OPPOSING GOD

I have had a very difficult time writing this article. My heart and spirit are so full of what the Lord would have me say, but I feel I do not have the words to express my thoughts. My hope is that the Holy Spirit (as in all of our articles) can communicate my heart to your heart. At the heart of this article is my resistance and opposition of God working in me and in the earth. When we speak (or even write) against what God is doing in the earth we are opposing God Himself and this my friend is very dangerous and troubling to our soul, heart, and spirit. God has a plan and He will bring it to an end even if we do not want to see it happen. Our wants and desires never really play into God’s plan and purpose in the earth. Oh God may slip some events in our lives to reveal to us more of His longsuffering and grace, but in the end God’s plan and purpose will be brought to the end that has been in His heart all of the time. In my life I see and even understand some events in the world that I know God is at work in, but in my flesh I resist what God is doing and find myself repenting time and time again. Now the repenting is good, but that is not what God is after. If the very best we can do is repent then so be it, God will honor that, but repentance again and again is not what God is after, oh no my friend, God is after submission, obedience, and acceptance the first time in our lives so we can have our heart settled and move with God correctly. If our heart is not at rest then we will be anxious and not established in the spiritual principles of God, ultimately we will move contrary to what God is doing and get off track. I see this moving in my life and am compelled to write this article. I guess I am not the first person to oppose God, Jacob was good at this too. In Genesis we find Jacob wrestling or opposing God. “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast wrestled with God, and with men, and hast prevailed.” (Genesis 32:24-28) Now I want to go on the record to say I do not believe Jacob physically wrestled God (Almighty), but I do believe he wrestled with a man or an angel sent from God. From these verses I can see wrestling with God is not a good thing to do. Many Christians are taught Jacob was the winner, but as I read these verses all Jacob got was a name change and for the rest of his life Jacob had to walk with a limp as a reminder for his disobedience. I wonder what Jacob would have gotten from God if he would have submitted and not wrestled? I guess we will never know. This is one of the rewards (something we get from God out from our behavior) we get when we wrestle or oppose God, we miss out on God’s best for our lives. I do not know about you, but I want God’s best for me and my family for this we must be obedient and not oppose God.

Now there are two areas I would like to discuss in this article, I am sure there are more and maybe in your life they are different. When I study the Bible I do not see many of the things the nominal religious (mainstream denominational and non-denominational churches) church of today say are in the Bible. For example, I do not see a mighty end-time revival (word “revival” not found in the KJV of the Bible) that most preachers (on TBN and other Christians TV networks) and pastors of big mega-churches talk about. But I do find, in the Bible, what I believe to be the description of the apostate church and its new age contemporary prosperity Gospel message as described in 2 Peter 2. Peter begins Chapter 2 by warning the Church at Rome and some in Asia Minor of her habitual drifting away from God and His ways into a contemporary selfish, self-seeking church as it interfaces with worldliness and a humanistic philosophy. Serving God for what you can get out of it. God’s plan is for the church to influence and change the world, but sadly what we see today is the world influencing the church and slowly transforming it into the apostate church in 2 Peter 2. Ungodly worldly thinking has subtly crept into the church transforming it into a place of self-exaltation and self-gratification. You see, there were false teachers who dealt in half-truths regarding the Christian faith and Peter’s letter provided a clear response to them as it exposed their lies and deception. As today 2 Peter 2, mirrors the same worldliness and humanistic philosophy. My friend there is nothing new under the sun. Peter writes, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (2 Peter 2:1-3) and at the end of the Chapter Peter writes, “But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:” (2 Peter 2:12-14) When was the last time you heard a message from God on this Chapter? Yet it is there all 22 verses, judging and condemning all of those who would pervert the true Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Now here comes the twist, I believe God is using TBN (and other Christian TV networks) and the mega-churches to usher in the apostate church as described in the Book of Revelation. There has to be a deceptive religion (one world religion) that the world will worship for the events of Revelation to take place around. And again I believe God is using the TBN, etal and the mega-church crowd with all of their money hungry, arrogance, and presumptive heart condition to usher in this one world religion, yet when I speak out against TBN, etal I am speaking out against God and His plan and purpose for TBN, etal. Why would God do it this way? To use a so called Christian TV network and mega-church structure to usher in the one world religion I do not know, but I do know I am not God and His ways are not my ways. The solution for me was the same solution for Jacob, to submit to what God is doing and willfully throw our lives in the very capable hands of God. To guard our lips and heart, but speak out the truth in love to see people turn from their deception. Karen made the observation (and I most strongly agree) people who are deceived by their denominational and non-denominational doctrines and religion cannot recognize the truth when they hear it. The power of these lies in their lives must be broken by the power of God and this will only happen when we speak the truth in love and then as the Holy Spirit speaks to their hearts. When I was wrestling with the Lord over the loss of a good friend who walked away from our friendship of over 30 years, because I would not do what he wanted me to do, God told me, “do not worry about , let me worry about , you worry about following me. Jesus gave the same advice to Peter, “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” (John 21:20-22) Great advice for us all to heed.

The second area is near and dear to my heart. Many know I am retired from the U.S. Navy after 24 years of dedicated, faithful service to God and country. I will be honest I love my country in which I live. I was raised (unlike many children today) to respect my government and those in authority over me. Now I want to make it perfectly clear, I do respect our government, I wish no ill will or harm to come to President Obama or any member of the Congress or Senate, but when I study the Bible I do not see America or any country like America around. I am confused because I see denominational and non-denominational churches canvassing for political position, money, and influence, but we as Christians have the truth that transcends politics. We are the lighthouse set upon a hill in great darkness. We have the message of truth, grace, and forgiveness in Christ Jesus not the government or any politicians. When we get involved with the political struggles of the day we willfully pull ourselves out of the spiritual high ground God has placed us in. Jesus never got involved with any of the political social issues of His day (the Roman occupation, slavery, taxation, feeding the poor, etc.) nor did He encourage His disciples or the people who followed Him to. Jesus was above this and He expects us to be above the political social issues of our day. Jesus kept telling the people who followed Him, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” (John 18:36) do we really believe this verse? If so, why do we dig our heels and hearts into the earth and do everything (like buying the finest car and home) we can do to make our time on earth overly eased? Bigger is not better, even in the things of God. If so, why are the churches of today so involved with politics? Especially the African American churches in America. I have many wonderful African American pastor brothers who preach the message of redistribution of wealth and social justice while ignoring the message of the Gospel. Not only the African American churches, but white churches canvass for promotion and give money to governments (Local, State, and Federal) and politicians for favor and influence so they can spread their agenda and power. They push the philosophy of social involvement (code words for a social Gospel) i.e. global warming, human overpopulation, and the entire “green” movement. The Southern Baptist Church (the biggest evangelical denomination is America) has softened their position on sodomy and lesbianism while endorsing and collecting money for global warming international efforts. What ever happened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ? All of this is evil and ungodly it is destroying the moral fiber and soul of America. Now here is the twist, I believe God is using these immoral leaders of the church and our present government who lack integrity and truthfulness to bring America to her knees in repentance, and if she does not repent then God will remove her candle stick from the world, American will be no more. America was raised up by God not to spread freedom and democracy in the world. Freedom and democracy are man-made terms not biblical terms. God operates in restrictions and limitations not freedom and democracy. In God you cannot do what you want to do and go where you want to go and really be used of God. America was raised up to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and when we stop doing this (as we almost have) America will be no more. America use to be #1 in sending missionaries, but now America is 13th and fading fast. I really believe President Obama and his government has been raised up by God to serve as a vessel of dishonor to bring America into judgment and wrath if she fails to turn back to God, because of America’s continued waywardness to God and His word. The Supreme Court has passed law after law that is in direct conflict to God’s word and now God’s laws have been replaced or totally forgotten in the heart and minds of most Americans, well my friend God does not play second fiddle to man. Just because the Supreme Court makes a law it does not over ride the truth of the word of God. America through the years has been turning her back on God. It has been a slow progressive deliberate drifting from God and in the 20th Century, especially in the 1960, America’s counter culture era things really began shifting in over drive. America today rests in her military might, but even the greatest military (chariots and horses) ever assembled can not stand against God’s judgment. America must get back to the heart condition in these verses, “Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 7Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. 9Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.” (Psalms 20:6-9) before it is too late. Personally (and I hope I am wrong) I think it is too late for America. I feel America’s best days are behind her because the collective of the churches in America, the core fiber of any nation has sold their souls for fame, money, and power. They have thumbed their noses at God and said we know better. The humanistic purpose driven denominational (and non-denominational) churches playing a contemporary new age Christian rock and roll music that glorifies a self-centered man and exalts the physical virtues (strengths) of man has forgotten, it is not about them, but about humbling ourselves before a righteous and holy God. They are drunk on themselves, they have merchandised the Gospel, “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” (Revelation 18:3-5) But still in the face of all of this truth, in my heart and in word I oppose God when it comes to the pulling down of America; call it selfishness, call it blindness, call it what you wish, but I find myself getting angry at God when I see God working out His plan and purpose for America. In my heart I know what God is doing, but I do not like it. Please pray for me. At the heart of these two issues is the selfishness in my heart. When we get upset with God over issues likes these it is because we have not gotten our way, our selfishness is screaming, “I want my way.” When we oppose God it is our selfishness that gives ear and voice to our desires. Let us allow God to kill these in us before it is too late. Written by David Stahl

WHY WE SERVE GOD

Real service to God is never outcome focused, how many people we can get to church, how much money we can raise to build a new sanctuary, or what can our church do for the community. Real service to God is always heart focused in obedience to God which never looks at effort or expense. The goal is how will God be glorified in all I do. I believe most Christians today serve the Lord so they can get things from God. Now God You know I am serving You, so here is my list now jump through the hoop, dance to my song, and give me what I want or I will leave You. This is the attitude and heart condition of the new age Gospel message you see on TBN and other Christian TV networks. It is an attitude of entitlement, just like the world has. Sadly but very much expectantly this entitlement thinking has slipped into the churches and deceived the people robbing them of the true Gospel message, and now America is broadcasting these lies to the world. I received a very interesting email last week that talked about this topic. The author of the email believes (and I enthusiastically agree) God is using (raised up like He did Pharaoh) Christian TV networks such as TBN to fulfill the Scriptures and usher in the apostate Church as described in 2 Peter Chapter 2. Please take a heartfelt read of Chapter two and I promise you will see what is on Christian TV (like TBN) and hear the ungodly message and in most churches of today. The heart condition of the folks on TBN and those that support TBN say we will serve God and He must give us His anointing, money, His blessings, and our destiny well my friend God does not dance to our tune. God does what He wants to do and we are along for the ride as long as we are obedient to walk in God’s ways. I hear, “so blessed not stressed,” this is nothing but deception not even wishful thinking, this type of thinking is selfish, self-seeking, and just plain greedy and will earn you a place in the apostate church and maybe Hell. Real service in God always kills us inwardly so that God can strengthen us with might in the inward man. Paul knew what I am talking about. The Church at Corinth was a troubled lot of people. Paul said they gathered together (1 Corinthians 11:17) for the worse rather than the better. The City of Corinth was a crossroads of global influence, industry, philosophy, and thought. Every practice and ritual of the world was present in the city. If you notice on a map the City of Corinth was built on an isthmus. And just like with the Panama and Suez Canal it is faster and cheaper to cross this isthmus then to go around the Peloponnese Peninsular. Now here was the problem the waters off of Corinth was dangerous so to solve this problem they would take the boats out of the water and put them on wheeled sled like transports to move them from one side of the isthmus to the other. As one of the hubs of the early world The City of Corinth had every religion present and functioning. The early Church in Corinth adopted, mixed, and matched other forms of other world religions (like today) to get people to come to church, but, John tells us, “That which is Sprit is Spirit and that which is flesh is flesh (John 3:6) It did not work then and it will not work today. The end result was spiritual confusion and open rebellion to God and His word. The early young church seemed to be no match for the established religions of the world, except for a man of God (Paul) who was willing to lay his life down for the Gospel message and endure criticism, misunderstandings, separation and loneliness from family and friends to be able to speak the truth in love to a religious world and people who knew not Christ. In 2 Corinthians 12 we read of Paul talking of the early Church at Corinth, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 16But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 18I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 19Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.” (2 Corinthians 12:15-19) Paul was willing to be spent physically and spiritually for them and the more he loved them the less they loved him. Do you hear what Paul is saying here? Paul never was a burden to them he worked as a tent maker for room and board I wonder why so many preachers are out there looking for a pay raise every year? When I pastored in Germany I took no salary (even though I could have) nor have I ever asked for one cent in all of the years I have traveled in ministry. Usually I come with money to help defer expenses of holding a BHG pastors conference and/or crusade. Sharing the Gospel message costs money, but my friend if you have to beg and plead for money to go abroad to minister maybe you should not be going. I cannot remember a single time begging and pleading for money to go abroad. I made the trip known to my friends and God moved on their heart to give. This was also a sign from the Lord to me that He was behind me going. My friend if God is not funding your ministry your better, in these uncertain and dangerous times, take heed and be careful what your are doing. Just because God said He wants you to go does not mean it must be tomorrow, it may be for another time. Remember, God’s speaking is always His intention (no matter what He says), but application and execution of His words is always seen in God’s timing and will.

Always remember if you desire to serve the Lord family and people who do not want to serve God will hate you. But we serve God because He and He alone deserves our service. When we serve God it will always cost us something personally. The cost always exacts a heavy toll on us and our relationships. I re-learned this truth with my late Father’s and Mom’s 60th Wedding Anniversary. Now we did go and congratulate my Dad and Mom on their 60 years of marriage (All Because Two People Fell In Love) on their anniversary (15 Aug), but we did not stay for the party on the 16th of Aug. God told us not to. Many would say God would never do that, well for those who would say that I see your words has betrayed your understanding of God and how He operates. Many months before the party God told us my Dad would be dying soon (you can verify this with Karen) and told me certain things to say to my Dad when I get time in the ICU with him, and lastly God told us if we wanted to see my Dad in heaven we could not go the anniversary party. We knew this party was very very important to my Dad, it seemed like he was holding on to life for the party. We also knew if we did not go it would break his heart. We also knew my brothers and sisters would never understand. There already was much friction between them and us over our stance for the truth of the word of God (how we have been raised from little children) and we knew this would only cause more division. The lies and mistruths about Karen and I are still there (and so is our position when it comes to God’s word) and must be dealt with someday, but strangely enough with the death of my Dad we have a greater pity for my brothers and sisters. I love them all very much, but still there is a line in the sand we dare not cross. Death always softens our hearts, but this is so we all can be drawn nearer the Lord where true salvation is. So we could not attend the party we knew my Dad’s soul was at stake. I have not shared this with anyone in my family until now. Were we willing to forego the party and not join in the festivities of 60 years of marriage to see my Dad go to heaven? Of course our answer was yes. You might ask how could this happen, your not going to a party and your Dad being assured of heaven, well I did not say he was assured of heaven, but the ground of sorrow and greater repentance was plowed in his heart out from the sadness I saw in his eyes from the pictures taken. Godly sorrow does work repentance in our heart. I may have missed the party, but my father (we believe) made it to heaven, a great trade off indeed. We serve God so that others may receive, never forget that my friend because if you do you will begin to drift over into the wrong thinking of the humanistic gospel message, serving God for what we can get from Him which has filled the Church of America and now is being exported to the nations.

Lastly there is a wonderful sermon preached by Paris Reidhead called ‘Ten Shekels and a Shirt” taken from Judges 17 that addresses the heart of why we serve God. After going to East Africa and finding the African pagans quite happy in their sin and having no desire to be saved he has a face to face with God. “There alone in my bedroom as I faced God honestly with what my heart felt, it seemed to me I heard Him say, "Yes, will not the Judge of all the earth do right? The heathen are lost, and they’re going to go to Hell, not because they haven’t heard the gospel. They’re going to go to Hell because they are sinners, who love their sin! And because they deserve Hell. But……I didn’t send you out there for them. I didn’t send you out there for their sakes." And I heard clearly as I’ve ever heard, though it wasn’t with physical voice but it was the echo of truth of the ages, finding it’s way into an open heart. I heard God say to my heart that day something like this, "I didn’t send you to Africa for the sake of the heathen, I sent you to Africa for My sake….They deserved Hell! But I love them! And I endured the agonies of Hell for them!!!! I didn’t send you out there for them! I SENT YOU OUT THERE FOR ME… Do I not deserve the reward of my suffering? Don’t I deserve those for who I died?" And it reversed it all!! And changed it all!! And righted it all!! And I wasn’t any longer working for Micah and ten shekels and a shirt! But I was serving a living God! I was not there for the sake of the heathen. I was there for the Savior that endured the agonies of Hell for me, who didn’t deserve it. But He deserved them, (the heathen). Because He died for them. Let’s be done, once and for all, with utilitarian Christianity that makes God a means, instead of the glorious end that He is. Let’s resign. Let’s tell Micah we’re through. We’re no longer going to be his priests serving for ten shekels and a shirt. Let’s tell the tribe of Dan we’re through. And let’s come and cast ourselves at the feet of the nail pierced Son of God and tell Him that we’re going to obey Him, and love Him, and serve Him, as long as we live, because HE IS WORTHY!”

Why do we serve God? So that He and He alone can be glorified, any other reason we name is dead wrong. Written by David Stahl

DID I NOT SAY TO YOU

Over the past two years my back has gradually gotten worse. Back in 2000 my 980 pound top secret safe containing 65+ years of paperwork fell on me (a wonderful story of God’s mercy, protection, and faithfulness maybe I will write about the accident) and now I have Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) all along my spinal cord in disc spaces from: Cervical-3 through Thoracic-12, Lumbar-2 through Lumbar-5, and down in Sacral-1. Unless God does a miracle my DDD will continue to the point some day I might be paralyzed, but if that is what God wants for me I trust I will be able to say glory be to God. But for now I am able and strong to plod on for Christ. I always say this is just another way God wanted to add more money to my military retirement and now He could be adding more. Now many would say, God would never do this, well my friend if you serve God long enough and come to know Him in different ways you will come to the conclusion that God does things far above our thinking and for reasons of His own purpose and good pleasure. But more recently my lower back has really been paining me. So I called my doctor and to make a long story short he scheduled me for a MRI. After the MRI the technician told me (on a Thursday) the results would be emailed to my doctor the next day. The next day we were driving from the middle school where I work at onboard the U.S. Marine Corps Base and my doctor called me on my cell phone in great alarm (I could hear the fear in his voice) imploring me to come directly to his office because he wanted to discuss my MRI results. So we did. Now I have had many MRIs most just talked about my DDD and listed the disc levels, but this one was much different. The usual discs were discussed, but of note they increased in degeneration and now some have herniated, but what got my doctor so spun up was the radiologist saw something new at the L-5 S-1 spaces. He was not sure what it was so he recommended I undergo another MRI, as soon as possible, this time with an imaging contrast dye that would light up the significant abnormal findings. So two days later I got another MRI this time with the imaging contrast dye. And the next day I got a call from my doctor with the bad news. The MRI report said, “I believe this most likely represents a neoplastic process rather than extruded disc tissue and this would most likely represents a nerve root sheath tumor or (another really nasty type of tumor) a Schwannoma.” I was stunned! I thought a tumor in my back? I also knew how deadly these two tumors are. Karen looked at me and I threw her a big smile. I thought what is going on? At these times we usually run down the typical questions we ask ourselves in our minds, usually ending with did I sin? Again I was stunned. Now I do not care where you are in God or how much faith you say you have, when your doctor says you have a 10 mm deadly tumor growing in your back and it is growing at an alarming rate fear will gripe your heart and soul. Now if you are thinking “I would never be afraid” you are either dead (and it does not matter) or just lying to yourself and God. We all love life, we do not want to die. Our life is one of the most precious things God has given us and no one in their right mind wants to lose this most precious gift from God. I will be honest I was shaken and bewildered. I thought of myself is this the man who wrote a book on eight miracles God performed in his life? Is this the man who has laid hands on people and cast out demons? Is this the man who has prayed for God to open up wombs and twins were born (not once but three times), has laid hands on people and seen God open eyes and ears, strengthen and heal limbs and hands, who God used to touch lives and hearts where countless 1,000s have been made whole. The answer to all of these questions was yes, yet all of these weird thoughts started running through my head, but at the same time in my heart and in my spirit I heard, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) There was a battle suddenly raging in me, a battle for my soul and my sanity, but through it all I maintained my composure as I allowed God to strengthen me with might in the inward man where it really matters in times like these. We as humans seem to be so outward focused, most if not all of our efforts in life seem to be projected in providing for the care and feeding of our outward man at the determent of our inward man where God communicates with us. As I get older the more I seem to want to make this earth my home. The more I want to have a big comfortable home, a nice truck, a lot of money in the bank, well that is not God’s idea nor plan for us. But anybody who thinks this way is greedy, selfish, and knows not the God of the Bible. The writer of Hebrews tells us we are to have the confession of being a “strangers” or “pilgrim” on this earth, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.” (Hebrews 11:13) We must not dig our heels into the earth as we pad our bank accounts and lay up treasures here on earth, but be kingdom focused and too “declare plainly that they seek a country.” I do not know about you, but when I become concerned about my ease and welfare God’s voice becomes faint in my ears and heart. And the more I go towards myself and my needs God seems so far from me, distant in my thoughts and prayers. So our meeting with my doctor ended by him telling me he will schedule me for an appointment with the best neurosurgeon in Greenville. I thought great we can go see our two boys Dave and Joshua after the appointment.

After we left my doctor’s office we returned home and later that night I went to the Lord in prayer about what we were told about my MRI results. Now I will be honest I was shaken, but I was not moved. There is a huge difference. A tree sways and at times bends in all direction (shaken), but still stays firmly planted in the ground (not moved) and is not moved. And why? Because it is anchored into something that is able to hold it and not anchored by something that the tree is able to hold on to. Do you see the difference? So too in God, we must be so anchored in Him so that He is able to hold us and not so much that we are able to hold on to Him. There is a huge difference. As I waited before the Lord in my spirit I asked God do I have one of these tumors the doctor says and He so clearly, like a bell ringing in the stillness of the night, said, “no my son, all is well.” My heart leaped within me and my mind should have been at rest and that should have been enough to remove all fear and put me at complete rest, but it was not so. Now I heard God clearly speak to me (in my spirit), yet seemingly that was not enough for me. In the Psalms David tells us God knows our frame and I think we most often think God is talking about our physical body, but remember our mind and spirit is also included in our frame. And, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.’ (Psalms 103:13-14) God pitied me and knew what I needed to be strengthened me beyond the words of my doctor or beyond the possible cancer that was growing in my back. As I opened up my Bible the Lord directed me to the Book of John and then to one of my favorite verses in the Bible and what I believe is the format we must flow and operate in for God to be able to bring His good things into our lives. The Bible, God’s word in written form is always something we can count on to hold us in confusing and bewildering times. In John we read, “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) Here in this single verse we find the rule of three how faith operates in our lives. Of course we know the settings and the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead, but there is much much more moving and operating here for us to understand and learn. Troubles like these are nothing but lessons for us to learn and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Here we find Jesus speaking and establishing the first rule, “Said I not unto thee.” In God whatever we are believing for God must speak it and we must hear it. My friends, faith is not hoping or claiming the promises (as many Pentecostal denominations teach), but hearing. Remember, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Faith cometh by hearing! I really like the Greek version of this verse and believe it is much more accurate and correct in application of what the Holy Spirit is looking for in us, “So then faith cometh by hearing a word of God.” (Romans 10:17 (Greek)) Hearing what? Your favorite Christian song or someone read the Bible on tape, no we must clearly hear God speak a word to us and in the word God speaks is contained all the faith we will ever need to believe, which is the second rule. Hearing is a must, but hearing is not enough. Many people go to church and some truly hear the word of God, but go home unchanged. After we hear from God we must believe what we heard God say. Did you know the word “faith’ can be interchanged every time in the Bible with the word “believe”? They are the same word in application and function. Please notice the biggest word in the Bible “if.” “If” thou believe, believing is not up to God, but up to us. “If” always pongs the ball into our court and puts the choice and action of receiving, not on God to deliver as most teach, but squarely on us. It is always God’s intention to give us His good gifts, but it is always our responsibility and duty to believe, what God has told us when He speaks to us, so we can move in the third rule, “thou shouldest see the glory of God.” What is the glory of God? Well, what did God speak to you and what are you believing for? In the story in John 11 many Christians think the glory of God was to see Lazarus come forth from the tomb, but I would believe it was for Mary, Martha, and all who stood around the tomb to believe Jesus could do what He said He could do. So too in our lives miracles and such are great to see (usually for non-believers), but God is more concerned about the inward quality of our heart and our character. God is more concerned about our heart condition than the service we can provide Him, the money we can give Him, or the work we can do for Him. If God cannot get us to value our heart condition over our service to Him He really cannot use us, we will disqualify ourselves and be found as unfaithful servants. I know this critical point is not taught in most churches today, but maybe that is why there are so many unfaithful and untrusting stewards in the local Body of Christ. Oh how I see this point time and time again in my life and how I can be so woefully lacking, Lord have mercy on me. Anyway when we really see God’s glory all of the other things in our lives just seem to melt away.

When I asked God about cancer possibly growing in my spine He lovingly spoke, “no my son, all is well” now I had to believe to see the glory of God. It is funny (well maybe strange) when we need to see the glory of God we seem to see everything else, but God’s glory. This is when we must learn to fine tune and focus our spirit to God’s voice and be able to shut out the distractions of the world and other voices that would take the word of God from our heart and prevent us from dwelling on and in Him. Oh by the way, the neurosurgeon in Greenville told us the neoplastic tissue the radiologist saw on the MRI was an old hernia that healed over another hernia and probably is just extruded disc tissue, but it absolutely was not a tumor. I smiled and in my heart as I said under my breath, “Said I not unto thee that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God.” What my friend are you believing for? Did you hear Him speak? If not, draw near to His heart, there and only there we can hear His words to us. Written by David Stahl.

AFTER YOU ARE CONVERTED

Karen and I attended a United Pentecostal Church (UPC) recently. Now the people were friendly enough, but I always feel uncomfortable when you go to a church for the first time and they stick a pencil or pen and questionnaire in your face wanting to know: your name, address, phone number, number of kids, reason why you are attending today, etc. My reply usually is no thank you and then I ask is it not enough that God knows I am here today? But, what I really dislike the most is the fake smiles and overly friendly greetings (trying to project they are a church of warmth and love), but we have attended a UPC before. While living in Jonesboro, Georgia, before we took orders to Germany, we attended a UPC. As a matter of fact the church we attended (Dave, Daniel, the pastor’s father, and I literally raised the walls in the church building we built) started in our home the aftermath of a nasty church split. I remember the pastor telling me all of the five UPC in the Atlanta area started from church splits, not God’s idea of church planting. Now it was God’s will for us to attend the UPC in Atlanta as it was for us to attend this service today so I could write this article. The service was a typical UPC service; an emotional hype from the start with an over emphasis on speaking in tongues. But Paul forbid this practice and corrected the Church at Corinth for doing such things, especially in a church service, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 6Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?” (1 Corinthians 14:4-6) Speaking in tongues (especially in a church service) is self-centered and a very selfish religious practice that does the local Body of Christ great harm in unity (maybe this why the UPC always seems to be in great strife and splitting) and to the individuals who feel less of a Christian until they (quote) “receive the Holy Spirit.” Now I must agree having the Holy Spirit functioning in our lives is critical with our walk with the Lord, I have a prayer language and recommend this for all, but it must not take preeminence in our relationship with God and must be maintained in its proper function and order. I was hoping the preaching would be strong, but again the service held to the UPC form. As I was setting there the Lord brought to my attention the number of times, during the singing and preaching, the words, “just believe” or “all you have to do is believe.” Well my friend to really walk with the Lord believing is not enough there is a conversion process that must happen in our lives if we are going to walk with the Lord to any degree. Yes we must believe (many verses in the Scriptures bear this truth out), but believing is suppose to lead us to the conversion process of being converted. I see this process play out daily in my life and I choose whether or not I will believe and allow God to work in my life moving me further down the line to His dealings and judgments. I am ever amazed to find in my life things I thought once destroyed still alive and well in me and when (not if) they rear their ugly head I must be quick to allow the Holy Spirit to slay them in my life. My friend we are the gate keeper of our soul. We are the one who can separate ourselves from the love of God. God in His intention and will for our lives wishes none to be lost (in both application and in an objective in our lives), but in reality sadly we know many are daily lost and go out into a Godless eternity because they chose not to accept God’s free gift of salvation. Now this conversion process I speak of is a very painful process in our lives. It hurts when God begins to expose us for who we really are and begins to pull down areas in our lives we are built on for support and strength that are not of Him. All of our religious traditions and practices we hold so near and dear to our heart and identity with who we are in Christ. Ministry, gifts, abilities, all we do for God is not to be our identification in God, oh no my friend, our identification in God is what Christ has done for us. I find the longer we have walked with the Lord the more of these areas we seem to gather into our lives. A new born babe in the Lord knows nothing, but Jesus the One who has saved them from their sins, the lover of their soul. What a wonderful, fresh heart condition to have. But all too soon things will change, our sinful heart will be exposed to us and the approving by God will begin in our lives to conform us into the character and image of Jesus Christ God’s precious Son. Our salvation in Christ is far more than just believing there must be an inward conversion (that will manifest outwardly) that must take place in our heart and spirit, if not there can never be a newness of life in us.

Jesus taught much on the topic of this conversion process, especially with the Disciples. The Disciples (like us at times) really had character and ego problems. Childish displays of anger and arrogance often portrayed their behavior and wrong thinking leading them to think they were greater than what they really were. One day they asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Mathew 18:1) Jesus was a master at crushing their egos and haughty spirit with simple, but very powerful examples. Jesus replied, “Verily I say unto you, Except (no other way) ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.” (Matthew 18:3-5) They were dashed “become as a little child” (not just a child, but a little child), “humble himself as this little child,” but we are adults, mighty men of God we cast out demons and heal the sick we do not need to be humble do we? Jesus was talking about a heart conversion not a size or ability conversion, a need to come down in their own eyes and allow God to open to them the mysteries of their sinful hearts. They were saved (they believed) and even walked with the Lord, but still there was a great need in their lives for more work to be done. Most Christians (here I am again at times) are not willing to endure the purifying fire of the Lord and only believe in Him. But God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) and we do not like to get to close to God we may get consumed, but that is God’s intention in this conversion process if we are consumed He then can give us His beauty for our ashes. Sadly many main stream denominations and religions seize or recognize this point and take their folks only so far. No need to get the folks too stirred up and unhappy they will not support our programs and agenda. Again believing is a must, but there is much more work we must allow God to do in us. Jesus again said, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matthew 13:15) Most Christians never allow God to convert them and thus the, “people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed.” This is not God’s intention for us. God’s intention for us is “any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted and I should heal them.” What a wonderful promise from God.

In Luke Jesus is talking with Simon Peter and said, “Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32) We cannot strengthen the brethren unless we have been converted, unless we undergo this process of God’s dealings and judgments in our lives. As a matter of fact we will destroy the brethren and bring death to every relationship we enter into unless we allow God to strengthen us with might in the inward man. I guess Peter understood what Jesus was talking about because in the Book of Acts we read Peter saying, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:19) Now we see for our sins to be “blotted out” we must repent (about face or flow in the opposite direction we were going) and be converted, much more than just believing. Please notice “and be converted” has been set a part with commas to highlight a second and very different action required to have our sins “blotted out.” “And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” what a seemingly impossible task. How can we do this? We cannot, God must be allowed to work in our lives to convert us to His way of thinking, to His way of life. Written by David Stahl