For the Love of God - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

For the Love of God

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:3 NASU)

For the love of God we are called to do what we do. Mostly that is to give our life for others, even as the Lord Jesus Himself demonstrated it – by showing us how to do it as He gave His life for us. In walking daily in the leading of the Holy Spirit, and choosing to let go of His natural pleasures in order to do what He came to do, He gave His life.

So when the nudge came to wake up from the night’s sleep, and get out of bed, even though the red numbers on the digital clock read 5:08 am, a bit before my normal rising time these days, I dismissed the urge to lay there, and got up. And I knew why.

The night before someone had shared with me some of their struggles and concerns from that day. And as we all so often do, we allow worry and fears of the future to sometimes rob us of the faith and assurance of the times ahead. Sure, we know the verse, “My times are in Your hands…” (Psalm 31:5), but at times it doesn’t seem to be as strongly settled in our spirit as we would like it to be. We let the certainties be not as certain.

After getting up, getting dressed, and going downstairs, I said to them that I wanted to pray for them before they left for work. A simple prayer for peace, assurance, and trust in the Lord’s guidance – to know once again that their times were in His hands.

I believe it was a meaningful action, both for them and myself. Encouragement can come in many ways. I trust my obedience would bring the results the Lord intended, and the love of God He wanted to be expressed to them had been.

Bearing one another’s burdens is part of the calling we each have who call upon the Name of the Lord. Being there for each other, in good times and not so good, helps the encouragement level in our spirits to be a bit higher than walking it out alone. And so we do these things, as acts of faith and obedience.

We can daily stand on the promise given to us in His Word. When life gets hard, we can always trust in Him.

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39, NKJV)

For the love of God will keep us until the end. We encourage each other with His words.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

  

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

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Now Think On This #346 - in the year of our Lord 04.11.18 – “For the Love of God”, Wednesday, 6:30 am

"These Prayer Requests Have No Postage on Them – Return to Sender!" - Bill Yount

"These Prayer Requests Have No Postage on Them – Return to Sender!"

Bill Yount, Hagerstown, MD    The Elijah List

In the Spirit I saw many prayers ascending upward toward the throne. I sensed that many of these prayers were being prayed according to the Father's perfect will. Many were prayers for gifts, callings, and destinies to be manifested. A majority were bundles of prayers for the lost, especially for family members. Many of these prayer requests were made up of strong cries, day and night with fasting, that had become heavy burdens on hearts over the years.

As these prayers began to ascend, they seemed to go only so far and then drop back down to earth as though they were bouncing off the ceiling from where they were being prayed. I saw in Heaven something like a huge "heavenly post office" where prayer requests are received and where answers to prayers are sent out. 

At the entrance of this "heavenly post office" on the front door was written in gigantic letters the Scripture Philippians 4:6: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God."

Many Prayers Weren't Making It

As huge bundles of prayer requests came through the front door on the way to the throne room, I was appalled by how many requests were being stopped and never made it to the throne room for answers. I heard a voice that shook me. 

An angelic postmaster general proclaimed, "These prayer requests have no postage on them. Return to sender!" (Photo via Freeimages/Tawny Nelson)

In the Spirit I saw these huge bundles of prayer requests like letters that had no postage stamps on them. These could go no farther! The ones I did see going on into the throne room to be answered had a postage stamp of "thanksgiving" on them. 

These ones became "priority mail" inside the throne room, and immediate confirmation of peace was sent to the sender with the following verse: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

Before the answers of these prayers were manifested on earth, the people that sent their requests with thanksgiving were receiving the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen because of the peace of God they were receiving through "giving of thanks".

There Can't Be Thanksgiving Until There's Believing

Many prayers for lost loved ones never really reached their heavenly destination, not because people weren't praying, but they simply were not believing that they would receive what they were asking for. Therefore, to be thankful was very difficult for them.

The Lord seemed to say, "Tell My people that many have already prayed and prayed and filled Heaven with their prayers for the lost and their loved ones. They actually need to stop praying and simply believe ME to save them. 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved...and thy house! Many are carrying a false responsibility, feeling that they are responsible to get their family members saved. May I remind you that you could not save your own self, and therefore, you cannot save anybody else. And since I saved you, I can save anybody!"(Photo via Pixabay)

Many who were faithfully praying for family members for many years were actually praying themselves into a state of depression. I sense the Spirit saying, "This kind of praying is not scriptural! Begin to believe and start thanking Me that I am going to save them now! Thank Me that I am going to bring in the lost. Just send up some stamps of 'thanksgiving,' and I will stamp your prayer requests to forward them to the throne."

Start Living as Though Your Prayers Are Already Answered!

I sensed the Father saying, "As you are thanking Me, go ahead and start treating the lost as though they were already saved. Start living as though your prayers are already answered! When you do, your life will become so full of thanksgiving and praise and worship, that you will begin to see My heavenly 'UPS' and 'FED EX' arrive, bringing speedy delivery from Heaven to impossible requests upon the earth! Praise and worship moves Me to do outrageous acts of blessings upon the earth!"

I remembered when Peter was put in prison and the Church was praying for his deliverance. There was also a prayer meeting going on for Peter in a woman's house. Her name was Mary. As the angel came and delivered Peter, he made a straight run to Mary's house. I believe he felt the power of their prayers.

We Can Stop Praying Now!

As he knocked on the front door, a handmaiden, Rhoda, answered the door and got so excited she forgot to let Peter in. Rhoda ran inside that prayer meeting shouting, "Peter is at the front door. We can stop praying now!" (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

For some reason they didn't seem to hear her. Perhaps someone was giving a strong prophetic utterance about Peter's soon release! Again, I can hear Rhoda shouting, "Our answered prayer is at the front door! We can stop praying!" Finally, Rhoda gets the prayer group's attention, and here is the spiritual temperature in that prayer room – here is what they say to Rhoda: "You must see his ghost!" In other words, "We don't believe it!"

You Will Never See It If You Don't Believe It

You can pray for a hundred years, but unless you believe that you are going to receive what you are asking for, you will never see it! "Whatsoever things you ask in prayer, believe that you receive them and you shall have them."

I personally believe there are some prayer meetings that need to be broken up. Many churches have prayer meetings, but few have "prayer-believing" meetings. It was easier for Peter to get out of prison than it was for him to get inside that prayer meeting!

Our Thanksgiving Proves Our Faith

Next time you pray, try putting a postage stamp of "thanksgiving" on your request. I promise you, you will enjoy prayer time much more, and you will probably live much longer! Prayer with thanksgiving proves to God that we believe we are going to receive what we are asking for. (Photo via Pixabay)

As a father, when my children thank me for something in advance, it's hard for me to get out of giving it to them!

Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministry
Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com
Website: billyount.com

Bill Yount has been a member of Bridge of Life in Hagerstown, Maryland, for the past 36 years where he is now an elder and a home missionary. He is currently an advisor at large for Aglow International. Bill faithfully served in prison ministry at Mount Hope for 23 years and now travels full-time, both in the U.S. and internationally, ministering in churches and Aglow circles. "Humility and humor" characterize his ministry as he brings forth a fresh word that is "in season," proclaiming the Word of the Lord! 

The shofar (or ram's horn) is often used in his meetings, breaking the powers of darkness over regions, churches, and households. The shofar represents God's breath blowing into the nostrils of His people, reviving them and awakening the lost. Many of God's messages, which Bill ministers prophetically, come out of his everyday life with his family and friends.

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CARE AND CARRYING EACH OTHER'S BURDENS - Eva Haglund (Sweden)

CARE AND CARRYING EACH OTHER'S BURDENS

Eva Haglund, Sweden

The world is full of people and needs. Many suffer and so many need love. Love is the most positive power. Everybody needs love and greatest is love. Then it is no surprise that God IS love.  Everybody needs Him. 

Sometimes people want to be a friend when it does not cost them anything, but Jesus showed that to be a friend it costs something. In Gal.6:2 Paul wrote, "Bear one another`s burden." Sometimes in the world it counts if you are rich and  are educated, but when Abraham's servant went to seek a bride he asked to see a sign of great love. The woman who fetched water showed much love. She gave water also for all the camels. It was very  much giving water for the people who were thirsty after the travel, and much water for all the camels. It was not an easy job. She showed much love.

In the story about Abraham when he met the angels in Gen 18 we see the heart of hospitality he had and was used to meet people with. He was a giver. It is written in the Bible in Eph.6:2 to carry each other burdens in the Body of Christ.  Many suffer today, including Christians. To call anybody, write a letter or visit anybody can mean much. To pray for anybody can be like a present for anybody who needs.

In Romans 9 we can see the heart Paul had - the deep love that he had for people. He said that he wished he himself was rejected by God if any Jews here could get saved. In Rom 9:1 "I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh."

In friendship the greatest love Jesus says is to give a life for a friend. Then you can say it costs something. In 1 Cor 13 is written "love does not seek its own." Love can cost. For Jesus it cost much. The cost was the cross where He hung for everyone. It was the deepest love. 

Jesus wants us to carry each other's burdens in the Body of Christ. Help each other when it is not so easy. This we can see in Eph.1 when Jesus showed us to wash each other's feet. He wanted to show each other care. He showed as a leader that to be a leader is to serve. He was like a servant in love when He washed the feet. Jesus as King in heaven humbled Himself  and He wants us to serve - to show love to each other. 

To carry another's burden may include helping to do the dishes for one who is tired. It also is to  give comfort and listen to those who are sad. The Bible tell us to weep with those who weep. A heart of compassion is revealed when people suffer and you pray in tears for that one, in intercession.

In Ephesians it is written to pray for each other. In James it is written that faith without works is dead. We need to help each other. The hand needs the feet, as it is written in 1 Cor 12. We need each other as usual parts in a body need the other members. To carry each other burdens is to show care to the ill people.

There are old people who cannot visit a Christian meeting. I also believe in house meetings.

There ought to be people visiting old people and have a meeting with those who cannot come to a church building, or maybe just for a shorter visit. I am thinking that if they cannot come to the meeting - "let the meeting come to them." We need Jesus first, but then we also need each other.

I also believe if it is guided by God that it can be a blessing for Christians living close to each other to meet, as we can  see in Ps 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Sometimes it is easier to carry each other's burdens when we visit them. I also think we can get back in having stronger relationships. Christians can have different needs. There can be a need of counseling, and there can be people who do not have food. To help a friend who does not have money for food is to carry one's burden.

People can have sorrow and  God wants us to help each other. Jesus carried our burdens when He suffered persecution and hate for our sake. He was mocked, scourged and crucified in a pain much stronger than we understand. It was a love so deep like the sea. To carry each other burdens is to think about somebody else. It is not to be selfish. Jesus showed us to wash each other's feet - showing care to each other. Jesus as King and leader was humbled and served - like a servant in love.

 An example of a king showing love occurred when David took care of the sheep. He learned to take care and to serve, even when it was not so nice. To wash another's feet is not always so nice. To help another move is not always so easy, but it is love. In Acts we read about Peter, who was in prison, but in Acts.12.5 constant prayer was offered to God for  him by the church. He was released. They showed great love to him in their prayers.

Prayer for people also means much. When we give, that is when we get. When we sow we also reap. God gives back. We do not give to get, but because we care. We ourselves want to be met in that way. We make mistakes, but it is important that we keep serving each other; not just in a church building but as Christians who need each other.  

Many who do not know Jesus also have many burdens and need love.  When there are persecutions of Christians, we need to come closer to each other. I think it is a new time when God wants to restore more of the first love in the Body for Christ, but also more of love in the Body of Christ with more friendship, team work and more care. In Acts.2:46 we see that Christians met in houses, ate together and had fellowship. We cannot know everybody well but we need each other also globally as in a big family.

In John 17:21 Jesus pray that love will be a testimony to the world - love that we get from God. Jesus say in John 15:9, "As the Father has loved Me, I also has loved you, abide in My love. If you keep My commandments you will  abide in My love. just as I have kept My Father's commandment and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full." I think Jesus talks about not just saying hello to each other, have a cup of coffee in church, but to have also real fellowship. He says in John 16:13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one`s life for his FRIENDS." I think Jesus wants to restore more of real friendship among us. We must not be bitter to anybody but forgive as Jesus did when He said  "Father forgive them" at the cross.

If we have been forgotten by others we can think about others who also have felt forgotten. A person can have felt forgotten by others, and we can reach out and help. We can set aside for a while our own need to help another who has a big burden like us. In Job 41:10 we read "and the Lord restored Job`s losses when he prayed for his friends."

He who carried the biggest burden was Jesus at the cross. He did it out of love for us. We find an expression of  His love in Isaiah 53:4 - "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows." Jesus/Yeshua  carried the biggest burden for us.

SWEDEN NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS!

PLEASE PRAY FOR SWEDEN!