Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Be a Peter – Steve Martin, Love For His People

 

Be a Peter – Steve Martin, Love For His People

Be a Peter

“But Peter and the apostles answered, ” We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29-30, NASU

No wonder the church has lost its influence in our nation and others in the world.

We have lost our voice.

Rather than having the courage (or guts, as some would better understand it), we have bowed the knee to the secular government and religious leaders in power, going along with the seduced masses and caving into their unreasonable and ungodly, yes unbiblical, directives.

Wanting to live the lie of “let it be, let it be”, made popular by the four bugs in the 60s and beyond, so as not to offend or disrupt our neighbor or co-worker, and live “in peace”…our light in the world lost its flame of hope that the Lord Jesus meant the believers, His Church, to be to the rest of the world. At least many of the Jews kept His Word alive, along with other martyrs of the faith, when they stood against the evil that continuously confronted them.

What would the USA look like today if churches would have stood against the removal of prayer in schools; abortion on demand; shutting down the overbearing might of Big Tech and the all-mighty CEOs to shut us up? Rather than standing up and giving godly opposition to their ways, many laid down silently and let them do as they pleased. As in the name of “love” so as not to inhibit their “freedom.”

Side note: There would be no need for “Now Hiring” signs all over the place in America if the 62 million babies murdered since 1973 were alive today.

Where has our conformity to the people got us? Thank God for the few who had the courage to stand on the wall, stand in the gap, and keep the tidal way of evil from destroying our God-given freedoms over these last decades.

The Word of God is our life manual. The Lord God of Israel gave it to us so we could know His ways and then walk in them in obedience. So that we could live a good, peaceful life. But as so often occurs, in our “wisdom and might” the church kept the Bible on the shelf collecting dust, if even there, and never touched it to know His will actually is.

And because of the action, or no action, of so-called Christians, we have reaped what we have sown.

Did the early church leaders do that? You tell me.

After being thrown into prison for proclaiming the Word of God, they were let out in the middle of the night by an angel. (I am glad I have a guardian angel and others who aid us.) The angel instructed them what they were to do.

“But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.” Acts 5:17-21, NASU

The believers did as the Lord’s messenger instructed them to do, even after having been already thrown in prison and beaten by the religious authorities. But they knew their Higher Authority.

“They (the Jerusalem leadership Council) took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” Acts 5:40-42, NASU

They kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. They did not fear what the government or religious leaders would or could do. They chose to obey the higher power of the One Who sits on the highest throne.

Do not think that we must obey every law or “scientifically backed” control that comes our way. Do not just go along with the crowd, to avoid being “different, out-of-step, or troublemaker” as many would have you think.

Have some guts. Have some courage. Speak up. Act out. Obey what the Lord has told us to obey through His Word. Do it now or pay the price later when our God-given freedoms have all been taken away. Get out of the boat and do that which He has called you to do.

Be a Peter!

Scene 07/53 Exterior Galilee Riverside; Jesus (DIOGO MORCALDO) is going to die and tells Peter (DARWIN SHAW) and the other disciples this not the end.

“Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” Matt 14:22-33 NKJV

Go and do what you have been given to do. Be a man. Be a woman. Be a follower of Jesus.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin, Love For His People founder

P.S. It is a great move of God to see our pastors of Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, SC take the lead. Dr. ELizabeth Enns, pastor, wife of pastor Jesse Enns, mother of three wonderful sons, daughter of Peter and Joy Wyns, is running for the statehouse District 48 in her Rock Hill, SC district.

Go, Liz! Look here for more information: https://www.instagram.com/drlizenns/

SC State House District #48 candidate Elizabeth Enns

Look here also for more info on Elizabeth Enns: https://www.facebook.com/EnnsForStateHouse

SPECIAL NOTE: Our ministry’s mobile app is available for iPhones and Androids. This is a free app download. Look here: Love For His People free phone app

Please sign up for my email messages: Love For His People. The sign-up form is on our ministry website: ministry newsletter

You have the opportunity to help support the work of this ministry, including the assistance we give to families in Israel: DONATE online now. You can also send checks to:

Love For His People P.O. Box 414 Pineville, NC 28134

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com

Please share this message with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and LinkedIn, Gettr.  Others will be thankful you did. And I thank you too.

Message #69 – in the year of our Lord 04.26.2022 – Be a Peter” – Tuesday, 4:45 am in Charlotte, NC USA

Steve Martin

STEVE & LAURIE MARTIN - LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE FOUNDERS My good wife Laurie and I (45 years in October 2022!), through the ministry of Love For His People we founded in 2010, give love and support for our friends in Israel and in other nations with friendship, humanitarian aid, and social media support, along with Steve's messages, and our Ahava Adventures trips to Israel. Steve has also authored and published 33 books. We live in the Charlotte, NC area. We have four adult children, spouses, and eight grandkids.

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Apprehended & Renewed – by Steve Martin, Love For His People ministry

 

Apprehended & Renewed – by Steve Martin, Love For His People ministry

April 23, 2022 Charlotte, NC USA

Apprehended & Renewed

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26, NASU

Returning from Jerusalem had not happened in quite some time for me. As you all know, one must go and come back for there to be a “returning”. And that hadn’t happened in two and a half years, since October 2019, because governments around the world chose to shut down everything in sight, when a deliberate and planned pandemic struck, believing they were in ultimate control of all things.

I certainly am glad that our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, is the One Who sits on the highest throne. He always has the final say. In time, all will bow their knee to Him alone.

“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 5:13, NASU

When Israel finally permitted non-vaccinated individuals to enter the nation, with a proclamation in March 2022, it took less than 3 days for me to book my next flight. The Lord had called me to support Israel and the Messianic Jews, and I was not about to let Satan and his henchmen keep me any longer from fulfilling that call.

Back in 2002, when I was being ordained as a Minister of the Gospel through Cornerstone Church (Pastor Mark DeVito, apostolic authority Ron Hill, and the five elders) in the little town of Pineville, North Carolina, which I call the “Bethlehem of Charlotte”, the Lord spoke deep into my soul, setting me apart for His plan and purposes. At the same time during that ordination, He also used the prophetic voice of Terry Kelson, renamed Ahava Hadassah of the Aliyah Return Center in Tiberias, Israel once she made aliyah from the USA to Israel, to speak forth a word over me. (She rejoices in heaven now!)

“You have been called as a scepter for Zion,” she said from among the small group of gathered believers.

That eternal word was deeply planted into my spirit. Since that time the Lord God of Israel has enabled me to walk it out. I am an ambassador for Israel.

Eight years after that special day our ministry named Love For His People was birthed, and both my good wife Laurie (aged 50 at the time) and I (aged 55 way back then) have given ourselves to further pursue what is the full understanding of His call on our lives, being one together for His plans and purposes. These 12 years since then have been one of slow growth, but the foundation is strong, built on the Solid Rock.

Our ministry logo was created by our son Ben Martin. 2015

But, when I couldn’t get to Israel for those two years, my faith, hope, and love wavered. I was being held back from doing that which I had been apprehended to do. The enemy of our souls wanted to keep me from walking out God’s purposes given for me. In fact, I know that was what the evil one had intended.

Those of you who have walked for the Lord for any number of years know what I am talking about. These are battles we must go through, to further prepare us for what the Lord has redeemed us for. Remember the simple but true word, “No pain. No gain.”

The apostle Peter describes it very well in his Epistle to us.

“Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ — eternal and glorious plans they are! — will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” 1 Peter 5:8-11, THE MESSAGE

The appointed time for the return to Jerusalem finally came. David Peterman joined me. While in the Land, we completed the tasks the Lord had given to us – to encourage, further connect, and build up His Messianic body and other Jews yet to believe on His Son Yeshua. No big meetings. No grand entrances. Just one on one with those who He has joined us.

Upon my return to my home, for a week or more I felt I had drunk 4-5 cups of cappuccino every morning. (And I am not a coffee drinker due to stomach issues.) Energy that I had lost over that previous period had been restored. New life. New hope. New vision for the things of the Lord.

The power of the Holy Spirit, much like that given at Pentecost (Shavuot) had come upon and within me once again.

I know now, with the attestation of Laurie who lives with me day by day, that this basically happens every time the Lord gets me to Israel and back. Walking in His calling in faith and obedience will do that. He is the One Who gives us the grace and strength to accomplish His strategies.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14, NKJV

You too have been apprehended to do His good works. You too have been given a call that only you can walk out. It is vital that whatever it takes for you to be in proper alignment with Him – your job, home location, church membership, or synagogue congregation – that you get and stay connected so that you can allow Him to speak and direct your life.

Walk out the “mission from God”, just as the Blues Brothers did, to accomplish your God-given role in the Body of Christ. We all need you and me to do that. Our God will make a way for you to succeed in it.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve & Laurie Martin, Love For His People founders

SPECIAL NOTE: Our ministry’s mobile app is available for iPhones and Androids. This is a free app download. Look here: Love For His People free phone app

Please sign up for my email messages: Love For His People. The sign-up form is on our ministry website: ministry newsletter

You have the opportunity to help support the work of this ministry, including the assistance we give to families in Israel: DONATE online now. You can also send checks to:

Love For His People P.O. Box 414 Pineville, NC 28134

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com

Please share this message with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and LinkedIn, Gettr.  Others will be thankful you did. And I thank you too.

Message #67 – in the year of our Lord 04.23.2022 – Apprehended” – Saturday, 3:00 am in Charlotte, NC USA

Steve Martin

STEVE & LAURIE MARTIN - LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE FOUNDERS My good wife Laurie and I (45 years in October 2022!), through the ministry of Love For His People we founded in 2010, give love and support for our friends in Israel and in other nations with friendship, humanitarian aid, and social media support, along with Steve's messages, and our Ahava Adventures trips to Israel. Steve has also authored and published 33 books. We live in the Charlotte, NC area. We have four adult children, spouses, and eight grandkids.

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