The Snake That Bites – Part 2
Healing the Hurt
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“They called him every
name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to
let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the
Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became
your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were
going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.” (1
Peter 2:23-25, THE MESSAGE)
While growing up in
the Midwest, Cedar Falls, Iowa to be exact, one of my heart’s desire, even at
an early age, was to be a missionary priest/doctor to Africa. Now I realized
that being a “missionary”, and a “priest”, and a “doctor”, and then going to the
faraway, dark continent of “Africa” wasn’t the most probable, nor desirable,
career path for most 8th graders in the late 60’s. Even my grade
school Roman Catholic priest, Father Purcell, who taught the eleven of us in
our religion class, said I should give up that prayer and be content at
becoming a diocesan priest. You know, stay here in the comforts of America.
So what does that have
to do with my first Now Think On This
message on The Snake That Bites?
Well, let me tell you.
The Lord Jesus puts it
in the heart of His people to carry His love to the nations. It used to be that the only way you could
actually fulfill that command was to go. Literally become a missionary, leave
all behind, and go to a foreign land having absolutely nothing in common with
the civilization you grew up in your first 18 years of life. Some still do
that. I bless them in Jesus’ Name for their courage and longing to fulfill His
commandment to take His Gospel, Good News, to the nations.
Taking His healing word to the nations.
The globe serves as a reminder in our home.
But now, through the
great advancements that God Himself has given to men and women, with ever
increasing revealed knowledge to excel in all kinds of new discoveries, we can
take His Words to the nations through social media. Just as He had the Romans
build the extensive road system, extending their kingdom throughout the known
land in their time, they unknowingly made the way to enable the apostles and other
believers to travel easily.
Today He has also given
inventions, technical savvy, and vast understanding to mankind, to “build the
roads” in our time – such as primarily the Internet, to get His Gospel out.
(Sorry Al Gore. Not you.)
Thus, finally, I am
getting to the point I want to make. The Lord has made a great way to get His word
out, to bring His healing to the people of the world. Going as a missionary has
now become possible for each of us who call on the Name of the Lord Yeshua
(Jesus). Through social media.
Bringing you His
healing word has been His desire from the start. He wants people freed from the
snake bite where it all began in the Garden of Eden. His plan of redemption and
salvation has been eternal, and now you and I can experience this, wherever you
are at this moment in time and space.
Much of the mental and body sickness we experience is the result of the
spiritual diseases we carry. Proven medical facts.
There is healing from
the snake bites you have received over the years. There is a way to be free
from the resulting bitterness, resentment, and even hatred that first brought
infection into your spirit, which moved down into your soul (mind, will and
emotions), and then eventually manifested itself in your body. Yes, spiritual
sickness shows itself in soulish and physical outlays. Many mental and body
sickness is the result of the spiritual diseases we carry.
Needing forgiveness, receiving
it first from the One who alone can begin the process, and then acting on His
work yourself, will bring the healing that the snake venom poisoned you with after
each bite.
“For you have been
called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an
example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY
DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in
return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to
Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore
our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to
righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually
straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of
your souls.” (1 Peter 2:21-25,
NASU)
Jesus’ death on the
brutal Roman cross was the plan from the beginning with His Father. He knew
ahead of time, before He came as the sinless Lamb, that He was going to suffer,
receive 39 gouging whip lasses from the laughing soldiers, and hang on the mocking,
cursed tree, in order to complete the required payment for mankind’s sin – the
shedding of Innocent Blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Then and only then
could the healing process begin, to free us from the sickness and death caused
by our sin, including unforgiveness which we carry far too long in our daily
life.
“For it was the
Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to
reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His
cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
And although you were
formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now
reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you
before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach — if indeed you continue in the faith firmly
established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that
you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which
I, Paul, was made a minister.”
(Col 1:19-23, NASU)
(Col 1:19-23, NASU)
And
being there are always two sides to the coin…who have you hurt with your biting
words, quick temper, or rude remarks? Repentance is both for you, me and the
others. It goes both ways. Consider asking forgiveness from those whom you have
bitten with your own venom.
Are you
willing to be forgiven for your sins? You can ask Jesus Christ, Yeshua
HaMashiach, for the first time in your life, or for the ongoing confession of
sin, to be free from the lasting effects of the venom we carry. Crying out to
the Lord and Savior is simple. You just have to do it.
Do you
hold unforgiveness towards your Mom, Dad, sister, brother, boss, close friend?
How about your pastor (or your church member - yes I know!) or your co-worker.
The list can be inexhaustible. Anyone who has said, did or acted against you,
and that one you so want to get back at for hurting you? If so, you need to
accept the forgiveness you have already first received, as a sinner,
acknowledge the wrong was wrong, but now know that it is time to let it go, to
let the Blood of Jesus wash over you, and bring healing to your spirit, soul
and body.
Repentance and
forgiveness. Again, it is simple.
You don’t have to work
yourself up in an emotional frenzy, or bring up every occasion when you received the
stinging wound.
Just quietly and with
resolve say, “Jesus, I forgive them, as you have first forgiven me.” Say each
name or memory that the Holy Spirit brings to mind right now, forgive them, and
receive the healing touch from your loving Father and His Only Son Jesus, the
Savior of the world.
Let the Father forgive
your sins. You then in turn forgive those who sinned against you. That also is
in the Lord’s prayer you learned as a child (I hope.)
As I said, I didn’t make it as the missionary priest doctor that I wanted to be, but now the Lord has allowed me to bring His truth and healing word to you, in your very nation. It is just in a much wider realm.
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People,
Inc.
We are blessed when
the ministry receives gifts to support the families that we do, primarily in
Israel, Hungary, India, Pakistan and the hurting ones here in the USA. You also
can share out of the abundance you have been given.
Love For His People,
Inc. is a charitable,
not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love
of the Father in the nations.
If these messages
minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and
maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we
consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible
contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.
Click here for
safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People. If you don't have a PayPal account you can
also use your credit card or bank account (where available).
Contribution checks
can be sent to:
Love For His People,
Inc. P.O. Box414 Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew
– Thank you very much.)
Please share Now
Think On This with your friends.
Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com
martinlighthouse@gmail.com
Facebook pages: Steve
Martin and Love For His People
Twitter: martinlighthous,
LovingHisPeople
Now Think On This - In
the Year of our Lord 06.03.17 - #289 – “The Snake That Bites –
Part 2 Healing the Hurt” – Saturday, 7:00
am
All previous editions
of Now Think On This can be found on this
Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This
Again, I would be most
grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You
can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
