Jan 10, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Part 2: What Went Wrong?

A lot went wrong in 2020! People lost their jobs and businesses, many died of the Covid-19 virus, and there is now a completely one-sided political control of the Federal government. There seems to be no check & balance, common sense, or hope for a financial future. There is only hate and a ‘let’s get even’ attitude among the American people. Can things get worse? Yes, they can! But the Bible offers truth to those who will love wisdom and hate unrighteousness. The Church in America made three mistakes, so let’s correct our errors and move on to ‘God among us’.

In Matthew 4:1-11, the Bible states how the devil tries to destroy all that God is and what He wants to do. “The spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. After forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. (1) The Devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread, to which he replied, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word God speaks.’ (2) The second temptation was for Jesus to throw himself from the highest point of the temple and order angels to catch him. Jesus replied, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ (3) Finally, the Devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in return for worshipping him. Jesus replied, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him’!” (CCEA). In this biblical story, you will see your mistakes and discover your redemption through Jesus Christ. (The numbers below reference the numbers in this story.)

One, the Church has been lazy. Our material needs come before taking God at His word—His every word! We thought ‘our wisdom’ was good enough thereby God’s word takes second place whenever we think ‘that in our flesh’ we can overcome evil and Satan’s plans. We cannot become overcomers without living by and believing in ‘every word’ of God. This is our strength, this is our bread, this is what gives us power to resist evil. America is too materialistic, and we have way too much of everything. We must be willing to say ‘no’ to anything that exalts itself above God.

Two, we keep tempting God. We say, “God will take care of me no matter what”—we think that this is faith. Nothing is farther from the truth. Faith is found/exercised in humility and the fear of the Lord. During this pandemic of Covid-19 Christians tempted God in saying ‘God will protect me’ yet many Christians died by the virus. Why? We live unhealthy lives, corrupt lifestyles, eat junk food and then want God to protect us and heal us. Would you jump off a cliff onto rocks below believing that God will protect you because you are somehow ‘special’ or a ‘person of faith’? If you would have treated your body better and wisely the virus would have little effect on your body. Why keep tempting God? Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit so treat it with respect and quit tempting God by living an unhealthy lifestyle.

Three, American Christians think the Constitution, our laws and legal process, and America’s religious history will somehow protect the Church and bring about God’s special blessing that no other country has ever experienced. Well, you are wrong! It is not the ‘Kingdom of America’ that is blessed, it is ‘people who are called by God’s name and keeps His commandments (Jesus’s words)’. Are you praising the USA more than you praise God? Will you only stay a child of God if America stays a Christian nation? Quit worshipping America—worship God alone! It is time to serve God no matter what and not look to America for help or assistance. The strength of any nation to fight against evil and Satan’s plans is in praising God, rejoicing in His plans, and serving God as servants—unworthy servants!

This is what went wrong—one, two, three. Jesus is our example, and it is time we do things His way, making His decisions our decisions, and choosing His truths over Satan’s lies.

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” Joel 3:14, NLT. May Jesus forgive all of us for every failure and to find/receive strength to accomplish God’s will in ‘the day of the Lord’!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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Jan 9, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

What Went Wrong?

Among many Christian circles there was excitement and expectation with the Presidency of Trump. People had not been motivated to vote nor given the option of having a Christian in the White House for some time.

Christian leaders and many prophetic teachers were predicting Trump’s arrival as the 45th President of the United States. In fact, most leading charismatic prophets predicted that he would be president for two terms. So, what went wrong? Are Christian leaders wrong about God or just giving us their ‘wishful thinking’?

I am saddened by the chain of political events. The door could be opened that will accelerate God’s judgment. What the wisdom of God suggests that once again God is “trying the hearts of men” and waiting to see what America’s new leaders will decide to do.

[ A SIDE NOTE: God
made ‘man and woman’ with a will and the ability to choose. Your ability to
choose between right and wrong, God or Satan, and what your destiny will look
like cannot be undermined by the power of evil. God will not get in the way of
your will—your destiny to choose. Remember the story of the man with 200 demons
(or more) living in him? Even with all those evil spirits driving and
destroying the man, they could not stop the man from crying out to Jesus for
mercy. You have a choice, and all the power of hell and Satan cannot take that
away from you. This is why God can judge you for what you choose. (This
biblical principle applies to a person’s choice and will, nothing else.)]

So, what went wrong? One, Church leaders got Trump’s future wrong; two, they misinterpreted the timing of God’s plans; three, they interpreted their own prophecy about Trump (this should never happen); four, they failed Trump by not supporting him; five, Satan exercised so much power that what God wanted regarding plans for America could not succeed. (Note: Remember in the Book of Acts when the apostles wanted to take the gospel into a country that it is said, “Satan hindered us” so they were unable to accomplish what God wanted them to do. Furthermore, the last book of the Bible, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, states how Satan overcame the two witnesses and killed them. Satan has great strength and power to kill and destroy the ministry of God’s saints.)

There should be no rejoicing in what has taken place politically because I am afraid of the anger and wrath of God. The fear of the Lord says that ‘whatever God decides to do it is always right and just’ and it is this fear that brings great hope or great tragedy upon nations, cultures, and societies.

What we should be rejoicing in is God’s great mercy, His infinite forgiveness, and the second coming of Christ, and it is also time for mourning, asking for forgiveness, and forgiving each other. These two attributes are in front of each of us and it is our choice—the choice between pride or humbleness and the choice between finding God’s grace or God’s judgment. “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” Joel 3:14, NLT. May Jesus forgive all of us for failing to accomplish God’s will in the time of ‘the day of the Lord’!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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Jan 8, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

It is upon us; it has come!

Joel 2:23, “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month” KJV.

God’s word is always true and accurate. It is God’s timing that the Church struggles with. When multiple things happen and there is affirmation with the Bible and the Holy Spirit, we can be assured that what God has said/promised ‘is upon us’.

Whenever God tells/shows me something I take a step back and look for confirmation. This is what I look for, that is, I need Biblical examples showing up in the same manner and with similar truths given in God’s Word. These 6 things (rubric) are important:

1. Are there other people in the Body of Christ saying and seeing what I am seeing?

2. I need 2 to 3 witnesses in the greater Church Body that supports what God has said to me.

3. Does what I believe the Spirit of God said or showed me has Biblical evidence in Scripture?

4. I need direct and specific Scripture that supports what I have been told.

5. What is God’s timing?

6. Often I receive God’s will/action plan, but regarding the timing of God’s will, I have no idea what His timing is. This is the time to wait, pray by asking God for guidance, and humbling oneself—do not ‘jump the gun’

I know of many prophecies and visions God has given individuals, but they did not receive in their lifetime what they told the Body of Christ. We often think because God gives us a ‘word for the Body of Christ’ that it is going to happen in the immediate future or in our lifetime. This is not the case with most Biblical/Scriptural prophecies. We must not interpret what God gives us nor look for others to accept what we say. All timing is up to the Father, and Jesus and the Holy Spirit differ all their words to the timing of the Father.

So, what I wrote about “Rain from Heaven” in the last three articles in December 2020 are truthful according to my rubric, but how it all comes about or will look like, I do not know. I specifically only know that ‘this heavenly rain’ will come in waves starting in 2021. It will not go away but will eventually lead to the redemption of Israel.

(I can explain more but it is best to leave this insight for another time/article.)

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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Dec 31.5, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Faith that Moves Mountains—Rain from Heaven/Part 3

Joel 2:23 (KJV): “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.” (RAIN FROM HEAVEN)

The next great movement of the Holy Spirit will create faith in believers that will indeed move mountains and this faith will be commonplace. What is this faith?

What did Jesus say about faith? His disciples came to Him asking Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:6-10). “And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he comes from the field, Go and sit down to eat? And will not rather say unto him, ‘Make ready wherewith I may sup, and prepare food for me, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?’ Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do’.”

What does this mean? We have a duty to serve the Lord and we do it not to receive honor or recognition. We serve the Lord out of duty and responsibility—this is where our faith lies. Faith comes from humility and being faithful (obedient) to what God expects of us.

Faith does not work because we are ‘a somebody’ in the Body of Christ, nor because we exercise positive speaking, say fancy prayers, express that we have the power of the Holy Spirit, or because I tithe lots of money to my church. Faith is about being humble and responding to what God asks us to do. It is just that simple. When you respond to what God’s will is and do it with humility, your faith will become a mustard seed that can move mountains.

Secondly, Jesus tells a story about faith (Matthew 8:5-10 KJV): “When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, ‘Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.’ Jesus said, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the officer said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.’ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, ‘I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel’!”

Once again, the Roman office was humble, this is the first requirement for faith, and next, he knew one only had to speak, not do some act or display of authority. If one comes to God in humility and understands that God only needs one to speak (this is why Jesus told us to ask in His name, say “Jesus Christ”) in ‘Jesus’ name. So, this is the faith that is coming with the waves from heaven. A faith of humility, obedience, knowing what God wants to do, and speaking the name of Jesus to make it happen.

Faith is our response to the will of God out of humility and total unworthiness on our part. Want faith to move a mountain, then become ‘a nobody’ in mind and spirit. Put Jesus first and what He wants ahead of anything you would want or feel you deserve.

The waves of rain from heaven are coming, bringing with them faith to move mountains!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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Dec 31, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

The Need for Holiness—Rain from Heaven/Part 2

Joel 2:23 (KJV): “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.” (RAIN FROM HEAVEN)

The next great movement of the Holy Spirit will be founded on the Holiness of God. Rain from Heaven will fall upon people to make them clean and full of the Holiness of God.

The Church has pretty much ignored the Holiness of God. We have accepted what the world says is good and appropriate, but God says all is evil and sinful if it does not measure up to the teachings of Christ, His commandments, and New Testament laws.

There are so many societal/cultural laws that do not come from Biblical truths or the teachings of Christ. All of this is evil and comes from the devil. The Church has indeed become corrupted, worldly, and too often accepted the image of the beast (as stated in Revelation).

We are not clean, and we ‘consider evil’ of the world OK to live with and operate in. We tolerate sin, accept society’s ignorance of the things of God, and refuse to keep our robes of righteousness washed in the blood of Christ. All of this must end in order to be covered and live with the Holiness of God in our lives. God will show us how to do this!

Do not think that you understand the Holiness of God or are even living with God’s Holiness. The Holiness that is coming with this ‘Movement of the Holy Spirit’ will bring with it, Holiness you have never realized or expected.

You will detest what is evil and birthed by Satan—and I mean everything! You will be unable to watch television programs, news channels, or participate in social media sites. You will only want to put Jesus Christ in front of you. You will be convicted if you desire to participate in anything evil or that reflects sinful nature. You will desire God’s righteousness only and seek His holiness in everything you do. This is God’s Holiness and it is coming!

The waves from heaven are coming; they are making away for the Holiness of God!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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Dec 30, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Spiritual News Alert—Rain from Heaven!

If you think 2020 was a terrible year and wondering about 2021?

You need to read this article over and over and send it along to everyone!

I was in the Spirit walking in the early morning, as I usually do, feeding the animals, walking the dogs, and checking the property. It happened almost three weeks ago; all of a sudden God began to speak.

What God had been showing me for years and what I have been writing and talking about is to begin. The ‘new movements’ of the Holy Spirit, God’s judgment, and the predicaments the Church will find itself in—all of this is about to begin!

For a few days now, God keeps giving me more insight and pieces of what will begin to happen in January 2021. As God talks to me I have asked for confirmation and “Are there others in the Body of Christ hearing and seeing the same revelation” as I am seeing? Yes, each day there are more people in the Body of Christ talking about 2021, stating how the Holy Spirit will be moving among us—they are sharing their perspective.

This is what I know and every time I think about what God has said to me or share with others, the Spirit of God comes in like a flood—God’s presence fills the room (even as I am writing to you now).

Starting in January 2021 the rain from heaven will come upon us, Joel 2:23 (KJV): “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.” (RAIN FROM HEAVEN)

God told me not to call the next great movement of the Holy Spirit a “revival” because it will not end in 3 to 4 years but will continue until Christ’s return. It will be like all past revivals, awakenings, and movements of His Spirit rolled into one yet greater!

Staring in January this next ‘rain from heaven’ will come in waves. It will move people to seek a church or ministry to ask God’s people how to pray and how to be saved & forgiven. People will be drawn to ministries without being preached too—there will be an abundance of crying and repentance, more than America has ever seen.

Some churches and pastors will be jealous and reject what the Holy Spirit will be doing. They will speak against this ‘rain from heaven’ and God will judge their ministries and will cause their ministries to fail.

Miracles will be happening everywhere—they will be commonplace & beyond measure. Even this miracle: God will perform the miracle of placing covid-19 anti-bodies in people who did not have the virus. People who can believe God and members within the body of Christ that pray for each other will receive ‘anti-bodies from God’—this miracle will be verified when their blood is tested.

The ‘rain from heaven’ movement will come but so will ‘great judgment’. Cities that now exist will no longer exist. God will no longer ‘look the other way’ regarding the consequences of their sin—sin that has destroyed people’s lives and communities. America will fall into disarray and Christians will be blamed and persecuted.

May I suggest you do a study of past revivals and understand that God is unfolding Joel 2:23 in America. This will happen in such a greater degree and impact, with signs and miracles that have never been seen before, in order to confirm His Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ in His people. It is now time! It begins next month! The waves from heaven are coming!

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.

Dec 28, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

You Were Created to Love

(I love God but…Final part #five)

When one loves, one creates purpose that is not forgotten—it changes everything!

It is not easy to keep oneself in a state of love all the time. The Bible says, ‘keep yourself in the love of God by praying always in the Spirit’ (But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, Jude 1:20-21, biblehub.com). The more one prays in the Spirit, the more you will find yourself surrounded by the love of God.

I like what Billy Graham said about his ministry, “I should have talked less and prayed more.” Jesus always went off by himself usually up on a hillside to pray and would pray all night. If only we would have such determination to pray to the Father and in return, the Father giving us more of His love.

Want to have more love and less anger and hatred and selfishness, let’s begin with prayer and humility—more of God and less of me. So, what does God want us to produce? Technically, you cannot produce anything, it is only the Holy Spirit that produces what God wants from us—we are the vessel, and He is the Wine (Holy Spirit) in our lives. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” Galatians 5:22-23.

The very first miracle Jesus did was to turn the water (your salvation and the Words of God) into wine (the Holy Spirit living in our lives). Jesus does not want Christians who are only saved but Christians that are not only saved being baptized with water (a manifestation of God’s gift of salvation) but also baptized with the Holy Spirit (having the manifestation of the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit).

You cannot keep God’s love in your life without the help of the Holy Spirit—not at the level or strength or manifestation of love that God requires of His people. It is exactly what Jesus said was the greatest and most important commandment, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Mathew 22:37-39).

It is the Holy Spirit that creates a new heart, clean soul, and a renewed mind. God our Father knew we would need both Jesus and the Holy Spirit living in us in order to live in the love of God. Let us do what God created us for—to be a light of the love of God and manifest the love of God in all we do.

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.

Dec 26, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Unloved by God

(I love God but…Part four)

Have you ever felt not loved by God? That you were failing in expressing your love for Jesus because you did not feel loved by Him? Oh, to be loved by God and to love Him back, what a wonderful experience that could be, but you are not there.

Have you ever entertained these thoughts? It is not easy staying in love with God with the passion and determination you felt a long time ago. God just seems too distant to love Him 24/7. To love people, seem a lot easier than loving God with the same amount of enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, and desire. Dogs, babies, children, and my wife give me a much better return on my love for them than God does. God is not listening anyway, and he does not talk to me like people do. I just do not love Him like I am supposed to, and He makes it too difficult to love Him—so many rules to keep.

Nevertheless, the only question that needs to be answered is, “How much do you love Jesus?” Are you failing in your effort to love God like you love people or how you use to love Jesus? Do you no longer feel the energy to love God, and you do not ‘take the time’ to tell Him “You love Him”? Do you ask yourself, “Where are you, God?” Did you know that Jesus had the same feelings as you do?

When Christ was on the cross He said, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus felt alone, unloved by God, and rejected from God’s presence. Yes, He was doing God’s will, but God left Him—God could not look upon sin and Jesus was carrying the sin of the whole world—the sin that God His Father placed upon His Son, Jesus. What a predicament!

God could have done things differently (we know this by the prayers Jesus prayed), but was this a test? Would Jesus still love God through all that He suffered? Would Jesus love His Father no matter what? The answer to all three questions is YES!

You and I will fail; our love for God will fail. God warned us about our love growing cold; we would forget to do those things that express our love for God. It is many things, whatever they may be, that separates us from our love for the Father. What is my answer to this dilemma? It lies in front of us all, Book of Revelation chapters 2-4:

1. Realize that you do not love God as you use to, and then do your past ‘acts of love’ that expressed your feelings for God. Do them even though you do not have those old feelings.

2. Do not fear Satan! The Bible says, “Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18)”, so when fear comes into your life allow the love of/love for God to remove that fear. This love Christ found, used, and depended on through His crucifixion and while in hell.

3. Get rid of any doctrine that is evil and comes from Satan. Usually, it is doctrines/philosophies/laws that say the opposite of Biblical truths of love. The Bible is always correct and truthful, do not let what the world dictates its’ interpretation of love replacing what Jesus says is love.

4. Do not accept the world’s standards that states ‘love & sex’ are the same thing. Sex is only good when sex is under the guidelines of Scripture, wholesomeness, and holiness. Pure love does not violate God’s guidelines about sex.

5. We must continue to wash our hearts, minds, soul, and actions in the blood of the Lamb. Without repentance, forgiveness, cleansing ourselves from sin and worldly ways, we cannot love God with our feelings nor do the works of love.

6. We must express and act with the patience of Jesus. We are to wait on God and continue to love even if we feel that we are barely holding on. This is the true test of love and this test will come to us all.

7. Last, of all, we must never give up by admitting that we are not perfect and do not always exercise the ‘tools of the Spirit’ to love God faithfully. We know God loves us if He chastises us and tells us where we are going wrong or have sin in our lives. Repent, repent again, and then repent some more. It is in all the repentance, crying, feeling sorry, and asking for forgiveness that we will find the love we so dearly need—a love that loves God through it all!

I love people through all their flaws, mistakes, and offenses. God wants you to love Him with the same amount of passion. God’s love is a love that does not give up. “Lord Jesus, give us the same love that you had for your Father so I can love God too!”—this is my prayer.

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.

Dec 21, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Being Wronged

(I love God but…Part three)

Everyone has been wronged in their lifetime one way or another. I am sure you have been injured emotionally, physically, socially, or mentally as a child, teenager, young adult, middle-aged, or even as a senior citizen. There is no escaping someone’s sin and the damage their sin can do to your life can be unrepairable without Jesus. Sin hurts! In fact, it is devastating in so many ways.

In the last article, I wrote about finding forgiveness from all effects and aspects of your sin. The harm sin makes must take the grace of God to a new level in all our lives. We must discover the forgiveness of God when it comes to finding redemption from the consequences of not only the sin we do but the sin of others and the effect of their sin on our lives.

God wants to bring all of us to forgive others for their sin, but He also wants their sin to no longer having a hold or hindering us in serving Jesus Christ. We must have this kind of forgiveness—to forgive others and to receive forgiveness that washes away the harm of their sin in our lives. All of us have been wronged, all of us have forgiven others, and now we must seek Jesus to take away the consequences of their sin in our lives. We must be whole and full of righteousness; it only comes through forgiveness and the grace of God. This is the healing aspect of forgiveness. This is what Jesus ultimately wanted from His forgiveness being activated in our lives—to have forgiveness that brings healing and wholeness; never allowing the curse of sin (ours or others) to bind our lives.

However, there is ‘another wrong’ that comes from God and many of us have discovered how God ‘wrongs us’ in order for us to find forgiveness, righteousness, freedom, and His perfect will in our lives. Here are some biblical examples of God doing the impossible through creating harm/wrongness on whom He loves. (God’s wisdom is above our wisdom and His ways are unable to be discovered/understood.)

Jesus: The Bible says that it ‘pleased God to bruise (wrong) His Son.” God not only laid on Christ the sin of the whole world, but God turned away from His Son during His crucifixion on the cross. God also left His Son in hell for three days. All of this had purpose and the purpose was for our salvation, but it came with a cost, and part of the cost was for God to wrong His Son. Oh, the wisdom of God, wisdom we can hardly understand. Jesus understood the cost to die on a cross, but he prayed, “Not my will but your will (the Father’s will) be done.”

Paul: God met Paul on the Damascus Road. God spoke to him and blinded Paul. God left Paul in a state of blindness for a few days. Why you ask? Paul had to realize/learn he was wronged by God because he was blind spiritually not only physically. God wronged Paul so he might humble himself, pray, fear the Lord, and repent of his spiritual blindness. (Note: The Bible says Jesus humbled Himself before the crucifixion experience and because Jesus did this, God, therefore, heard His prayers so that God’s will could be done—the fear of God in action).

Job: Job was a perfect man in keeping the laws of God, but there was a lesson that Job had to learn. A lesson none of us would like to learn. God wronged Job and the Bible says, “God repented of the evil that He allowed to come upon Job.” What was the wrong? God took everything Job held dear to himself. God allowed Satan tempt Job by having people steal all Job’s processions, kill Job’s sons and daughters, cause Job to become very sick so he wanted to die, and even allowed Job’s friends to reject him, offer him bad advice, and to curse Job by those who once loved him. (Sound familiar, this is what also happened to Jesus except Jesus did not have a family & wanting to die.)

As is prophesied by Joel 3:14, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” God is calling all of His people as well as the whole world to be in the valley of decision. The Book of Revelation clearly states the harm the angels of God are to do to all mankind—we are being called to decide.

We can either humble ourselves as Jesus, Paul, and Job or suffer the consequences of the sin we have in our lives. Jesus overcame all the sin of mankind and offer forgiveness to all of us because humbled Himself, chose God’s will for His life, and feared God above anything He wanted. Will you be like Jesus? Will you accept God’s will for your life no matter how difficult? God will not leave you nor me where He finds us! God will redeem us and take us out of the valley of death, Psalm 23:4.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,

for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

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.

Dec 18, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Do Not Become Discouraged!

(I love God but…Part two)

It happens often, becoming discouraged while serving Jesus Christ. Jesus knew we would/could become discouraged; therefore, the Grace of God made contingency plans to take care of this.

You know the story about Jesus stating that He has prayed for Peter because ‘Satan wants to confuse, discourage, and hider Peter’s relationship with God,’ (Luke 22:32) “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Jesus knew what would happen to Peter if he gave up and so it is today with you and me. God does not want us to be discouraged over our mistakes or the conviction and trouble Satan has brought our way.

Satan never wants you and me to find forgiveness nor have confidence that all our sins and our sinful nature can be done away with by the love and grace of God. So, let be bold in thinking, ‘Just because you fail God, do not stay there in that state of failure as Peter was soon to find himself. God loves us through Jesus and because and in God’s love we find forgiveness and strength to keep going and rejoicing in Christ even after we have failed/sinned.’

Let’s find forgiveness from our sin through humbling ourselves and confessing our sin to God asking for mercy. Let’s find forgiveness of our iniquities by allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us of the impact our sinful nature and wrongful actions on others (He wants us to make things right through Jesus). Let’s find forgiveness in allowing the washing of water and the blood of Christ in our lives by requesting that the mercies of God create a new heart and a new mind and right spirit in all of us.

Do not become despondent or see yourself as a failure—this is why Jesus died for us and has made a way for us to find forgiveness from all our sins, all our iniquities, and all our sinful nature—unclean heart, mind, spirit, & words. We must confess to God all our mistakes and what our mistakes have created in us and toward others.

Nevertheless, there are two things all of us must do to secure forgiveness from God: one, we must forgive the sins of others (and the impact of their sins on our lives). Jesus said, ‘we must forgive well to be forgiven also by God’. And two, we must bless our enemies by asking God to forgive them and for God to give them good gifts from heaven.

Jesus did both these things during His trial and crucifixion. We must also forgive and forget so God will forgive and forget all our mistakes/sins. How well we forgive and how well we bless others will be the measuring stick on how clean our ‘robe of righteousness’ is when we get to heaven. It is time to ‘wash our robes in the blood of Christ’ and show forth the praise of Jesus in this world.

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.