July 17, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Your Past vs. Your Future

I see too many Christians who live more in their past than their future. They talk more about their past than their future, as if, they have no future. I know the temptation (when you get over 60) is to tell everyone “how things use to be” but it is only in our future that we will find Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

The question is when does this start? When you are born, saved, start going to church, between age 18 and 45, or is it an ongoing process? So many people once they get over 70 have no plans. They are merely living out the final years of their life.

Whenever we begin to start looking back, remembering how things once were, we put our future on hold. Looking back is never a good thing! There are plenty of Scripture stories that illustrate the danger of “looking back”.

The children of Israel after coming out of Egypt began to look back and remember how good they had it in Egypt—the ones that did died in the Sinai Desert. Lot’s wife looked back after being led out of Sodom and Gomorra became a pillar of salt. The religious leaders in the days of Christ’s ministry on earth could only accept what God did in the past—they had no vision for the future.

I can tell you emphatically that without hope for a bright future you are lost and without the will of Christ in your life. Any time in your life when you reflect on your past and ‘look to remember how good it was’ you are in danger of Satan leading you into despair.

We always have a future in Christ. I will soon be 70. God has indeed blessed me with many blessings over those 70 years, but I am looking to my future in Him. I am looking to do more, and whatever I do, to have a greater blessing than God has given me in my past.

It is Jesus I am looking too. He is my hope, He is my future, and He is my strength to be able to do all things. Yes, I have a past but I only look forward to my future—this is my joy!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 12, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

What Will Keep You Out of Heaven?

(The Doubling Principle)

We get excited when God talks about ‘doubling’. Yep, God wants all of His creation to double and keep doubling. But way to often, we do not increase what God gives to us. We become static and fearful of God’s acceptance.

Becoming ‘saved’ is just the first step, it is not an end in itself! We are created to produce God’s fruit. All of Scripture expresses God’s plan for each of us to produce fruit (good works, attain to Gifts of the Spirit, and replace Satan’s plans with God’s plans), which is to multiply year after year, season after season, in our lives and through us to others.

It is not good to bury, hide, or disregard what God has given to you. You are no good to God if your light is not set on a hill for all to see (Matthew 5: 13-16). We are supposed to be a ‘change-agent’ in this world. We are to produce in abundance, internally and externally, God’s character traits in us.

Luke 8: 4-15, the parable of a sower, Jesus talks about good ground and what it is to produce. The ground is our lives and the seed is God’s words of life in our lives (And the seed fell on good ground, and sprang up and bare fruit an hundredfold, vs. 8).

Verse 15 states, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Jesus gives us a stern warning in Matthew 25: 14-30 about making sure you talents (what God has given you—deposited in your life) multiplies. If your life does not produce God’s fruit (His works and words in your life) then God will cast you into hell (see verses 28-30).

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him, which has ten talents.29For to every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.30And cast you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

To make it into heaven is much more than being a Christian, saved and spirit filled. It is more than going to church and giving of your money. It is about producing! Whatever God gives you in this life, it is to multiply all the time—the constant flow of God’s law of multiplication. I call this the Doubling Principle.

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What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 12, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Why is Unity in the Spirit so hard to find?

This article came to me from my good friend, David Hauser, Western Regional Director for Healing Rooms International. Dave writes:

“I just met with a close Pastor friend David Fischer who wrote a book ‘The Future Great Planet Earth’.

Our discussions and prayers always move toward the Lord and what God wants to do with the Church.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a little more humility of mind when it comes to making sense out of things we can never fully understand at this present time? We are so locked in with our thinking. We all exist in the NOW, and yet God is waiting for us in the future.

Apostle Paul said, “But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.” (I Corinthians 8:1b-2 NLT).

Could it be that unity of the body of Christ trumps doctrinal unity? By sticking with one another in a city, can we appreciate the different perspectives God has given each of us? When we disagree is it not a test as who we are as Christians. Is it more important to be right, or to be related? Do you want to be in the know, or to be in love? To be unanimous with a few or in unity with all?

The greatest Scripture on this subject, the fountainhead of truth on this subject from my perspective is in Ephesians 4:3,13 NKJV

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond peace…till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

We cannot afford to break fellowship with each other over fine points of doctrine. Here we are two millennia later and still stuck in a black hole where light cannot escape.

Who is there among us who will take up the standard of fighting against an enemy that has been slyer then any of us really know, and has kept this Scripture away from becoming reality, that all creation is holding its breath in abeyance until we have the revelation of the sons and daughters of God. With much thanks to Rev. David Fischer.”

By Rev. David Hauser

(I could not have said it any better, Dave. Indeed, unity is only found in the Holy Spirit and once we try to control what the Holy Spirit does or how and why He does what He does we will lose unity and the bond of peace will never be ours…Steve)

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 10, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Christ is Not a Hobby!

(Steve’s wisdom lesson for the month)

I am beginning a new monthly series—a bit of wisdom to help guide all of us. Something you can take with you and help grow your life. Something good and hopeful that is embedded in the wisdom of God. Here is my first monthly ‘wisdom lesson’.

“So many Christians start off being saved with hope and energy, but after awhile we begin to take Christ for granted. We know that He will love us no matter what; so we give Him a portion of our time, life, and commitment. However, serving Christ is not that easy nor is it limited.

Christ is not a hobby. Christ is not your weekend event such as attending church, nor is He a God you can choose to interact with Him at your convenience. We cannot pick and choose when to respond to God’s requests or the level of our relationship with Him.

God is an all-consuming fire. He wants all of us; all the time with all the passion and boldness we show other things to be second to the amount of passion we show Him. If Christ is taking a back seat to anything else in your life then Christ is just a hobby to you,” Steve’s wisdom for July 2018.

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What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 9, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Wow, Judge Kavanaugh!

I am sure you have been listening to the news about the next Supreme Court Justice and the battle over his/her confirmation. Well, Judge Brett Kavanaugh received the nomination from President Trump, but this is just the beginning for the battle of God’s will over the Supreme Court.

The lines of engagement have been drawn and the battle will begin by tomorrow. While I was watching our President announce and introduce to the nation his choice for the next justice, I was moved by the Holy Spirit to pray for Mr. Kavanaugh and his family. This will not be an easy process—the liberal base in America will make his confirmation process the vilest and brutal in the history in America.

Christians need to pray for his wife and two daughters. The media, Democrats, and ignorant Christians will ridicule the Kavanaugh family and do whatever it takes to destroy his family. We are in a battle between God’s will and man’s will for the blessings of Christ over our nation.

I am amazed as to how many ‘so-called Christians’ that are anti-Trump and everything he stands for. I am reminded through Scripture how Judas was chosen and elected yet he rejected the truth and became the one who betrayed Christ. Judas was angry with Christ and loved darkness more than the light of the Gospel. As well as, Ananias and Sapphira who were members of the early Church (Acts chapter 5) who were believers and Spirit-filled yet once again turned from the truth of Christ, lost their salvation, and were killed by God. These (and so many other examples in Scripture) demonstrate what God does to those who reject His love and salvation for their own desires, love of money, and their ignorance of the power & will of God.

It is time for those Christians, who know the truth and realize God’s will and the determination of His will in American politics, to become active soldiers in the battle and protection of those who God has chosen to do His will. God placed Mr. Trump in the presidency and Trump’s decisions to support the will of God is critical in these last days. We must and not fail to fight the good fight of faith and do all we can through the power of the Holy Spirit by not allowing evil to have its way in American politics.

It is time to pray like you have never prayed before (I have said this often) and it is a time to fight and not give up using the whole armor of God and be determined to see that God’s will is completed. May Christ give you boldness and knowledge to accomplish His will in all things and bring all things under the subjection of Christ’s name.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 6, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Caught in the Crossfire

You and I can see film clips of gun battles where innocent bystanders got caught in the crossfire. Sometimes any numbers of these innocent victims became injured. We consider these people as being in ‘the wrong place at the wrong time’. A tragic scenario for so many people nowadays.

California has so many people from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems. If you cannot find it in California it probably does not exist. There are many Christians in the Golden State. Some are more Christian than others but the mix of non-believers and believers is found in every city and county.

Being a Christian (by church standards) is not always good enough for God. Revelation states if you are luke-warm God considers you a cast-a-way. God only wants those who believe and shows it.

Judgment is upon California; only a fool does not see what is about to happen in our state. Even non-believing scientists warn of coming doom. God predicted judgment on groups of people that no longer believe and have chosen to live without the mercy of Christ in their lives.

There will be Christians that will be ‘blind-sided” by God’s promise of His judgment on mankind. We do not like to admit this side of God but God is a judge—a righteous judge. Do not be caught in the crossfire of God’s displeasure with His creation. If I would offer some advice, these suggestions will help you be prepared for what is to come.

1. If you are not in love with Jesus any longer, rediscover what you did and what you were like when you were in love with Him. Fall in love again with Jesus and let Him love you back.

2. Quit making excuses for God. God is who He says He is and God will do what He says He will do. Begin to believe with all your heart and look to God to fulfill what He wants to do each and every day in your life.

3. Be different, be unique, be radical for the Gospel of Christ. The way not to be surprised is by being part of the surprise from God. God will not let you down and you will never be surprised if you are willing to be part of the surprise God has determined for mankind.

Jesus always knew what His Father was planning and you can know as well. Remember, God promises knowledge about all things but only in your relationship with His Son. I am never caught in the crossfire because Jesus is my protection from all Godly judgments.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.

July, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

A Person of Character Knows When & How to Fight

Character of the Month Series

The world says to avoid conflict and fighting. But God says, “Fight the good fight of faith.” A person of faith is a person who fights and knows how and who to fight against.

My dad always wanted me to stand up for the person who is being teased or harassed by others in school. He knew that the weak were going to be ‘picked-on’ by others. Dad felt that it was my duty and responsibility to assist others who could not ‘stand-up’ for themselves. I still remember his admonition to me at the dinner table.

God knows that we will be persecuted for our faith. We will be ridiculed, embarrassed, tortured, and even killed by those who hate God or those that are blinded by their own ignorance. We will be persecuted and that is OK with me.

But, that does not stop me from putting on the armor of God and fighting in God’s army. My fight is not “against flesh and blood but against principalities & powers and anything that exalts itself against God.” Satan is and will always be the enemy of Jesus Christ.

There are many human enemies of the Gospel of Christ, people who hate God and all that He stands for. They serve themselves and their selfish desires. They do not want anyone or philosophy telling them what to do. They love themselves alone and thereby hate everything that is Christian.

I have noticed an increase in those individuals that have the ‘mark of the beast’ in their lives. I have even seen it in young people. People are beginning to turn themselves over to the influence and power of the devil in record numbers. Not all people who want nothing to do with God have the evidence of the ‘mark of the beast’, only those who try to deceive others and love darkness and refuse to acknowledge their sin.

We are to bring everything under the authority and control of Christ. This is the last command of Christ and God is waiting for this to happen. There is no Second Coming of Christ till you and I fight against all spiritual darkness and fulfill God’s command.

We must fight and be willing to fight—not being a pacifist—allowing darkness to go unchecked. There is no victory in Christ without the battle in Christ. Christ indeed fought for me and I will fight His fight. This is my calling; this is my character—a soldier of Jesus.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.

July 2, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Hope Brings A Crowd

Hope Series #5

The person without hope is alone and isolated—without plans or dreams or visions. Totally lost and rejected, a person that cannot feel or connect with others. A person that merely exists without a chance of fulfillment and abides in their personal prison.

On the other hand, I am never alone when I am resting in hope. With hope, I can see above the confusion and any turmoil that is around me. Hope gives me insight and lightheartedness. In fact, I have company when I have hope…God shows up. I am no longer alone, by myself, but I have become “2” because Jesus is hanging out with me.

God’s hope helps me to think straight. My thoughts are not negative nor do I live in despair…God is with me. I can feel His presence when I exercise the hope I have in Him. I live in a crowd when hope is activated in my life. God shows up in the Trinity…I have the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit here with me.

Yes, hope brings a crowd—this is how I feel with hope working in my life. I do not feel alone nor am I isolated. Even as Jesus said, “Though I make my bed in hell. God is with me.” There is no hell on earth that can make me feel alone because Christ is with me. He said, “He will never leave me nor forsake me.” Besides, Jesus said, “I will send you the Comforter (Holy Spirit). He will be with you and comfort you.”

I cannot explain how God does this but only that He loves me so much; His presence creates an atmosphere of togetherness around me. I got hope, and I got Jesus! I am now never alone but in a perpetual spiritual crowd with the Holy Spirit gathering the Kingdom of Heaven around me.

Let’s see, with God’s hope, I have good plans guiding my life. I have a path for my feet so I do not fail. I have feelings of acceptance and love. I have justification for living and desire to perform good works. I now have the means to think good thoughts and be a better person. I now live in a crowd—I am never alone with Jesus who is my hope.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.

June 25, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Hope Keeps Me Out of Trouble

Hope Series #4

Hope has a tendency to keep me in a safe place. When hope is active in my life I do not seem to have any problems or troubles. It’s like a wall of protection around me. I am safe from evil; safe from wicked and deceitful people. God knows that His kids need protection and His hope in me offers that protection.

Hope not only brings redemption but it keeps me redeemed. It not only brings salvation but it keeps me saved. God’s hope is designed to be proactive and reactive. It is meant to change the predicaments you find yourself in, as well as, keeping you out of such predicaments.

When we find God’s hope actively working in our lives and circumstances, we find places of safety. If you want to stay out of trouble, just get hope in your circumstances. After you realize that you need hope (God’s hope) and you begin your journey of tears and crying out for God’s help; it is then with God’s help that puts a song in your heart and joy in your voice. His hope is meant to deliver you and also to keep you in a good place.

Do not be quick to disregard hope once you find its results in your life. Allow hope to continue its work in your life. It is important that you move from hope to more hope. Allow hope to grow in strength and empowerment in all you do.

Example: Hope brings me forgiveness and it is the same hope, which brings me strength not to stumble into the same sin again. When I keep that hope in front of me I find not only God’s deliverance but His keeping power. God has ‘hope from trouble’ ever reaching you. God’s hope is found in the shelter under His wings or to ride upon eagles’ wings. Either way, it is His hope that protects me. My God is just that big. He’s got hope for every situation and problem that approaches to do me harm.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.

June 24, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Always With Hope

Hope Series #3

I have been writing about hope. Everywhere I turn I see people without hope. They are injured, angry, lost, confused, bitter and alone. Without hope, we are indeed individuals that are without purpose or compassion—totally miserable.

Hosea says, that God has given us a door of hope—an avenue to walk through that opens up all that God has to offer to us (Hosea 2:15). The Bible says that with the hope of Christ we are blessed, unashamed, happy, live with purpose, have faith and charity, have eternal life, are saved & delivered from evil, healed & healthy, can believe all things when I have hope, have reasons for living, and attain to the resurrection of the dead, but we must continually hope in the Lord in order to never be alone.

We must become people of hope in our words, actions, belief system, and attitude in approaching God. God is hope and offers us His hope; we must respond to Him in like manner.

I refuse not to have hope in what I do. It is not my hope but Christ’s hope He has spoken to me. Hope to be a better person and do the will of God cheerfully. I do not try to create a fake hope or a false hope, which I can perform. I rather trust in God—in what God says about Himself and what He has said He will do for me. I live in that hope.

It is not possible for God’s love not to reach me. It is not possible for what Jesus promised to do for me not happen to me. It’s just not possible—it was finished 2,000 years ago with His death.

How can I have hope? I do these things: I quote to myself Bible verses that reference the word ‘hope’, I remember who Jesus is and what He said He would do for me (Isaiah 61:1-2), I listen to songs of hope and encouragement, I tell myself what God thinks about me—who I am in Christ, I affirm that I am forgiven through prayer and worship, and I do not allow Satan to discourage me through circumstances or people’s opinions about me.

Why do I have hope, so I can have faith and love God? My hope is grounded in Jesus Christ not in what I can do. It is built on nothing less than Christ’s righteousness and faithfulness. This is what Jesus would like me to do—place my hope in Him.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.