Going Again.
“And
this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to
all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14, NKJV
In
February of 2010 I made my first journey to India, with the Lufthansa flight landing
in the city of Hyderabad in southeast India. Accompanied by my good friend
Edgar Persad, I was to spend the next week teaching 70
pastors of the Lord’s purposes and plans for Israel, and their responsibility now
as believers.
Accepting
the invitation of Pastor John Ebenezer, who donned wreaths of gorgeous flowers
around our necks, after we came through the airport gate (they were heavy!), our
journey began in the early morning hours.
Having
never been to India, the experience was much the same as the time in 2002 when
my good wife Laurie and I joined the “smuggling team” of Derek Prince Ministries,
carrying stowed Mandarin Chinese Bibles in carry-on bags into mainland China.
It
was not so much that Edgar and I were carrying Bibles now, but with the fact
that as people were also everywhere in the huge cities, as in China, we were ready
to bring the Lord Jesus’ saving and lasting Word to these pastors.
One
of the first things that caught my attention in this very populated nation were the street intersections. There seemed to be no working stop lights but rather
a lone policeman directing traffic. He certainly had his work cut out for him.
Try as he might, very few gave much attention to his waving hands. It was a bit
comical, and yet scary, that the taxi drivers just held their hand on the horn
and drove right on through. Including our van driver!
After
10 years since that time, I am returning again to these people in February 2020.
Though I will be traveling alone this time, with two pastors' conferences on schedule, I
too will have a full workload up ahead.
Pastor John Ebenezer with Indian pastors 2010
On
August 9, 2019, I received this letter from Pastor John. You can see his heart
for the pastors he oversees, to understand the biblical command to bless Israel
and the Jews.
Dear
Steve,
Shalom.
I thank you so much for keeping me at your home in July, and able to share all we
needed. Now I have to ask please, in regard to your upcoming trip, to bring this
teaching to India church pastors about Israel and the Jewish people, and Yeshua.
I want you to explain the meaning of God’s plans to the people because they don’t
know much about them of Israel, at least not in a complete picture. So I feel
better to encourage them to study more and learn much about Israel pray for the nation
of ISRAEL each day in India. once again thank you so much shalom...
I
wrote this back to him:
I certainly will,
John.
I am going to start at the very beginning, with Genesis and
explain God’s plan of redemption and salvation coming through the Jews,
starting with Abraham (though he himself wasn’t a Jew, but was a man of faith.).
All the Hebrew patriarchs and matriarchs, prophets and apostles
(except Luke) were Jews.
And Yeshua Himself, God in the flesh, was, and still is, a Jew.
Plus. I will teach on how Jews were dispersed, even to India, beginning
in 70 A.D., and know how the Lord’s plan is being fulfilled prophetically, right
before our eyes, in bringing them back to their Promised Land. It is known as
aliyah.
And somehow, I want the pastors to “give” something to bless
Israel. Doesn’t have to be money. You can think of whatever. They need to know
how to bless Israel and the Jews in the natural, even as they have so given to
us, Gentiles, in the supernatural, beginning with the Torah, the Word of God.
Shalom John,
Steve
About
two hours later John quickly wrote back, something that he normally is not given
to, considering the conditions he lives in, within his simple, village lodging
in India. Having been there myself, it is very simple.
As
one example, when he is in India, and not traveling throughout the USA, wi-fi,
thus email can be challenging to obtain, especially out in the remote villages
where we have gone and will go again.
John’s
response email, as follows.
Dear Steve,
Thank you for your message which I have seen and it's very good
to them and to me too, to teach others in my country, and as you know that you
have visited the village Mucherla, in the district of Khammam. the state of Telangana,
which is a new state. Formerly it was with the state of Andhra Pradesh. Now we’re
separated as of 3 years ago. It’s close to Khammam, a city now with 3 million
people. Everything we get from there. Even the hospitals and stores etc. are
only in Khammam. There is no other big town nearby to me nor in all around the
district.
Servant for the poor,
John Ebenezer
Address: John Ebenezer
Mucherla
.Post
Khammam
Dt. TS 507182
INDIA
call +91984 965 7911
+91770 244 9757
Lighthouse
Center, India Pastor John Ebenezer
Cell#984-965-7911
"Great
is Thy faithfulness, O God." "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"
Going
again, back to India, was not something I had planned on. But as the Lord opens
doors to go, we must hear and obey. He wants the nations to know what He is
doing. We must be the ones to share it with them. All aspect of the Gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach. We must preach His Word as much as we
can, while the time permits.
Now think on this 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.
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P.O. Box 414
Pineville, NC 28134
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Now Think On This #446 - in the year of our Lord 08.10.19 – “Going Again” –
Saturday, 4:55 am
Photos from our 2010 journey to India
and John's work in his country
We provided new garments for the pastor's wives.
Indian pastors attending the conference.
Pastor John praying for the pastors he oversees.
Pastors' wife and their new garments.
Churches being built in India
In Muerchela's church building. This flower wrap was heavy! (Notice the strain on my face?!)
Steve Martin sharing Scripture with the conference pastors, through the translator.
In the city of Khammam, India 2010
A gift from Pastor John Ebenezer
My good wife Laurie and I - wearing Indian garments a few years later.
