April 23, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

A Lesson in Worldly & Godly Wisdom

The Holy Spirit always knows what the Father wants and gives glory to the Son, Jesus, in all He is asked to do by the Father & Son. It is no accident that we are on a collision course with Jesus coming back. At times I feel it is just around the next corner.

You have asked for God to reveal Himself more fully, to have all that Jesus has promised to give, and to finally have ‘that later day revival’ with miracles, healings and heavenly signs that will amaze us all and increase our faith. Well, I can testify to all of you that it is within your reach—you only have to make one simple yet life changing response.

I am sure you know the story about Jesus talking about God pruning our lives—just like a farmer prunes his grapevines or fruit trees. Jesus said trees and vines are pruned so they can produce more fruit—this is worldly wisdom. Likewise, God prunes our lives so we can produce the Fruit of the Spirit and reach humanity with the Gospel of Christ—Godly wisdom. We will not like it, Jesus said, but if we will accept the pruning by the Holy Spirit, and allow God to get rid of all the branches and vines in our lives that do not produce God’s fruit (these are parts of our lives that produce fruit but it is not God’s fruit) then we will produce fruit, oil, wine that will last forever and give only God the glory (Gospel of John chapter 15).

The Holy Spirit’s main purpose is to “convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and judgment” (Gospel of John 16:8-9). Why, so we can serve God, have favor with God, and proclaim the Gospel of Christ while bringing honor to Christ in all we do. We must find forgiveness, be clothed with righteousness, and have the judgement of the Holy Spirit keeping us safe from all the evil Satan will be throwing at us. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to work punishment and judgement on all the works of evil—the works of the devil.

We are on the edge of the moving of the Holy Spirit in ways never experienced by the human race. The complete fulfillment of all the words of Christ and the placing of everything under His feet. If you can ‘make it’ to the end, Jesus said you will be saved. The question is, “Are you ready to be saved; can you make it to the end?” I like the question, ‘Do you have what it takes to see Jesus return in all His glory, riding upon a horse, coming in the clouds with a Shout!’?

If you honestly answered, “I am not sure I am ready.” Then what God is now planning and asking of His church to do is right in front of you—God is indeed knocking on the door of your heart, mind, soul and strength. It is time to be pruned by the Holy Spirit!

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.

April 17, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

The Lord is not done with us!

I am amazed as to the patience of our Lord. His love and kindness proceeds from His throne even when we are such failures or jerks. The Spirit did not wait for me to wake up this morning to begin talking. God woke me up through the night quoting Scriptures. Once again, God will not be programmed or defined as man considers how God gets things done. When we got God all figured out, God does a right turn or U-turn on us. We will always see God through a colored looking glass—never able to understand all there is about God.

As the Spirit moved me through the night-hours, I found myself troubled and worried as to the Church’s response to what God wants us to do. I am concerned and fully understand that only one church out of the seven churches of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ responded to what the Spirit was saying to the churches. America’s churches will have to choose what their response will be. Will God remove their candlestick, or will they repent and accept the criticism of the Holy Spirit and His correction.

What is the answer to the coronavirus and its effects on America? The answer is simple, choose repentance and righteousness. Consider oneself ‘poor, blind and naked’ when it comes to our response to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As Americans we think we are rich monetarily, but God says “you are poor” because you do not have the riches of Christ. We say, we can see—we have knowledge and insight beyond all other nations, but God says, “you’re blind” because of our lack of spiritual knowledge we cannot recognize the purposes and will of God. Last of all, God says, “you’re naked”, even though our pride and money dresses us with only the best the world offers. God sees us as ‘undressed’ because we are not dressed in His glory, His honor, His righteousness, or His love. In our pride we think we are something special, but my hope for all of us is that we will acknowledge our weaknesses and self-importance and cry out for God’s acceptance thereby giving up all that we think is rich, important, and self-gratification.

The virus is not a natural problem, it is a spiritual problem with its roots in a spiritual attack of Satan—this is so obvious! We cannot overcome this problem with a quick fix by saying we are important to God so He will protect us, or a medical answer will be discovered within a year. I consider this a trial—Church, you are being tested by God! One of the Holy Spirit’s jobs is to allow and guide us to be tried and tested. When this happens Satan always enters the picture (reference Job and Jesus in Scriptures).

So, we are in a season of testing and a battle against Satan. When this happens, we have no other option other than to humble ourselves, repent of our pride and sins, and allow God to have His way with us. It is only in the process of testing, refining, cleansing, and acquiring spiritual strength that God’s will is accomplished.

Be the church that repents and changes their lives. Give up the pride that is holding you back from asking God to cleanse and repair your life. We have failed God in the past; do not make this our future.

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.

April 15, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

As I woke up the Lord began talking, again!

A second prophetic word, “What are you wearing?”

As soon as I woke up Thursday morning, the Lord began to prophesy to me, again. This is the second word from the Lord on the second day; a word of prophecy to give to His Church:

“The Spirit of the Lord said, ‘What are you wearing?’ I replied, ‘I am wearing my robe of righteousness.’ ‘Yes, you are wearing a robe of righteousness, but it is not My robe of righteousness. It is your robe made from your own righteousness.”

“Your robe of righteousness only hides your sin, your secret and hidden sin. My robe does not hide your sin, it covers your nakedness, therefore your sin remains.”

“You say, ‘How does my sin remain?’ It remains because you still take pleasure and joy in your sin. Your sin has remained; your robe only covers your hidden sin.”

“You say, ‘How can this be?’ I say because you have not cried out to me for forgiveness for all your sin. Why have you kept your sin? Why do you try and hide your sin from me? Your love for me is not greater than the love for your sin.”

The Lord says, “You cannot wear my righteousness unless your sin is washed away. Your sin remains. How do I know this because the joy you have is not complete? If you had my joy, if you had my light in you, all darkness would be done away with and your joy would be complete. But your sin remains because of your love for your sins. How do I know this because your sadness testifies against you? My joy is not complete in you? Repent I say! Come reason with me, ‘Though your sins be a scarlet red, yet I will make you white as pure snow’.”

“The Lord says come! Come and wash yourself from all your sins. Seek me early; seek me now. Get rid of all your sin so you can wear my righteousness and have my joy! My joy does not fade, my joy does not fluctuate—it is constant and brings life to everyone that is in trouble. Now is the day; your day is today—this is the Lord’s day for forgiveness and righteousness.”

I ask that you forward this message to all within the Body of Christ. To your friends, leaders, pastors, teachers, to all you have authority in the Church. This is a word of the Lord for all of us, for His whole Church.

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.

April 15, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

As I was walking, God was talking

A prophetic word…a word of hope, warning, timing, and urgency

Immediately after waking up this morning, I felt the Spirit of God move over me. Something was about to happen, but I had no understanding as to what the Spirit of God would begin talking to me about. What God said to me during my morning walk was so important I decided to tell the Church (those you have a relationship to Jesus Christ) by the end of the day. This is what God said to me. It might scare you so be prepared for the Sword of the Spirit to divide and execute between justice and judgment; between truth that will either bring hope or despair. It frightened me when the Spirit spoke, and I am sure it will scare you. These are the days of the fear of the Lord!

The Spirit says: “I have found my church to be unfaithful. But you say, ‘How have I been unfaithful?’ You have been unfaithful as a man is unfaithful to his wife. But you say, ‘I have never been unfaithful to my wife!’ Yes, you have! With your heart you have sinned against me. You have not kept my love for you, nor have you hidden my words in your life. But you say, ‘How have I done this?’ I say as your eyes and hands have betrayed your love for your wife, so has your lack of discretion toward me failed to keep the love, joy, and peace I have given you.”

“You say, ‘I have no need of repentance’ but it is your lack of repentance that is your downfall. I am calling you to repentance. To repent of your lack of love for me. You have stolen from me by claiming your love is your effort. You have deceived yourself with your joy, thinking that what joy you have is given from me. But indeed, you are poor blind and naked by not having my righteousness. But you say, ‘I do have righteousness’. But I say your righteousness is as filthy rags. What righteousness you have does not come from me.”

“I say once again, cry out for repentance that comes from me. Cry out for righteousness (my faith and love in your life) that makes you clean and whole. I say, cry out for redemption, and do not say ‘I am redeemed’ when you have replaced me with your own works of righteousness and redemption.”

“I have dispersed your virus because of my great mercy, but I will not restore your prosperity without my repentance and my righteousness working in your lives. You will not recover; you will not be restored without my help. Do not look to your government to make you rich. You will fail; I will not let it happen.”

“The time, your time, is shortened. I will stand at the door of your hearts and will knock. Now is the time of repentance. Now’s the time for works of repentance that come from me. Now is the time of righteousness—righteousness that you cannot make happened. For it is my righteousness alone that I expect my church to have. Make your vessel clean! Make your vessel full of my righteousness.”

As the Spirit spoke to me, I was reminded of the Fear of the Lord that Job found, and that Jesus depended upon before He was crucified. May the Lord grant us His repentance and His righteousness as we seek the Lord through prayer, fasting, and crying.

Yes Lord, We Are Broken in Front of You!

I ask that you forward this message to all within the Body of Christ. To your friends, leaders, pastors, teachers, to all you have authority in the Church.

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.

April 13, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

So, Now What?

A commentary not built on biblical wisdom but on common sense

The medical profession and the news media are going to keep this virus with us forever. Neither group has a definitive answer. I expect the medical profession to eventually get a handle on this virus but there will surely be a second and third virus outbreak. Viruses mutate and it will take much more than ‘social distancing’ to overcome the virus’s ability to infect individuals.

The news media is too political to be smart—they are only looking for the next daily headline. What facts they give us today will be outdated within a week, and they cannot predict the future of the virus even though they would like us to think they can. Oh, how ignorance breeds ignorance.

So, I am asking you, “What now?” Are we never going back to school? Will we ever be able to get a haircut again? How about flying in an airplane, not until 2030? Insanity only produces more insanity. What are we fearful of? They want us to be fearful of getting sick. Most of us will never have any symptoms even though we get or have gotten the virus. Are they afraid of someone dying? With the halt to our economy, there are less people dying now per capita even with the spread of the virus. Here is the bottom line: are we dumb, fearful, and are digging our own graves? We will not die of the virus but have chosen rather to die by mental suicide in accepting a slow long death of living with constant fear.

Here are the facts:

1. The virus is everywhere even on the bottom of our shoes—you cannot avoid the virus.

2. The virus can travel 3, 6, 13 feet who knows how many feet—maybe 2 miles.

3. If you chose to live in a city where people are literally living on top of each other, you will have a higher chance of getting sick because you are living in a self-imposed incubator. Because of your physical geography you are breeding the virus in large volumes by being made to stay in your self-imposed prison.

4. Wearing a cloth mask cannot protect you from the virus unless the virus is traveling on a large water molecule—wearing a cloth mask offers a false sense of security.

Want the virus to go away, most Americans must come down with the virus. We need to build up antibodies, so the virus does not come back next fall, next year, or for the next 10 years. I consider the news media and the medical profession to be ‘dumb and dumber’ with their pride and their use of limited information.

Let’s begin to be practical about this virus. One, it is time to go back to work but in control environments. Two, it is time for kids to be back in school but with a school nurse and school personnel doing their jobs monitoring student health. It is time to begin flying, driving, walking, running, and even water skiing. Get over it, America! If you are one of the vulnerable groups, you need to do everything to keep you well and healthy. But for all others, get the virus, get over the virus, and become part of the solution—by not allowing the virus to infect America again.

Want to do something good for your neighbor, family, the elderly, the person with a compromised immune system, and your community—then do not be afraid to get the virus, build up antibodies and begin to spread the antibodies. This is how we help each other and build a stronger America.

Fear only makes one dumber; intelligence creates a plan for healthy living.

(This is a commentary not a medical announcement or a political dissertation.)

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.

April 10, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Did You Feel It Too?

As I woke up yesterday, I immediately felt the coronavirus fading. I waited through the day to see if my spirit sensing the virus’s demise was correct and the virus was losing its hold on America. Often when I feel something in my spirit others in the Body of Christ will also feel the same thing.

Today is no exception, the virus is fading my spirit was telling me, but with a twist. I realize that it is fear that is driving the spread of this infection. All sickness has a spiritual aspect to it. So, it is no surprise to me to understand that when the virus is fading so is the fear of the virus.

We often lose God’s focus on what is taking place on this planet. It is now time to rejoice and give thanks! Not only should we pray for the spiritual battle against the virus be completed this week but that the spirit of fear that has driven this virus’s effectiveness be removed from the shores of America.

Easter is upon us and with prayer, rejoicing, and proclaiming what Christ has done for us, we need to focus on gratefulness not just for the forgiveness of our sin but also toward all sickness that Christ has also done away with—by His stripes we are healed!

This is the time for a national miracle! Let’s humble ourselves together! Let’s find forgiveness together! Let’s agree together! Let’s find healing together! Let’s worship together! Let’s rejoice together! For in unity we are made overcomers!

Your prayers have been answered; it is time for rejoicing!

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.

April 6, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Living with Fear; without Hope

When fear has taken root in our lives, you will find little hope and definitely no faith. Fear drives faith from our hearts and actions. Faith is your response to the will of God—the purposes and action plans of God. Without faith there is no connection to God because you are not connecting to what God wants to do. It is just that simple! (Read Hebrews chapter 11: the people of faith did what God asked them to do. They were not afraid nor were they unresponsive to God’s requests.)

This is a time for faith not fear. Fear has gripped our nation and most of the world. The coronavirus is a plague that Satan, not God, is using to strike fear in the lives of everyone, even God’s people. It is time we stir up our hope and start to believe in the unbelievable. (Mark chapter, where Jesus criticized His disciple for not believing in Him—i.e. what others said about Him.) It is God through Jesus Christ that we can shake off the demon of fear from our lives and begin to ask God, “What do you want me to do?” It is time to reach out to the Father through Jesus and accept the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. These are the days of the Holy Spirit. Jesus asked us to receive the Holy Spirit (‘stay in Jerusalem’) and also told His disciples that the ‘Father wants to give us the Holy Spirit’. So, let’s begin doing what God wants, accept His will for our lives, and respond to God’s purpose and action plan for our lives. It is time to allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in our lives and perform the works of Christ!

There is no escaping what God has planned for our lives, and we must fight against the actions and purposes of the Devil. Wake up Church, get out of your pajamas, and begin to respond in faith, not in fear, to the task before us…fight against this virus!

If you are responding with fear to this virus, repent! If you have not responded with prayer and Bible verses to this virus, repent! If you have not found what God wants you to do, repent! If you have put on the armor of the Holy Spirit so to fight against the virus, repent! This is the time for God’s purposes and actions. When did the activities of Satan override the activities of God? When has Satan’s power become greater than the power of the Holy Spirit? Let us not become people without hope but mighty in believing in Christ.

David Wilkerson warned us of this virus many years ago in one of his many prophecies. I warned you of this virus many months ago. So why are we afraid? Rise up all Christians, take hold of the promises and power of God. Battle against this virus and watch the virus vanish away as the winds of the Holy Spirit take this virus from us. This is a spiritual battle not a medical battle. The medical profession does not really know what to do other than tell us to, “Duck and cover by staying at home and avoiding all contacts.”

If I could get 12 people to agree in prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit in each and every city in America; to rise-up and fight the spiritual warfare against the virus, you will see the virus gone from our shores within a week. This is what Jesus wants us to do! I am praying for those who will fight—I am praying that you will not lose your faith—the faith God has given to you and Satan is trying to steal from you.

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.

March 29, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

How to get out of those PJs

The first step in getting out of your pajamas is knowing that you can. We are given the ability for making life’s decisions. This is the freedom that God has given to all of us. But with any aspect of freedom their comes the responsibility for my decisions. That is why I do not like being manipulated? I don’t like it! I live my life on the principle that I make up my own mind about things…not the media, not politicians, not doctors, and especially not Satan.

I was introduced to a very influential man a few years ago. He was very kind to me, and we became good friends. He told me once, “I make up my own mind about people.” He said this to me when I was being criticized by the media (140 negative articles within a two-year period). I know there were many more—this is just number of articles from the local newspaper; not counting all the radio, TV and social media outlets.

If Satan would have his way, you would be controlled by his lies and influence in all you and I do. He lies to us and tells us things would be better if we did things his way. If you think this coronavirus is very bad, you are under his control. In actuality this virus is mild compared to other pandemic outbreaks in earth’s history. The difference is the amount of fear it has caused in such a short period of time.

Satan, through our media, has caused panic and given us completely misguided facts and unhelpful societal options. If you want the truth, then you have to fight for the truth. The truth is Satan goes about to steal, kill, and destroy. This is a fact and is what is pushing the virus to a state of fear and worry. Our battle is against him and this brings me back to my premise—get out of your PJs and get dressed with the power of God!

It is time to stop Satan’s influence. In a storm with little hope the disciples had to call upon Jesus to help out (Mark 4:37-41). Paul during his trial while on a ship taking him to stand trial in front of Caesar, prayed and found wisdom to save all who were on the ship (Acts chapter 37). Let’s do these things—we indeed have time to do this because of having to ‘stay home’ during this time of insanity. These are the steps for getting dressed, dressed in the Armor of God:

· Pray like Jesus prayed—pray without ceasing! Pray during the day and night; pray that angels would come and deliver us from evil; pray for others, not just yourself or family.

· Forgiveness is the first line of defense against all that Satan does. So, begin to forgive your friends that have hurt you. Forgive your enemies and bless them—with words of kindness, forgiveness, and asking for good things from God to be given to them.

· Be positive in words and deeds. A negative person will never inherit the Kingdom of God. So do not accept anything Satan throws your way—this virus is because of who Satan is. Place the blame of him not on others.

· Proclaim verses of the Bible over your family, friends, and community. Be humble in your Biblical readings and all the words of Christ to reach others in need.

· Curse the evil that the virus is causing. Be bold and proactive by taking a stance again all the symptoms of the virus. Learn to stand your ground and make the virus retreat.

You can always pray what God gave me. “That the Wind of God would pick up the virus (like an adhesive) and carry the virus out to sea and be buried in the ocean, and secondly, that God would cause the ax head to swim by becoming active again doing its job—this is our businesses and industry to once again become prosperous and active.”

It is the Family of Christ that will bring healing and freedom to our nation. Do not depend on the government and the medical profession. Their help is limited, and they do not know how to fight a spiritual battle. Let’s keep our focus and what we as the Church does best—to fight the good fight of faith; the battle against evil and darkness. It is Christ who is our hope and His sacrifice is the way to a healthy future.

Remember it is God’s righteousness (the mixture of faith and love) that is our protection, i.e., the breastplate of righteousness, that the Bible talks about—protecting our lungs and heart. This is what I would claim, pray for, and allow to work in our bodies. This is what Jesus would want me to do. May God bless you in your prayers and in your unity with others as we fight together!

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.

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

Hey, Fellow Christians, Get Out of Your Pajamas!!

It’s time to get out of your PJ’s by getting dressed in God’s clothing! You have been too passive for way to long and many of you have placed yourself into retirement or a sleep mode. You are no good to God by just being saved! You need to produce works worthy of repentance and salvation. So, get up where you are sitting, get dressed, and get to work!

I bet you are scared or worried, and you do not know what to do. You are following the medical guidelines the government has given you because of this virus. You are in a state of bondage by being fearful; in a state of worry by your inactivity, and in a state of anxiety as to what to do next because you are not dressed in the Armor of God and holding on the Sword of the Spirit. You are no good to God when you are in such a state or disarray and hopelessness!

Rise up, oh you of little faith. Where is your response to God? Are you only following the government guidelines or is Jesus giving you a way to walk and fight? Did you listen to Him when He told you what was to come? Did you prepare yourself for the day of battle? Are you still in your PJ’s or is Christ your Savior, Protector, and Deliverer?

So, let all of us awake for the Glory of the Lord has come! Who is this Lord of Glory? It is Jesus, He is the King of Glory! He is my defender! He is my protector! He has become my healer!

Here’s our prayer: “Jesus, give me your armor. Dress me for battle. May I watch and pray with the Sword of the Spirit in my hand and the Holy Spirit weighing heavily on me. I am taking off my pajamas of inability and inactivity. My I run as David did to fight the giant in front of me. May I use the Sword of the Spirit to cut the giant’s head off. I am here Lord to do your will! I know this is what you would want me to be and do. Amen and Amen!”

There is more to come!

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.

March 22, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

How one’s faith works in times of crisis

The disciples came to Jesus asking, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). Have you ever wanted more faith? The problem the disciples were having was being unable to forgive others even when someone would sin against them. Jesus said to forgive always no matter what it takes and as often as it takes (Luke 17:3-4). This led to the question, “Lord, increase our faith.” The culture of Jesus’ day understood the connection between forgiveness and having faith.

So here we are in 2020, needing faith and unable to do what Jesus has been asking of us for many years. Forgiving others takes just as much spiritual power as does performing miracles. The question “How often and to what extent should I forgive?” has direct connection to “How much faith do I need?” To Jesus it was the same—either you do, or you don’t. Remember the story in the Gospels about Jesus saying, ‘Your sins are forgiven you.” The religious leaders did not like Him saying ‘your sins are forgiven’ so Jesus answered, “Which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven or to be healed” (Luke 5: 23)?

So, the disciples asked Jesus for more faith and Jesus answered their question with a story. 5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you. 7“Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? 8“But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? 9“He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10“So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”

Why did Jesus talk about a slave working for his master? The story is a story about humility, never seeking glory or honor for what one does, and understanding that one either has faith or does not have faith. It takes little faith, not great faith, for miracles to happen. We are either humble or prideful. We forgive or we do not forgive. We have faith or we do not have faith. All of this is about our position under Christ. We must consider ourselves as servants when we do what God asks us to do. We cannot do anything God wants from a position of self-importance or personal honor on our part. Want to have faith to move mountains? Then begin by saying “I am unworthy and unprofitable—a nobody. I do what God asks of me and He alone deserves all the glory and honor!”

You and I cannot give the illusion of humility, rather our humility comes from our heart and spirit. We must be a nobody—no one of importance. Christ never said He was good or tried to make Himself of notoriety. He stated that ‘no one is good but God’. Are we trying to be good enough to perform miracles? Are we trying to lift up our self-esteem by having enough faith to heal someone? When we exercise the littlest amount of faith—it is enough to change, heal, or redeem whatever we are seeking. If we would indeed humble ourselves, there is nothing our faith could not accomplish. We are to honor Christ alone and to never accept any honor the world or Satan says we ought to have. It is only in humility that we forgive, have faith without measure, and please our Father.

This is how Jesus began and finished His ministry. It was about pleasing the Father not about ‘look what I have done’. Jesus would have us to do the same! Let’s have this kind of faith in times of crisis.

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.