Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
Greetings to you, our friends of Love For His People ministry.
It is a bit late for me to be up this evening. My, my. It is almost 10:00 pm! I normally try to get to bed by 8:30 pm, so I can get up at 3:30 am and spent that time with the Lord until out the door to work at 6.
Try it some time. The time with the Lord, I mean. It will change your life, as you put Jesus first, where He should be. With so many things grabbing our attention, how best can you live when you place the One who made you on the throne of your life. O praise His Name!
With our eyes wide open and our ears attuned to that around us, it doesn't take much to see that our land, and the nations, are in trouble. What does one expect when for decades we declare, "No God" in schools and media, and then see the results.
We must praise His name!
With the USA elections becoming ever more upfront and in our face, and as turbulence rages even more so in the towns and cities unsuspecting, I encourage you to do as I do, and praise His Name.
Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I WILL draw all men unto Me." All men. That is the good, the bad, and the ugly. I think we'd best heed His words and do that. First in our life, and then among others.
With that said, check this message out that I wrote recently: "If I Be Lifted Up"
Also, I want to again give you notice of upcoming times to gather together, in unity, and to lift up His Name.
On August 23, Highway To Zion (Cathy Hargett, Founder) is hosting Carolyn Hyde from Israel. She will be using my Taylor guitar, so you'll want to hear that, and her! Highway To Zion assembly
Two weeks later is our monthly Strength For Israel time on September 6, 2019, with Hadassah Lerner from Jerusalem speaking.
And then a month or so later, there will be a great couple of days with Paul Wilbur coming to Dr. Peter Wyn's CFM's annual conference, Roar From Zion October 25-27.
The last three listed will all be in Fort Mill, South Carolina at Antioch International Church. Check for more details with those links provided.
I will be jetting off to Israel September 24 -Oct. 4, 2019 with three other men. We are calling it the "Four Louis Brothers Ahava Adventure". (Want to know why??!!) You can email me if you want to go on the next "only for men" adventure next October 2020. (Sorry, ladies, the Lord and I have our reasons! Gotta shape some men up!
Be encouraged in all that He puts your hands to do. We have the God Who is revealing Himself to us as we seek Him.
Ahava and shalom,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People ministry
Charlotte, NC USA
P.S. Join us Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, for our next Strength For Israelat Antioch International Church in the main auditorium - The Barn. We will have Hadassah Lerner from Jerusalem speak.
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." John 12:32, NASU
Speaking of His soon approaching death on the wooden cross, Jesus (Yeshua) told His disciples that when He was lifted up, this would be the main catalyst that would then draw all men to Himself.
When Jesus was lifted up, He drew all people to Himself.
In a recent Sunday worship time, before the speaker came to the podium, the beautiful song being sung wonderfully proclaimed Jesus. As the congregation focused in on praising His Name, I could really sense the move of the Holy Spirit drawing those focused on Jesus, and bringing them into a greater realm of the spirit. Jesus was being lifted up in our midst. He was drawing the people even closer to Him.
We weren’t focused on our needs. We weren’t singing, “Bless me. Bless mine.” Or, “Woe is me. Help me. Take care of me.”
We were singing Jesus.
Over 7 years ago now I led a worship team at a local Highway to Zion assembly here in Charlotte, North Carolina, headed by founder Cathy Hargett. We sang several Messianic songs, written by Messianic Jews, and a few written by popular Christian worship leaders. Present in the meeting was a Messianic Jewish leader from Israel, one very prominent in the movement taking place among believers in the Land of His people.
Be encouraged in your daily walk with God, for when it is all said and done, our God wins!God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and God the Holy Spirit - the Three in One - rule from their heavenly throne. Together they are daily involved in the lives of men, women, and children in all the nations.
The establishment of their kingdom here on earth is taking place. And one day Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach, will set up His earthly throne in Jerusalem, Israel, the place where He left from in 33 AD, promising to return to that same place.
Knowing the last chapter recorded in the end of the Book, the Word of God, the Bible, as revealed to John the Apostle, we know that from the beginning in Genesis, to that ending chapter in Revelation, the Lord has been preparing His people and bringing about His plans and purposes.Both believing Jews and Gentiles are seeing His work and getting involved.
These messages are to encourage you, included among them I trust, in your walk with the Living God of Israel.
TEL AVIV, Israel – Nearly 250 new immigrants arrived in the land of Israel Wednesday after a 10-hour flight and sometimes years of waiting and planning. Many of these “olim” – or new immigrants from North America – see their arrival as a prophetic fulfillment of when God said he would gather his people to the Promised Land from the four corners of the world.
The arrivals came from 22 states, 2 Canadian provinces and include 103 children, three sets of twins and a 28-day old baby.
“This is a great situation for the State of Israel that the 240 Jews from North America, arrive in Israel here and we are very proud to have them as students and soldiers and partners in the State of Israel,” said Yoav Galant, Minister of Aliyah and Integration.
Nefesh B’nefesh, which works with the Jewish Agency to encourage more Jews to immigrate to Israel, organized this arrival. The organization has brought 60,000 North American Jews to Israel since 2002.
Co-founder Rabbi Yehoshua Fass was there at Ben Gurion to welcome the new immigrants.
“Seeing people fulfill their dreams, coming home. Remarkable,” he told CBN News.
For co-founder Tony Gelbart, seeing Jews come to Israel never gets old.
“The first time, the first person is just as exciting as the 60,000th person right now, it’s the same thing,” said Gelbart. “There’s emotion. There’s joy. Tears of joy. Look, they’re coming home to their Promised Land as you know. This is their home. This is their dream.”
One brother and sister were reunited after two years.
“I don’t know, I’m overjoyed. It’s so weird. I’ve been here alone and now I have my brother,” Amit Nahum said. “It’s amazing.”
Many families made this journey. David Eckstein was among the hundreds who immigrated to Israel. Eckstein is the nephew of Yechiel Eckstein, the founder of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Eckstein brought thousands of Jews to the land of Israel and passed away recently.
“It’s just one of the most amazing feelings in the world to be able to come to our homeland to be part of the State of Israel, the Jewish homeland that we’ve always dreamed of being a part of,” David Eckstein told CBN.
Yechiel’s brother Beryl said he wishes his brother could have been there to see David make aliyah.
“I miss my brother being here but he’s here and I know he would have been the first one to greet David. He loved him so much.”
For the Ecksteins and many other families making aliyah, it’s about the generations.
“We’re so proud of them to make this decision at this stage in their life, to come back home, where my father was born, my grandfather, my great grandfather and now this generation is coming home,” Beryl said.
For many of these immigrants, coming to Israel is also about the Bible coming to life.
“It’s about the ingathering of the exiles, bringing the Jewish people home. But it’s not only for the fulfillment of prophecy that I’m so happy because my family is coming home and we’re all together finally and when we’re all together in our land that brings the light to the whole world,” Ari Abramowitz said.
For these new arrivals their Israel adventure is just beginning, but the Jewish agency plans on bringing many more.
Isaac Herzog head of the Jewish Agency said: “This year we’ll have 30,000 immigrants from 40 countries. It’s an incredible story.”
The Jewish Agency has brought 3 million immigrants since 1929.
I first hear of Tauren Wells with his songs When We Prayand soon after within a few months, Known. With his soft voice and a touch of the gospel realm in his voice, I grew to love them both.
Get #GodsNotDoneWithYou everywhere you consume music!
https://TaurenWells.lnk.to/GNDWYMV
Connect with Tauren Wells:
Email list: https://TaurenWells.lnk.to/emaillistMV
YouTube: https://TaurenWells.lnk.to/youtubesub...
Instagram: https://TaurenWells.lnk.to/instagramMV
Facebook: https://TaurenWells.lnk.to/FacebookMV
Twitter: https://TaurenWells.lnk.to/twitterMV
Website: https://TaurenWells.lnk.to/websiteMV
God's Not Done with You
Standing in your ruins feels a lot like the end
So used to losing, you’re afraid to try again
Right now all you see are ashes where there was a flame
Truth is that you’re not forgotten
‘Cause Grace knows your name
God’s not done with you
Even with your broken heart and your wounds and your scars
God’s not done with you
Even when you’re lost and it’s hard and you’re falling apart
God’s not done with you
It’s not over, it’s only begun
So don’t hide, don’t run
‘Cause God’s not done with you
There’s a light you don’t notice
Until you’re standing in the dark
And there’s a strength that’s growing
Inside your shattered heart
He’s got a plan, this is part of it
He’s gonna finish what He started
He’s got a plan, this is part of it
He’s gonna finish what He started
God’s not done with you
He’s not done
God’s not done with you
No, He’s not done
God’s not done with you
Music by Tauren Wells performing God’s Not Done with You (Official Music Video). (C) 2019 Provident Label Group LLC, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
In the past several weeks, two major Christian influencers announced publicly that their faith was not what it once was. I Kissed Dating Goodbye author and purity advocate Joshua Harris said he is no longer a Christian. And former Hillsong worship leader and songwriter Marty Sampson said his Christian faith is on "incredibly shaky ground."
As these well-known leaders move away from their faith, Skillet lead singer and songwriter John L. Cooper asks, "What is happening in Christianity?"
In a lengthy Facebook post, Cooper questions why these influencers are leaving the beliefs they once promoted so passionately. He also challenges believers to "STOP making worship leaders and thought leaders or influencers or cool people or 'relevant' people the most influential people in Christendom."
Ok I'm saying it. Because it's too important not to. What is happening in Christianity? More and more of our outspoken leaders or influencers who were once "faces" of the faith are falling away. And at the same time they are being very vocal and bold about it. Shockingly they still want to influence others (for what purpose?) as they announce that they are leaving the faith. I'll state my conclusion, then I'll state some rebuttals to statements I've read by some of them. Firstly, I never judge people outside of my faith. Even if they hate religion or Christianity. That is not my place and I have many friends who disagree with my religion and that is 100% fine with me. However, when it comes to people within my faith, there must be a measure of loyalty and friendship and accountability to each other and the Word of God.
My conclusion for the church (all of us Christians): We must STOP making worship leaders and thought leaders or influencers or cool people or "relevant" people the most influential people in Christendom. (And yes that includes people like me!) I've been saying for 20 years (and seemed probably quite judgmental to some of my peers) that we are in a dangerous place when the church is looking to 20 year old worship singers as our source of truth. We now have a church culture that learns who God is from singing modern praise songs rather than from the teachings of the Word. I'm not being rude to my worship leader friends (many who would agree with me) in saying that singers and musicians are good at communicating emotion and feeling. We create a moment and a vehicle for God to speak. However, singers are not always the best people to write solid bible truth and doctrine. Sometimes we are too young, too ignorant of scripture, too unaware, or too unconcerned about the purity of scripture and the holiness of the God we are singing to. Have you ever considered the disrespect of singing songs to God that are untrue of His character?
I have a few specific thoughts and rebuttals to statements made by recently disavowed church influencers ... first of all, I am stunned that the seemingly most important thing for these leaders who have lost their faith is to make such a bold new stance. Basically saying, "I've been living and preaching boldly something for 20 years and led generations of people with my teachings and now I no longer believe it ... therefore I'm going to boldly and loudly tell people it was all wrong while I boldly and loudly lead people in to my next truth." I'm perplexed why they aren't embarrassed? Humbled? Ashamed, fearful, confused? Why be so eager to continue leading people when you clearly don't know where you are headed?
My second thought is, why do people act like "being real" covers a multitude of sins? As if someone is courageous simply for sharing virally every thought or dark place. That's not courageous. It's cavalier. Have they considered the ramifications? As if they are the harbingers of truth, saying "I used to think one way and practice it and preach it, but now I've learned all the new truth and will start practicing and preaching it." So the influencers become the voice for truth in whatever stage of life and whatever evolution takes place in their thinking.
Thirdly, there is a common thread running through these leaders/influencers that basically says that "no one else is talking about the REAL stuff." This is just flatly false. I just read today in a renown worship leader's statement, "How could a God of love send people to hell? No one talks about it." As if he is the first person to ask this? Brother, you are not that unique. The church has wrestled with this for 1500 years. Literally. Everybody talks about it. Children talk about it in Sunday school. There's like a billion books written on the topic. Just because you don't get the answer you want doesn't mean that we are unwilling to wrestle with it. We wrestle with scripture until we are transformed by the renewing of our minds.
And lastly, and most shocking imo, as these influencers disavow their faith, they always end their statements with their "new insight/new truth" that is basically a regurgitation of Jesus's words?! It's truly bizarre and ironic. They'll say "I'm disavowing my faith but remember, love people, be generous, forgive others". Ummm, why? That is actually not human nature. No child is ever born and says "I just want to love others before loving myself. I want to turn the other cheek. I want to give my money away to others in need". Those are bible principles taught by a prophet/Priest/king of kings who wants us to live by a higher standard which is not an earthly standard, but rather the 'Kingdom of God' standard. Therefore if Jesus is not the truth and if the Word of God is not absolute, then by preaching Jesus's teachings you are endorsing the words of a madman. A lunatic who said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me." He also said that he was alive before Abraham, and to see him was to see God because he was one with God. So why then would a disavowed christian leader promote that "generosity is good"? How would you know "what is good" without Jesus's teachings? And will your ideas of what is "good" be different from year to year based on your experience, culture trends, poplular [sic] opinion etc and furthermore will you continue year by year to lead others into your idea of goodness even though it is not absolute? I'm amazed that so many Christians want the benefits of the kingdom of God, but with the caveat that they themselves will be the King.
It is time for the church to rediscover the preeminence of the Word. And to value the teaching of the Word. We need to value truth over feeling. Truth over emotion. And what we are seeing now is the result of the church raising up influencers who did not supremely value truth who have led a generation who also do not believe in the supremacy of truth. And now those disavowed leaders are proudly still leading and influencing boldly AWAY from the truth.
Is it any wonder that some of our disavowed Christian leaders are letting go of the absolute truth of the Bible and subsequently their lives are falling apart? Further and further they are sinking in the sea all the while shouting "now I've found the truth! Follow me!!" Brothers and sisters in the faith all around the world, pastors, teachers, worship leaders, influencers ... I implore you, please please in your search for relevancy for the gospel, let us NOT find creative ways to shape Gods word into the image of our culture by stifling inconvenient truths. But rather let us hold on even tighter to the anchor of the living Word of God. For He changes NOT. "The grass withers and the flowers fade away, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8)
Great Resources to help you excel in 2019! #1 John Eckhardt's "Prayers That..." 6-Book Bundle. Prayer helps you overcome anything life throws at you. Get a FREE Bonus with this bundle. #2 Learn to walk in the fullness of your purpose and destiny by living each day with Holy Spirit. Buy a set of Life in the Spirit, get a second set FREE.
JERUSALEM, Israel - Archaeologists say they have likely found the Church of the Apostles in ancient Bethsaida, which is believed to have been built over the home of Jesus' disciples Peter and Andrew.
Kineret College archaeologist Dr. Mordechai Aviam has been leading the excavation on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee for years.
"Last year we discussed the possibility there was a church there because we have tesserae (small glass blocks) from a mosaic floor, and we have pieces of marble and roof tiles. We knew there was a church but we didn't have it -- now we have it," Dr. Aviam told CBN News.
Aviam's team of archaeologists discovered the southern wall of the church and more well-preserved mosaic flooring.
"Now we can clearly say that we have the church in hand," he explained.
For years, archaeologists searched for the Church of the Apostles and the ancient Jewish fishing village of Bethsaida, which later became the Roman city of Julias.
"Now what is the city of Julias? We were talking about Bethsaida!" Aviam told CBN Newsin 2017. "Josephus Flavius, the Jewish historian in the first century, tells us that King Phillip, the son of Herod the Great, who ruled from there to the Golan, toward Damascus – ruled this area – decided to upgrade the village of Bethsaida and to make it a polis [city], by the name of Julias, after the daughter of Emperor Augustus."
This year, Aviam found Roman homes in the area.
"We discovered for the first time domestic structures - houses - from the Roman period. So we have rooms, we have layers from the Roman period," Aviam said. "Also we used drones and also ground machinery with electromagnetic sensors. With this, we discovered that the entire area around where we excavated these houses is full of (more) houses."
CBN News reported in 2017 that Aviam's team had found a Roman bath and coins, further indicating that this site was once a thriving Roman city.
He also pointed to a document from a Christian pilgrim referring to the Church of the Apostles is in Bethsaida.
"There is a document from a visitor from the end of the 7th century AD, a Christian pilgrim, [which] says that after he left Capernaum, he arrived to Bethsaida, and there is a church for the apostles, Peter and Andrew," Aviam explained. "So for the Christians in the sixth, seventh, [and] eighth century it was still called Bethsaida, although there was nothing here but a church dedicated to [Peter and Andrew] . It was identified and a church was built."
Archaeologists will continue digging at the site for years to come.
Prof. Steven Notley of Nyack College, who helped lead the dig, told Fox News says the team plans on excavating the entire church.
“Thus far, we have only uncovered some of the southern rooms of the church, likely the southern aisle,” Notley said. “At the end of this season, we were just beginning to uncover the mosaics of what is likely the nave, the center section of the church.”
