EXPOSING DARKNESS WITHIN

When Jesus told the disciples and the crowd that followed Him, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16) They could not believe their ears, they were horrified. They thought Jesus was speaking heresy. Like when Jesus told the disciples, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father (Abba Father, Strong’s #5 in the Greek) which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9) “Abba Father” is the customary title and literally means direct address when praying to God. Jesus told the disciples to pray directly to the Father and they could not believe their ears, because in the past they prayed “Avie Father” or around through to the Father. This is where we get the song Avie Maria. But here Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world” a title reserved for only the High Priest and some of Sadducees and Pharisees. The people could not believe their ears. Can you imagine Jesus was making the common folks equal to the High Priest? Can you imagine the reaction the High Priest had when he heard Jesus’ words? Jesus was doing nothing, but exposing the darkness in the lie of only the High Priest and his henchmen being the “light of the world.” We all can (our choice) be the “light of the world” if we have the darkness exposed in our lives. Funny how having the darkness exposed in our lives is the condition to becoming the “light of the world.” But, who wants to have their darkness exposed? I will be honest not me, but this is the price we all must pay to be the “light of the world.” Never forget, we know the real price after we finish paying for it. In God paying the price for things are very expensive, this is why many would rather be an actor speaking great swelling words on the stage of life than to have their darkness exposed. Unless we allow God to search our hearts and expose areas of darkness within us (individually) that are not of Him (so they can be removed) we will continue to walk in our darkness and know not God. The condition to know God is to allow Him to open up our heart and reveal how much we are not like His precious Son Jesus Christ. But who wants to do this? Most people (often me at times) like the darkness within and run from God shining His holy light on us to expose us for what and who we really are.

As we look at the magical complexity like qualities of light as it plays against the backdrop of darkness it holds a very vivid and powerful physical lesson that is often extrapolated into the spiritual realm. Did you know there are 129 occurrences in 55 verses that pit light against darkness? Now it is important to know the Bible is not talking about the absence of the physical property of light which is darkness in these 55 verses. I cannot tell you how many sermons I have heard using these properties (light and darkness) to make a moral or religious point. When we read these verses they make good common sense, but if you prayerfully read these verses you will know the Holy Spirit is talking about righteousness and God’s work in our lives (as light) and sin and an unrepentive heart condition (as darkness). If we walk with the Lord for any length of time and allow God to work in our lives His work in us will be deposited, it will be written on the tablets of our heart and mind. But if we wilfully walk away from God the first thing we lose is the work God has been able to do in our lives. The work God has done in our lives serves as belts and suspenders to keep us along with His grace and mercy. We are not saved by this work it is grace alone, but it acts as glue to bind us together. The work of God in our lives is what brings us all into the unity of the faith, all hearts being dealt with by God the same. Having a prayer breakfast, joint church service or social pot-luck dinners will never bring us into the unity of the faith, but I promise you if we all collectively open our hearts and lives to God’s dealing and judgments (at the same measure) we will have no option because our humbling and submission bring us into the unity of the faith with God and man. It is the memories of my failures and victories towards my wife that keeps the dedication and commitment of my word to her alive in my heart. I am sorry to say my Baptist friends we are the only person who can take us out of God’s hand by turning our back and wilfully walking away from God’s invitation of mercy and grace. The Bible is full of examples. To teach other wise is just plain wrong and in the end many people will be left deceived and undone on judgment day. I would not want to stand before God knowing I have caused “err” (intentionally leading someone into error) in even one life.

Paul in the Book of Ephesians shares with us the intent of God’s heart as it relates to light and darkness, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (Strong’s #1651, to convict, refute, confute generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted) them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” (Ephesians 5:8-13) In the NKJV of the Bible Paul tells us to “expose them.” We as the Body of Christ seldom do this, expose darkness. But how will those in darkness know they are in darkness? How will they hear of the conviction or experience the shame of sin if we do not tell them of their need for Christ? I have been told not to confront sin, just pray for and love them. Well my friend that is not what Paul told the New Testament Church to do, “but rather reprove them.” In all of Paul’s life he did not mince words, oh no he told the truth up close and personal. But today we compromise and placate sin in the church and in the lives of friends and family members not wanting to offend so that we will have large crowds in our churches and full offering plates. When will we learn (or will we?) this is just plain wrong in God’s eyes? Well, Paul was not concerned about such things, he was concerned about telling people the truth of God’s words so that they will be able to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

We sing songs like, “When We All Get to Heaven” what a day of rejoicing that will be. We sing songs that speak of a wonderful time in heaven, are you kidding? I am not looking forward to standing before a Holy God. I hear many Christians say they are, well I am afraid their words reveals their presumption and immaturity. I do not know about you, but I do not believe at first heaven is going to be such a wonderful place. First we must get through the Judgment Seat of Christ. We sing songs about no tears in heaven, but the Bible says in heaven God will wipe away all tears, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4). Maybe these tears God will wipe away will be the tears we shed for the loss we will experience in heaven for our disobedience on earth. Disobedience must always be judged by God no matter where we are. Oh our sins will be forgiven and we get to go to heaven, but we will come to know all our idle and wasted opportunities, words, and time in our prior life on earth and it will humble us and bring us to tears. After all who wants to see their hard work, big church and ministry built in their life burned up by fire? Remember it is not what we do for God that counts, but how we do things. Have they been done for the right reasons and were our motives right? Were they done with the right heart condition? Or maybe they will be tears shed knowing family members, relatives, and friends on earth did not make it to heaven. I do not know about you, but I have family members who are not saved. This dichotomy of light and darkness that Paul talks about I find myself wrestling within my heart, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) Now Paul is not just talking about marriage here, but all of our life relationships we enter into. How I would love to see my family come back to Christ, but that is their choice and until then my fellowship and communion with them can only be limited. If God and His ways are not the focal point of our relationships then we really have nothing in common. We may have and love the same parents who did their best to raise us all in God, but that is where any true fellowship or communion ends. Did you know silence about sin is almost always viewed as compliance of sin? We must never be silent when it comes to sin, we must tell the truth in love. With my family, until there is a change in their heart we will be there for them, we will prayer for them, but our distance from them will speak volumes of the separation between us and the darkness within them. Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:34-37) Jesus has come to cut us and our affections out of the world and if our family is a part of the world, sadly they must go from our heart. Jesus said, “either you are for Me or you are against Me” He meant it, there is no middle ground. However, I would still think it would be very difficult to spend eternity in heaven knowing my family members are in hell. I think I would probably shed tears knowing this. To think we will not know or be concerned about our family members in hell for all of eternity does not pass the Bible common sense test and is just pure self-centered and selfish thinking on our part.

Lastly this exposing darkness within us is seen in two divine spiritual principles; humility comes before exaltation as death come before glorification. If we desire to be exalted in life and in God then humility must be the beginning point of our assent to Him and what He has for us. We must decrease in our self-worth and thoughts so we can see the darkness within us. The way up is really down. Down is the direction of the revelation of who and what we really are. It is no wonder few Christians want to become like Christ, “meek and lowly of heart” this revelation my friend will kill us. And death before glorification. This is the central point of the Gospel. Death always precedes any thing God does in our lives. In every victory failure must be present. There is no victory without failure, so too death to the love we hold for the things of this world in us and our selfish and self-seeking desires must be killed in us before God can glorify us. Wait a minute, why do we think God has to always being blessing and glorifying us? He is God! He makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust. He gets to do whatever He wants to do. He is God! God delights in the death of His saints, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalms 116:15). It is our death in God where newness of life in God is found. Paul told the church at Rome, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:3-5) No death no resurrection and newness of life. No death no glorification. Did you know God also delights in the opportunity to open our heart to us so that we can see what we are made of and how much we are not like Him. This exposing darkness within us is the bedrock of our faith. Accepting Christ comes out of us first seeing our need for Him and when we see our need for Him we also see the darkness within us. Written by David Stahl

THE WORDS OF OUR TESTIMONY

Many of our readers do not know when in town I work as a substitute teacher at Brewster Middle School onboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. This is something God started for me, working as a substitute teacher at Department of Defense (DoD) schools, when I retired in Germany and He has not changed His mind in this area. We must be very careful when we change our lives around. We better make sure it is God changing our lives around and not our desire. Change is good only if God is the authority, because He then will be the finisher. When we returned (this is one reason why God moved us to Jacksonville, NC) to the States I knew I must seek out a DoD school to continue in what God has started and it has been such a great blessing in my life and in the lives of so many others.

Anyway, one day while I was working at Brewster a wonderful Christian lady who is a custodian at the school came up to me and asked (in sort of these words), “please keep me in your prayers today Pastor Dave I am under attack from the enemy and I need to keep my mouth shut.” Almost instantaneously these verses, especially verse 11, popped into my mind, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11And 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 12:9-11) I shared them with her and she went in peace. All I hear in the church and on Christian TV today is how to be an overcomer, books are written about it, conferences and seminars are held about it, songs are sung about it, sermons are preached about it, but few people if any seem to be overcomers. Now overcomers go over not around or under things. This is why they are called an overcomer. There must be an obstacle, a barrier something standing in our way that we cannot get over without God’s help. It seems we shun the obstacles and barriers in our lives, may be that is why there are so few overcomers in the church today. The Huguenot Bible Teacher and Author John Wright Follette often spoke of trouble as being our servant. What a strange thought, troubles in our lives as a servant to make us better Christians. Most people (to include Christians) think of a servant as one who carries our burdens and does our dirty work. Well not so, our troubles can carry us far in God if we have the eyes to see their value. Charles Haun taught me a new way to sing the song “Count Your Blessings.” “Count your troubles name them one by one, count your troubles see what God has done, count your troubles, name them one by one and you will be amazed to see what God has done.” Yes our troubles can serve us well if we do not get stuck in the trouble and learn the lessons they were designed by God to teach us. Yes, to be an overcomer we must overcome troubles and the biggest trouble to over come in our lives is our mouth. Please notice the three requirements in verse 11 to be an overcomer. The first is they “overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.” As Christians hopefully we need no reminder of the precious blood of Jesus that was shed for the remission of our sins. This is a divine spiritual principle that is a crimson thread of truth that runs from Genesis to Revelations; without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. The writer to the Hebrews said, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22) This was true in the Garden of Eden, in the Old Testament temple sacrifice covenant, and in the New Testament covenant of Christ’s death on the cross. This should already, as Christians, be understood and we need not re-plow this ground of understanding. But it is the other two areas I would like to focus on in this article. The next area was, “by the word of their testimony.” Please remember our real testimony is not what we say about ourselves, but what people see us do. I can tell you swelling words all day long how wonderful Jesus is to me and all of the great things God is doing in my life, but what happens to my words when someone sees me kick my dog, hears me yell and scream at my wife, or even steal or lie to escape punishment I rightly deserve? All of my words of how God is moving in my life and all of the mighty miracles God is doing through me have been thrown to the ground. Our real testimony is what people see in us and what they see us do. Did you know it is easy to see what we are made of? My friend, it is easy to see what we are made of just listen to what comes out our mouth. Jesus taught this lesson many times in the Gospels. “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” (Matthew 12:33-35) If I want to know what you like or dislike, what your real interests are, or how you really feel about something all I have to do is let you speak and you will tell me everything I need to know about you. The opposite of this divine spiritual principle is also true; by what is not coming out of your mouth will tell me volumes about your character and nature. I can tell what is not in your heart by what is coming out your mouth, but that makes perfect sense because a man cannot give what he does not have. It is the same thought with prayer. I can tell where you are in God by how you pray. Do you pray telling God what to do and how to do it? Who and how to heal someone? Or what you want to see God do? How can we give wisdom and love if they are not in us? If they are in us then they will come out our mouth. They have to come out our mouth, because that is what we are made of. I often tell my wife I love her without thinking about it. It is automatic like breathing, and why? Because she is in my heart no matter where I go and when I think of her the love I have for her must come out my mouth. The third requirement of being an overcomer from Revelation 12:11 is the most difficult of the three, “they loved not their lives unto the death.” Now there are two components of this thought; the first and more dramatic is what most Christians go after and that is the laying down of one’s physical life. This thought, especially in America, leaves a sour feeling in our stomach, but did you know more people have been martyred for the Gospel in the last 20 years then in the last 250 years? Today in America the worse the church gets is to be criticized, yet many Christians fold like a house of cards while around the world Christians by the 1000s are being slaughtered for the Gospel and few people have taken notice. Well my American friends that all may change in the near future if the Lord tarries. Many people when talking about faith like to read the 11th chapter of Hebrews and stop about say verses 32 or 33, seldom do they venture on to the end, because these verses does not set well with their theology, fill seats, or offering plates, “Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:34-40) Who wants to use their faith to endure troubles and hardships in God like these when we can use our faith to get God to give us pleasant and blessed things? Today in America we use the Gospel message to soften life’s hardships and not to allow spiritual growth and development in our lives. As I said my friend if the Lord tarries I prophesy, “America your days are numbered the die has been cast, unless you humble yourselves and repent, thus says the LORD.” We will see then what we will use our faith for. In the 2nd Chapter of the Book of Revelation we read where God gave the Church at Smyrna a word of praise and encouragement, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (Revelations 2:9-11) This is the same Church (located in present day Izmir, Turkey) were Polycarp (69 AD to 155 AD), who was discipled by John, was martyred for his testimony. If you get a chance please look up the account of Polycarp’s death, but here is his final prayer, “I thank thee that thou hast deemed me worthy of this day and hour, that I should have my portion in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, unto the resurrection of eternal life, both of the soul and body, in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among these may I be received before thee this day as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, even as thou hast prepared and made manifest beforehand, and hast fulfilled, thou who art the unerring and true God. On this account, and concerning all things, I praise thee, I bless thee, I glorify thee, together with the eternal and heavenly Jesus Christ thy beloved Son, with whom to thee and the Holy Spirit be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” Yes my friend, there is a price many have paid and will pay with their physical lives and we must never trivialize it, but also in the third requirement (in verse 11 of Revelation 12) to become (a process God works in our lives) an overcomer there is another thought (and I believe the main thought) John was expressing. Yes, physical death was a part of this verse, but I believe John also was talking about spiritual death to our self-life. We will never become an overcomer unless we can learn to die to our selfishness and self-seeking. It is our love for our “life” our rights, our way, our opinions and views, our many words, what we want to see happen, to get the last word no matter the cost all of this must be put to death in our lives. We must lose our life if we truly want to become an overcomer so that we will be able to find the life of Christ. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:24-25) Where did Jesus go to lose His life? To the cross to die. Where do we have to go to find our life? To our cross to die. Maybe not a wooden cross, but most certainly a cross made by our will and desires submitted and laid across God’s will and desires for our lives. This is the place of glorification and finding life in God, us dying to our self-life. Jesus told the disciples now is the time the Father is going to glorify me and they thought now Jesus will take the throne in Jerusalem, but Jesus was talking about His death on the cross, death before glorification. “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die” there is no way around or under it we must die to our self-life. This is what the custodian did she put her mouth in the dust (Lamentations 3:29), she “loved not their lives unto the death” by not having to get the last word or retaliating to save her self she just kept quiet. Did you know dead people do not do a lot of talking? So too is the words of our testimony as seen and heard in silence. Written by David Stahl

LIFE'S DISTRACTIONS FROM GOD

Our lives are filled up with nothing but distractions. In life we have two major choices; filling our lives up with things of this world (distractions) or the things of God rightly applied to our lives. I am ever amazed how we fill up our lives with sports programs (both watching and playing), cooking programs (both doing and watching), reality TV, yard work and gardening, reading books, our pets, our vocation of employment, vacations and leisure, volunteer and charitable programs, the list is almost inexhaustible. If the Christians of today would go after serving God with the same fervor and dedications as they do with charity and good will programs like: the Special Olympic, Relay for Life, animal rights, human rights, politics – God’s word would be shared in a more sincere, simplistic, and serious way around the world. I am ever amazed to see what new things man invents to occupy his time and to satisfy his flesh. My friend our flesh is wicked and cunning above all things. It will stop at nothing to be satisfied. Paul drove this point to the heart of the Christians in Rome when he said, “For 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.” (Romans 7:18-19) Do we not think all of our good deeds and works (even church works) is done out of the goodness of our hearts? If the truth is to be known most if not all of what we say we do for God is really done for our glory and honor. And it is our flesh that screams to be exalted, praised, and satisfied. At the heart of this deception are the distractions we keep alive in our lives that blind us to the truth about God’s word and ourselves. Paul said, “I know that in me” I wonder how Paul knew this? That is easy, he was not distracted from the truth of what God told him to do and to the truth of God’s word. He learned this truth with every hardship and obstacle he overcame in his life. With each stripe laid to his back and each distress in his life (2 Corinthians 6:4-10) the clarity of the word of God resounded louder and because of the lack of distractions in his life the word of God was seen clearer and felt when he opened his mouth.

Now please understand me, in themselves some of the programs and deeds are not bad and can be useful in our lives. However here is the rub, these distractions often are nothing more than man’s willingness to avoid God’s dealings and judgments in our lives. Who wants to have God rumbling around in our heart and thoughts to reveal areas in our lives that are not of Him? Oh no, we would rather go play sports, paint a picture, sing in the choir, read a book, go visit someone in the nursing home, listen to music, watch TV, and so on. Again in themselves they are beneficial, but when they come between our heart and the work God desires to in our lives they become a distraction spiritually ending us in a pitiful and loathsome place. There distractions are man’s attempt to keep God at arms length and out of our lives as our flesh is strengthened and emboldened. My friend the only thing God wants to do with our flesh is kill it. Oh we cry and say swelling words of what we will do for God, but He knows the truth He is the discerner of our thoughts and intents of our heart. The writer of Hebrews said, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13) At the heart of every problem is a problem of our heart. And the problems of our heart begin as we focus our thinking and intentions away from God’s word and His plans for our lives. And yes, what we refocus on are the distractions we allow to take root and grow in our lives. There are three areas of distractions I would like to look at in this article. I am sure you have your own list, but I would like for us to look at how: our thoughts, our life-styles, and our service to God can distract us from God.

Our thoughts are so distracted with things of this world. It is no wonder there is no peace in the heart and mind of Christians and those lost in the world. Our thoughts are so filled up with ways to satisfy our personal needs, buy the next car and bigger house we have no peace. Rest and especially sleep escapes us as we worry about tomorrow, but Jesus said worry not (Matthew 6:30-34) about tomorrow. When we came back from Germany the Lord told me not to buy a home and now seeing the economy I can see why. For us now Karen and I are free to move as God directs. I really believe God does not want us to buy lands, properties, and homes. God knows the more we sink our lives into the world the harder it will be for Him to uproot or cut us out from the earth. Karen said, (and I strongly believe) “those Christians that teach and preach the prosperity doctrine secretly do not believe they will get something in the next life, so they will say and do anything to go after all they can get in this life, how sad.” Daily Christians watch senseless acts of violence on TV and ogle perversion on the internet that sear their minds. I remember a hotel manager in downtown Atlanta told me they love it when Pentecostal preachers come to town because the in room pornography movies goes through the roof. Sociologist say by the time a child reaches their 18th birthday they will have watched over 100,000 senseless murders and rapes on TV. It is no wonder kids are committing murders and rapes today. Why is their no peace, fulfillment, and contentment in the lives of many Christians? Their minds are not stayed on God and what He has said. Their minds and thoughts are so occupied with things of the earth they have no desire or room for things of the Spirit and of the Heavenly. Isaiah tells us, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3) If we desire “perfect (selfless like God) peace” we must align our thoughts with God’s thoughts and keep our intentions on Him. Yet today in the lives of many Christians (me at times) we see a continued drifting away in our thoughts. Our own thoughts condemn us to the point we drift further and further away. Paul also in the Book of Romans told the Church, “Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; 16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:15-16) As we think in our heart so are we. It is no wonder Paul again and again tells us to renew our minds. And why? People whose mind is not stayed on God do not think right, that is why they say the most bizarre things and commit the most heinous acts. But when we align our thinking up with God’s thinking and His word, we just think and act right. I really believe this area of the three is the most important area we need get right with God.

Next our life-style is so full of distractions. Everything we do seem to be about us. Seldom do we do anything for someone else. And when we do we think we have done something special, well that is not to God’s liking. God intends for most of our day to be spent doing things for others. We are so distracted and this can be so easily seen when we look at each other. I just cannot believe the number of people (to include Christians) in the world that have tattoos and body piercings. Now if you got a tattoo before you gave your heart to the Lord, well live and learn, but I am talking about Christians getting tattoos and body piercings after they give their lives to Christ. God strictly forbids this behavior, but you see it is all about us, “a self expression of my personality and the way God made me” is what I hear. Well this is nothing more than a lie and a distraction. God said (and He meant it) in the Book of Leviticus, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks (Strong’s #7085, incision, imprintment, tattoo, mark) upon you: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:28) We are not to imprint or mark our bodies and why? After all it is my body and I am not harming any one, wrong! It is not your body, it is God’s body. It is the same reason why we are not to have sex before marriage, God said not to and because our rebellion can directly harm our physical body (you can get hepatitis and HIV from dirty needles), but most assuredly our rebellion will harm our spirit body. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit we just cannot do whatsoever we want to do with it. Our desire for self-expression is nothing more than direct disobedience to God and His word. Yet we see Christian athletes pointing up to sky after they score a basket or make a touchdown with their bodies covered with tattoos or their lips and ears pierced with rings and other things. Paul again helps us, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) We are to “glorify God in our body.” We “glorify God in our body” when we allow Him to touch our mind and heart conforming us to the image of His precious Son Jesus Christ. We “glorify God in our body” when do what He has told us to do. It is a matter of a heart condition of obedience, not when we score, dance, sing, etc., this type of thinking just causes more distractions. Another distraction is our clothing. You know you can judge a book by its cover. I do not need to look through the pages of a Playboy magazine, the cover shows me what is inside. Our dress does not reflect the modesty and honor God commanded us in. Today in most churches ladies come to church with their breasts hanging out and their dress or pants so tight there is nothing left to the imagination, a real distraction for men. Yes I know, “to the pure at heart all things are pure,” but the distraction need not be presented if we are walking in the light of God’s word. And the same for the men, who cares if you have hair on your chest, cover it up. God has called His children to a modest and chase life-style. When I was growing up we wore our very best to Church to honor the King of Kings, but today it seems the best most Christians can do is short shorts, flip-flops, and flowered shirts. Now brother do you not know the Lord looks on the heart? Well yes He does, but He also sees how much you honor Him in word and dress. When I first when to visit King Abebe in Aveile, Nigeria I could not just go visit him, I first had to clean myself up and look presentable before I could speak with him. This was an act of honoring him and the authority the people of Edo State placed within his hands. Honor is a thing of the heart and is seen not in words, but in actions. It is disturbing to know some Christians dress better for work then for church, it is easy to see where their priorities are. I cannot believe how distracted we are by technology. Our life-style is so plugged in and wrapped into technology. I have never met someone in my life that was so important that they needed to have instantaneous connection with someone else. Who do we think we are? Are we really that important? I think not. We have cell phones, blackberries, blueberries, and other berries, computers, and the list goes on yet we are drifting from communication with God. And why? Because the more we go after technology the less of God will be in us. It is either the things of God or the things of the world. It is our choice. I see people so fixated and distracted by Iphones, cell phones, anything electronic phone or gadget that has a touch screen or button. Please do not think life is about technology, God does not call us on our cell phone, if He did then the Pastor would not flip the slide at church that reads please turn your cell phone off or put on vibrate.

Lastly our service to God is so distracted. Our intention is good, but our application is skewed. A lot of pastors and leaders start out sincere and dedicated, but over the years they have compromised the truth of the word of God to maintain their good standing with their church and denomination who pays their bills, kind of like selling your soul to the devil. Music, dancing, drama, and not the preaching of the word of God drives the name and popularity of the church. Whatever happened to “thus says the Lord?” It was replaced with the touchy feel good music and no consequence for our actions preaching. Babes in the Lord need to feed their emotions (singing, dancing, etc.) to feel they have a connection with God. But this is not what the Bible says. The Bible says the just (justified and redeemed) shall walk by faith. The only message we hear today is God loves you (which is true), but the whole counsel of God is He wants us to grow up into mature men and women of God. The message of only love shows us one part of God’s character and nature. Did you know there is only one message in the Bible? From Genesis to Revelation it is the message of the cross unto salvation. “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching (message, in the Greek) of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching (message, in the Greek) to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:17-21) If we allow all of these distractions to capture our mind and heart we will not hear this message and be lost. Written by David Stahl

TO THE END OF THE WORLD

When Jesus was giving the disciples (and us too in many ways) their marching orders He said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20) I wonder where and when the end of the world is? Now I can tell you a story (on a border crossing between Bulgaria and Romania) where had not Jesus been with me “lo, I am with you always” and a stranger took a severe beating for me my life would have been taken from me. Times like these we think we are at the end of the world, but not so. No matter when and where, we all shall come to the end of the world and it shall be seen through the eyes of the spiritual comparison and understanding in our lives. It is most often these comparisons in retrospect and understandings in reality where we can see God working in our lives moving us from one glory to the next glory.

But never forget beauty and glory is always in the eye of the beholder. What I would say is beautiful and glorious in my eyes may be ugly in your eyes. Man’s beauty and glory is comparable with something else man has made. But make no mistake only the glory of God is eternally glorious, beautiful, unique, and genuine in every way. In God’s scheme of things He desires to give us beauty for ashes. Strange how ashes come before beauty; we would think just the opposite. Well not so strange in God, it is like losing (John 12:25) first so that we can win. Man’s beauty and glory fades, withers as grass blowing the wind, but God’s glory and beauty last forever. Whatsoever man makes will rust, crumple, and even fall to the ground. Even a building to gather in to hear the preaching of the word of God and to pray will fall into the ground some day. We see this concept of beauty in our eyes moving in the Book of Ezra, but there is something much more critical to our spiritual growth and development here if we have the eyes of understanding to see it. “And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.” (Ezra 3:11-13) Here the “ancient men” (older men) saw both houses of the Lord. They had the opportunity to compare both houses of the LORD. Now their tears were not tears of joy, but tears of sadness. They compared the beauty and glory of the first house of the LORD against the beauty and glory of the second house of the LORD and the result of their observation was they, “wept with a loud voice.” Now please notice verse 13, “So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout.” The old men cried so loud the shouts of joy were muffled or almost drown out. I wonder what they thought when they saw the second temple? I bet they remembered the first temple, our mind works that may. In ways I kind of know what the old men were feeling. Unlike seeing a temple I remember how America and especially the power of God in church use to be. It has been years and years (maybe 10-15) since I have seen a genuine move of God’s Spirit in a church in America. I will be honest with you I really really struggle with the movement of America away from the conservative, traditional, and Christian values she was founded on to a liberal social progressive valueless society of today. And to make things worse these liberal social progressive values now are the bedrock of the church instead of the word of God which was the bedrock of the faith of our fathers. I gave 24 years of my life in service to the U.S. Navy and to watch America fade and fall from her “light upon a hill” as the late President Ronald Reagan would referred to America’s goodness and hope for the world gravely sickens me. I know this is Scripture being fulfilled, but in my heart I cry as the “ancient men” did when they saw the second temple. Please pray for me in this area. I even know America’s present administration has been raised by God to take her in directions to fashion her as a vessel for dishonor because of her continual waywardness and rebellion to God’s word. Just because the Supreme Court says something is okay does not change God’s word. Isaiah told Israel these words and my friend they are true for America today, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 1:19-20) Only being "willing and obedient” to God’s word brings to a nation His blessings, protection, and peace, but I prophesy if we reject God’s word then we must walk in the truth of verse 20, “ye shall be devoured with the sword (of our enemies): for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Our willingness and obedience will determine how far we go in God not His gifts and blessings. Often times God has to bless us outside His plan for our lives to keep us moving and interested in Him, but sadly He has not given us anything of Himself.

I'm convinced that there's an epidemic that has infected the Western church of the 21st century. I'll simply refer to the epidemic as myopia. No, I'm not referring to the medical condition in which objects can be seen distinctly only when held very near to the eye. I'm talking about spiritual myopia – a kind of Christianity and life style that has become so focused on self that it no longer resembles the faith of our fathers. The side effects of this spiritual myopia can be seen and heard all around us. Christian bookstore shelves are lined with volumes of self help books that entreat us to live our best lives now and become a better you. We hear this time and time again when we do our book signings for “Adventures with God.” Much of the music that receives a substantial amount of airtime on Christian radio stations is devoid of any reference to God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Gospel. Those references have been replaced with much more subjective ones that focus on me, myself and I. Songs are now intentionally written with a much more man-centered focus in the hope that they will receive playback on mainstream media outlets. Even preachers have not been immune to this debilitating epidemic. In some circles the sermon no longer is seen as the vehicle through which men of God seek to communicate the truth of God "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:4). Preachers increasingly have given in to the temptation to allow their congregations – and not God – to shape their messages. Consequently some preachers have traded substance for style and our congregations are showing the myopic effects of the exchange. The only cure I'm aware of is to take the focus off ourselves and to "turn our eyes upon Jesus." How do we begin to do that? I think we've got to start from the top. Pastors must stop allowing the culture and their congregants to determine their message. God's ambassadors must faithfully deliver the message of their King once again by preaching "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). Preaching the whole counsel of God might not always draw large crowds, but if it is a huge following that the pastor is seeking, he is part of the problem and not the solution, and shame on him. Our churches need to recapture a passion for the vital ministry of prayer. When we have spent time humbling ourselves in prayer we are less likely to think about our own desires over the desires of God? My own experience has proven that I'm never more concerned about the things of God than when I am praying. As the old song says, "The things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." We must make the Father's business (not selling the Gospel) our business once again. We have all found ourselves asking this question: "Is God really satisfied with what I'm doing right now?" There are many details of God's will that can cause us to wonder about such things. Yet, when we attempt to fulfill the “Great Commission” the questions and doubts begin to go away. The one thing Jesus commanded us to do when He ascended on high was to "make disciples of all the nations" and He has not changed His mind. He said that we should be a people constantly committed to the work of going, baptizing and teaching. A cure for our current epidemic will surely be found as the local Bodies of Christ begin to turn their attention and “eyes upon Jesus" surely our lives, our families, and our churches will express this same manner of urgency as well. May God grant this healing in our churches and then in America. Again America’s hope is “willing and obedient” men and women God can count on. The transformation of our lives and the salvation of the lost is depending upon it. The hope and salvation of America is not found in her military power, politics, or prosperity, but in a repentive broken church worshipping on bended knees. A church that has rejected a money and purpose driven works mentality with a liberal contemporary social Godless Gospel and now clings to a conservative Gospel message from days gone by. For too long the church of America and around the world has rejected and walked away from the foundational truths of the Gospel looking for personal fulfillment and self expression. This self-centered emotional approach to God leads to a selfish and self-seeking spirit that has birthed the denominational division and strife in the world.

A few months ago as I was welcoming some friends to our home group meeting I said these words, I never thought I would ever be saying these words, but I feel I will be alive to see the return of Christ. I have always thought I would go to be with the Lord by way of the grave, but now I am not so sure. Things have accelerated it seems the minute hand on God’s time piece has moved a few clicks. Paul shares these words with us, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7) My friend does this not sound like today? You know it does. Yet we ignore God and His word to us to fulfill what we want to do, shame on us. We ignore God and His word to us to fulfill our religious agenda and programs, shame on us. Denominational religious programs span the world, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (from ocean to ocean), yet we attend services faithfully, singing and dancing distracting ourselves from the truth of God’s word and His desire to deal and judge in our lives, while believing all is well with our soul. The Disciples believed Jesus would return in their life time yet He did not, but they lived their lives in a hopeful expectation as if He was at hand to make His appearance. My friend we too must live our lives as if the end of the world is at hand, because you know it is. Come now LORD Jesus! Written by David Stahl