July 22, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Holding Back Your Love

Without Love, Part #2

Yesterday, I wrote about our love growing cold and how sin works in our lives to make our love become non-effective. Sin does have a power over how much we love and to whom we refuse to love.

To love someone or not to love someone is a choice. We make these choices everyday—even minute-by-minute in our relationships with others. There are many levels of love; I do not love everything the same nor should I. God warns me about loving the things in this world more than I love Him. I cannot love God if I love anything else more than Him, but the more I love God it seems the more I am able to love what God has created and placed in this world.

God also warns about not loving yourself, or more exactly, not having a good self-esteem whereby you can love others as you love yourself. We must love others and ourselves in order to be a balanced, wholesome, and productive individual.

However, often we get our feelings hurt or do not get what we want so we hold back or refuse to love those close to us. To God, this is a grave mistake. Whenever we are so weak that we ‘hold-back’ or refuse to love someone that we have a relationship with, then we are in danger of God’s judgment. Often we base our love towards someone on getting ‘what we want’ or ‘how that person treats us’. Our love is selfish if it only works when we get what we want or when circumstances are perfect.

“Be angry and sin not,” the Bible says (Ephesians 4:26). If you display angry, resentment, or a perfectionist attitude in your love requirements then something is deeply wrong with you. I have noticed that ‘controlling personalities’ do more harm to others by their back-and-forth actions between loving someone one moment and then hating them only minutes later. Anger destroys more loving relationships than any other attitude or behavior.

True love is sincere, kind, hopeful, forgiving, humble, positive, thankful, happy, and of strong character. A person who holds back their love to others only when things benefit them personally is unchristian and promotes the destruction of others. I love others because God loves me. To me it is just that simple—it’s a Jesus thing.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 21, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Where Has the Love Gone?

Whitney Houston sang a song titled, “How Will I Know”, which was released in 1985. The lyrics talked about falling in love and wondering if this love is real. (Here are the chorus’ lyrics)

How will I know if he really loves me?
I say a prayer with every heartbeat
I fall in love whenever we meet
I’m asking you what you know about these things
How will I know if he’s thinking of me
I try to phone but I’m too shy (can’t speak)
Falling in love is so bittersweet
This love is strong, why do I feel weak?

Everyone knew this song and even today you can see young children singing this tune—acting out the lyrics on YouTube. I suppose this song was prophetic…so many people were having problems not only in falling in love but also staying in love. We all want to be loved and the opportunity to love in return.

What I find amazing is with all the desire to love and be loved we fail miserably in this area. This morning God told me as I was waking up to write an article on forgotten love. As I began, I checked emails and behold, there were three other articles about love. (God works in mysterious ways and always works within the concept of 2-3 witnesses.) We are indeed failing the command “to love others as we love ourselves.”

The Bible says the love of many will grow cold in the last days (Matthew 24:12). God is talking about His church—that’s you and me. We must protect our love and be willing to love even though it will cost us. But to love one has to keep sin out of your life.

I fully understand that I cannot love a person who does not want to be loved with the love Christ has given me. I cannot love those who love darkness, have the mark of the beast in their life, or only will accept my love on the conditions they set for me. Nevertheless, I have and will exercise the ability and desire to love. Yes, God loved me and I will love in return.

Christ warned us about the last days in Matthew chapter 24, that the love and power of sin destroys any attempt to love one another. You cannot get rid of your sin unless you believe in Jesus Christ. Everything comes back to Christ—who He is and what He has done for us. If you and I do not have the Holy Spirit working in our lives each and everyday convicting us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (justice) then sin is working in our lives. Our sin condemns us to a life without love (John 16:8).

Let’s not allow the love God has placed in our hearts to become cold and non-existent. Let’s remove sin by the mercy of God and allow His love to work in our hearts. A life full of love, what a novel thought, this is what Jesus would want me to do.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 18, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Are You Prepared?

We will soon to be in the fight for our very lives. How does one prepare as a Christian in the last days? How do you survive in the battle against the Anti-Christ? Will it be a time of despair and confusion or will you rejoice in the coming of Christ?

As I have stated many times, the ‘mark of the beast’ is already present on many people in this world. The days are indeed shorter (not less in number but in time (24 hours is much less than it use to be). And last but not least, the fulfillment of Israel’s destiny is upon us—all the biblical signs stated in Revelation are easily recognizable.

How does one prepare for the end of all things? The Bible holds many keys to your survival and the words of Jesus in the Gospels are your guide to knowing what to do, what to pay attention to, and what to do next. This is not a time for fear or ignorance but a time for spiritual insight and preparation.

If one fears, doubts, or refuses to obey the direction of Christ you will have a difficult time making it to the end. “But he that shall endure (persevere) unto the end, the same shall be saved” Matthew 24:13. What does it take to endure? Who’s got what it takes?

Here are some ‘preparation suggestions’ that are full of wisdom for those that will see Christ’s return. These bits of wisdom are for you to mentally, spiritually, and emotionally apply to your spiritual well being. (Things to know and do.)

ü There will be revivals everywhere. On all continents and in every city and county. People will become saved in such numbers you will not be able to number them all.

ü The Holy Spirit will flow like waves over the earth even though there will no longer be any church buildings standing but the Holy Spirit will bring people together into out-door amphitheaters.

ü Social media will not be your friend but will hinder the Gospel of Christ. It would be prudent for Christians to begin to exist without assistance from Social Media platforms.

ü What you have been told about how to prepare for hard times will not keep you to the end. Water will become critical and food will be hard to come by. It would be good to become more self-sufficient in all things needed to stay alive. But realize that there is nothing you can do to store or have enough food and other life-sustaining items to make it to the end. Christ will have to become ‘your-everything’ (medically, protection and provisions to sustain life).

ü What you now know about Jesus Christ is not enough. Every verse in the Bible will take on new importance and significance. The meaning and adaptation of each verse will keep unfolding. Do not rely on what you now know about the verses in the Bible, thinking you already know all-there-is-to-know about any particular verse. The revelation of Jesus Christ will keep unfolding throughout Scripture and new revelations of verses are what will keep you till the end.

ü You will have to develop a complete dependence on the Holy Spirit. By praying in the Spirit you will be able to keep yourself in the love of God. Memorizing Bible chapters and singing in the Spirit—these qualities will support you against darkness.

ü Things will keep getting worse to the point of losing all hope and thinking that Jesus is delaying His return. Persecution will become commonplace and Satan will be performing miracles so as to convince you to follow him. It will not be easy, so learn to persevere.

ü Everything will be done in stages but do not let your preparation to endure a particular stage or season of darkness be amply for the next stage of darkness. Each season of darkness will take a particular new set of spiritual skills and only continual revelation of Jesus Christ will prepare you for what is to come.

ü It’s going to get bad, very bad. Infrastructures will no longer be available, climate change will be so great most land areas will be changes or badly affected, and political institutions will not be in existence. This will set the stage for the anti-Christ (Satan) to show himself and perform wonders so to lead mankind into battle against the Lord.

ü If I would desire anyone one thing it would be to have the spirit, power, words, and wisdom of the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation chapter 11. It is our calling to battle against anything and anyone that exalts itself against Jesus Christ.

ü At the very end, darkness will be in control. No one will be able to perform the works of Christ—Satan will once again have his day as he did when Christ was crucified.

ü If I would choose a physical location to live, it would be in the land of Israel. It is in this region that God will still be working and His will be finalized on the earth.

What we know now will not be enough to sustain the destruction that is to come. We must grow in such stature in the Holy Spirit in order to withstand what God will bring to bear on the earth. It is only in knowing, believing, and loving Jesus with all our being that will make us overcomers. Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 17, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Your Past vs. Your Future

I see too many Christians who live more in their past than their future. They talk more about their past than their future, as if, they have no future. I know the temptation (when you get over 60) is to tell everyone “how things use to be” but it is only in our future that we will find Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

The question is when does this start? When you are born, saved, start going to church, between age 18 and 45, or is it an ongoing process? So many people once they get over 70 have no plans. They are merely living out the final years of their life.

Whenever we begin to start looking back, remembering how things once were, we put our future on hold. Looking back is never a good thing! There are plenty of Scripture stories that illustrate the danger of “looking back”.

The children of Israel after coming out of Egypt began to look back and remember how good they had it in Egypt—the ones that did died in the Sinai Desert. Lot’s wife looked back after being led out of Sodom and Gomorra became a pillar of salt. The religious leaders in the days of Christ’s ministry on earth could only accept what God did in the past—they had no vision for the future.

I can tell you emphatically that without hope for a bright future you are lost and without the will of Christ in your life. Any time in your life when you reflect on your past and ‘look to remember how good it was’ you are in danger of Satan leading you into despair.

We always have a future in Christ. I will soon be 70. God has indeed blessed me with many blessings over those 70 years, but I am looking to my future in Him. I am looking to do more, and whatever I do, to have a greater blessing than God has given me in my past.

It is Jesus I am looking too. He is my hope, He is my future, and He is my strength to be able to do all things. Yes, I have a past but I only look forward to my future—this is my joy!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 12, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

What Will Keep You Out of Heaven?

(The Doubling Principle)

We get excited when God talks about ‘doubling’. Yep, God wants all of His creation to double and keep doubling. But way to often, we do not increase what God gives to us. We become static and fearful of God’s acceptance.

Becoming ‘saved’ is just the first step, it is not an end in itself! We are created to produce God’s fruit. All of Scripture expresses God’s plan for each of us to produce fruit (good works, attain to Gifts of the Spirit, and replace Satan’s plans with God’s plans), which is to multiply year after year, season after season, in our lives and through us to others.

It is not good to bury, hide, or disregard what God has given to you. You are no good to God if your light is not set on a hill for all to see (Matthew 5: 13-16). We are supposed to be a ‘change-agent’ in this world. We are to produce in abundance, internally and externally, God’s character traits in us.

Luke 8: 4-15, the parable of a sower, Jesus talks about good ground and what it is to produce. The ground is our lives and the seed is God’s words of life in our lives (And the seed fell on good ground, and sprang up and bare fruit an hundredfold, vs. 8).

Verse 15 states, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Jesus gives us a stern warning in Matthew 25: 14-30 about making sure you talents (what God has given you—deposited in your life) multiplies. If your life does not produce God’s fruit (His works and words in your life) then God will cast you into hell (see verses 28-30).

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him, which has ten talents.29For to every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.30And cast you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

To make it into heaven is much more than being a Christian, saved and spirit filled. It is more than going to church and giving of your money. It is about producing! Whatever God gives you in this life, it is to multiply all the time—the constant flow of God’s law of multiplication. I call this the Doubling Principle.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 12, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Why is Unity in the Spirit so hard to find?

This article came to me from my good friend, David Hauser, Western Regional Director for Healing Rooms International. Dave writes:

“I just met with a close Pastor friend David Fischer who wrote a book ‘The Future Great Planet Earth’.

Our discussions and prayers always move toward the Lord and what God wants to do with the Church.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a little more humility of mind when it comes to making sense out of things we can never fully understand at this present time? We are so locked in with our thinking. We all exist in the NOW, and yet God is waiting for us in the future.

Apostle Paul said, “But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.” (I Corinthians 8:1b-2 NLT).

Could it be that unity of the body of Christ trumps doctrinal unity? By sticking with one another in a city, can we appreciate the different perspectives God has given each of us? When we disagree is it not a test as who we are as Christians. Is it more important to be right, or to be related? Do you want to be in the know, or to be in love? To be unanimous with a few or in unity with all?

The greatest Scripture on this subject, the fountainhead of truth on this subject from my perspective is in Ephesians 4:3,13 NKJV

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond peace…till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

We cannot afford to break fellowship with each other over fine points of doctrine. Here we are two millennia later and still stuck in a black hole where light cannot escape.

Who is there among us who will take up the standard of fighting against an enemy that has been slyer then any of us really know, and has kept this Scripture away from becoming reality, that all creation is holding its breath in abeyance until we have the revelation of the sons and daughters of God. With much thanks to Rev. David Fischer.”

By Rev. David Hauser

(I could not have said it any better, Dave. Indeed, unity is only found in the Holy Spirit and once we try to control what the Holy Spirit does or how and why He does what He does we will lose unity and the bond of peace will never be ours…Steve)

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 10, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Christ is Not a Hobby!

(Steve’s wisdom lesson for the month)

I am beginning a new monthly series—a bit of wisdom to help guide all of us. Something you can take with you and help grow your life. Something good and hopeful that is embedded in the wisdom of God. Here is my first monthly ‘wisdom lesson’.

“So many Christians start off being saved with hope and energy, but after awhile we begin to take Christ for granted. We know that He will love us no matter what; so we give Him a portion of our time, life, and commitment. However, serving Christ is not that easy nor is it limited.

Christ is not a hobby. Christ is not your weekend event such as attending church, nor is He a God you can choose to interact with Him at your convenience. We cannot pick and choose when to respond to God’s requests or the level of our relationship with Him.

God is an all-consuming fire. He wants all of us; all the time with all the passion and boldness we show other things to be second to the amount of passion we show Him. If Christ is taking a back seat to anything else in your life then Christ is just a hobby to you,” Steve’s wisdom for July 2018.

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 9, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Wow, Judge Kavanaugh!

I am sure you have been listening to the news about the next Supreme Court Justice and the battle over his/her confirmation. Well, Judge Brett Kavanaugh received the nomination from President Trump, but this is just the beginning for the battle of God’s will over the Supreme Court.

The lines of engagement have been drawn and the battle will begin by tomorrow. While I was watching our President announce and introduce to the nation his choice for the next justice, I was moved by the Holy Spirit to pray for Mr. Kavanaugh and his family. This will not be an easy process—the liberal base in America will make his confirmation process the vilest and brutal in the history in America.

Christians need to pray for his wife and two daughters. The media, Democrats, and ignorant Christians will ridicule the Kavanaugh family and do whatever it takes to destroy his family. We are in a battle between God’s will and man’s will for the blessings of Christ over our nation.

I am amazed as to how many ‘so-called Christians’ that are anti-Trump and everything he stands for. I am reminded through Scripture how Judas was chosen and elected yet he rejected the truth and became the one who betrayed Christ. Judas was angry with Christ and loved darkness more than the light of the Gospel. As well as, Ananias and Sapphira who were members of the early Church (Acts chapter 5) who were believers and Spirit-filled yet once again turned from the truth of Christ, lost their salvation, and were killed by God. These (and so many other examples in Scripture) demonstrate what God does to those who reject His love and salvation for their own desires, love of money, and their ignorance of the power & will of God.

It is time for those Christians, who know the truth and realize God’s will and the determination of His will in American politics, to become active soldiers in the battle and protection of those who God has chosen to do His will. God placed Mr. Trump in the presidency and Trump’s decisions to support the will of God is critical in these last days. We must and not fail to fight the good fight of faith and do all we can through the power of the Holy Spirit by not allowing evil to have its way in American politics.

It is time to pray like you have never prayed before (I have said this often) and it is a time to fight and not give up using the whole armor of God and be determined to see that God’s will is completed. May Christ give you boldness and knowledge to accomplish His will in all things and bring all things under the subjection of Christ’s name.

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 6, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Caught in the Crossfire

You and I can see film clips of gun battles where innocent bystanders got caught in the crossfire. Sometimes any numbers of these innocent victims became injured. We consider these people as being in ‘the wrong place at the wrong time’. A tragic scenario for so many people nowadays.

California has so many people from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems. If you cannot find it in California it probably does not exist. There are many Christians in the Golden State. Some are more Christian than others but the mix of non-believers and believers is found in every city and county.

Being a Christian (by church standards) is not always good enough for God. Revelation states if you are luke-warm God considers you a cast-a-way. God only wants those who believe and shows it.

Judgment is upon California; only a fool does not see what is about to happen in our state. Even non-believing scientists warn of coming doom. God predicted judgment on groups of people that no longer believe and have chosen to live without the mercy of Christ in their lives.

There will be Christians that will be ‘blind-sided” by God’s promise of His judgment on mankind. We do not like to admit this side of God but God is a judge—a righteous judge. Do not be caught in the crossfire of God’s displeasure with His creation. If I would offer some advice, these suggestions will help you be prepared for what is to come.

1. If you are not in love with Jesus any longer, rediscover what you did and what you were like when you were in love with Him. Fall in love again with Jesus and let Him love you back.

2. Quit making excuses for God. God is who He says He is and God will do what He says He will do. Begin to believe with all your heart and look to God to fulfill what He wants to do each and every day in your life.

3. Be different, be unique, be radical for the Gospel of Christ. The way not to be surprised is by being part of the surprise from God. God will not let you down and you will never be surprised if you are willing to be part of the surprise God has determined for mankind.

Jesus always knew what His Father was planning and you can know as well. Remember, God promises knowledge about all things but only in your relationship with His Son. I am never caught in the crossfire because Jesus is my protection from all Godly judgments.

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, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

A Person of Character Knows When & How to Fight

Character of the Month Series

The world says to avoid conflict and fighting. But God says, “Fight the good fight of faith.” A person of faith is a person who fights and knows how and who to fight against.

My dad always wanted me to stand up for the person who is being teased or harassed by others in school. He knew that the weak were going to be ‘picked-on’ by others. Dad felt that it was my duty and responsibility to assist others who could not ‘stand-up’ for themselves. I still remember his admonition to me at the dinner table.

God knows that we will be persecuted for our faith. We will be ridiculed, embarrassed, tortured, and even killed by those who hate God or those that are blinded by their own ignorance. We will be persecuted and that is OK with me.

But, that does not stop me from putting on the armor of God and fighting in God’s army. My fight is not “against flesh and blood but against principalities & powers and anything that exalts itself against God.” Satan is and will always be the enemy of Jesus Christ.

There are many human enemies of the Gospel of Christ, people who hate God and all that He stands for. They serve themselves and their selfish desires. They do not want anyone or philosophy telling them what to do. They love themselves alone and thereby hate everything that is Christian.

I have noticed an increase in those individuals that have the ‘mark of the beast’ in their lives. I have even seen it in young people. People are beginning to turn themselves over to the influence and power of the devil in record numbers. Not all people who want nothing to do with God have the evidence of the ‘mark of the beast’, only those who try to deceive others and love darkness and refuse to acknowledge their sin.

We are to bring everything under the authority and control of Christ. This is the last command of Christ and God is waiting for this to happen. There is no Second Coming of Christ till you and I fight against all spiritual darkness and fulfill God’s command.

We must fight and be willing to fight—not being a pacifist—allowing darkness to go unchecked. There is no victory in Christ without the battle in Christ. Christ indeed fought for me and I will fight His fight. This is my calling; this is my character—a soldier of Jesus.

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.