HOW LONG OH GOD

I have said and still believe prayer is one of the most amazing, but at the same time most mysterious thing God brings into our lives. It is no wonder the disciples wanted Jesus to teach them how to pray. “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1) Now this “John” in this verse is not John one of the 12 disciples, but John the Baptist the one that came before Jesus. I wonder where he learned to pray? And then he taught his disciples. My friend prayer is a work of the Spirit of God in us it cannot be taught, but it must be worked into our spirit as we learn the lessons God desires for us to learn in His answers back to us. Maybe praying and having our prayers answered (which are two different processes) is something more than what we have been told? Maybe having our prayers answered timely is more dependent on us and not so much on God. After all God’s desire for us is only for our good no matter what He chooses to do in our lives. God is holy and sovereign He knows what is best for our lives and He will do everything we will allow Him to do in our lives to bring the truth and words of Jeremiah, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11) into our lives. Coming to God’s “expected end” for our lives is not up to God, but up to us. God wants His “expected end” to be alive and moving in our lives, but how bad do we want it? Bad enough to be obedient to Him? Bad enough to deny self-seeking ways and a sin sick heart? Bad enough to fall into the ground so that He may live? Well my friend prayer works the same way. Do we desire God’s will in our lives more than our feeble collection of words to express our wants? Do we desire to live a holy and righteous life before God and man so that His name will be glorified in all the earth? Do we desire to be baptized into His death so that we may be raised in resurrection life? Remember, no resurrection life without death. In Romans Paul tells the church at Rome and us today, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”(Romans 6:3-5) Paul was not talking about water baptism as most denominational pastors misrepresent this verse when conducting water baptisms, but Paul was talking about us falling into the ground, dying to, and identifying with the loss and death to our flesh and carnal nature, like Jesus did on the cross so that we may be able to walk in the resurrection and power of the “newness of life” God gives us. Death before glorification, that is God’s order and He changes not.

After observing Jesus in prayer with the Father and then personally observing the healings of who knows how many 1,000s of people I am sure there was a great desire within them to do the things that Jesus did, but maybe it was not for the same reasons Jesus did them. Maybe their motives were selfish and more self-centered. We see all throughout the Gospels the disciples really never got it while Jesus was with them in the flesh, but before Jesus went away (as He said He would do) He said He would send the precious Holy Spirit and He would remind them of Jesus’ words and they would begin to move in the power and might of the Spirit of God. But before then time and time again we see the disciples doing things for their selfish gain and wants, I doubt suddenly they would have used their prayers for others, not so unlike us today. Lord help us. In James we read, “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss (Strong’s # 2560, miserable, to be ill, improperly, wrongly, to speak ill of, revile), that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:2-3) James tells us “we ask and receive not” from God because we “ask amiss” not because God is not listening, He does not care, or He is not all powerful, but because we have asked a Holy God improperly or wrongly. Do you think it was the words the people used to ask God for something that caused the “amiss” state? I do not think it was the spoken words per say, but we must always remember our words are always a reflection of our heart condition. Jesus taught, “Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” (Matthew 15:17-18) It was not their spoken words, but the lustful selfish heart condition that their words reflected. Now we are getting down to where the rubber meets the road. Our words speak of the amount of God’s work in our lives or the amount of God’s work that has not been done in our lives. Truth has two edges and cuts us both ways. My friends, “Let the words of my (our) mouth, and the meditation of my (our) heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my (our) strength, and my (our) redeemer.” (Psalms 19:14) if we desire to have our prayers answered.

But there is something deeper here we must learn and understand about prayer if we want to be able to move with God and not get frustrated at God. Now I do not know about you, but to me there seems to be an enjoyment God receives by not answering our prayers quickly. Maybe He knows something we do not. Maybe while we are waiting for Him there is a deep work He wants to do is us so that we can be conformed ever the more in our heart and mind, a deep work and an experience in us to be able to handle His answer. In His delay of answering our prayers there seems to be a projection of God’s Holy nature and sovereign character that keeps us before Him in our desire (not to have our prayers answered for selfish and lustful reasons) to know Him in a deeper way. Prayer is God’s projection that He uses to show us His will and the way we must go with Him if we desire to walk in obedience. Prayer is God’s major tool He uses to teach us and train us to walk His everlasting way. And in our praying (beseeching) and in this way we will pray and God will answer our prayers not according to His power (that should be understood without question), but according to His plan and our heart condition. Please let me say that again. God answers our prayers according to His purpose and our heart condition. In His delay there seems to be periods of time where things within us needs to change, to adjust, or align with what God wants to do in our request and according to His plans. A delay in God answering us is most often about us needing to mature or spiritually grow to be able walk in what He desires to bring into our lives. Also timing becomes an issue, God is arranging things for our good so that all things can work out for God’s glory, but most often in a delay in our prayers God is waiting for us to open up and allow Him to correct some conditions in us. Let us be willing to open our heart and lives up to God so that He could work until His hearts delight.

Did you know in every parable that speaks of the Lord’s second coming in the Scriptures has this element of delay while an inward work is either being done or waiting to be done? In Luke we read the parable of the good shepherd seeking his lost sheep. “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” (Luke 15:4) When we read this verse we automatically start plugging in characters; Jesus is the good shepherd and we are the lost sheep, well I would not be so fast in assigning roles. If Jesus is the good shepherd how could He lose one of us? Or did Jesus just give the sheep enough grace to wander off so that He could teach the sheep a lesson. If Jesus was the good shepherd He most certainly would not have left the 99 (other sheep in the fold) in wilderness, oh no Jesus would left them in green pastures and beside still waters, right? Well maybe not. Maybe the wilderness is the place where we grow and mature in God, not by the still waters and in green pastures. The wilderness is the place we go to learn about God. It is the place we go where no one will hear us scream. It is a place of death at first glance, but upon further inspection it is the place we learn to know God and His ways. It is the place we go to learn to lean upon our beloved, “Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved?” (Song of Solomon 8:5) It is the place we go where God answers all of our questions. Always know the wilderness has ways of correcting things is us. I think both, the lost sheep had a lesson to be learned and the 99 in the fold too had to be corrected. This delay, this time of correction in the 99 sheep happened while the good shepherd was seeking the lost sheep. There seems to be a purpose in the seeking, in the delay. The good shepherd did not find the sheep right away he had to seek until he found the lost sheep. This seeking or delay seemed to be for a specific time to bring a condition of correction to the sheep already in the fold. And when the 99 were found fit for the one lost sheep then and only then the good shepherd found the lost sheep. So too this delay in prayer is specific in us it always works on getting situations and conditions right in us and always reflects our true character. A delay in God answering our prayers is always about our character being defined and refined. The end of Luke 15:4 is just amazing. Do you know why the shepherd put the sheep on his shoulders? Maybe the sheep was tired or hurt. Well maybe so, but probably not. As a custom in Israel, if a sheep wanders too far from the fold, out where the enemy can get to them, the shepherd in great concern for safety and deep love breaks the right front leg of the sheep. How would you like to be loved like that by God? Well in ways God does hobble us, maybe not by breaking our leg, but He has His ways of keeping us close to Him like not answering our prayers in a time of delay while we allow God to work on our character is such a way. The sheep is then carried by the shepherd (not like in the footprints in the sand poem) on his shoulder until the leg heals. During this time of healing the sheep gets a good sense or smell of the shepherd and comes to depend on the shepherd for everything. When the sheep’s leg is healed the shepherd put the sheep back in the fold and now with a new lease on life the sheep always stays very close to the shepherd. What a lesson by God.

Last Sunday we had a very soft and humble lady come to our church who was a potter. She had the service and talked about how the potter forms the clay on the wheel through demonstration while sharing some verses from the scriptures that supported her message. She did a great job sharing the verses, but at times she seemed to be a little nervous and weak, a wonderful and safe place in God when sharing the word of God. It was so refreshing not seeing someone (present pastor excluded) full of self-strength, well dressed, strutting around yelling, and showing off their great speaking ability. Where she really excelled was when she became the potter and turned the wheel. Her demeanor and countenance changed, she was transformed from a humble, gentle lady to a strong, very skillful, precise potter. As she worked the clay her muscles would flex revealing the arm strength required to be a potter. I was impressed, not with her skills as a potter (I do not know a good potter from a bad potter), but with her transformation. Now most people in church were mesmerized (we had a camera trained on the clay as it went around and around) by the wheel you could have heard a pin drop when she got going, but I found myself drawn to and looking at the wedging board; the place where the potter pounds, beats, and works the clay over and over before they can even think of putting the clay on the wheel. The place where all impurities are found out and removed. It is the place where all hidden air pockets are removed from the clay that might if not removed blow up in the kiln. And it is the place where mixing the clay making it homogenous (work together), no drier, stiffer spots and softer, moister spots. Making your clay homogenous makes it easier to work with and lessens the chance of it cracking while drying. I was fascinated by the wedging board and not so much by the wheel. I learned (a very critical ongoing element in our lives) the process of transformation from darkness into the glorious light of God in our lives does not happen on the potter’s wheel (we are molded and formed on the wheel), but on the wedging board. And the more we allow God to pound and beat us, the more we allow God to work us over on the wedging board the better He (being the potter) can mold and shape us, so too with prayer. The more we allow God to work in our lives and teach us those critical lessons about prayer and correcting conditions and areas in us the more He will be able to open up to us the answers to our prayers. How long oh Lord? As long as it takes to work us on the wedging board of life. Written by David Stahl

HOW ARE WE RUNNING

We are told from childhood we must win in life, but learn as we get older it takes a life time to determine what that means. I do not know how many times I have heard, “he with the most toys at the end of life wins.” Well my friend that statement is just plain wrong in God. Winning or losing in life has nothing to do with having or not having toys, houses, money, cars, or a huge portfolio, rather winning or losing in life is based on whether or not we know God by accepting His precious Son Jesus Christ as our personal savior. Starting from kindergarten (some even sooner) we are taught winning means these things and losing means those things, but seldom are the things racked and stacked then run through the Scriptures to see how they measure up with what God says winning and loosing is. Sadly this winning and losing concept has subtly yet pervasively invaded the church. Sadly today competition between denominations and large non-denominational churches for people, resources, time, and dollars (to see who can get the biggest and best looking church in town) has only blurred the truth of winning and losing in God. This thinking is nothing more than vain hearted, self-seeking religious pride. The hook is sharing this wondrous Gospel message, but at the heart of this fleshly projection is selfishness and greed. There are many well intentional Christians trying to do that which is right, but sadly because of ungodly leadership and wrong teaching (which always results in wrong thinking) many Christians get off track and compound their deception by leading others off track.

Jesus told Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6) We must stop all of this marketing and selling of the Gospel. Merchandizing the things of God are just wrong. Everything is for sale: we sell tickets to conferences and Christian musicals, CDs, books, seats in church, why we even have Christian book stores selling everything that will turn a profit. The church is born of the Spirit, yet we sell it, Why? To satisfy those things born of the flesh. Shame and again I say shame on those who would sell the Gospel to earn a living. Jesus saw this going on for years in the Temple, but right before He was crucified He had enough. Jesus cleaned His house of the greed and marketing that was going on (like today) and He will do it again, hide and watch.

We twist verses in the Scriptures to support our presumption for ministry. Everything is a ministry; singing, dancing, drama (poor choice of word to describe Godly ministry) painting, decorating, cutting grass, driving the bus, how we have cheapened the Scriptures shame on us. The Bible is clear and defines what ministry is, read it. The word “ministry” (Strong’s #1248 and #3009, one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister even at their own cost) has nothing to do with doing things, but submitting ourselves in righteousness. We want to work for God, well God wants us to submit to Him in obedience. Ministry is about obedience to God. But it is far easier to make something for God than to become something in God.

We run to and fro to conference after conference for what? What are we looking for that we cannot find at our home church or time spent with God? I hear many say this man has a special anointing come hear him, oh really? Show me his scars? Anointing comes by way of paying a price (not in dollars) to receive God’s ability and power. No scars no anointing. No price paid no authority. No scars no power. Shame on us for all of this running around deserting our family duties and responsibilities. What are we looking for? Why do we do this? All of this is nothing more than zealous religious ritual, like the Hindus, Buddhist, and Muslims have their festivals we become sounding brass and tinkling cymbals instead of becoming more like Jesus Christ. We pay money and time for thrill seeking and special favor to hear from God, but the Bible I read says it is those who wait upon the Lord shall receive. We run ourselves into the ground for what? Service to our brothers and sisters? I think not. Most often to be told well done or to get a pat on the back from the Pastor, well . . . we have our reward. Limited resources at the local church are exhausted so that many can attend a meeting or conference for what? To feed the poor, provide shelter, or clothing for the needy as Jesus had asked us to do? No of course not. In the name of fellowship we have a group come (adding even work and more stress to the folks) to our church or we go some where else to be “ministered to.” This is selfish and self-centered. My friend that is not Jesus’ idea of ministry. Jesus our Master said, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) The teachings of Jesus is to get us to a place where we willfully lay our life down for people. Our service in God is not for our selves, but so that we may be a blessing to others. We give not to receive, but so that others may be able to receive. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2) Now here is were we get the idea we are in a race and the winning or losing concept takes root in our thinking. But if you read the next verse correctly it tells us how to run, “looking unto Jesus” not running to and fro from church to church or conference to conference, but being patient and settled “enduring the cross, despising the shame.” My friend if we want to “set down at the right (the place of honor and glory) hand of the throne of God” we must endure our cross and like Jesus “who for the joy that was set before him” find the joy within us, through His Spirit, as we too are despised. Now I beg you have not heard that message at any conference lately. What are people looking for when they go to conferences and meetings? Information or revelation? Information they will find it is from man, but revelation is from the Holy Spirit. Information about God is a mental projection that never can take us to God, but revelation comes by way of spending time with God and is a spiritual projection that gives enlightenment to our need for more of God in our lives. No man can give us revelation only God through the precious Holy Spirit. I can not give you revelation I am just a dispenser of the truth.

Why do we have signs in front our churches advertising our name and when services begin? Is a church (place where Christians gather and then go out to help those lost and undone in the world) like a business? Remember John 3:6? Would it not be better if those lost in the world knew this no named building, right here, is a place where Godly people gather, who have something special in their lives, and they can go and get help? Make no mistake those in the world know what time church starts and also know the truth about most churches. They also know where they can go to get help. If your church is growing by people moving in and planting themselves from another church your church may be in trouble. God’s idea of church growth is by conversion (the lost and undone redeemed by the precious blood of Christ) not Christians warming their hands at others fires.

Paul tells us, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:” (1 Corinthians 9:24-26) Paul draws a comparison to our wondrous walk with the Lord to those in a foot race. Again many get off track here. Only one person can win this race, but not so in God. For all that run the race correctly in God they shall receive the prize of an incorruptible crown. To run, win, and receive an incorruptible crown does not go to the strongest nor the swiftest of foot, but to the one who endures, does not get entangled with the affairs of this life, and the most important qualification for victory, “except he strive lawfully” (Strong’s #3545, function or operate within the law or within the framework and plan God has established things to be done) Paul taught Timothy these truths, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5And if a man also strive for masteries (Strong’s #75, metaphor. to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers), yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (2 Timothy 2:3-5) My friend running the race is not about winning or losing, but about how we run the race. Do we run the race “lawfully” within the framework God has established or do we run the race for our own glory and to get things? We seem to think the bigger the church and the more people we have we are winning, not so in God. God can do more with a hand full of dedicated people than He can with millions of well intended, but mislead people. Do we run so that others may win or do we run with our winning as the goal? Can we lose so that God can win?

Today this thinking of running to win is best seen in the heart of some Pastors, Teachers, and Evangelist. Did you know there is a big difference between a gifted preacher and broken preacher? God does not care what you know, but cares greatly how much you care. A message filled with the knowledge of the world full of facts and quotes is not of God. Well written sermons or even some messages with pages of notes and cute hip sayings does nothing for the move of the Spirit of God. A gifted preacher has many notes and follows them, but a broken preacher follows the leading of the Holy Spirit because he is counting on Him to carry the service. The broken preacher is well tuned to what the Spirit is saying. I do not see many broken preachers today. I see many pages of notes being turned, but no tears or contriteness of heart. I see self-strength ability and self-made educated men with great zeal try preaching the word of God, but never touch the hearts of the people. My friend these types of preachers are dangerous and will never be used by God. It is in the place of brokenness the Spirit of God is discharged. We have replaced the Holy Spirit with worldly; education, Bible schools, and seminaries. Lord help us all. I know my words seem incendiary and some folks would even call them blasphemous, but who gets to speak for God? If my words have ruffled your feathers, good. My goal is to offend you. Never forget the preaching of the word of God is to offend us to the point where we see our need for soul searching and reflection. If you reject my words no problem (I still love you), but someone needs to stand up for the truth and sound the alarm before it is too late for many in the world. All I ask is for you to keep my words before the Lord in your heart and in time and if you allow God to work in your life you will see the value of my words. My friend we in the church today have played the harlot for too long. For too long we have been deceived by church leaders who are pushing a denominational doctrine and a man-centered agenda. Enough is enough. We must wake up, read the Bible, and allow the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the truth. We must embrace the truth in the word of God. How long will we be deceived and misled. For the love of God, wake up before it is too late. How long will we halt between two opinions? On my friend, I prophesy the signs, religious division and strife, and years of denominational folly will be pulled down and brought to naught in our life time, God will see to it. It would be far better for us to willfully take them down now before they are taken down for us. When shall we learn to work together and flow with the Spirit of God? In Heaven? I think not. If we do not learn the lessons here on earth we need to learn to be useful in our next lives we will spend our time (in our next lives) in school learning those things we ought to have learned on earth. How can God use us if we do not know how He operates and functions? My friend if you are proud of your denomination take heed you are NOT proud of Jesus. And take heed your place in Heaven may be in question. Jesus taught no one can serve two masters. Take heed my friend, come Lord Jesus. When He comes and if we are not ready He will remove our candle stick. How is our running? Let us continue to walk with the Lord and not run, but let us turn our hearts from our selfish greed and denominational parochialism towards the Father and straight way walk into the heart of God where we once came from. Written by David Stahl

GOD'S TYPE OF DISCIPLINE

In this article I would like to tackle a very uncomfortable topic, a topic most Christians like to ignore, but if they do they forfeit the spiritual growth and development God so desperately desires they receive. How can we know God if we do not grow up and become a mature man or woman spiritually? How can we know God if we have no discipline? How can God trust us with His goods (abilities, power, and authority) if we are babes and continually make a big mess in our pants and of our lives? God will not give us His things if we cannot handle them. Many Christians beg God for things that are beyond their ability in Him, why? Why do we think we need more of God’s abilities and power if we are not correctly walking in what He has already given us? Why do we need God’s power? Some think we can store up God’s power to use for a rainy day, well my friend this is wrong thinking out from wrong teaching. God gives us the power to do things for Him when we need to do them. This wrong thinking of storing up God’s goods can really get some Christians off track and over in areas of hyper-spirituality. Our wondrous walk with the Lord is to be simplistic. It is to be a humble, submissive, narrow way that causes our hands to be clean and our heart to be pure. David asked the question, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” (Psalm 24:3-4) He who has allowed God to teach humbleness. He that has allowed God to teach them submission. He that has resisted (to flow in the opposite direction) the devil. He that has drawn nigh to God. He that has been afflicted, who has mourned, and knows something about tears. Someone who has been crushed by the “heaviness” of their sin. He that has allowed God to humble them so He can lift them up. James gives us these qualifications if we desire to “ascend into the hill of the Lord” or “stand in his holy place.” I wonder why we think we do not have come down in our proud thinking and selfish nature to see God? James teaches, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:6-10)

The way up is really down. The question is how low can we go? So many Christians want to go up where God is, well God is not up He is down in a low and humble place, wanting us to come down where He is. From the beginning God has been trying to get us down to where He is. Even after Adam and Eve ate of the tree knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:8) God still wanted to get man alone with Him. I do not know why we say sin has separated us from God. Ever since man’s disobedience in the garden God has been trying His best to do things to get us in close proximity with Him. He even sent His dear Son to earth to die a horrible death so that He could live in our hearts. There has always been a deliberate progression of God coming to live within man. I wonder why God has not achieved His goal of living within some Christians? Could it be God lacks the ability and power? No of course not, God is all powerful and all knowing. Maybe it is sin, yeah, sin is too strong in our lives and God cannot defeat sin in our lives. No God’s power and authority controls the universe, nothing no nothing can stand in God’s way, except our lack of discipline. The one thing that caused Adam to sin was his lack of discipline. It was not the taste or color of the fruit, but his lack of willingness to say no to his self-life and selfish desires because of lack of discipline in his and Eve’s life. Now please do not think I am beating up on brother Adam and sister Eve, oh me, I am at times so undisciplined, only God can help me. But discipline is so lacking in our lives today and I believe it is the one thing that prevents us from moving in obedience with God. It is not sin, it is our lack of discipline which is to help us overcome in areas we are weak in. Remember sin is to miss the mark, to know right, but do wrong. Well if we know to do right and not do right, why not? Lack of discipline. It is not about getting more and more power from God to do right, but learning more and more discipline so that we will be able to stand and withstand in the evil day. Paul knew quite well this truth when he said, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection (to make a slave and to treat as a slave i.e. with severity, subject to stern and rigid discipline): lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (disqualified in NKJV).” (1 Corinthians 9:27) How did he bring his body into subjection? Through discipline. “I keep under (Strong’s #5299, to beat black and blue, to smite so as to cause bruises and livid spots or like a boxer one buffets his body, handle it roughly, discipline by hardships) my body.” Now this is a physical form of discipline that will only carry you so far in God. A must at times, but God has a better type of discipline for us. Oddly the Scriptures do not say a lot about discipline, but I will tell you if we fail in the area of discipline God cannot use us as He desires, we willfully have disqualified (become a castaway) ourselves for service. As a matter of fact the only verse in the Scriptures (KJV) that uses the word “discipline” is found in the Book of Job, “Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. 10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity (translated from the Greek as lawlessness or not working outside the frame of how God wants things to be done). 11If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.” (Job 36:9-11) Please notice these verses closely: God showed them their work and their transgression, God opened their ear to discipline and commanded they stop sinning. Only God can do these things if we have a desire to hear Him speak. For God to be able to discipline us we must desire to be disciplined. Jesus said, “make disciples,” well this is all grand and wonderful, but for the disciples to be “made” they must make a commitment and dedication to be discipled. It is like reading the instruction manual a real commitment and dedication to ownership. Sadly many Christians have no desire to receive God’s discipline, no real commitment and dedication. We take no ownership in the process expecting God to do all of the work in our lives, well my friend God does not work that way. God expects us to willfully (if need be) receive the lash of the smiter or the verbal draw of correction from the wise and learned.

I think the biggest reason we are not disciplined is because we do not understand how and why God disciplines us. Too many Christians have this ugly picture of God in heaven (with a big whip in hand) in the strike position. Well I must be truthful, at times this maybe be true, but please know God is not mad at us and if he has to lash out to teach us a lesson it is for our benefit. I think our wrong thinking of the word discipline is what prevents us from the benefit of God’s correction. The writer of Hebrews (I believe to be Paul) gives us this invaluable insight into God’s type of discipline, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth (Strong’s #3809, to train, teach, or instruct), and scourgeth (Strong’s # 3146, to whip) every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth? 8But if ye be without chastisement (Strong’s #3809, but more complete of the whole training and education of children which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment. It also includes the training and care of the body) whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:6-8) Never forget the truth of the word of God is contained in the words at the Holy Spirit gives revelation. God’s discipline is rarely about punishment, but always about correction through training and education so that we some day can manifest the character and nature of His dear Son Jesus Christ.

Please let me try to explain through an experience I had with my earthly father. All of my friends were buying kites and I did not understand why I too could not buy a kite, so I asked my father and he said no. Growing up we never had a lot of money to waste of such foolish things. But, I knew where there was some money, in my father’s coin collection. My dad had a very extensive coin collection that boasted of silver dollars from the 1800’s. So I took some money and visited The Spot, the only mom and pop store in town where you could buy a kite. With all of the new found wealth I invited my friends (I was always a generous young man) to come and enjoy my riches. I bought five or six of my friends a kite and some gedunk (sweet cake, candy, and the like), funny how you always have friends when you have money. I doubt if any of my friends who enjoyed the fruits of my crime would have been willing to take even one or two lashes. Well the owner of The Spot knew me, my father, and knew I was spending 1800s silver dollars so he called my dad. My dad went down to The Spot and redeemed his silver dollars and thanked the owner. When he got home he called for the three of us (John, Chris, and I) kids to come to the kitchen. When we assembled I saw what was coming so I asked to go to the bathroom. I purposed to spend the rest of my life in the bathroom fearing if I come out my father would kill me. He granted me permission and off I went, but through the door I could hear the festivities. First he asked my big brother John if he stole the money, of course he said no. Next he asked my sister Chris if she stole the money and of course she said no. He already knew it was me, but wanted to see if I would tell the truth to save my brother and sister from getting a beating. Through the door he yelled, “David did you steal the money from my coin collection,” of course I yelled back no. So he said okay, “I will beat all three to make sure I get the right one.” John was first. He took John into another room and I have never heard such wailing and crying in my life. I got scared. Next if was my sister Chris’ turn. The door closed and again I heard wailing, crying, and begging. Oh man did I get scared. Finally it was my turn my dad said get out of the bathroom, so reluctantly I did. Without a single word he marched me off to the bedroom and told me to drop my pants and pick up my shirt. For the next five minutes or so he beat me with the fire belt (very thin razor strap like belt) it seemed like an eternity, but his arm finally got tired and he quit. Over the years I have often thought about this time of discipline, wondering what good it did. My earthly father has always been a very stern, strict, and disciplined man, but at the same time he possessed a heart for compassion when compassion is required. Maybe it was his involvement in three wars that taught him the need for giving mercy when mercy is called for. War is one of those tumultuous experiences in our lives that intimately teach us about sacrifice and loss which always leaves us wanting mercy and grace. Now that I am older I see the beating I got I desired, but at the same time it built in me a respect, fear, and honor for my father. I also found out he did not beat John and Chris, see he knew I was “the man,” I was the one who stole the money from his coin collection. At the time I thought he was cruel and mean, but as I got older and wiser I saw the wisdom. In Proverbs we read, “The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.” Proverbs 20:30) and “Train (Strong’s #2596, instruct, teach, or discipline) up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) This discipline or training is not about punishment, but about learning those life lessons required to be successful in God and to be able to be brought to a successful end and fulfillment. No discipline no completion or fulfillment in God. One thing that always stuck with me was my earthly father never made me go back and replace the money he had to spend when he redeemed his very valuable silver dollars. He purposely and willfully took the loss. I wonder if this sounds like another Father we are to know. Written by David Stahl

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME

One of the most mysterious and marvelous things God gave us was prayer. Now I will be honest I do not know how prayer operates. I do not know how prayer works, but I really like that. I really like not knowing how God does things for us, they are mysteries. I really like serving a God I cannot figure out. I think if I could figure out God I am not so sure I would be so willing to follow Him. God took me to India to show me it is not by my might or by my power when He performs a miracle. After 10 days of diarrhea, eating chicken, curry, and rice, and enduring daily temperatures of 110 degrees or more I was dead, a great place in God to be used by Him. It was 10 pm (after preaching three times for 1 ½ hours each time and praying for the sick in between) and I was looking down the barrel of another plate of chicken, curry, and rice when Pastor S. J. Peter from Hyderabad asked me to pray for a little girl who had not walked in months. Well, by this time I had no strength God drained me, what a wonderful place in God to be drained of our strength and emptied of our ability. If you walk with the Lord long enough and go for Him and not yourself or another, He too will drain and empty you. This is the place God desires to take us all to for when we are weak He is strong. At first I did not want to pray for this little girl, but within my spirit I felt God wanted me to pray for her so I did. When God is leading it is always correct to do what He wants us to do and prayer is no different. Why do we think prayer is automatic or routine? Something we do over our food, when we go to bed, or when we need something even from God? If prayer is not born of the Spirit of God we are wasting our time fulfilling some religious ritual or custom. We must be able to hear Him speak to us because in the hearing is contained the faith needed to follow His leading. Never forget, “faith cometh by hearing” (Romans 10:17) To make a long wonderful and amazing story short I reached up and took the little girl’s feet in my hands and said (I did not pray) something like, “Lord please heal this little girl.” I turned towards my dinner plate and out of the corner of my eye I saw the father put the little girl down. Well when her feet hit the ground she was not walking she was off and running. I have never seen a little girl run so fast. To this day she is probably still running for the glory of God. I never got to my dinner that night, suddenly a line appeared and I prayed for 100s. Jesus told Martha, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) The first part of this verse is the key to receiving from God, “Said I not unto thee.” My friend if God did not say it then it will not happen. I do not care how long you hold on or what promise you are standing on, God must speak it, it must be God’s idea born of His Spirit or it will not happen. In verse 40 is contained the rule of threes how our faith operates. Rule one: “Said I not unto thee.” God must speak it. Rule two: “that, if thou wouldest believe.” We must believe what God is saying is true. And rule three, "thou shouldest see the glory of God?” If we hear Him speak (so that we can receive faith, not by claiming or taking it) and we believe we shall “see the glory of God” or behold the glory of what we are believing for. It is comforting to know the responsibility of our healing is not on God’s shoulders alone, but we too shoulder some of the responsibility. Why must God do all of the work? We like to blame God and others when things do not go according to our expectation, well our healing is based not on God’s ability (that should be without question), but on our ability to hear Him and according to His will and plan for our lives. Why do some people get a miracle or healed (there is a big difference between the two) and other are not? I do not know, but God knows, but I do know when healing or a miracle comes it is critical we have the ability to hear Him speak. Now the folks that got in line for prayer after the little girl was healed I am not sure what happened with them. If my memory serves we well, only one man who walked with a cane (I was told) was healed the others I do not know what happened with them.

Over many years God has changed my heart and thoughts when it comes to prayer. Now this change has come by way of much heart reflection and searching of the Scriptures. I cannot find in the Scriptures were Jesus prayed for people like we do today. Jesus never lined the people up and took one by one and prayed for them. Jesus never said, “okay disciples let us lay hands on these folks and pray for them.” Oh no, the Scriptures says, Jesus healed them. The last thing I need when I am sick and can not get to the Lord is for someone to pray for me, “Oh Lord please touch brother Dave and heal him.” Oh no what I need is for someone to have such a walk with God who can touch His heart on my behalf. I do not need someone to pray for me I need someone who can be a vessel where healing can flow through to me. Jesus was such a vessel, “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.” (Matthew 4:24) and “When Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. 16When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:” (Matthew 8:14-16), and so many more wonderful verses. No where does it say Jesus prayed for them, it says He healed them. There is a huge difference. The lady with the issue of blood (Luke 8:45-48) touched Jesus He did not touch her. Her healing happened without a single word being spoken. It is not about praying, but about having such a walk with the Lord so that He can manifest His power in all the earth. Did you know the word “prayer” does not appear in the King James Version of the Gospel of John, his three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation? There was no need. Of all of the Gospels, John’s writings reflect such a communion and closeness with God, prayer was written in the heart and spirit of the words. Even brother Peter was such a vessel where one was healed without praying, “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” (Acts 3:4-8) No where does it say Peter prayed for the lame man the verses talk about him being healed. This is what God is looking for in us, to be such a vessel where we can just touch someone sick (as Jesus did) and they be healed or our shadow as with Peter falling on someone and they would be healed. “Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.” (Act 5:15-16) I wonder why this is not the rule of thumb today in the church? Maybe we are praying too much because we (and I include myself here) are not willing to pay the price for such power.

When we started our church in Germany our service would be typically around (according to my daughter Connie) three to three and half hours. Then after service I would pray for the people. Each Sunday many of the same people came forward for prayer for the same reasons, this would stretch the service long and longer and before we knew it we had been in church for six or more hours. And as our church got bigger the longer and longer we would stay. Now if God says pray for you I will, but if not I will not. Prayer must be born of the Spirit of God and it must flow out from our communion with God or we are wasting our time and engaging in idolatry. Often the approach to God is come to me and I will pray for you instead of God said for me to pray for you. The difference is who the focus or attention is in the coming, God or me. When people come for prayer (not God ordained) we are indirectly teaching them not to go to God. Jesus taught, “Our (Abba) Father which art in heaven” not to our Father through man. The disciples were shocked with Jesus told them, “After this manner therefore pray (direct address to the Father) ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9) In the past the disciples was taught to pray “Avie Father” or around through someone to the Father like the high priest, but Jesus taught them to pray, “Abba Father” direct to the Father. This was hard for the disciples to understand and for us to understand too. Also as our church grew so did the amount of time I spent on my handy (name for a cell phone in Europe). Every time some one needed prayer they would call, at all hours of the night they would call and I would do the religious thing and pray for them. But there came a time I had to say enough is enough. The time was for spiritual growth and development in the people. The more I prayed for them the less of a need they saw for their direct address to the Father. I was teaching them to come to me and I would go to the Father for them which is wrong teaching. Now many denominations and churches like their pastors and leaders praying for people there is great control and manipulation in this. If someone can hold getting you to God over your head you will do anything to keep that person happy. I have seen this time and time again in so many churches. Jesus taught the disciples different, please do not be deceived. The Scriptures teaches we are to go on to spiritual growth and maturity, to perfection, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (Strong’s #5046, brought to its end, finished or wanting nothing necessary to completeness): not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” (Hebrews 6:1-2) God’s goal in our lives is to conform us into the image and character of His dear Son Jesus Christ. For this to happen we must grow spiritually and come to maturity. And for God to be able to bring us to: our end, finished, or wanting nothing necessary to completeness having someone getting us to God will not do. We must be able to touch the heart of God on our own. I remember my big brother John telling of his need for close companionship with Jake Luffy (his pastor and mentor) to get to God, but there came a time when he no longer needed Jake to get to God he went direct to the Father for him self.

Sadly we think a big church with many members, many programs, a big choirs, a clean well painted parking lots, and big well-built buildings are the glory of God, well my friend they are not. For those who think they are the glory of God, God would say, Ichabod (the glory has departed) to you. The glory of God is seen when we allow God to make us and break us so that He can give us strength to touch His heart. What else can we use to see God’s glory? What else can we use to make our approach to Him? In James 5 we read, “Is any among you afflicted? let him (not the elders) pray. Is any merry? let him (not the elders) sing psalms. 14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5:13-15) The “pray over him” is translated praying in God’s presence. If not in His presence how else can we be healed? James 5:15 is not saying to have the elders of the church come and lay hands on you to pray for healing, but is saying for the elders to come into the presence of God and anoint the sick with oil and then “the prayer of faith (of the sick person not the elders) shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” Only in the presence of the Lord can this happen. My prayer for you can not save you, this is something you must do on your own. My prayer for you (as born of the Spirit of God and in obedience to God) can touch the heart of God. But God desires we take time and touch the heart of the Father for our selves. Pray for you? Well . . . maybe? But do you not think it would be better if you talked to the Father for your self? Written by David Stahl

BIG SHOT

We went to a church a long time ago that was so wrong in so many ways. No where was this seen any more then with the women running the show. Even though the pastor and board were males, which is God’s order, there were women deacons, leaders, and Sunday School teachers (teaching both men and women) that influenced all major decisions of what was going on in the church. As you can guess we did not attend there for too long. Our time there was to support the pastor until the church kicked him out. But Paul was very clear when he said, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” (1 Timothy 2:9-12) You can spin this verse any way you want, but the truth speaks loud and clear women are to have no place of authority in the house of God and this out of God’s design not just for the church, but for the family as well.

But there were two things that happened there that I won’t soon forget. The first was a gentle soul that occasionally attended services there. It was said that he was an alcoholic I don’t know, but if I was married to the shrew of a woman that he was married to I’d be tipping the ole bottle myself! Now mind you she was in her 60s, loud, obnoxious, given to much gossiping, and full of ambition. At church she didn’t sit with her husband instead she sat with her friends. I remembered her husband looked like a scared little mouse sitting there all alone while his wife was making a fool out of herself, a real big shot.

The second thing was our Sunday School Teacher. Although she was qualified her husband rarely came to church. Folks in God it is: God family, then ministry. Don’t put church activities before your family, if you do you are wrong and will suffer the loss in the area of relationships. She ended up stepping down as the Sunday School Teacher because of getting offended during a rift in the church. James tells us, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3:16-18)

Now these two women and countless others were big shots at church, but their husband were little shots at home. The Bible is quite clear in its admonishment: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” (1 Corinthians 14:34-35) and “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1 Timothy 2:11-14) Its in black and white! That church as I had said was wrong in so many other areas. Rebellion to spiritual authorities, greed, lies, the church even used tithes and offerings to pay for abortions for some of the young women in the church. It was terrible. We can see why God had us come, but was very glad when God released us to move on.

Folks when a wife is a big shot at church you can bet your bottom dollar her husband is a little shot at home. We have seen this scenario play out in far too many couples we have known. Because the wife is usurping her husband’s authority at home, which is rebellion to God’s word and wrong thinking, thus it carries over into the church. The wife has not kept her place of supporting her husband and instead has lifted herself up or allowed herself to be lifted up into prominent places that aren’t hers for the taking. Look its not our job to follow society in these matters of women in authority. We have a different standard and model to follow. God has ordained the model for the family and the church so that righteousness can prevail, if not then rebellion and chaos will fill the home and church. God’s idea of spiritual order is God, family, and ministry. I’ve said it before if your husband is a seven then the wife must be a five. If the woman in example one would had submitted herself to her husband (regardless of him being an alcoholic) and knocked her foolish pride down a few pegs, and did what she was supposed to do – I doubt if her husband would be the beaten down pitiful man that he was. A humble wife will never ruin a man, nor drive him to drink.

Let us turn from our self-seeking ways and go towards God’s ways of running the home and the church. Please we must never look at what our society says and does – women we are to be on the straight and narrow way following our husbands even if they do not follow Christ. We are to be followers not leaders of our husbands. And please, please, please don’t watch those women on Christian TV. Stay away from the big shot lady pastors, preachers, and teachers. They hardly are the picture of a submission and humility as the Bible teaches, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” (Proverbs 31:10-12) and ladies, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” (Proverb 31:30-31) A religious woman doesn’t mean she is rightly related to God nor that she is traveling the straight and narrow way with Jesus. We all do not need “a ministry” our husband and family (if we have kids) is the ministry God has given us. We are to lift up our husbands and discipline our children – things that I’ve woefully fallen short of. I know it is hard keeping up with children either you are busier then a one legged man in a butt-kicking contest or you are bored to tears. This is where you need God’s help in keeping your attitude right. There will be times when you will look at your husband and say, “what was I thinking? But of course he will think the same thing of you. Ladies stick with the task at hand. It’s more than enough to raise children right and teach them about God and His ways. Remember it is not what we do for God, but how we do things for God.

There are far too many women running around out there like a chicken with their heads chopped off in the Christian community thinking they have a ministry as they run off and leave the kids and husband at home. Beagle bagels! Stop trying to be a big shot like so many on Christian TV. Look they have their reward people patting them on the back, but for the rest of us let’s stick to the task at hand, raise our kids right, and let our husbands be the big shot at home and church. Remember, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6) Written by Karen Stahl