MAKING RIGHT DECISIONS

Karen and I just returned from Ashville, NC where we stayed at a great Bed and Breakfast (North Lodge) and visited the Biltmore House, America’s biggest home, paid for by our wonderful kids as a birthday present for Karen. As we travel we always travel with what we call a bum bag. A bum bag is a paper bag filled with three dollars, a bottle of water, an apple, a granola bar, a piece of Dove chocolate, and a chick track to help someone who just needs a bag of love to make it. While in Ashville we saw many bums, but sadly we met not a bum who deserved of one of our bags. To be honest we were shocked to see how the homosexual community has conquered the City of Ashville. I think Billy and Franklin Graham and their folks need not travel around the world to evangelize the lost, but just travel less than 30 miles from the Cove and have a heart for the City of Ashville. Karen and I were surprised by the lack of spiritual churches and just a general lack of a spiritual attitude and presence in the city. It was evident everywhere we went from restaurants to stores, local parks, the Biltmore House, and gas stations. The streets were filled with bums panhandling or playing instruments for money I thought I was in San Francisco. Now we had the bum bag we could have given it out, but the bums were young, healthy even the dogs they had were well fed, but they were just dirty, lazy, and lacked a desire to work worst though was their lack of a desire for the things of God in their lives. We never passed out our bum bag (there was no one we saw that deserved them), but as I reflected on these folks I wondered how they could end up like this and of course the answer is because of the ungodly decisions they made they were brought to this ungodly condition. Now some would say Pastor Dave you are too judgmental you should have given them all a bag, well this is not in keeping with the Bible. The Bible says if a man does not work then he should not eat, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-11) God expects us to work and be accountable for our actions there are consequences for our actions and decisions. We are where we are today in life based on two things; God’s grace and longsuffering and our conscious decisions. Our place in life is not based on our parent’s wealth, color of our skin, our intelligence, or our skills and abilities we all can get a job if we really want one, but the driving force in our lives is the choices and decisions we make. Each bad decision we made will require us to make two right decisions to get us out of harm’s way. These homosexuals and bums in Ashville have turned their back on God and only when they turn towards a loving God will they be able to get their life back on track again. I wondered why our four kids did not end up like these homosexuals and bums in Ashville. And the answer quite clear is Karen and I loved our kids enough to take them to church and put as much of God in their lives as we could. This was a decision we made when they were small and today it has paid off for them, us, their spouses, and their families. Most often our decisions impact more on the lives of others than on us alone. Little do we know the true impact of each insignificant decision we make. If we knew we would be more careful in what we decide. Not the big decisions we make, but the little ones. We think God is more concerned about the big things we do and about the big decisions we make, well not so. God is more concerned about the little decisions we make and the little things we do; the smaller the decision the more God is securitizing us in it. God is always watching us move and operate in small things because He knows if we can function correctly (He can trust us then) in small things then when we make big decisions we will also move correctly in them. So too in our spiritual life, we are where we are in God today based on the decision we have made over time. The collections of correct Godly decisions will end us in a place of great prosperity (to push forward in God) in God. Our spiritual life (the level of spiritual maturity to which we have attained) is far more than the sum of the spiritual information that we have gathered or any compilation of our spiritual experiences. Rather, the core and substance of our being “spiritual” relates to the level of inner peace and harmony that results from our making right choices and decisions along the pathway of our spiritual journey. Because the Lord is seeking those who are willing to go beyond that which they have freely received through redemption, our making these right choices and decisions will never be easy. Paul tells us in Philippians, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) No matter who or where we are, we must make decisions as to what we will see, hear, do, or where we will go or not go. The ever present temptation is to compromise and go along with the questionable or difficult situations that we often find in our path or circumstances, but we must never forget it is not the church or a denomination that is God’s work, but us. Again Paul tells us, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) Notice that our response to and cooperation with these “good works” is conditional “we should walk in them.” These good works are preordained testing points that will determine how far we will follow the LORD. We make few major decisions, but each day we make many “minor” (seemingly to us) decisions that feed either the carnal or the spiritual aspect of our being. The accumulation of these choices will result in our becoming predominantly carnal or spiritual. As our spiritual decisions begin to outweigh the negative pulls and responses we become an “overcomer.” To the extent that we rise above carnal soulish desires we are lifted into a place of communion with our LORD and we grow spiritually. John tells us, “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His Throne.” (Revelation 3:21) Our position with Jesus in this “throne” relationship is the result of our overcoming (rising above) all that is earthly and carnal. The more decisions that we make which are toward the Lord and His purpose the easier it will become to continue making these decisions. The further down the road that we go in our walk with the LORD we will progressively become more detached from all that is either carnal or a temptation to us. In the beginning it may be difficult, but as we progress it will become easier. The pathway of our spiritual life can be considered as being an upward spiral. If we take a large wood screw and place a finger nail in the groove near the point and run it along the surface we will gradually progress toward the head. Though it may seem to us that we are going in circles, as we continue to make right decisions, we are progressively moving upward. If we do this in reverse and feed the carnal aspect of our being, it will lead us ever downward. There are those who have within them a quality of spiritual life (divine substance that permeates their being) and it may not be apparent as to why this is so, but if inquired into these would testify that through the struggles of life they have been making quality decisions which brings them into an ever increasing levels of fellowship with the LORD, in His Throne. Too often we think the Kingdom of God is a place we can get a job or exercise power and authority over someone, but this is so far from the truth. Paul in Romans tells us what the kingdom of God is, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.” (Romans 14:17-18) The Kingdom of God begins with “righteousness.” As we make the right choices, we place ourselves on a platform called righteousness. Due to an accumulation of these righteous choices, we discover that there resides within us an abiding “peace.” This will also result in the approbation or the favor of God resting upon us and “joy” is then manifested. Our submission to divine government will lead to our becoming a partaker with the LORD, in His Throne. In this realm our decisions do not relate only to right or wrong, but with the motives that underlie right or wrong. It is here that the final test of our union with the LORD will find its outworking. We are tested concerning the choices and decisions that we make. As we progress up the spiral we will be tested concerning the motives of our heart which provoke the things that manifest as right or wrong. It is not enough to deny our self, but we must overcome the very principle that allows it to abide within us and assert itself. Those who are satisfied with being blessed and eventually going to heaven have their reward the streets of gold and mansions, but for those who intensely hunger for this higher level of spiritual reality, there is much more. These in the place of pressure will deal with the issues of their heart, they will be found in the Throne, seated with Jesus. As Karen and I were touring the Biltmore House the LORD impressed these words on me, “and yet he died.” I shared these words around the breakfast table at the Bed and Breakfast table where we stayed and things really got quiet. Mr George Vanderbilt had it all, yet he died. He had over 120,000 areas of land, a house of over 250 rooms with four acres of floor space, and over 1,800 employees, yet he died at age 51 in Washington, DC from complications from appendicitis and the surgery that followed. The building of the Biltmore House was a marvel in 1895 when it was opened and happened out from decisions Mr. Vanderbilt made, yet he died. Nothing is discussed about his spiritual condition this too was made out from the decisions he made. My hope is that He is with the LORD, but I do not know. What I do know is if he is with the LORD he made the right decisions and if we too desire to be with the LORD now on earth and when we die we too must make the right decision. Witten by David Stahl

OUR ESTABLISHED HEART

I wonder why we tell God things He already knows?  In church we often sing songs telling God just how worthy He is as God or how holy He is.  Do we not think God already knows this?  My friend telling God  things He already knows does not impress Him one bit, but now moving in obedience, greater commitment, and dedication to Him and His word now that impresses God greatly.  We sing these songs telling God how wonderful He is (and He is wonderful) trying to establish a belief in us that we think will allow us to see God in a greater way when all He wants is for us to come to a place of knowing Him by spending time with Him and submitting to His dealings and judgments.  But spending time with God takes too much of our daily time and submitting who wants to submit and endure God’s dealing and judgments in their lives?  Oh no it is easier singing about God’s holiness and worthiness than coming to knowing about God’s worthiness or holiness. We lack this understanding (so we sing and do other things instead) because of the lack of our heart being established in God.  Bill Pepper (a wonderful friend who often ministers China) tells the story of a Chinese pastor and his family who was captured by Chinese authorities and at the trial the Chinese pastor was told unless he confessed to some lies about him and God the authorities would kill him and his entire family starting with his children.  With tears in his eyes and in a calm and collected voice he replied to family and the Chinese authorities, “my family I will see you in the morning.”  And with that the Chinese authorities did as they said they killed him and his family beginning with his children. One by one they were executed his children, next his wife, and lastly himself.  Now the Chinese pastor could only do this if his heart was established in God and he really knew he would see his family again in their next life.  Today very few people come to this knowing because they have been deceived by “divers and strange doctrines” like the prosperity teachings of today and word of faith folks that teach another Christ and another Gospel that is not the message of the cross.  They have come to know God only in song or through a mental approach blindly going to conference after conference or worse yet hoping what they are doing is correct, but never coming to an experiential knowledge of knowing God out from an established heart.  I wonder why we sing songs about things we do not know about? The Writer to the Hebrews shares with us, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. ⁹Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” (Hebrews 13:8-9)  In the Psalms David takes it much further, “Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. ⁷He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. ⁸His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.” (Psalms 12:6-8)  My friend this is to be the depth of our relationship with God not in song singing about God’s greatness, his holiness or his worthiness, but it is in experienced knowledge where we come to know Him and the power of His resurrection.  Paul told the Church at Philippi, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (Philippians 3:10) Not just to “know Him,” but also to come to know “the power of his resurrection” and “the fellowship of his suffering.”Not too many people want to know God if they have to suffer and die, but to know God’s resurrection power we must be dead.  The purpose of resurrection is to bring us back from the dead. We must die to be resurrected and along that way of death is suffering, persecution, and tribulations as Jesus promised. In John we read Jesus’ words, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33) Now why and how can we be of good cheer while going though tribulation?  Because our heart has been established in God and we have come to place of knowing God.  The Scriptures have much to say about this established heart.  Peter tells us, “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. ¹³Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; ¹⁴Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. ¹⁵Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.” (2 Peter 1:12-15)  Can you hear Peter’s heart here? Peter knew his physical death was at hand his desire for the people was that they not mourn his death, but that the people would be established in the truth.  When we are established in the truth of the word of God and our heart is established in God to endure whatsoever God brings our way we will truly have life eternal.  It is nice to know we do not have to wait to die to have eternal life.  Jesus, in the real LORD’s prayer, tells us,  “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son (Jesus was to be crucified in days), that thy Son also may glorify thee: ²As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. ³And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”  (John 17:1-3)  Eternal life is not just living forever in which we will if our heart is established in God, but Jesus told us eternal life is, “that they might know thee the only true God.” Who cares about tomorrow when we really come to know the only true God?  Who cares what we have or do not have what food we eat or do not eat when we come to know the only true God? All of this life’s many trials and tribulations all pale in compassion to knowing the only true God.  This is the reason we have been created not to glorify God, but to come to know Him. Many Christians try to glorify God in song, talent, and deeds, but God is not after that He is after our established heart.  Paul tells the Church at Ephesus “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²²In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”  (Ephesians 2:21-2)  We are to have an established heart so that we can be that eternal “habitation of God through the Spirit.”  God desires we be His eternal abode, His eternal place of habitation not Heaven or the heavens, but our established heart.  Now I do not understand why God would chose our hearts I cannot explain it no one can.

It is easy to see and hear who has an established heart and who does not. Did you know there is a huge difference between professing something we know about God and really coming to knowing God?  The difference is always seen in our words (what we profess) or our character and conduct what we have come to know.  It is one thing to profess we know Jesus, but it is something all together different when our character and conduct reflects the character and conduct of Christ.  Remember our testimony is not what we say about ourselves, but what people see and yes even hear about us.  I can profess to you how much I love God, how much He has done for me, how much He is using me, but if my character does not reflect my words I am a liar and the truth is not in me.  We must be careful here in this area. We often take people in our circle of trust and friendship based not on a time of observation, but usually based on their profession.  In God time will bear things out to be true or not.  Time always marks commitment and dedication in lives.  We sadly see this in the increasing number of Christian divorces and Christians living together outside of marriage. Most main-stream denominations will allow you to move your Church Membership (I cannot find this concept in the Bible) from church to church based on a letter of introduction or on their profession of their faith.  No wonder there are so many church splits and such great division in most churches today there was no observation of their character or life-style the desire to add to the rolls of the church, get their tithes and offerings, and get more helping hands to fulfill the mission vision and statement of the church seems to override the caution and attention to detail to the spiritual things of God. There is wonderful story in the Bible that reflects an established heart in God and ones character and conduct truly being what God is looking for.  In 2 Samuel we find God lining up David (and the people) for punishment for his disobedience.  I wonder why we think God is only a loving God and would not punish or disciple us?  Here we read of David’s sin, “And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.”  (2 Samuel 24:10) David numbered the people of which God told him not to, so the Holy Spirit convicted David of this sin.  What a wonderful blessing to have a soft heart (an established heart) where the Holy Spirit can convict us of our sin a most precious promise from God.  So God answered David’s (not a prayer) beseeching by Gad the Prophet, “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will do it.” ¹³ So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout the land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and let me know what answer to give the Lord.” ¹⁴ “This is a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” (2 Samuel 24:12-14)  David knew it is far better to fall into the hands of an angry merciful God than to be at the angry, merciless hands of man.  Please notice David’s words here, “But let us . . .”  David was the one who sinned, but all of the people will pay, it matters who your leaders are.  But because of David’s established heart he had the ability in God to choose righteous judgment.  In the end, “And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.  ¹⁷And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.” (2 Samuel 24:16-17) Yes God sent the pestilence as promised and yes 70,000 men died (God means what He says), but in the end God’s anger was satisfied and why?  Because of David’s established heart, he knew of God’s wrath he has experienced it first hand and David knew of God’s mercy he too has experienced this first hand.  An established heart knows God. Written by David Stahl  

FINE TUNING

While Ronnie Huneycutt and I were in Silistra, Bulgaria ministering we stayed at a better than five star hotel. Sometimes God will let us stay in the finest of accommodation and sometimes God finds a place for us in stark poverty and filth, but in either place a heart of thankfulness is what God is looking for in us. At times in Africa and India I have slept with the cattle. In Bukoba, Tanzania I have showered by lifting a bucket of water over my head that was retrieved (before I got up) and heated over an open fire by the pastor’s wife from a river over two miles way. How could I not enjoy my shower knowing the effort and sacrifice involved? How could I not be thankful? How could I want anything better? I really believe at these times God is checking us out and fine tuning our heart condition to be able to show us our heart and to see just how thankful we really are for the things He provides. Well in Bulgaria God put us up in the finest place in town: a four room apartment complete with a stocked (plenty of food, coffee maker, etc.) kitchen, huge bathroom, and two comfortable beds that Pastor Niki and his wonderful father built. What else could we want? Another feature we really enjoyed was Niki’s office computer which allowed contact with our families; just down the outside back stairs and into the back of Pastor Niki’s print shop. One morning as I was coming through the door in the back of the print shop I noticed a man was setting up one of the print machines. I stopped and watched in amazement. The man (I never got his name) looked up and smiled, but continued to work. He was a man on a mission and his mission was to get this machine to run at peak ability and function. Now what was so amazing was the way the man was adjusting or fine tuning the machine. He knew every inch of that machine like the back of his hand, he knew every turn of the dials, every lift of the levers, and every adjustment and slide of the paper guides. He knew every reaction to the adjustments he was making and compensated correctly to get the machine to run at its full potential. I was in awe I was watching a master at work. I know you may think I am somewhat crazy, but it was like watching a master violinist or cellist play their instrument. Foolishly I tried taking a picture, but he would not stop long enough for me to get the shot and it kind of annoyed him so I backed off. He adjusted and fine tuned; after those he nudged the machine again, a half roll of the print drum and another nudge, a slide of the paper guide and another nudge, another half roll of the print drum and another nudge where he then measured and nudged again. This went on for about 30-40 minutes and then added paper filling the paper tray. After a final inspection and a few more gentle nudges the on switch was engaged and the machine was off and running; one sheet, two sheets, three sheets, suddenly the machine was switched off. The adjustments and fine tuning was not to the master’s liking so the man was back to nudging, measuring, sliding the paper guide, and many half turns of the drum. Another inspection then machine was off and running again. The man was not so concerned about time as much as he was about the peak performance of the machine and turning out quality copies of the original. The machine was turned off again and more nudges and fining tuning was completed. At last he was ready to go. The paper tray was filled to the top and the on switch was engaged the machine seemed to rhythmically sing as it spit out copy after copy of the original image. And as I was standing there the LORD spoke to me and said, “this is what I must do to my children I must fine tune them so I can make exact copies of my Son.” What an unexpected word, but powerful word from God. God has to fine tune us so He can make copies of His Son Jesus Christ. Now we all know that, right? Sure we all know Paul told this to the Church at Rome, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Romans 9:29-30) This is God’s main objective in our lives, “to conform us to the image of His Son.” God is not trying to make us happy (He can care less if we are happy), rich, popular, intelligent, or famous God started something back in the Book of Genesis, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) And God has not changed His mind He is still in the business of conforming man, still in the business of making “man in our image after our likeness” and He will do everything we will allow Him to do to fine tune and complete this process of becoming like Him in our lives. Did you know God is more concerned about our character than He is about how long we can speak in tongues, sing and dance in the Spirit, how much money we give to the church, even how long we have been walking with Him. All these things are okay, but they are not on the top of God’s list of important things for our lives. Our character is God’s number one focus; our character looking like or resembling the character of Jesus Christ. God is even more concerned about our character than He is about our service to Him. Do we really think God cannot get things done on earth without us? Of course not God can do anything He so desires He does not need man, but He made man, He loves man, and He wants to use man to herald the good news of the Gospel message to men. What a wonderful truth that God desires for man to help save other men. Many say (as I just did) we are to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ and this is true, but what image are we talking about? Are we talking about Jesus’ physical image? No of course not. My teacher Charles Haun was the most gifted Bible Teacher I have ever heard; many millions of people around the world would agree with me on this, but some went to the extreme. Many of Charles’ students bought glasses and even copied his dress and mannerisms they were called Haunites, but all of this never made them like Charles Haun. We are to be conformed to the spiritual character and nature of Jesus Christ not His physical features. Now I have a beard like Jesus, but that will never allow me act and touch like Christ. We are to love like Him, but before we can do that we must have a heart like Him. We are to think like Him, but before we can think like Christ we must have a mind like Christ. There is a spiritual principle that says a man cannot give what he does not have. How can we be like Christ if we have never allowed God to work the character of Christ, through His dealing and judgments, in us? So how do we get a mind and heart like Christ? How can we be conformed into the expressed (original) image of Jesus Christ? Well my friend this is a painful process indeed. Just asking God to forgive you of your sins will not do it, oh no my friend there is a process of opening up our heart and lives to God and allowing Him free rule and reign to work in our lives. At the end of Romans 9:30 we read these word, “them he also glorified.” Now most Christians who read these words would think like the disciples, “God is going to make us rich, popular, and famous maybe give us the biggest following in the land,” but not so. John tells us during Jesus victorious entrance to Jerusalem before His crucifixion, “Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt. 16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.” (John 12:15-16) The disciples thought now we are going to set up the Throne of David and kick those Romans out of Jerusalem, but not so. Jesus told the disciples, “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.’ (John 12:23-25) Die who wants to die? Lose who wants to lose? Not me I want to live and be free in Christ, well that is not the spiritual order. The spiritual order is death before glorification. And if we have a good death we will be glorified by the Father like Jesus. Jesus was teaching the disciples a critical spiritual principle, death comes before glorification. If we desire to be glorified like Jesus then we too must die to our fleshly, carnal, lower character and nature. At the same measure we can die to our lower carnal life at that same measure we will be raised in newness of life with Christ Jesus. Also in Romans Paul tell us, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:5) “Planted together in the likeness of his death?” His death? What about the abundant life of God? I want nothing to do with His death, well if so then we shall never be raised “in the likeness of his resurrection:” The Spiritual order is death before glorification my friend. This death in us only happens as we become His workmanship. Paul in Ephesians tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) The good works we are created (or conformed into His image) in Christ Jesus is God’s dealings and judgments in our lives. God’s “good works” (not our works or service to Him), God’s fine tuning (by grace) in our lives will bring us to more than salvation and will do more than take us all to heaven it will conform us into the character and image of Jesus Christ. Now I have understood this truth to be conformed for some time now, but to be honest (is not honesty good for the soul) I have never really understood why God wants us to be conformed to the nature and character of His precious Son Jesus Christ. There must be more to God’s intention here (God always wants more in our lives) and one day while studying I ran across these verses, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:20-22) Now I am sure I have read these verses before I guess I could not handle this bit of truth then, but it was the missing piece to the puzzle God desires us to be His eternal temple of habitation for all eternity not in the heavens or the earth, but in us. Man is to be God’s eternal abode. I cannot explain (I dare not) why God chose to live in man’s heart forever, but He is God and we are not and He chose to live within man for all of eternity. No wonder He must fine tune us like the print master. No wonder God must adjust us He wants His temple to be perfect, holy, and blameless before Him. Written by David Stahl

THE IN BETWEEN TIMES

Ronnie Huneycutt and I just returned from two weeks ministering in Romania and Bulgaria and as always it was a life changing experience to travel abroad to share the word of God and try in some way to do what we could do to ease the suffering and hardships of the people we come to minister to. You know it is one thing to say Jesus loves you, but it totally different to show them that Jesus loves them. In all of this giving to the poor the Gospel message must be preached. Many people focus on feeding and clothing people (now this must also happen), but if you only feed and clothe people what you will have is well dressed, well fed people in hell. The word of God, the message of the cross, must be preached one on one from one heart to another heart not sung about or danced out, but preached word by word, line by line as the Holy Spirit gives us the revelation. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) Sadly today in most churches not much preaching is done and why because it takes time before God to hear what the Spirit is saying it is easier to sing and dance your way to heaven (probably will not make it this way) than to allow God to work, through His dealings and judgments, in our lives.

As we were drinking coffee (the Bulgarian favorite pass time) one morning near the center of Silistra Ronnie talked about the dash. He was referring to the dash (as seen on grave stones) between our date of birth and our date of death. I wonder why we celebrate these dates we have nothing to do with them our birth is out of our control and to a large extent our death is out of our hands, but what we do during the dash foretells the destination of our eternal home. Then the LORD spoke to me and said, “you are in the in between times the time in between times of ministering the word to people.” What a revelation I was surprised. We think ministry only happens when we stand and speak, but not so. In God there must be a time of preparation: time before God in quiet and stillness, time in the word spent discovering the verses God would have you share to the people, and time spent talking and fellowshipping with people. As we drank the coffee we spoke with an Austrian couple who are making plans to move to Silistra and help Pastor(s) Emil and Niki. The conversation and fellowship was as rich as the coffee we drank, but at the same time sublime moments that resonated in our spirit that filled our mind and soul. As I was sitting there unbeknownst to Pastor(s) Niki and Emil, Ronnie, and the Australian couple God took me back to an in between time in Moldova. While in Chisinau I met a great man of God and special friend Pastor Romcia Hututui. Romcia was a kind and gentle man with great wisdom and inward strength. I had the pleasure of listening to him preach in Russian. I wish I could have understood each and every word, because his spirit thrilled my soul. Nelleia my translator did an outstanding job sharing his words, but the passion and fire that God has put within him was remarkable to witness. As we, Romica, Nelleia, and I, travelled over 950 miles in seven days, sharing the Word of God in Russian speaking churches many hearts were captured for Christ, even mine the more. But, as we travelled I kind of figured out what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 5:6, what we are filled with. And what Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians when he said, “The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” (I Corinthians 10:17) We are filled with “the communion of the body of Christ,” and THE bread, Christ, that satisfies us, strengthens us, and even gives us our very own life. We are partakers of this bread through communion with the Lord and through the communion with our brothers and sisters within the “Body of Christ.” Without communion with the Lord and our brothers and sisters in the Lord we have no place within the Body of Christ. What communion we had as we travelled mile after mile. What bread we shared. Romica broke off a piece of Christ and fed it to me and I did the same for him, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.” As we drove to the city of Floresti, Romica stopped and I bought some grapes. Moldova has the biggest and best tasting grapes in the world. After buying the grapes, we stopped by a well of water to clean the grapes. Romica dropped the bucket down the well and filled it with water after many turns the bucket was in sight full of cool sparkling water. Romica motioned to open the bag of grapes because he was about to pour the water into the bag and I was to agitate the bag so that the dirt would fall off. Great plan in theory, but we failed to consider the strength of the bag. As the bag filled with water the seams gave way and the water and the grapes spilled out onto the ground filling my shoes with water what communion we had we laughed so hard we cried tears of joy. This time with Romica at the well was an in between time before ministry. The in between times is always a time of preparation for our heart. Our heart condition must be dealt with by God before we can stand and share God’s word and during the in between times our heart is being worked on by God. Little do we know during these times God is searching our heart to find if there be any wicked way in us. What a powerful prayer David prayed in Psalms, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24) It is during the in between times as we are alone with God in stillness or laughing with our friends God is searching our hearts. The in between time is also a time we feed Christ to each other. As Romica and I were cleaning the grapes or when Niki, Emil, Ronnie, the Australian couple, and I were drinking coffee we were doing more than cleaning grapes and drinking coffee we were sharing the goodness of the LORD with each other. With each smile and kind word spoken, with each offer to pay for the coffee, with each moment spent together in unity and harmony we were feeding the goodness of Christ to each other. Funny to know we can only feed what we have to give to someone. There is a divine spiritual principle that says a man cannot give what he does not have. How can we give love, joy, and peace if we do not have love, joy, and peace in us? If we are filled with anger, wrath, and hatred then we can only feed that to people. And even in the in between times we can feed these ungodly attitudes and character traits to people. This too is why God must search us so that He can reveal our hearts to us. Unless God can reveal our hearts to us, by His Spirit, we will never be able to feed Christ to others. The in between times is a time of our soul searching and reflection before God. In the times we are alone with God or even when surrounded by people we can take the time to step back (in our thoughts) from conversation and happenings of the moments to reflect on what our attitudes and heart condition is. Did you know you could be alone in a crowd of 1,000s? Your heart condition will detail your perspective. At these in between times our ability and responsibility in God to minister His word is measured and energized within us as we look deep into our soul not God searching us, but us searching ourselves. Our reflection and soul searching always leads to a great dependence on God. Jesus knew this secret the more dependent He was on His Father the more authority and power He possessed. We Christians today run around and say we have the power, but Jesus said He had no power. I think we Christians of today need to learn this secret of Jesus.

During the in between times in Bulgaria I learned two powerful maxims (individual bits of truth) that Niki Marksov shared with Ronnie and I. The first maxim was, “keep your doctrine close, but the Brethren closer” and the second was, “why do we share the good news of the Gospel like it is bad news?” WOW! The in between times a time of God searching our hearts, feeding Christ to each other, and time of soul searching and reflection. Now that is time well spent. Written by David Stahl

A MEDITATION ON EASTER

Around Christmas time last year I shared some thoughts on Christ not being a baby and now as we draw closer to what many call the Easter season I would like to share some thoughts on this topic. First, the word we use to express the great victory of Christ, “Easter” is found once in the KJV of the Bible and has nothing to do with the Gospel; the death, the burial, and (our blessed hope of glory) the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The word “Easter” is found in Acts and is talking about Peter not Jesus, “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Acts 12:4) and is translated from the Greek as Passover, again it has nothing to do with the Gospel message. I am not going to go into all of the pagan rituals and religious traditional practices that surround the historical myth of Easter my intent is to lift up the name of Jesus. But, my friend we have “truly” (taking something from the physical realm and projecting it into the spiritual realm) drifted so far from the true meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the great price He paid for my sin and your sin. We have insulted God’s supreme act of giving His only begotten Son and the truth for an emotional swell during the holiday season, to increase church attendance, and to spread ones denominational message under the guise of sharing the Gospel. We do so much in church that displeases God and cover it up by saying we are sharing the Gospel. God please forgive us. God does not need special services that effect our emotions and feelings to share the Gospel message. God needs dedicated and consistent children to follow Him and His basic plan.

A few years ago I heard a statement from a pastor (of a church we once attended) that just shook me to my knees. He said after Jesus was arrested and crucified the light of the world went out. How my spirit quivered within me. How my stomach churned and ached for this fellow’s words were not true, but was in keeping with the emotional Easter tradition. At no point in time has Jesus not been the light of the world. My friend even when Jesus obediently and willfully laid His life down, He was still in control; of all Heaven, earth, hell, and will always be the light of the world. His light will never go out. Death could not hold Him, the grave could not hold Him, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57) Because this is true about Jesus we too can say, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Let us not be led by our emotions and plans to practice an Easter season, but be led by the Holy Spirit to know and understand the true message of the Gospel. This my friend is the message that will change your life forever.

At the Passover Supper (before He went out into the garden) Jesus knew the garden experience was there and He knew that the cross, death, the grave, and hell was waiting Him. Yet Jesus went out with a song in His heart, “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” (Matthew 26:29) How could He do that? He could sing because He had the victory already in His heart. The victory and trust He had in His Father to carry Him through the garden, onto the cross, and into and out of the grave. He knew His Father would never leave Him nor forsake Him. The victory was first won as the Father pressed out the life and will of Jesus at Gethsemane (which means where oil is pressed), “Then saith he unto them, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:38-39) Knowing what was before Him Jesus could still break bread with His disciples, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26) Knowing what was ahead for Him Jesus could still give thanks, “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28) He could only do this because it was the most sublime manifestation of faith ever expressed. We think He had faith when He restored sight to the blind, strengthened limbs, and raised the dead. Yes that was wonderful, but we must see the spiritual side of things. We must see the necessity of faith in the realm of the Spirit, not in the flesh (like the Easter myth), but the realm of the Spirit where we have the faith to dare to believe like Jesus. It is Jesus’ victorious life which leads up to His victorious death and that is what presents Him as the Lamb without spot and blemish. When seen on the Mount of Transfiguration, He is a Lamb without spot or blemish, but it is a Lamb that has been slain! We are not saved by His life we are saved by His death. His life is exemplary it is beautiful, but He did not come to display great character and to do miracles, He came to die for us. The way of life is through a region of death and unless we partake of His death we shall never reign with Him. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:3-5) The truth of the season is a bitter sweet message of death so that we may live. It is not about new clothing, many church activities, special foods, and musical programs to get people to come to church, but it is about us loving God enough to be willing (like Jesus) to fall into the ground and die, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 12:24) And, to love God’s word enough in simplicity to share it without fanfare and emotional ceremony knowing the Holy Spirit will do His work in lives. Then too we will be able to say we have before the throne (our heart) of God today a victorious risen Lord. Let us keep the love feast of Jesus’ sacrifice. Let us honor Him and His work in us and for those who we are to lead to the cross for His glory. Let not this season be a myth or holiday, but an invitation to life, the life of God. Written by David Stahl

LOVE NOT THIS WORLD

When Michael Jackson died on a Saturday that next Monday morning I was sitting in the sauna with a bunch of black friends, some being preachers and pastors. Many of my friends in the sauna were extolling Michael’s praises saying what a great singer and dancer Michael Jackson was how he changed music and dance forever well I chimed in and added, “I bet when Michael Jackson stood before God (and we all will someday) He was not asking Michael about singing and dancing (that all was over), but I would think God would have asked Michael Jackson, “what did you do with My Son Jesus?” There was no singing and dancing then no thriller only tears and maybe some gnashing of teeth at this time. Now I am not sure where Michael Jackson is right now (I wish no one to go to hell because it is the most horrible place ever created) God is the final judge and in His final judgment He alone makes the call out from our obedience to His word in our lives, but if Michael Jackson loved the world and the things therein more than he loved God then his destination has been sealed for all eternity.

Did you know nowhere is the love for this world seen any greater than in the many graveyards dotted around the world. They are filled with people who started out in God full of His promise, but finished their lives, most times early, in shame, open despair, and total loss because of a love for the world and its things. Graveyards are filled with broken dreams and unfulfilled promises from God that people have allowed to fall to the ground in direct disobedience to God and His word. Remember when God speaks something to us (like a promise) it is always His intention in seeing it come to pass, however, whether it comes to pass or not depends not on God (it is His intention, it is His wishes), but on us are we willing to walk in the way we must go to allow the promises of God to be fulfilled in our lives? Are we willing to be limited and restricted to only the words God spoke to us? God wants whatsoever to come to pass in our lives, but whether it does or not is not up to God it all depends on us. My friend for God’s word to be completed in our lives we must “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” How can God’s will and plan for our lives come to pass if we love not God or nor the things of God? Either we love God or we do not love God. Either we love the things of God or we love the things of the world. Now we may try to hide (we Christians sometimes are good hiders) the truth from our friends and family, but make no mistake my friend there is no hiding this truth from God. God looks at our heart and knows if we really love Him and if we really love His things. God will not settle for part-time devotion, oh no God wants all of our heart, all of our devotion, all of our obedience. In 1 John Jesus lays this sobering directive down for our total compliance, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17) Now please notice we are not to “love the world” and “neither the things that are in the world.” Verse 15 continues and we find out why we must not love the world and the things in the world, “If any man love the world (and the things in the world), the love of the Father is not in him.” How can we do the things of God and become what God wants us to become if the love of the Father is not in us? Sadly we cannot. Now please notice there are two bits of truth moving in this verse: (1) love of the world and (2) love for the things of the world, so does this means we can have a love for God, but not for His ways? Or does this mean we do not love God, but have a love for the ways or things of God? The answer is both cases is yes. Strange as it may seem we can love God, but not love His ways. We humans are a fickle bunch we can have a deep love in our heart for someone, but not love the way they do things. There are some people (especially Christians) I love, but they do and say some things that is (I believe) contrary to the word God. Now God is not like man. When God says he hates something He means it. God’s hate is a part of His nature and it is the behavior and the person that is the focus of His hatred. We today try to spin things and say, God hates the behavior, but He still likes the person well not so. All throughout the Bible there are things and people God says He hates guess what, He hates them, but He always gives people a chance to repent and change before He brings judgment and punishment. Oh America take heed to these words before it is too late. God’s hate is as much a part of His nature as His love and when God says He loves someone He loves them and when God says He hates something or someone He means it. Here is a small list of verses (many more in the Scriptures) where God hates: Psalms 5:5, Proverbs 6:16, 8:13, Amos 5:21-23. I do not know about you my friend, but I think it is high time for us to begin to hate the things that God hates.

Now please understand the earth is not the world. I taught this lesson one day to some students at the middle school where I teach. David in the Psalms tells us, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalms 24:1) We see three things here: the earth, the world, and people. The earth was created by God (it is His and will always be His) and He loves the earth. When He created the earth He said it was good, but the world is not the earth. The world is an ungodly way of thinking, a system that is totally anti-Christ and wants to destroy everything that is good and everything God and His people stand for. The world is what appeals to our pride and flesh, it is what appeals to the vanity of our eyes and heart. Today the world is the law-giving system in America that says it is okay to take the life of a baby when God calls it murder. The world says it is okay and normal to be gay, but God says it is an abomination. The world says get politically connected and get your human rights, but God says I am enough. The world says it is okay to get tattoos, paint your hair, and pierce your body, but God says our body is not ours to mark up and mutilate. The world says it is okay to be all you can be, jump higher, score goals, hone your body and mind into becoming a champion, but God says I want you to become like Me. The world says forget about your life you are a nobody, watch TV and go to the movies lust for the lives of the rich and famous, the Hollywood elite, but God says I want you to know Me in an intimate way. The world says come to know people with text messages, on Facebook, and every gadgets you can buy, but God says He wants to know us heart-to-heart and wants us to love our neighbour (person-to-person) as our self. The Christian world says give money to get from God, but God says give so that others may receive. The Christian world is obsessed with being blessed and having earthly things, but God says I am enough. The Christian world is drunk with works, ungodly music, immoral dancing, and deceptive religion, but God says He wants us to drawn near to Him with our whole heart. Paul tells us, “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-20) The world, its ways, and its wisdom is foolish to God. Please do not make the big mistake of confusing the world with the earth.

Many Christians may love the LORD, have asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins, but at the same time they are in the streets as activists fighting in the anti-abortion struggle of the world. They attend rallies and marches, carry signs, yelling and screaming (sometimes obscenities) at the pro-abortion forces, is this the Christian witness Jesus would have us be? We have the truth do we not? This is an example of loving the things in the world. Another area we often see is the eco-Christians they may love the LORD and have asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins, but they are eco-environmentalists (tree-huggers) and some are even eco-terrorist who target business, churches, and religious organizations they love mother earth more than God. Now we must be a good steward on the earth, but we must never worship (like the eco-Christians do) the earth, worshiping the creation of God, but denying the power of the Creator. Still another example of loving things of the world is the Church’s (worldwide) acceptance of homosexuality. Oh they may love the LORD and have asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins, but they preach ungodly diversity and wink at homosexuality, things God said (no matter how you spin it or wrap it up in love) are an abomination and sin. Today many Christians ignore the word of God and preach this “just love someone and they will be okay,” well this my friend is a lie it takes more than love to have our sins cleansed, it takes obedience to God’s word and without this we all are lost, undone, and on our way to hell. Christians love things in the world they love the ease and pleasure the finer “things” of life can afford, the nice home, the big car, the big powerful job, the fine clothing, the expensive jewelry, but God said love not the things in the world. And why? Because the end thereof is loss, destruction, and death. As I said the graveyards are filled with Christians who started out in God, but ended in the world and died. The King of Rock-n-Roll Elvis Presley was such a person. My mother knew his father and she said his father said they would put Elvis up on the altar and he would sing (for the glory of God) the good old hymns of the church, but as time went on and he grew into a man his love for the world also grew. In September 1957 when Elvis appeared (the first time) on the Ed Sullivan Program little did he know in a brief 20 years he would be dead. Many of Elvis’ friends recall the times when Elvis would sit on his piano bench and cried (tears just streamed down his face) while singing the old gospel hymns of the church, but sadly the King of Rock and Roll died while falling off the commode, naked, on a cool hard bathroom floor 16 August 1977. Recently the Queen of Pop Whitney Houston died. Sadly God brought Whitney Houston back around for her Hollywood style funeral to the very church she began her humble singing career. Whitney started off singing in a church choir in Newark, NJ like most famous singers, but along the way her love for drugs and the world grew more than her love for God. Her love for the world and the things thereof side tracked her and her worldly lifestyle spun her out of control destroying everything she touched. When we fall from God we often bring many people with us. And like Elvis Whitney Houston died (some say she committed suicide I hope not) naked submerged in water from a cocktail of numerous drugs and alcohol. Like Elvis she was naked. The world has a way of stripping the life of God out of us and we end up naked. Make no mistake my friend God will bring us back around again and again until He says enough. When we lived in Germany we had a wonderful friend from New Zealand who attended our church and we just adored her, everyone in our family in Germany and back in the States just loved Jackie, but she got offended at us and God. I will never forget the day she pointed her finger at me and said, “I do not need your church, I do not need you, and I do not need your God” and stormed out of our home. Well to make a long story short God brought Jackie back to the very spot on our couch where she said “I do not need your church, I do not need you, and I do not need your God,” but now her testimony was “I need your church, I need you, and I need your God.” Make no mistake my friend God has ways of dealing with our pride, attitudes, presumption, disobedience, and our love for the world and the things therein. Written by David Stahl.

HONOR AND RESPECT

Honor and respect to God is a big deal. One thing for sure if we cannot give honor and respect to whom honor is due then God cannot use us for service we disqualify ourselves for service. The Bible is very clear about this truth. Paul in Romans warns the Church at Rome, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” (Romans 13:7) Rendering or giving honor and respect is mentioned many times in the Bible and not to give respect and honor to those in authority, those older in age, or those who you own a debt is looked on by God as open disobedience to His word. Make no mistake my friend this is a big deal to God. You know it is the small things in our lives that God is really concerned about. Things like our character and our integrity. We think God is more concerned about how well we can sing, dance, or play an instrument even how faithful we are at attending church or even how long we can speak in tongues, well God is not really so concerned about these things as much as He is about our truthfulness and giving honor and respect where due.

As a child growing up in the South I saw the importance of this honor and respect. My father was in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and that meant every two or three years we would pull chalks (wheel guards for airplanes) and move to a new duty station. All but three years (living in Braintree, MA) of my father’s 28 years in the USMC was spent below the Mason Dixon Line. In the past in the South you quickly learned about southern hospitality. I am still amazed today to the number of Northern folks that come South for a visit or to live and comment on how warm and friendly folks in the South are. Also growing up in the South we were taught Southern manners, it was always yes sir or no sir if we said something like huh or yep we were quickly reminded (painfully sometimes) what it meant to be a Southern gentleman. These character traits still today are a large part of who I am and have served me well over my many years. Sadly I see in the younger generations after me these qualities of honor and respect (especially for our elders) being lost to a narcissistic, self absorbed, Godless, society and unless they turn to God they will continue to destroy themselves and America.

When I joined the U.S. Navy in 1976 these Southern customs and courtesies really served me well. One of the major pillars the entire U.S. military is built on is honor and respect for yourself, each other, and those appointed over you. As a Junior Officer I quickly learned my place in good order and discipline in ranks and military customs and courtesies played a role. At the heart of military customs and courtesies is honor and respect. For example when you a junior and a senior (someone who out ranks you) come to a car door the junior opens the door and slides their butt (if they both are going to sit in the back seat) across the seat or opens the back door letting the senior in first then closing the door and the junior rides shotgun in the front seat. While walking the junior always walks on the left side of the senior. In days when warriors wore swords the junior walking on the left could draw his sword (especially if they were right handed) and protect the senior from attack. And one of the oldest military customs and courtesy the junior salutes first and holds their salute to show respect until the senior returns the salute. Remember saluting is not an affirmation of the liking the senior, but a show of honor and respect for the rank of the senior and of the custom and courtesy of age old traditions.

This honor and respect always comes down to the heart condition of the one giving or rendering the honor and respect. There is a Biblical truth that says a man cannot give what he does not have. John tells us, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3:27) Never expect man or woman to give love, forgiveness, or compassion if they have not allowed God to build in them forgiveness, love, or compassion after all love and compassion is not a part of our character they can only be a part of our character after God takes us through some very difficult times (usually when we need for someone else to give to us forgiveness, love, or compassion) and builds in us these qualities. When I think of the words honor and respect I think of Karen’s dad Mr. Andrew Kreiss who would visit his aged father (who was taking care of this handicapped son George) every week-end. He would drive about hour (one way) to Bayonne from Dunellen to make sure his father (who died when he was 95) was okay and had everything needed for himself and his younger brother. Every time we would visit Karen’s parents it was always a highlight to know we were going to visit “poppy” in Bayonne. When I think of the time, miles, and work every week (cleaning the place up) Mr. Kreiss invested in his father and brother how could he not be the best example of honor and respect a son has for his father. His example has always been before me as someone to emulate. This honoring and respecting goes right to the heart of every issue in our lives, remember at the heart of every issue is always an issue of our heart. Another bit of truth that neatly tucks a way at the heart of every issue it is always an issue of our heart is out of our mouth speaks our heart. Jesus told us in Matthew, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matthew 12:34) Just listen to people talk, if so you can tell what kind of people they are. I am reminded of a missionary (and former pastor of ours) we once knew who would stop by our home when we lived in Germany when he wanted something. Well one day Karen and I took him and his charming wife out to a German restaurant for dinner and when ordering he took off on the waiter for not having diet Pepsi sorry, but Germany does diet Coke. I could not believe how he went on and on at the waiter to the point the waiter was relieved of his duties at the table. Sadly this behavior just exposed the lack of respect and honor for himself and others he had in his life. Knowing this man for many years I was not too surprised by his behavior, unless we allow God to build this respect and honor and in us we will always be self-centered and selfish, oh LORD help us all here.

Probably one of the best ways we can show respect and honor is by becoming what we have been taught. The greatest honor for a teacher is when a student embodies the principles and teaching of the teacher. This too is why it matters who your teacher is. In Exodus we read, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12) In our self-absorbed parentless society we think honoring our father and mother is when we do something for them like; buying them something special, visiting them on birthdays, holidays or when it is convenient, or taking them somewhere, but these are not honoring our father and mother these are our least reasonable service of duty to our parents. True honor is when we become what our parents have tried to teach us. I would think the biggest break down of the family is not divorce, but children turning away from the wisdom and teaching of their parents. With our own kids we would rather they become better Christians than us then to have them buy us really cool presents. We know the gifts and presents are on an earthly level of thankfulness, but becoming those things of Christ (what Karen and I have tried so hard to instill in our kids) are far better than any boat or house money can buy. Becoming in Christ those things we have taught our kids is on another level, on an eternal level of thankfulness. It is easy to come and speak swelling words of love and commitment, but the truth of these words can be far from our heart. The people in Isaiah’s day were like this talk is cheap and much talk with heartless effort is even cheaper. In Isaiah we read, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:” (Isaiah 29:13) When we truly honor our parents we will fear them not by the “precept of men” or what other people tell us to say and how to act, but a true commitment and love born out of a great desire to become what you have been taught all of your years. We see this in the life of Jesus. Can you believe Jesus would say and do nothing that His Father did not tell Him to do or say? In John we read Jesus saying, “When ye have lifted up the Son of man (crucified Him), then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” (John 8:28) Did you get the end of that verse? Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords saying, "then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” It is funny today in the church we run around quoting Scripture saying, “we can do all things,” but Jesus said He can do nothing, He said He does not have the ability or power to do anything unless the Father gives it to Him. Jesus had this honoring and respecting down. Again in John we read where Jesus said, “If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:” (John 8:54) If we honor our self it will bring things to nothing, but if God honors us then great things will be birthed in us and out from us to the world. At the heart of honor and respect, the essence is dependence. Jesus knew this He was totally dependent on His Father for everything. Sadly today we honor movie and sports stars, rich people, people with great intelligence, people with great worldly power. When we truly come to a place of honor and respect we come to place of total dependence. What respect and honor the Son had for the Father and this too is to be the model we are to have not only for our earthly father, but also for our heavenly Father. I know this world would be a better place if we Christians did and said only what our Father told us to say and do and how will this work in us? By us first learning what it means to honor and respect someone. Written by David Stahl