"Reunion" - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

“Reunion"

"Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept." (Genesis 33:4, NASU)

Jacob had long been separated from his brother Esau, going back to the time when Jacob did a bit of deceptive work and ended up with Esau's birthright. (Genesis 27-28) Having done that to Esau as Jacob dis, I would suspect that quite possibly you and I would have felt the same towards Jacob as Esau later did. Maybe not so much murder, but close to it. Or at least a little bit of animosity to say the least?

After all, none of us can declare that which would say, "I never had bitterness nor hatred towards anyone." At least I know I can't.

Many examples are written in God's Word, all are for our benefit, as Paul states in 1 Cor 10:11-12
"Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (NASU)

When Esau ran and embraced Jacob, it gives us several reasons that he was able to do this. You will have to read some of the preceding Scriptures for the full picture, but let me summarize as to what I think happened in Esau's heart.

1. "Esau ran to meet him". During the years of separation between the two brothers, the Lord had worked a change in Esau's heart. Maybe he realized the temporal here on earth, his birthright lost, wasn't worth the pain and agony, or hatred, toward his brother. He knew he hadn't been the perfect brother either. 

It is known that carrying these attitudes towards another, as in unforgiveness, eats away at your mind, soul, and spirit. Hopefully, as you grow older in the Lord you become aware of this, and turn, with repentance, from this sin.

When Esau ran to meet Jacob, he had already left all that behind. Nothing was holding him back now from expressing joy and love towards his younger brother.

2. "embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him" Esau led the way in showing total forgiveness and repentance on his part. Having already known the Lord's forgiveness on his part, he was able and willing to express that totally, and not hold back. It takes a mature believer to lead the way.

3. "they wept." I trust you too have known the release of years having pent-up emotions, and when a reunion occurs between friends and relatives that had been separation due to hurt, injustice, lies or selfishness, having a good cry, a fantastic flow of tears and all, feels really good. They let it all go. and let it all out.

I love when a reunion takes place between father and son, mother and daughter, cousin and cousin, employee and employer, pastor and congregant. Forgiveness is a great gift from our Father, Who Himself is always the first to express forgiveness. Having sent His Only Son Jesus, Yeshua, to die for our sins in order that we to may be forgiven was the very first ultimate step in restoration and reunion.

This week the Louis and Lila Martin clan celebrate another time of gathering in our biennial (once every two years event - I had to look it up myself). There certainly have been times of separation and individual reunions, but through the ongoing grace and mercy of our Lord, this family of 8 siblings has held together over these 60+ years. Thank God!

May the Lord give you the grace and love to express forgiveness in your relationships, because Lord knows we need it. And if you have a family or friend reunion coming up this summer, have a great time!

Now think on this, and see what good things the Lord has in store for you and those around you.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

Please sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter: Now Think On This 

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!

Look here: Strength For Israel

P.S. In May 2019 I returned from my 20^th trip to Israel. And guess what? I brought back for you my last 58 short videos I entitled “Walk With Me in Israel”. You can join me as I walk through the beautiful land and cities of Israel. Watch them here on our YouTube channel: Walk With Me - Israel May 2019

Also, my previous ones from other locations are here also on YouTube: Walk With Me

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 link 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.) 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.  Others will be thankful you did.

Now Think On This #433 - in the year of our Lord 06.18.19 – “Reunion” – Tuesday, 6:00 am

"Going Back" - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

“Going Back"

"But now that I am going back to my own people..." (Numbers 24:14 Complete Jewish Bible) 

Have you ever gone back to a place where you had once left before? A town? A country? A family? A job? How about a church congregation?

It continues to amaze me how many people do - return to a place where they had once been, maybe to pick up the pieces they had left behind; seek to restore a relationship that was lost and now it is time to come back together, or once again you find yourself going back to a position in a job or church where this time you bring a deeper, more mature, better understanding from that when you had been there before.

There are many examples in the Bible, for our benefit to read and understand, of the Lord taking a person or people from one land or country to another, and then having them go back, or bring them back, to that from which they had come. Numerous times we read of this happening with the Jews - going to Egypt during Joseph's and Jacob's years, going to Babylon in captivity, being dispersed in 70 A.D. from Israel. Many, many times this happened, but in God's faithfulness to them, they were returned.

The holy family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus (Hebrew names of Yossef, Miriam and Yeshua) went to Egypt to escape the murder of children during King Herod's reign (trying to kill the Messiah) and returned back when it was safe.

When a former boss called me a week ago, from a business I had "retired" from over a year and a half ago, to ask me to come back due to the unexpected and abrupt departure of an employee, I was both pleased, knowing they really did appreciate my character and skills that they had known, and wondering at the same time, "Lord, what purpose would I have in going back there? What purpose do You have in taking me back there?" (The prior commute alone had been enough to move me out the first time.)

The one whom they had hired to replace me, after a three-month search at the time, walked off the job with less than an hour notice. Respect for one another, and giving proper notice when leaving, seems to be "going out the door" so to speak. Doesn't matter any longer if it is from a job, within a family situation, or among people and pastor in a church setting. 

Looking back in my own life, the Lord has returned me to several places where I had once left. Each time I can honestly say it was His doing, as a door that had once been shut after a season of time was once again reopened. And the second go-round always was better than the first. Ever happen to you?

From 1987-1990 I worked with Derek Prince Ministries in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I had left for 10 years for another ministerial position, and then was welcomed back in 2000, in Charlotte, North Carolina, when another critical accounting and administration position became suddenly open, which I had previously held.

In 2014 my good wife Laurie and I left Antioch International Church in Fort Mill, South Carolina, only to return back again four years later in 2018. We have 'tried" other churches, and realized that our real church home was with those whom the Lord had made connections with, as family. And the second time around has been much more fruitful and rewarding than the first.

And now...I am returning, if only on a contractual, part-time limited basis for a period of time, to Charlotte Center City Partners in uptown Charlotte (as of today, Monday, June 17, 2019) to get them through a timely transitional period, knowing that their end of year accounting season is right on top of them. I am very curious as to what the Lord has in store, not only for them but for me too.

Even as the Living God of Israel, the Creator of All, is bringing back the Chosen Ones to Israel, their promised land, He is doing the same among the other branches that have been grafted into the olive tree, the Gentile believers among the nations.

"Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place. He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 

And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. "Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

 "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Genesis 28:10-16, NASU)

The Lord is gathering up His people the Jews, scattered around the world in nations near and far, as promised, after 2,000 years. He also is returning, bringing back, those among Gentile believers who have wandered off, or left out of hurt, or simply quit walking out the faith they were saved into, to finish and fulfill the plans and purposes of the Almighty God in their lives.

If you find yourself going back, coming back, being returned to a place...look up and see that the hand of the Lord is upon you. What you left is probably going to be better than when it was the first go round.

Now think on this for a bit. And see what good things the Lord has in store for you and those around you.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I am still continuing my position as Office Manager at Antioch International Church! Just adding a few more hours to my work week...for a season of time.

Please sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter: Now Think On This 

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!

Look here: Strength For Israel

P.S. In May 2019 I returned from my 20^th trip to Israel. And guess what? I brought back for you my last 58 short videos I entitled “Walk With Me in Israel”. You can join me as I walk through the beautiful land and cities of Israel. Watch them here on our YouTube channel: Walk With Me - Israel May 2019

Also, my previous ones from other locations are here also on YouTube: Walk With Me

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 link 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.) 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.  Others will be thankful you did.

Now Think On This #432 - in the year of our Lord 06.17.19 – “Going Back” – Monday, 6:40 am

Israel's Newest Town: Trump Heights! Ban Hamas on Twitter; Trump's Peace Envoy Supports Israeli Sovereignty in Judea, Samaria - United with Israel

Best Place to Find Your Soulmate: At Hebrew Class! Jerusalem Revolutionizes Travel for the Blind! Cambridge to Host Anti-Semitic Malaysian Dictator; First Druze Fighter Pilot in Israeli History!

Israel Inaugurates Its Newest Town: ‘Trump Heights’ in the Golan! 'Ban Hamas Terrorists!' Republicans Demand of Twitter WATCH: Trump's Peace Envoy Supports Israeli Sovereignty in Judea, Samaria

First Druze Fighter Pilot in Israeli History Set to Earn Wings  The Best Place to Find Your Soulmate: At Hebrew Class!  WATCH: Jerusalem Revolutionizes Travel for Visually Impaired Visitors!  Cambridge to Host Anti-Semitic Malaysian Dictator  Top Abbas Adviser: Battle with Israel is Between ‘Good and Evil’

www.unitedwithisrael.org info@unitedwithisrael.org USA: 1-888-ZION-613  Israel: +972-2-533-7841

"Strike Your Wells of Revival!" - Christy Johnston The Elijah List

"Strike Your Wells of Revival!"

Christy Johnston  The Elijah List

Jun 17, 2019

From the Desk of Steve Shultz:

This is most definitely a NOW word to many of you in the Body of Christ.

So many have been dealing with disappointments and even attacks lately.

Don't give up or retreat! You need to read this word by Christy Johnston of Australia as she shares:

I saw in my spirit how many are on the edge of their breakthrough, but are feeling the overwhelming desire to retreat. The opposition you have been facing, the disappointments, the disorientation, it has all been an attempt to deter you from the ancient wells that are within your reach.

I believe we are in a time of commissioning right now, where the Lord is assigning new mantles and assignments to His sons and daughters, and it is through these assignments that revival will be commissioned and sustained in us and through us.

Now read on for a much needed encouragement for you in this time! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

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Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News 
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"Strike Your Wells of Revival!"

Christy Johnston, Gold Coast, Australia

The Holy Spirit has been impressing "Ancient Wells" upon my heart in recent weeks. On a morning I woke up and heard Him say, "I am calling My people to strike ancient wells of revival in this hour." I saw a vision in the spirit of a fierce battle that has been waging in the second heaven – a battle of ferocity that has been over the reclaiming of these ancient wells. Many have been finding themselves in the thick of this fight, not realizing what it was over, and many thought they had been waging an insignificant war. However, you have indeed been battling for ancient wells, though you may not have known it.

If you have found yourself in a fight of confusion, distraction and disillusionment, it is because God has marked you with revival for this very hour. The enemy sees this divine marking upon your life and has unleashed every distraction possible to try and prevent you from crossing over this threshold and reclaiming these wells. Significantly, his tactic has been to prevent you from the revelation of what you were fighting for.

Strike, Don't Retreat

You might be questioning what I mean by ancient wells. They are the wells of contending prayers of many past generations, the promises of God that are yet to be unearthed, and the wells of revival that our previous ancestors cultivated. We see all throughout Scripture how God honored the prayers of His people, long after they were gone.

Likewise, I believe that there is a window of opportunity opening to us right now, where the Father is calling you and I to strike the ground of ancient wells, ancient prayers and ancient revivals. I believe we are living in a time where we will see with our own eyes the fulfillment of prayers that were contended for long ago, and the fulfillment of revivals that died out before their time.

I keep seeing in my spirit a reawakening of revivals like Azusa Street and the Welsh Revival, to name a few. I believe the heart of God is not just to reawaken these movements, but to pour out something EVEN GREATER than what was seen there and to SUSTAIN them through us. His heart isn't just for us to recapture these wells, but to sustain them. (Photo via Pixabay)

I hear the Lord saying that you and I will get to walk in the fruits of the fulfillment of prayers that were contended for hundreds, even thousands of years ago.

I saw in my spirit how many are on the edge of their breakthrough, but are feeling the overwhelming desire to retreat. The opposition you have been facing, the disappointments, the disorientation, it has all been an attempt to deter you from the ancient wells that are within your reach.

I believe we are in a time of commissioning right now, where the Lord is assigning new mantles and assignments to His sons and daughters, and it is through these assignments that revival will be commissioned and sustained in us and through us.

There is a great repositioning happening within the Body of Christ across the earth, as the Lord is moving His children into positions of greater authority for His greater purposes. The repositioning is why you have been feeling uncomfortable, but don't give into the discomfort and run back for creature comforts. Surrender to His movements and you will see His glory poured out through you.

It's Time to Charge!

Through all of this, the Holy Spirit has been reminding me of the Battle of Beersheba in 1917. In this battle a small number of Australian and New Zealand military charged on a long-withheld Palestinian fortress, on behalf of Israel. The commander of this ANZAC army recognized their open window. No one had been able to take this ground, but his soldiers and horses were not only exhausted, they were in desperate need of water. On the other side of the garrison was Abraham's well and many other wells that were vital to their survival.

He knew it was now or never and chose to seize the moment. He commanded his cavalry to charge across the war field on horseback, straight into enemy gunfire with only their bayonets for weapons. General Grant gave the order personally to the 12th Light Horse Regiment saying, "Men, you're fighting for water. There's no water between this side of Beersheba and Esani. Use your bayonets as swords. I wish you the best of luck." Both the 4th and 12th Light Horse brigades charged on Beersheba, which sent the enemy forces that were in the trenches into a sheer panic.

No one expected a cavalry-style charge, and it is recorded that the sound of the horses hooves thundering towards them sent them into chaos and confusion. As a result, the enemy soldiers were unable to lower their aiming sights with clarity, therefore minimizing the casualties and basically giving the ANZAC armies open access to the garrison. The ANZACs were able to launch their horses over the garrison and take control of the town, and it is recorded in history books that "The success of the charge was in the shock value and sheer speed in which they took the town."

Both their sheer desperation for water and their courage allowed British troops to reclaim land on behalf of Israel and seize the well of Abraham, satisfying the thirst of the entire army. Beersheba means "Well of the Oath" or "Well of Seven." This points to the ancient wells of His promises – His oath to us for this moment in time. I believe we are in a historical time where our thirst for an outpouring is causing us to charge at the thresholds of ancient wells. I hear the Holy Spirit asking our generation, "Are you thirsty for more of Me? Are you thirsty for an outpouring? Your desperation will be seen in your charge."

Nehemiah 9:25, "They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in Your great goodness."

Seize the Ancient Wells

I believe we are standing at a similar window of opportunity. It is now that we charge in the spirit and reclaim what is rightfully ours. It is now that we strike on the promises that God has given us. I do, however, sense the warning of His Spirit telling us that it will require a unity of Spirit within the Church. This kind of charge will require the laying down of "self."

How exactly do we respond to all of this? How do we partner with what He is saying and asking of us? Our battle isn't one of natural means, but one that we fight in the spirit. Beersheba also means "Well of Seven." When we look at the Hebrew meaning of the number 7, we find that it means "rest, wholeness, completeness, being ripe, order, stability and holiness." It also is the number of the Temple, Adonai's House. We rest (day 7) in the finished work of the Messiah. (Photo via Pixabay)

So how do we charge while at the same time live in a place of rest? It seems almost contradictory, but it's not. It is not the kind of "rest" where we lay back and lie on a hammock sipping cocktails and wait on Him to do everything; it is the kind of rest where we are in partnership with what He has promised. It's the kind of rest where we take hold of His promises and decree them, refusing to move from peace within them.

While the world may be waging chaos all around us, with our prophetic eyes we SEE what God has promised – an outpouring of His Spirit – and we REFUSE to move from that place of rest UNTIL we see this promise fulfilled. We decree to the impossibilities and giants in front of us and declare, "THIS DAY, the Lord has given you into OUR hands. This DAY we will SEE the ancient wells burst forth with the gushing streams of His Spirit."

This kind of rest will cause rivers of His living water to bring stability where there is chaos, completeness where there is brokenness, restore order where there is disorder and holiness where there is unrighteousness running rampant in the nations.

We are living in a day where we will get to see the bursting forth of these ancient wells.

Don't Let Go Now!

You may be exhausted from holding on to the promise, but this is where you strike and keep on striking. You are on the threshold of your breakthrough, you are about to charge over enemy garrisons and reclaim your well.Don't stop declaring. Don't stop partnering with what He has promised, for you will see His deliverance. You are not contending for your ancient wells alone, but for the ancient wells of the nations. A desperate and thirsty world is crying out for an authentic outpouring of His Spirit.

A world lost in chaos and confusion, taken captive by the mindsets and lies of the enemy, is crying out and thirsting for water...the water of His Spirit. It is up to you and I to lay our lives down and press into the longings of His Spirit, press into His promises and CHARGE on what is rightfully ours. These ancient wells are promises stored up in the heavenly realm for you, for your family, for your children and your children's children. When you strike the ground for them, you are going to see His Spirit pour out over your life and the lives of those around you.

The nations are waiting to drink from the rivers of His living water THROUGH YOUR LIFE. Are you willing to lay everything down for this cause of seeing His ancient wells bursting through you? The time is now! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

Christy Johnston
Everyday Revivalists
Email: nateandchristy@everydayrevivalists.com
Website: www.nateandchristy.co

Christy Johnston was born and raised in Australia. After living the majority of her life plagued with insecurity and fear, she came to learn the power of her identity in Christ. She now lives with the mandate to breathe fresh hope and life into God's sons and daughters through her passion of writing, uncovering the truths of living in grace and freedom through our identity in Christ. Nate and Christy have two daughters, Charlotte and Sophie, and currently live on the Gold Coast in Australia.

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