Now Think On This - Steve Martin: missionary

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Tuesday, June 6, 2017

The Snake That Bites – Part 2 Healing the Hurt - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

The Snake That Bites – Part 2

Healing the Hurt

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:23-25, THE MESSAGE)

While growing up in the Midwest, Cedar Falls, Iowa to be exact, one of my heart’s desire, even at an early age, was to be a missionary priest/doctor to Africa. Now I realized that being a “missionary”, and a “priest”, and a “doctor”, and then going to the faraway, dark continent of “Africa” wasn’t the most probable, nor desirable, career path for most 8^th graders in the late 60’s. Even my grade school Roman Catholic priest, Father Purcell, who taught the eleven of us in our religion class, said I should give up that prayer and be content at becoming a diocesan priest. You know, stay here in the comforts of America.

So what does that have to do with my first Now Think On This message on The Snake That Bites? Well, let me tell you.

The Lord Jesus puts it in the heart of His people to carry His love to the nations. It used to be that the only way you could actually fulfill that command was to go. Literally become a missionary, leave all behind, and go to a foreign land having absolutely nothing in common with the civilization you grew up in your first 18 years of life. Some still do that. I bless them in Jesus’ Name for their courage and longing to fulfill His commandment to take His Gospel, Good News, to the nations.

Taking His healing word to the nations.

The globe serves as a reminder in our home.

But now, through the great advancements that God Himself has given to men and women, with ever increasing revealed knowledge to excel in all kinds of new discoveries, we can take His Words to the nations through social media. Just as He had the Romans build the extensive road system, extending their kingdom throughout the known land in their time, they unknowingly made the way to enable the apostles and other believers to travel easily.

Today He has also given inventions, technical savvy, and vast understanding to mankind, to “build the roads” in our time – such as primarily the Internet, to get His Gospel out. (Sorry Al Gore. Not you.)

Thus, finally, I am getting to the point I want to make. The Lord has made a great way to get His word out, to bring His healing to the people of the world. Going as a missionary has now become possible for each of us who call on the Name of the Lord Yeshua (Jesus). Through social media.

Bringing you His healing word has been His desire from the start. He wants people freed from the snake bite where it all began in the Garden of Eden. His plan of redemption and salvation has been eternal, and now you and I can experience this, wherever you are at this moment in time and space.

Much of the mental and body sickness we experience is the result of the spiritual diseases we carry. Proven medical facts.

There is healing from the snake bites you have received over the years. There is a way to be free from the resulting bitterness, resentment, and even hatred that first brought infection into your spirit, which moved down into your soul (mind, will and emotions), and then eventually manifested itself in your body. Yes, spiritual sickness shows itself in soulish and physical outlays. Many mental and body sickness is the result of the spiritual diseases we carry.

Needing forgiveness, receiving it first from the One who alone can begin the process, and then acting on His work yourself, will bring the healing that the snake venom poisoned you with after each bite.

“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:21-25, NASU)

Jesus’ death on the brutal Roman cross was the plan from the beginning with His Father. He knew ahead of time, before He came as the sinless Lamb, that He was going to suffer, receive 39 gouging whip lasses from the laughing soldiers, and hang on the mocking, cursed tree, in order to complete the required payment for mankind’s sin – the shedding of Innocent Blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Then and only then could the healing process begin, to free us from the sickness and death caused by our sin, including unforgiveness which we carry far too long in our daily life.

“For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach — if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.”
(Col 1:19-23, NASU)

And being there are always two sides to the coin…who have you hurt with your biting words, quick temper, or rude remarks? Repentance is both for you, me and the others. It goes both ways. Consider asking forgiveness from those whom you have bitten with your own venom.

Are you willing to be forgiven for your sins? You can ask Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, for the first time in your life, or for the ongoing confession of sin, to be free from the lasting effects of the venom we carry. Crying out to the Lord and Savior is simple. You just have to do it.

Do you hold unforgiveness towards your Mom, Dad, sister, brother, boss, close friend? How about your pastor (or your church member - yes I know!) or your co-worker. The list can be inexhaustible. Anyone who has said, did or acted against you, and that one you so want to get back at for hurting you? If so, you need to accept the forgiveness you have already first received, as a sinner, acknowledge the wrong was wrong, but now know that it is time to let it go, to let the Blood of Jesus wash over you, and bring healing to your spirit, soul and body.

Repentance and forgiveness. Again, it is simple.

You don’t have to work yourself up in an emotional frenzy, or bring up every occasion when you received the stinging wound.

Just quietly and with resolve say, “Jesus, I forgive them, as you have first forgiven me.” Say each name or memory that the Holy Spirit brings to mind right now, forgive them, and receive the healing touch from your loving Father and His Only Son Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Let the Father forgive your sins. You then in turn forgive those who sinned against you. That also is in the Lord’s prayer you learned as a child (I hope.)

As I said, I didn’t make it as the missionary priest doctor that I wanted to be, but now the Lord has allowed me to bring His truth and healing word to you, in your very nation. It is just in a much wider realm.

Be free again to enjoy life. Rejoice in Jesus and give thanks!

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. If you didn't read yet Part 1, you can find it here:
The Snake That Bites - Part 1

We are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to support the families that we do, primarily in Israel, Hungary, 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.

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

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Now Think On This - In the Year of our Lord 06.03.17 - #289 – “The Snake That Bites – Part 2 Healing the Hurt” – Saturday, 7:00 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

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Are You Free… to do what the Lord has given you to do? - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Are You Free…

to do what the Lord

has given you to do?

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

As a young boy, (growing into a fine young man!) I really enjoyed reading biographies of men and women – those who found what they were created to do, and actually did it.

Men like David Livingstone, the Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society, and an explorer in Africa. When he was “found” by Henry M. Stanley, the famous British explorer and New York Times reporter, deep in the heart of “the dark continent”, Stanley reportedly spoke this famous quote, when on November 10, 1871, he found the missionary and asked, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

I really liked the bios I read of Eric Liddell, the Scottish missionary to China, as his parents were before him, who was made even more well-known after the movie Chariots of Fire came out in 1981. Eric was an Olympic hero who followed after the heart of the Lord, in all His ways. He took the Gospel to the Far East nation. What an example for a young boy!

Of course there were others who inspired me, much like Harmon Killebrew, the Minnesota Twins baseball home run hitter in the 1970’s; Francis of Assisi, who left it all behind to touch the lives of the poor; and Abraham Lincoln, our American 16^th President during the Civil War in the 1860s (I think I must have over 24 books on him alone.)

Finally, a most inspiring book for one who wanted to do the Lord’s will in his life...

The Actes and Monuments, popularly known as Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Is a work of Protestant history and martyrology by John Foxe, first published in English in 1563 by John Day. It includes a polemical account of the sufferings of Protestants under the Catholic Church, with particular emphasis on England and Scotland. The book was highly influential in those countries, and helped shape lasting popular notions of Catholicism there.

The book went through four editions in Foxe's lifetime and a number of later editions and abridgements, including some that specifically reduced the text to a Book of Martyrs. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Above all, there is the One whom it is written, that there are not enough books to cover His life here on earth - our Lord, Jesus the Messiah. None can compare when reading of Him, and how we can walk in His steps even today.

But how do we walk in His ways, or those who continue to inspire and encourage us on today?

If the Lord called you tonight (or sent a text), and said, “Leave all you have and follow Me?" – what would keep you from doing it?

Would it be that job you have, that you don’t like anyway, but grudgingly to it because that is what you think there is just for you to do?

Is it lack of money, believing you need a good amount to get started down the path you’d really like to take, but never took that first step?

Would the opinion of family or friends outweigh the word the Lord wants to give you, or already has spoken to you about, and you keep pushing it back to another time, another place?

Can it be a simple thing like needing to have the constant noise of the TV on, watching meaningless weekly shows, that a month from now will have proven to be of nothing, having lasting value in your life?

Are you free to do what the Lord has given you to do? What is holding you back?

I think if you ask Him, actually “inquire of the Lord” as David did, you’d be given the inspiration to take the first step.

Psalm 25The Message (MSG)

A David Psalm

25 ^1-2My head is high, God, held high;
I’m looking to you, God;
No hangdog skulking for me.

³I’ve thrown in my lot with you;
You won’t embarrass me, will you?
Or let my enemies get the best of me?

Don’t embarrass any of us
Who went out on a limb for you.
It’s the traitors who should be humiliated.

⁴Show me how you work, God;
School me in your ways.

⁵Take me by the hand;
Lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren’t you?

⁶Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;
Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

⁷Forget that I sowed wild oats;
Mark me with your sign of love.
Plan only the best for me, God!

⁸God is fair and just;
He corrects the misdirected,
Sends them in the right direction.

⁹He gives the rejects his hand,
And leads them step-by-step.

¹⁰From now on every road you travel
Will take you to God.
Follow the Covenant signs;
Read the charted directions."

So seek the Lord in faith, not fear, and see what He says. It will be worth it.

Something to think about.

Love you,

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 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. We love Israel.