Showing posts with label Think About It. Again.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Think About It. Again.. Show all posts

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Time Is Speeding Up - Think About It. Again. Steve Martin, Love For His People ministry

Time Is Speeding Up
- Think About It. Again.
by Steve Martin

 “And he said, "Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be.” (Daniel 8:19 NKJV)


On Oct. 15, 2015, I wrote this Now Think On This message. The Lord had been speaking to me about how, from our perspective, time seemed to be drastically speeding up. As a matter of fact, it is as He said it would be in the prophet Daniel’s book of the Bible.

Consider that since that time four years ago, we have seen events – both in the natural and spiritual realms – quickly increase as to how fast something is “put out there” and so quickly, rather easily, so accepted by the people in the nations.

No longer is much thought given to what is spoken by anyone, before it is blasted across social media, and accepted as the “gospel truth.”

Again, even as the Bible prophesied that it would.

Read my message again. Time is speeding up. We, as the people of God, must be on His timetable and walk in step with His Holy Spirit.

Shalom,

Steve Martin
Love For His People ministry
Charlotte, North Carolina USA
Aug. 10, 2019







Time Is Speeding Up
- Now Think On This
by Steve Martin


I sense the Lord is speaking loudly, to those with ears to hear, of His prophetic timetable. Time is speeding up. At least it is as we would experience it, in our natural state of being. He has set in motion from the beginning of time is falling into place, piece by piece, much quicker than what we may have anticipated. If we are not looking to Him we will certainly miss it. When He came the first time, even His own people missed that coming. We must be alert to prepare for His Second Coming.

The watchmen on the wall are seeing it. They are observing the obvious signs in the heavens and witnessing the movement of His Spirit on the earth. They are proclaiming His Word to those who would stop to listen. Without fear of ridicule, obstruction or rejection, from those who would have their own agendas, these watchmen are proclaiming obediently.

The first years of Jesus’ ministry walk on this planet were met severely by the religious, the self-proclaiming righteous ones. We would be naive to expect anything less from these in our days as He prepares for His Second Coming.

Yeshua (Jesus) continues to proceed in completion of this phase which had already been planned for the inhabitants of the earth. From the beginning of creation, God the Father has determined these times. His Only Son Himself proclaimed it in Matthew 24 and Luke 21.

“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us…” (Acts 17:26-27 NKJV)

The Lord continues to advance His Kingdom on the earth. Those who are in tune with His Holy Spirit will be aware of His actions in their life. They will acknowledge what they are seeing, and become witnesses to His people and the nations. They will speak words of His salvation plan, while also declaring His righteous judgment that must come if there is no repentance.

This rapid increase in the fulfillment of prophesied events right before our eyes is because He has set those prophetic signs in sequential order, one after another, as we draw near to His appointed hour. More prophetic words, spoken and recorded long ago by those moved by His Holy Spirit, is being witnessed in our day at an incredible rate. It is time for them to be fulfilled, as written.

He is calling His Bride, the believers consisting of Jews and Gentiles saved in all the nations, to be ready and faithful to join Him in the outlay of His plans. We are to hear and obey and walk with Him in the process.

I hear it. I believe it. It is happening.

If we are to be in tune with His purposes, we must take the needed time to seek His face. It is vital. We must allow His Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh, to open our understanding and see prophecy being fulfilled. That which is to occur in the end times, prophesied centuries ago, is happening now, faster than many would have expected. We cannot miss it this go around as His own people did the first time He came.

With the Lord Jesus, time is not as we would think of it. The Scriptures tell us that for Him, Who has all eternity laid out, what we would think of as a long time is but a twinkling of an eye to Him. Our minds cannot grasp that infinite picture, but He is allowing us to see in part, and proclaim what we know. Signs and wonders will fill in the rest.

“Moreover, dear friends, do not ignore this: with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some people think of slowness; on the contrary, he is patient with you; for it is not his purpose that anyone should be destroyed, but that everyone should turn from his sins. However, the Day of the Lord will come “like a thief.” On that Day the heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will melt and disintegrate, and the earth and everything in it will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:8-10 Complete Jewish Bible)

The Lord is pushing forward with His plans and purposes. He wants all that will be saved to come to the knowledge of His Gospel, the Good News. God the Father is getting excited about presenting to His Son, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, His long-awaited Bride, the Body of Messiah. This is one reason why time, as we know it, is being accelerated without hesitation.

In 2003 I received a prophetic indication of this quickening when the Lord woke me up a few hours after I had gone to bed. Following are some excerpts from my book, “Prophetic Stories – Signs Along the Way” (Amazon $5.99, Martin Lighthouse Publishing, 2014) of that time. It involved me driving over to the former Heritage USA/PTL Network property late at night. The vacated 2000 acres of land was still lying barren and in ruin. During my obedience in action, I received a word from the Lord during that drive. (You can read that whole chapter following this message.)


“On Oct. 21, 2003, I felt the Lord had me leave my home (a weekday night) in southern Pineville, NC, and head into town.  He has had me go on these trips before, where I have the sense to get in my vehicle and “go”, and then trust the Holy Spirit to guide me.  Sometimes it is early morning. Sometimes late at night.  Normally I go to bed at 9 pm, so for me to be up at 11:00 p.m. was not the norm.”

“At 12:05 a.m. I completed the first circular lap of the road that I could drive on.  I had weaved past The Barn, with its roof caved in and the interior having been flooded many times by indoor and outdoor waters; past the Upper Room, also left as it was on its last day, back in 1997. Then it was used for crying out to the Lord for His revival and intervention but left alone in utter quietness over these many desolate years. I drove past the stark and empty amphitheater and through the former campground.”

“Again I proclaimed, “Restore the land to Your people!” seven times.  I then called the Derek Prince Ministries office at 12:08 a.m. on my cell phone and left a message on my desk phone, just to have confirmation that I was actually doing this.  (My personal assistant would check my messages the next day and confirm this.)

Then the Lord gave me further instructions. “Drive around the perimeter six more times, for a total of seven times.” And so I heard and obeyed.”

“As I drove the 3rd time, I continually prayed in tongues, as I had throughout the first two laps. I completed this round at 12:17 a.m., noting that each trip was 2.2 miles in length on my odometer. I also noted, as I wrote on the purple 3” x 6” paper sheets I had available to scribble on, that the Lord spoke again to “Speed up” when I took the next lap.  He said He was “Speeding up His timetable.”

Often the Lord will use signs to help in our spiritual understanding. In this instance, He was giving me an understood picture of what He was already doing on the earth.

Prophetic proclamations made by the prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and others have always pointed to this end-time when the rapid fulfillment of the Lord’s time table would begin to occur. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with acute accuracy they prophesied of the Messiah’s first coming, that of the Suffering Servant and the Lamb of God. Those words were completely fulfilled by Yeshua (Jesus).

These appointed men of God also prophesied of what would take place before His return. I believe we will be the ones to see those words fulfilled, and see Him when He comes again, riding triumphantly on His white horse, leading the armies of the heavens. This time the world will see Him clearly as the Lion of Judah. They will have their smartphones tuned into the news channel.

The key prophetic proclamation, that launched this end time table, was written in Scripture and fulfilled on May 14, 1948. That was when the nation of Israel was born in a single day.

“Whoever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Is a country born in one day? Is a nation brought forth all at once? For as soon as Tziyon (Zion) went into labor, she brought forth her children.” Isaiah 66:8 Complete Jewish Bible

The Jews had been brought back to their rightful land supernaturally. The prophetic clock began to advance in 1948, beginning the final count down to the moment of Yeshua HaMashiach’s (Jesus Christ) Second Coming.

As the Jews were being regathered to their Promised Land, from the many nations where they had been scattered after the fall of the Second Temple in 70 A.D., time after time His protection became a witness to them. Through the centuries, though persecuted almost to non-existence, He has kept a remnant for His Name. In the major wars that followed since 1948, as the surrounding Arab nations sought to continually destroy this infant country, their Messiah rose to their defense. He continues steadfastly to this day in keeping them under His wings.

We are witnessing in our lifetime God’s promises coming to fruition. He is excitedly looking forward to the time when He will present the prepared Bride, the Body of Christ, to His Only Son, Yeshua HaMashiach. It will be another prophetic fulfillment that will bless the Father’s heart.

Time as we know it is speeding up. Hang on for the ride, and be ready. Be continually about the Father’s business, while He takes care of yours.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People. Inc.

Following is a chapter from my book “Prophetic Stories – Signs Along the Way”. Martinlighthouse Publishing 2014 (Click on the title to purchase now on Amazon)





Heritage USA & the Prophetic Drive
Then I arose in the night...and went out by night…” (Nehemiah 2:12-13)“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)

On Oct. 21, 2003, I felt the Lord had me leave my home (a weekday night) in southern Pineville, NC, and head into town.  He has had me go on these trips before, where I have the sense to get in my vehicle and “go”, and then trust the Holy Spirit to guide me.  Sometimes it is early morning. Sometimes late at night.  Normally I go to bed at 9 pm, so for me to be up at 11:00 p.m. was not the norm.

After I had headed up Lancaster Hwy. (old Hwy. 521), I made the turn onto Hwy. 51, and headed west.  By this time I had the sense that I was being directed to go to the former Heritage USA (PTL) the property, which I had done so many times before. It is literally three miles from our house, as the crow flies. (Or the eagle, if you like real good prophetic symbols!)


As I approached the entrance onto the former land, now known as Regent Park, I wasn’t paying as close attention as I should have, and actually passed the main entrance.  When I became aware of missing it, I continued onto the All Nations Church property, which was about two miles or so further east.  I drove to its entrance. As I sat in my truck, praying in tongues, I felt the Lord say the building they were wanting to construct over the past three years (since 2001) hadn’t progressed because they were trying to put it in the wrong location on that former Heritage USA Fort Hope land. 

I made a call to the ANC office and left a message on the current administrator’s phone, sharing my belief.  (He later confirmed that a month earlier the decision had been made by them that the building was to go in the area I had specified in my call.)

I then returned to the other Heritage USA entrance, on Hwy. 160, arriving at 11:58 p.m.  After I crossed the railroad tracks onto the main part of the former Christian retreat center, I sensed that I was to drive around the perimeter road. I knew that was permissible. Again interceding in my prayer language, I knew I was imploring the Lord for the land to be put back in the hands of His believers.  I had expected to make only one trip around, even as Nehemiah had done when he approached ancient Jerusalem and saw the walls in ruin.

At 12:00 a.m. I had driven to the backside of the property, near what was then called The Studio. I believe it still is. I knew this property well, even in the dark. Because I had invested $3000 in lifetime memberships in 1985 (two for my family and one for a family in Fort Lauderdale, who now actually live in the Charlotte area) I had often “scouted out my land.” To this day I still have a big, 20-pound granite rock that I had “picked up” in 2004, that now sits on the floor in our new “history room” in our house.


Also while on staff at All Nations Church/Mahesh Chavda Ministries, as the administrator, we held several conferences on this property. In fact, little did we know at the time, we held the very last conference on the former PTL grounds before it completely shut down – that being in November 1997, in “The Barn”.  The entire place finally closed down at the end of that month.  The property had been in disuse since, apart from the Kingsway (NarroWay) Christian outdoor plays in the amphitheater and their dinner theatre in The Studio. (In 2004 MorningStar bought 52 acres of the property, including the former Grand Hotel.)

While I sat in my ’99 Chevy S-10 “pick-‘em-up” truck, praying and interceding, I was instructed by the Lord to proclaim “Return seven times what was stolen!” Maybe even as Nehemiah himself may have spoken as he sat on his horse, looking at the walls under the moonlit sky, seeking the Lord’s command and purpose for Jerusalem.  The enemies of the Lord had destroyed that city prior to his days. Now these grounds had also been vacant and falling further into destruction, for over six years now (when I originally wrote this in 2003.). Fallen apart, as if left for dead. Even as Rick Joyner had prophesized in that small blue book he wrote in 1988 on prophetic words.


At 12:05 a.m. I completed the first circular lap of the road that I could drive on.  I had weaved past The Barn, with its roof, caved in and the interior having been flooded many times by indoor and outdoor waters; past the Upper Room, also left as it was on its last day, back in 1997. Then it was used for crying out to the Lord for His revival and intervention but left alone in utter quietness over these many desolate years. I drove past the stark and empty amphitheater and through the former campground.

(Sidebar: My dad, Louis Martin, in 1998-1999, helped re-wire the outdoor, half-moon facility of the former home of the Passion Play. My son Ben has now set up a great memorabilia display off Main Street in the Grand Hotel of Heritage International Ministries. Go check it out! Jim Bakker did, and loves it!)

I then made a left turn at the stop sign posted at the edge of the campgrounds and drove past the only burnt evergreen tree stump, located just under the walkway overpass, on the right side of the road. 

Back in 1997, I had conducted a Martin family reunion here on these grounds near Charlotte, over the 4th of July weekend. An errant bottle rocket, lit and fired by this writer, didn’t quite perform the projection that I had anticipated and hoped for, landing the fire piece instead of in the top of the evergreen tree. It quickly made a Roman candle out of that once-living creation! (I have my entire Martin family as witnesses too!)  With ineffective efforts on our part to put it out, with very little time to do otherwise, it didn’t keep the tree from burning rapidly to within one foot of the ground. For years only the charred stump remained, as a testimony to my unskilled method of shooting off bottle fire rockets. (Sidebar: And as of the last time I checked, it still stands as another memorial, to this very day!)

At that time, knowing that control of this land was heading into a direction that many desired it wouldn’t go, including myself, I spoke under my breath, after all of this extra 4th of July added excitement had leveled off. “Well, if we (believers) can’t have this land, no one will!”

I then turned my six-cylinder around and drove back to the original intersection of the starting point (now known as Regent Blvd. and Starlight), where I stopped momentarily.

Again I proclaimed, “Restore the land to Your people!” seven times.  I then called the Derek Prince Ministries office at 12:08 a.m. on my cell phone and left a message on my desk phone, just to have confirmation that I was actually doing this.  (My personal assistant would check my messages the next day.)

Then the Lord gave me further instructions. “Drive around the perimeter six more times, for a total of seven times.” And so I heard and obeyed.

At 12:12 a.m. I completed the 2nd encircling of the land, and spoke out to “Restore the widow’s mite!”

As I drove the 3rd time, I continually prayed in tongues, as I had throughout the first two laps. I completed this round at 12:17 a.m., noting that each trip was 2.2 miles in length on my odometer. I also noted, as I wrote on the purple 3” x 6” paper sheets I had available to scribble on, that the Lord spoke again to “Speed up” when I took the next lap.  He said He was “Speeding up His timetable.”

The narrow roadway reminded me of a NASCAR road course, and it was no easy task to drive the dark, broken blacktop at 35 - 40 mph.  (No speed limit signs were posted! I felt like I could have taken on #24 Jeff Gordon at that time!)  J

At 12:23 a.m. I finished the 4th round.

At 12:24 a.m. I started the 5th lap, and completed it at 12:28 a.m.

At 12:29 a.m. I started the 6th lap, and finished it at 12:33 a.m.  Each time I grew bolder in my driving. (Yes, I would have beaten Jeff Gordon in this race! But kids, don’t always do what your father does!)

At 12:34 a.m. I started the 7th and final lap, completing the course at 12:38 a.m.  I had driven my 4 x 4 at a speed of up to 50 mph on the “straightaway”, which was rather short on the back stretch, which crossed the parking lot, just before passing The Studio on the right.

The total mileage traveled for the seven laps was 15.4 miles on my odometer.

At 12:40 a.m. I again called my office and left a message for my personal assistant, recording what I had just done.

Upon completion of this divinely assigned task, on my way out of this 2000 acre property, I headed towards the other entrance. That would take me by the former World Outreach Center, or commonly known as “The Pyramid”, back in the day.  All Nations Church/Mahesh Chavda Ministries had seriously considered leasing this building in 1998, for a church, conference and office facility. I had spoken of this possible commitment to the five Malaysian owners’ administrator of Regent. But to no avail.

(Sidebar: And for the record, I saw Jim Bakker’s famous, so-called “golden bathroom faucets”, on the very top floor of the building. From my observation, they were simply better hardware, which could have been found in Lowes, or anywhere else. Why the big issue made at that time in 1987? Just more lies printed and spoken in the media, as usual.)

At 12:42 a.m. I pulled up in front of the pyramid. I then felt led to run my Chevy truck around the flag pole that was located in front of what was then a Laura Ashley administration office, doing this encirclement seven times. (Remember, I originally wrote this act back in 2003. Being it is now Dec. 2010 that I am sharing this publicly, that makes it just over seven years ago.)  I finished at 12:43 a.m., quite dizzy, having driven my good ‘ole girl as fast as I could for those very tight laps.

I arrived back home at 1:04 a.m., knowing that 5:00 a.m. came early. The alarm clocks of Laurie and I had, as usual, been set for that scheduled normal “wake-up” time.

And now back to the future, as history has again shown, the Lord had preserved this land for His purposes. What the enemy had indeed stolen was returned to His people! And I give special heartfelt thanks to Rick Joyner, the past and current Morningstar Fellowship staff, and to so many others who have given of themselves, with long persevering efforts in the natural and spiritual realms, to bring restoration “to these walls.”  (Sidebar: Even the Upper Room has been restored too, for prayer and worship times for many.)

May the same restoration be brought forth in Jerusalem, and in the rightful owners of that entire Promised Land of Israel - the Jewish people.

On January 7, 2011 Laurie and I began to lead the new Beit Tikvah (“House of Hope”  in Hebrew) Friday night meetings at Antioch International Church (Pastors Peter Wyns and Jesse Enns), located within a stone’s throw of where the King’s Castle was located, since torn down.

In April 2014, Christians For Messiah Ministries (with the main tenant as Antioch International Church) bought the former Heritage USA/PTL Barn, the Studio, the former Heritage Church School building, plus 16 acres of land. Prophetic words and prayers answered!

This special anointed land, with Heritage International Ministries and several others on it, is further fulfillment of the many prophetic words spoken over these past 34 years. Having been undergirded by the prayers of countless aged saints (and some not as fine wined yet), His promises continue to be fulfilled.

The Lord is faithful!

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 

Full website: Love For His People

Originally published as Now Think On This #189 “Time Is Speeding Up” by Steve Martin 
Date: In the year of our Lord 2015 (10.15.15) Thursday at 3:30 am in Charlotte, NC

Think About It. Again. #7 “Time Is Speeding Up” by Steve Martin
Date: In the year of the Lord 2019 08.10.19 Saturday 4:00 am in Charlotte, NC

Aug. 10, 2019 Interesting note: I wrote this blog message almost 16 years to the day that I took that prophetic ride around Heritage USA.

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

Please share this message with your friends on your FaceBook page, Google+, and/or Twitter account if you would. You can use the icon links below. Thanks!

Saturday, July 20, 2019

"The Tide Has Turned" - Think About It. Again. By Steve Martin Love For His People ministry


The Tide Has Turned

July 20, 2019

Over 5 years ago, on March 20, 2014, I sensed the Lord say the tide was turning and wrote the following Now Think On This message.

In the natural, typically the tide cycle takes about 24 hours and 50 minutes.  Because the Earth rotates through two tidal “bulges” every lunar day, coastal areas experience two high and two low tides every 24 hours and 50 minutes. High tides occur 12 hours and 25 minutes apart. It takes six hours and 12.5 minutes for the water at the shore to go from high to low, or from low to high. (National Ocean Service)

If you look at the timing from a week perspective, that can take a long time. But in the eternal perspective of God, it happens very quickly. He is One who moves supernaturally.

Photo by Steve Martin. Fripp Island, SC October 2018

As the Lord has poured out His grace and mercy on many nations, particularly the United States of America, on these past years, with victories on several battlefronts. we indeed can see the turning of hearts and minds to the Lord Jesus and His ways.

While the darkness has gotten darker and the light is shining more bright, it is obvious where people are standing regarding their beliefs. Those lining up with the Lord and His plans are seeing the darkness being overcome in many areas, as prayer and intercession have stirred the heart of God.

Be encouraged, The tide has turned.

Ahava and shalom,


Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People ministry
Charlotte, NC USA

The Tide Is Turning
March 20, 2014

“In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord; in the east, they will glorify Him. For He will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.” Isaiah59:19, New Living Translation

“‘Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs in the camp of the saved?" The hand of God has turned the tide!  The hand of God is raised in victory! The hand of God has turned the tide!"  Psalm 118:15-16 THE MESSAGE

I can sense it in my spirit. The tide is turning. The Lord God of Israel has said, “Enough is enough”, and He is turning the tide in the heavenly realm, and thus in the earth.

For decades the wicked have risen up, proclaiming their agenda, pushing their immoral acts, pressing down on the godly standards of the Judeo/Christian foundation. They have removed the stones of the righteous, replacing them with heretical lies and godless ways.

In my spirit, I can hear the Lord say, “Now it is MY time. It is MY time to raise up the standard and show Myself strong. It is MY time to let the earth know that the King of kings and the Lord of lords is in full control. It is not the heathen. It is not the oppressor. It is not the tormentors who think they rule. My Kingdom will be established, even as I have spoken in My Word, and recorded by My prophets, centuries ago.

It will be My Word that will set the course of the nations. Even as man and the rulers of the nations think that they are moving mountains, they are but hills in My sight and they themselves will be moved.

I am raising up a generation of young people who will look to their fathers and mothers for godly direction, for wisdom in how to advance, for righteous counsel in what they are being called to do. It is I, the Living God of Israel, Who will establish My purposes, My plans.

Those who have laughed at My people and My words will not stand. They will see the right hand of God move, and remove, and build up the righteous foundations again.

The tide is turning. Because I am the Creator of the oceans and the mountains, and because they serve Me, I will use them in the natural as a forerunner of what I am doing in the spiritual.”

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People. Inc.


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.

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 

Full website: Love For His People

Originally published as Now Think On This #132  “The Tide Is Turning” by Steve Martin 
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (03.20.14) Thursday at 5:30 am in Charlotte, NC.

Re-published on July 20, 2019. Saturday at 5:30 am.

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog and on our newest website: Now Think On This

Friday, July 12, 2019

Think About It. Again. - Teams – "It Takes Two or More" - Now Think On This Steve Martin

July 12, 2019

Greetings friends of Love For His People.

Five years ago on April 16, 2014, I wrote and shared this message. I believe it is even more important now as it was back then.

Read. Think About It. Again. Or for the first time.

Bless others as you walk this day. They need you.


Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People ministry




Teams – It Takes Two or More

“In the Antioch congregation were prophets and teachers — Bar-Nabba, Shim‘on (known as “the Black”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Menachem (who had been brought up with Herod the governor) and Sha’ul. One time when they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Ruach HaKodesh said to them, “Set aside for me Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul for the work to which I have called them.” After fasting and praying, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. So these two, after they had been sent out by the Ruach HaKodesh, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus.” Acts 13:1-4 CJB


Movies get our attention as much or more than any other image we may see. They can convey a message and impart a vision like no other media.

I like movies. I like to sit in the theatre, watching the big screen, being captivated by the action and emotion for that hour and a half, and then think about it later, reliving some of that which I experienced.

Movies have impact on people. That is why so many of us go to them or watch on TV and on our iPads if we have one. They get us “out of here” and take us to a place we may not have been before, or will never get to go to in this life.

Sports can have that same emotional and lasting impact in our situations. We have our favorite players and teams, whom we give ourselves to, sometimes with our whole hearts. Growing up for me it was the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball team that I cheered on. For my good wife Laurie, well, it was the Chicago Cubs. (I will just leave it at that and continue to write on.)

When you combine a good human life story with a sports theme, you really can have an impact on people, producing an inspiring movie. I will always remember the heart moving film Rudy, about the Notre Dame Fighting Irish college football player, getting his one moment to have his lifetime dream fulfilled. Both my Dad and I, and later my two sons, could relate to much of what Daniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger grew up with, and desired.

Ruettiger's story was told in that 1993 film, which starred actor Sean Astin in the title role as Rudy. The film was written by Angelo Pizzo, directed by David Anspaugh and produced by Rob Fried, both of whom were involved in Hoosiers. Ruettiger appeared in a cameo as a fan behind Rudy's father and brother during the final scene. Dad and I later met Rudy a few years before Dad died of lymphoma cancer in July 2000. It had been a real desire of his to do so.

Image result for rudy movie
Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger movie – 1975 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Most sports we cheer on are of teams, where two or more players, whether men or women, combine their skills, work together after much practice time, and compete against another team for the joy of winning and the winning prize. They can achieve something that those going at it alone will not. They accomplish victory together. If they have tried doing it by themselves, it would not have been possible to get it done. Two or more contending for the same goal indeed are better than one. Teammates get it done.

In these last days, as He did in the first century, I believe the Lord is forming teams to accomplish His end time purposes. He is not wanting one man or one woman going at it alone, knowing they will fall and fail. We have been created to live and work together as a team, on a team. Something more, something greater happens when we do so, rather than going at it alone.

Rudy could not have had that moment of glory out there on the football field battling against the opposing group of 11 players by himself. Because his teammates were there and did their individual parts, he was able to fulfill his dream, resulting in that dramatic action that made a good movie, and touched lives for so many more years.

I want to impact this world with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to give myself to accomplishing the dreams He has placed in my heart, as part of His eternal plan and purpose in the nations. I know you do too.

The Lord is putting together His teams to get the job done. He is connecting bone to bone, joints and ligaments, which will provide the means and support to move, to go, whereby we will get the job done. As my wife and I connect with a team, our gifts given to us to serve others with will be joined with those having their gifts, which together as a team will change lives forever in the nations.

May your heart’s purpose be to connect, to find those you are to team with, and as one together fulfill the calling you and those you walk with will have in His wide Kingdom realm. Be a team player.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People. Inc.

  
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.

Go 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 

Full website: Love For His People

Now Think On This #142 “Teams – It Takes Two or More” by Steve Martin 
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (04.16.14) Wednesday at 5:30 am in Charlotte, NC.

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on our newest website: Now Think On This