August 9, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

You Know You’re A Christian…

You know you’re a Christian…

When you wake up every morning saying “Good morning” to Jesus.

When you worry more about what God thinks about you than your closest friends.

When you seek to find and do God’s will in any given situation than protecting your reputation.

When praying is more important than eating, sleeping, and your daily schedule.

When being in the presence of God is all you want; nothing compares to God’s love.

When you hate lying, the ‘taking advantage’ of others, people who act and think they are better than everyone else, anytime the Holy Spirit is ridiculed, and Jesus is not honored at an event.

When you do the ‘right thing’ instead of doing ‘your thing’.

When you do not accept things as they are (it is what it is) but you accept your responsibility in Christ to be a change agent.

When you look to follow Jesus alone, not looking for others to follow you.

When miracles and healings are commonplace in your lifestyle, not an afterthought.

When you bless your enemies and pray for your friends every day.

When you prepare yourself each day for the ‘battle against darkness, the evil one and those who love Satan’s ways’ and realize ‘the victory’ is yours—you do not give up.

When you are as passionate or get excited (or even more excited) about God than anything else in your life.

When you accept the Biblical truth that the Holy Spirit is always doing ‘spring cleaning’ in your life; getting those things out of your life that does not please God, yet you still feel that God loves you and is always looking out for you.

When you believe with everything within you, ‘That God is who He says He is and He will do what He said He will do’ and yes, the Bible is true and factual.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August week #1, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

What Good is Forgiveness Without a Decision?

“What good is forgiveness if a life is not changed? What good is forgiveness if goodness is not created? What good is forgiveness if love is not increased?

What good is forgiveness if a decision is not made?

I forgive since I am forgiven,

I’ve decided to help when I see others in need,

It’s my decision to enact three or more deeds of kindness each day,

Today, I decided to make sure my forgiveness produces a change in me.

I’m forgiven therefore I choose a life worth living!

Thought for the week

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

The Vindictive Person

The character of the Month Series

Vindictive/vindicate: Disposed to seek revenge, revengeful, unforgiving, bitter, spiteful; to do harm, resentful, an attitude of one seeking to pay back—retribution, to blame others for your circumstances (from The American Heritage Dictionary).

The Bible has lots to say about revenge. God wants us to place any revenge into His hands. This is not easy to do. It takes tremendous strength not to lash out at those who have done us harm.

We can take revenge on others through our words, attitudes, negative behavior, and acts of violence. We see this all the time in our society—people are angry, not forgiving. “What you do to me, I will do to you,” this is the motto for so many groups in America.

Jesus had this to say about revenge and vindictiveness. Matthew 5: 38-42, AKJV: You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say to you, That you resist not evil: but whoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him that asks you, and from him, that would borrow of you turn not you away.

God knows that this is a trick of the devil to destroy you. Hatred and vindictiveness will eat away at your life like cancer. It will keep growing and creates a desire within us to continue the behavior. Hatred breeds more hatred.

If I were once again raising children in my home, I would make learning about forgiveness and showing forgiveness to others a daily priority. There is so little forgiveness in our society that actually produces change and peace. We talk about forgiveness—we want forgiveness, but we give little forgiveness.

To show true forgiveness (and the offering of blessings instead) does not come naturally to any human being. Jesus did not say it was easy to do but a ‘must to do’ in order for us to find our own forgiveness and avoid the judgment of God. God forgives and we must also forgive. A vindictive person will not be found in heaven. How do I know this, the Bible says it’s so!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 5, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

According to Acts/Life of the Apostles

How can I have (or keep) the excitement of being a Christian? I want to feel the passion of believing in Jesus and the joy of my salvation 24/7! Is there a way for this to happen, or does my relationship with God become boring and uneventful over time?

There are things you can do to keep the freshness of your love for Jesus Christ. The Bible has many examples and insights into a passionate love affair between you and God. Here are some suggestions:

ü Ask God to “prepare a table for you in the mist of your enemies” (Psalm 23).

ü “Rejoice and be exceeding glad” when you are persecuted and people tell lies about you for believing and promoting the Gospel of Christ (Matthew 5:12).

ü Realize that persecution (in all or any of its forms) is a requirement for righteous and a Spirit-led life (Book of Acts).

ü Forgiveness is important—you must forgive others who sin against you or do you harm in any way (Matthew 6:12).

ü Learn to and exercise "blessing your enemies". Each time you do God will release a double portion of His Spirit into your life (Matthew 5:44).

ü Ask for forgiveness quickly each time the Holy Spirit shows you something wrong with your actions or words. Repentance is critical and do not just ask for your sin to be removed but the consequences of your sin (sin’s stains) be washed from your life (Revelation chapter 3).

ü The acceptance of sexual sins is strictly forbidden by God (Book of Acts) and do not fail to reject the rational/reasoning of the world that various sexual behaviors are OK—they are contrary to the Gospel of Christ. We must take on the mind of Christ in order to have freedom for the Holy Spirit to rejuvenate Himself in our lives on a daily basis.

ü Stop tempting God! Take responsibility for your behavior and stop thinking ‘that God will protect me and I can still do what I want’ because I know God will love me no matter what. Tempting God was, is, and always will be a sin (the temptation of Christ by the devil during His 40 days of fasting in the desert, Luke chapter 4).

The more you pray, repent, and sing Christian songs the more you keep alive as well as activate the Holy Spirit in your life. It is His job to convict you of sin, righteousness, and judgment (justice), so relax and let the Holy Spirit do His job (John 16:7-11)! This indeed is the passion of Christ—being in love with the Father.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 4, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Earthquakes

An Early Prophetic Warning

The time (season) of earthquakes is quickly coming upon the inhabitants of California. We have gone through a time of drought and are presently in a time of fire that is historical to California’s standards. God warns of such times and God’s hand of judgment is upon us—there is no escape!

The media, environmentalists, and meteorologists would like us to think (believe) that man is controlling what is taking place on the earth. If only we would stop burning fossil fuels and filling up the earth with our waste—things would get better. How naïve are we?

Since the death and resurrection of Christ, all that is taking place is about Him. God is bringing all things under the will of His Son. No matter what we do there is no stopping God’s will from taking place over the earth.

Then what can I do? Begin to believe with all your heart in the things of God. Prepare for God’s interaction in every aspect of the earth’s climate. Prepare to move, prepare to survive, and prepare to respond when God speaks to you through your prayers, His Word (the Bible), spiritual dreams, and signs in the sky.

God will not leave you alone and unprepared if you trust in Him alone and not in your own strength or intellect. If there is one thing God loves to do for His people, are miracles. If you can believe in miracles from Jesus Himself, you will find refuge from the destruction God has spoken about in His Word.

I am not afraid. I am not looking for destruction. I am not depending on the help of my government. It is Jesus whom I serve, and it is in Him alone that I put my trust.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 3, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Naïve

We try to teach our children not to be naïve, but often they fail to realize that evil lurks and hides in the most unlikely places. People are not safe today. There are evil people that take joy in hurting others—they find pleasure in causing pain on the innocent.

Darkness is everywhere around us; you and I cannot escape the plans that Satan has placed in the hearts and minds of his followers. Jesus said, “In this world, you will have pain and sorrow, but be encouraged, I have overcome the world.”

I take great comfort in His words and the promise of the Holy Spirit who is living in my life. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would be my Comforter (John 14:16). Jesus does not want us to be naïve, but rather wisdom is to be our guide. It is with the wisdom of God that we can identify what is evil and what is good; what is darkness and what is light.

Wisdom is a commodity that seems lacking in many of my Christian friends. They are still naïve when it comes to realizing and identifying the evil in this world. They still think ‘man is good’ or has the capacity to be good. What a mistake and failure in understanding the basic nature of man and the deceptiveness of evil.

Satan has blinded the eyes of our understanding so the truth cannot come and operated within us. Jesus said, “Having eyes to see and yet cannot see; ears to hear and cannot hear.”

When I worked as a professor at a major Christian university in California, I was amazed to find so many professors that claimed to be Christian yet Christ was not manifested in any part of their lives. I cried for many miles as I drove home in the evenings asking God why He brought me to such ‘a den or wolves— a hypocritical group of unbelievers’?

Just because someone says they are a follower of Jesus Christ does not make it so. It is always by his or her fruit (their works) that you will know if someone is truly a person of Christ (Book of James). I believe in showing my faith by my works. I have learned over time that words are deceptive but one’s actions do show one’s true self and motivation.

James chapter one says, “If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask of God and He will give it to him.” But I would like to add that when you ask and God shows you His wisdom do not be surprised if God’s wisdom is so contrary to what you have learned in the past. God’s wisdom is designed to dispel ignorance and any quality of being naïve.

One cannot be naïve and follow the teaching of Christ. Time and time again, Jesus explained and showed His disciples the truth and the motives of people. His disciples were always amazed. It is time for no more amazement! It is time to be wise as serpents and yet as harmless as doves. This is who Jesus wants me to be, un-naïve.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 29, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Are You a Psalm 1 Person?

If you are not a Psalm chapter 1 person, there is no way you can stop the plans of the devil or change history. God has made it clear throughout Scripture that only those who have found God’s grace can have the promises of God’s will and perform what is stated in the first Psalm of the Bible.

“Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night.3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff, which the wind drives away.5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” (Psalm 1, KJV)

Psalms chapter one tells who we must be in Christ, chapter two speaks to what the Lord considers the problems we will be facing, and chapter three instructs us how to position oneself in helping others and finding help for yourself.

God asked me to read Psalms chapter three a few days ago. I spoke to the Lord that I am not having these problems—i.e., I did not have to “cry unto the Lord.” God stated to me that He was not talking to me but concerning President Trump. The Holy Spirit reminded me of the need "to pray for those that are over us.” We need to pray and intercede for our political leaders (multiple Bible verses telling us to do so).

So I have begun to pray Psalms chapter 3 over our President, his family, and his administration. I do not know what is taking place in Washington D.C. nor why Mr. Trump needs our protection/covering. I do not need to know but I need to be faithful to the One who was and is faithful to me—Jesus.

My challenge to you is simple: if you are a believer and a Psalms 1 person, you need to pray, read, and claim Psalms chapter 3 over our President. God knows what is about to come and what is the need for God’s will to be done and fulfilled with completeness. Will you be a Psalms chapters 1-3 person? Can you believe in God to fulfill His promises? Are you willing to stand in the gap for others? This is what Jesus would want us to 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.

July 26, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Where’s That Revival Steve?

I receive updates as to “what the Spirit of God is saying to the Church” on a weekly basis. A revival is coming I am told, but why is it taking so long? Why is God making us wait? The answer is simple. It’s not a revival that’s coming but the power of the Holy Spirit with miracles, signs, and wonders—the ‘latter rain’ and a wave of God’s presence.

Are we looking for the next move of God to merely help us out or are we willing to be a part of the movement of His Spirit that brings freedom to those that live in darkness and the bondage of sin? Christ came to save the lost and set the captives free. Christ is not coming to make the church more spiritual—nor for us to be more religious or better than our neighbor.

If you want to ‘jump-start’ the next move of the Holy Spirit, then begin to look no further than your own community. There are three major groups in America that live in complete darkness; they live in sin and the control of the devil. The next great awakening is right in front of us. The movement of the Holy Spirit will require these ingredients:

1. It will not be found in the churches of America but in the streets of America.

2. It will not be started nor sustained by today’s religious leaders but the common Christian who will take God at His word.

3. It will not be directed to making churches better nor richer but directed toward the neediest and captive people who have no freedom or peace.

4. It will begin by taking the power of the Gospel of Christ (Isaiah 61:1-3) to the people who are mentioned in these verses.

5. It will begin in the streets with spiritual deliverance to the homeless—they will be delivered from the power of sin that has captivated their minds, spirits, and souls into the darkness. (The homeless do not need more food, clothing, or shelter—they have this, but they need deliverance from their captivity in darkness.)

6. It will begin with the gay movement that lives in fear and darkness; seeking only pleasure and dominance of Satan over their lives. The gay movement will not know nor understand how the power of the Holy Spirit could convict and change their lives—it will catch them by surprise and offer them the freedom they never believed Jesus could bring to them.

7. It will be a pouring out of God’s presence without measure upon our young people who have been told that “you have a right to determine your own destiny”, yet they are lonely, unconnected, and without family. Young people in America are the most disconnected group in our society—they have believed a lie.

8. It will contain so many miracles, healings, spiritual deliverance, and the ‘changing of personalities’ that you will not be able to number them. (The media will not want to proclaim what is taking place but God’s activity will be known without the media’s help.) This movement of the Spirit of God will be as a wave that covers every city, county, and street within America. (Can you believe God for this?)

You want God’s presence and fullness of the Holy Spirit, then begin to accept the calling of God to preach Isaiah 61 to America’s needy. It is time to take the power of Christ into the darkest; to the most corrupted and lost groups in America. Do you hear God calling? Are you afraid or are you a believer? It is time for the redeemed to say so!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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

July 25, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Too Many Rights

Wisdom of the month series

I hear all the time that I have a right to this or that; that we have a right to almost everything we desire. I am amazed that I could even exist as a young child growing up without all the rights that the world says young children must have today. And, it does not stop with young children but with every culture, social group, age group and nation. It is an epidemic, ”you have the right”, I am told.

It boils down to the premise that you have the right to decide, receive, and manifest whatever you want; no one or institution can deny you of this basic humanistic right. As Satan deceived Eve, telling her “she has the right to be wise, to decide what you want, and what God says is not totally true,” so today we are going down the same path of deception and faulty reasoning.

I believe we have only one right and that is to become the children of God (John 1”12, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:).

Even if I was denied all the rights the U.S. Constitution gives me, I would still exercise my right to be a son of God. This is the only right God gives me and nothing can take this from me. Not laws, customs, individuals, or even Satan. I choose this right—that I am a child of the King!

Remember the Bible story about the man who had a legion of demons living in him (Mark 5: 1-20). The possessed man lived in tombs with buried dead people, was naked and unwashed, yelling and cutting himself with knives, and could not be bound with chains (he broke free from them); yet he called out to Jesus when he saw Jesus walking a long distance from where he lived in the tombs.

The demons could not stop the possessed man from crying out to Jesus for help. He had the right to become a son of God. He had the right to be healed. He had the right to believe in Jesus Christ. He had the right to be anything in Christ and have everything God intended for us in order to live a happy and fulfilled life on earth!

As for myself, I do not need rights that man can give me, just give me Jesus. He is the only right I need in order to be free, whole, and prosperous with the ability to choose what is good and right.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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

July 23, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

The Best Word Ever for Love

Without Love, Part #3

I have a sign on my property that says, “I may not be perfect but my dog loves me.” Everyone should be loved without fear. Two behavioral traits stops us from loving others: one, sin can work in our lives to make our love become non-effective; sin has a power over how much we love—it stops love from even beginning, and two, a person who loves only when things benefit them personally is unchristian and promotes the destruction of others.

There is something we can do to produce more love. The word “No” is the best word ever to produce more love in your life. “No” produces humility, sharing, strength, and caring. I consider “No” to be the best character building word in the English language.

If Eve would have only said “No” to Satan, herself, and Adam, we would be in a much better place today. I am glad Jesus said “No” to Satan when he was being tempted in the wilderness when He was fasting for those 40 days. He said “No” to Satan, to himself and now says “No” for me when I am tempted to reject, hold back or be selective in my love toward others.

However, there are times Jesus did say “No” to others for their benefit so they would choose a better path—a life-changing choice—a display of faith. Mark 7:24-30, Jesus said “No” to a Greek/Syrophenician woman who wanted her daughter to be healed. If Jesus had not said “No” then the woman would not have made a declaration of faith and generated a response from Jesus in order for her daughter to receive healing.

I had a female student in one of my Christian Worldview classes at the university that made this statement, “My husband will never tell me no!” Students in the class were taken back by her statement. This young woman was so selfish and insecure that she made it a point to always get her way—what she wanted and when she wanted it.

I could continue with stories and statements where “No” saved people from injury, humiliation, and a life of emotional pain. We must learn to swim against the tide in our culture that says we have a right to do anything and society or present norms cannot tell us “No”. We must tell ourselves and others “No” whenever what we want or desire is contrary to God’s will and plan for our lives. As for me and my house, “No” will be the word we use when loving others and seeking God’s love in our lives.

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.