns.

In these last days I am not recommending that we all go out and get weapons that we can hold in our hands to defeat the enemy, seen and unseen. But I do know that when it comes to power against power, we better have the upper hand over the evil, wicked, “doesn’t play fair” enemy that we will, and even now do, confront in our lives and those around us.

We had better have in our possession the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) and the character to be able to handle and use them properly, by also having the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-13, NASU)

Shuk - open market in Jerusalem, Israel (Photo by Steve Martin 2013)

Confrontations are happening all around us in the heavenlies. The hateful enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, is waging war against the saints of God. He is going all out to steal, kill and destroy. We need to be equipped to fight back, and to fight back hard. We need to be on the offense, and know how to use the weapons of war we have been given.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-10, NASU)

“Yeshua said to them again, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that I am the gate for the sheep. All those who have come before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate; if someone enters through me, he will be safe and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.”

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

(John 10: 7-12, Complete Jewish Bible)

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are promised by Jesus to be bestowed upon those baptized by the Holy Spirit. They weren’t just for the early church, the Apostles, nor the ones living at the time of Pentecost, Shavuot. The gifts are needed as much now, as then.

Has evil in the world ceased? Surely not. That is obvious to anyone alive today.

Then why would the Lord Jesus Christ cease giving His gifts to us, needed to stand against the evil that is all around us? He hasn’t.

There is a very definite reason why the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be received and manifested now. We need them to spread the Gospel and confront the enemy in the process.

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.  For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” (Hebrews 2:1-4, NASU)

Along with the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Two sides of the same coin, for He is the same Spirit. The gifts give us the power; the fruit gives us the ability to use that power.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-25, NASU)

If my character has been formed by the working of the Holy Spirit within my spirit, which takes years (not an overnight phenomena), then I will be able to use the gifts as they were intended to be used.

The love and joy He has given us will give us the means to prophesy to another out of love and joy. The patience we possess will let us know when it is the right time to share the word of knowledge, and the word of wisdom. We just won’t run out and blab our mouth. His gentle guidance, honed by patience, will tell us the right time to share the right word. Self-control will also come into play.

The fruit of faithfulness, learned by seeing His faithful ways in our life, will keep us moving forward in demonstrating the gift of miracles, even when discouragement and weariness, weapons of the enemy, would tempt us to fall back and let another do it.

Fruit of the Holy Spirit, grown over time, gives us the ability to properly use the gifts of the Holy Spirit, given at a specific time. Both are much needed in our time.

More full grown fruit - Jerusalem, Israel open market, the Shuk (Photo by Steve Martin 2016)

If you don’t believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I suggest you read the Bible without crossing out “outdated verses” or tearing out selected pages, to fit someone else’s inerrant theology.

Do you drive a car without an engine? Then why deny allowing the living God to teach us through the entire instruction book that He gave us, from Genesis to Revelation?

After all, Jesus Christ IS the same yesterday, today and forever.

“Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.” (Hebrew 13:7-9, NKJV)

Prepare yourself for these last days with all that the Lord makes available to us, with His gifts of the Holy Spirit operating through the fruit of the Holy Spirit. You will be glad you did.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

 P.S. There are many good books and videos available on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the gifts and fruit of the Ruach HaKodesh. I would suggest contacting my good friends at Derek Prince Ministries (with over 12 offices worldwide) for these subjects and a wide range of other great teaching, taught tremendously well by Derek. There are many free materials available on line, in many, many languages. Go here: Derek Prince Ministries

 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 support the families that we do, primarily for those living in Israel, Pakistan, Northern Ireland and India, 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 $10-$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. 

Secure, conveniently done online contributions through our website:  Donate

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.

Now Think On This - In the Year of our Lord 06.25.17 - #296 – “Fruit. Gifts. Need Them Now.” – Sunday, 8:24 am 

We Need His Gifts - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

We Need His Gifts

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” (Hebrews 2:4 NASU)

When it comes down to the end, power verses power will be the action of the day. Living in the end of days, through the end time events coming upon the earth, will require us as believers to be equipped with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We will have to be empowered with His holy fire, that working within us to give the courage, boldness and overcoming power to defeat the enemy and his attacks.

You know Satan is going to use all the power he has been allowed to have, for a given time. We better be ready to fight back – not in our own power, but in the power of the Almighty God of Israel, who has given us the supernatural weapons for warfare.

The world is seeking the unseen and the supernatural. We see it in the movies being produced in Hollywood, the TV shows that more and more depict hidden witchcraft, portrayed as “good and wholesome”, and through the increasingly dark and evil manifestations that draw the young and old after them.

We can’t win the battles we face through our own abilities. No smooth talking words will achieve the necessary force that will stop Satan and his demon henchmen in their tracks.

We need the fire of the Holy Spirit, and the gifts the Lord has made available to us.

In 1973, when I was a senior at the Catholic Columbus High School in Waterloo, Iowa, I was seeking the Lord for more. I wanted a supernatural experience that my previous Catholic upbringing didn’t provide. Even after 12 years of religious upbringing, it wasn’t enough. I wanted more.

And as He always does, the good Lord responded to my seeking heart.

At a prayer meeting with others from my class, when hands were laid upon me to receive His Holy Spirit, I was baptized with the holy fire and supernatural love of the Lord. As both a sign and a wonder, I began to speak in tongues, even as they did in Acts 2. My life was changed forever from that day forward. I experienced what the early Church had been given the first time.

The Lord has made this available to us today, because He knows we need this empowerment.

“When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force — no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn't for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, "Aren't these all Galileans? How come we're hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;

Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,

Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,

Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;

Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;

Even Cretans and Arabs!

"They're speaking our languages, describing God's mighty works!"

Their heads were spinning; they couldn't make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: "What's going on here?"

Others joked, "They're drunk on cheap wine." (Acts 2:1-13 THE MESSAGE)

In these 42 years since that May day, I have used this gift from the Lord of speaking in tongues as my prayer language, allowing the Spirit of the Lord to intercede through me, on behalf of my family, my co-workers, my country, and the nations of the world. He has also built me up in my inner spirit, even as His word says it would.

Again, the gifts of the Holy Spirt are going to be most needed in the end of days. Those who will be standing will have been trained and daily walking in faith by using them.

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts.” (1 Corinthians 12:1-31 NASU)

With the gifts of the Holy Spirit in use, we will be able to fight the onslaught of the enemy, encourage our brothers and sisters in the faith, and demonstrate to the world Who is the most powerful One on the throne. Working with all in the Body of Christ, together as each uses that which they have been given, we will demonstrate the miracles, signs and wonders that it will take to show the world His greatness.

Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit? You can be. You will need to be. The Lord will freely give to you as you ask Him.

The coming days will require you to be equipped with all that the Lord has to give. Be ready.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

P.S. We sure could use your help to bless the families we do in Israel, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and the hurting ones here in the USA. Please give out of the abundance you have been given.

In May, 2016, my wife Laurie and I will be traveling to Israel to spend time with our friends. We support them in word and deed. We have our plane tickets in hand.

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: Love For 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.)

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Now Think On This #201 “We Need His Gits” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2015 (11.01.15) Sunday at 6:15 am 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

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