December 30, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Are Your Prayers Answered?

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

(Matthew 6:6, NIV)

There are too many of our prayers that go unanswered; I know God is listening and remembers my prayers, but I have always wondered why I do not receive my requests?

Next year, 2022, I want more of your prayers answered. Too often we pray out of strength not out of humility. I have received so many prayers (answered prayers—answered quickly) when I spoke to God out of a state of need and humility.

We hear too many sermons or teaching about positive speaking, demanding things to happen, or ‘faith that commands’ things to happen, we fail in seeing the many truths in Scriptures.

There is a distinct and overwhelming difference between prayers that are meant to fight against darkness and Satan’s actions, and prayers that speak to requests and finding God’s mercy, help, and blessings in a particular situation or life-changing matter.

Do not think that one particular style or manner of prayer is good for all your requests to God. I find that many people do not receive answers to their prayers because they pray out of pride and self-strength instead of humility, meekness, and dependence on God.

There is a multitude of prayers and teachings on prayer in the Bible that speak to humility and meekness when we pray. When we think that we are ‘important or powerful’ instead of being humble and dependent on God we error. It is God who is always listening, and we ought to approach our Father humbly not out of arrogance and dictatorship.

I challenge you to pray as Matthew 6:6 tells us (these are the words of Jesus, and this is how He approached God each day). Before your day begins and before God asks you to do His will through conducting/performing miracles, healings, signs, and wonders through the working of the Holy Spirit in your life, begin to pray with humility.

You have unanswered prayers go back to your closet, humble yourself, and pray with meekness looking to God alone to answer your prayers and fulfill your requests quickly.

It is in humility, not strength, that God hears

your prayers and answers them each day!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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December 25, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

The gifts for Jesus, are they your gifts too?

“They came into the house and saw the young

child with Mary, his mother, and they fell

down and worshiped him. Opening their

treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold,

frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11, NEV)

A theological note: The wise men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn king. Gold, of course, was used as currency, frankincense is a valuable perfume, and myrrh is a precious ointment used in the burial process of the rich. Why these gifts? What do they mean?

(A personal observation: I am amazed how much wisdom is in front of us, but we rather hold on to our own ignorance and stupidity. God gives us wisdom everywhere—in nature, in the Bible, and in the Holy Spirit, but it seems we rather hold onto the weak and pathetic wisdom that we create for ourselves.)

From the very beginning of Jesus’s ministry, God was trying to tell us, “What is good for my Son, Jesus, is also good for each and every one of us.” The most interesting factor of ‘God’s wisdom’ is that He (God) hides it from us (usually right in front of us) and He (God) expects us to search and sacrifice to find and obtain it (Book of Proverbs). This is one of those times!

Types in the Bible: gold refers to God’s wisdom, frankincense is prayer(s), and myrrh is anointing and preparation for death.

God’s wisdom is not merely knowledge or being smart or clever sayings and truths. Wisdom from God (including the Gift of Wisdom—one of the nine gifts of the Spirit) is finding and understanding what the will of God is. Got wisdom you will have access to God’s will—His purposes and action plans. It is not creativity or Godly smarts but simply the discovery of His will. This is what Jesus had—knowing God’s will in every situation and circumstance (faith is you responding to God’s will and accepting it whatever it might be).

Pray is the one attribute that God collects and never forgets. God keeps all prayers in heaven, and it is the only means for us to communicate with God. Why prayer? It is the great equalizer—everyone can pray no matter who you are, how rich or poor you are, smart or ignorant, and your age does not count. Prayer levels the playing field in the Kingdom of God. It is prayer that moves heaven to earth. Rev. Billy Graham once told his grandson, “If there is one thing I should have done better, it is that I should have prayer more.”

Death is a calling; it is inevitable. We all will die but for what purpose and in what manner. Death is never final in God’s realm but must be accomplished with God’s will (wisdom) and through prayer (Jesus in Gethsemane, praying with complete passion and with His whole being). It is this death, as Jesus told us all, “Pick up your cross daily and follow me.” Not only will we physically die someday but we must die spiritually each and every day. It is this death that we must accept as Jesus did his.

These gifts that Jesus received at birth are the same gifts God wants to give to you and me! Now is the time for the wisdom of God’s will, praying without ceasing, and death’s anointing.

Come, Lord Jesus, come! I want the gifts that you received

not for my glory but for your glory alone.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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December 23, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

The Giving of Gifts

Jesus talked about giving, and the Bible also has lots to say about how and what to give to others. Sometimes we get it right and other times we fail miserably. I like to give; in fact, I look for ways to give, but I am selective on what, how, and to whom I give. Nevertheless, there is one type of giving Christians need to pay close attention to!

Proverbs 13:22 states, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.” (KJV)

Too often we think this verse refers to money or possessions. However, that is not true. Just as Jesus spoke of natural things in the Gospels to make a spiritual truth understandable or to hide it from people trying to understand God’s truth, so was the Book of Proverbs written using ‘everyday truths’ to hide and illustrate the activity of the Holy Spirit. Proverbs uses natural common truths to illustrate spiritual truths.

Yes, it is OK and good to give of your wealth or possessions to family and others but Proverbs 13:22 is speaking of spiritual things—spiritual giving. It is speaking of how we allow the Holy Spirit to give our spiritual inheritance & spiritual possessions to others in our passing.

The chapter of faith (Hebrews chapter 11) is a great example of such giving. Whatever God has placed in our lives—whatever that which is good and comes from God, the Holy Spirit is to pass it along to our children and grandchildren. This is what God wants to do and it is one of the many duties/jobs of the Holy Spirit.

So, during this Christmas season, do not be lacking in faith or the love of the Spirit. Ask God, believe in God, and expect the Holy Spirit to show you how to give whatever God has placed in your life (all and any spiritual gifts) to be passed on to the generations that will be following you.

(Don’t understand or need clarification to this truth, email me/ask me your question. I have personally experienced this concept and it will not automatically happen just because you are a Christian. It is an act of faith and will not be the same for everyone. I what you to understand the wisdom of God nor fail God in any way especially when it comes to ‘the giving of gifts’.)

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.

December 6, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Is Your Love for Jesus Enough?

Jesus said, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30 ESV). Jesus was speaking to all His disciples when He spoke these words; yes, this means you and me.

Many within the Body of Christ say, “Yes, we love God,” but Jesus questions our love for Him. When love is involved, there is a ‘measuring stick’ God uses to verify and validate our love. Love demands a standard to its authenticity and completeness. You and I cannot just say we ‘love God’ without a test to the depth of our love.

We measure our love to others and other people will naturally measure our love for them. Love demands standards and truthfulness.

One can love God with only their heart or only their soul or only their mind or only their strength. You have a choice how and to what extent you love God and Jesus knew this!

To love God means with all of you; not leaving anything out. Take a moment to make a personal survey of these four parts of what makes you, you. Do you love God with any part of you more or less than any other aspect of your life? Does your mind honor and love God or are there thoughts that limit or dishonor who God is? Do you use your strength—physical ability, talents, making money, using your time, or any personal traits in your life from doing more for God? How about your soul? That is, your spirit that makes up who you are and that which connects us to God—does your soul leap within you when you hear God’s voice or when you enter/feel the presence of God, or do your limit your reaction to God’s emotional connection to you? Lastly, what about your heart? Do you love this world or things in this world more than you love God? Do you love God first and last, and then and only then do you love others in this world as you have allowed yourself to be loved and love God?

Love is not simple; it is complicated! Jesus will say to you and me, “I never knew you” if you love the world more than you love God. Let’s make heaven our home by loving God with the four aspects of our being; with all that is ‘who we are’, leaving nothing undone and not limiting God’s access to any emotional, physical, mental, or spiritual aspect of our lives. You can do this because Jesus commanded us to love with this kind of love.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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November 5, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

A Thoughtful Truth for the Week

The God of Insanity

The Bible references God’s insanity. Though the word ‘insanity’ is not mentioned, but rather ‘the foolishness of God’ is. The Bible refers to the foolishness of God in a few verses and always within the concept of wisdom.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:25, KJV).

Every time you consider yourself wise, full of wisdom, or just plain smart, remember that the insanity of God has been and always will be smarter or should I say wiser than you can ever hope to be.

You nor I can never consider ourselves wiser than God or even attain the ability to understand the wisdom of God. It is only the Holy Spirit in us that can understand and operate using the wisdom of God.

Want wisdom, try first to understand the insanity of God—it is God’s foolishness that will take us into God’s wisdom.

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.

October 27, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Are you sure that Jesus was Sane?

There is little doubt that if Jesus would have been evaluated by today’s psychiatrists and medical doctors, they would agree that ‘Jesus was crazy’, to say the least. It would be obvious to educated individuals that ‘Jesus was a lunatic’, and furthermore, that attitude is alluded to in Scripture regarding His claim to be the Son of God.

Their diagnosis would certainly be that ‘Jesus is not sane’! A sane person would not say or act the way Jesus behaved. Who would act the way Jesus acted while on planet earth—"Jesus literally lost His mind” is what many Jewish people, His disciples, and political and religious leaders of His day would say?

Why would people make this claim against Jesus? Is it jealousy, hatred, envy, or fear of the supernatural? It could be all those attitudes but let’s look at what He did.

One, who walks on water? It is not the walking on water that surprises me, but that Jesus waited until there was a storm raging on the sea that caused such great waves that ships could not move through the water. Who does this, only someone that had a death wish? But Jesus not only walks on water, but He had super-glue on His sandals, so He did not slip on the water while walking through the tall waves. This is the real miracle!

Two, who allows their friend to die? Jesus waited until Lazarus died before even traveling to his home where he was dying. Then Jesus wanted to see his friend dead and buried in a tomb—who does this? Last, of all, Jesus talks to a dead person, “Lazarus, come forth.” Now if you did not yet think Jesus was crazy, this is what Jesus says next, “Take off his grave clothes and let him go.” (Story of Lazarus Gospel of John chapter 11)

Three, if one knows for sure that you would die tomorrow, be persecuted and then killed, and continue to wait for the police to arrive so to take you to prison and knowing you would die by hanging on a cross (slowly bleeding to death)—who does this? Who would allow others to do this to you when you could have escaped to live another day? Jesus welcomed His death, was silent—did not give a defense, and spoke words that would only support the prosecution’s accusations to have Jesus killed. Who does this, not a sane person? (New Testament Gospels)

Jesus was insane by standards of our medical profession and judicial laws—Jesus was unfit mentally to ‘stand trial’. What man says is insane, God states, “This is my will for humanity and my creation.” Be careful what you consider insane! God’s wisdom is greater and more powerful than all the wisdom of mankind. God is always sane!

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.

October 26, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

You’re Not that Important!

It is without question that we are precious and special to God. As the Bible states, God loved us so much He gave His Son to die for you and me. We are indeed important to God!

What gets us in trouble is not how God sees us but how we see ourselves. Indeed, I am not important, special, worthy, or honored, and I get myself in trouble when I think and act as if I am important and worthy of praise. I am never-ever a ‘somebody’ but rather always a ‘nobody’.

Jesus stated the no one is good but God, and Jesus did not consider Himself good because He was born in the image of man. If Jesus would not call Himself good where does that leave you and me?

The Apostle Paul described himself as the worst of all sinners, least of all the saints, and lastly, least and not worthy to be called an apostle of Jesus Christ. Are you better than Paul? Do you have a ministry greater than Paul? I do not think so!

This is how you should describe your worthiness and importance to God. Jesus’s disciples asked Him to increase their faith. (Who is the person with the greatest faith thereby the person that pleases God the most?) Here is Christ’s answer: Luke 17:5-10.

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’?Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So, you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” (NIV)

Yes, ‘unworthy servants’ that is who we are. Even if you did everything God asked you to do, even if you had faith as a mustard seed, and even if God called you His servant—you are still unworthy. This is the greatest person in God’s kingdom, who says completely, totally, and with an honest confession, “I am an unworthy servant and whatever I did it was my duty and responsibility to do—I deserve no honor; no recognition!”

That’s right, I am not important; I am the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.

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.

October 25, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Are You a Fool?

Satan tries to fool us. In fact, he has fooled all of society. Adam and Eve had everything going for them and yet Satan fooled them. Adam and Eve decided that they could handle evil and could do things without God’s help.

As my good friend, Dave Hauser said, “All of humanity is trapped in Satan’s net of deception and sin.” There is no escape if we keep playing ‘the fool’—who believes whatever Satan tells us it is ‘OK, good for us, and it will benefit us’ to accept his foolish ways.

Take, for instance, the world and Satan are telling us that we can stop ‘Climate Change’. Only a fool believes this! Climate that we now face is not man-made nor can we stop the effects of our earth responding to the judgment of God. We will never be able to undo what God has purposed and is in control of—present-day climate change.

Every natural action or sequence of events has a spiritual component. No matter what we do or respond to in this world, we cannot avoid the spiritual component to what is taking place. God has purposed that this world ends in chaos and eventually be destroyed by the Hand of God. God is presently in the process of judging mankind for their decisions.

All of creation is expressing its displeasure for man’s attitude toward God. Humanity’s attitude toward God is one, the disbelief in God—the creator of all things; two, the rejection of Jesus Christ and His offer of life; and three, the failure to acknowledge our sin and our lack of humility.

California has been experiencing climate change throughout the state in so many ways, and it is not over. The ‘time of earthquakes’ is upon us. Earthquakes so powerful and devastating that will destroy its economy, its agricultural culture, and many of its people will die. It is coming shortly and without warning.

Whose fool will you be? Satan fool or a fool for Christ by believing in what the world does not want you to believe in. I rather follow Jesus, not the lies of Satan.

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.

October 14, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

A Thoughtful Truth for the Week

It’s Time to Give Up!

It is time to give up, to give up those hidden sins. Those sins you have been hanging on to. You know, the sins only you know about—like the secret sins King David wrote about and experienced. Let’s see—the sins you think you have hidden from others and even God. You do not want others to know about what you have done, and doubt God will ever forgive you for those ‘hidden sins’.

Most likely it is the sins you are most embarrassed by, sins that you have not confessed and are afraid God will never forgive you for. Those secret sins that have been following you and remind you how much you are a ‘failure’. It is those sins that only Jesus will remind you of as Jesus reminded Peter of when Jesus was dying on the cross and looked at Peter when he denied Jesus for the third time.

It is those kinds of sins that the Holy Spirit wants to wash away; remove them from your life and give you peace and joy every time you look into a mirror and remember what kind of person you are.

God wants you free! Free from Satan accusing you before the Father, free from the guilt of your own conscious, and free from the bondage your sin is keeping you in.

It is time to find ‘Great Mercy’ as King David did. Freedom to enjoy the ‘new mercies’ of God each day. It is time to leave your sin behind in the River Jordan or at the foot of the Cross where Jesus died, or at the empty tomb when you see that Jesus is no longer buried there. It is time to give up each and every sin! My sins no longer belong to me; Christ has taken them away and made them His.

“God let the Holy Spirt convict me of my sin, give me your righteousness, and give me your judgment that no longer judges me but judges Satan who has always had a hold on my life because of my sin. I give all my sin to Jesus. God forgive me for your Son’s sake.”

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.

September 26, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

God Scares Me!

Lately, God has been scaring me. He is very active in my life and my surroundings—this scares me. It is not the miracles I keep encountering, nor the answer to emotional prayers, nor what He is asking of me, but it is what God keeps telling me to read in His Word, the Bible, and He does not give up asking me to read a specific portion of Scripture until I read it. The Holy Spirit often says to me, “Read it again, once more, and again—one more time,” until I stop and consider what the verse(s) are saying. This frightens me!

You ask, ‘What is God asking me to read’? Mostly the Old Testament books of the minor prophets—the ones that speak of God’s judgement and the last days. He not only shows me things that I did not consider before, but the emotional feelings the Holy Spirit brings over me causes me to fear and desiring a hiding place in God, and He brings me into a state of prayer, forgiveness, and asking for God’s mercy not just for me but for everyone I know. I want now more than ever for the people of God to get ready for what is to come—what is now upon us!

Whenever God brings His judgment, He also brings His salvation. Judgement and salvation work together to bring God’s will to completion. There are many words of prophecy or words of knowledge today speaking of God’s two-edge sword. A sword that offers repentance and blessings as well as retribution and judgment. Who can stand in the presence of the Lord; who can be strong when God speaks? We fall on our faces when God shows up; we all are humbled and find ourselves unable to speak. We become as Job and refuse to answer God when He talks to us—I am afraid!

At the end of my readings God took me to the Book of Ruth. Once again is begins with judgment and God’s displeasure with His people to finding a place of mercy, forgiveness, and favor after God’s punishment upon His people.

My hope and your hope are found in the last verse of Ruth chapter one: (Ruth 1:22b)“and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.” If you and I want to find God when judgment is all around us, we must go back to Bethlehem—we must go back to Jesus where is all began and when mercy and hope first came to us. This is where I find peace; this is where I find comfort; this is where I find hope and a future. It is in Jesus Christ that I become unafraid and rediscovery what Jesus offers to me and how He changes me—He makes me a better person and I find who I was meant to be.

Jesus loves me when Godly fear takes over me and I find that hiding place that is only found under His covering and within His love.

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.