TO CHRISTIAN WORKERS TOILING IN QUIETNESS AND WONDERING

Many wonderful people toil in this world to do the work of the Lord, to fulfill what they understand is their calling.

For some the results are immediately apparent, such as giving relief aid to starving people, helping build houses for the poor, that kind of thing.

For many others the results are not as obvious – such as for those striving to help others understand who Jesus is, what he did, who they are and can be in him.  Remember, Jesus said some sow and others reap.  The sowers who are aggressively out there may operate in a personally lonely world.  Telling the truth, even the wonderful God’s truth, is not something a lot of people want to or can receive easily.  The evil one has done a great deal of work creating interference, noise, confusion.

Once I wrote a poem to Emily Dickinson.  She is one of the two or three that might be considered America’s greatest poet.  Now I have no evidence she strived in ministry anytime, but she wrote countless poems that are quickly read and go right to the heart of life and life’s great issues.  Her poems are just plain wonderful.

Yet in her life she did not know that she was so regarded.  Maybe one or two of her poems were published in a local paper.  She just lived a lonely, quiet life, not married.  At one point she wrote a poignant poem that began with this line:

     This is my letter to the world,
     That never wrote to me,-     

There is more, but that makes the point about her life.  So one day I decided to answer her letter to the world with this poem:

A Reply to Emily Dickinson   (poem copyright © 2004 by John Newlin)
     We received your letter to the world
     That never wrote to you;
     We read it twice, thousands of times,
     Your words and heart come through.
   
     Our physical hands are the ones
     That you just could not see;
     With admiration from afar,
     We judge you tenderly.

She would have liked that poem.  It is in her style.

But my point to all of you in sharing this is that you do not know your impact on others.  You have no idea how you are impacting them or how you are being used by God.

Just one closing example.  For years we were on television from New England all the way to Florida.  One a day a young man from the Boston area called.  He requested a few CDs.  I offered but he did not want to be added to the distribution list.  We talked just a few moments.  Suddenly he blurted out ”Your programs are wonderful!  Saved my life.”  And with that he was gone.  I lived a long time on that phone call.

God knows who you are, what you are doing, what you need.  Sometimes when you feel most alone, he just steps in.  And then sometimes maybe when you are so alone, you wish he would step in!  Just remember, we don’t see the big picture.  We can’t.  If you are doing what you think you are supposed to be doing, what God has called you to do, that is it.  You are fulfilling your call.  And maybe this message from me is God’s message to you.

                                                                                        February 2020
                                                                                        Copyright © 2020 by John Newlin


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[This article should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with appropriate attributions included (including the copyright and the ministry contact information).  It may also be quoted in part as long as appropriate attributions are given.  We in fact encourage you to do all this and to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]
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NOTE:
It goes without saying that we are living in the last days before the return of the Lord.  It goes without saying that most people on earth, including a great many who attend churches on Sunday, don’t know at all about this.  They just aren’t aware.  For your family and friends and really anyone you care about, please get copies of our book WAKE UP AMERICA! now!  Give copies to those you care for.  Most people will accept a gift of a book, even if they are difficult for you to speak to about such important matters. 
Order from our ministry by clicking here: JNMI
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KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS!

JOHN NEWLIN MINISTRIES
P O BOX 1038
CARY, NC 27518

https://johnnewlinministries.org
email: john@johnnewlinministries.org
Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin
Blog: johnnewlin.blogspot.com
tel 910 395 1465

* STANDING IN YOUR FAITH

What a wretched time we live in.  And what a wonderful exciting time we live in.

Yes, all at the same time.  We are living in the last of the last days, in the time leading up to and the actual return of the Lord.

We are getting to see the fulfillment of all the Biblical prophecies of things to happen before and right up to that return.  Much of that is not pleasant and some of that is quite dangerous, as we have already seen. 

Even now we live in the midst of behavior by many that is outrageous and horrifying to any true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is startling and difficult for true born-again, Spirit-filled believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to even comprehend how and what many people think today - their opinions and decisions seem so confused and lost.  The national and local media seems full of such people, and especially the entertainment world and much of the sports word.  And of course much of the political world.  Even the universities seem laden with many lost students and professors and administrators who don’t know and obviously cannot see the truth of the Lord.  They have even given up on free speech and freedom of ideas, the very cornerstone of the academic world.

The wheat and the tares are growing together.  Frightening and evil things and possibilities are everywhere.  And yes there are reported awakenings to the Lord occurring in several countries throughout the world.  Certainly not in the United States, at least not in any visibly big way!   As has been the custom in recent years, those most lost in society and with the loudest voices dominate the airwaves and the public discourse.  And thus the concern and anguish of the true believers in our modern society.

Well, maybe actually it is time for a kick in the backside to those true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  So many of these just remain silent in their anguish, they don’t seem to want to speak out, to stand up.

I remind all of us of these extraordinary and challenging words from the Lord:

 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” – Mt 10:32-33 NIV

“If you do not stand in your faith, you will not stand at all. -Isaiah 7:9b NIV.

An editorial posted under Fox News Opinion on March 12 deals with the subject of why are Christians such wimps.  I recommend you read it.   The writer makes the point that some Christians “have confused Christ’s command to love others with being likable, as if that were an attribute of God. (It isn’t.)”  Being likeable is not the point of God’s love.  Sometimes standing up for Christ might make a person appear bold and strong and firm in the eyes of unbelievers.  How do you think David looked to the Philistines?  Or Moses or Joshua in the eyes of the groups they opposed?

If ever there was a time for believers in the Lord to stand firm in their faith it is now.  Remember, when Paul writes of putting on God’s armor to protect yourself, he concludes by telling you to stand.  Stand!  Stand!  Don’t retreat.  Be firm and bold in your faith. 

And remember what Peter said in Acts 4:29 when he prayed for himself and all Jesus’ followers around him in Jerusalem who lived in the midst of those who were a threat to them all: “Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness (NIV).”

Now at the same time I am encouraging you to be bold in your faith, to stand and not retreat, to speak up for Jesus whenever the opportunity presents itself, I also am not encouraging you to be stupid.  You certainly must be guided by the Holy Spirit as to when and where and how to speak up, as to whether a certain moment is the right time to address someone about their faith or perhaps publicly oppose some government or newspaper or even false religious leader.  And you must always remember that the god of this world (the devil) has blinded the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4).  So unless God is opening the minds and hearts of the person or persons you are speaking to about Jesus, you likely may not get a friendly or positive response.  Jesus himself said in John 6 that no one can come to him unless the Father draws the person to him.  Still, how are people ever to hear the truth unless someone who knows that truth presents it to them?

The Lord Jesus Christ is returning very very soon.  I know that.  It is not debatable.  I trust if you have read our writings in the past, heard our CDs or watched our programs or videos and more, you know that. You should know that just by reading the applicable books of the Bible, such as Luke 21, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, and many more.  The evidence is right there before your face and in the daily occurrences of our lives.

When he comes is he going to find faith on earth?  Is he going to find faith in you?  Is he going to find you out there standing up for him, representing him in a lost, confused, dark world?

Well, you have to answer all that.  And you have to seek his face to understand ever more what he expects of you at this time.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                  (March 2017)

                                                                                             Copyright © 2017 by John Newlin

                                                                                                                                        

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with appropriate attributions included (including the copyright and the ministry contact information).  It may also be quoted in part as long as appropriate attributions are given.  We in fact encourage you to do all this and to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

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www.johnnewlinministries.org

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                                        Blog:  johnnewlinblogspot.com

BEING TRUE TO "THE CALL"

Sometimes God calls you to go “this” way. But another way – “that” way – would be more comfortable, more convenient.

Going that way would line up with the expectations of family and friends. It is where they think you are heading, now they see you have been called. It is what they naturally expect. It fits well with the traditions of the church your family attends. It would be logical.

That way seems like what you naturally would want to do. But Jesus has called you to go this way - - - this way is the call. Perhaps less adulation, less praise, less public recognition. Maybe more hardship and less remuneration. Loneliness in human terms. Strange, even to friends and family.

This is the way you have been called, and this is where you know you must go. And as you go this way, they are watching. They see you heading in a strange direction. They do not understand, at least most of them. A few may. And you, you just keep going… this way.


Comment:

If you are going to be a disciple of Jesus, if you are going to follow him, then you cannot simply choose an attractive course and action. You have to go where he calls you to go and do what he calls you to do. Otherwise, you are following yourself or the interests of others.