Birthing & Raising - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Birthing & Raising

- Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us — servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow.” 1 Cor. 3:5,6 THE MESSAGE

When we celebrated our 4^th year ministry anniversary of Love For His People on April 10, 2014, I was asked the question, “Do people really know what you do? They know you love Israel and bless the Jews worldwide, but how will they know to support your efforts if they don’t realize what that is? Maybe if you supported an orphanage in a foreign country, or evangelized, that would help?”

Hmmm. I later gave it some further thought and prayer, asking the Lord how to best communicate the vision and purpose given to this work He has given us to do, and others who come along side. It is true that if people do not understand the mission of an organization, they won’t support it.

In giving more understanding as to how the Body of Christ operates, each of us has a purpose, a specific calling that we have been apprehended by Him to fulfill. If we each do our part, His Church, the Body of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) will function as we are meant to do.

As the Scripture written above says, some have been called and gifted to plant the seeds, while others will water the plants that have then sprouted up. Each is to accomplish the task they have been assigned, as all the time God is making His Body grow.

Do all evangelize, in order to bring others through the birth canal into the Kingdom? In a sense, yes, just by the fact that we who are saved have His Holy Spirit working in and through us - we may see a new birth as we lead others to Christ (Messiah). But as their main part, I think not.

Do all have the calling of teaching, once that new born has come forth and now needs daily care and instruction? Not necessarily so. Though indeed, some will have been placed in that position to carefully nurture and provide for the young ones, while others have been gifted to bring encouragement and training, using a different gift of the Holy Spirit that has been given to them.

Let me explain then what this ministry has been established to do.

As for the work of Love For His People, one of the main ministry’s objectives is to share the heart of the Lord God of Israel for His chosen people, the Jews, with others. With our leadership, and having others share in this purpose, we have been called to teach the Gentiles in the nations that the apple of His eye, the Jews, have been given the Promised Land, all of which surrounds Jerusalem and beyond. It is their rightful inheritance. We must stand with them as they come back to the Land, Israel.

Our purpose also includes giving people the opportunity to join alongside us in supporting these in the Land with humanitarian financial aid, as the time it takes for them to get established takes needed assistance.

In addition, with our social media postings, we regularly provide further understanding of the eternal truths written in the Scriptures (Old and New Testaments). Our firm stand on His Word gives resistance against those lies cast on the earth, while at the same time advancing His Kingdom’s realm in the nations with His truth.

Our annual trips to Israel, Ahava Adventures, gives opportunity for those who come along with us, whether they are from our generation of the 50+, or the generation of our kids, days to spend with friends in Israel. Relationships established through these times together will continue to grow in importance as we move forward.

Books written by myself further share the vision of Love For His People, while at the same time have given encouragement to the readers in their own faith walk. Sharing my Ahava Love Letters and Now Think On This messages have brought faith, hope and love to people in many countries.

We ask you to consider joining with us in this work, through your financial gifts. We also ask you to support our work through the purchase of my books, which also gives provision for this work to advance further.

Thank you for your consideration, as we together bless those who have given the nations so much - especially our Jewish born Savior Jesus Christ, and for the work they have done through the centuries recording His eternal written Word, the Bible, for us to know Him.

Please consider sending a contribution today.

Ahava and shalom,

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.)

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Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

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Now Think On This #141 “Birthing & Raising” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (04.13.14) Sunday at 7:00 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

Chinese Bamboo Tree - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Chinese Bamboo Tree

Steve Martin

“However, we want each one of you to keep showing the same diligence right up to the end, when your hope will be realized; so that you will not become sluggish, but will be imitators of those who by their trust and patience are receiving what has been promised.”

Hebrews 6:11-12 CJB

I first heard the story of the Chinese bamboo tree in the late 1990’s. As the administrator of All Nations Church in Charlotte, NC, pastored by Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda, others and myself were anticipating the growth in the church membership. All involved with the new church plant in this Carolina region, begun in 1994, were working hard, giving what each had been gifted to do, in leadership, service, and care for the people.

Mahesh spoke one Sunday morning, and again at the all-night prayer time that Friday night following, called the Watch of the Lord, about the Chinese bamboo tree. It was an encouraging word, both to the church as a group, and to individuals specifically. Myself included.

In helping us visualize what can happen in the spiritual, by looking at natural examples the Lord gives us, Mahesh explained the amazing characteristics of this particular plant species. He spoke of how it is most often the way the Lord starts and grows a work that He has initiated. If He birthed it, He will see that it thrives, as we hear and obey along the way. But the way isn’t what we always think it will be. Or at least hope it will be.

Briefly, this particular bamboo, after being planted as a sprout, is watered, fertilized, watered, fertilized, watered, fertilized, again and again and again. Year after year. But there is no visible evidence that anything is happening. During that time, it certainly can be very challenging to one’s faith, especially if you are the one hauling the water and the fertilizer!

Year one passes. Nothing seen. Year two comes and goes. Nothing. But yet you remain faithful, believing the unseen will become the seen.

Year three. “Nada” (as is “nothing” in Spanish.) Year four - “Niet” (“no” in Russian.) Year five – “klum” (nothing) in Hebrew. But year five!

In a 23 day period, the Chinese bamboo explodes upward 22 feet into the sky. And in the short period of six weeks total, it can reach 80 feet! Remarkable! World Book Encyclopedia records that one bamboo plant can grow three feet in a simple twenty-four-hour period.

The question is then asked – did it grow 80 feet in six weeks or 80 feet in five years? I’m saying the later.

During that five year period, the root system, unseen, was being developed. Once the time had come to shoot upwards, the foundation had already been laid. This would then sustain the height and weight of the full grown tree. In addition to the upward growth, shoots had been sent out, also below ground level. This multiplication can come up through the soil up to ten feet away. 

What a natural visual for us in the spiritual. Builds your faith, right? You who have been laboring, faithfully, in the natural, all the time hoping, believing to see the increase come in the spiritual. Prayer, reading the Lo

You have been waiting. You have been doing. You have been crying out to the Lord for more results.

The time is coming. For you, it may be the 5^th year now.

God the Father has given us examples of those who have gone before us – Joseph, David, even Yeshua (Jesus) Himself. Each had to spend the time needed to first develop the character, before the time of the release. They then had the capacity for strength, wisdom and love to hold the weight of the assignment He had for them. As for them, so for you - that eternal purpose He has for you.

My prayer is that you will not quit in the third year. That you will keep believing through the fourth year. And that you will get the reward in that fifth year.

Our God is a faithful God. His promises are true to you.

Ahava,

Steve Martin

Love For His People

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 letters minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless known families 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 this Now Think On This with your friends.