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
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
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