August 19, 2015 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Do You Need A Prophet?
#1 in a Series: It’s Significant
If you are like many Christians, we all want to know what is on the horizon. We like to know what God is planning to carry out in our near future—we want to be prepared. We know that whatever God does, He does things that no one else can do, and what He does can be so significant no one can escape His purposes or wrath.

However, so often we get caught up in the hip of God’s events. ‘What are the prophets saying?’ ‘When is what they say going to take place?’ In today’s culture we have Christian prophets and ‘economic gurus’ proclaiming certain doom. They seem to be reading from the same script—to me all of this can be confusing to say the least.

What bothers me the most is often the specifics they use. Rarely does God use specifics unless He is talking with a certain individual or select group of people. Rather, in Scriptures, God does not give times and what times He does give there is always symbolism with it. The problem is ‘prophets interpreting their own prophecies’. There is always an urgency left with us once God tells us something but to place a time on what or when God plans something could always be in error.

Over the 50+ years as a Christian I have witnessed, heard, or been a participant in ‘what God will be doing and what to prepare for’. I know that bad times are coming—they have always come and always will up till Christ’s return. How you respond to prophetic predictions will be the difference between a mind at peace or living in panic mode. Many people are saying that September 2015 is a critical month economically but that has been said for almost every month for the past 6 years.

Furthermore, there is a push today to be a prophet—many people want to be at the ‘center of attention’ of the Body of Christ. Just because God shows us things does not mean we should be called a prophet or teacher. Neither office comes without warnings and great
responsibility. ‘The greater the dire prediction the greater the possibility that people will listen to me’—this motive is not good. If you want to be a prophet be prepared for being poor, alone,
persecuted, rejected, and without a family in most cases—Old Testament examples. New Testament prophets are much kinder and find a humble place within the church and are not lifted up above anyone else in God’s family.

We know that the Holy Spirit will tell us of things to come, Jesus spoke of this, but concerning times, He warned us that God alone decides on times. Furthermore, Jesus said to be careful of false prophets and teachers in the last days. Any prophet that wants to be heard, noticed, respected is no prophet. Will God; can God give warnings to the whole Body at Christ at one time? Of, course, that is what I would be looking for—consistency and God speaking to many people at the same time.

I want to be prepared for whatever God brings and want to listen to whatever He is saying, but to follow a specific prophet and have his/her words guide my thinking and decisions is very poor judgment. Let’s ‘try the spirits’ and listen to truth when it is spoken appropriately (the Bible gives us instructions). Paul was told that harm would come to him if he traveled to Jerusalem, but he still went. He knew his destiny and he knew the Holy Spirit would warn him of things to come, but he left it at that.

If it is time for us as a ‘last-days church’, it is time for ‘peace of mind,’ ‘to be anxious for nothing,’ ‘to be calm in the eye of the storm,’ and ‘to have the strength of the Lord’ (joy) to do His will! Do I need a prophet—no; do I need the prophets to judge themselves and live by New Testament direction, yes. Come on church, awake from the slumber you are in and be ready ‘watching and praying’ for God to fulfill what He has promised since Christ walked on the earth—Christ coming back in the clouds!

WWJWMTD

August 10, 2015 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Finding A Blessed Life

Do I need more faith? How about more hope? More righteousness? Nope, you only need to bless! Often we think and try to make things complicated in our walk with Christ, but to God we only need to do things His way, “My burden is easy and my yoke is light” Jesus said.

I believe we have no blessings because we give no blessings. Let’s get started:

First, whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord. In you heart, mind, and voice saying, “God I am doing this for you and with you. Bless me as I do this.”

Second, begin to say good things about God, tell God how great He is, remind Him how kind He has been, offer to Him praise and thankfulness—be generous with your words.

Third, tell others about the greatness of God! Who He is, what He has done, and what He is planning to do today and forever. Be excited about God because of everything you have discovered about Him, and what He is presently doing for you.

Fourth, remind yourself of scriptures that express ‘blessing God’. Ps 135, 136, 138, 139, 145, 146, 148, 149 150 are a few that bless all of what God is and does. Honor His name(s) and speak of them often, as well as, by telling God how much you appreciate Him!

Fifth, we must pray, be thankful and praise God! And, while doing this bless God just like you say good things about your spouse, family members, friends, business partners—begin to be gracious and kind—say good things about others and especially God.

If we would do this starting with God first and then others by blessing and passing along blessings, you will not be able to contain the multitude of blessings God will give to you. Let King David be your example, “A man after God’s own heart,” who received blessings of every form and structure from God that were without number and so great, generations would inherit the blessing for years to come. This happened only because he blessed God, and we ought to do the same. It’s easy, just say, ’I bless you God because…’

Men, it’s time for blessings!

(Final segment, #4 in a series on blessing)

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 11, 2015 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

I’ve Had Enough!

I’ve had enough of everyone else telling me what to do, what to buy, how to think, how to feel, what to be concerned about, where to go, how to act, and who to be!

The only individuals that need all that direction are people who are haters, liars, evil thinkers, mean, dishonest, unthankful, full of deceit, disloyal, disrespectful, reject the truth, manipulate others or situations for their own gain, take advantage of anyone at any time, smile at you yet hate you deeply, can never do anything good or right.

Our media is much to blame for this. Through the media (social or mainstream) evil people use this medium for their corrupt behavior. It is time, yes it is time for all decent and honest people to say, “I’ve had enough.”

Turn off the TV, quit spending time on Twitter or Facebook, and ignore the radio—just stop! Do not allow all that garbage to enter your feelings or thought processes.

They tell us what we ought to buy, when we do not need anything. They tell us how to feel and react to a given situation, when we are not part of the problem or the solution. They tell us to be anxious or concerned about an event, when we neither know the outcome or if it is true. They tell us who to be connected too, when being connect is allow you to be programed for evil. In short, they want us to be like them.

I’ve had enough of being programmed by individuals who live for money, power or control. I want the peace of Christ to rule my life and for evil to not vex my soul day after day. I’ve had enough—it’s time to put a stop to all this nonsense and corrupt influence.

Jesus come quickly! I know you have had enough.

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 9, 2015 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

If Only Men Blessed?

Mark 10:16 “And he (Jesus) took them (little children) up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” David said often in Psalms, “Bless the Lord oh my soul.” If we are to follow biblical patterns, we need to bless others and bless God all the time. Jesus said this is our part of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

It would be impossible for me to cite all the scriptures or inferences within Scriptures regarding blessing others and God. Men, where are you regarding blessing others and God? Jesus commanded us to even “Bless your enemies,” (Matthew 5:44), what a paradigm shift.

To God speaking blessings is critical to performing His will in us. As I stated before, I believe this is the #1 fault among Christian men—we do not bless enough! This is why we do not grow in the Lord with significance, why we fail in finding God’s will for our lives, why we struggle in feeling the closeness of God, as if He is far away, as if there is an iron dome over us keeping us from God. When we do not bless, God is not close to us—it’s just that simple!

I was traveling home late one night out of Los Angeles on the 405 fwy. The 405 was busy; it always is. I was trying to pray and sing songs but there was oppression over me. I kept trying for the next 60 miles but to no avail. When I was taking the turn off for highway 166 from the I-5 the Lord spoke to me, “Bless your enemies.” Yes, I had enemies, many in fact. I was placing a new curriculum in my school district that people who are the enemies of the cross of Christ were upset about to say the least.

I replied to God, “I don’t know how,” (I trying to find an excuse not to pray and bless people I do not like) but the Holy Spirit kept prompting me—‘Bless Your Enemies!’ So I did. I began to pray goodness over their lives—that the prosperity of the Lord would rest upon them, that He would forgive them, and that God we give good gifts to them. All of a sudden the oppression lifted and then the presence of God filled the car. It was so strong that I felt I was lifted off the road and above the fog I was driving in.

When I got home after midnight my wife met me in the garage. She proceeded to inform me in frantic and concerned terms how I had been on every TV news channel, the 5, 6, and 10 o’clock news. She was upset! I kept listening to her as we walked into the house and into the kitchen. When she could not get a response from me to the same degree as she was feeling she said, “Are you listening to me?” My reply was simple, “Yes, but I have been blessing my enemies.” She stopped talking and began to listen to my story.

What would happen if we would begin to speak, pray, lay hands on the Body of Christ, our friends, our family, our spouses and proclaim the blessings of God? What if we would take scriptures that the Lord had given to us and we would begin to bless others with the same word the Lord gave to us? What if we offered to others whatever blessings the Lord had graciously given to us? What if, whatever we find in Christ, we would impart to others? What if…?

I am not a prophet but I can tell you as if it is a word from the Lord—‘men if you begin to bless others you will not be able to contain the blessings the Lord will pour out upon you’. “Give and it shall be given to you—pressed down, shaken, and running over!” I am bold to say, ‘That if you learn to bless—making it a habit—Satan will not be able to attack you so often. You will be in better health, prosperity will be yours in more abundance, relationships will be stronger and healthier, and God will not seen so far away.’

If only we would bless, your relationship with God, His Body, and your neighbor will never me the same. If only you would say with me, “Men, it’s time for blessings” and do it as unto the Lord.

Men, it’s time for blessings!

(Part #3 in a series on blessing)

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 8, 2015 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Blessings of Getting & Giving

Blessings are not about you but God’s will for your life. Blessings are meant for you to become what God had always planned for you. Some people find blessings while others never fulfill what God from the beginning of time wanted for their lives.

It is not hard to recognize, Christians without blessing. Their cup is half empty and they struggle to provide the Body of Christ with support and direction. God never meant for us to be part of something and not supply our required input into what He created for us in Christ.

First, blessings do not come without struggle. You have got to want to have what God wants for you!Jacob wrestled for his blessing. David sang his way into God’s blessing. People of Israel exercised judgment on their enemies in order to receive their blessing. Every kind of blessing requires a commitment and action on our part. Blessings do not come just because God likes you. He likes you and wants you to want His blessing to the point of sacrifice and desire on your part. Blessings will always cost you like Jesus said: ‘Go and sell to receive, buy the field to get to the treasure, pick up your cross and follow me’.

Second, blessings are meant to share. Blessings are yours for you to pass along. However, you cannot pass along a blessing out of your strength. If it comes from your strengths, abilities or talents—these are your ‘natural blessings’ that anyone can share, learn or receive, but God’s blessings come and operate from your weaknesses.

I am always surprised what I think are my weaknesses others perceive them as my strengths. Jacob was leaning on his staff when he blessed Joseph’s boys. He cannot pass along what God gave to him without it coming from God’s strength and his (Jacob’s) weakness. I align myself with Jesus when He said, “No one is good but God,” or Paul who said ‘I forget everything that made me great or what I did in order to have Christ—I glory only in my weaknesses not in my strengths’.

Third, it takes faith. Men, what blessings are you giving to others—do not think that you can, on your own, pass along God’s blessing in your life to others without it being an act of faith (it’s not an act of works). By faith Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons—faith is your response to God’s perfect will in every situation for His glory alone. That is why faith is like a mustard seed—you either have it or you don’t. There is no middle ground to faith. If God shows or tells you something, an act of faith is to respond to the truth. If we do respond to God, God calls us people of faith.

This is why the Body of Christ is so unique—we come to each other in weakness not in personal strengths. I want the blessings that God has placed in my life to be the blessings for others to receive. I received blessings because of my response to the will of God and I give blessings because of the will of God & faithfulness to His Body.

It is time for men to say, “It’s time for blessing!” “God give me my blessing!” “God, let me give my blessing to others!” If only we would operate in the moving of God’s Spirit, His truth, and His will, we would be blessed indeed and called ‘faithful ones’.

Men, it’s time for blessing!

(Part #2 in a series on blessing)

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Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 7, 2015 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Blessing—It Is Important Men

Blessing n. 1a. The act of one who blesses. B. The prescribed words of ceremony for such an act. 2. An expression or utterance of good wishes. 3. A special favor granted by God. 4. Anything promoting or contributing to happiness, well-being, or prosperity; a boon. 5. Approbation: This plan has my blessing. 6. A short prayer before or after a meal. (The American Heritage Dictionary)

Scriptures on Blessing:

v Neh. 13:2 The Lord turned curse into blessing.

v Ps. 129:8 The blessing of the Lord be on you.

v Prov. 10:22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich.

v Mal. 3:10 Pour on you out a blessing, you cannot contain.

v Eph. 1:3 Blessed us with all spiritual blessing.

v Heb. 6:7 Earth receives blessing from God.

v Rev. 5:12 (Jesus) Worth to receive honor and blessing.

There are many more scriptures that promote ‘blessing’. We all want to be blessed. At times we see the blessing of God resting on us and then there are those dark moments where we are questioning and asking God, “Where is my blessing?”

I believe with all my heart that, as men, we have failed to receive and give blessings. It is the single greatest flaw among men. I do not believe we understand the importance and how great an influence blessing can be. Men cannot be men without blessings, but, whatever the problem is, let’s now say, “Men, it is time for blessing!”

Just like forgiveness (i.e. forgiveness can be complicated) blessings are complex. It is at the center of whom God is and how we are to serve Him. Got blessing?—then you will always find the road to God’s will for your life.

Blessings promote who ‘you were always meant to be’ in Christ. They can protect you, promote your spiritual growth, give you insight and favor, and allow you to find and do the will of God in season and out of season…Men, it’s time for blessing!

Blessings make up for your weaknesses. When you fail, blessings pick you up. Having trouble in a particular relationship, blessings bridge the gap with that person. Prayers are not working?—blessings can carry you through dark times. Men, it’s time for blessings!

We can learn and understand blessings. How they work, various types of blessings, and our part in receiving and giving blessing, and blessings for various occasions and circumstances surrounding the will of God.

Men, it’s time for blessings!

(Part #1 in a series on blessing)

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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August 1st 2015 1st of the Month Series on Character by Steve the son of John

What’s in a Godly Man?

The local bookstore has plenty of books on the attributes of a Godly man. In fact, my personal library has many books on this topic. The only problem with that is people, societies, and cultures change over time. What was needed in the past might not be needed today.

My dad’s generation did not need a manual for certain character traits that we need today because most of the men of his day already had and exercised them. I did not know when I graduated from college that so many of my peers would become successful individuals but they did. We did not need a book on hard work or determination because we all exercised those qualities.

However, today’s men look lost to me at times—men without direction or vision. Men who compromise too much and accept what others think without examination. They seem programed with the masses and less individualistic—men unwilling to stand up and be counted on.

Here are attributes that I believe all men need to have in order to be used by God and find who they were always meant to be in Christ for 2015-16:

ü Men who make up their own mind about others. They do not accept what others might say about someone, either good or bad—they decide for themselves.

ü Men who do not accept defeat easily—not willing to give up until they completely know that what they are doing is outside of God’s will.

ü Men who are not reactionary—not easily angered or frustrated. They have a confidence in ‘good over evil’, but neither do they allow the media to define what is good for them.

ü Men who understand the ‘power of love’. Men are capable of so much more love than they offer to others today. If only we would love without measure, love like we ourselves want to be loved, and accept only the highest levels of love from family, friends, and brothers in Christ.

ü Men must understand that the ‘unity in Christ’ is what must come to pass for Christ to come back. Not a unity (or peace as illustrated in the Bible) that is similar to what the world is talking about but a unity (peace) that bonds us together through prayer, praise and thankfulness.

ü Men, it’s time to get rid of time. Quit living your life based on times, schedules, and due dates. Get rid of your smart phones, watches or any other timepieces that dictate what you do and when. You can’t do this throughout all the course of your day but you can at specific blocks of time—so turn them off!

ü Men—eat healthy, exercise, drink lots of water (stop all that caffeine), read the Bible in various versions, be a gift giver, learn to speak in front of others, hold hands with your wife, laugh with your children, and bless God!

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July, 2015 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Forgiveness & Roadwork

Conclusion in the series on forgiveness

Forgiveness is the beginning, middle and ending of our Christian walk. It is unavoidable to be the person God wants you to be without forgiveness on a daily basis. ‘Got forgiveness, will travel with the Lord!’

Our walk with the Lord is full of struggles, disappointments, hurts, rejection, loneliness, and the list goes on. But, in forgiveness we will find success, healing, hope, connection, and so much more. It is a way of life—forgiveness is. It is our only ‘road in progress’ in order to be with Christ in this life and the one to come.

When you come upon that sign in your road, ‘Roadwork Ahead’, you can count on forgiveness to get you through. “Forgive me of my sins as I forgive others,” Jesus wanted us to pray this daily. There comes a cleansing and hope to be a better person with forgiveness.

When any of these road hazards come your way (and they will) remember that forgiveness’s duty is to get you through them all:

ü Feeling of hopelessness

ü Being rejected and alone

ü Prayers unanswered

ü Not growing spiritually

ü Breakdown in relationships

ü Unable to give or receive

ü God not making sense

ü No desire to read the Bible or pray

ü Lacking significance or direction in life

ü Failures small and great

ü Unable to feel—complete isolation

ü God do you love me?

I would like to encourage you to make copies of the series on forgiveness. Read them through every so often, send them along to a friend or stranger that is struggling, when life does not make sense, when you want more of God and/or when nothing seems to be working.

God created and offers forgiveness in Christ alone—do not fail the one gift that comes without any restrictions or strings attached. It is free and full of love!

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 31, 2015 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

God Liking You & Forgiveness

#7 in the series on forgiveness

Too often we do things that God is not pleased with. It might have nothing to do with obeying Him but in what we bring to Him or who we are. We think God will love us no matter what. Well, that is true with respect to who God is but is not true with respect to whom we are.

Cain and Abel are good examples of what God likes and dislikes. God had respect to Abel and liked what he did and his respect for what God wanted. Cain, on the other hand, did not respect God—His wishes or desires. He wanted God to accept him and what he did no matter what.

We often hear from the church that God will love and accept you no matter what and that is true within the context of repentance and forgiveness. If we are not wanting to change, or have the desire to change who we are in order to be like Christ then your and mine acceptance by God will never be realized.

I am reminded of the Scriptures what God said concerning Jesus, “This is my son, whom I am well pleased,” or the many other scriptures that state, ‘to please God, is our duty’.

God is not after robots; we have a choice—we have the option to please or not to please God. If we choose ourselves and believe that God must accept who we are and what we do, we will be greatly disappointed. You and I will never find forgiveness when we do wrong as Cain failed in finding forgiveness for killing his brother.

Cain accepted no wrong doing for his actions because he believed that God should have accepted who he was and want he brought to God. God warned him of ‘the sin that is at his door’. God knew that Cain was going to sin—he was headed down the path to destruction that Proverbs explains so well.

What forgiveness, make the appropriate steps to do things that are pleasing to God. Do not believe that God has to accept you as you are without becoming like Christ in attitude, actions, and abilities. I have forgiveness because I am leaving Steve at the cross and looking to God to become a Son of God—a different Steve—changed by the freedom found only in repentance and forgiveness. I am no longer who I was but finally found who I was always meant to be in Christ—a forgiven Steve!

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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July 30, 2015 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

The Blame Game vs. Forgiveness

#6 in the series on forgiveness

What? Who me? Not me? It was…! How often have you heard this from your kids? Humans are known for not taking ‘the blame’. Politicians live by placing any and all wrong doing on the other party. No one wants to accept any responsibility for things going wrong. We do not understand forgiveness or its power over our mistakes because of our part in the ‘blame game’.

Adam and Eve were the first to play this ‘blame game’. Adam said, ‘It was Eve’, Eve said, ‘Satan made me do it’. I can tell you for sure that when someone blames someone else, they had a part in it.

When we blame others forgiveness is far away, it will never to be realized nor will we have access to its’ benefits. You and I will never get to the ‘tree of life’—God will not allow us the freedom to life without repentance.

Repentance is not an option for the person who blames others or identifies someone else’s sin rather than their own. “Who is without sin, cast the first stone.” To have forgiveness is to be free from blaming and criticizing others. It is hard to admit wrongdoing and even harder not to criticize ‘the other person’.

Next time you think or begin to place blame on another person, realize that forgiveness will not be yours! Your freedom to forgiveness requires repentance, and repentance requires admitting your part in the wrongdoing.

Christianity is set apart from all other religions on this very principle—accepting one’s responsibility for one’s actions and being unwilling to condemn others for the same wrong. Forgiveness is mine—how do I know this? I do not blame others for my part in violating God’s laws. I am a sinner and Christ is my righteousness. There is nothing good in me and what good I might do is Christ in me alone. I choose forgiveness by not looking for an easy way out in blaming anyone else for my mistakes.

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Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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