"Going Back" - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

“Going Back"

"But now that I am going back to my own people..." (Numbers 24:14 Complete Jewish Bible) 

Have you ever gone back to a place where you had once left before? A town? A country? A family? A job? How about a church congregation?

It continues to amaze me how many people do - return to a place where they had once been, maybe to pick up the pieces they had left behind; seek to restore a relationship that was lost and now it is time to come back together, or once again you find yourself going back to a position in a job or church where this time you bring a deeper, more mature, better understanding from that when you had been there before.

There are many examples in the Bible, for our benefit to read and understand, of the Lord taking a person or people from one land or country to another, and then having them go back, or bring them back, to that from which they had come. Numerous times we read of this happening with the Jews - going to Egypt during Joseph's and Jacob's years, going to Babylon in captivity, being dispersed in 70 A.D. from Israel. Many, many times this happened, but in God's faithfulness to them, they were returned.

The holy family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus (Hebrew names of Yossef, Miriam and Yeshua) went to Egypt to escape the murder of children during King Herod's reign (trying to kill the Messiah) and returned back when it was safe.

When a former boss called me a week ago, from a business I had "retired" from over a year and a half ago, to ask me to come back due to the unexpected and abrupt departure of an employee, I was both pleased, knowing they really did appreciate my character and skills that they had known, and wondering at the same time, "Lord, what purpose would I have in going back there? What purpose do You have in taking me back there?" (The prior commute alone had been enough to move me out the first time.)

The one whom they had hired to replace me, after a three-month search at the time, walked off the job with less than an hour notice. Respect for one another, and giving proper notice when leaving, seems to be "going out the door" so to speak. Doesn't matter any longer if it is from a job, within a family situation, or among people and pastor in a church setting. 

Looking back in my own life, the Lord has returned me to several places where I had once left. Each time I can honestly say it was His doing, as a door that had once been shut after a season of time was once again reopened. And the second go-round always was better than the first. Ever happen to you?

From 1987-1990 I worked with Derek Prince Ministries in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I had left for 10 years for another ministerial position, and then was welcomed back in 2000, in Charlotte, North Carolina, when another critical accounting and administration position became suddenly open, which I had previously held.

In 2014 my good wife Laurie and I left Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, South Carolina, only to return back again four years later in 2018. We have 'tried" other churches, and realized that our real church home was with those whom the Lord had made connections with, as family. And the second time around has been much more fruitful and rewarding than the first.

And now...I am returning, if only on a contractual, part-time limited basis for a period of time, to Charlotte Center City Partners in uptown Charlotte (as of today, Monday, June 17, 2019) to get them through a timely transitional period, knowing that their end of year accounting season is right on top of them. I am very curious as to what the Lord has in store, not only for them but for me too.

Even as the Living God of Israel, the Creator of All, is bringing back the Chosen Ones to Israel, their promised land, He is doing the same among the other branches that have been grafted into the olive tree, the Gentile believers among the nations.

"Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place. He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 

And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. "Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

 "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Genesis 28:10-16, NASU)

The Lord is gathering up His people the Jews, scattered around the world in nations near and far, as promised, after 2,000 years. He also is returning, bringing back, those among Gentile believers who have wandered off, or left out of hurt, or simply quit walking out the faith they were saved into, to finish and fulfill the plans and purposes of the Almighty God in their lives.

If you find yourself going back, coming back, being returned to a place...look up and see that the hand of the Lord is upon you. What you left is probably going to be better than when it was the first go round.

Now think on this for a bit. And see what good things the Lord has in store for you and those around you.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I am still continuing my position as Office Manager at Antioch International Church! Just adding a few more hours to my work week...for a season of time.

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On July 5, 2019, Strength will be having our first Friday of the month meeting in The Barn at Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, SC. Come and celebrate the goodness of our God!

Look here: Strength For Israel

P.S. In May 2019 I returned from my 20^th trip to Israel. And guess what? I brought back for you my last 58 short videos I entitled “Walk With Me in Israel”. You can join me as I walk through the beautiful land and cities of Israel. Watch them here on our YouTube channel: Walk With Me - Israel May 2019

Also, my previous ones from other locations are here also on YouTube: Walk With Me

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

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Now Think On This #432 - in the year of our Lord 06.17.19 – “Going Back” – Monday, 6:40 am