March 25, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

I’m Happy

Can I give you a suggestion for being happy? It is an age-old bit of wisdom—being happy is not what you do not have or what you did not get, but it is in what you presently have.

During this Easter time, we need to think about and express our gratefulness to God for what He has given us. We all would like more from God and wish He had given us more in difficult times but that is not how God works.

He does not give to us what we think we have earned or need, or what we feel we deserve by serving Him. If we trust and follow Him, He gives us what is best for us. He wants us to ‘make heaven our home’ not a home on this earth. God planned from the beginning for all who believe in Him to have a “new heaven and a new earth.”

This present world, we are living in, is imperfect and will be done away with—the old will give way to the new. With this in mind, I can be happy. I will not be discouraged with what I presently do not have in Christ nor what He did not give me when I was struggling. I will be happy no matter where I find myself, in whatever circumstances that surround me.

So during this Easter season, let’s be happy for what purpose and in what condition God has placed us. Yet, I looking forward to having His perfect will for me in every area of my life. Yes, I can sing songs after being persecuted and placed in jail. I can rejoice in being shipped wrecked and hungry on a strange island. I can even be happy knowing that I have done God’s will even though it seems impossible and difficult for me.

Christ was happy and knew God would not leave Him in hell after His crucifixion. Moses was happy in the Sinai Desert knowing that God would lead them to the promised land. Paul was happy and content being in chains for 3 years before making his case before Caesar. Yes, we can be happy no matter where and what time we are in doing the will of Christ.

I am happy in Christ for it is Christ in me that makes me happy. He has not only made a way for me, but He has become ‘the way’ for me. Christ in me; my happiness and joy!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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March 24, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Don’t Be Fooled

Jesus is coming back. It is much closer than we would care to consider. I, of course, do not know when nor would I like to guess, but the signs Jesus talked about, are upon us.

I have always been intrigued with what John wrote in his epistle, I John 2: 18, “Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” How does one identify the antichrists?

I do not believe one can physically see and realize/identify antichrists unless you love God and keep His commandments. John indeed loved Jesus and wrote often about loving Christ and others, having fellowship with the saints, and keeping the commandments of Christ—especially Christ’s Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-8).

If one loves God, you are not blind and have spiritual eyes and thereby able to determine the will of God. If one is still living in sin—without forgiveness and full of self-righteousness—you are not a child of the Father, as John states in his epistles.

As I have said before, God told me, “To open my eyes and see. There are many people who have the mark of the beast on their lives.” Since that time I have been looking for the mark of the beast in people. It is not a physical marking but a spiritual mark that shows itself. I have realized that often it is the people that look happy and successful that display the mark of the beast. I do not see it often in people who are full of sin or demon possessed—it is a choice and state of being—that is why it is not obvious to the common Christian. Many Christians are looking for physical signs and oversimplify the deception of the devil—they will never see the mark of the beast in others.

Yes, there are seemly ordinary and common people who have the mark of the devil in their lives. They are usually people who strive for power and control over others. They are corrupt individuals that will make excuses for their sins and never acknowledge the forgiveness and love of Christ.

The darkness of Satan is more prevalent today than ever before. I see Satan’s thinking processes in many aspects of American society. People no longer think clearly or morally. They follow only their own desires and strive to bring all others into their ‘line of thinking’. It is sad to see this happening and the Church is often unwilling to confront this process of deception.

This is why I know Christ is planning to return shortly. It will become much worse than presently displayed in America. People will more and more love their sin and be willing to accept anything Satan says through those who have the mark of the beast. Christians will lose everything they own and be persecuted for their beliefs. But, it is those that make it to the end, holding on to their faith in Christ—these are the ones that will be saved.

This is what Jesus wants me to do and to make it to the end, by being faithful to Him in trusting in Him alone for everything, not loving my life even to the very end.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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March 23, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

From Not Getting Healed to Finding Healing

I get excited when God heals someone. It does not matter how humble or dramatic the healing is or the circumstances behind the healing. I am just grateful that God had compassion on all who were involved in the healing process and that Jesus was honored.

However, this is not always the case with so many Christians and non-Christians alike. Some people ask and search for God to grant a healing they so desperately need but nothing happens. Let me offer some insight or suggestions in receiving your requests from God for physical healings.

Our mindset is important and how we approach God is critical. Sometimes it is not an easy matter in finding your healing. In fact, sometimes it takes effort on our part. Here are the suggestions:

One, “Do not” and again I say, “Do not think you know Jesus and because when ‘you think’ you know Him you can limit how or what He does in healings.” Jesus tried to heal individuals in certain villages but because the people knew of Him or about Him, they could not believe that Jesus would or could heal them. Your personal knowledge of Christ can get in the way of your healing when you limit God from doing the impossible.

Two, we often divorce forgiveness from the healing process. But, Scriptures state plainly that forgiveness and healing do go together. Want healing—ask for forgiveness; what forgiveness, ask for healing.

Three, healing is often a group effort. When people were healed in the Bible individuals were dependent on others for their healings. People actually/physically brought the person to where Christ was and/or two or more individuals were part of the praying and believing process. I think that the more people praying, the probability of someone receiving their healing increases dramatically.

Four, Jesus said to His disciples that sometimes, healings do not happen “without prayer and fasting.” Those who pray for us ought to be people who pray a lot and are fasting often. Sacrifice is the tool for those who seek healing for others.

Five, do not let the power of the devil stop you from experiencing healing. Satan goes about “like a roaring lion” trying to frighten and limit your faith and approaching Christ. Satan cannot stop you from asking and choosing to be healed—it cannot stop you. (Remember the man who had hundreds of evil spirits in him—these devils could not stop the man from crying out for Jesus to heal and deliver him.)

Six, often it has been said by many intellectual, sincere, and traditional Christians that “God can be glorified in our suffering—that is could be God’s will that you are sick.” I laugh when I hear this reasoning. They only make excuses for their lack of faith or belief in the Gospel of Christ. Their “ignorance of the Scripture and the power of Christ” make so many people vulnerable or are kept a state of disbelief. There is no Biblical Truth in this line of thinking.

Seven, if you are having trouble with receiving your healing do these things: read stories about individuals being healed; ignore the ‘fake-healers’ you watch on TV (Jesus never asked for money in exchange for healing anyone); find people who can and will believe God for your healing; never, never, never, set any time-limits on when or how to be healed; find Scriptures that support God healing you and confess and believe in them no matter what; and search and seek for forgiveness in your healing process.

It is the love of God that heals us and it is His love that draws us to Him during the healing process. Be healed and whole in Christ—this is His will for you always!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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March 16, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Are You Blessed?

Psalm 24 is such a great psalm about Jesus Christ. King David looked forward to Christ with such clarity that it often dwarfs our efforts in looking back to Christ himself over 2000 years ago. Oh, how blind we are and living in darkness and confusion. God in His great love has done everything for us, and yet we ignore the obvious and His wonderful gifts to us.

My guess is that few of us read the 24th Psalm because we spend more time reading the 23rd Psalm—what a mistake. It is in the 24th Psalm that we find blessing and sanctification. Did you know that God blessed and sanctified what He had made during creation even though He said what He had “made is good”. God knew that just because He made something that is good, it still needed to be blessed and sanctified.

When you make something or do something that is good and right, do you leave it alone, or do you bless and sanctify it? It takes more than doing what is right and just, it takes blessing and sanctification for anything to be complete.

Let’s start asking for blessing and sanctification after God does something for us, and everything He gives to us. Better yet, when we do anything good, right, just, or pure—let’s ask God to bless and sanctify it. It is time to have the very best of God in our lives by “asking for His blessing and sanctification” over everything He gives or does for us.

It is time to read and believe in Psalm 24:

1 The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek your face, O Jacob. Selah. 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be you lift up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; even lift them up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

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, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

The One Character Trait You Will Always Need

The Character of the Month Series

God asked me this morning, “If you could choose only one character quality, what would that be?” (I was impressed in my spirit by the Holy Spirit to choose a personal quality that would help everyone in these last days.) I was not sure and just one? I felt I needed many positive character qualities in order to ‘make-it’ in this world. Every book I have read about leadership or character development there are at least a dozen or more ‘needed qualities’ if one is going to be successful.

I am amazed at the questions God asks me. He knows that it is the questions, not the answers, which challenge and change our lives for the better in our walk with Him. I constantly tell my friends “it is the questions you ask” as you read the Bible that helps you in your understanding, not the obvious answers that most people gravitate too.

One character quality—what can that be? Eventually, I ended up with the advice of James the Apostle (James 1:22-25). (Jesus said the same thing but in different words and illustrations.)

"But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like to a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

How often do we look in the mirror and don’t like what we see? The older I get the less I spend looking at myself, “I don’t want to know!” But God, He wants me to look at and know myself. The Holy Spirit is into searching things out. His job (one of many) is to show you who you are and what you can be. The Holy Spirit is to identify what is wrong and how to fix it. (He is busy in my life. There are lots to be fixed all the time.)

If there is one character trait that Jesus wants us all to have and keep using in this lifetime—it is to allow God’s spiritual mirror to reflect who we are and what we can be in Christ. It’s not easy to do this but with God, this is the only way we can be blessed and walk in liberty.

It is freedom that God is offering us. Freedom from the evil person that we are, and thereby becoming the person of God that God had always planned for our lives. It is this liberty that only the Holy Spirit can bring to us. May the Holy Spirit become the mirror to your freedom in Christ! This lifetime character quality none of us can be without.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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March 3, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

God by the Numbers

Have you ever studied ‘the numbers’ (or just one number) in the Bible? Most likely you have in some limited context. If you would try to list all the ‘numbers’ in the Bible—they are many times more than all the pages of the Bible. God uses numbers to explain not only His purposes but also who He is and what He is doing. Numbers are important to God.

To explain the significance of individual numbers (1-24) would greatly increase your understanding of God. If God did not use numbers in explaining what He is planning to do we would never recognize ‘His Coming’ or how He works in the lives of His people.

But to me, the most significant aspect of Biblical numbers is the “multiplication process” that God references from Genesis to Revelation. God wants whatever He does or touches to multiply. It is only in multiplication that His will is completed.

We must “multiply” God commands. If you have a ministry—it is supposed to multiply. If you have a gift—it is to multiply. The Word of God (Gospel of Christ) is to multiply in your life. Grace, peace, and joy are to multiply in our lives—as stated at the beginning of each Epistle in the New Testament.

In fact, if we hide the talent God gives to us there is only judgment waiting for us. Whatever God does, whatever He gives, whatever He says must multiply in our lives. This is a given and is a requirement in Scripture.

How many of you have become stagnant? The things of God have not multiplied or grown in your life? We are to go from “30 to 60 to 100 fold”. It is never to become ‘flat or static’ but is to multiply.

The next time you read any Scripture that uses the word, “blessing” or “multiply”—it means that whatever God deposits into your life it is to produce more fruit all the time and in every direction. Do not allow your decisions or Satan tempt you into staying the same. We are to multiply in every way and all time for God’s glory alone.

‘Get believing’ fellow believers and allow God to increase your influence, your talents, your gifts and fruits of the Spirit, your ministry. Let Today be the Day for God to multiple everything good in your life—this is what He expects from you and 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.

March 2, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Love Never Ending

The love of God; I cannot explain it when it engulfs my life. It makes me cry and rejoice all at the same time. It convicts me of my unworthiness and at the same time, I feel God loves me more than anyone else in the room. His love amazes me!

If there is anything you can count on—more than anything else in this lifetime—it is that God loves you! You and I will be disappointed time and time again but not by God—His love makes everything that I do or who I am worthwhile.

But often, we experience or talk about the love of God without mentioning anything else about God and His will through Jesus Christ. God reminded me again today that love comes to us through judgment. Christ’s love was manifested fully at Calvary and through the judgment that the Father placed on His Son. Jesus said that He comes not to bring peace but a sword. Jesus knew that because of Him people would become offended and turn against each other because of the Gospel of Christ.

The world seeks unity and does not want God to judge them, but Christ’s judgment has already taken place. On Calvary, God’s judgment was forever placed within the timeframe of this world. You and I cannot escape the judgment of Christ—it is a given.

This is why there are mercy and forgiveness—“the ax is laid at the foot of the tree”—and no one will be able to escape the consequences of their sin. If you want mercy you must acknowledge God’s fearful judgment.

God reminded and asked me once again to pray for and speak God’s judgment over various groups who do everything they can to resist Jesus working in the lives of His people. They are enemies of the Gospel of Christ and God wants them to know this.

I am reminded in Revelation that God wants to proclaim His judgment as much as His mercy over the earth. God does not want me to fail in bringing His judgment to bear upon all those who reject Him. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.”

“God, make me unashamed, unafraid, and unapologetic in Christ. When I speak may your judgment reign supreme over all the earth. God, may you alone receive all praise and worship and Jesus be lifted up above all things. Even so, Come Lord Jesus, 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 1, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Without Honor

They looked the other way! They decided not to get involved! They were afraid to act! They deferred their responsibility to others! They refused to acknowledge the obvious! They simply were people without honor.

I find the recent tragedy at a Florida high school to be a commentary on American culture. Our culture is weak because Americans are weak. Far too many ‘dropped the ball’ by not taking responsibility in stopping a young man that is indeed not only mentally disturbed but under the control of Satan. I wonder how many Christians knew this young man yet did not offer him deliverance from the demons inside of him through the power of Jesus Christ?

This is why Jesus exercised a “deliverance ministry” and commanded His disciples to do the same. Evil has no power over God’s church—at least, that is what the Bible says. If the Church does not stand up and accept the responsibility to confront evil and speak deliverance to individuals under the control of the devil, then we have no honor and should not be called by Christ’s name. (To murder for pleasure is Satan inspired and directed.)

There are signs of demon possession and being control of the devil. However, the Church too often defers their judgment to professionals or ‘the educated’. They will never be able to stand against Satan nor give those who are in trouble the deliverance they need or are seeking after if they choose not to act.

How much longer, Church, are you going to be a church without honor? How much longer are you going to turn your back on those in spiritual need? When are you going to exercise the authority Christ has given to you to “destroy the works of the devil?”

Christians need not call themselves Christians unless they do the works of Christ. God says that unless we keep the commandments of Christ we do not nor can we love God and love each other. I am bold in stating, “There is no honor if we do not exercise the power of Christ and destroy the works of the devil. Honor requires courage and sacrifice. It is God who seeks those who worship Him to honor Him through “doing” the works of Christ and 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.

February 28, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Hiding Behind

What are you hiding behind? All of us do—we hide behind something we are doing in order to hide who we really are. We are good at that. This is why God says everything will be manifested in heaven—nothing will be hidden—everything exposed.

I try to ‘put my best foot forward’. We want people to think well of us. We hide the faults and insecurities of who we are. But most of all, we do not like to acknowledge our weaknesses. Often there are little things in our personalities that we hide. We think no one will respect or love us with such a fault as…

God knows who we are—we cannot hide any aspect of ourselves from Him. I like it like that! I rather be like King David who spoke to God, “See if there be any wicked way in me.” We can never find great mercy and total forgiveness unless we are willing to see honestly whom we are, acknowledging the weakness, and ask God for Grace to change.

However, more than I like to state, most of us keep our faults and use the better more likable aspects of our personality to hide the darkness of who we are. We use humor, our ‘good looks’, what we wear, our intelligence, money, and often qualities of giving, sharing our wealth or kind deeds to be the veil or ‘personal wall’ we hide behind.

Yes, we use good character traits to hide our evil character traits. I have even seen people use certain ‘Christian behaviors or traits’ as their disguise when they are hiding the ‘rotten character’ traits in their personalities.

Some people are good at their disguise. Even though there are things about their character that I like, I know they are evil and dark individuals, and if I would confront them regarding what they are doing and why they immediately respond back in a defensive and aggressive attitude. These people do not want to change who they are or what they do. They are only interested in getting what they want and are willing to hurt anyone who gets in their way. God will say to these individuals at the Judgment Day, “I never knew you!”

Want to make heaven your home? Try this first, “Repentant of who you are and what you are hiding.” It is God who loves us and will meet you with good will, forgiveness, and love that will take away the evil traits in your personality. I know this is true because He has done this for 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.

February 21, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

The Loss of a Friend

It saddened me to hear of Reverend Billy Graham’s passing. I know he wanted to go home (he called heaven his home) and to be once again with his wife, Ruth. They both were such wonderful people and pillars in the Body of Christ.

I was saved at Billy’s first crusade in Fresno, CA. over 50 years ago, and I attended his second crusade in Clovis, which is in the Fresno area, a few years past. Every time I listen to Billy either in person or on TV the Holy Spirit would move me to tears. To listen to the truth of the gospel and hear the passion and sincerity in Billy’s voice changed my life for good each and every time.

Billy had such passion and a determination for everyone to make the same decision for Christ that he did as a young man. He would say that whenever he preached, “he felt the presence and power of God”—you could sense this if you were in the crowd listening to him.

I have read about his history in the book, Billy Graham, God’s Ambassador by Time/Life Books, 1999. (It is full of great stories and pictures—purchase a copy for your self—a must for everyone’s personal library!) You will find so many interesting facts that will amaze you and challenge your walk with Christ.

One thing that catapulted Graham into the ministry was his struggle to believe in and have the conviction that the Bible was true. That God’s word was completely and totally accurate and truthful. Once he accepted this fact about the Bible his life changed forever. The other fact was his experience with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. This happened to him during his crusade in Los Angeles that forced his ministry into the public arena.

God has a way of using what man has created for His glory. The west-coast newspapers gave Billy the push to become America’s minister to the entire world during his Revival in Los Angeles in the 1940’s.

There is a saying of Billy’s that has helped me over the years and I have enlarged upon it. I say this often to myself and especially when I am down or fighting to keep my head above the waters, I say out loud, “God loves me and Jesus loves me. Jesus, you are my friend and Holy Spirit, you are my strength.”

I say this to myself and/or to the circumstances around me many times during a day. I like to keep God close and Jesus even closer and it helps to keep my eyes on Him. It is my love for God and His love for me that makes being a Christian worthwhile.

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.