QUIETING THE RAGING EMOTIONAL STORM WITHIN

As the Disciples walked with Jesus there was a great turbulence around Him and an emotional storm within them that constantly swirled. Sadly the Disciples never got through this turbulence and never allowed this emotional storm to be stilled within them until Jesus went away. Now please do not think I am saying I have calmed the emotional storm often raging within me, oh no the storm is alive and often shakes me to my knees. Over the past two or three years God has been killing my self-strength and self-life. What a painful death, but an imperative death that must be in my life if God is going to use me as He so desperately desires. There is a daily struggle between our emotions (our thoughts, feelings, ambitions, fears, etc.) and our spirit. And we are one who decides whether our emotions (sometimes called our carnal flesh) or spirit reigns in our body. Now God gave us our emotions so that we could experience this earthly life in a fuller way, but more important God gave us our emotions to show us and teach us through an inward struggle (we all have within) how much we need God’s strength and power within so that we can discipline ourselves to such a degree that even our emotions can be brought into the captivity and obedience of Christ Jesus. If we allow our emotions to rule and reign over us God cannot use us, we willfully forfeit our service to God. We must allow God to work in our lives, through His dealings and judgments in so many areas of our lives, so that our emotions can be brought under control and down to its soulish grave. This timeless truth is beautifully played out in the story of Jesus and the Disciples on the sea when “a great storm of wind and the waves,” threatens their lives. “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:37-40) I find it amazing Jesus could not speak to the Disciples their emotions were running wild and could not receive His words, also true today. Jesus had to first calm the outward storm so that He could speak “Peace be still” to the inward emotional storm that was raging within them. This is not what the “Prince of Peace,” (Jesus Christ) is looking for. Oh no my friend, Jesus is looking for us to have our inward thoughts and emotions under control so that the outward storm does not move us. No need to calm the outward storm let it rage, inwardly I am at peace. Now that is not denying the storm. But we can have peace in time of war and we can have war in time of peace. We can be in a storm when everything is calm or we can be calm when everything is stormy. We can even be alone in a crowd. It all depends upon where our emotional life is. It all depends upon which is gripping our heart, the storm or the faithfulness of God. Jesus then turns His attention to the faithless (like us at times) Disciples, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Fear is one of the greatest emotions that controls our Christian lives. Fear lives in the pit of our stomach. I know fear all too well, but we must allow God to strengthen us (we cannot do it ourselves) to bring us into faith because, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) We must not allow our emotions to control us in pleasing God, obedience is reserved for our spirit and not our emotions. And yes the further we go on in God, the less He is going to honor our fields of emotions. We will have to learn to walk with the Lord without His conscious presence which can be very terrifying. Less and less are we dependent on our old emotions that served for our living today. How can faith develop if He is going to humor us along all the time? We must grow up to be used of God, but often our unstable emotions keeps us as babes, friend this must change.

One of the biggest emotional places we weekly go is church. From the start it is important to remember the three main reasons why we go to church: The Bible commands us, to be a blessing to others, and to hear God’s voice. When we involve our emotions in any of these three we are setting ourselves up for failure. Our service to God is never done with what we shall receive, but who we can bless. It is giving so that others may receive. We put our selves last. True service to God is JOY: Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last, but, not so today in many churches. In most churches today our emotions are fed a carnal banquet of contemporary music, worldly slide shows and productions with high-tech lights and sounds that drive our emotions upward away from God. God is downward and we must come down in our thinking and emotions to join in with Him. Sadly activities and parties have replaced services. My friend most if not all contemporary Christian songs are written out from a desire for an emotional experience in God and looking to receive something from Him. God does not need to do what we want Him to do, He is God and He knows what we need. Just take a good look at the song titles I do not need to list them. They are “self” focused, where hymns are God focused. I really dislike the practice of changing the music of the hymns to make them more current and up beat. They were written out of loss and sacrifice something most song writers know nothing about. It is often said, if I cannot preach from the Bible then I will use a hymn book. We sing, I want to dance like David (a very emotional man) danced, well my friend unless you go through the same things David went through you will never be able to dance like David danced. David’s emotions time and time again (like us too) got him into trouble with his family and God. It seems there must always be a constant motion of activities for our flesh to parade itself in. True worship has northing to do with singing or dancing, but a bowing down our heads and hearts before the Lord of Lords and King of Kings in total submission. I cannot remember the last time I was in a church or home group meeting where we did not sing for 30 or 45 minutes. When I pastor again (and I feel this will happen) there will be no singing, dancing, or flag waving. We come to church to hear from God and to be a blessing not to be entertained. If I am looking for entertainment I will go to a ball game, read a book, or take our dog for a walk. I know this is hard for many churches to hear, but my friend we are getting further and further off track. People are dying and going to hell in America and around the world while we are singing and dancing asking God to change our hearts or come and fill us. I probably have offended many friends and if so I am sorry for offending you, but I am not sorry for speaking the truth. Please never forget our chief cornerstone (Jesus Christ and His Gospel message) is also a rock of offence to them who do not really know the Lord. A good question to ask is why do people come to your church? If the answer is because of your music ministry (which is not listed in the Bible as a ministry) then the main pillar of your church is not the preaching of the word of God. We must get back to the Gospel message, back to the Cross, so we can come to some level of spiritual maturity and development in God. Jesus never traveled around with a singing group or band of musicians. When Jesus did sing it was in keeping with His Jewish customs and rituals like with the Passover. There is a deafening silence of God’s voice in most churches today because of much singing and an emotional excitement that keeps our spirit weak and our flesh strong. The words of God must get to our spirit, not our emotions, if we are going to touch lives for Christ.

In 1 Kings we read how “the Lord” (God) spoke to Elijah, “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:11-12) God did not speak from the wind, or from the earthquake, nor from the fire (all that would affect our emotions), but in “a still small voice” to Elijah’s spirit. This is the place God can get our attention so we can hear His voice, in silence and stillness before Him. Our emotions (singing and such) prevent us from entering in to this place in God. There is a place of silence in God that brings us to nothingness, a place where we have nothing to say. There are three types of silence: a silence of words, a silence of desires, and a silence of thoughts. The first is perfect. The second is even more perfect and the third is the most perfect. In the first, the silence of words, there is virtue (strength) that is acquired. In the second, the silence of desires, quietness is obtained; and in the third, the silence of thoughts, this is God’s goal to touch the internal recollection of all of our senses. To lay hold of the silence of thought is to arrive and abide at the center of our being where Christ dwells. Not by speaking, desiring, nor reasoning we reach the central place of our inward walk, that place where God speaks to our inward man. It is there that God communicates Himself to our spirit; and there in the inmost depths of our being He teaches us of Himself. He guides us to this place where He alone speaks His most secret and hidden thoughts of His heart to us. We must enter into this through silence if we would hear His divine voice within us. Forsaking the world will not accomplish this, even renouncing our desires. No, not even if we should renounce all things created. What then? True peace and rest is found only in this three fold silence, only before an open door where God may communicate Himself to us. It is in that place He can transform us into Himself. This transformation of our soul consists not in speaking to God nor in thinking of God, but in loving Him greatly. And how is this love acquired? By the means of perfect resignation on our part of God’s faithfulness to us and this threefold silence. We can only quiet the raging storm within us when we allow (our choice not God’s) God to work in our lives and bring us to a place of stillness and silence.

God started something in the Book of Genesis (1:26) and He has not changed His mind. God is still in the business of making man into His own image and this too is our choice. God will never be able to reach His goal of conforming us into His image unless we can control (through God’s strengthening and power) our emotions. We will never be able to come to the image of God (Jesus Christ) unless God can bring us to silence and quietness before Him. If not then the storm rages on within as we feed our flesh more and more with a smorgasbord of emotional delights.

RENDER GOOD FOR EVIL

Today in Jacksonville, NC the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) from Topeka, Kansas came to town to picket and protest the evil murders of a US Marine and her unborn child allegedly by the hands of two other US Marines. The case is still ongoing and we must not rush to judgment, but wait for “righteous judgment.” Jesus taught, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24) The WBC has a long track record of missing the mark again and again because they fail to realize the root of the problem, the evil heart condition of man that causes evil and heinous act like these murders. Jeremiah places the blame squarely at the feet of where it belongs, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) The blame is not the fault of the US Marine Corp nor is God punishing the US Marine Corps like WBC states, but the blame falls at the feet of every heart that has not been changed by the power of God. In verse 9 Jeremiah asks the question, “who can know it?” Well, verse 10 answers that question, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10) It is God who searches the heart and repays evil for evil. We are not to give (or render) evil for evil, but render (give) good for evil. Paul shares this thought with us, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15) Friends we are to “warn them that are unruly (like WBC), comfort the feebleminded (like WBC), support the weak (like WBC), be patient toward all men (like WBC).” Now it says “to all men” that includes the WBC, even though we disagree with their message and the way they present it, yet the Bible still commands us to, “ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”

Now here is where we have our problem with these murders and the WBC. How do we reconcile Jeremiah 17:9 and 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15? That is easy, “but judge righteous judgment.” My friend “righteous judgment” has nothing to do with things that are right and wrong. God has given us His word and the word of God is clear to those things which are right and to those things which are wrong. But “righteous judgment” always involves a judgment and then a separation from unrighteousness and ungodliness. Before we can separate ourselves we first must have the ability in God to recognize the unrighteousness and unholiness for what it is, an affront to God and all He stands for. Without this ability we will continue to miss the mark of God’s holiness and perfection. Without this ability in God to recognize sin, by our spiritual judgments, and to separate our selves we will continue to walk in the ways of our evil heart. The laws of God judge right and wrong, but the Spirit of God (which giveth life) judges “righteous judgment.” We will never be able to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ if we never come to a place in God to where we can judge spiritual matters, the weightier things of the law and life, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Matthew 23:23)

My prayer for this sad situation in Jacksonville is for us to wait until God brings “righteous judgment” whereby man then will be able to move in the laws God has established to judge and punish those who committed these barbarous acts. And for the WBC is, not to stop picketing and protesting for this is their constitutional right as American citizens. Some of those US Marines they are picketing and protesting are daily dying in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world for this right. Sadly their misdirected anger is deeply rooted and embedded in their doctrine and in their hearts, but I would like for them to come to know a loving God who requires, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8)

GROWING UP INTO HIM IN ALL THINGS

I used to be surprised when God would do something miraculous, but the longer I go with God the more I expect God to be God. Now I am still impressed and at times overwhelmed, but when we expect God to be God our emotions are not so engaged. Truth and understanding then can come to us and we can receive it in our spirit moving correctly with what God’s wants. True obedience to the word of God will always reveal what God wants in a given situation. In God doing nothing may be the right thing to do at that time. We do not always have to be doing something, stillness in spirit is always received by God with thankfulness. But, do you know what really surprises me now? How many Christians and churches twists the scriptures to support their doctrinal and denominational beliefs. It never ceases to amaze me how truth can be so corrupted and perverted. And at the heart of all of this perversion and corruption is greed and ambition. The Bible is true when it says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred (not error, but intentionally causing someone to stumble and fall away from God) to from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

Running concurrently there seems to be opposite threads of truth in the Bible that run parallel. For example we have: the rich and the poor, saved and unsaved, the mature and the immature, and so on. If there are rich people there surely must be poor people. It is true there are mature Christians and it is also true there are immature Christians. It is true some people will be saved and sadly it is also true some people will not be saved. Now what makes these statements beneficial in our lives and our walk with God is our belief and having the correct perspective in our heart. If you consider yourself to be poor you may be rich no matter how much money you have. In the Bible Jesus said to the poor, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) God is not to interested in money, but is very interested in us being “poor in spirit” so that we can enter into the kingdom of heaven. So too is this thought with immature and mature Christians.

Now let me start off by confessing I have not made it yet, but am still climbing the Holy Hill of the Lord, which is down not up. If you want to go up someday, you better go down where the Lord is. But as I travel the world in ministry I do not see many mature Christians and here is the problem I do not see many Christians trying to grow spiritually in the Lord. Spiritual growth and maturity for the church collectively was the heart’s cry of Paul and Peter for the Body of Christ. Some of Peter’s parting words to the church was, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18) There seemed to be a depth of understanding in Peter’s words at the end of his life. This depth was discovered as he walked with the Lord and then really seen in his life after Jesus’ death. So too in Paul’s life there was a deep understanding of the grace and knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ that Peter said, “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:15-16) In Ephesians Paul writes read, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16) Do you know you cannot speak truth unless it is done in love? Oh our words may be factual, but unless they are spoken in love they will never represent God. Never forget the main object of God’s truth is not to set us free, but to bring us into His restrictions and limitations. This is why truth slays us, but gives life at the same time, “the Lord killeth yet He maketh alive.”

I have often thought why we do not see a great desire for spiritual growth and maturity within the Body of Christ and have come up with a few conclusions. There are three major reasons why Christians today do not “grow in the grace and the knowledge.” The first is many Christians do not know there is to be spiritual growth in their lives, simply they have never been told. Today in most churches denominational messages of God’s love and grace is the only message heard. God loves you, just love Him back have positive thoughts and everything will be okay, well my friend this is a half truth and a lie. Now please understand I am not discounting God’s love and His grace, oh how I need them both in my life, but this message will not produce mature men and women of God who are able to withstand life’s many troubles and the wiles of the devil. This message will not produce willing workers to do those things needed to spread the Gospel to the four corners of the world. This message of love and grace will not produce a giving heart in people. There is a truth I have observed; an immature Christian is a getter they want to get, but a mature Christian is a giver they do not care about getting their desire is to give so that others may receive. Giving is at the heart of the Gospel, if God cannot work giving into our heart (our choice not God’s) He can not use us, we are immature and God will not trust us with His goods. Jesus shares this truth with us, “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.” (Matthew 25:14) The servant received the man’s good, they were not the servant’s goods. The man gave the servant his goods because he could trust him. The servant proved himself responsible and reliable. If we want God’s goods we too must prove our selves trustworthy and reliable.

The next reason why we do not see spiritual growth in the church today is Christians do not know God. Oh we may know the Bible stories and we may know about God, but many have never had a personal encounter with Him. Did you know there is unfruitful and fruitful knowledge of God? The church is full of unfruitful knowledge, knowledge that does not lead to a change in our lives to where we become like God’s Son Jesus Christ. Just go to your local Christian book store; the shelves are full of self-help book after self-help book, magazines, and trinkets that teach you about God, but do not teach you how to know Him. Many in the church run from conference to conference looking for God, but only find more information about God. Information is not knowledge. The knowledge of God is experienced in our lives as He brings His dealings and judgments in our lives. A fruitful knowledge of God always changes us into the character and nature (His icon) of His precious Son Jesus. I do not see this fruitful knowledge in many churches. I see many programs keeping the people engaged, many teachings keeping the people confused, and much music keeping the people emotionally charged, but not broken before God.

The last and probably the biggest reason why there is little to no spiritual growth in many Christians is they just do not want to grow up, they like being a babe in the Lord. Human nature says, take the path of least resistance, shamefully so too this thought is a part of our Christian life. “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) After all, why should they grow up? Babes are not responsible for anything. Babes do not have to feed themselves, someone else will. Babes are not responsible for making messes, someone else will clean up after them. They even can soil themselves and someone will change their spiritual diaper. Babes can do and say what ever they want to say and do and no one will say a word they are a baby. Why should they “grow up into him in all things” when they can be a babe and do nothing for God or God’s children? Most Christians have no desire to be accountable and responsible before God. I have asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and now I am going to heaven who cares what happens in between? God does! God cares what happens after we give our hearts to Him. God is looking for and is counting on us to grow up and handle our piece of the work on earth as it is in heaven. God needs us to come to maturity in Him not for our benefit, but so that others may be saved. As a matter of fact, God expects spiritual maturity from His children it is not a wish or a hope, but a command. Written by David Stahl

THE CORRECT REVELATION

A few days ago Karen and I were driving to the Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune when we passed a church that had a big banner hanging from their building that read, come see (this man) who was twice dead. Come hear his testimony and revelation. Now we have been to this church before. One Sunday night we did not have service at our church so Karen and I dropped in just to check things out. I drive by the church every time I work at the school and have noticed their dedication to early morning prayer. Well we entered the church and took our seats. We tried getting into the flow of the Spirit, but were interrupted time and time again by the members who kept trying to lead us to Christ. Not once or twice, but three or four times different people came up asking if we are Christians. I was aghast to their great lack of spiritual discernment and just basic common sense not to mention their rudeness until Karen said look around. We (at age 50) were the oldest people in the crowd. Wisdom, spiritual discernment, and knowledge of God come by way of age and handling the real things of God. Zealousness, novelty, and excitement are okay when you are a babe. Fear not, if we have a heart for God and we allow, He will work all of this immaturity out of us. Now with this experience behind me I read this banner. As I looked at the banner the Holy Spirit spoke (in my spirit) and said, “it matters what revelation holds you.” It is one thing to say, we have this truth or that enlightenment or revelation, but it is a far better thought and truth to say the revelation holds us. Sadly, many churches will host famous sports athletes, famous singers and musicians, or people with an unbelievable story (not sure if I can call it a testimony if you are getting paid) like the fellow who was twice dead under the guise of sharing the gospel message and hoping this strange new story will produce a desire for repentance. Could it be the church has lost the real power of God and now must count on holidays and special events to invite people to parties with the world’s trappings, hoping God shows up. Well my friend this is NOT how the Holy Spirit works. No special meeting or party, emotional story, or famous singer can bring us to the saving knowledge and understanding of our need for Jesus Christ. It must be by us allowing God to bring this revelation to our heart and mind. John shares this critical (and oh so forgotten) truth with us, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44) Make no mistake God is good at softening our hearts, often with pain and sufferings, through His dealings and judgments so that we will be able to receive this enlightenment of who God is as compared to who we are. Jesus Himself shared this critical point with many that followed Him, “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” (John 6:64-66) This truth was too hard for some and many walked away, so too today this truth is too hard for many in the church and instead of walking away they try to help God by manipulating His word. I always find it amazing these people were daily following Jesus and Jesus knew they did not believe Him and His words. When we come to the edge of truth, it will always divide us from what we thought as compared to the reality of God’s words. Jesus set the standard and is THE way when He said, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) The truth is, Jesus is truth personified and is the only way or is the only revelation one MUST have to come “unto the Father.” Please note Jesus did not say He was going to take us all to heaven, but said He was the way, the truth, and the life of the Father. My friend we MUST allow this revelation to hold us. Any other revelation such as a man who died twice is not enough to get us to the Father. Oh it may fill seats and offering plates and get many momentary fearful and tearful confessions, but they do not last nor will it get them to the Father. I ask many people to read my books and articles after they read the Bible. Christian books and the such are written from the perspective of a man’s experience and revelation of who God is to them. Do not settle for reading another’s experience and revelation of God when you can have your own experiences and revelation of God. God so wants this to happen in our lives. I see people come to church bringing books from famous Christian authors and leave their Bible home, why? The Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1). Never forget revelation is God’s measuring stick of our authority. How much revelation we possess of Him will be the amount of authority God can trust us with.

This truth is played out extremely well in the life of Peter as he walked with Jesus. One day Jesus asked the apostles and the disciples, “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” (John 16:15) You know my friend Jesus too asks us this question every day to us? Our answer to this question will speak of the amount of revelation (and authority) we have of God. Peter’s reply was, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:16-18) Now Jesus was not saying He was going to build His church on Peter as some denominations teach, but was saying He was going to build His church on the revelation that Peter possessed of Jesus, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Any other revelation, have it be in spoken word, in print, or in song is incorrect and will lead to spiritual immaturity and the destruction of the work of God in our lives. Here in these verse we see a side of Jesus rarely seen. Jesus refers to Peter as “Simon Barjona” (Strong’s #3124) or son of Jonah, a dove. Jesus was making reference to Peter’s nature and character being like the wild golden doves of the Island of Barjona that are impossible to tame. These golden doves are valuable, gold in color like money, beautiful, but no one can tame them. Her see a glimpse of the love Jesus has for Peter and the work that is set before Jesus before He can trust Peter with the keys of the kingdom. “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19) What an awesome responsibility, what authority, what revelation Peter must have before God to could trust him so.

There are two revelations of Jesus we MUST have: the first and most important is, our salvation and all we are in God is built on the revelation of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us. And the second revelation is, our unending needs can only be met by Jesus Christ. We MUST come to this understand (our choice not God’s) as we allow God to work in our lives. This Christian way is a way of God revealing the intents and plans of our heart. We MUST allow God free reign and course in our lives. This is the place of true enlightenment and at the center of our being, when quiet and still before Him, we can come to a place of true revelation of who God is. This was the prayer of Paul for the Brethren at the Church of Ephesus and is my prayer for you and myself, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:” (Ephesians 1:17) Any other revelation is incorrect. Written by David Stahl

HOLDING THE HIGH GROUND

Yesterday Karen and I were watching the news (FOX, CNN, MSNBC) on TV, time and time again they kept referring to the Evangelicals or Christians as "value voters" and as the largest voting block in America. Each time they would make these statements, in my spirit, I could feel a grieving, it was as if I could feel the Holy Spirit saying, "this is wrong and ought not to be." I cannot believe the political fervor that is sweeping America and the Church of America. My friend, this is wrong and ought not to be. We the Christians in America are not "value voters" or even the biggest voting block in America, we are the salt and the light of the world. In God we have the truth and hold the high ground, but every time we get involved with politics we lose the high ground and the opportunity to say, I have the answer to your problems and His name is Jesus Christ. The King of kings, Lord of lords, and prince of peace. Every time we get involved with politics we lose the high ground in this world. As Christians in America we are not to be involved in the political process of the government. All of the ministries in America that are involved in campaigning and supporting ambitious men for earthly favor is not of God. My friend, Jesus did not call us voters, but said, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16) Jesus never once got involved with the political process of His day. The Romans were brutalizing the Church and all of society, but Jesus taught, "Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s." (Matthew 22:21) We are NOT to get involved with the political systems of the world. If we do we forfeit the title of "A city that is set on an hill." Every time we vote or get involved with politics, especially by having candidates stand in our churches and canvass for promotion before men, our light grows dimmer and our Father which is in Heaven is not glorified, fore the things of God have been brought down to the fleshly and we wrestle with the carnal issues without God's power and authority. We are wrong my friend and this ought not to be and if we continue we will continue to pay spiritually for this. John tell us, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6) Politics is born of the flesh. No matter how ministries twist things for political favor and influence from politicians, politics is of the flesh. Christians ought not to be involved, any Christian that is involved is in direct rebellion to the word of God. This is very strong but true.

Is not God in control? Does God or doesn't God have America in His divine Hands fashioning her for a vessel of honor or dishonor? And doesn't God get to make that choice?

We are to change the world not by earthly means, but spiritual means. The world is to see Christ in us. How will the world see Christ in us if we lose the high ground and get involved with the political process? We are to be different, a called out and chosen generation unto the Lord, but during the election season many Christians are more committed to man then to Christ. It amazes me to see how quickly politics can get the church off track. Politics appeals to our selfish, soulish, and sensual worship. Our focus is God come and bless me now, instead of God please bless my brothers and sisters. We have lost the will to wait upon God after all we have fast food restaurants, executives work centers, fitness centers, and more in our mega-churches. Who wants to wait to hear what God has to say?

If we are going to do what Jesus has asked us to do, to make disciples, it will be done in the spiritual realm and not at the ballot box. We do not have the ability spiritually to do this because we have forsaken God's power and replaced it with influencing and manipulating men that supports a certain agenda or position. This my friend ought not to be. It was too difficult to spend time on our knees in prayer interceding for our country. It was far too difficult to trust God believing He really knows what He is doing? It was too difficult to live right before God and man to be a living witness. It was not prosperous enough to do things God's ways we had to twist the word of God for gain and power. This my friend ought not to be. I end this entry respectfully and humbly requesting all that read this message NOT to get involved with the political process of our country, but fall on our faces, repent, and trust God to the point, "if we perish we perish" now that is real faith. Written by David Stahl.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Today is 2008, a new year and I hope and pray it will be a happy year. Thus far in Pakistan, India, and Kenya 2008 has been a very bloody time. The church in these countries are taking a heavy beating already. What makes us outwardly happy I believe is age dependent. When our kids were young we would buy them small expensive toys, but they seemed to have had more fun playing with the boxes. As our kids got older their toys got bigger and more expensive yet their happiness was not satisfied they still wanted more. This is a desire that is in all kids. Now as grandparents it is not the things we can own that makes us happy, but spending time with our family and good health.

One thing for sure the longer I go with God the more I realize true happiness come not from what we can own, but from the inward strength God can work in our lives. This inward strength is worked in us as we submit to God's dealings and judgments in our lives, as God brings us into narrow and restricted places in our lives. Jesus teaches us, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) The more narrower and restricted we walk the more joy and happiness can be worked in our lives. Please note the, "narrow way leads unto life," not heaven. God is not too concerned about taking us all to heaven this is man's focus, but God sent His precious Son Jesus Christ so that we may be able to enter into eternal life. Jesus said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) Now the word "thief" here is not Satan or the Devil, but is Strong's' # 2812, translated from the Greek as "an embezzler, pilferer" it has nothing to do with the Devil, it is a thief that, "comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." Now Satan can do this if we allow, but the Bible is not talking about the Devil here. The word "thief" is also transferred to false teachers, who do not care to instruct men, but abuse their confidence for their own gain. Ah, now we see what the "thief" is stealing, killing, and destroying, the word of God that was planted in our heart and lives. Jesus came to bring us into the life of God, not to get the abundance of this earthly life as so many denominations and churches preach. Jesus came to give us life and the thief or false teacher comes to take the life of God from us. God knows if He can put His kind of life in us we will go to heaven some day and while on earth He will be able to bring us and His plan for our lives to completion. Our focus ought not to be about going to heaven, but knowing God. Jesus also taught us, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3) My friend do not be deceived in 2008, by false teachers if so you will lose your joy and the happiness God has been able to work in your life. Worse you will lose the plan God has for your life. In 2008, we must stay in the Bible and allow God's words to abide in us as Jesus said, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)

Well my friend if we want to have a happy new year we must look not to things and outward joy, but to the inward work God must do in our lives. We must desire to know God and His plan for our lives, and most of all we must allow God's word (our choice not God's) to abide in us so that we will know the truth. If not, we will never be able to walk in the restrictions and limitations that leads us to true freedom. We talk of God's grace, (how special and wonderful God's grace is), but do you know walking in God's grace requires us to live a very restricted and limited life? God grace will not allow you to say and do and go where you want and still walk with Him. Now man's definition of grace will let you do and say whatsoever you want to do and say, but not God's. Paul said, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10) Paul's life was a very restricted and limited life ending in prison and yet his revelation of God was second to none. It was God's grace that enabled Paul to pour out his life for his brothers and sisters at the churches he established and it was God's grace that allowed Paul to write almost 2/3 of the New Testament. God's grace will kill us, but if it does we will have real life, God's life. My friend if we desire such a revelation in 2008 we too must live such a life. To all Happy New Year.