The Battle in the Race - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

The Battle in the Race

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.” (Philippians 2:16-17)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

Memorial Day in the United States of America is a special day we annually set aside to honor the fallen – those men and women who sacrificially gave their lives to keep freedom free in our nation, and for the many other nations that we have stood with over these many decades. They chose (or were drafted) to join the fight in war. They ran to the front lines, armed with weapons for battle, to keep evil from further encroaching on European, Southeast Asia, and Middle Eastern lands. And to take back that which was stolen by the enemy of our souls, Satan himself.

These tremendous engagements on the battlefield took months of preparation for those men and women, prior to the vicious entanglements. They didn’t win without a tough fight. For millions, that fight cost them their lives.

We give thanks with a big “Thank you!” to all men and women who have served in the Armed Forces - the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and the Coast Guard!

The Bugler Boy and the flags of the US Armed Forces

Crown Memorial Park cemetery in Pineville (Charlotte) North Carolina

(Photo by Steve Martin, May 27, 2017

Many of us enjoy attending sporting events. We have a local or national team that we give our money, time and sometimes hoarse voices to in cheering them on. Though in no way would I ever compare them to paying the same price it dearly costs our soldiers in the USA Armed Forces, they too have been prepared to meet on the field of “battle”. For that I too commend them.

I too loved playing high school baseball, for the teamwork we had, and the discipline required to go onto the Iowa State Finals in 1972. Lessons learned for life.

Columbus High School baseball teams 1972-1973

(Part of the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Roman Catholic education system)

Waterloo, Iowa

It takes discipline to excel. It takes daily commitment to do, to be prepared to run the race and win the game, each a battle in itself, and later the hard-fought, victorious championship, or world war.

As Paul says in Hebrews 12:1-3,

“Do you see what this means — all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running — and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed — that exhilarating finish in and with God — he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (”THE MESSAGE)

To be ready for the life struggles that we all do face today, and will face tomorrow, we must be ready. We must be armed. We must put on the full armor the Lord has provided, or else we won’t make it. The one who hates, steals, kills and seeks daily to destroy our souls doesn’t play fair. We must be prepared.

“Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.

So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing.

Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist, put on righteousness for a breastplate, and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. 

Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of deliverance; along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God; as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people.”

(Ephesians 6:11-18, Complete Jewish Bible)

Jesus did not promise us a rose garden - without a fight. It takes a willing spirit to say, “Here I am. Do in me what needs to be done, so I can do what I have been created to do.”

Can you say that? Can you pray that if you can’t say that now? The Holy Spirit is our Helper. Ask Him.

Be prepared. Get ready. The fight has been going on for centuries, ever since the time of Adam and Eve in the garden.

If you are weary from it now, Jesus can refresh you. His heart is to make yours strong, to walk in your purpose and what you have been created to do.

If you need more training - discipline yourself in prayer, read His instruction book we call the Bible, and stand with those who have the same kindred spirit to hear and obey.

Then run the race set before you - to win., Let your life be counted among those who, with Jesus Christ at the Marriage Supper of the victorious Lamb of God - will together celebrate His glorious victory over death and destruction. It will be worth whatever cost He asks us to pay. 

There is no other life worth living, than the one He has chosen and called you to live.

He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Awesome God, the Savior of the world - for both the Jew and Gentile -Yeshua HaMashiach Himself.

Now think on this,

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 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.

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.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople 

Blogs: Love For His People,   Now Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This - In the Year of our Lord 05.29.17 - #286 – “The Battle in the Race” – Monday, 7 am - Memorial Day 2017

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

Burn Within - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Burn Within

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32, NKJV)

Sometimes I feel like the apostle Paul did when he spoke about still doing that which he didn’t want to do. I can’t find the Scripture, but at some point he gave a sigh, or even more so wrote of his ongoing frustration, in seemingly doing the same thing over and over. And he wasn’t talking about that thing being a good thing.

He too wanted it to stop so he could move on with other challenges. He wanted to pass this test so he could graduate to the next class, or as we so often hear these days, “go to the next level”. (We must be riding an elevator?)

Maybe you think the same at times? You do something, say something, or think something about another, and then find yourself having to repent all over again for doing the same thing all over again. It gets frustrating. “When will I ever learn?” as we continually battle the same temptation, or even yet, the same sin, over and over again.

Contending for perfection is part of the ongoing battle we are in. Not only are there battles without and about us but we continually face the battles within ourselves. Because we are fighting in the spiritual realm, it works its way down into our natural being.

But we have hope! As this war within rages on, we can experience a burn within, which I believe is the Holy Spirit’s refining fire, to cleanse us of all that dirt, filth, and such. We are being conformed more to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and it is an ongoing process.

The apostle Peter (or as more accurately the Jewish versions of the Bible say, the “emissary” Peter) also wrote of this ongoing burn within us. He too was inspired by the Holy Spirit to remind his followers of this very same thing.

“Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents not to give in to the desires of your old nature, which keep warring against you; but to live such good lives among the pagans that even though they now speak against you as evil-doers, they will, as a result of seeing your good actions, give glory to God on the Day of his coming.” (1 Peter 2:11-13, Complete Jewish Bible)

It is a fact. The old nature, the one we had before coming to repentance, and finding salvation which is only found in the Lord Yeshua (Jesus), still tries to come back at us - those old (and new) desires and temptations to give in and give up. We will still battle in the ongoing war within, always trying to wear us down and take us out of the war raging around us.

“Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Stand against him, firm in your trust, knowing that your brothers throughout the world are going through the same kinds of suffering. You will have to suffer only a little while; after that, God, who is full of grace, the one who called you to his eternal glory in union with the Messiah, will himself restore, establish and strengthen you and make you firm. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:8-11 CJB)

Thank God, that even as Jesus did while here on earth, conversing with those disciples after His resurrection, He has now given us His Holy Spirit to walk and talk “with us on the road”, while still opening the Scriptures to us, revealing while always teaching, in order to refine us and mold us into His holy image.

Next time, probably today, when the temptation comes my way, to think ill will of another, or when I am fighting the temptations that so often come, and will happen, I must effectively make the choice to stop the thought before it prolongs in my mind, and resist.

By the Lord’s grace burning through us, those things which can so easily drag you and I down can end, in order that we can carry on with the bigger challenge, that of proclaiming His gospel in word and deed, to a world that is burning up in so many other ways.

Now think on this,

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 are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to bless the families that we do in Israel, 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.

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.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople 

Blogs: Love For His People,   Now Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 02.04.16 - #240 –“Burn Within” – Thursday at 3:30 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

Intensity - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Intensity

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple.

You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food — catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you — keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5, The MESSAGE)

Back in the day, 1987 exactly, a New Covenant Christian Church softball team was assembled to play in a championship tournament in Mobile, Alabama. “The best of the best” I believe were chosen to compete, from among the 14 men’s teams our church had that summer in our own league in East Lansing, Michigan. It was an honor and joy to be part of that team.

Our chosen theme song was “Eye of the Tiger”, released in 1982 by Survivor. How appropriate. The song had won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal,People's Choice Award for Favorite New Song. It was made famous in one of the seven Rocky Balboa movies, Rocky III, of that same year, 1982.

As it had inspired Rocky to perform to the utmost, it worked for us too. We won the tournament. (Of course we had to play all of the weekend games to the final championship battle to do so.)

Each member of the team had serious intensity. Each had the goal to win, to defeat the other good competing teams on the ball field, using the gifts and talent each one of us possessed. What a team we had!

One dictionary definition of intensity is “the measurable amount of a property, such as force, brightness, or a magnetic field.”  I like the word “brightness”. As in the natural, we too as a spiritual people, like a laser beam, are called to be intense, to be bright as the Son we follow.

Paul instructed Timothy, as quoted above, to “proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit.” That is the same message given to each of us who call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus – to proclaim His Gospel, the Good News, with intensity, even as we see the days getting darker. We are the ones who have now been called upon to be the watchmen and declare there is a bright, intense light that others can follow. It is Yeshua, Jesus, the Light of the World. In Him only is found the Way, the Truth and the Life.

I like how THE MESSAGE version of the Bible reads, “And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.” (Hebrews 6:11-12)

As in any “game of life”, the competing teams must play with intensity if they are to win. We who say we are Christians also need to compete in the daily battles, the ultimate spiritual war that we are in, whether we like it or not.

The evil opposing empire, a true reality, has an enemy that himself fights every hour, seeking to steal, destroy and kill humans in the nations. You and I both see it happening before our eyes. Our God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, has chosen us to abide in Him and His Holy Spirit, to stand strong against these forces of evil. We must choose to, indeed make the decision, to be a part of His army, and fight back. It is a real war. We can’t sit idly by and do nothing.

We are to fight until the finish. With committed faith, empowered hope, and the intense love of our Father, we must take our place, and do it. The world needs us now. Yeshua has given us the strength and fire in our hearts to be His hands, feet and mouth on this planet.

“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:11-12, NKJV)

We must demonstrate the faith of those who have gone before us, who through trials, temptations, sword, starvation, persecution and more stood strong until the end. The nations are seeking a savior. Those of us who know who that is, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, must be the ones to give our lives for His purposes and plans.

With immense intensity and eternal love in our hearts, the Spirit of the Living God of Israel will use us to draw others unto Him. Be willing to be one such a vessel.

We are in a war. We must rise to the occasion and do that which we have been called to do.

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Revelation 22:12-13 NASU)

So think on this, in the love of Jesus,

Steve Martin

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 are blessed when the ministry receives gifts to bless the families that we do in Israel, 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.

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.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople 

Blogs: Love For His People,   Now Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Love For His People Inc.

Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 01.16.16 - #233 –“Intensity” – Saturday at 7:30 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

LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE FEATURED BOOK

Paperback $5.95

Kindle $1.99 

Purchase here: End of Days by Steve Martin

My heart yearns for the glory of the Lord Jesus to be revealed in the earth, touching the hearts and souls of men, women and children in each and every nation. As we see the days become darker, we believe that the Lord God of Israel will show Himself strong, and prove that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, as He says He is.

I wrote this book for you who also long to walk in strong faith, courage and commitment to the end, for whatever the Lord has planned and purposed for you and I. Together, as the Body of Christ, and the glorious Bride that we will become, we will one day see His Kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

The Gospel, the Good News of salvation, will be declared, and that which is just and good will for all eternity overcome the evil one. I sincerely believe we are living in the end of days, as prophetic words have been rapidly fulfilled since the re-birth of Israel in 1948. Jesus Himself had said that when we see the fig tree budding, we know that the time is near. 

This book, my 10th published in the last three years (all between 2013-2015) and before my 61st birthday, is very special to me. I sense it is something the Lord put on my heart to do several months ago, giving it that “urgency of getting it done and out there” feel as I wrote. Originally these chapters were Now Think On This messages. It was amazing to me how many were done in September and October of 2015 alone, as the Holy Spirit would speak a word or sentence to me, and I would write soon after. I am truly grateful for His impartation, and acknowledge Jesus (Yeshua), my Lord and Savior, above all. 

The photos I have included in the book are primarily ones I took (exceptions noted), both to document history and to share another way the Lord also speaks to His Body. Capturing moments of the Holy Spirit action, especially in the two “fire” photos, were exciting. In both cases I wasn’t even aware of it until they were “developed”. I trust this book will both encourage you and cause you to re-commit yourself - to know the Lord’s will for your life, do all you can to allow Him to direct your steps, and be the light in these dark days we desperately need and have been called upon by the Lord to be. 

I am with you, arm in arm! Ahava (love in Hebrew) and shalom (peace), 

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.