Apprehended and Recharged by Steve Martin
(Original Message #67 – in the year of our Lord 04.23.2022 – “Apprehended” – Saturday, 3:00 am in Charlotte, NC USA)
“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.
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. 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, 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 you are in proper alignment with Him – whether through your job, home location, church membership, or synagogue congregation – and that you 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 Martin,
Love For His People founder
Love For His People 12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134
E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com
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Message #67 – in
the year of our Lord 04.23.2022 – “Apprehended” – Saturday, 3:00 am in Charlotte, NC
USA
