Showing posts with label lamb of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lamb of God. Show all posts
Friday, April 15, 2022
Friday, April 3, 2020
“When I AM Lifted Up” – Now Think On This by Steve Martin
“When I AM Lifted Up” – Now Think On This by Steve Martin
“And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” John 12:32, THE MESSAGE
During the time I worked with Derek Prince Ministries (1987-1990 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and again 2000-2005 in Charlotte, North Carolina), Derek being one whom I consider being one of the great Bible teachers of all time, he received a prophetic word from another that went something like this.
“I saw several ships travelling down a river, heading toward a bridge up ahead. Each of the ships had a mast. Some of the masts were large, some small, depending on the size of the boat. They each also had a flag flying at the top of the mast, indicating their country, name, or whatever else they were wanting people along the shore and waterway who they were and represented. Most of them had the name of the captain on them.
As they approached the bridge, due to its low overhang, they had to decide if they were going to lower their flag or not. If they did, they would make it under the bridge without damage. If they didn’t, their flag would be broken off. The decision was made by each.”
When the word was received, as it is common with all men, a decision had to be reached as to what this was saying to them individually. As for Derek and his ministry, he felt the Lord was speaking to him directly, and he was going to make that decision. But others disagreed.
“If your name is lifted up, where is My Name? If people see you, how do they see Me?”
He carefully and truthfully took the time to consider this word. As for Derek, it was always his heart to lift up the Name of Jesus, not his own.
As we took consider whose name we lift up, one should wonder who are we trying to draw men and women to. Our name? Our ministry? Our way?
Or Jesus’, Yeshua’s, way? His Name or ours?
“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘ Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.” John 12:27-24, NASU
There is a message given by Charles Haddon Spurgeon called “Stand up! Stand up for Jesus! (He was an English Particular Baptist preacher. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, among whom he is known as the “Prince of Preachers”. Born: June 19, 1834, Kelvedon, United Kingdom Died: January 31, 1892, Menton, France.
The message states whose banner, flag, we should be lifting up.
“Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!
Ye soldiers of the cross!
Lift high his royal banner;
It must not suffer loss:
From victory unto victory
His army shall he lead,
Till every foe is vanquish’d,
And Christ is Lord indeed.
“Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!
The trumpet-call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict,
In this his glorious day;
Ye that are men, now serve him,
Against unnumber’d foes;
Your courage rise with danger,
And strength to strength oppose.”
(from Spurgeon’s Sermons, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
In these days of popular ministers, teachers, politicians, heroes, popular worship leaders, entertainers in all fields of entertainment and sports, and all those who we highly esteem, as we should honor and respect, let us not forget the Name of the One Who sits on the throne above, the Creator of all, and acknowledge Him, as we live our daily life.
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4”8-12, NKJV
His Name is Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah. Yeshua HaMashiach.
Today we must choose to lift high the Name of Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, the Name above all names.
Then He, the Living God of All, the One Who alone can save, will draw all men to Him.
Now think on this.
Ahava and shalom,
Steve Martin, Founder/President Love For His People, Inc.
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Now Think On This #498 – in the year of our Lord 04.03.2020 – “When I AM Lifted Up” – Friday, 7:45 am in Charlotte, NC USA
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
“Wounded" - Now Think On This by Steve Martin
“Wounded"
"Praised be God, Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, compassionate Father, God of all encouragement and comfort; who encourages us in all our trials, so that we can encourage others in whatever trials they may be undergoing with the encouragement we ourselves have received from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Complete Jewish Bible)
Being wounded in life is a universal experience shared by all. It doesn't make it any easier to bear or walk out of, but the truth is we all have been and quite possibly will continue to be hurt by people, situations, or circumstances. Often it may not be our fault. At times, well, yes it is. Be honest now.
There are so many situations we have experienced growing up in our family and communities. For some, not having a family was the beginning of the wound. And then being passed around, as many foster children are, just adds more hurt to that which is already embedded into the spirit, soul, and even body.
How we deal with the wound determines if it will actually go away or not, or be healed from causing lasting injury. Drugs are often prescribed to heal a wound buried deep into our psychic, when it is actually the spirit that either needs to be healed, or even cast out (as in deliverance of evil spirits.) Doctors who are not believers in the supernatural have no understanding of that which can only be healed through the Blood of Jesus. Drugs often only cover up. His blood-drenched stripes bring the healing - in spirit, soul, and body.
"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5, NKJV)
When one studies the sacrificial trial, whipping, and death by crucifixion which Jesus (Yeshua) undertook on our behalf, you get a deeper understanding that every area that had been, is being or would come to mankind, in spirit, soul, and the body was endured by Him. Every hurt, scourge, wound He went through during those Passover days was for our benefit, the Sacrificial Lamb, in order that we might receive the healing that only comes through His shed Blood.
I recently shared with another some of my experiences of being wounded over the years. Not so they would feel sorry for me. Forgiveness, which then brought healing, had already taken place on my part, by the grace of God. No, it was to help them see that what they had gone through, in part, was to not only see the love of God the Father working on their behalf, but also to now be able to share that same comfort and encouragement with others who have, or will, walk through that same experience.
We have not been saved from hell to just keep us out of hell, but we have been saved, and now called and anointed, to be vessels of the Lord's love, forgiveness, and healing with those He brings us into contact with. His actions done for us were not just to keep it to ourselves, but to then share it with others.
Isn't that what it means to be part of the "Body of Christ"?
We will be wounded. We will be hurt. We will have many opportunities to become embittered, rejected, and remain in that if we choose. But we don't have to. We have been given the means to receive healing, and then to pass it on.
That old fireside song, "It Only Takes A Spark", may seem a bit quirky now, but if you have that spark, there are many people who need to get a bit of it in their life too.
Call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus. He is our Healer.
My prayer is that wounds received will become grace and compassion from which we can give. If each of us did our part, wouldn't that put a smile on the Lord's face? Wouldn't that put a smile in His heart? And wouldn't that help someone overcome being wounded, and get back into what the Lord has planned for them?
Yes, it will.
Being wounded in life is a universal experience shared by all. It doesn't make it any easier to bear or walk out of, but the truth is we all have been and quite possibly will continue to be hurt by people, situations, or circumstances. Often it may not be our fault. At times, well, yes it is. Be honest now.
There are so many situations we have experienced growing up in our family and communities. For some, not having a family was the beginning of the wound. And then being passed around, as many foster children are, just adds more hurt to that which is already embedded into the spirit, soul, and even body.
How we deal with the wound determines if it will actually go away or not, or be healed from causing lasting injury. Drugs are often prescribed to heal a wound buried deep into our psychic, when it is actually the spirit that either needs to be healed, or even cast out (as in deliverance of evil spirits.) Doctors who are not believers in the supernatural have no understanding of that which can only be healed through the Blood of Jesus. Drugs often only cover up. His blood-drenched stripes bring the healing - in spirit, soul, and body.
"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5, NKJV)
When one studies the sacrificial trial, whipping, and death by crucifixion which Jesus (Yeshua) undertook on our behalf, you get a deeper understanding that every area that had been, is being or would come to mankind, in spirit, soul, and the body was endured by Him. Every hurt, scourge, wound He went through during those Passover days was for our benefit, the Sacrificial Lamb, in order that we might receive the healing that only comes through His shed Blood.
I recently shared with another some of my experiences of being wounded over the years. Not so they would feel sorry for me. Forgiveness, which then brought healing, had already taken place on my part, by the grace of God. No, it was to help them see that what they had gone through, in part, was to not only see the love of God the Father working on their behalf, but also to now be able to share that same comfort and encouragement with others who have, or will, walk through that same experience.
We have not been saved from hell to just keep us out of hell, but we have been saved, and now called and anointed, to be vessels of the Lord's love, forgiveness, and healing with those He brings us into contact with. His actions done for us were not just to keep it to ourselves, but to then share it with others.
Isn't that what it means to be part of the "Body of Christ"?
We will be wounded. We will be hurt. We will have many opportunities to become embittered, rejected, and remain in that if we choose. But we don't have to. We have been given the means to receive healing, and then to pass it on.
That old fireside song, "It Only Takes A Spark", may seem a bit quirky now, but if you have that spark, there are many people who need to get a bit of it in their life too.
Call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus. He is our Healer.
My prayer is that wounds received will become grace and compassion from which we can give. If each of us did our part, wouldn't that put a smile on the Lord's face? Wouldn't that put a smile in His heart? And wouldn't that help someone overcome being wounded, and get back into what the Lord has planned for them?
Yes, it will.
Now think on this, and see what good things the Lord has in store for you and those around you.
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
On July 5, 2019, Strength will be having our first Friday of the month meeting in The Barn at Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, SC. Come and celebrate the goodness of our God!
If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.
With a one-time contribution or a commitment to send monthly support for a length of time, I do ask now for your help.
You can give safely online through PayPal or Givelify.
Click on either of these links PayPal or Givelify or the images on the right column of our Love For His People website.
You can also give by check, sending to:
Click on either of these links PayPal or Givelify or the images on the right column of our Love For His People website.
You can also give by check, sending to:
Love For His People ministry
P.O. Box 414
Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)
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Now Think On This #434 - in the year of our Lord 06.19.19 – “Wounded” – Wednesday, 6:30 pm
Monday, December 24, 2018
Mary Had A Little Lamb - Now Think On This by Steve Martin
Mary Had A Little Lamb
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NASU)
“The next day, Yochanan saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, “Look! God’s lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, Complete Jewish Bible)
It is a bit fascinating how the Holy Spirit speaks to us. After finishing my morning reading of the Bible, with today’s Scripture being from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 21, He spoke to me, “Mary had a little lamb.” I thought, “Hmm. Now what is that all about? An old nursery rhyme from centuries ago? What are you saying to me, Lord?”
So I asked Him for further revelation. It became a bit clearer. Mary did have a little lamb.
Thinking that there was more to the story than what we think, from days gone by, I looked up the history of the song which we all learned as little kids. Here is what Wikepedia has to say.
“Mary Had A Little Lamb is a nursery rhyme first published by the Boston publishing firm Marsh, Capen & Lyon, as an original poem by Sarah Josepha Hale on May 24, 1830, and was inspired by an actual incident.
As a young girl, Mary Sawyer (later Mary Tyler) kept a pet lamb that she took to school one day at the suggestion of her brother. A commotion naturally ensued. Mary recalled: "Visiting school that morning was a young man by the name of John Roulstone, a nephew of the Reverend Lemuel Capen, who was then settled in Sterling. It was the custom then for students to prepare for college with ministers, and for this purpose Roulstone was studying with his uncle.
The young man was very much pleased with the incident of the lamb; and the next day he rode across the fields on horseback to the little old schoolhouse and handed me a slip of paper which had written upon it the three original stanzas of the poem..."
There are two competing theories on the origin of this poem. One holds that Roulstone wrote the first four lines and that the final twelve lines, less childlike than the first, were composed by Sarah Josepha Hale; the other is that Hale was responsible for the entire poem.
In the 1830s, Lowell Mason set the nursery rhyme Mary Had A Little Lamb, originally written by to a melody adding repetition in the verses:
Mary had a little lamb,
His fleece was white as snow,
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.
He followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule,
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.
He followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule,
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.
And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about,
Till Mary did appear.
"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
The eager children cry.
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
The teacher did reply.”
And waited patiently about,
Till Mary did appear.
"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
The eager children cry.
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
The teacher did reply.”
As I further pursued Holy Spirit’s thoughts, asking Him what He wanted to share in regards to this rather strange thought, here is what I got. You can seek Him too, and see what He says to you. It may be similar, or with more!
Mary, actually having the Hebrew name Miriam, did indeed have a little lamb, who was the Lamb of God. Yeshua (Jesus) was being sent by God the Father to planet earth to redeem mankind, for “long lay the world in sin and error pining” (Recall O Holy Night?)
She had been called by God, to be the human vessel used by Him in this unfolding eternal plan of salvation, in order to further show His love through and for us. The Lord’s plan of redemption was being fulfilled.
It always amazes me how our God uses ordinary people, just like us, to do extraordinary things. That is how He chooses to so often do His work.
Mary’s response to this call was to walk in obedience, though I am sure in her heart, mind, and soul she had many questions. We ourselves can learn from her, seeing how she chose to walk it out in faith, and not let doubt or unbelief keep her from her mission. Good move Mary!
As the nursery rhyme continues, “His fleece was white as snow.” Fleece in those days was the woolen coat of the lamb, not the jacket we wear today. This lamb’s fleece was a white as snow. In Isaiah 1:18 we read, "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.”
As students of the Scriptures, we know that the lamb brought to the altar of sacrifice, to be offered up to cover sin, had to be without spot or wrinkle. The lamb’s fleece had to be white as snow. Only Yeshua (Jesus), the perfect Lamb of God, was born without spot or wrinkle, with no sin (and no, it was not Mary who was without sin, as I was taught as a young boy at the Catholic school I attended. She too had to be saved by the Savior born through her.)
“And everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go.” As a boy growing up in Joseph (Yosef was his Hebrew/Jewish name) and Mary’s Nazareth home, Yeshua was raised fully in His Jewish culture, following in obedience that which His earthly parents taught Him. He learned what the feasts of the Lord were; He experienced the day to day life we all do; He lived fully as a man so He could identify with everything that we ourselves would experience. There was no “silver spoon” for Him, in life or death.
“He followed her to school one day.” Up until His 13th birthday, the year He would have had His bar mitzvah when a Jewish boy is now to become a man, Yeshua learned obedience from Miriam and Yosef. He learned to listen, to become responsible, to allow His parents to prepare Him in the natural for the supernatural work He knew He was sent to do. He did manual labor, learning from Yosef the carpenter, even all about the sweat and toil that comes from being productive (as my son-in-law Andrew likes to say – “We need to be productive.”)
“He followed her to school one day, which was against the rule, it made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school.”
Yeshua didn’t play along with the religious games of that time in history. Nor does He even today. On many occasions, He would point out that the Pharisees and Sadducees were not the ones to follow. Their religion, their rules, and manmade regulations were actually strangling the people, keeping them from knowing the true love, care, and protection of their heavenly Father.
“And so the teacher turned it out, but still it lingered near, and waited patiently about, till Mary did appear.”
Jesus was rejected by the ruling authorities – both the religious and the political Romans. He was crucified outside the Jerusalem city walls, along with the common thieves, murderers, and even innocent victims of the cruel world. Today He is still rejected by those who seek their own agendas. But those who seek Him will receive the salvation He alone can offer them.
"Why does the lamb love Mary so?" the eager children cry. "Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know." The teacher did reply.”
The majority of people in the nations will not understand why the Lamb of God loves us so much. They will not receive the Gospel and believe that Jesus, the Son of the Living God, came to this earth to die for our sins. They will not understand His desire to deliver them from their sins; to free them from bondage they live under; to redeem their souls from the eternal hell that will come if they do not repent, believe, and follow after Him.
But that is now our mission that we have been called to do – to take the Gospel, the Good News of the Lamb, to the peoples inhabiting the nations, so that they can hear, believe, and obey. To those, whosoever will believe and receive, the Living God of Israel’s plan of redemption. The know the One who came to earth, was raised in a Jewish family, lived among us, died on the tree, and was gloriously raised from the dead on the third day, as was prophesied centuries before by the Jewish prophets. He now ever lives upon His throne, preparing the world before He returns, coming the second time in glory and power.
The Lamb of God came the first time to lay His life down so that we might live eternally with Him. Walking this world as a man, He lived as we do, yet without sin, in order to be the perfect Lamb that God the Father would receive as the perfect sacrificial lamb.
When Jesus returns in glory, as the Lion from the tribe of Judah, I pray that this nursery rhyme, which Holy Spirit used today, in a small way, to again tell His story. I hope this will inspire you to walk in faith, learn obedience, and be ready for these end of days that are coming upon us, if not already here.
It won’t be a nursery rhyme then. So you better watch out, you better not cry. But instead, pray, and then obey. He will be speaking to you today.
Now think on this,
Ahava and shalom,
Steve Martin
Love For His People, Inc.
P.S. This message was first published on Dec. 13, 2015. It can also be found in my published book "Twelve" for $7.99 in paperback, and also in Kindle e-book format.
Order here: "Twelve" (12) by Steve Martin - Amazon paperback
I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
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.
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Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box414 Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)
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Now Think On This - In the year of our Lord 12.13.15 - #219 –“Mary Had A Little Lamb” – Sunday at 7:45 am in Charlotte, NC.
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
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