BECOMING A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST

As we read the word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us we often like cherry picking the verses we like to believe, but that is not the way God’s word is arranged. We are to believe every word in the Scriptures or none of the word of God. The truth of the word of God is not according to what we believe, have been told over many years, or what we feel, but according to God’s sovereign will and His pleasure. I wonder why we think God does things in His universe according to what we want? Paul tells us, “For by him (God) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:16-19) God does whatsoever He wants to do when He wants to do it. I wonder why we think we have a right to expect Him to dance to our tune? I am afraid this thinking comes out our selfish, self-center nature of wanting our way. Why, did you know God even creates darkness and evil, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7) but God’s darkness is filled with many treasures so that we may know He is God, “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” (Isaiah 45:3) God does not have to do what we want Him to do. As our scholarly and loving Pastor Jim Kelley often says, “He is God and we are not” wise advice for us all to heed. There are two types of darkness in the world today; an unhappy darkness that arise out from sin that leads us to eternal death. And the second type of darkness is a darkness: confusion, bewilderment at times, uncertainty, feelings of abandonment by God, and great insecurity that arises in us as God works in our heart and lives. Even Jesus felt this darkness in His dark night of prayer in Gethsemane “And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38Then 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 26:37-39) and on the cross, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) If the Master went through this darkness and came out into the glorious light, will not the servant? This darkness which God allows within our inward parts is to establish and settle virtue in us. This is a happy darkness because it illuminates our inward spirit, strengthens and establishes us, and gives us greater light, if we allow God to. All things in God depends not on God, but on us allowing God to do the work in us. This is why receiving from God depends not on working for Him as many denominations stress, but becoming what God wants us to become in Him. Receiving from God has little to do with God’s giving (He wants so to give us His good things), but us desiring to go through the things we must go through to be able to receive God’s things. One of the greatest mysteries of our sovereign God (and I will be honest I do not understand it) is why God gives us the ability to reject Him. It is a great mystery as much as the mystery of the God-head. But, that’s okay I like serving a God I cannot figure out. I like the mystery of not being able to know what I am really doing, where I am really going, and what I am really saying at times. I hear the topic explained again and again, but I just do not understand it. I guess knowing God knows all things is good enough for me.

My friend if we are going to become a disciple of Christ we will have to walk in this darkness to the point it shakes us to our knees and shakes the very foundation we are built on. This darkness is one of God’s tools He uses to conform us into the image and character of His precious Son Jesus Christ. Jesus often spoke words that were darkness (hard to understand) to the disciples and people who follows Him. For us to become a disciple of Christ we too must become the work of God (Ephesians 2:10) so that we can receive revelation to the darkness and mysteries those “treasures of darkness” so we, like Jesus, can come into this glorious light of God. It is God’s intention for us, He expects this to happen in our lives.

In the 14th Chapter of Luke Jesus was sharing with the “multitudes” a time of darkness and mystery. Here Jesus was telling the people what they must do to become a disciple of Christ. Three times in these verses (26-33) Jesus speaks the words, “cannot be my disciple.” If you do not do this then you “cannot be my disciple.” Please understand there is a condition in God to meet to receive a reward from God. Now when we hear the word reward we often think of something good, well in God a reward is what we receive from Him based on our motives, intentions, and actions. It may be what we call good or it may be what we call bad, but never the less it is a reward from God based on our heart condition and our choices. Jesus said and says to us today, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:24-33) When many hear or read verse 26 they focus on the word “hate” and miss the truth of this verse. Now the word “hate” does mean (Strong’s #3404 and in the Greek #3631) to hate, pursue with hatred, detest, but is not talking about a feeling or anger as we use the word hate, but to a degree and extent of suffering loss for the sake of Christ. To become a disciple of Christ we must suffer loss in all earthly relationships. He and He alone must be #1 in our lives. As much as I love my wife and sweetheart Karen (even our children and grandchildren), she is not to be more important to me than Christ. Even, “yea and his own life.” Now my friend this really hits home with me. Over the last three or so years God has been after my self-life. How I hold on to it. How it screams for life, but I know it must be put to death if I am going to do what God has called me to do. When we travel every ache and pain screams for attention, but this too must be put to death so that Christ may live through me, so that I can be a disciple of Christ. The next condition we must meet to receive the reward of becoming a disciple of Christ is we must “bear his cross, and come after me” now that is we must bear our cross, not Christ’s cross, but the cross God has ordained us to be daily impaled on. God has chosen a way for us to go so that we may die to our selfishness, fleshly, and carnal ways. He has chosen things and people to bring into our lives to grind off our rough edges as, Job said, “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. 8I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:” (Job 5:7-8) My friend God has a way for us to go to fall into the ground and die which is God major goal in our lives because He knows if we can die He can life through us. “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. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (John 12:24-25) He knows if we can fall into the ground and die He can save us from our sins. If we do not fall into the ground and die to our selfishness, ungodly motives, self-seeking, and so much more we cannot become a disciple of Christ. And the third things Jesus said, (and was the Rich Young and Rulers stumbling block maybe ours too) “whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my disciple.” We must forsake all we have to be a disciple of Christ! I hear many Christians friends say they are not of this world, but do all they can to sink their heels into the earth with all of their might. If we are to forsake all why do we keep building bigger and bigger churches? Why do we go after bigger houses and better cars? Fatter and fatter retirement plans while people around the world and in America go hungry from both spiritual and physical food? The extravagances and flamboyance of the church (remember we are the church) is staggering and appalling in the eyes of God. Now when Jesus says we must forsake all He was not talking about us not having anything or having to live in a tent, but the Son of sorrows, the one who did not have a place to lay His head, again was talking about the degree of the forsaking we must do to become a disciple of Christ. This same Jesus called His servants and said, “occupy till I come.” (Luke 19:13) Since we are in the world (but not of the world) we will need a home and other things, but we are not to place these things before God and we are not to keep building bigger and better when good will do. God is not anymore gloried with a 50,000 seat building than a 50 seat building. In God big is not better, He measures things much different than us. Greatest in God is not measured by how much or how beautiful, but how humble and how broken. My friend all of the earthly things we have must take a lower place in our heart and lives if we are going to be able to set our sights on things of the heavenly. Either we will have an earthly perspective or a heavenly perspective concerned about things of the earth or concerned about the things of God. For us to be able to have a heaven perspective and be concerned about heavenly things we first must forsake all of the earth and those things that are earthly. The measure of our perspective will be seen if we can forsake all, if we cannot then we shall not we cannot become a disciple of Christ. Written by David Stahl

GOING TO THE MOVIES?

You cannot drum up repentance or change a heart condition with a movie. A good anointed, hell-fire, and brimstone preaching goes a lot further. The preaching of the word of God is what pricks our heart. In Titus Paul tells us, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;” (Titus 1:2-3) This commitment by God to Paul to preach the word of God is the same commitment, given by God, to us to preach the word of God. Movies, pageants, plays, musicals and the like can not do it. It is no wonder those that say they have given their hearts to the Lord are merely a flash in pan for God. No wonder the church in America has lost its power and authority in God. Commitment comes out of hearing and reading the manual. A good practice to get into when we receive a new gift is to read the instruction manual, an important step in commitment. Remember what we win someone to Christ with is what we have won them to. If people are won to Christ with the preaching of the word God they will be won to God’s word, if other things are used then we have won them to those things. And if preaching is what God intends for us to share His word, why do we spend so much time singing and dancing? There is a big difference between singing and movies (an emotional approach to God) and real anointed preaching (more a spiritual approach to God).

Also those circumstances that God daily orchestrates in our lives will prick our heart and conscious. Movies like singing are entertainment please do not count them to do the work of the Holy Spirit. The word of God and the hard and difficult experiences in God are the tools God uses to fashion our lives into the image and character of Jesus Christ. Emotional things (such as movies and singing) are fleshly and can never produce the Spirit. John tells, “that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.” (John 3:6) A Christian movie that was shown during a church service was the same movie we have in our collection. Although it followed the events of one of the Gospels it left us cold, empty, and hungry. The word of God must be brought forth from a man who has been broken and contrite before God. This is the chief requirement to be able to speak for God. This too is why many Pastors do not speak for God it is too costly and hard to be dealt with by Him, it is much easier to show a movie or tell a couple hip stories then spend the time before God to get a fresh word. Man’s attempt at explaining Scripture while entertaining us with a movie is not Spirit, but forgery. Now I will be the first to admit I like to watch movies, but if I want to watch a movie I will rent it or plunk down the money to go to a theatre. I certainly do not want to go to church to see a movie. How much better would the preaching of the unadulterated word of God been, instead of this stupid movie. Why do churches look and sound like movie theatres with wide screens, high-tech sound systems, and special effect lighting while song books collect dust in the back of pews? Interestingly enough we cannot go past our forbidden time limit when preaching (people get up and walk out), but it is okay to go past the forbidden time limit while singing (especially a special number) or watching a movie - and not a good one at that. It seems all so strange to me, we have Bible studies and Sunday school classes in church, but instead of using the Bible we use the latest self-help book from the hottest “Christian” personality. Man does not like to hear the word of God; that goes for singers and dancers too. Our flesh will do everything in its power to prevent hearing we have (both) sinned and come short of the glory of God or how much we need to grow up in God and become mature men and woman God can trust to do His will on earth as it is done in heaven. Sadly in most churches the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, through preaching, has been replaced by songs and movies. What is next, popcorn and candy? God help us. Having a season of prayer, reflection of our sin, and repentance is better accomplished by the stirring of the Holy Spirit not by relying on a dumb movie to stir our hearts towards reflection and repentance. Again, you cannot get Spiritual results with fleshly means.

Now please understand I am not speaking against movies being shown to introduce the Gospel story of Jesus to those who have never heard the wonderful Gospel message (like how the Jesus movie is used overseas), but the movie MUST be followed up with the preaching of the word of God. I am talking about showing movies in churches that have heard the Gospel message and have heard supposedly the truth. What we need is the pure and unveiled word of God sent from God through His man that goes straight from his heart right to our hearts in power and authority to change our lives. Now that my friend will beat any movie any day of the week! Remember the best is yet to come. Written by Karen Stahl

WHAT IS TRUTH?

Lately in the news the word “truth” has made a big come back in our thoughts. The more and more the church in America wallows in the world of politics the more the Gospel message is blurred. When will the Christians of America embrace the truth of holding the spiritual high ground? We have the answer to the world’s problems and His name is Jesus Christ, but when we lower ourselves into the world of politics and compromise we lose our God-given place of spiritual authority (in God) and dumb down the Gospel message to a common message of our earthly needs being satisfied. Remember the opposite of holiness is commonness. God said, “Be ye holy for I am holy.” God meant that, but when we willfully lower ourselves out of God’s intention for us for political gain and to win the church’s earthly rights (and not win Christ) we become common and not holy. Why this week, I learned of the “social Gospel” message that is really vile hate speech being preached in the black churches in America. My friend there is only one Gospel message and it has nothing to do with being social, the poor, or even the down trodden, but everything to do with the redemption of man from his sin by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Also this week I learned from reading the Baptist Press about the heated entanglement, among the leadership, of the Southern Baptist Convention (America’s largest protestant denomination) over global warming and other environmental issues. What does this have to do with Jesus dying on a cross for our sins? Oh how the church in America has fallen from the truth of the word of God. Oh how the major denominations and religions in America have deceived the people to the truth in the word of God for fame, money, power, and ungodly ambition.

When Jesus stood before Pilate the topic of truth also came up, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?” (John 17:37-38) Here out of Jesus’ own mouth and in His own words we can begin to get a glimpse of what truth is and how it is truly expressed. Here we read Jesus the living word of God came, “to bear witness unto the truth.” Jesus’ entire life was the truth and nothing but the truth because He was God in the flesh, but what about our lives? I remember reading a statement (not in the Bible but true never the less) about truth, if we speak the truth we will not have to rely on our memory. Our lives are to be true, honest, and righteous before God and the world. We like Jesus are in the world to bear witness unto the truth. Our life is to be filled with righteousness to where honesty and truth is automatic like breathing. We do not have to stop and think to breathe, our life in God is to be the same, righteousness and truth is to be as much a part of our lives as breathing is. This is God’s intention for us, this is what God wants to see in our lives, but is this what we want to see in our lives? Here are some maxims with regards to truth: Truth is never from our perspective, but from God’s eternal view from His sovereignty. Truth is always seen in tough times. Truth is not dependant on our intelligence, skills, or abilities. Truth is not dependant on our emotions, feelings, situations or circumstances. Truth is not dependant on our spirituality or lack of spirituality. Truth cannot be religion, but must always be from a righteous heart.

Truth has a two fold action within us. Truth is not only objective, but when people yield their hearts and lives to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit can then take this truth and incorporate it into their lives until the things which are purely judicial (of judges, law courts, or their duties, careful in forming opinions and making decisions, fair) may be brought down to actual living. The Holy Spirit takes that which is purely objective and judicial, and makes it a reality in our lives until it is incorporated into our being; it will then be a subjective realization. Here is a contrast between the two actions of truth within us. SUBJECTIVE: It is not produced by external stimuli resulting from conditions within the brain and other sense organs. The subjective side of truth means how much of the truth is actually our by experience. The subjective side of truth is the realization of it; it has been personalized; it is experimental in nature. OBJECTIVE: It is external; apart from our self-consciousness and end of action to be reached. While contemplating or mediating we are refreshed. For example someone gives us a lovely nugget of truth which is purely objective, but a little later God brings a little crisis and says, “Now I am going to take the truth and make it a demonstration (subjective realization) in your life.” As truth has a two fold action within us there seems to be two precepts on which truth’s two actions move as we experience God. Please remember, concepts are made from our precepts and it is our concepts we live and move in God. So, if we do not have Godly precepts then our concepts too will be wrong. The first precept = light and life, the positive teachings of the word of God; victory and joy - it is creative. And the second precept = discipline, suffering, and death to self, all of the seemingly negative teachings of the word of God - it is corrective. My friend truth is never ours until it has been personalized. It is never ours until we have laid ourselves open to God in our inner being and the Spirit has been able to bring that truth inward and we have by faith taken hold of it and allowed the truth to do the work in us that it should. It may be creative or perhaps corrective, but whichever it is, it is the tool and means God will be using to affect His desired change in us. Truth is purely progressive in all forms. The heart has to be conditioned continually (often with sorrow, hardship, and pain) for its reception. Truth often softens our heart. It is an invisible miracle in the heart; ten years from now the truth we hold will have a fuller and greater meaning. Truth comes by way of revelation not by mental processes. We can not make up truth, God alone is the author of truth and this truth my friend it seems we must discover again and again. The Holy Spirit is the guide, instructor, and furnisher of the power. Faith is before rest in God and yet, it is so difficult to reduce the natural man and teach him to walk patiently with God in truth, but being able to allow truth to hold us teaches us how to come to a rest in God.

Please note back in John 18:37, we read “Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” Here Jesus was answering the question Pilate would soon ask Him by telling Pilate truth is not so much about what, but about hearing and knowing. It we hear then we will know the truth. Jesus said, “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” (John 10:3-5) The sheep follow because they know the Shepard’s voice and because they know his voice they will follow and be obedient. You see understanding truth is about hearing and knowing. Again, “Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” One of the main drives and hungers of the church corporately today is to run from church to church, conference to conference, or music fest to music fest looking for the truth. But the truth is not found in the going and the doing, but in the hearing and knowing. Sadly the major denominations and religions have divided the people out in the going and doing to the point they cannot hear and know God’s truth. In John Chapter 17 we read, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:20-21) The words “which shall believe” (Strong’s #4102) means the conviction of the truth of anything. It is more than just having faith or confidence, but goes to the heart and soul of knowing and hearing. This is why some Christians cannot grow and mature in God they misunderstand what Jesus was saying here in the real Lord’s Prayer, John Chapter 17. Jesus was not praying for all of the Christians to come into unity with each other. Now that would be nice, but as long as our fleshly desires and lusts reign in our moral bodies this noble desire can never be. Jesus was praying for something greater, He was praying for each and every Christian to come into the unity with the Father (not with other Christians) as He (Jesus) was in unity (or oneness) ”That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee” with the Father. And then each and every Christian can come into oneness (unity) in God and Christ “that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” so that the world may “believe” (the same Strong’s word #4102 for the conviction of the truth of anything) Christ was sent by the Father. How can the world believe Christ was sent by the Father if we do not walk in the truth of the word of God? How can the world believe in the Gospel message if Christians do not hear God’s voice and come to know Him? My friend unity with God is His intention for our lives and this intention is fulfillment in our lives through limitations and restrictions that bring us to completion.

If we cannot hear God’s voice we will never be able to know the truth, we will never come to know God, but continue in our present day denominational and religious swill of separation, division, and strife. We must get back to the truth that people are not won to Christ by what we have voted on as our doctrinal truth or even what we stand for, but by the preaching of the Gospel message from a broken and contrite man alone. Written by David Stahl

UNPLUGGING FROM THE WORLD

A very special friend of ours, we will call him Tony, preached a message on the very avant-garde movie “The Matrix” that almost got him relieved as Pastor. Now I am sure it was not the message, but the stony hard hearted condition of the people in his church that almost cost Tony his job. I have always known Tony to be humble, warm, and genuine, a great big teddy bear of a man full of God’s love and grace. Now I will be the first to admit “The Matrix” movie is quite bizarre and I do not endorse it, but if you have some wisdom and spiritual ability to look beyond the Hollywood theatrics there is a chilling warning for the church of today. The central theme of the movie centers around the life and death struggle of people who come to the painful awareness of how they have literally been “plugged in” and live inside a huge deceptive computer grid program that blinds them to the truth of reality. Everything they say, do, and touch is being generated by this huge computer grid program. Now this computer program, “The Matrix” has the people so “plugged in” it uses their physical bodies (as batteries) and life to power the computer that runs the program that keeps the people in darkness to the truth of who they really are in life. Sadly many Christians today, like in the matrix movie, are “plugged-in” to religious denominations and the traditions of men. The computer grid program is the denominational dogmas, sermons, and teachings that keep the people deceived to the truth of the word of God. Paul could see this deception going on even in the early church. This is why he time and time again taught the early church, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2) Friend we will never be able to “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” if we are plugged into the world’s religious systems and its ways. God’s thoughts and ways are not the thoughts and ways of denominational teaching, oh no, God’s ways are far above our feeble attempts to reach Him with our emotions and talents. God’s thoughts are far above our thoughts. Our thoughts for the most part center around our needs and wants, where God’s thoughts always have an eternal purpose and intention. My friend we must unplug from the worldly religious systems so that we can come to the truth of the word of God, if not we will ever be conformed to this world, what Paul warned us about. This time of the year, what the church calls Easter is a prime example of what I am talking about. The celebration of Easter with its eggs, baskets, and chocolate bunnies, gets its roots in the pagan worship of a fertility goddess and spring-time rituals. Just do a Goggle search on the history of Easter and you will start unplugging from the religious matrix. Easter has nothing to do with Jesus coming forth from the grave with power and authority. As with almost all Christian holidays Easter has been secularized and commercialized. The dichotomous nature of Easter and its symbols, however, is not necessarily a modern fabrication. Since its conception as a holy celebration in the second century, Easter has had its non-religious side. In fact, Easter was originally a pagan festival. The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with an uproarious festival commemorating their goddess of offspring and of springtime, Eastre. When the second-century Christian missionaries encountered the tribes of the north with their pagan celebrations, they attempted to convert them to Christianity. They did so, however, in a clandestine manner. It would have been suicide for the very early Christian converts to celebrate their holy days with observances that did not coincide with celebrations that already existed. To save lives, the missionaries cleverly decided to spread their religious message slowly throughout the populations by allowing them to continue to celebrate pagan feasts, but to do so in a Christian manner. As it happened, the pagan festival of Eastre occurred at the same time of year as the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ. It made sense, therefore, to alter the festival itself, to make it a Christian celebration as converts were slowly won over. The early name, Eastre, was eventually changed to its modern spelling, Easter. Why we even find the word, “Easter” in the Bible (Acts 12:4) to give this lie a sense and air of legitimacy, but it has nothing to do with the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, but means Passover. We cannot mix something of the flesh with something of the Spirit and get something of God. I do not care how many Easter musicals or sunrise services we have with Christ coming forth from the tomb, “That which is Spirit is Spirit and that which is flesh is flesh.” (John 3:6) We need no special Easter pageant or service, but need to embrace a risen Savior in truth, and in glory and then fall on our face before Him in true worship. Yes, sad but true we have been lied to all of these years and guess what the lie continues today. As I was sitting in a large denominational church looking at the older people the Holy Spirit brought this thought to my attention, “for them to really accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior they will have to come to the realization that all of their lives they have been lied to.” Lied to by their parents, friends, Pastors, teachers, all of their lives. (I remember how stunned I was when I found out there was no Santa Claus, another cute little lie our parents often tell us) They have been lied to by everyone who has kept these religious traditions and teachings. Imagine having to deal with our parents lying to us all of our life about something that has to do with life and death? My friend this is a very heavy thing to wrestle with at any age, but when older and set in our ways it becomes a mill stone around our neck preventing us from ferreting out the truth of the word of God. This is why Paul begged us, “I beseech you therefore, brethren” not to be “conformed” or plugged into the world, but to be unplugged from the world by the Spirit of God allowing our mind to be renewed by the transforming power God. How can our mind be renewed if we are plugged into the world’s way of doing things? How can our mind be renewed if we are plugged into the traditions and religions of this world? My friend it is impossible to be transformed by God’s power if like in the matrix movie we are still plugged in and being deceived. We must allow God, through His dealings and judgments in our lives, to unplug and show us who we are in Him and what He desires for our lives. Now my friend this is a painful process in our lives as it was in the movie, but painful or not we must come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ which is much more than merely the John 3:16 salvation. Now we must have this salvation experience I am not discounting this experience, but there is so much more for us to experience and know in God. In Philippians Paul tells us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:2:5) How can we put on the mind of Christ if we do not first take off or unplug our mind and heart from the world? Either we will be plugged into the world and its denominational religions or Christ, it is our choice. My friend let us not get caught up in the lies and deception of the world’s denominational religions, let us get caught up in Christ and Him alone. Written by David Stahl

THE STRONG ARM OF THE FLESH

We (my wife and sweetheart Karen and I) just returned from four days at Duke Medical Center taking care of my father. My dad is 83 years old and He had been very mistreated by some doctors at another hospital. My friend it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of our healthcare system without God and your family. My father has been put through the ringer and yet through it all he has maintained such a wonderful attitude and spirit even to the point of allowing God to speak to me through him. He has now been in the hospital for 23 days. Every time the medical and nursing staff tells him to do something he said yes sir or yes ma’am. When asked how he is doing my dad replies, nothing could be any better. He is a man who understands discipline and authority, his 30+ years in the military seeing brutal combat, great devastation, and of course great loss of life in World War II, Korea, and Viet-Nam has served him well in developing his attitudes and perspective.

As I look at my white haired father (along with the IVs, foley catheter, and the two drains draining bile and pus from his liver bed and abdomen) I see faithfulness, devotion, and great dedication, but also I see the scriptures being fulfilled. Scriptures such as; “Because all flesh is as grass, and all glory of man as flower of grass; wither did the grass, and the flower of it fell away, 25and the saying of the Lord doth remain—to the age; and this is the saying that was proclaimed good news to you.” (1 Peter 1:24-25) My friend this process of growing old is a process God has ordained in our life. This is the process God has chosen for us to ultimately be with Him. This also is the process God has ordained for our spiritual growth and development. Not too many Christians are really concerned about spiritual growth and maturity, but everything God has created grows and must develop or it will prematurely come to the end and purpose God has planned. Many Christians are more concerned about be delivered, this is the heart cry of most in the church today, God deliver me from my troubles and sicknesses. Well my friend no where in the Bible did God deliver anyone. Daniel went into the lion’s den, the three Hebrew children went into the fiery furnace, and even Jesus was not delivered from the cross. Oh no my friend, Jesus was not delivered from the cross. And yet through these troubles they were developed, even Jesus. Because He humbled Himself and endured the cross He was given a name above all names. Spiritual growth and development, God’s major goals in our lives, comes our way through troubles and problems not by way of singing songs, waving flags, and speaking great swelling words about each other but, in silence and brokenness of spirit and of heart. Silence where God has stilled our words, desires, and thoughts. A broken heart is the real sign of God working in our lives, not fame, riches and wealth as the nominal church of today teaches. We often fail to come to God’s best for our lives when we depend on our abilities and strength and when we depend on the strong arm of our flesh. How can we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) when we depend on something that, “all flesh is as grass, and all glory of man as flower of grass; wither did the grass, and the flower of it fell away?”

Sadly time and time again we often depend on our skills, God-given talents and abilities to strengthen us enough to get to God, where real life is found. Jesus said, He came to give us life (the life of God) not to make us something wonderful, special, rich, famous or take us all to heaven. When we lean on our strong arm of the flesh we miss the mark and fall out of the eternal way God has purposed and planned for us. Jeremiah gives us the right direction and hope, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:5-8) The way of yielding fruit and God blessing us is by trusting in the Lord. Only as we trust in God will, “be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green.” This is the place of the life of God, but this too is the place of growth as a root digs down (rooted and grounded in God) and as the young shoots grows upward, “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. 8I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: 9Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: 10Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: 11To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.” (Job 5:7-11) This my friend is the place of spiritual growth and development, this too is the place our strong arm of the flesh is dealt a death blow unto life. And this is the place we can also see God walking with us in the valley of the shadow of death were God walks alone with man. Written by David Stahl

WHO WANTS TO DIE?

In the Book of Acts we read, “And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:11-13) I have always liked Paul he was one tough man. Paul knew his time of death was soon at hand and he also knew following the Lord will would hasten his death. We all think about dying and the older we get the more we are preoccupied of thinking about our end, but Paul was more concerned about the will of God for his life then his life. Now I would like to think that I would die peacefully or at least gracefully. But probably, when my time is at hand, I will be kicking and screening like a crazy woman. None if us want to die. Many will say they are not afraid to die, well I am not sure of that. Many make grand boastings, but when it is their time I believe they will be like all of the rest of us and desire to hold on to this life long as possible.

On a recent flight coming into the airport there was so much turbulence I was really scared. David reached over and we held hands. I could see the ground and we were still a long way up in the air. Faith flew out the window as I wondered if the engines fail would I pass out or be fully awake as the plane hurtles to earth. I was not ready to meet God that day and frankly I am not ready today. Oh my sins are forgiven and I should die I believe I will go to Heaven, but that day and today I have no desire to see God. Death seems rather scary – the unknown. Yet people die every day some to their eternal reward and some to their eternal damnation, both is our choice. Either we play by God’s divine spiritual principles while we are alive and kicking or we send ourselves to the place of eternal separation from God, a place of gnashing of teeth, where the worm dies not, Hell. A few years ago there was movie called Ghost where this guy is killed, but still lingers on earth to help his girlfriend avoid the same bad guy that killed him. In one part of the movie another bad guy runs in front of a car and is instantly killed. He sees himself dead on the car and sees the hero of the movie (who is dead also) then these dark shadowy beings come and drag the bad guy away. Personally I think something like that is how it will be for some. We choose our paths here on earth which in turn reveals what path we go when we die. And I truly believe if it is not our time to go we will not. So although none of us are ready to die let us plod on following the Master, Jesus Christ, who showed us how to die and will lead us where we are to go in life and into death. Lastly I am reminded of the final words of Dwight Lyman Moody, one of America’s most famous Evangelist, Preacher, Bible Teacher, Publisher, and so much more. On his death bed it is said his final words on earth were, “so this is death, welcome death.” Let us so walk with the Lord that we will be able to welcome death the end of our earthly life and go forth into the next life God has for us. Like Paul, let us so walk with the Lord we too will be able to say, “I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Written by Karen Stahl

HALTING BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS

In the Book of 1 Kings is a story that sadly plays out today. We think of the stories in the Bible as past events, but not true my friend they are reminders to us today so that we would not follow after them and make the same mistakes. Paul speaking of the Children of Israel said, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12) The exodus history recorded in the Scriptures are not for historical reference, but, “for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition,” so that we would not make the same mistakes again and again, but it looks like we are learning, we are in God’s school of learning, but never learning the lessons. In 2 Timothy Paul again takes up this concern, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.” (2 Timothy 3:7-9) Just like in ours, Paul’s, and Moses’ days here in Elijah’s days we see the same thing going on. The people were halting or wavering between two opinions. Here (1 Kings 18:17-40) Elijah, the Prophet of God, was in a life and death struggle for the hearts, minds, and souls of the people. Then and today, the story line is the same, “And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.” (1 Kings 18:18) Now it is important to know the people were following a lord. The word “Baalim” means lord of the world. Just like many Christians today, the people were following the lords of their world and sadly today the church has allowed the lord of this world into the church by following after the way the world does things. Beloved we are not to be of this world, we are to be set a part, a holy generation unto the Lord are we not? The Scriptures think so, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (2 Peter 2:9) But that is not what we see in most churches and more importantly that is not what those lost in world see. Those lost and undone who do not know Christ as their personal savior see no difference in the church and the world. I have asked them and they reply, I do not need to go to church to listen to rock music, sing and dance, or do drugs, and talk about my friends. When a good friend at the church we attend heard we traveled up to NJ he asked if we were gambling and said I would not believe the number of people, in our church, who travel up to Atlantic City, NJ to gamble. Our nephew (in NJ of whom we are very proud) replied to his father’s question why he does not join the youth groups at church, “I do not like rock music, anyhow most if not all of the kids in the youth group do drugs.” Now this is not all churches, but I would say most churches. Friend, most (not all) churches looks, acts and sounds like the world no need for the lost to apply. Karen and I were riding around Jacksonville and with what we call “Easter” (which is listed only once in the KJV of the Bible, Acts 12:4, and means Passover) is coming soon the signs are already up, “Easter Fun Days” face painting, Easter egg hunt, and more. If I remember correctly what we call “Easter” was not much fun for Jesus. How we have taken the death of Christ on the cross, something sacred and turned it into a lie and a fun time only to get people to come to church and support denominational religions. My friend the intent is right, but the motives and desires are wrong. Believe it or not the church is wavering or halting between two opinions.

As the battle between the prophets of Baalim and Elijah raged on Elijah said, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21-22) Today God is asking the same question, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” If God is all powerful then let us serve God, but if He is not let us use the ways of the world to trick and cajole people to come to church to hear a watered down Gospel message that centers around joining the church instead of a life long learning of the things of God that is manifested in changed lives and spiritual growth and development. Two cannot be achieved together, either the focus will be Christ and Him crucified providing all that is needed or church programs and activities to support the local Body. My friend if God is for what you are doing He will provide all you need to do it. There is no need for special programs and activities to raise the funds. Just give the people the truth of the word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to convict hearts to support. God is God serve Him! But also as we drive around Jacksonville we see in front of many churches signs that read, “Divorce Counseling Services Now Provided.” Divorce counseling, my friend God does not sanction divorce. When we stand before God and make a oath, it is for life. God is serious about His words and ours. He keeps a record of them. Now the church is involved in divorce counseling just like the world. Many say it is okay, it is counseling from a Christian perspective, wrong, there is no such thing. What we have is worldly techniques and methods spun together with Scriptures. John 3:6, says, “that which is Spirit is Spirit (Scriptures) and that which is flesh (worldly techniques) is flesh.” Any time we mix the Spirit and flesh we get flesh. What about the power of God to change lives? If Baalim (divorce counseling and all counseling services and the such in churches) be god them serve him, but if God be God then serve Him. We have allowed worldly ways and techniques to be the way and process the Body of Christ functions. Even the language we use, we conduct our “business” meetings with worldly parliamentary procedures. When did the Gospel become a business? Either God is God and is all powerful able to change lives and restore marriages or not, if not then serve Baalim serve the world’s way of doing things. When I travel overseas to minister I often talk about nurseries, Sunday School, Children’s Church, and all of the programs and activities we have in churches for kids in America. They chuckle and ask why do we have such programs and activities is not the main service okay for the kids? In our church in Germany we had no such programs or a nursery. The parents would keep the babies and young children in the main service and kept them quiet disciplining them in silence and self-control. Overseas and our church in Germany services who go on for three or four hours maybe more and these kids would not dare act like the kids I see in America: talking, playing, drawing, throwing paper, not paying attention, how shameful, but more shameful no adult calls them down. Growing up we five children would not set with the other kids in church, oh no, we would have to sit right in front of our father and he had the fastest wrist in the world. If we even looked like we were going to talk he would hit us in the back of the head and have the song book back in the holder before we picked ourselves up off the floor. We learn respect and discipline for the house of God, our parents, and God. We find all of these activities and programs get their roots out of a desire to work for God instead of becoming something in God. Everyone must have their own ministry, well this is not God’s intention. But, being a pew sitter is not glorifying, it is hard to be faithful in the mundane things of God, but here is where the real secrets of servant hood is seen and where God openly rewards those servants with a heart to be the last and not the first, to be the tail and not the head.

Lastly from this wonderful story in the Scriptures we see the solution to the problem for the people in Elijah’s day and for us today, “we must repair the altar of the Lord.” The church must again have the ability in God to call the people with a Holy Spirit inspired message with power and authority from God calling the people to come near. “And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.” (1 Kings 18:30) My friend we must repair the years of denominational folly and presumption that has, like a cancerous tumor, plagued the Body of Christ. We must get back to the old-time Gospel message that has opened eyes, healed the sick, and set the captives free. My friend either we will focus and depend on worldly ways, activities, and programs or God, we cannot depend on both. If we continue to depend on the ways of the world and such we will continue to share a powerless and impotent message. Either we will continue to halt between two opinions emasculating the power of God and His authority or stand up for the truth, righteousness, and glory of God. Elijah asked, “How long.” How long can we continue in playing foot loose and free with God? How long will God let us continue? Oh the long suffering of God! Thank you Father for being long suffering on my behalf, but LORD please strengthen me and teach me your ways and lead me in the path everlasting. Help me never to halt between two opinions, but always draw me nearer to You. Written by David Stahl