Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord

“THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. 'EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.'" Luke 3:4-6, NASU

In 1973, the year of my high school graduation, the movie Godspell hit the theatres. In my senior year, attending Columbus High School (Catholic) in Waterloo, Iowa, I went and saw it. Somewhat out of curiosity, but mostly because I liked some of the songs I was hearing on the radio. Though I didn’t care for every scene or song, I still think the Lord used it to reach ones who didn’t attend church or synagogues. At least I hope it did.

So why write about a secular movie production, or a play on Broadway, which it also was? Because even in these types of artistic displays, our God is reaching out to get the attention of those He has created. After all, He even used a talking donkey to speak His word, because that was what was available.

And yet even today in 2019, He is still using the words, “prepare ye the way of the Lord” (listen to the movie version below). I woke up one morning, and during preparation for the Sunday morning congregation gathering, during which I would help lead worship as a vocalist, the song came into my head. And it happened to be the start of Passover week, and on the Gregorian calendar, Palm Sunday. This was the historical day Jesus (Yeshua) rode into Jerusalem on a colt (donkey also), as the people hailed His kingship. Only to later, in that same week, witness His crucifixion.

I also recall the song I have sung many times as a worship leader, written by Forrest Richard Betts and recorded by Robin Mark, the wonderful worship leader from Northern Ireland, on his Revival in Belfastalbum (1999), entitled simply, “Revival.”

I remember it well, as I loved to sing the lyrics beginning the song, without instrumentation:

“I hear the voice of one calling, prepare ye the way of the Lord.
And make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall in the desert.”

The song also had a special impact on me, being within the year my Dad passed onto heaven, having suffered through lymphoma cancer, and my Mom telling me some of the lyrics struck her, particularly, “to the widow walking through the veil of tears.”

I say all that to say this. 

If we haven’t already begun, now is the time to prepare ye the way of the Lord.

As the Lord was speaking in the 1970s and the 1990s through these two songs, He is yet again speaking, loud and clear for those who have ears to hear, that now is certainly the time we as believers need to be preparing for His coming revival, that which will be manifested with millions of the lost coming into His salvation, making entry into His kingdom.

Through powerful, consistent, gathering together in prayer, be it two or three, or full congregations at one time; through the proclamation of His truth as recorded in His Word, the Torah, the Bible, in written and spoken realms (especially social media!); in addition to producing godly movies, singing Spirit-led songs, and taking back the lost ground that we as believers allowed the enemy to take while we have been on our watch; in all areas of education, medicine, government, the arts, and every area of life that touches our spirits, souls, and bodies.

The Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, is calling out to us and wanting to proclaim it through us, “PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!”

We don’t have five or ten years anymore to sit back and do nothing. Today is the day. Now is the time.

So now think on this.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. And the Lord knows, I hope to have the opportunity to sing “Revival” once again. Loud and clear!

You can listen here to the 1973 movie version: Godspell'sPrepare Ye (the way of the Lord)

Robin Mark’s worship song: Revival

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Now Think On This #411 - in the year of our Lord 04.14.19 – “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord” – Sunday 7:07 pm

Revial Lyrics – Robin Mark

I hear the voice of one calling, prepare ye the way of the Lord.
And make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall in the desert.

As sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet,
So you love this city and you love these streets.
Every child out playing by their own front door
Every baby laying on the bedroom floor.

Every dreamer dreaming in her dead-end job
Every driver driving through the rush hour mob
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home

I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".

From the Preacher preaching when the well is dry
To the lost soul reaching for a higher high
From the young man working through his hopes and fears
To the widow walking through the veil of tears

Every man and woman, every old and young
Every fathers daughter, every mothers son.
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home

I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".

Revive us, Revive us,
Revive us with your fire!

Songwriters: Forrest Richard Betts

Revival lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

New Shoes - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

New Shoes

- Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“And no one puts new wine in old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is for freshly prepared wineskins.” Mark 2:22 CJB

I put on my new pair of work dress shoes recently. At first they felt over tight, uncomfortable, and squeezed my big toe into the corner spot so much that it couldn’t wiggle if it wanted to. They just didn’t fit right, as I thought they would once home, after that brief moment I tried them on at the store, just before I picked out an extra pair of gray socks, and the loaf of whole wheat bread my wife asked for as I went out the door.

But then that was last month. Today, after wearing them and having “broken them in”, they are just like my favorite old pair that I had to throw out, due to wear and tear after seven years.

If you think about it for a moment, it is like a new job, a new home setup, a new car (even if the new one is just a little younger than the previous one), or anything we now have that is different than what we had become used to. Until we gave it some time to work out the kinks and the normal, uncomfortable newness, which we had really appreciated with the old that we had, it didn’t feel right, or as good as the previous one. But having given it some time to grow on us, it surely does now. It has become even better than what we had before.

When the Holy Spirit brings revival again, knowing He certainly has promised to do so, as written in His Word for these last days, it will not be what we are used to. In fact, He may even get rejected by the old guard as He did when He came in previous visitations, as the experiences are not what we have now become accustomed to, since the last time of touching this planet in a major way.

“You are not from these parts, are you?” could be the response of some who look on from a distance, upon that which will be going on. Ruach HaKodesh, and those He has put new wine into, could easily be dismissed as just having another emotional experience or fanatic outburst, as the new movement overshadows the previous ones from the Pentecostal decades, the healing years, or the last, great Charismatic Movement I was involved with in the ‘70’s and onward.

This coming revival, effecting the nations with the powerful Good News of salvation, healing and the love of the Father God, will so impact people, that the new wine will cause the old to be done away with, replaced with a fresh fullness that we didn’t think could, or would, happen again. Because we had not seen it before, it will transform our lives in such a way that we will boldly face the enemy, confidently proclaim the Gospel, and tear down the walls that have surrounded the cozy churches, keeping us from effecting the world as we have been called to do.

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 NASU

We will be getting out of the pew and into the pasture, going where the lost sheep are throughout the world. Some are even right next to us in the office desk, or the one occupying the white house down the street.

Those blinded by the spiritual forces of Islam, Hinduism, secular humanism, “sexual freedom” and other lies of the enemy will be set free, as the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, moves in to break the bondages and strongholds that have ravaged the nations we have been called to be in and shine throughout.

As the old pair of shoes has worn out, it is time to get on a new pair. They will feel uncomfortable at first, but once our feet adjust to them, by His grace working within us, they will take us to places we had only dreamed of going before.

I am looking forward to this next revival outpouring movement of the Lord and His Holy Spirit, to bring it on and get us going.

Thank you Lord for new shoes!

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Love For His People. Inc.

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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Now Think On This #159 “New Shoes” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (06.27.14) Friday at 5:10 am in Charlotte, NC.

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog.