Be Not Unaware by Steve Martin

 

Be Not Unaware

 “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction which occurred in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life.” 2 Corinthians 1:8, NASB

 Battles come. Be prepared. Prayed up. Read up. Connected.

 The believer’s walk is not easy. Whoever sang the song, “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” sometime back may have been reading what Paul went through in his trials. Or what we go through as we seek to walk in the calling the Lord has given us.

In this life we have trials. Promised in the Bible. And yet the best is coming. Eternal life. But as we look to heaven, and the reward that awaits us, we must continue to walk on earth in faith, in assurance of His leading us.

God’s Word says that first the natural comes, and then the spiritual. “However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.” 1 Cor. 15:46, NASB

Watch Israel and the Jewish people and you will know what I am talking about.

I often wondered about the verse that speaks about “abundant life” found in John 10:10. “The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.” (Complete Jewish Bible)

At times here on earth I don’t find it so abundantly. In fact, there are days I long to be where He is, seated in heavenly places and already there. Be true – so do you.

But until our appointed mission, the one we have been apprehended for has been completed, the grace, strength, willingness, hopefulness found only in the Lord Jesus, must remain strong. For He alone is the Faithful One, the Giver of Life, the One Who carries us on unto the end.

Be not unaware that our enemy continues to war against us. In many trials, temptations, discouragements, and roadblocks. But in the Lord, we have the victory, and He will see us to the end.

Phil Wickman, contemporary worship leader, sings it well. What An Awesome God!

Believe it and keep walking on. Press forward to the finish line!

Ahava (love) and Shalom (peace),

Steve Martin

P.S. Again. Battles come. Be prepared. Prayed up. Read up. Connected up.

We welcome your prayers and support as we together bless Israel and His people in their Land.

Contributions are welcome online by clicking here on our webpage, when you look for the little DONATE button on each side column, Love For His People uses. DONATE HERE.

Are you new to these messages, or has another shared them with you? Sign up here to receive it directly in your email InBox. Go to our website and click on the nice, “full of brewed coffee mug” with the Love For His People logo on it, found on either side column of the webpage. You will be glad you did! Sign Up for Steve Martin's Messages

Please request to have your name added to our Signal group “Love for His People” for regular updates, especially when we are in Jerusalem. Email Steve here to connect more: Love For His People

Love For His People Ministry 12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, North Carolina, USA

Message #15 in my new series (2025): “Be Not Unaware" – Sept. 4, 2025

Phil Wickham in concert

#Benotunaware #Jesus #Yeshua #thankful #PhilWickham #spiritualwarfare #Bible #Scripture #Israel #Jews #FaithfulOne #abundantlife

Why Many Christians Never Taste the Abundant Life Jesus Promised - JOYCE TILNEY CHARISMA NEWS

Step into the rhythm of the Holy Spirit to find abundant life. (Ezra Jeffrey)

Why Many Christians Never Taste the Abundant Life Jesus Promised

10/16/2016 JOYCE TILNEY  CHARISMA NEWS

Have you ever been like me, thinking, "What is going on?" I love the Lord, go to church and study the Word, but sometimes things just don't seem to click.

Jesus promised us an abundant life. He told us to be of good cheer, He had overcome the world. One day as I was meditating on some things in my life, things I didn't understand, I heard a whisper in my heart, "Find the rhythm of life."

After meditating on this for months, little by little I began to feel like I was beginning to get a glimpse of that rhythm. I began to see it was not what I was doing that was important in my life, but who I was and, of course, who I was effected what I did.

The Holy Spirit began to bring to my remembrance Scriptures I had hidden in my heart years before. One was 1 Thessalonians 5:23, which says, "May the very God of peace sanctify you completely. And I pray to God that your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

We are to keep our whole spirit, soul and body blameless. I realized in that moment how each area affects the others and that our spirit, soul and body had to flow together in "rhythm" so we would not stumble and fall in life.

It is hard to get out of bed a little early to read the Bible and have some quiet time when you are totally exhausted because you have not taken care of your body, have not exercised, eaten a healthy diet and are stressed out over money. It is also hard to be a positive influence on your family and friends when you are discouraged, depressed and disappointed, a reflection of an unhealthy soul.

After serving the Lord on the mission field and traveling to the nations for several years, everything in my life seemed to collapse. I could not cope with my life. I was totally exhausted, I had no desire to study the Word of God, and I felt totally alone. What happened?

After a year in this condition, the Lord sent an "angel" to tell me God loved me. I had never met the woman face-to-face, but I had encouraged her with a letter after reading her book. She was cleaning her desk one day and found the letter I had sent. God spoke clearly to her, "Call her and tell her I love her." When I heard those words, I began to weep and the healing process started in my heart. God had not forgotten me. In fact, I believe He called a stop to my traveling to save my life.

I had gained 75 pounds during this time, and now I was fighting guilt and condemnation in this image-obsessed world. I cried out to the Lord for help. "Lord, I need a word from You." I love to hear God's voice, and I knew that Jesus said that His sheep follow Him because they hear His voice (John 10:4, 27).

One day the Lord spoke, "Break the habit." I knew immediately what He meant—my food habit. From that day, He began to reveal to me how I had to walk in unity with myself to conquer this battle. I had to pursue health in my spirit, soul and body to overcome in this world. I had to keep my temple strong and take care of it so I had the strength to renew my soul and build a strong spirit.

I believe that's what is missing in this "diet-crazed, body-imaged world" that has crept into the Church. The devil has always used food to destroy God's people. Why can't we stop eating when we know certain foods are not good for us? Why does all the information about health seem to go right over our head? You cannot fix a spiritual problem with a natural solution. Food addiction is fast overtaking smoking to being the No. 1 cause of death from a preventable disease.

One day, I saw the words, "The devil wants you fat!" My heart was pierced. The last thing I wanted to do was please the devil. "God," I cried, "please forgive me for not taking care of my body." When I submitted my food problem to the Lord, He gave me a battle plan that worked from the inside out, and took 90 pounds from my body. I had found the rhythm of life! My spirit, soul and body had to walk in unity to overcome in this world. When Jesus promised us abundant life, it was not an abundance of things; it was an abundance of joy, peace and righteousness. Romans 14:17 says, "For the kingdom of God does not mean eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

My testimony of deliverance and finding my rhythm in life is shared in my book, Why Diets Don't Work – Food Is Not the Problem. The book and workbook are available onamazon.com. 

Joyce Tilney is the Founder of Women of God Ministries, teaching women today from women of yesterday. She is an author and Bible teacher. Visit wogministries.com for more information. Her book and workbook, Why Diets Don't Work – Food Is Not the Problem, share her testimony of how the Lord helped her lose 90 pounds. Visit the website whydiets.com for information.

3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Go deeper!

Has God called you to be a leader? Ministry Today magazine is the source that Christian leaders who want to serve with passion and purpose turn to. Subscribe now and receive a free leadership book.