We've Only Just Begun!
Steve Martin
“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” (John 5:25-26, NKJV)
On a Friday night in July 2017 Laurie and I met with three lovely ladies we have known for years, two of which we had not seen in quite a few. So many years, in fact, that the youth and vigor we once knew we possessed, we each thought had come and gone.
“Not so!” says the Living God of Israel.
Sitting around the Martin family room, sharing of past adventures we had had together, primarily in the work of the ministry, brought back sweet memories of what the Lord had done thus far in our lives. We also spoke of what He was now doing in our midst. But then we shared some concerns of what we thought were yet to come, being four of us had already reached the 60’s decade. Not the 1960’s (though we all lived through that), but the years of life thus far on this planet. With the “golden years” fast approaching, we may have, just may have, considered in our minds that our time here was coming to an end.
Except for my good wife Laurie, the young one at 58, the years of vigorous youth which we had known had become the years of the slower silver hairs, even if covered over with another color.
But then again, the Lord had His say on the matter. He told us how He saw it, as follows.
During our prayer time at the end of our gathering, He gave me this picture in my mind, demonstrating how He looked upon us from His heavenly throne above. This came as His Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh, was moving down here among us, in our very midst.
Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, where I have labored as an accountant for the past five years, has another new office/residential/retail space building that has risen more than 24 stories above ground. It is about ready to cross the finish line of completion. In man’s eyes, it is a very significant and magnificent work of skill, beauty, and awe.
When the foundation was being dug a year earlier, in 2016, the vast numbers of men in their orange construction vests, with their mighty machines of great power, kept digging deeper, and deeper, and deeper. I was quite amazed as to how far down they went, even as they continually removed truckload after truckload of unearthed dirt and solid rock, which had been buried there, probably since the creation of the earth. I mean, it was extremely deep! (And I have the photos to prove it…)
Staring up at the fantastic building, on my way back to the Charlotte Center City Partners office from my lunchtime prayer walk, one would never know what lay beneath the street level, where thousands pass by each day. That very deep foundation, having taken much time to establish, had been necessary to sustain the weight and “glory” that now rested securely on it.
Charlotte, North Carolina building (photo by Steve Martin)
This almost completed work was about ready for the planned purpose always intended at the beginning by the architects who created it. Once it was but an image in their mind. Now the towering project rising into the sky was almost done.
We can only imagine what was in the minds of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit back then before time began. In time though, we will know.
“God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” (Ephesians 3:20, THE MESSAGE)
And so, as the five of us finished our cherished time of fellowship together, holding hands in a circle of praise and prayer, the Lord vividly and clearly reminded me of that building image, that picture of a rather beautiful structure, and the very deep foundation that had been necessary for that tower of power to stand tall on.
This clear image, of what is really a natural demonstration to show us of what He has always seen in the spiritual realm, in our lives, and now most needed in this earthly hour, is the very spiritual dimension that He has brought us through in our lives.
While in each of our minds we may have considered those many years that have come and gone, as ones of lost energy, disappointments, and discouragements along the way, and wondering how we could now accomplish what had been in our hearts of desire since our youth, the Lord was saying to us, “During those decades of preparation, with My digging and digging and digging even more, I have been readying you for the work I have called you to do in these last days."
"I have seen all this from My heavenly throne above, delighting Myself in the fact that you, along with a vast number of so many others, Jews and Gentiles joined together as the One New Man; you who are My “bought with the blood”, after being “sought by My Spirit”, are now ready to be “caught along in the glorious cloud” coming down to this first heaven, to be My witnesses in the nations. You will be part of the greatest revival this world has ever seen! It has taken this long to get you ready for that which I have now begun to bring to the finish.”
He was telling us, we are not done. And as we heard on the radio back then, in the decade of the 70's, have only just begun!
(Sing it mighty loud Carpenters! Thanks for those prophetic words to us, whether you knew it or not!)
He was telling us, we are not done. And as we heard on the radio back then, in the decade of the 70's, have only just begun!
(Sing it mighty loud Carpenters! Thanks for those prophetic words to us, whether you knew it or not!)
(Listen below, but only after you finish reading this message!
Lyrics too included far below. In the deep foundation...)
The Lord has been doing the hard, necessary work in our hearts, in our characters, in our entire spirit, soul and body over these many, many years, because He knows what it will take to finish the job, and complete the work that He so long ago started with His creation of Adam and Eve in that Garden of Eden, at the beginning of man's time as we know it.
In Jesus' (Yeshua) coming the first time, He touched the daily lives of His Chosen Ones the Jews and then wrapped His arms around all the Gentiles who would. Now He is launching the “silver hairs”, yes, that is exactly you and me, into the nations to gather in the remaining ones who will, before His soon coming return.
We are ready Lord! You have prepared us so well in all Your wisdom and knowledge!
Now is the time when we are being released to go, gather, and see Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
Yes, we are ready. Yes, we have been prepared. And yes, the final push has already begun!
It will be power against power, demonstrating His love over the enemy’s hate, as Jesus is once again revealed in all the earth - this time as the Almighty King of kings and the outstanding Lord of lords, redeeming the people who will receive His outstretched arms of loving salvation.
Even so, Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus! We have been so prepared and so ready to get in the final game.
For Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever, amen!
For Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever, amen!
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
P.S. This marks the 300th edition of what first started in October 2010, after my 10th journey to the Land of Israel, as the “Ahava Love Letters”, which then became my “Now Think of This”words of encouragement.
Thank you Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh, Who brings the inspiration to share Jesus’ heart of love, Yeshua, from our Heavenly Father, Abba. I love You! And I love you!
P.S.S. Listen to the Carpenters sing their all-time hit, and envision what the Holy Spirit was speaking then, and now. We've Only Just Begun
P.S.S. Listen to the Carpenters sing their all-time hit, and envision what the Holy Spirit was speaking then, and now. We've Only Just Begun
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 and pastors in Israel, Pakistan, Northern Ireland, and Nigeria, whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.
Contribution checks can be sent to:
Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box 414 Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) Please share Now Think On This with your friends. Steve Martin
Now Think On This - in the Year of our Lord 7.15.17 - #300– “We've Only Just Begun!” – Saturday 7:02 am
Love For His People, Inc. is a 501(c)3 ministry in the USA.
DONATE TO BLESS FAMILIES IN JERUSALEM, PAKISTAN, NORTHERN IRELAND AND NIGERIA WITH YOUR LOVE.
Love For His People, Inc. is a 501(c)3 ministry in the USA.
We've only just begun to live
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we're on our way
(We've only begun)
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we're on our way
(We've only begun)
Before the risin' sun, we fly
So many roads to choose
We'll start out walkin' and learn to run
(And yes, we've just begun)
So many roads to choose
We'll start out walkin' and learn to run
(And yes, we've just begun)
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
(And yes, we've just begun)
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
(And yes, we've just begun)
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
Together
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
Together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
And yes, we've just begun
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
And yes, we've just begun
Written by Nichols Williams • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore
Boom!