August 12, 2017 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Matthew Chapter 11

All of us have favorite verses, chapters or books in the Bible. Sometimes my favorites change over time or depend on what kind of ‘season of grace’ I am in. The Gospel According to Saint Matthew has a chapter that we ought to memorize—chapter 11.

This chapter speaks to the wisdom of God. Jesus explains what wisdom is for and what it does. How wisdom brings salvation, the kingdom of heaven, performs the miracles of God, ushers in the judgment of God, how it can be attained (only through humility), and offers all that finds wisdom, the rest of God. We know of course that Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit. To Jesus, this wisdom and the Holy Spirit is one and the same. (Oh how we have missed the wisdom of God even through the Holy Spirit has been calling to us over the years.) Matthew 11: 16-30…enjoy!

But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like to children sitting in the markets, and calling to their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned to you, and you have not lamented. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a drunkard, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. 20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the Day of Judgment, than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, which are exalted to heaven, shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment, than for you. 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in your sight. 27 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28 Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

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What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 10, 2017 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

A Good Read

Every once in a while, I come across ‘a good read’. A book I want to keep and read through more than just one time. I found such a book, “True Stories of the Miracles of Azusa Street and Beyond” by Tommy Welchel; I am sure you will also enjoy this book—it’s is inexpensive and one can purchase it on-line/multiple websites.

I do enough serious reading so I need easy pleasurable reading to balance my intake of words. Children books are by far my favorite, after that short story books, and then those books that motivate me.

This book of Tommy Welchel is written on a middle school reading level and divided into many short stories, which include amazing testimonies as to the power of Christ. I will most likely read it over again and again to remind me what God wants to do in our lives because of Christ and His great love for us.

These stories remind me of the beginning of the Charismatic Movement (early 1960’s). There were constant miracles so similar to what took place at the Azusa Street Revival. We never knew what God was going to do next. Those were the days of simple prayers, high expectations, God confirming His word with healings and miracles, and not least, His protective covering over His children.

The church is always waiting for the next great movement of the Holy Spirit. All I can say to the church is, “You have the Holy Spirit already in you. So begin to believe, expect in humility, and ask for God to do great things to glorify His Son.”

This is what Jesus told His disciples over and over again and His advice is still good for today…What Would Jesus Want Me To Do?

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 7, 2017 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

It’s Not a Revival

From the very beginning, God has given me a good understanding about the next ‘revival’ in America. However, each time I wrote the word ‘revival’ my spirit questioned that term. I often used words like awakening, renewal, spiritual enlightenment and so forth in order to compensate what my spirit was telling me. It was not till last week that God said, “Do not use that word ‘revival’, I am not bringing a revival.” My question to God was, “Then what do I call the next movement of the Spirit of God?”

Revivals historically have usually only lasted about 3 ½ years, about the length of Jesus’s ministry on earth. The ‘early rain’—the beginning of Pentecost at Jerusalem (through the passing away of the 120 individuals in the upper room) lasted many years beyond your typical 3 ½ years according to early church history.

We are now entering the Second Coming of Christ and the ‘Later Rain’ as spoken by Prophets & Apostles in Scriptures. This next revival will not be built around any one denomination, a single building or movement, or a specific individual. ‘The Later Rain’ is not just about miracles or wonders, but will be about the fulfillment of Scripture. It is about the complete fulfillment and unity of the Body of Christ. It is about God in us, the Hope of Glory.

I began to search Scripture for a term or word that would explain the “Later Day Rain” of the Holy Spirit, God’s fulfillment of Scripture, and the Second Coming of Christ. I was drawn to the word, ‘abiding’, but it did not express our part or the outcome of God’s completed will. God led me to the term/word—‘enduring’.

Enduring means: lasting, durable, long-suffering. Endure: To carry on through despite hardships, to bear with tolerance, to continue in existence, remain, to last, to suffer patiently without yielding persevere, to hold out. Synonyms are: ageless, continuing, dateless, abiding, eternal, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, lasting, ongoing, perennial, perpetual, timeless, undying. This next move of God includes justice, judgment, righteousness, the government of God, and Christ’s never-ending rule.

Now maybe this is what this next movement of the Holy Spirit should be called, The Enduring. (The Bible uses this terms: endure, endured, endureth, and enduring over 135 times, and my favorite verse is Matthew 10:22, “But he that endures to the end shall be saved”), or, maybe, Never-Ending, this is my personal choice of what this next move of God should be called. The Christ forever and ever—never-ending!

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What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 5, 2017 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Water is supposed to become Wine

Once in a while, I write an article that runs against traditional mainline Christian theology. This is one of those articles, “Water is supposed to become wine.”

All of us know the story of Jesus turning the water into wine. It is the first of many miracles that Jesus performed. He did not want to be responsible for taking care of the wine at a marriage dinner that Jesus’s mom (Mary) was overseeing. My guess is that one of Jesus’s sisters was getting married (Gospel of John 2: 1-11).

Anyhow, Jesus was pushed again (commanded) by His mother to get more wine to the tables of the guests. Jesus did not want the responsibility but complied anyway. (Sound familiar to the article I wrote 2 days ago titled, Pushing Jesus Around.)

What is interesting is the sequence of events that changed the water into wine is as follows. First, the pots of stone were sanctified and ready to be used. Second, the pots were completely filled “to the brim with water.” Third, The servants were told to get ready to empty the pots by serving what was inside them to the wedding guests, i.e., what was poured out was a surprise to everyone but God.

God has never wanted you to pour ‘only water’ out of your life to others. You are to produce wine—this is the end result of the activity of God in your life. Biblically, water is for preparation of ministry. Water is used in baptism and the words of God (water) are for personal growth and maturity, but it is not for what is to come from and out of you. Water is only water but the wine that comes from water has all of God!

If your life (your pot) is ready for service and you have been filled with the Word of God (water) then God wants to change the word of God (water) in your life into wine (to the activity and presence of the Holy Spirit). These ‘types’ we find in Scriptures (I John 5: 6-8). John states, these three things agree in one: the blood of Christ, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

You cannot have the word of God in your life without the blood of Christ cleansing us from sin. And, you cannot have the Holy Spirit in your life without the Word of God first filling up your life. Last of all, you cannot have a ministry without the Holy Spirit in your life—having now changed the water into wine—before you minister to others around you. Yes, it is the Holy Spirit that God seeks to flow from you, and we all know what the wine of God’s Spirit does to us—read Acts chapter 2.

Let’s get this one simple biblical truth correct. Christ told His disciple (about 450 men and women) to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. They first had to get their lives in line with His teaching, His redemptive power of His blood shed for them and to believe in His all words and commands (the water of God) in their lives. It took 40 days to accomplish that but by then only 120 disciples are now left in the upper room. But, the 120 that were still waiting for the Holy Spirit promised by Christ finally were filled with water—the word of God in their lives filled to over-flowing, and were now ready for the Holy Spirit to come into them, changing the water into wine, to be poured out to the masses. (I could give many examples and multiple Scriptures from various books of the Bible to support this truth—water to wine.)

The blood of Christ should bring us to the Words of Christ filling up our lives to producing the Holy Spirit flowing out of our lives to others. It is the power, authority, fruits & gifts of the Holy Spirit that should be coming out of our lives. Think about it—from water into wine—this is God’s will, His glory and the hope of Christ in us.

Ask God for His miracle of changing His Word in you into a Spirit drive life.

Note: I am sure it need not take 40 days to change God’s word/water into wine/Holy Spirit in any one’s life. It could only take minutes with God, but Pentecost was a turning point for Christianity, Not only did God have to unit 120 people, but He made sure all of what took place in the 3 ½ years of Jesus’s ministry with His disciples was grounded and secure in their lives before this miraculous event took place.

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What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 2, 2017 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Pushing Jesus Around

I have always like Biblical stories that are contradictory to all the other stories about Jesus. The stories that show how some person forced, no pushed, Jesus into performing a miracle. You say to me, “God cannot be forced into something He does not want to do,” well, Scripture says just the opposite.

Remember the story about Moses and God, how they were in disagreement. God wanted to kill all the Israelites that came out of Egypt and Moses told God, “No, God, remember what you have promised” (Exodus 32: 13). God said in verse 10, “Moses, leave me alone…so I may consume (the people) with my wrath.” Moses stood in the way of God’s wrath and will. Are you willing to do the same?

And, how about the stories of Jesus; let’s start with the Roman Centurion Captain (Luke chapter 7). He did not want Jesus to come to his house because he was not worthy, but told Jesus to just say a word of healing (you do not need to see or touch my servant) to heal him. You can tell God how to do things?

How about the story of the woman of Canaan (Matthew 15: 21-31)? Jesus ignored the woman and told her that He (Jesus) is not called to help or heal her. But she said, “Even the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall off the master’s dinner table.” Her daughter had an evil spirit that tormented her daughter, and she changed Jesus’s mind to heal and deliver her daughter. What, I can change God’s mind?

Lastly, the woman who was healed of bleeding 24/7. Jesus knew nothing of her motives or actions. Yet, she sneaked a healing away from Jesus without Him knowing it and was healed. Are you able to manipulate God—He let’s us do this?

Well, are you or are you not going to move Jesus? Are you not going to take “no” for an answer? Do you have courage enough to push God to have mercy and healing (of any kind) in any situation that comes your way? God is waiting for you to challenge Him! Once again, this is God in us, the hope of Glory.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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Summer, 2017 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

The 3’s of Character Growth

Building Character of the Month Series

As I stated in yesterday’s article, the number “3” is important to God. God works in threes to accomplish His will. Often I find in Scripture that we are asked of God to do three things or God states His request to us 3-times in order for us to understand and accomplish the importance of His commands.

We find a good example of this when Jesus asks Peter to “feed my sheep” three times after Peter denied the Lord 3-times. God gave me 3-things we can do to “keep us on track” in serving God. 3-simple but Scripturally important character traits that we must exhibit each and everyday seeking to honor and serve God: to have courage, be happy, and pray in the Spirit. These three attributes will cause us to be strong and do exploits in God—so let’s get started!

Courage Equals Faith

How many times does God tell Israel or His Church to “fear not” or “be bold” or “have faith?” Many times God tells us to have courage. Often I must tell myself during the course of the day, “To have courage.” I have to remind myself that, “I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me.” If I have courage then I can have faith—I can see the impossible—I know God will be with me. Courage comes before faith and courage makes my faith work for me.

Time To Be Happy

‘You are only as happy as you make up your mind to be.’ There are many reasons not to be happy—those reasons stare at me each day. I am no good to God, my family, or community, if I do not have joy. In fact, it is joy that gives me strength. The more happiness I have, it seems the more I can do. Happiness equals getting things done. I like being around people who are naturally happy, and I like to laugh. Laughing at my dire circumstances or my enemies is the will of God. It’s time to be happy no matter what. Worry, being scared, or not seeing the outcome means nothing to God, but being happy means everything to Him who makes me happy!

Praying in the Spirit

This is how we must pray each day—take notice of what I am about to tell you! One, when you listen to the Bible being read (on CD or smartphone) and a Scripture “jumps out to you” ask God for that Scripture—claim that Scripture! Two, when you are either singing or listening to religious songs and a phrase or verse once again “jumps out to you”—pray to God to give you this promise. God talks to us through songs and if you pray for what God is telling you through song your day will become guided by His will. And three, pray in tongues (if you are a Charismatic) as much as you can and with regards to whatever you are thinking about. We do not know what the Spirit is saying, but we do know that whatever the Spirit is saying through prayer, it is God’s will, and we will have what the Spirit is praying for us to God.

If you do these three things, have courage, be happy, and pray in the Spirit, then God in you will grow dramatically and you will see God working around you in all you are doing. These 3 things are ”Christ in us, the hope of glory!”

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 30, 2017 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

The Number 3

Did you know that the number 3 (or word three, third, threefold, threescore, three hundred, etc.) is listed over six hundred times in the Bible? Three is important. Also, the Bible lists of combinations of three character traits, rules, guidelines, attributes, laws, groups, individuals, reasons, judgments and so forth so many times throughout Scripture it would be hard to reference and categorize them all.

The book, The General Epistle of Jude (a short one chapter book of the Bible) has listings of 3 items per topic for 11 times within the book’s 25 verses. God is into 3!

The number “3” is unique to Christianity. The God of Christianity is a Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God has made the number 3 the most important numerical number in the Bible, far ahead of 7, 10, 12 or any combination of numbers.

Mathematically, as well as structurally, engineering or physics, any object with 3 sides becomes incredibly strong—unbreakable. Man is even made in the image of God being comprised of body, soul and spirit. Within this in mind when God addresses man, often He asks man to do three things when approaching Him or in doing the His will.

Tomorrow’s article will contain the number 3 with regards to 3 important things all of us should do to have favor with, ability to do, and success in the life when serving Christ. If you live by the simple guidelines tomorrow’s article will show you—your life will change for the better. So get ready for more of God, greater power operating in you, and more love manifested in your life.

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What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 29, 2017 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Should God Be Tried For His Crimes?

Has God committed crimes? By the world’s standards, He has. Man thinks he knows the truth and he can decide justice. Oh, how naïve man is? Job discovered after God allowed Satan to kill Job’s family, have all Job’s possessions taken from him, made him very sick, and forced his wife to leave him—leaving him all alone, Job found the fear the Lord. He realized that whatever God chooses to do—it is always right and just.

Job came to understand that he is not God’s counselor nor can man understand the ways of God. Throughout Scriptures we read the phrase, "And God killed him." In Geneses God destroys the earth with a flood. Everyone dies except Noah’s family. And then, time and time again, God tells Israel not to allow anyone to live when fighting against his or her enemies. Why could God be so cruel and heartless?

Even in the New Testament after Christ’s ministry to mankind, we find God killing people or stating He will soon destroy the earth (reference to the book, The Revelation). Yes, God killed Ananias and Sapphira in the book, Acts of the Apostles, and in The Revelation, God shows no mercy either to individuals in His Church that either no longer believe in Him or do not keep His commandments, or to anyone who takes "the mark of the beast" by serving and worshiping Satan.

God does not take prisoners nor does He show forgiveness when He decides enough is enough. There are sins unto death (as the Apostle John states in I John) and there are sins not unto death, which we can find forgiveness for in Christ. Our calling in Christ is, "to persuade everyone to believe and love God." If we fear the Lord, if we believe that whatever God has done or will do is always ‘right and just’ then we must help the weaker church members who struggle to serve Christ.

God’s judgment will start with us, so let’s not be blinded that we do not understand the "God of forever" that is spoken about in The Revelation—the God of great judgment. Should God be tried for His crimes? The only crimes we find in creation is what man has committed! It is man who rejects the love of God that we have in Christ. This is the crime—not believing in Christ, and it is only God that will and can judge this crime.

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 28, 2017 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

The Third Sacrament

Without exception, all Christianity partakes in the ‘Lord’s Supper’. We celebrate the wine & bread in honor of the death of Christ. We honor what Jesus said, “This is my body and blood; do this in remembrance of me.” These two sacraments, which many of us honor on a monthly if not weekly basis, affect our lives in many positive ways when we consume these sacraments.

I love communion (the eating of the bread and drinking the wine/grape juice). I believe, as the Scripture says, that when I partake in ‘the communion’ and remember what Christ has done for me that God honors my respect toward Him and helps me.

However, I believe there is a third Sacrament for believers. Since I am charismatic, I speak in tongues. I do this as Christ commands in a quiet and private place. I “shut the door when I enter my closet” to pray. It is personal and private when I pray in the Spirit. Just as Jesus went alone up into a mountain to pray—usually during the night—I also make sure that my time of praying in tongues is between God and myself.

What makes it important to me is even though I do not understand what I am praying/saying, God hears and understands. Apostle Paul said, “I pray in tongues more than you all (church).” The Scripture says, “The Holy Spirit prays for you, prayers that you could not pray, to intercede for you to the Father.” Praying in tongues is the way for the Holy Spirit living in our lives to pray the will of God and to intercede for us for all types of needs that we have.

I know He (the Holy Spirit) prays the correct words for forgiveness, healing, protection, intercession for others, deliverance, strength, and so much more. He knows what need to pray about at any specific time, for He lives within me. I can trust the Holy Spirit to get things done and since He always prays the ‘will of God’, God hears my prayers of tongues and answers them all.

Much has been written on this subject, and you can find books that tell you 100 reasons why to pray in tongues. But, I suggest you consider praying in tongues to be your 3rd Sacrament. If you and I took 30 to 60 minutes a day (not necessarily all at one time) to pray, God would be much more interactive in our lives. We would have more of His help, and you would feel cleaner and closer to God. To me, praying in the Spirit is like taking communion. It changes my life and is miraculous. It is my 3rd sacrament—a sacrament which God honors and wants me to partake of in Him.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 27, 2017 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Rhetoric of Hate

This article is a warning to the Democratic Party. America needs a multiple party system and when we have competing political parties democracy works at its best. But when any one party operates in disregard to what is moral or ethical behavior then those party members can cause great harm to the country.

Have you noticed the ‘rhetoric of hate’ that many members of the Democratic Party are using? The language is mean spirited, hateful, angry, and improper by any Christian standard. If the Democratic Party keeps this tone and demeanor while coming into power in any future election, this hate will drive their decisions, and they will look for recipients for their hatred and anger.

History has given us many examples of nations when specific national parties were born or given to hate. When they came into power, their power corrupted their nation and individuals, opposing parties or various religious or ethnic groups became the object of their hate. Nazi Germany is a recent and excellent example of what hate can do to a political party that is in power.

Democrats, it is time for you to give up your hate. We do not have to agree nor even work together but to hate to the degree that there is no reason, no justice, and no kindness is indeed evil.

God is watching. His judgment will come! All societies fell with great destruction when hate became acceptable and ruled their behavior and decisions.

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.