CALLED UNTO GLORY

I remember Charles Haun asking two pastors from Africa what is the best commentary on the Bible? Both pastors debated awhile among themselves and finally said Strong’s Concordance. With a little twinkle in his eye Charles shook his head and said, “no the Bible.” I usually do not quote this much Scripture to share my message, but how can you go wrong using the Bible as a reference. To be able to understand what the Holy Spirit is conveying to us in the word of God we must be able to follow three lines of expressions: the context, the setting, and the words. The truth of the word of God is contained in the words as the Holy Spirit enlightens our understanding this is why it is critical to have the precious Holy Spirit operating in our lives. The individual words that were purposely selected by the Holy Spirit fills and follows a certain context and setting that projects the spiritual lesson. We must never step out of the original context and setting when applying, discussing, and especially teaching Scripture, if we do then we willfully twist and manipulate the word of God to meet our agenda and projection. This is why all of the newer translations of the Bible mislead so many in the world from the truth of the word of God. And remember the original word was written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and contains the truth and effectual power in our lives to help us make the changes God is looking for in our lives. To understand what the Holy Spirit is saying to us, the Body of Christ, and the world we must study and not just read the word of God. We must find out (for ourselves so we will not be deceived) what the original words mean, therein is the context and setting of the truth in the word of God. This is the same advice Paul gave Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:15-18) It is no different today. We must study, we must “rightly divide the word of truth,” if not we will be like Hymenaeus and Philetus who “has erred” (not accidently mind you, but willfully and knowingly leading people astray) and “overthrow the faith of some.” Beginning in the late 1970s there was a subtle shift in presenting the word of God from evangelism to teaching this by the very nature will develop within the Body of Christ many false teachers and “profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” of which we are to “shun,” but if we do not know the truth how can we shun this “ungodliness?” Only by studying the word of God for ourselves and allowing the Holy Spirit free reign in our lives!

Sadly this is not the context and setting we find the Body of Christ in today. We do not study the word of God (most Christians seldom read the Bible for that matter) to discover the truth and have had our faith overthrown. Remember, “Faith cometh by hearing a word of God.” (Romans 10:17 (Greek)), not by reading. When we study the word of God the words come alive in our spirit with power, authority, and God can speak to us and out from His speaking we receive revelation from God (God’s sign of power and authority in our lives) and now we can move correctly in Him. I am ever amazed to the growing number of denominations and doctrines. Every time someone stumps their big toe and something happens a new doctrine is developed. We saw that in Toronto, Brownville, and so many other places, but now? I cannot believe how gullible the Body of Christ is; recently Hollywood has discovered a huge untapped source of new revenue, the Church. And has anybody noticed all of the “Christian movies” (that are not very Christ-like) in the market place like “The Passion of the Christ,” “One Night with the King,” and more resent “The Blind Slide” that everyone proclaimed was so wonderful, but never exalted Christ. Has anybody seen the big push in the church by the new agers, global warming and free love same sex crowd to get the church to support their agendas? Groups that openly support things God calls an abomination, yet they are making great inroads in many main-stream denominational and non-denominational churches. I will even go further and predict it will not be too long before the Southern Baptist Convention (the biggest evangelical denomination in America with over 16 million professing members) will start ordaining openly gay and lesbian pastors. Not to mention the huge push by the federal government to have evangelical churches and ministries (like CBN, TBN, etc.) support their “faith-based” programs all for political and personal gain. I speak shame on them all, they know not the truth of the word of God and are adrift and tossed on every wind of doctrine and lie that promises prosperity and wealth. Lord please open all (me too) our eyes so we can see only Jesus.

But, I am even more amazed to the number of Christians who want to be glorified who cares about repenting and having our sins forgiven. All I hear in most churches is, “it is our destiny to be glorified” well this is true, but their earthly understanding of the word glorified is much much different than the biblical understanding. Now we have been called unto glory. This call is a part of God’s original call to man. God always reminds me, He did not create us because He needed us (I use to believe that), but He created us for two reasons: To do His pleasure and to do His will. God always moves toward these two striking objectives in His creation: His pleasure and His will. These are the two great objectives toward which life as a Christian is focused, but to do this we must be glorified. We see this “glory” misunderstanding running all through out the Bible. Remember, either we understand correctly or we misunderstand. This misunderstanding is best seen with the disciples. Here the sons of thunder miss the mark, “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant (slave) of all. 45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45) Please notice Jesus does not choose who sits at His right or left hand (verse 40), we are approved, we qualify for this great honor through our obedience, dedication, and commitment. Did you know every problem in the Church today can be solved with these Scriptures: if we have studied them and allowed the Holy Spirit to show us the truth. James and John are no different than us today. They both wanted to sit with Jesus, who among us would not desire that? Jesus probes their commitment and dedication a little further, “Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”and of course they responded in total ignorance like us today, “We can.” Jesus sees their selfish and greedy heart and tells them they shall surely drink of the cup and be baptized, but not of the cup and baptism they think. Jesus calls all of the disciples and gives them a new spiritual principle, “But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” Now they did not understand, especially James and John (because Jesus would often take them and Peter a little further in the Spirit) they were still thinking who among them would be sitting on the right (a place of great honor) hand and the left (a place of less honor) hand. They thought what in the world is Jesus saying. I do not want to be a slave (servant) and serve everyone I want to be the “chiefest,” and be served and sit on His right hand. Here Jesus too was establishing the spiritual principle of glorification. The spiritual principle is death before glorification. In God we are not called unto glory to be with God in the heavens (that all is a selfish and self-seeking thought), but we have been called unto glory to lay our life down so He may be able to live through us. And after we do that then we can qualify, we can be trusted to handle some of God’s glory in the earth and beyond. Even Jesus experienced this principle when He died on the cross for our sins. In John we see, “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, 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 12:23-26) The condition to be glorified and be fruitful in God is to fall into the ground and die; and if we can lose our lives in this world “they shall keep it unto life eternal.” Where are we to follow Christ? To heaven? To ministry? Healing the sick and preaching and teaching all around the world? No, we are to follow Christ in our death. Is the servant greater than the Master? Paul understood this lesson all to well. He knew by personal experience, persecution, trials, tribulations, that if he wanted to come after Christ he too had to drink the cup and be baptized (the same cup and baptism the disciples indeed drank of and was baptized in) into the same death of Christ. Paul told the Christians at Rome, “Therefore 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 6:4-5)

Brethren we have been called to glory, but not the type of glory that is preached and taught in most churches today. We have been called to know ourselves truly in God whereby we can identify with the suffering and persecutions of Christ so that He will be able to reign in us now and in our next life to come. We have gotten off track. The hallmark verse of our ministry Beholding His Glory reads, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) The “open face” is the truthfulness of our approach to God in the Spirit and as we make our approach to Him we are changed into the same glory we can behold. Not all glory like many denominations preach and teach, but only the glory that we have allowed God to work into our lives. What we understand of God we can become that, nothing more. As we lay our lives down (identifying with the death of Christ) allowing God to work in our lives the fear and anguish we feel in our earthly flesh becomes the sweet aroma in the nose of God. The loss we experience in our natural man becomes the place in our lives where God can fill us. Either we are filled up with the world or God. The more of the world and our selfishness we can lose the more we can be filled with Christ. Our loss makes room in our heart for more of God’s work. This is why God measures our spiritual growth and development not by what we can gain, but what we can lose. Here too is another spiritual principle in operation. The condition to be filled is first we must be emptied. How full do we want to be of God? The answer will be seen in how much of our self and the world have we allowed God to shallow up, to empty in our lives. Do you hear God calling you today? Do not listen to the false teachers and preachers of today, you know them even by the Spirit. God is calling us to glory, but it is to a glorious death that will enable us to be raised in newness of life whereby we can live on forever. Death before glorification! Listen close, faint is His voice. In the August 2010 edition of Voice of the Martyrs there is an article and some words on page five that really struck at my heart. Naasir and Hoda are able to keep evangelizing (not teaching like in America) in the midst of the iron furnace (Egypt as in Deuteronomy 4:20) only because their foundation in Christ is firm. Naasir said, “The first lesson we were taught is how to count the cost. (I wonder why that is not taught in America?) In Egypt, our theology is the theology of pain. It is not a theology of prosperity. We do not know the theology of prosperity, but we know Jesus.” Maybe that is why many are called, but few are chosen. The chosen know the truth, hear His voice, and are willing to endure the pain to respond and move correctly. Written by David Stahl

BE NOT DECEIVED

One of the biggest warnings all throughout the Bible is to take heed to ourselves not to be deceived. Deception is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in our lives that will cause us to fall out of the way God would have us go. Paul, John, Peter, even Jesus time and time again warns us of not being deceived. False teachers are coming, be not deceived, yet millions of people daily are deceived by false teachers. To see some of them all you have to do is turn on Christian TV, especially TBN. It is amazing, warning after warning in the Bible tells us of their existence and of their methods yet millions are daily duped and deceived. Did you know every lie has to have an element of truth moving in it? There must be some element of truth in every lie for the lie to be believed. This is how the lie takes root in our lives, hearts, and minds, most often out from our greed. The truth appeals to our spirit, but also the lie appeals more to our flesh. This warning of taking heed is found in the Old Testament, “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;” (Deuteronomy 11:16) Yet millions were deceived. In the New Testament Paul, Peter, John, and even Jesus said, “Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.” (Luke 21:8) Yet today millions daily are deceived and led astray. Brethren, we are not to be deceived to what is the right and honorable thing to do and to the truth. This is our responsibility (not God’s) in walking in the way of integrity, righteousness, and truth.

I asked Karen who today is responsible for overseeing the integrity and righteousness of the church? And of course she replied God. Now this is true especially when time on earth will be no more and we all stand before a holy judge, but what organization or what group of people today has been charged to ensure the kingdom of God can come down to man and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven? You cannot really say the Holy Spirit, because most denominations and churches do not really believe in the Holy Spirit as represented in the Scriptures. In the past man was more wholesome and honest more Godly in ways, it seems with each passing generation there is less of God in man. I believe the push for greater technology, enlightenment, and desire for greater ease (sadly I can see this in my life at times) pushes God out of our lives corporately and our hearts individually. In the past a man’s word was his bond, no need for a governing board to ensure honesty and righteousness especially in churches, but sadly greater greed and selfishness coupled with a world-wide denominational conquest campaign (cutting the nations up into pieces of smaller religious bastions) has depleted most denominations and churches of honor, integrity, righteousness, a humble spirit, and a heart after God’s will. The watch dog today sadly has become the secular media. Now think back who has exposed “the men of God” for their ungodly and unholy practices, the secular media a very sad indictment on the church. And why? Because the church collectively has been deceived by the god’s of this world and by their own lust. James teaches, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15) Yes, the devil has a part to play here, but by and large the devil is defeated in our lives if we are walking in the things of God as He ordains us to. It is our lust, our ambition, our selfishness, and so much more that draws us away from the narrow way we must walk to be able to walk with the Lord. This deception is really seen today in America as the churches play the harlot with politics.

We (the Body of Christ) have the truth, we (the Believers) have the word of life, and we have the answer to the world’s problems and His name is Jesus Christ, but if we willfully engage in partisan politics; canvassing for promotion, campaigning for people that have an ideological agenda that is contrary to the word of God, giving or raising money for a certain political group (have it be Democratic, Republican, Independent, Green, whomever) then we willfully pull ourselves out of the moral high ground God has placed us. I tell my friends you cannot be a follower of Christ and politics. You cannot be politically active and active in the Spirit of God, especially if you are a member of the Democratic Party. Now I am not political (I do not vote), but if you are a Christian and you vote you MUST vote the Bible, you must take the positions of what the Bible says are truth and righteousness. The Bible says: abortion, same sex marriage, sodomy, lesbianism, all of the social political issues of the day that are near and dear to the Democratic party are ungodly, immoral, and are out and out open rebellion before God. How can you support something that God calls rebellion and call yourself a Christian? You cannot, you have been deceived by the political gods of this world and your lust for greed, power, and your rights being connected to a group of people (other than God’s people) to supply your needs. Politics is subtle and demonic, anti-Christ of what the Bibles teaches, yet the denominations and many churches are running head long faster and faster into it for the earthly power and influence politics can afford. Politics today (unlike in the past with some commons sense and civility) is all about the color of a man’s skin not about what they believe to be the truth and righteousness for the country or what they believe lines up with the word of God. When was the last time you saw a politician pray in public? It is not about our government, denomination, or churches (have they be black or white), but about our integrity, righteousness, and holiness of which without no man shall see God that is now on earth and when we are gathered unto Him through our physical death. Now I have many wonderful black Christian friends and black pastor friends that I have had the great honor and pleasure to teach the word of God in their churches, but sadly today in many black churches (why are there still black and white churches?) there is a heinous cancer that is growing in many of their main-stream denominations called Black Liberation Theology. James Hal Cone, the chief architect of Black Liberation Theology in his book A Black Theology of Liberation (1970) develops black theology as a system. In this new formulation, Christian theology is a theology of liberation, "a rational study of the being of God in the world in light of the existential situation of an oppressed community, relating the forces of liberation to the essence of the gospel, which is Jesus Christ." Black consciousness and the black experience of oppression orient black liberation theology, one of victimization from white oppression. One of the tasks of black theology is to analyze the nature of the gospel of Jesus Christ in light of the experience of oppressed blacks. NO theology is Christian theology unless it arises from oppressed communities and interprets Jesus' work as that of liberation. Christian theology is understood in terms of systemic and structural relationships between two main groups: victims (the oppressed) and victimizers (oppressors). In Cone's context, writing in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the great event of Christ's liberation was freeing African Americans from the centuries-old tyranny of white racism and white oppression. This Marist theology also preaches collective salvation instead of individual salvation, not the salvation of grace the Bible teaches, but salvation whereby black people take or are given the wealth of white people thus purchasing their salvation from God. The sacrifice and work of Christ on the cross is not important, the empty tomb of resurrection and hope in a risen Savior is of no importance, only with the redistribution of wealth (from white people to black people) can a white man be saved. This my friend is an ungodly, anti-Christ message, and it is deceiving most of the black churches and many of the well-meaning, but unspiritual white churches in America. I have attended services and taught in black and white churches and as a general rule of thumb I feel more of the Spirit of God in the black church than I do in a white church, not because of the lively music (we must be careful with music), but because of the humbled history they have endured. God always honors humbleness no matter the color of our skin or the wealth of our pockets. I will even go further; I feel the black church is one of the last hopes for a revival (like in 1903) breaking forth in America. Maybe that is why there is such an attack on her with Black Liberation Theology and Social Justice. My friend I have seen it with my own eyes and felt the devilish spirits of evil, racism, and hatred it projects. Even sadder our leader President Obama sat in a church for over 20 years, had his two daughters baptized, confesses he was saved under the ministry of one of the biggest preachers, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, of Black Liberation Theology and Social Justice; where the Federal Government takes money from the rich and gives it to the poor (another form of wealth redistribution) in the name of good works and God. If this is President Obama’s foundation in God then he has been deceived and the truth of God is not in him. It all is a sham and a lie from the pits of hell and some day President Obama and other politicians (as we all will some day) will stand before God and give an account of their willful deception of the American people. Again it is not about the color of a man’ skin or being political, but about being deceived and not knowing the truth of the word of God whereby we believe a lie. The Black Liberation Theology and Social Justice is just one of the 1,000s of anti-Christ Gospel messages; a message that has been twisted and bastardized for personal and political gain. Paul taught the church at Galatia, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9) Now please understand I pray for President Obama and wish him and his family no harm. We as Christians are to pray for our leaders, but it is not for them become better leaders (that is a selfish, self-seeking prayer) oh no, we are to pray for our leaders so that they all come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and then walk in it as they lead America (as it was in the past) in truth and righteousness. If our leaders have a true conversion in Christ then their policies will be patterned after God’s word and the nation will be blessed. The Bible says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” (Psalms 33:12)

America is off track because she drifted from her past moorings of: integrity, honor, common sense, righteousness, and has stopped sharing (as she did in the past) the wondrous Gospel to the world and why? The Church in America has failed to stand for truth as the word of God teaches and has been deceived by; distractions, politics, social issues, and self-seeking denominational goals and objectives while walking away from the basic elements of the word of God. Do you think God will not judge America? How long do you think God will allow us to thumb our nose in His face? We must get back to the basics of the word of God. The only way we can never be deceived is when we share with our families, neighbors, and the world ONLY the things, “we have which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;” This is why the disciples and the early church was so effective and powerful in God. It was real in their heart, in their spirit, because it was fresh and real in their mind. Some remembered hearing, seeing, looking at, and handling Christ no wonder their words were words of life and not death like most preachers and teachers today. We must get away from telling about the “stories and experiences” someone else had and come to know Christ afresh, bearing true witness, for ourselves handling, seeing, hearing, the Word of life. Either we will tell stories of things we do not really know happened or we will speak from a first hand knowledge. John knew this was critical in sharing the wondrous Gospel message when he said, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:1-4) Please notice in verse three there is a parenthetical thought or a mental thought within the written thought, “we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life.” As John was writing these verses the Holy Spirit captured his innermost thoughts here, how powerful!

Unless we get back to the basics of the Gospel message we will continue to be deceived again and again. And the more often we are deceived the further and further we will drift from the truth in the word of God. People in America focus on politics trying to bring back America again through blaming the other side of the aisle, cries of racism, and so much more instead of pinning the rose on the real problem, our evil heart condition and the deception it brings to the world. Please do not expect things to get better in America without a change of heart. The Bibles says, “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. (Psalm 12:8) For America to get better and be restored to the original place in the world God established America (to spread the wondrous Gospel message to the world and not to spread freedom and democracy) the people in America must get back to the basics of the word of God; confess our sin, repent of our waywardness, and share with the world, “we have which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;” in this is no turning or variance of being deceived. Written by David Stahl

ALL THE WAY HOME

I am reminded of a story about a missionary couple that faithfully served for 30 years in Africa to many small villages. Now they arrived back in the States (again after 30 years of dedicated loyal service to God) the same day President Teddy Roosevelt returned from a two week hunting trip to East Africa. The husband of the missionary couple looked out at the dock and saw the bands and a parade (thinking the commotion was for them) with folks with signs and streamers welcoming President Roosevelt back from his two week hunting trip. And the wife hearing the great commotion came up on deck to see what was going on. She too thought the parade, the bands, and all of the commotion was for them after all they served God faithfully for 30 years, sacrificed, endured sickness, and shame, suffered greatly for the Gospel message, but like her husband quickly learned all of the commotion was not for them, it was for President Roosevelt. Seeing this she got offended at the people, President Roosevelt, her husband, and God. So as the band played on and as the people marched and cheered the missionary couple quietly slipped off the ship and no one noticed. For some time the wife was very offended at every one so the husband asked God why after 30 years of dedicated faithful loyal service they did not have a wonderful home coming like President Roosevelt, after all they were gone 30 years and he was gone for only two weeks, they laid down their lives while he had a good time hunting it did not seem fair! God replied, you are not home yet. What a powerful and relevant truth for today that is contained in this short story. My friend we must take heed to ourselves to run the race God has placed before us (not some ones else’s race) and to run the race all the way home. In God there is no prize for second place. Unlike today in most races here is a first, second, and third place or worse everyone gets a medal or ribbon for just competing. In God my friend there is only us winning or losing the race. If we win we get the prize maybe heaven I am not sure, but for sure whatsoever God desires He will give us. And if we lose the race well, again that is up to God maybe hell I not sure, but for sure I believe it will have something to do with separation from God. We say sin separates us from God, well I am not so sure about that. For this statement to be true it must meet the conditions of apathy, distractions, and total neglect of God’s word. I would say our sin is a greater occasion (we even know this instinctively) for us to draw closer to God and for God to draw closer to man, so our sin can be dealt with and it is only our total rejection of God’s continual drawing in our lives by the precious Holy Spirit that will separate us from God. Separation from God is not God’s intention, but ours.

In Paul’s Epistles, time and time again, he drives these two main points: we must take heed to ourselves to run the race in God correctly and to run the race all the way home. In I Corinthians Paul compares our mysterious daily walk with the Lord to a foot race. Now everyone who listened to Paul knew exactly what he was talking about. Jesus was the Master at using basic elements of life (bread, wine, seed, etc.) to explain deep spiritual truths. Even though Paul never heard Jesus speak during His earthly ministry I believe this was something Paul received (Corinthians 11:23) by the Spirit and if Paul received it by the Spirit then it is there for us too. I can almost imagine the faces of the listeners when Paul says, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) I can see the eyes of the people get real big when Paul talks about the prize, like today. Not too many people enjoy the race for the running, oh no it is the prize they run for. Who enjoys the work for work’s sake, oh no it is the payday we work for. Paul tells them the prize is a corruptible (probably a real gold laurel wreath) crown. Now the winner of this race gets the crown from being swiftest of foot and the strongest, but not so in God. In God the prize goes to the winner of the race who is not swiftest of foot, but to he who “strives lawfully” or runs the race within the framework of the rules. In God we must run the race according to how God wants us to run (maybe up hill all the way) our race (not someone else’s) and we must run the race according to the rules (within the laws and framework) God has established all the way to finish line, all the way home. In 2 Timothy Paul instructs Timothy, “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” (2 Timothy 2:5) The word “lawfully” here is translated from the Greek (Strong’s #3545) as framework or anything that is established and agreeable to the law. We must run our race in God not quickly, but slow and deliberate, with much patience and long suffering, gentle, not giving offence unless God is in it, yet with singleness of purpose, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:,” and most importantly with great discipline and subjection to God and man so that after the race when we cross the finish line we are not a “castaway” or disqualified because we have run the race unlawfully. The fastest, inconsiderate, and strongest in God do not win; the slow, thoughtful, and weakest hold the eternal crown in God.

I find it amazing how many in the nominal church today (especially the ones you see on Christian TV) think being anointed and favored by God will ensure them success and prosperity in God, well my friend being anointed and even favored by God will not get you across the finish line correctly (lawfully) in God. Great men of God like the Priest Eli, King Saul, King David, Peter, and others lives were anointed and highly favored by God, but their lives were marred and marked with emotional turmoil and spiritual failure in spite of having great revelation of who God is. Last Sunday a visiting pastor introduced him self and I to him and he replied, ah David who danced before the Ark, whereby I replied no I am David Stahl and I do not dance. David’s life, all throughout, the Scriptures revealed him as a man that allowed his emotions to get the best of him. Some churches sing, I want to dance like David danced, well to dance like David danced you will have to go through the things David went through. Not too many Christians today want to go through the things David went through oh no, they just want to dance. Take heed to your emotions my friend they will lead you out of God faster than sin. Why do so many Christians want to hear about and watch miracles on Christian TV? Would it not be better to be the vessel God uses to perform a miracle? The obvious answer is yes, but take heed my friend the price you will pay to be used of God will cost you all of your selfish and self-seeking carnal nature and character something we dearly seem to cling to for life, but God does not want us to live He wants us to die. Because the more we can die the more God can live through us.

Even the revelation of God will not prevent us from sinning and having character flaws nor does it keep what we call bad things happening to us. We know of a father in the Lord to 10,000s of Christians. Far senior in the Lord to me who wrote many books and articles, had an extremely deep revelation of God, started a Bible School, held many conferences and seminars, was highly exalted and esteemed by some of the greatest preachers and teachers of today, but a few years ago it was discovered (the Bible says your sins will find you out, oh me) for the last six years he was having an adulterous affair. Many were stunned and angry, many turned their backs on him, and his ministry was dashed, but thank God for grace. Was what he did wrong? Yes by all standards, but without the grace of God there go the rest of us. Now please, understand my point here I am not beating him up, oh no (he was my teachers contemporary) but please know a deep revelation of God does not prevent us from stumbling and falling out of the way. We think the deeper someone is in God the more righteous and God-like they are, well that is absurd. It is the things of the heart, the Godly character that keeps us in the straight gate. God is more concerned about our character than all of our spiritual ability and all of the service we do for Him.

We have another friend and senior in the Lord who has an almost magical approach in sharing the word as he weaves the Scriptures in an unusual matter bringing clarity and understanding like none I have heard, but when you get to know him awhile you quickly learn his revelation does not line up with his character. We have traveled to many nations together sharing the wondrous Gospel message, he was always out in front and me in a more junior servant role. I had no problem with this relationship and still do not. He was always at the center of attention, the focus of discussion always centered around what he wanted and that was fine with me. But, when work was to be done he seldom was to be found lifting a bag (even his own) or reaching out to help another. He always wanted to eat at the finest restaurants, order the best portions, and then he wanted to split the bill evenly. If you objected and wanted separate checks he would make a big deal about it. These examples my friend are signs of being a taker and not a giver. Now I have know this friend (I still call him friend, but that is not the case on his side) for over 30 years and as strange as it may seem his character flaws do not change the affection and respect I have for him. I know I am not perfect and I too have character flaws (Karen tells me which is a good thing because truth is to keep us humble), but when God brings us face-to-face with areas (character issues and sin) in our lives that need to align with God’s word we must not reject the message nor the messenger. My mistake in all of this was to bring it to his attentions (but the Lord directed). Who does Dave Stahl (my junior in God) think he is to say such things? Sadly instead of seeking to find the truth in our 30 year relationship he quoted Scripture a typical reaction by someone who knows they are wrong and said he was going to avoid us, another typical reaction by someone who is wrong. This is not our wishes, but we all make choices have they be righteous or unrighteous, holy or unholy and out from these choices we must allow God to deal in our heart and lives to reveal the truthfulness to us about our choices.

In Matthew there is a verse that plainly scares the pants off of me. Jesus shares with the disciples, “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25Behold, I have told you before. 26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” (Matthew 24:23-26) Did you get that? “insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Now I do not consider myself to be “the very elect,” but if “the very elect” are deceived what chance do I have? What is the clear of the apostate church? Come over here to our church or denomination we have the answer you all are wrong. Christ is over here, no He is over here; well Jesus’ reply was “believe it not.” How will we not be deceived? It is not about knowing where Christ is, but having His words abide in us. “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” (1 John 2:24-25) Walk in the things you have heard, seen, and touched things you actually know from the beginning and all the way home. Written by David Stahl

GOD'S ETERNAL HABITATION

While I was waiting before the Lord preparing for our monthly Home Group Meeting the Lord impressed upon me Ephesians 2:18-22. I really love it when the Holy Spirit opens up the Scriptures to me in revelation, especially when He opens up something I have been holding before the Lord for years. There are many things I do not know that only God knows and He is not telling, so I must wait. I often wonder why God does not open them to me I thought maybe God does not know, well that is foolish God knows everything if not then He would not be God. After some time of playing a game I call stump the dummy (me being the dummy) I rested in knowing God is God and I am not, it is like prayer. Why do we pray? God knows what we need before we even ask. Jesus told the disciples, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:6-8) It is not God needs to be informed of our needs, but we have a great need in us to tell Him. I believe the importance of prayer is not the communication to God, but the communion with God and it is in our telling we find a peace and solace in our heart and spirit. There seems to be so much in God (the longer I go it seems the less I know) I have experienced and then forgotten (maybe I am the only one this happens too) having to relearn the lesson again and again. I am not sure if this is good I hope so, but until I can manage to be able to eternally hold on to certain divine principles in my life, I guess I will have to continue in learning and then relearning if need be.

For a few months I have been sharing on the Body of Christ; how ministry was about being obedient to God’s word to us in doing what He desires and not going and doing things for God on our own, how the Body of Christ is not a denomination or religion, but a spiritual expression of God to the world. How we must be one with God before we can be one with others and unless we partake of His death we will ever be able to walk in the newness of His life. How we must walk in restrictions and limitations, to die to our selfishness and self-seeking ways so that we can be able to be strengthened in the inward man, by God, enabling Him to bring us to the purpose and end He has created us for. Now that all brought us to lesson three (of a four part teaching) on the Body of Christ – the Building of the Body of Christ where we looked at the importance of willfully entering into God’s building program and allowing God to pull down those areas in our lives that have been built by others and our worldly affections. All of our religious traditions and practices will be exposed for the world to see and our heart will be filleted for us to see. We learn operating in spiritual gifts and abilities is not a sign of spiritual maturity, oh no signs of spiritual maturity are: knowing when to speak and when not to speak, giving honor where honor is due, able to give to someone who can never repay you, or saying in the midst of being affliction it is good to be afflicted by God. These are signs of spiritual growth and development not needing to be delivered, but able to stand strong in God while all of hell assails against you. Being developed and not delivered is God’s objective in our lives and if God has to deliver us from this situation or another situation do not think we have succeeded oh no we have failed. God will deliver us only because He knows the work of God in our lives is in jeopardy of being lost. My friend God does not want to deliver us He wants to develop us as He did with Moses, Daniel, the Three Hebrew Children, and even His precious Son (is the servant greater than the Master?), and so too in our lives. This way of the cross, the death to our self-life (God’s building program) is the “more excellent way” Paul was re-teaching to the Church at Corinth. “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:27-31) This “more excellent way” my friend will kill you dead, but that is okay this is another objective of God, He knows if we can lose our life for His sake then surely we shall find. Jesus told the disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26) You can find in the Gospel of John similar words from Jesus, “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (John 12:23-25) Losing comes first in God then finding, death to self in God first before glorification which is a divine spiritual principle.

Now here is where the verses from Ephesians come in. I have always been told and taught for many many years God’s grand plan for our lives is to be able to conform (even transform) our earthly character and nature into the heavenly character and nature (His icon) of Jesus Christ. Now this is true, but here is where this thought stopped. The obvious next question is why? Most denominations say so we all can go to heaven, but that does not make sense in God we seem to have this projection towards going to heaven, but that is not what the Bibles says, man is of the earth and is made for the earth and the earth will be man’s home for all eternity. God is not so much concerned about heaven as man is, but God is concerned about having an abiding place. In 1 Kings we read, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (1 Kings 8:27) And the eternal answer is, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” (Psalms 24:3-4) Adam was given the earth (Genesis 1:26-28) and Adam sold it (through disobedience to God’s word) so when Christ came He not only redeemed us, but also redeemed all creation that groans and moans under that sin until there is a great release in all creation a great redemption for all creation out of the bondage and coming soon there shall be a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness and here comes the Bride, the tabernacle of God, out of heaven from God to earth and we shall reign with Him forever, where in heaven? Oh no we shall reign with Christ on the on earth. In revelation we read, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9)

Now I cannot not explain it or even come close to understanding it, but God Almighty the creator of the heavens (all three) and the earth desires His eternal dwelling place, His eternal habitation to be in the heart of man. Please do not ask me to explain I get a headache just thinking about it, but God designs to live in humans as His eternal abiding place that is God’s intention. Therefore when He calls us He calls us with the objective to make us what He needs for us to be in order to fulfill all of His intentions. We must have clean hands and a pure heart for God to be able to dwell in us. This is why, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) We must become the workmanship of God so He can make us His eternal habitation. God “hath before ordained” not man, but God. So He calls us and out from those He has called there will be some who will respond to the presence of the Lord and the working of the Holy Spirit and the leading of God and the convictions of the Holy Spirit and the word of God and the message of God, there will be those who respond and give God what He wants and those He will choose and the others He will not choose because there has not been a proper preparation and conditioning, a proper arrangement which allows us to fulfill God’s intention and to function as God has ordained. Strange as it may seem God does not desire to dwell in temples made with hands; huge buildings with fancy landscaping and stain glass windows, God desires to live in our heart and for our heart to be His eternal habitation. In the Book of Acts, Steven told the religious folks of his day, “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50Hath not my hand made all these things?” (Acts 7:48-50) and they killed Him. Make no mistake my friend if you say the same to the religious folks of today they too will kill you. I have felt in the past and still feel today the sting of their rocks and their lies spoken against us. The more you go with God and stop running with man from show to show the more of the sting of death, which is sin (1 Corinthians 15:56), you will feel.

What a revelation from God, we are to be conformed into the character and nature of Jesus Christ our wonderful Savior so we can be an eternal abiding place, built by the Holy Spirit of God as an eternal place of God’s habitation, “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18-22) Let us desire to become that eternal abiding place of God. Let us allow God to work so in our lives through His dealings and judgments to such a degree we too will be able to stand with clean hands lifted and pointed to the heavens with a pure heart open before God for all the world to see. Written by David Stahl