THEY OVERCAME

After Thanksgiving 2009, Jake Luffy and I departed for Nairobi, Kenya to be with Pastor Joesph Mutua for a few weeks. Niki Marsov from Silistra, Bulgaria joined us when we arrived from Mombassa. We were asked to share in a week-long conference Pastor Joesph was holding and in some local churches during the week-ends. Jake brought a deep mysterious word that left the hearers in quiet contemplation and thought. He prefaced his word by saying, “if you do not understand what I am saying hold my words before the Lord and in time He will give you understanding.” I have known Jake for over 30 years and have had the pleasure of hearing him speak these many years, thus I know the depth of his message and his ability to skillfully weave the scriptures. Niki brought a strong relevant word mixed with humor which the people really responded to. It was his first time in Africa and he was magnificent. Humor sometimes helps the medicine go down. I can see in Niki a Timothy today and a Paul tomorrow, Niki and Lord willing. I brought a more sublime yet simplistic word directed at their hearts that enabled the folks to apply my words to their difficult circumstances and situations in their lives. Unless our words reach their hearts then what we say will profit the hearers little. The heart should always be our target and our goal must always be to see how low we can come down in our self so that the word of God we speak will be able to take root in their heart and lives. Jesus was a master of this, simple in His approach using wine, bread, water as examples to convey deep spiritual meaning that the people understood. I wonder why we try to get so deep and try to unwrap the dark mysteries of the Scriptures. Jesus talked about a corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying (John 12:24) to be fruitful. Maybe we should reevaluate our approach.

From the start of our trip I knew God wanted to do some things in my life, things that needed to be done. At first I was reluctant, because as Karen and I travel and minister from church to church, both in the States and around the world, I hear a great desire to be an “overcomer.” Now this in itself is not a bad thing God desires to bring us to victory in Him, but where we miss the mark is the desiring and all that goes into the presumptive approach to God and not the developing, the way God has designed for us to come into victory. Why there are even conferences and seminars today in the church where the theme is “Overcoming to Fulfill Our Destiny in Christ” (or something like that), but seldom do you hear of the real requirements at conferences and seminars to become an overcomer. John gives us three requirements to become to be an overcome, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelations 21:11) They overcame him, “by the blood of the Lamb,” “by the word of their testimony,” and “they loved not their lives unto the death.” We will talk more about the last requirement in detail. Most Christians will agree today in the church without the shedding of the precious blood of Jesus Christ (the Lamb of God (John 1:29)) we would not be able to overcome anything, so this is kind of a given, but the other two well they will require much more from us if we desire to apply them to our heart and lives to become an overcomer. John said, “by the word of their testimony.” Please know the word of our testimony is not what we say, but what other people see us do. I can tell you swelling words of faith, words that would bring tears to your eyes, words that would manipulate you to do things for me, but if my life does not reflect what I am saying then my words will profit me little to nothing and not benefit you at all. Remember, if you want people to give you money or do things for you just tell them what they want to hear and what they already know. But to be a true overcomer our lives and words must match up in unison with what the Spirit of God is saying. I do not care how many miracles God uses us to perform or how deep our revelation of God and His word is, if the works of God in our lives and the revelation we possess never affect changes to our character then it is all for nought. Make no mistake my friend I am talking about myself here. One thing I have learned at the heart of every issue it is always an issue of my heart. God’s work in our lives is to change us first then others second. Our understanding, wisdom, and knowledge of God must ultimately bring us down into a place of humility and humbleness if not we are no better than sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. Paul shared this critical truth with us in 1 Corinthians when he said, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) Now many call 1 Corinthians 13 the love chapter, but Paul does not use the word “love” but uses the word “charity” here and is at the heart of what Paul wanted to convey to us. The word “charity” has been translated agape, but it comes from and gets its root origins from Strong’s #25, “agapao” to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of which has little to do with love and much to do with being a humble and lowly servant. Agape, Strong’s #26, is a stronger mature love that has to do with a dedication of ourselves towards someone, as Jesus dedicated Himself toward the world in John 3:16 or a dedication that a husband has toward his wife for giving him 30 years of her life. Paul was talking about giving help to people in need, a kindness in judging people, and a good will to all other people. It is this heart condition that is greater than faith and hope. Now reread verse 2, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." Do you see the difference? Jesus said it this way, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Jesus was not talking about giving one’s life so another may live, but laying one’s life down as a lowly servant, losing their life so that they may find it in servant hood to the Brethren. It is not about love, but about being a lowly servant like Christ. All throughout Paul’s writing he warns the newly established churches (and us to today) take heed not to think highly of our self. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3) There is a subtle danger here to exalt our self that can over take our witness and destroy our character. Again I can say amen here. If we desire to become an overcomer we too must lose our life and all those things that we think elevates us above our brothers and sisters. How arrogant we are to think just because God has given us something special it makes us special, oh no my friend anything that God gives us (special or not) should bring us to our knees and make us a servant to the Brethren the more.

Now on this trip to Africa one of God’s main intentions (as I said) was for me to become more of an overcomer in a certain area. I knew right from the start God’s intention for me to be successful during this trip was for me to walk in restrictions and limitations to maintain my health, I could not eat what I wanted to eat and drink what I wanted to drink, but I had to maintain strict adherence to what I knew to do to fulfill what God wanted me to do. As a matter of fact the first opportunity I had to speak I spoke of how restriction and limitations not freedom and liberty bring us to completion and fulfillment in God. And I knew I would have to love not my life unto death. I knew God wanted be to go to Africa, to endure, to preach the word He put within me, and finish the trip strong in Him. Now this was first time I have traveled in the last two years. Before that a few of my trips were cut short due to health problems. For years I have pushed myself (zealousness in God is not what He is looking for) going abroad six to seven times a year, the air miles, stress and strain of ministry took a heavy toll on my health and on my desire to endure in the face of real sickness to the end. Now I will be honest this really bothered me. How could I stand and teach endure till the end and all I could think about was how I could get home sooner. But now on his trip I knew God wanted me to stay the course, finish strong in Him. For God to be able to do this I would have to love not my life unto the death. I would have to come to a place of assurance and rest (beyond what I have experienced before) in God that He will take care of me even if I get sick and He would make sure I get treated and come and go home as scheduled. I know all of this may sound strange, but this is where I found myself. Like Job I had to come to a place where I said and believed, “though God slay me yet I will trust Him.” Or like Esther, “If I perish I perish.” Now that is real faith. If we really desire to become an overcomer we must allow God to work in our lives, through His dealings and judgments, and bring us to the place where we willfully give over our physical life to God. We are not ready to life in God until we are ready to die in God. Each time the airplane lifted into the sky I would say, “Lord I commit my spirit, soul, and life into Your hands.” It is funny how the older we get the more our mortality is ever before us. How we can see our days quickly coming to an end and in our heart we bristle against what we see. The older we get the more we are concerned about our health and develop a desire for ease, good food, and comfort. It seems the older I get the more I enjoy hot water. When I was younger hot water cold water no problem, but now I like hot water. Well, if God will still use me as I feel He desires He will have to work in my life and get me over this desire for ease and comfort. I do not think I am any different than the next man we all are touched by our infirmities and weakness as grass we shall wither away some day to be with Him, but it is wonderful to know God knows our frame and He will work in our lives, if we desire Him to help us become (a process of learning to lean on our Beloved, Song of Solomon 8:5) an overcomer. I leave you with the words Jesus spoke to the disciples before He was taken to the cross to die for you and I, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32-33) Please hear the end of verse 33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” It is nice to know Jesus too was an overcomer. Written by David Stahl

LACK OF HEARING THE WORD

A few weeks ago Karen and I did a book signing at the US Marine Corps Exchange (MCX). I so enjoy doing book signings, what a wonderful time sharing the Gospel with complete strangers and selling a few books to support Beholding His Glory. We usually bring a six foot folding table and two comfortable folding chairs, many items from Africa and Asia for the people to handle which opens the door for questions, copies of our newsletter, some of our contact cards (not business cards the sharing of the Gospel MUST never be reduced down to becoming a business), some books, and of course our Bibles. We usually stay around six to eight hours or as long as our bottoms can last. Well by ten o’clock we were all set up, people were scurrying about (on this Saturday morning) things really looked promising, but as time slowly moved on no one stopped. Karen and I just sat there talking to each other as people passed by, it was like we were not there or invisible. A couple of our friends who saw us stopped, but the majority of the people walked by not even stopping to say hello or to see the strange and interesting items on our table. As I sat there the Holy Spirit brought to my mind these verses from Amos, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12) I thought today is the day. Few people really want to hear the good news of the Gospel, but then I remembered it is God who will “send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.” Now I have always read these verses and thought I understood them, but they really came alive (as we were sitting there) in my spirit due to the lack of curiosity or attention. They could see it was a Christian book and I am sure they saw my Bible maybe that was enough to keep them at arms length. Now I have some Christian friends who would have a problem with this verse, knowing it was God Himself that sent the famine in the land of hearing the word of God. Not the preaching of the word, but the hearing or having the spiritual ability to understand and comprehend what God is saying by His Spirit through His written and spoken word. They would say God would never do this He loves us so much. Oh yeah? Can you believe God creates evil? If you cannot believe God creates evil than you cannot believe God loves you. Most Christians do not believe this they pick and choose what they want to believe, but in the Book of Isaiah we read, God taking about Himself, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:5-7) Well my friend they do not know the true God of the Bible. God has been known to send evil spirits (Judges 9:23). God even hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 7:14) to bring His will to past. Can you believe God would turn over (give up on) people (who were once Christians) to a reprobate mind? This does not say much for the Southern Baptist once saved always saved doctrine. Oh my friend, do not be deceived. Paul tells us, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” (Romans 1:21-28) Now Paul was talking about Christians in the local body at Rome. They knew God, but became vain, were not thankful, and glorified Him not. Today in the paper Karen read to me an article about a Presbyterian Church that started a service for their dogs (how about cats, snakes, turtles, birds, etc.) in hopes to draw more people into church, what foolishness. Special services, promotion, programs, and gimmicks will not draw people to Christ, only the Holy Spirit as we lift of Christ. Jesus said, “If I be lifted up (not your animal, denomination, or religion) from the earth will draw all people to Myself.” (John 12:32) They are worshipping creatures and a worldly thinking and not the Creator in Spirit and truth, because of their lack of hearing the word of God and their continual walking (in presumption) away from God, how sad and oh so dangerous. Paul said, “God gave them over to a reprobate (Strong’s #96, that which does not prove itself such as it ought, unfit for, unproved, spurious, reprobate) mind.” God did these things, because these people heard the word of God that could meet the lack in their lives, but like the people at the MCX they did not recognize the real word of God because (I believe) they have been attending churches and denominational religious services that have been telling them lies and half truths ignoring the word of God. Karen and I had the truth we had the word of God, but the people did not stop they were too busy within themselves and spiritually lacking a hunger and thirst for God’s word in their lives. Many have heard the half truth message of the Gospel (like one man we knew from the past who stopped) and in their heart they have been numbed, deadened, and stripped of the power of the word of God’s convicting Holy Spirit. Oh my friend take heed, having our hearts hardened (like Pharaoh) by God to the hearing of His word, a lack of knowledge of who God is to us, and our great desire for a worldly waywardness are some of the most dangerous things in the world, because the end of this process in our lives is destruction. Amos shares these words with us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 7As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. 8They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. 9And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. 10For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD:” (Hosea 4:6-10) Please never forget God is to us what we are to Him. If we reject God my friend He will reject us. Listen to the last verse, “For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD:” Does that not sound frustrating? Oh my friend let us take heed to the Lord never to walk away from the Lord, but let us always have a open heart for knowledge (God’s personal dealings and judgments in our lives), and a desire not to walk in the way of the world or in the counsel of the ungodly.

I hear many Christians walk around saying they have the victory or we need to get the victory over Satan. Why do we talk about needing to get the victory? It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory, because Jesus (our victory) ought to have us so completely we need not worry about victory. It is one thing to say we have Jesus, but it is a totally different thing to say Jesus has us. Do you see the difference? All we need to worry about is allowing Jesus to meet our lack in our lives. Why should we worry about having faith to do something? If Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith we need not worry having faith, we will live “by the faith of Jesus Christ” and every word that proceeds out of His mouth. Paul shares these words, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16) I am ever amazed at the women we know who may be qualified (have the schooling and ability), but are not authorized to teach the word of God. But they do anyway in direct rebellion to the word of God and are not content with being the wife of their husband. The Holy Spirit through Paul was very clear on this topic, “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.” (1Timothy 2:11-14) How can we walk with the Lord and lack such understanding? Is getting our way that much more important than God’s word being held high above our denominational religious rituals and customs? These women (and other Christians) have a famine of hearing the word of God in their lives as “they wander from sea to sea, (even in ministry to the nations) and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek (in conferences, crusades, and seminars) the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. It is God’s word, He will open it up to whom He desires and that person is the one who has qualified and approved themselves before Him in sacrifice and obedience. Only God can meet the lack in our lives. When will we really (that includes me too at times) learn that? When will we (me again at times) wake up? The day is far spent and night is soon upon us let us keep our thoughts on Him, He who can meet our lack in Him, He who can met our need. Written by David Stahl

WHAT ARE WE AFTER

In the Books of Acts in the town of Antioch of Pisidia Paul stood up in the synagogue on the sabbath and recounted the oral history of the Jews by saying, “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” (Acts 13:22) Now most Christians read this verse and make the quantum leap thinking David had a heart like God’s. Oh how wonderful that would be to have a heart like God’s, but how can we have a heart like God’s when Jeremiah tells us our hearts are deceitful and wicked above all things. No I do not think Act 13:22 is drawing the parallel of David’s and God’s heart, but is saying what we all must desire if we would be like God, we all must desire to be after God’s own heart. Do you see the difference? Not have a heart like His (even though this is God’s eternal intention) I believe this will never happen this side of heaven, but be must be after His heart. Did you know it matters what we are after? What my friend are you after? The answer is easy to see all one needs to do is look at our lives and our check book to see what we are after. Our lives reflect what we really believe not what we tell our friends or what we want to be. Our lives are a direct reflection of the amount of revelation and authority we have in God. And our check book tells the story of what we spend our treasure and riches on and what we think is important. Charles Haun always said, (as he got his wallet out of his pants and waved it at the congregation) “once God gets a hold of this (his wallet) He has all of us.” It is one thing to give God our heart (not much of an investment in that on our part) but it is another thing to give God our check book. What are we going after in the world and all of her distractions: religion, politics, sports, hobbies, shopping, gaming, watching TV, reading, leisure time, the list is endless or are we after the things of God: reading His Holy Scriptures, prayer, giving so that others may receive, good works with the reward in heaven, service, communion with God and our brothers and sisters, the list can go on, but it is not so endless. And why? Because the things of God will cost us something to partake of them. If we truly desire the things of God there is price we must pay to be able to partake of all of God’s heavenly glory. Most religions and denominations will tell you, just become a Christian and you will have God’s best for your life, well that is almost true (still a lie), but they leave out the part where we must lay our life down so that Christ can live through us. They conveniently gloss over the verses that tell us we must lose our life for Christ’s sake so that we can find it. Losing comes first my friend, finding second. They go to sitting in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6) with Christ, but never discuss John 12:24-25 where we must fall into the ground and die. I wonder why they do this? Well, they are not after the things of God, but after the things of the world. Religions of men and denominations at best only paint ½ of the truth this is why they are so destructive to the Body of Christ. I promise you my friend if you are really after the things of God it will cost you. To know God’s power it will cost you something (God gets to pick the sacrifice not us), to know God’s presence it will cost you something far different than to know His power, and I promise you by all that is Holy, if you desire to know God’s person it will cost you all you have. It will cost you your life, but that is okay this is God’s plan for our lives for us to die so that He may live through us, but for God to be able to live through us we must die to our selfishness, our self-seeking, self-life, and how do we do this by desiring the things of God (this is our choice) by having a heart that is after God’s.

In Psalms 42 we read, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” (Psalms 42:1-5) We sing a song about these verses, but few stop to understand what is really being said in these verses. Please notice the progression in these five verses: (verses 1-2) panting and thirsting (verses 3) tears and religious works, and (verse 4-5) repentance and inward sober reflection. I wonder why they made the song from the first two verses? The real message from God here is in verses 4 and 5. But, here in verse 1 and 2 the writer goes after the things of God with great longing and great desire pouring out his heart, but the writer ends these verses with, “when shall I come and appear before God?” What happened to His desire and thirsting? Reality set in. My friend when we have a real encounter with God we will not feel like singing and dancing our emotional projection will be done away with. The clamor of our striving and self-effort will be done away with. We at best will be happy just to be alive and content with our mouth stopped We have been reduced and now God can build in us His character and nature of looking and acting like His precious Son Jesus Christ. We like Isaiah will see God high and lifted up and His train will fill the temple of our heart, what a holy place in God. Oh God, how I want this more and more in my life, but I find I am alive to my self and my will. I hear deep teachings and know them to be true and desire so to possess what I hear, but in the end they slip through my fingers and all I have is a bowl of well wished. Please help me oh Lord.

Now it is important (if you want to know where I am in God) to know I am more a Quietest more along the line and teachings, as far back, as St. Augustine, Father Lawrence, Francois de Salignac de La Mothe-Fenelon, Mike Molinos (Fenelon’s student), and more modern John Wright Follette and Walter Beuttler (both Charles’ teachers), Charles Haun (my teacher), and then me. But the line does not stop there, anyone I disciple probably will walk in this way out from the teaching they have received from me. You know it does matter who your teacher is. In these lives runs a thread of teaching and understanding that believes as we are quiet and still before the Lord (waiting before the Lord), during our solace reflection and meditation on God can we really hear from Him, when our mouth, desires, hungers, thirst, and thoughts are still and silent before Him then our spirit can rise up from the depth of our soul, then will we hear from heaven. In the Psalms again we read, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) and so many more verses that encourage us to quiet our spirit so that we can come to know God who speaks to us (1 Kings 19:12) in a small still voice. Oh no my friend it is not an emotional or mental projection to God, but an inward swelling of our spirit pushing up and out of us towards God who put this desire in us to touch His heart. My heart within me drops when I hear Christians justify their emotional presumption with, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” (Ephesians 5:17-19) These three verses have nothing to do with singing songs in church, but here Paul is encouraging us to “be filled with the Spirit” and to make “melody in our heart to the Lord.” Why do we think this is about singing songs in church? The direction of our heart melody is always to be to the Lord. Oh no my friend this is not singing songs or playing musical instruments, but communion (no words required heart to heart) with the Lord, by the Spirit of God. Communion with God is a thing of the Spirit where our heart is fine-tuned and then in tune with God. Our spiritual growth and development will never happen in our lives if we continually press into God with our emotions and feelings which are deceptive and always will mislead us astray from the truth of the word of God. Peter also takes up this thought when he said, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (1 Peter 2-3) How can we do this? First, by desiring the “sincere milk of the word” where-by we can grow learning the basics and fundamentals to achieve an elementary level of spiritual development that we can use to build on to be able to take on the meat of the word of God. The word “sincere” here (Strong’s #97) means unmixed, unadulterated, and pure. This “milk of the word” must not be mixed with the things of the world nor with our flesh if we are going to grow spiritually and establish healthy understandings and principles in the Lord. Spiritual things that are not mixed and adulterated by other contaminated teachings. So many young Christians from the start are taught a denominational religious dogma that sets them up for frustration and ensures they will always stay a babe in the Lord. Sadly often I believe this is out of design, who wants their kids (young Christians) growing up and asking their parents (religious denominations) some hard questions or wants to see their kids leave the nest (church) for what God wants for their lives, because if they do leave valuable hands to work around the home (church) will be lost. And second, we must walk in obedience and submit to what God has for our lives, then and only then can we “taste the Lord is gracious.”

My friend we must be after the things God is after, we must have a heart after the things God has a heart for. Many of my friends ask me if we are not to use our emotions to make our approach to the Lord then why did God give us emotions? Well that is easy, God gave us emotions so we could have a compassionate heart and feel sadness for those people who are lost and undone without His precious Son Jesus Christ not so we can thrill our “selves” at church when the music gets rocking or at some Christian rock concert. The same reason God gave us arms to reach out and care for people and legs so we can travel the many miles around the world to share the Gospel for Him not to up jump up and down and spin around like some top, how foolish to think so. And an understanding deep within us to be able to know the Creator and to be able to appreciate the beauty of a sunrise or sunset He has created. I have learned over the years when I am feeling weak in my emotions and in my self-strength I am usually moving correctly in God, but when I am feeling good and strong in my emotions and my self-strength I find myself getting off track and not going after what God is going after. My friend what are you going after? Written by David Stahl

AT THE END OF GOD'S LINE

Often times we mistake God’s longsuffering for His faithfulness. Now that is worth repeating again, often times we mistake God’s longsuffering for His faithfulness. Did you know there is a plum line of righteousness and truth we must walk correctly in to exist in God? I wonder why we think we can do and say whatsoever we want to say and do and think we are existing in God? Oh no my friend existing in God is far more than just going to church, paying our tithes and offerings, singing in the choir (or a special number on Sunday morning), or working around the church. Existing in God is an understanding and a knowing of how God operates and functions and this only comes to us by way of our daily submission and obedience to God’s word and His ways. At the heart of this submission and obedience is our requirement (in God) for us to discipline (a nasty word to most Christians, and me too at times) our thought life, desires, and our selfish, self-seeking ways. Alone, by our self effort, nor with religion (what most Christians use to make an approach to God) can we discipline ourselves enough to be able to walk with God, but only with the power of the Holy Spirit moving in our lives can we ever hope to be able to walk in the ways (exist) of God and come to know Him as He desires. Isaiah shares these words with us, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17Judgment (translated instruction, discipline, and punishment in that order) also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet (leveling tool or instrument): and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.” (Isaiah 28:16-17) Of course Isaiah was prophesying of the coming of Jesus Christ the “foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation:,” but please notice the end of verse 16, “he that believeth shall not make haste.” The word “haste” (Strong’s #2363) is translated to make haste or hurry, here to quickly lay a foundation. Now God does not build on man’s foundation, nor should we. God always builds one stone at a time as the stone is fitly joined into the foundation and if the stone is not the right shape or size the builder (God) will fashion the stone until it can fit into the foundation. Verse 17 tells us what God will do if we in “haste” lay a foundation, “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet:” Now please do not think this judgment from God is spiteful and vindictive, oh no God’s judgment for those who love God is meant to cleanse or wash and prune our lives. And those who do not love God, well God’s judgment is a reward (what we have earned) of punishment for our disobedience and waywardness. This not God’s intention, but make no mistake my friend God will keep us on the line only for so long, He will allow us to play fast and loose only so long then with a mighty heavy hand God will come to us personally or a nation (like America) and execute His holy righteous judgment. I really believe the church (for years) has presented God’s judgment wrong so that many could manipulate and control people. Did you know people will willfully give all they have and even lay their lives down for someone who says they have the power to withhold God’s judgment or they will pray for them and God will heal or bless them? I have seen this for years. Oh no my friend God does not operate like this. The heart of God’s judgment for man is for learning and without this “judgment” (instruction, discipline, and punishment) moving in our lives we will never be able to build correctly on the “sure foundation,” our foundation will always be unleveled, uneven, and not plum. Our lives will be a wreck every relationship we build will crumble like a house of cards. Everything we try will never come to completion and purpose in God, oh we may have some success (in man’s definition), but the end that God has planned and purposed will never manifest because it has been built on a foundation not of God.

We seen this divine spiritual principle in salvation and especially in the spiritual growth we are to have moving in our lives after we complete kindergarten. The writer of the Book of Hebrews shares “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ (kindergarten), let us go on unto perfection; 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) We are to go on “leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” but most Christians camp out here in verses 1-2 all of their lives waiting for Jesus to come and take them to heaven, well that is not God’s idea. God has much more than salvation for us. And for us to be able to walk in what God has (and expects) for us we must move on from the elementary things of the faith. Now we must not forget what Jesus did for us on Calvary (this must be an anchor that always grips our heart), but we must not allow the “principles of the doctrine of Christ” to be the central focus of our Christian life, there must be spiritual growth and development in our lives if we are to come into the stature and fullness (Ephesians 4:13) of Christ. In John we read, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Now do not believe (as some preachers teach) Jesus removed sin from the world, no He did not, because if He did then there would be no sin in the world. All we have to do is take a honest look at our heart condition, ambitions, and motives or watch the news on TV or read the paper to see sin is alive and well in the world. But Jesus did something more important and even harder than taking “away the sin of the world,” He took upon Himself the sin FOR the world. John 1:29, in the Greek says, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and says, “Behold the Lamb of God, the one taking up the sin of the world.” The words, “one taking up the sin of the world” indicates that Jesus alone bore the entirety of sin as He took upon Himself (not removed them) the sin of the world and made a way for us to be free of sin, death, hell, and the grave. It was such a completeness that it is written, “He was made to be sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Do you see the difference? Believe it or not John the Baptist did not see the difference. After serving as the fore runner for Christ, in prison, John (Jesus’ cousin) said, “ . . . having heard in the prison the works of the Christ, sent by his disciples, said to him, Art thou the coming one? or are we to wait for another?” (Matthew 11:2-3) John was at the end of the line God had for him. We all have an end some sooner than others, some more painful than others, but all will come to the end of the line God has for us. Again in Hebrews we read, “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.” (Hebrews 12:1) Please notice the writer of Hebrews encourages us to, “let us lay aside every weight and sin which easily besets us.” Every weight is not sin. There are two things moving here in Hebrews 12:1, weights; those things that are not sin, but cause us to get off track like our wrong motives, hard hearted heart condition, wrong ambitions, desires even our plans and dreams that are not God sponsored and of course our sin. Now we know how to take care of sin in our lives, we have already talked about Christ taking upon Himself the sin of the world, but how do we take care of those weights that so easily beset us? That too is easy, by us studying (not just reading) the word of God. When we read the Bible (God’s words) the words contained on the pages are Spirit and life to our mind and soul. And as we study the word of God (if we have the right heart condition) the Holy Spirit will be able to wash us of our negativity and wrong thinking and clean our heart of impurities. Jesus described this process in John 15. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:1-6) Now the word “purgeth” (Strong’s #2508, to cleanse of filth impurity) in verse 2 is not a pruning or cutting away from the vine, but a washing or cleansing. If God cannot wash us of the dirt of this world and our selfishness and self-centered heart then God cannot use us. The more we study (not read) the Bible and the more we allow the Holy Spirit free reign in our heart and mind the more we will be able to “lay aside every weight that easily besets us.” Please notice verse 3, “Now ye are clean the word of God which I have spoken unto you.” And please do not miss the warning (take heed my brothers and sisters) here in verse 6, “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” If we do not abide in Christ we are “cast forth” or picked/stripped from the vine because we have withered, we lack the power and strength to stay connected to the vine, and look “men” not God, but “men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned.” Many today in the church would say God would never do this, well my friend do not tell Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) or anyone else in the Bible where God’s judgment has fallen on them. Take heed my brothers and sisters. There is a cleansing and a washing in God so that we will be more fruitful, but so true also my friend there is a stripping/picking away, a gathering, and burning for those God brings to the end of their line and turns their back on God. Please do not be deceived by the “once saved always saved” doctrine. Yes, if we stay connected to the vine and live by every word that proceeds out from the mouth of God nothing will be able to remove us from God’s hand, but if we once were saved and walked with the Lord (the Bible is full of examples) then we turn our backs on God we will wither (no mechanism to receive strength from the vine), be gathered by men, and burned up. Make no mistake my friend God has a line for all to operate on and loves to bring us to the end, not to see us flop around or squirm, but to see us stand and withstand in His might enduring, in Christ, all that He and life throws against us.

CORRECTING OUR ERRORS

Karen and I like going to the Farmers Market (a market where there is fresh vegetables, crafts, and sometimes country or blue grass music) on Saturday before we go shopping at the commissary, the military food store I talked about in my last article. One of the reasons we like the Farmers Market is we get to meet our good friends Dale and Linda from Whispering Dove Ranch whom we buy our local honey. Well, one Saturday we stopped by and purchased four bottles of honey, a bar of goat milk soap, and chatted awhile. I enjoy talking with Dale about bee-keeping, something I would love to do if I had the time. So we said our farewells and off we went to the commissary. We shopped (a part of our weekly ritual) and when Karen was paying for the groceries she noticed she forgot to give Linda the check for the honey and the soap, well Karen was mortified she could not believe she forgot to give Linda the check. So I said no problem we can call them and let them know we will get the check out in the mail and Karen said no let’s drive back to the Farmers Market 15-20 minutes by car. I said no let’s call and see what they want us to do. So reluctantly Karen called (I was driving) and Linda said, please stick the check in the mail Monday, no problem, but there was a problem in Karen’s eyes she made a mistake and it had to be corrected as soon as possible. Yes, it could wait until Monday, but why wait until then. Karen said it was her good Catholic up-bringing that kicked in and she was compelled to make it right. Knowing Karen’s sense of morals and heart condition I would think my Protestant friends could learn a lot from my Catholic friends. So in the end we drove back to the Farmer’s Market and Karen gave Dale the check, error corrected. Now this was a minor error, but if we look at the remedy of the error through the eyes of the Scriptures we will learn a truth that will benefit us far beyond just correcting an error. When we miss it in God it is never about just correcting a mistake or error. We look at sin and say, we must not sin. Now this is true, if we are sinning we must stop, repent (flow in the opposite direction) and then try to correct the error. One can never repent and try to correct the error unless they stop sinning. Now I know that sounds simple, but if we will be honest with ourselves and others we know this to be true. Never think the act is what God calls the sin oh no. The act is only the wickedness and disobedience in our heart that manifests itself by doing what God told us not to do. God says, do not lie and we lie. God says do not commit murder and we commit murder. The list goes on. The act of lying and murder is not the sin, but the doing of what God said not to do. Anytime we do what God told us not to do we have sinned, we have missed the mark, we know what is right to do (because the Bible tells us) yet we do not and we sin. It is like it does not matter what we do for God that counts, but how we do things. Well sin is no different. Did you know sin was the biggest topic Jesus spoke on? Yet we seldom hear a message on sin, not a sermon (a moral or religious story you can apply to the Bible), but a message (thus sayeth the Lord) from God. Could it be sin is not important anymore to God? I think not. We focus on the acts, but God focuses on our heart condition, our intentions, and our motives, there my friend is where the heart of sin resides.

In this article I would like to look at two areas, the first is the heart condition we must have to be able to repent and then correct our errors and the second is this thinking in the church that says it is okay to make a mistake or error. Let us begin to look at the heart condition of true repentance. In Corinthians Paul shares with us, “For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” (2 Corinthians 7:8-11) Did you get that, “For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation.” I wonder what “Godly sorrow” looks like? If you cannot tell me then there is a good chance you have never experienced this sorrow and not really saved. I would think “Godly sorrow” is more of an inward feeling of devastation then just feeling bad. When we see what sin has wrought in our lives and the eternal sublime truth of who we are apart from God it should drop us to our knees as we too like Paul say, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24) This discovery, by the power of the Holy Spirit, of who we really are should kill us, bring us to tears, wailing and sobbing, snot running out our nose, but that is not what we see in church when someone (rarely happens any more) comes to the Lord, they make a commitment after they repeat the sinner’s prayer. Well my friend the sinner’s prayer is something man made up so that they will not have to follow the Biblical format of leading someone to Christ. Paul taught, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) Confessing (agreeing with God what He is saying about us is true) with our mouth and believing in our heart God raised Jesus from the dead is the only format that will lead us to salvation. And when we really confess we will understand, we will see, we will know of our shame and waywardness from God and it will kill us. Repeating after someone is NOT “confessing with thy mouth.” The words “thy mouth” is an utterance from the heart since thoughts of a man’s soul find verbal utterance by his mouth. Jesus taught, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matthew 12:34) Make no mistake my friend, whatever is in our heart will come out our mouth. We will be known as God knows us. We must speak true and honest words from our heart to be saved. And not repeating some words on a card, but words (from our heart) like I am sorry and really mean it from our soul. I am afraid many people have been deceived by the sinner’s prayer, thinking they are a Christian, but knowing all along they lack the evidence and power of the normal Christians life. Man is not dumb, he knows when he has something genuine, but I wonder why many people are content with the type and shadow of salvation when they could have the real McCoy? This too is why many fall out of the way so fast, they were never really on the way, no foundation of salvation was laid, no recognizing the cost Jesus paid on the cross, and no counting the cost we must pay to be numbered as a Christian. Oh no just make a commitment, well my friend this is dead wrong. Denominations like to make it easy, just repeat after me, they get more folks that way who have money, well it was not so easy for Jesus it cost Him His life. God does not care about our money, unlike many denominations, He is after our heart something which is far more valuable.

We will never be able to come to salvation unless there is an understanding of our need for “Godly sorrow” so too we will never be able to correct the errors (saying or doing something against someone) we make unless we come to an understanding of our need for repentance (stop making the error) and restoration (try to make it right). Now I am not talking about sin here we have discussed the remedy for sin, but they both require the same thinking process to remove them from our lives. When many people correct an error there is no real repentance, most are sad because they got caught not because the Holy Spirit has convicted them of their error. This is why they are doomed to repeat the error again and again. Yes, the Holy Spirit will convict us of not only our sin, but of the errors we make. How wonderful is this? The error is corrected only when we feel remorse and sorrow for our error and then try to make things right. Both processes must be moving in our attempt to correct our errors. If we only try to make things right (like what most people do) then the price in our heart we are to pay to remember our shame and folly will not be there and we will fail in our heart. If we only remember the shame and folly (not to speak of the condemnation we heap on ourselves) and not try to make things right, then we forfeit the joy and wholesomeness we always feel when we do the right thing. Can you imagine the joy Karen felt when she handed Dale the check for the honey? You will only be able to feel what Karen felt, if you have done what Karen did. Some churches ignorantly sing, “I want to dance like David danced” well my friend you will only be able to dance like David danced, if you went through the things David went through. Oh how we like to dance, but forgo the going through of things.

There is another area on this topic the Lord would have me briefly touch on. In James (one of my favorite Books) we read, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:14-17) Now “err” is not error, they are distinctly different. An error is to make a mistake (mild or malicious), but to “err” (Strong’s #4105) is to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way, and to go astray, wander, roam about. Brethren we must not cause “err” for our brothers and sisters. I believe this is one of the biggest failures of the denominational churches today to lead people astray from the truth of the Gospel and indoctrinating them into the denominational doctrine, customs, and traditions of men. This is what was going on in the church of Jerusalem. False teachers had infiltrated the church by 48 A.D., “err” had already crept in and defiled the brethren, sounds like today. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes knew what he was saying when he said, “there is knowing new of the sun.” My friend take heed God takes “err” very serious. God personally will show up and defend His word and His church He is building. We must be very careful (take great heed) not to stray ourselves, but more important not to lead people astray from the truth of the word of God. You know I tell the kids at the school where I work as a substitute teacher we must think right, it is not okay to keep making mistake after mistake, oh thank God for grace, but that is not God’s intention for us. Grace is there in case we need it (and I am glad it is) but God’s intention for us is to do it right the very first time and not make an error to correct. Written by David Stahl

MORE THEN BELIEVING

Karen and I were at the commissary (a type of supermarket where only people associated with the military can go) a few weeks ago and we over heard a lady say, “we have to hold on believing” and the Holy Spirit quickened in my spirit, “hold on to what?” I answered my thoughts, “hold to what God said.” Now the word faith and believing are interchangeable, anytime we read the word faith we will be correct saying believing, so too is the spiritual principle of directing our faith or belief into something particular. Many denominations teach stand on the promises of God’s word. I cannot begin to tell you, when growing up, how many times I heard, “brother stand on God’s word and believe the promise.” In the 70s you could buy a promise box, small cards with all of the promises in the Bible in a box and each day you were to pull a card out and claim the promise on the card, well my friend that is not how God operates. The word “claim” is not in the KJV of the Bible, any promise we received from God will be given to us because we have met the condition. For the promise box to be complete the back side of the card needed to have the condition written on it so that we would know what we would have to do to be able to receive the promise from God. Every promise of God has a condition we must meet. Even salvation is not condition free. Did you know salvation will not be for everyone? John tells us what we must do to be saved, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Salvation is for only those who believe in Jesus, not for those who believe. Salvation is extended to “whosoever may come,” but those who receive salvation will be only for those who believe in Jesus, all others will be lost. How arrogant and selfish we are to think we can claim something that belongs to God or just believe something will be ours and God will give it to us. No wonder many Christians give up and fall out of God. Their entire foundation of their salvation and thinking has been laid wrong and when they make an approach to God with their faulty foundation they will never reach His heart. Now please listen to me real good, I do not care how long you have been believing for something or what you are standing on, if God did not speak it to you (personally) then it will not happen. Healing someone is so easy if God says so, if not you and the people expecting to be healed will be confused and frustrated when you pray and pray and nothing happens. Now do not believe the old stand-by lie that you do not have enough faith to be healed. This is a lie from the heart of those who would want to manipulate and deceive people for gain. I have seen and heard this all around the world. We have no faith my friend until we are at a place of need and weakness in our lives where we can hear God speak it into our lives. In the Book of Romans we see Paul correcting this wrong thinking at the Church of Rome. “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” (Romans 10:16-21) Please notice how Paul handles their presumption and wrong thinking. First, Paul lays a couple questions at their feet to point their spirit toward soul searching and introspection. “But I say, Have they not heard?” And then answers his own question. “Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” Next Paul asks another question, ”But I say, Did not Israel know?” And then answers this question with, “First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.” Sadly the word of God went forth “unto the ends of the world” and inspite of hearing the word of God preached time and time again they never came to the knowledge of the truth so God declared, “All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” Sadly today in the church there is not much difference. Why did God say they were “disobedient and gainsaying people?” Because they did not hear the word of God? Oh no my friend, because their hearing was not founded in what God has said. In verse 10:17, we find the key to understanding these verses. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Please let me say that again, “faith cometh by hearing.” Now we already know it is not about just hearing God’s word (we have learned that in verses 18 and 19) as some denominations and churches teach and preach, but is about hearing what God said. In the early 90s many of my friend and our pastor would ride around in their car playing the Bible on tape expecting to get faith, believing just hearing the Bible being read will give them faith, well if that be true then every Sunday in America when the masses head for their favorite restaurant they would leave church filled with faith. Oh no my friends God does not operate like that, Romans 10:17 in the Greek Bible says this, “So then faith cometh by hearing a word from God.” (Romans 10:17 (Greek) Do you see the difference? It is not just believing or having faith, but being able to hear what God is saying in any given situation and if we can hear what God is saying then we will be able to sink the faith God gave us into whatever God said. How easy is that? Do you see the difference? If you cannot see the difference then you will never be able to hear and receive faith the way God has purposed us to receive it and worse we will continue to deceive ourselves in just believing. My friend it is much more than just believing we must hear, believe, and receive what God has said, for in the hearing and the receiving is every skill, ability, anointing, and knowing, every bit of power we will ever need to do that which God has asked us to do.

On my first ministry trip to Ansbach, Germany I learned the importance of really hearing what is being said. In my case not hearing could have cost me my life. Our church, Christliche Gemeinde Stuttgart, started out from a military chapel service on Robinson Barracks. Before I arrived there was a black American fellow who considered himself the Pastor of the chapel service in Stuttgart and of 6 other military chapel services in Germany as well as a church in England, Norway, Romania, Germany, and a few in Africa. He had real sweet deal receiving tithes from all of these churches and chapel services, but as time when on God made me responsible and accountable, according to the 6th ASG, US Army Chaplains Office, for the building and the people. God gave me the key to the front door and with it came the spiritual authority. Anyway, I was asked to travel up to Ansbach, Germany about seven hours by train and share at another chapel service. Now I have never rode the trains in Germany, so my good friend and later Associate Pastor Joseph Ojatabu (a Nigerian) said he would go and show me how to ride the trains. So we met at the Haufbahnhauf (main train station) in Stuttgart. We got on the train and departed. On our trip we had to make a connection in Frankfurt. When we arrived to Frankfurt we got down from the train and leisurely walked over to the next Gleis (train track). As we were riding up from Stuttgart I was telling Joseph there were many commercials on American TV where Americans where running for a train jumping over barrels, dodging fruit stands, all of the typical stuff you would imagine, well Joseph said we do not have to worry this will not happen to us. Well as we waited for the train to arrive Joseph noticed we were at the wrong Gleis so we quickly walked to the main board and discovered our train was at the other end of the Haufbahnhauf in Frankfurt which was four times the size of Stuttgart’s. So like a cheetah Joseph was off and running dodging in and out of people and I like a turtle was not so close behind him. I would see him occasionally as he zigzagged through the crowd for my bearings. We had seconds to make the train. Joseph made the train with time to spare, but I was not so fortunate. As I was running through the crowd I thought this is just like it was on the TV, running for a train in Germany. As I reached the train it began to back out, Joseph and others were standing in the doorway yelling run faster, so I grabbed the hand rail by the door and began to run faster. The faster the train backed out the faster I ran until I noticed the end of the platform coming quickly. So I had to make a decision, either jump (which could cost me my life) or let go and miss the train. As I was running I was thinking hey this is like on the TV commercials running for a train in Germany. So I ran as fast as one could in a pair of penny loafers, swung my book bag up and in the open doorway, and jumped with all I had within me. Now this was blind faith (it could have cost me my life), suddenly out of the doorway came hands grabbing me (from my shoulder to my feet) lifting me up and on the train and as I was floating onto the train I thought hey, this is like on the commercials on TV back in the States. Now here is my point to this story if I would not have heard the people telling me to jump I would have missed the train. Yes, I know running beside a high speed train may not be the wisest thing to do, but I did not want to miss the train and what God had planned for us. Hearing was receiving. So too in our lives without hearing what God has spoken to us we will not be able to receive from God. No hearing no receiving from God.

As we can see our walk with the Lord is much more than just believing. I do not know about you, but the longer I go with God the more I realize trying to serve God in Spirit and truth is the toughest thing we will ever do in our lives. It is almost impossible except for the faith God speaks to us. Even our salvation begins with God speaking a measure of faith to us, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3) How do we receive this measure of faith? We hear God speak it to us. What do we use this faith for? To believe on Him and be saved and out from this initial faith there is faith to faith, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17) We receive this measure of faith when we open our heart to God out from a broken and contrite spirit. Until then we have no strength to draw near to God. You see it is more than just believing. Written by David Stahl

MY BODIES OF DEATH

I do not know about you my friend, but the longer I go in God the harder it becomes to grow in God. Maybe that is because the longer we go in God the more He expects of us. The longer we go in God and the more He invests in us the more He looks at us as mature men and women of God. It almost seems like an impossible task. One day in Rwanda I was walking up a small volcano with steps cut into the pumice hill side and I slipped. I was wearing a pair of penny loafers (well that is another story), but the more I struggled to get to my feet the more I slid down the volcano until I was at the bottom. Everything seemed to have happened in slow motion. At each step I bumped and bounced to the bottom. I am sure the Rwandans (I would not blame them I am sure it was a funny sight to see) chuckled inwardly as they saw the fat white man bouncing down the steps. The bottom is not the best place if you are trying to get to the top. Now my destination is not the point of this story, but my effort and struggle is. If I would have stopped struggling and trying to get to my feet I would have stopped falling. A few days later I thought about what had happened and how that parallels our battle with our carnal flesh and sin. Paul really opens this truth up to us in the book of Romans, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:14-25) Of course Paul answers his own question in verse 25, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Only God can deliver us from our body of death. Now I do not believe Paul was talking about our physical body as much as he was talking about the things in us that we struggle or war against within our mind, heart, and spirit. Not the devil (who most Christians blame for bad things in their lives) as much as those things that cause us to fall short of God’s best for our lives. Those things that would kill the work of God in our lives and cause us to fall out of the everlasting way God has for us to go. There is so much here in these verses, but I would like to focus in on the spiritual principle moving in verse 24. I can relate to what Paul is saying because I too have a “body of this death” or in my case bodies of death. Now Paul was making a comparison to a dead body (Strong’s #4982, a dead body or corpse used in verse 24) to the warring in the members (our thoughts, plans, motives and desires) that win out and bring us into captivity. The war is real and vivid in us. Daily we wage war against our carnal thoughts, plans, motives, and desires in the face of knowing the right thing and path to go, yet we do not. I can think of nothing more frustrating (personally for me) than to know the right thing to do and do it not, wait a minute is that not the definition of sin – to know right, but do wrong?

One of the biggest areas in my life where this daily happens is my love for America and this world. I know the Bibles speaks of us being strangers in this world (Hebrews 11:13 and 1 Peter 2:11) and to come out of the world and be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17) from the world, her systems, and ways, but I struggle in this. Now I am not talking about getting drunk, smoking dope, cheating on or beating my wife, or even hating my friends and family, but I am talking about an ungodly selfish concern for America that sometimes over rides what I know to be true in God’s word and what He is doing at this time in the earth. Maybe if I would not have served in the U.S. Navy for 24 years I would not care so much about her. Maybe if I was not so proud of how America once spread the Gospel message and provided trillions of dollars to feed and heal billions in the world I would not mind watching her slip into moral and spiritual decay as a socialistic agenda from the liberal progressives are being entrenched into main street America. But, I know what God is doing. God has raised up President Barack Obama (God save his soul) and his administration (I wish them no harm) as a vessel of dishonor to humble and bring America to her knees, because of her disobedience, rebellion, and waywardness to Him and His words. But, I find myself kicking at the goads of what God is doing in America. Oh America you can play fast and lose with God for only so long. We have mistaken God’s longsuffering with His faithfulness. God is not mocked America, what we sow we shall also reap and we are reaping the bad spiritual seeds that was planted in America and the church in the 1960s and 1970s. Take heed America before God comes and removes your candle stick, thus sayeth the Lord. I know it and believe it, yet I resist it in my heart. I know at the heart of my frustration and struggle is my selfishness and self-life screaming to get its own way. When we struggle over matters of the heart most often it is because we are not getting our own way. Remember, at the heart of every issue it is always an issue of our heart. I know what God is doing, yet I reject it. I need to change, I need not be so concerned about America and what the Democrats are doing or saying to the Republicans or vise versa. I need not worry about the deception in both churches (the black and the white) to where color and politics are more important than God’s word. I need not worry about the economy or the political picture of America, because I know God is pulling the strings of our Government, America, and the world. All of this is my “body of death” and only God, as I submit my heart and mind to His dealings and judgments, can deliver me. If not it will kill my spirit and the work that I have allowed God to build in my life. We all have our own bodies of death (maybe many) if we are true with ourselves. For us to have the life of God in us we must allow God, “through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Paul tells us in Romans, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:13-14) It is amazing to me to read we become “sons of God” and “are led by the Spirit of God” when we can “mortify the deeds of the body” (#4983 body, same word in Romans 7:24) not when we work our fingers to the bone at church, sing in the choir, or any other church activity. I wonder why we work so hard to do things for God? Now please do not misunderstand me here, there are some things we must do to get the gospel message out, but the work God desires to do is not found in working for Him, but us becoming His work. In the Book of Genesis we were created in His image and today God is still creating us into His image, He has not changed His mind. We will never become the image of God unless we can learn to “mortify” or kill the deeds of the body. All of those things in us that maybe are not frank sin, but will keep us from growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those things we hold to for strength, those strong holds we have built in our lives that we lean on for support. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) Our “weapons” (Strong’s #3696, any tool or implement for preparing a thing) are spiritual, mighty in God for pulling down those areas in our lives that would keep us from allowing God to work in our lives, that would keep us from mortifying the deeds of our body of death. Sadly these verses (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) have been hijacked by the hyper-spiritualist (Satan under every rock) in the Body of Christ and distorted what Paul was saying and even sadder the truth of his words have been lost. Listen to verse 5, “Casting down imaginations” does that not sound like our flesh in deed and word? “and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God” does that not sound like we are wanting our way and the preeminence over God and what He wants? Oh how subtle our bodies of death are. We wrap our flesh up in a real nice Easter basket form of religion and tradition and present them to God, but His response is the same He told the Children of Isreal, “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 22Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 23Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. 24But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:21-24)

This may be off the topic some what, but at the end of the 1970’s there was a deliberate switch in the religious world (God never changes) from evangelism to teaching. Christians TV really kicked in full of teaching and individual ministry programming. It is no wonder why there are so many false teachers and religions in the Body of Christ. There is more money and people to be had in teaching. Teaching allows you to manipulate people. All of the main stream denominations exploited this opening, under the promise of sharing the Gospel, for numbers. They quickly learned they could get in a work centered teaching religion which exploded leading many Christians out of God and into a man-centered, non-spiritual, emotional driven, denominational theologies that has divided the Body of Christ and carved up the world (getting their own piece of the pie) with their own brand and teaching of the Bible. This is so far from what God wants. (yes, I am speaking for God) This is so far from what the Bibles says. Remember a false teacher is still a teacher, but they and what they teach is still false. If we ever will come to know the truth about ourselves we must stop deceiving ourselves. Self-deception is a most destructive area in our lives. One of the greatest revelations we can have in God is to know who we are in God and what our bodies of death are. If not we will continue in our religious and traditional ways thinking all is well with our soul, but in reality we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Let us daily, willfully submit our bodies to be mortified and put to 1,000 deaths so that God may live through us. Written by David Stahl

REMOVING THE BEAM

I do not know about you, but I often seem to get a beam in my eye or am not able to clearly see the best way, according to God, to solve a situation or heal a relationship. It is important we recognize we have a beam in our eye because if not we cannot get it out. Life is funny that way, how things before our eyes blind us to reality. When I first gave my heart to the Lord I was told all I had to do was: read the Bible, pray, and go to church, but many years later I find to really serve the Lord, in Spirit and truth, it requires much much more. A beam can be many things; a wrong thought, a wrong motive, a wrong attitude, wrong advice, or even down right sin. Now God has a reason for us to get the beam out of our eye, I believe if we allow Him to open our eyes then we will be able to help our brothers and sisters with the mote (splinter) in their eye. But we (especially Christians) as a people do not like to be judged, it is a part of our nature and character, we do not like to be told we are wrong or need to shape up in certain areas even if it is God telling us. When someone says something to us (exposing an area in our lives) that needs our attention (especially Christians) we dig our heels in the ground instead of agreeing with the person. At the heart of this thinking is a resistance and even a rebellion if it is to those in authority in our lives. But most times it is a spouse, friend, or acquaintance that sees an area we need help in. I know this is true in my life, Karen is very good at this. Having to eat crow does not taste good going down, but rarely do we see the benefit and value in our lives unless we can learn the lesson of the advice. Now make no mistake not all judgment about us is good, we must have wisdom to be able to discern was is from the Lord and what is from the evilness of man. When one shares with us an opportunity to better ourselves most often we will be able to discern the spirit of their intent and know then know they are really looking out for us as well as when one is not thinking of our best interest. When I pastored in Germany many Christians from around the world would come and want to pray for me, well I quickly learned not to allow just any body to lay hands on me. And I am always amazed with people saying, “you cannot say that you are judging me” as if we never make judgments during the day. Our day is full of making judgments we make judgments: to the clothing we will wear, the food we will eat, the places we will go, the people we hang out with, and on and on. If we make these earthly judgments (and we do) why can’t we make spiritual judgments? I think the inability to make spiritual judgments about our lives and others is one of the biggest areas in our lives that cause us to stumble. Did you know there are some places you cannot go or some people you cannot hang around and still serve the Lord? Oh no brother you are judging me. I cannot believe the number of times I have heard that when I make an observation about something that I see that does not line up with the word of God. Most people (especially Christians) go to Mathew and recite, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1). It is amazing how people know verses in the Bible that support their arguments to defend their opinions, but rarely know any verses that will enable them to grow spiritually. But if they continue on in their reading they will learn Jesus was really saying we are to judge ourselves so we can help our brothers and sister take the mote (small splinter) out of their eyes. “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:2-5) Jesus was saying if we do not judge ourselves we will not be able to see (understand or know) clearly how to remove the beam (a wrong thought, a wrong motive, a wrong attitude, wrong advice, or even down right sin) in our eye and the mote in others eyes. In verse 5 we read, ”Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” It is God’s intention for us to help our brothers and sisters remove areas not of God in their lives, through judgment, but first we must remove maybe the same areas or even others in our lives. The work of judging starts with us, not with our brothers or sisters. If we have allowed God to so work in our heart and lives we will have the ability in God to know the difference between right and wrong (because we will know the Bible), righteousness and unrighteousness, godliness and ungodliness (because we will have a spirit of discernment) we will have the ability to judge righteous judgment. It is no wonder we do not see much spiritual growth and development, most Christians lack an ability and spirit of discernment to recognize sin when they see it and then fail to separate themselves from it. Spiritual judgment always requires a separation in our lives, have it be us coming out from the world and being separate or us separating ourselves from things and people that would drag us down in God. It is no wonder we do not see people coming to the Lord. I can remember when I was growing up many people every Sunday would come to the realization of their lack and need in their lives without Christ and then come to realization of their need for Christ, but we do not see that experience moving in most churches in America today. If we would stop preaching a man-centered, feel good, Jesus loves you message I know we would see different results. It worked in the past and it will work now, but we must get over the desire for large churches and ministries, offering plates running over with money to feed a denominational monster, and pastors, preachers, and teachers full of ambition who want their ego stroked. People say to me, “why do you say such things about the church? Why can’t you look for the positive things; the people we feed, the houses we build, the songs we sing, look at our choir.” Well, all of these things are good to do, but they will not get us to heaven. Only when we recognize our need and lack can God come and meet them. It is our lack that brings us to God and only when we can see our need. When we come to a place of self-judgment before man and God we come to a place where God can begin to work in our lives.

Paul has a lot to say about judging ourselves. Most if not all of Paul’s letters and words to the churches was judgment. Now I am not comparing myself to Paul, but it is the same Spirit that moved in Paul is to be moving in us. Paul could only say the things he said because he had the Holy Spirit moving in him. So too we are to have the Holy Spirit moving in us. Paul in 1 Corinthians has much to say about self-judgment. In verse 30-32 we read, “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” Talking about how people do not judge themselves before they partake of the communion table “are weak and sickly” have no spiritual growth and development and even “sleep” or fall out of God totally because, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:30-32) If we judge ourselves we will not have God and others judging us. If we judge our selves correctly it is really God chastening us. Make no mistake my friend it is far greater we judge ourselves than for God to bring judgment on us. I often ask people (especially Christians) if they know we are to judge angels? You know angels today in the church are really idolized, well did you know angels, in God’s big scheme of things are lower than us humans? Paul tells us also in Corinthians, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-5) I wonder when we will find time to learn how to judge angels? Can you image having to judge Michael or Gabriel? When are we going to learn how to judge the world if we cannot learn how to judge ourselves and others? “and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” How and when do we learn how to “judge the smallest matters?” When will we learn how to judge ourselves and others? When we allow God to teach us to get the beam out of our eyes so we can help our brothers and sisters with getting the mote out of their eyes. Sadly here in the Church at Corinth they were judging each other without first allowing God to so work in their lives, removing areas that easily blinded them. This type of judgment leads to confusion and strife, loss of relationship, hatred and malice within the Body of Christ and in families. I have seen it over my many years. I have done it to my shame, but after I have learned and allowed God to help me take the beam out of my eye, though His dealings and judgments, I now have the ability in God to help take the mote or beam out of my brothers or sisters eyes. Again this is God’s intention for us. God does not intend for us to go through life with a beam or even a mote in our eye. How will we have them removed if someone does not help us? How will we see clearly to know what is the truth? Separation and truth walk hand in hand. What is the righteous choice in a situation or the difference in an ungodly situation. All of this happens my friend when we are able in God to come to a place of self-judgment. Make no mistake my friend we will make mistakes (I have time and time again), but in time and through mistake after mistake we will learn to know what God wants us to know and learn the mind of Christ in any given situation or circumstance. If not then we can of course keep deceiving ourselves.

My friend we hear truth taught and say amen and think we have it, but it is not ours until we have allowed God to work the spoken truth into our lives. Hearing and thinking is not enough. There must be a tearing down of our old thinking patterns and ways, then a building up in us to be able to walk in truth. God never builds on another’s foundation. This is a daily process whereby we submit our bodies as living sacrifices (which is our reasonable service) to God’s dealings and judgments in our lives. This message does not preach well in most churches maybe that is why most churches have lost the moving of the Holy Spirit. God intends for us to be able to get the mote out of our brothers and sisters eyes, please do not fall short of God’s intention and cower like a whipped dog, but stand in boldness armed with the truth of the word of God and proclaim, “thus saith the Lord.” You know whether it be a beam or a mote the spiritual condition is still the same, blindness. The only real difference between the two is the effort it will take to remove it. A beam requires great effort on our part, us working together with God, but a mote requires little effort just a brother or sister with a heart that has been softened and humbled by God. Written by David Stahl

A CASTAWAY

Now I do not consider myself to be a fearful man; after faithfully serving 24 years in the military (in a combat twice – Beirut, Lebanon 83-84 and Port a Prince, Haiti 94), traveled abroad for 13+ years, been shot once, brought life in and took life out of the world there is not much else that can move me to fear. I guess the only thing I am really afraid of is my self. I do not trust my self as far as I can throw me. I do not know about you my friend, but my selfish heart is deceitfully wicked above all things. But, there is not much that really scares me, except the word of God. If we do not have a healthy fear of God and His word we have missed the mark and have failed to know God. We should be extremely terrified of God to the point we will be obedient to Him. Why because no obedience, no fear or respect for God. We have lost the respect and fear of God in the sugar coated love and lollipop message of cheap grace. Well my friend grace is not cheap it cost Jesus His life and if we desire to experience grace it will cost us our life too. Do we not realize God could destroy us with a mere wave of His hand? Pastors, teachers, and evangelists that teach God is only a God of love do not really know God. Their reality of truth has been blinded by the greed and presumption in their heart. It has been my experience if you see a huge church filled with many people the message of the Cross is not being taught there. The Gospel message does not draw big crowds, Jesus found that out when He had 5,000 and then 4,000 come to see Him do some miracles and fill their bellies, but when He went after their heart (the target of the word of God) they had no stomach for the truth just like today.

To understand God the Bible tells us who and what we must know, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:23) There they are, what a bit of revelation! To know God we must understand God’s “lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness.” My friend not just His “lovingkindness,” but His “judgment” and His “righteousness.” Any time we talk about judgment people clam up, we do not like being judged even by God, well we better get use to be judged now because if we wait until later (say when we get to heaven) we will pay a greater, heavier price, and endure a greater loss to be able to enter in to the next things God has for us. And God’s “righteousness” do we really think we can wrap our minds and heart around God’s “righteousness?” Why do we sing songs to God telling Him how righteousness He is? I think God already knows how righteous, holy, and longsuffering He is. It is us who must learn and my friend we will never learn how righteous, holy, and longsuffering God is by singing or dancing. Oh no my friend, this is an acquired knowledge and understanding that comes by way of soul searching and honest reflection as to who we are in God, being pummeled to our knees by life, enduring God’s dealings and judgments, by experiences, trial and error, losing to gain, God filling the solitude places in our heart after we have willfully allowed Him to empty us of the world and our self. These are the making places in God we shun for the leeks and melons of the pabulum denominational prosperity and cheap grace messages.

There is a verse in 1 Corinthians that really brings me to my knees and causes me to shiver with fear and trembling, which is a good thing in our lives if we are going to have the respect and honor for God and His word. Paul too had this concern and fear as well as any person who recognizes the inability they have within themselves as compared to the task that God has called them to. In Corinthians Paul writes, “And 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: 27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27) The word “castaway” (in the NKJV disqualified) is Strong’s #96, and is translated not standing the test, not approved. Never forget the truth of the word of God is found in the words as the Holy Spirit ordered them in the text and in Spirit. Here Paul is saying after I have run my race and finished my course, after I have preached the word of God to millions, after I have done all of these things God would find me not standing the test, not approved or disqualified. Maybe this article is for all of the pastors, teachers, and evangelists who read my articles I do not know, but I do know I do not want to be a castaway, disqualified when I stand before God. The word “castaway” is further translated, unfit for, unproved, spurious, reprobate. How could we be a part of the Gospel message, proclaim it with all zealousness, with all our God-given strength and ability, but when we have finished our life and our race is done we are found by God to be, unfit, unproved, spurious, reprobate. I do not know about you my preacher friend, but this gives me great concern. I do not want miss heaven. It all goes back to; it is not what we do for God that counts, but how we do things for God. I wonder what the “test” is in the first translation of the word? Is there a test we will have to pass to be able to enter in? You bet there is. The next two words in the translation tells us the test we must pass to be able to enter in, we must be approved. The “castaway” was not approved, or he never qualified for the position, oh he held the position and many looked to him for guidance and leadership (like many pastors and leaders in the church today), but he was never approved by God. Did you know we must be approved or qualified for positions in God? God is not going to give you His things just because you have asked Him into your life, oh no. Forgiveness for sin yes, free (except for Jesus it cost Him His heavenly and earthly life) for the asking, but there is a process of spiritual growth and development we must willfully enter into to be approved for God’s things. It is no different than going to a bank and trying to get money for a loan. The loan officer says, show me what you have, what credentials, what collateral can you back this loan with? Well, God is no different. God says, “show me how much you love Me through your obedience, how much of your self-life have you willfully allowed Me to kill in you, how much of the world have you allowed Me to empty from your life?” What have you done with the things I have already invested in you?” “What have you learned of me being humble and lowly in heart?” These my friend are the questions and more God will enlarge us with to see if we qualify for the next thing God has for us. This is the process God uses to find if we are fit or a reprobate, one who knows not right from wrong, a scoundrel, a dishonest person, one who knows no honor or integrity. This life-long process while on earth God uses to mold and shape our character and nature into the very character and nature, the very image (icon) of Jesus Christ. I do not know what God will use to add to our spiritual growth and development in our next life, but you can take it to the bank, God will have a process whereby we will continue to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we (me and my family) were heading over to Germany the pastor of the church we were attending gave us a warm send off and the gift he gave me personally was this verse, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (2 Timothy 4:16) Many times God brought this verse back to my attention. Every time I would read past it the Holy Spirit would prompt my spirit and my heart to the importance of this verse for me and those who I minister to. It is a shame the pastor and I did not stay in touch over the years, he took a broad denominational way and I took the narrow path less traveled. I tried contacting him a few times, but he wanted nothing to do with us, seems he forgot his many words of mentorship to me and this verse. I hope he has not become a castaway.

One of the main ways we can become a castaway is to deliver the word of God in a spirit that is not consistent with the Holy Spirit. There is to be a flow and stream from the Holy Spirit that comes out of the vessel sharing the word of God to the people. This is why the vessel must be of a clean heart and clean hands. In the Old Testament the High Priest had to purify their body and clothing before they could speak for God, if not often they were killed by man or God depending what was going on. If the vessel of God shares the word of God out of anger, wrath, or bitter spirit then the people will receive the anger, bitterness, and wrathful spirit in their heart. Or if the vessel of God shares the word of God out from a fore knowledge of some sin or problem in the church then the people will receive the word of God in confusion and strife, because the word will be mixed with the facts of this foreknowledge. When I travel I go out of my way NOT to find out what is going on in the church. This way I can speak out from a clean heart and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to the church what they need to hear. James gives us the standard to what the vessel of God should be and how he should deliver the word of God. “But 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 3:17-18)

One of the fastest ways to become disqualified or a castaway is to sow the word of God in “partiality” and/or “hypocrisy.” Again when we know what is going on in a church or the “he said she said” we lose the Spirit of God and all that comes with it. Please notice the order: “the wisdom that is from above” (the order of things in the Bible are critical for understanding) “first pure,” “then peaceable,” “gentle and easy to be intreated,” “full of mercy and good fruits.” How could someone sharing the word of God be a castaway when they share the word that is pure (we must have a pure heart and clean hands), peaceable (the peace that passes all understanding that only God gives), gentle and easy to talk with (like Jesus who said He is gentle and lowly of Spirit), and one who is “full of mercy” (not one who gives mercy when needed, but one where mercy flows out of their bellies like a stream of water) and “good fruits” (one whose works are good and noble, one whose works have been accepted by God to plant into the ground to reproduce again and again). I do not know about you my pastor, teacher, evangelist friend, but I do not want to be a castaway or disqualified. I will be honest I have tried to do my very best, not in doing the many things for Him, but to become the vessel I need to become to be able to speak for God. What an awesome responsibility to be able to speak for God. Maybe that is the reason why doing in God instead of becoming is wrong and will end us separated from God forever, the stakes are high. Let us see how low we can go to get over the bar. Written by David Stahl