Apprehended & Renewed – by Steve Martin, Love For His People ministry
April 23, 2022 Charlotte, NC USA
Apprehended & Renewed
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26, NASU
Returning from Jerusalem had not happened in quite some time for me. As you all know, one must go and come back for there to be a “returning”. And that hadn’t happened in two and a half years, since October 2019, because governments around the world chose to shut down everything in sight, when a deliberate and planned pandemic struck, believing they were in ultimate control of all things.
I certainly am glad that our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, is the One Who sits on the highest throne. He always has the final say. In time, all will bow their knee to Him alone.
“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 5:13, NASU
When Israel finally permitted non-vaccinated individuals to enter the nation, with a proclamation in March 2022, it took less than 3 days for me to book my next flight. The Lord had called me to support Israel and the Messianic Jews, and I was not about to let Satan and his henchmen keep me any longer from fulfilling that call.
Back in 2002, when I was being ordained as a Minister of the Gospel through Cornerstone Church (Pastor Mark DeVito, apostolic authority Ron Hill, and the five elders) in the little town of Pineville, North Carolina, which I call the “Bethlehem of Charlotte”, the Lord spoke deep into my soul, setting me apart for His plan and purposes. At the same time during that ordination, He also used the prophetic voice of Terry Kelson, renamed Ahava Hadassah of the Aliyah Return Center in Tiberias, Israel once she made aliyah from the USA to Israel, to speak forth a word over me. (She rejoices in heaven now!)
“You have been called as a scepter for Zion,” she said from among the small group of gathered believers.
That eternal word was deeply planted into my spirit. Since that time the Lord God of Israel has enabled me to walk it out. I am an ambassador for Israel.
Eight years after that special day our ministry named Love For His People was birthed, and both my good wife Laurie (aged 50 at the time) and I (aged 55 way back then) have given ourselves to further pursue what is the full understanding of His call on our lives, being one together for His plans and purposes. These 12 years since then have been one of slow growth, but the foundation is strong, built on the Solid Rock.
But, when I couldn’t get to Israel for those two years, my faith, hope, and love wavered. I was being held back from doing that which I had been apprehended to do. The enemy of our souls wanted to keep me from walking out God’s purposes given for me. In fact, I know that was what the evil one had intended.
Those of you who have walked for the Lord for any number of years know what I am talking about. These are battles we must go through, to further prepare us for what the Lord has redeemed us for. Remember the simple but true word, “No pain. No gain.”
The apostle Peter describes it very well in his Epistle to us.
“Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ — eternal and glorious plans they are! — will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” 1 Peter 5:8-11, THE MESSAGE
The appointed time for the return to Jerusalem finally came. David Peterman joined me. While in the Land, we completed the tasks the Lord had given to us – to encourage, further connect, and build up His Messianic body and other Jews yet to believe on His Son Yeshua. No big meetings. No grand entrances. Just one on one with those who He has joined us.
Upon my return to my home, for a week or more I felt I had drunk 4-5 cups of cappuccino every morning. (And I am not a coffee drinker due to stomach issues.) Energy that I had lost over that previous period had been restored. New life. New hope. New vision for the things of the Lord.
The power of the Holy Spirit, much like that given at Pentecost (Shavuot) had come upon and within me once again.
I know now, with the attestation of Laurie who lives with me day by day, that this basically happens every time the Lord gets me to Israel and back. Walking in His calling in faith and obedience will do that. He is the One Who gives us the grace and strength to accomplish His strategies.
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14, NKJV
You too have been apprehended to do His good works. You too have been given a call that only you can walk out. It is vital that whatever it takes for you to be in proper alignment with Him – your job, home location, church membership, or synagogue congregation – that you get and stay connected so that you can allow Him to speak and direct your life.
Walk out the “mission from God”, just as the Blues Brothers did, to accomplish your God-given role in the Body of Christ. We all need you and me to do that. Our God will make a way for you to succeed in it.
Ahava and shalom,
Steve & Laurie Martin, Love For His People founders
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Love For His People P.O. Box 414 Pineville, NC 28134
E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com
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Message #67 – in the year of our Lord 04.23.2022 – “Apprehended” – Saturday, 3:00 am in Charlotte, NC USA
- Come enjoy an evening with Chaim Malespin from the Galilee, Israel
- TIM SHEETS: “U-Turns Are Coming to Our Nation!” – ElijahStreams
