Well Done - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Well Done

- Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'” Matthew 25:21 NASB


I like my steak medium well done, the way they do it at the Longhorn restaurants in Charlotte, NC (and elsewhere I am sure.) Not too dry, not too bloody, but just right. At least for my taste buds.

But that is not what this message is about. I thought I’d get your attention, for many of you like steak! Especially the beef from Iowa, where I grew up, for the cattle there are corn fed to get them real juicy.


This message is about being faithful, walking the walk we are called to as believers, and finishing the tasks the Lord has assigned for each one of us. He purposely created you and I for a specific work here on this planet – one in which the nations will know that He is the Lord, and the Lover of their souls. He always has, and continues to, look for a people who will believe in His ways, walk on His paths, and fulfill the Great Commission to take the Gospel, the Good News, to the lost and dying around us. That is His heart, and it has become mine. I hope yours too.

When my time has been completed here, give it 60, 70 or more years, I want to hear the words of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, say to me when I stand before His heavenly throne, “Excellent! You are a good and trustworthy servant. You have been faithful with a small amount, so I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and join in your master’s happiness!” Matt. 25:21, CJB (Complete Jewish Bible).

Without a vision, or where there is no revelation or prophetic purpose, Scripture says the people perish (Prov. 29:18). Being faithful in what we do requires the impartation of the Lord’s desires in our hearts, whereby His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) gives us the goal and the objective in our living. If serving ourselves and our own pleasures has become our sought after achievement, our souls will become unfilled, having not what we have been created to do.

But knowing the purpose of our placement in the Body of Christ, and accomplishing the work the Lord has entrusted and gifted us with - be it service in the realm of business, education, media, government, family, religion or arts and entertainment - does bring the joy and happiness that is sought by everyone. It is not without much difficulty, temptation and trials, but it will bring the satisfaction that we have done that which we have been apprehended to do.

As Paul himself says, as our example and for our inspiration, “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. 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, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV

We all like appreciation, rewards, and being given the prize at the end of the contest or achievement accomplished. Being faithful to complete it to the finish line, the end of the road, is worth the fighting for and pressing on to that goal. To hear our Master say to us, once our lives here have completed their given days, will be worth the effort it has taken.

Keep pressing on to the end. Know your calling, do what it takes to be faithful in the daily walk, and look with hearts full of hope and longing for that day when He will say to you, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.”

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Love For His People. Inc.

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Now Think On This #153 “Well Done” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (05.28.14) Wednesday at 6:10 pm in Charlotte, NC.

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on our newest website: Now Think On This

Pope: Holy Land Pilgrimage Spiritual, Not Political - CBN News

Pope Francis

Pope: Holy Land Pilgrimage 

Spiritual, Not Political

Chris Mitchell, CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief  

CBN News 05.27.14

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Pope Francis flew back to Rome Monday after a three-day tour of Jordan, Israel and Bethlehem. He'll soon host a meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian presidents. But he left with a reminder that his efforts are what he called spiritual, not political.

Near the end of his visit, the pope said mass and greeted Christians at the Garden of Gethsemane.

"I think he is a man that's going to do much good in uniting the churches," said Colleen Doyle, a tour guide of a Christian group from New Zealand.

During his visit, Francis told the Christians living in Jerusalem he understood their difficulties and invited them to be courageous witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus.

How significant is it that Pope Francis made this pilgrimage? Arina Grossu with the Family Research Council answers this and more, on CBN Newswatch, May 27.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the pope Israel protects Christians.

"We protect the rights of Christians in Israel. That, unfortunately, does not exist in many places in the Middle East. Even in Bethlehem, where your Holiness visited, Jesus' birthplace, has become a Muslim city," he said.

Netanyahu also referred to the stop Francis made at the security barrier between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

"When incitement and terror against Israel stops, there won't be a need for things like the security fence [the West Bank barrier], which has saved thousands of lives," he said.

On his way back to Rome, the pope clarified his invitation to Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to pray together at the Vatican.

"It will be a prayer meeting; it will not be for mediation or to look for solutions. No. We will meet together to pray only, and then each one will return home. But I believe that prayer is important. Praying together with[out] doing any sort of arguing, this helps," the pope said on Tuesday.

The gathering of Israeli and Palestinian leaders is scheduled to take place in Rome in early June.

"I Will Love You To Life!" - Theresa Phillips - Prophetic Words Over America

Theresa Phillips:

Prophetic Words Over America: 

"I Will Love You To Life!"

The Elijah List

"Dear Church, I have to tell you a mystery!" says the Lord. "I am developing an army of Believers from all across the nation of America to carry the burden of the nation.

"This band of warriors will be sought out by Me in dreams, visions, and supernatural encounters. Many will receive the mandate while in worship and in intimate prayer. The love for their nation will grow.

"Yes, dear America, I am cherishing you even now," says the Lord of Hosts. "I wept and broke when you despised your land, when you said I had cursed it, for I never cursed America; I love America! Remember, you are still ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

"I can see the Church in America being attacked by the monster that has been attacking Israel for thousands of years. This attack will be thwarted by an army of Kingdom-dwellers who will humble themselves and pray for the land to be spared! 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know' (Jeremiah 33:3); yes, things you do not know UNTIL NOW... 

(Photo via Freeimages)

"Yes, My Church, I love you and I have not forsaken you; for I will build you up once again and give you the chance to tear down those spiritual Jericho walls that have been built by enemies of My Church.

Carefully And Lovingly I Have Kept Some Of My Warriors Hidden For THIS TIME

"Church, O Church, can you see it, the abundance of rain? I am renewing hope, I am renewing strength, and I am renewing vision! I am washing you from above. But I did not send disaster in the rain; I did NOT. Our common enemy is trying to disguise himself as ME. I say NO! It is not Me, for I LOVE YOU TO LIFE!

"Renewed Hope! Can you feel it, the expectation of the people? 

Carefully and lovingly I have kept some of My warriors hidden for this time. My intercessors...hidden ones...are about to come home from faraway lands. Hidden inside even your own borders... The shores of America will be touched by ones who have held underground Churches in China, Korea, Baghdad, Syria, Russia, Vietnam, and Cuba.

"You will hear of MIGHTY EXPLOITS from small islands across the seas, and you will say, 'Ahhhhh, so this is IT! Be glad, I Am is sending help.'" 

(Photo via Pixabay)

Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and earth.

"Receive these warriors, for they will tell their story and will encourage many. Many are in America now, waiting for the invitation from the pastor who is hungry for the nations."

Fresh Wind For The Apostle, Teacher, Pastor, Prophet, Evangelist

"On the fivefold I am pouring out a FRESH WIND!

"The apostle, who is praying to be sent, I will send you. For I am changing the guard to the nations. Yes, many will now be sent to the nations. This is my Joshua Generation...the younger and the elder going together AS ONE!

"Now to the teacher...I know you know you're called to teach, but...where are you? Where are you? First, I ask you to say out loud, 'Here am I, Lord, send me' (see Isaiah 6:8). Oh yes, I will send you into churches that need you and want you – large and small. Despise not the small! I've called many into houses of worship who did not go. This time I say go and your reward will be great," says the Lord of Lords. "The youth and the elder NEED the teacher. Feel that wind now...it's Me sending you!

"Pastors, O pastors, how I weep for you even now. You have shouldered the burden for a long time. Many have grown weary and given up. Many are shut down. I am awakening you! I am touching you again. I'm breathing on you...awake, and arise and shine, for the Light has come and I am about to give you NEW PLANS to WIN, WIN, WIN souls for the Kingdom. Ha Ha! Fear not, for I am with you. Fear not."

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

"Unto My prophets, those who are known and those who are not, remember, good conquers evil. Never let momentum of the punishment of evildoers become your focus. Focus on the abundance of Life. I will desire to produce life – it is in your tongue. In your tongue!"

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

"I smell the wine presses making the fruit. Wine, fine wine. Because you have been put to the press for some time. NOW I am releasing to many of the prophets a FRESH NEW FLAVOR of joy and hope to ALL the people. Love to life!

(Photo via RentVine.com)

"For a long time you have endured so much, prophets; yes, I know. But you will see; you will see the mystery in your own life. No longer will it bother you, for I am healing many of you NOW!" says the Lord

.

"O evangelist! O evangelist, how you have driven to and fro... I am about to give you cities, villages, regions, states, sections, and nations – national exposure and international exposure. You are being refined even now. Get ready, all you in the fold, EVANGELIZE!

"Crusades will emerge all across the land, large and small, and I am in it! Hold your course and deter not from your mandate. If I called you to evangelize, why did you try to pastor? I'm setting it all in order," says Jesus, the Sent One.

"They Shall Fear And Tremble For All The Goodness And Prosperity That I Provide"

"For the word above is being sealed with the Word of GOD. Selah... First of all to the American Church, and second of all, to all MY Church in the nations, I love you."

Jeremiah 33:6-9 Behold, I will bring it [SAY YOUR NATION] health and healing; I will heal them [OUR PEOPLE] and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places as at the first. 

I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it. 

(Photo via Pixabay)

"O Church, I Love you! I love you!"

My simple prayer after I received this word was:

O, Lord GOD, here am I, send even me... In Jesus' name, amen.

Dr. Theresa Phillips
Chicago Prophetic Voice

Email: Info@ChicagoPropheticVoice.net
Website: ChicagoPropheticVoice.net

Dr. Theresa Phillips is senior pastor of Praise Ministries Church and dean of Praise Christian Seminary in St. Charles, Illinois. Theresa is dedicated to helping you encounter the living God and be filled with His never-ending glory. 

Pastor Theresa and her husband Robert have started an online publication called Chicago Prophetic Voice. This online publication is intended to help you see and hear the unseen and unheard realms of God as they are portrayed in the written Scriptures of the Holy Bible.

To subscribe to The Elijah List go to:http://elijahlist.com/subscribe

The Transfer of Christianity - The Great Commission, Part 22 - Rick Joyner

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The Transfer of Christianity - The Great Commission, Part 22

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Week 22, 2014

Rick Joyner

         Last week we addressed the elements of truth in the saying, “In Jerusalem, Christianity became a religion. In Greece, it became a philosophy. In Rome, it became an institution. In Britain, it became a tradition. In America, it became an enterprise.”  Not all of this was bad or unintended. The Christian culture that was to be received by all nations was also intended to receive from all nations.

         Even so, the expression of Christianity has picked up a lot of baggage from its passage through the nations that it needs to get rid of. Much of this will come as the center of gravity of Christianity transfers to Asia. One thing we can expect to see is Asia becoming a great filter that removes many of the impurities that the expression of Christianity has picked up. This will come from one of the great strengths of the Asian culture—its honor of history. They will be prone to go back to the roots of the faith, to the purest forms, and embrace them more than trends and fads that were added.  

         As we look at the history of Christianity, we can also note that its center would transfer from one place to another at different rates. It was only centered in Jerusalem for a few years. Then it remained in Greece, or to be more accurate, where the Greek culture was dominant which included Asia Minor, or what is now modern day Turkey. This is the region of the Seven Churches of Revelation and Constantinople, one of the most influential of all Christian cities, where it remained for centuries.

         Rome emerged as the dominant center of gravity, as a counterpoint to Constantinople, and held the dominant position in European Christianity for over a thousand years. Then Germany and Switzerland became two of the most powerful centers of the advancing church with the birth of the Protestant Reformation.

         America’s time as the center of the advancing church has been short, but powerful. This is typical of the innovation and initiative America is known for. The Evangelical, Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Third Wave movements all were either birthed in America, or quickly found a receptive home there. Many other smaller but very influential movements were spun off of these.

         However, many problems and heresies spun off of these movements as well, probably due to the great weakness of the church in America—its lack of devotion to knowing and understanding the lessons of history. For all of its talk about devotion to biblical truth, studies have revealed that even in the Evangelical movement, less than 10% have a biblical worldview. This is bad, but not surprising. America’s DNA is from pioneers and risk takers—those always trying to expand the limits and look to the future. Such are not prone to stop and look backwards into history, or take much time on the slow, tedious work of laying strong foundations. Therefore, it seems fitting that the Christian center of gravity is moving toward a culture where the lessons of history are so honored. The balance is needed.

         Of course, over the last century some of the greatest revivals in history were ignited in South and Central America, as well as Africa. Their contributions have been great and will likely be even greater in the future. Such paradigms for understanding history are never completely smooth or perfect, but the centers where the biggest and most enduring influences were brought has mostly been in the Northern Hemisphere, and moved from east to west.      

         The Lord said that the end of the age is the harvest. The greatest ingathering of all time is beginning, but it is also more than this. The harvest is when all of the seeds that have been planted mature. Even as the center of Christianity moves to Asia, we can expect all of the other homes of the faith to come into a greater maturity. Just because the center of gravity may have moved elsewhere, it does not mean that their contributions are over.

         How long will the center of Christianity remain in Asia? Could it be that their contribution, rooted in depth and long history, can be accomplished quickly? Regardless of how long it takes, the center of gravity of Christianity will return to Jerusalem before the end comes. At that time, we can expect Isaiah 19:19-25 to be fulfilled.

Source: Morningstar Ministries Resources

Pope's Visit to the Western Wall

God will surely bless you in the Land that the Lord, your God, will give you as an inheritance to possess it. DEUTERONOMY (15:4) כִּי בָרֵךְ יְבָרֶכְךָ יְ-הוָה בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יְ-הוָה אֱ-לֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ דברים טו:ד kee ba-RAYKH y'-va-REKH-kha a-do-NAI ba-a-RETZ a-SHER e-lo-HE-kha no-TAYN l'-KHA na-kha-LA l'-rish-TA

Today's Israel Inspiration Several amazing speakers came out for our farewell tour dinner in Jerusalem this past Sunday night. Chris Mitchell of the Christian Broadcast Network shared his take, as a Jerusalem correspondent, on the peace process, declaring that the Land is not "ours or theirs" to negotiate, but rather is God's Land, and when diplomacy fails time and again, it is solely because "He is the silent peace partner." It was a stirring reminder to look behind the headlines, and to thank God for granting the Jewish people "an inheritance" in His blessed Land. Join Israel365's next tour of Israel » Pope's Visit to the Western Wall Pope Francis visited the Temple Mount early yesterday morning, meeting with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. He then prayed at the Western Wall. Watch Here » Cost of Peace in Israel: $250 Billion The 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, which were meant to bring stability to Israel, have actually cost the country over $250 billion and more than 1,000 human casualties.  Meanwhile, the peace that was promised is nowhere to be seen. Read More » Silver Bracelet with Turquoise Enjoy this funky braided rope bracelet from Israel! Its sterling silver plaque is engraved with the Hebrew words “Y’varechecha V’yishmarecha” (May you be blessed and guarded) from the Priestly Blessings. Get this Great Deal and Free Shipping » Israel Photo Trivia How well do you know the Holy Land - can you identify where this picture by Yehoshua Halevi was taken? Send me an email or post your answer on Facebook! Guess on Facebook » Thank You Please help us continue to spread the beauty and significance of our beloved Jerusalem! Sponsor a day in honor of a loved one » “Touched My Heart” It’s great to hear from so many of you - stay in touch and let us know where in the world you are enjoying Israel365! Stay in Touch » Awesome, my heart races with excitement, joy, adoration and praise. Wanda Pienaar, Bilene, Mozambique Loved the photo and the song. Touched my heart. Shabbat shalom. Rose McKinlay. Aussie land. Down under. Shalom, Rabbi Tuly Weisz RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

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Israel Commemorates "Jerusalem Day," Celebrating the Unification of Jerusalem in 1967

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta)

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Chapter: Jewish holidays: Israel Commemorates "Jerusalem Day," Celebrating the Unification of Jerusalem in 1967 Posted: 26 May 2014  Paratroopers at the Western Wall, 1967  (Israel Government Press Office) David Rubinger's iconic 1967 picture of Israeli paratroopers at the Western Wall is one of the most famous pictures in modern Jewish history. The photo was taken just hours after the Israel Defense Forces captured Jerusalem's Old City during the Six-Day War after the Jordanian army fired on the Jewish half of the city. Israel Daily Picture has discovered that the Western Wall has been a magnet for Jewish soldiers over the last century. We present these pictures for "Yom Yerushalayim" which begins Tuesday evening.  Austrian Jewish soldiers at the Western Wall.  The Austrian and German armies were allied with the Turkish army  during World War I, 1915 (Harvard Library/Central Zionist Archives). The  photographer, Ya'akov Ben-Dov, moved to Palestine from Kiev in 1907. He was drafted into  the Ottoman army during World War I and served as a photographer in Jerusalem Jewish soldiers from the British Army after the capture of Jerusalem in December 1917 (Wikipedia)   Two British soldiers, presumably Jewish, at the Western Wall during a major snow storm in 1921 (Library of Congress)

American Campuses Regain Sanity - ISRAEL TODAY

American Campuses Regain Sanity

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 |  Tsvi Sadan  ISRAEL TODAY

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Topics:

America

On May 20th the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW) voted down an anti-Israeli resolution pushed by Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights (SUPER-UW), which belongs to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel on campuses around the world.

The resolution called for the "University of Washington to examine its financial assets to identify its investments in companies that provide equipment or services used to directly maintain, support, or profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land … that the ASUW requests the University of Washington to instruct its investment managers to divest from those companies."

In short, this was another resolution to boycott Israel, but this time it ended in a resounding "no" to such stunts, which have become increasingly popular on American campuses ever since the 2001 Durban NGO conference that labeled Israel as a racist state.

The BDS defeat at the University of Washington further indicates that students and faculty are beginning to understand that the BDS movement and NGOs that purportedly support human rights are masking an anti-Semitic agenda.

The Mike Report blog aptly highlighted the comments of University of Washington professor of sociology, Paul Burstein, "who suggested the resolution framers were less than honest as to their goals, and that their true intention was the end of Israel as a Jewish majority state … he described it as just an easy way to manipulate the students to appear to support the sponsor's twisted agenda."

The University of Washington is not the first to unveil the true nature of the BDS movement. Just a few weeks earlier, the Graduate and Professional Student Association at the University of New Mexico overturned a divestment resolution. A month before that, the Associated Students for the University of New Mexico voted down a similar motion.

BDS was also defeated at Cornell University, despite the fact that, as BackSpin blog has reported, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) tried to steal the vote.

A call to boycott Israel was also voted down 25-9 at the University of Michigan, despite threatening rhetoric used by pro-Palestinian activists. The Washington Free Beacon reported on March 21 that "Pro-Palestinian activists on the University of Michigan campus have had the cops called on them for threatening pro-Israel students and staging a sit-in over the student government's refusal to back an anti-Israel initiative to divest from the Jewish state."

Israelis are well familiar with the motto "if you can't beat 'em, cheat 'em." It characterizes the Palestinian fight against Israel.

After more than ten years of bewilderment, it seems as if the Jewish community and many others begin to realize that out-of-control anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish allegations are based on fiction designed to create hateful strife rather than love and peace.

In the wake of yet another attack against Jews in Brussels, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rightly stated that "slander and lies against the State of Israel continue to be heard on European soil even as the crimes against humanity and acts of murder being perpetrated in our region are systematically ignored. Our response to this hypocrisy is to constantly state the truth, continue a relentless fight against terrorism and build up our strength."

Does the BDS defeat on American campuses signal a meaningful awakening to its true nature? It seems like there is cause for cautious optimism.

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