THE END IS NEAR

While growing up I would often see people walking around with a sandwich board draped over their shoulders with the words written something like, “the end of the world is near.” Usually you find these folks around bus or subway stations, airports, in a city center or plaza any place where people transit. Now I always thought this always seemed so silly, but the older I get and the longer I walk with the LORD the more my view of these folks and their message has changed. Now I do not know about the end of the world, but I do know the end is near for the year 2011 and wonder what 2012 will be like. We are only a few days from the end of one of the most tumultuous years of loss of freedoms, loss of homes, loss of lands, loss of fortunes, not to mention the staggering loss of life around the world from Europe to Asia to Africa and to the Middle East death became a companion to millions of families. I wonder what 2012 holds for the world? Will political wrangling and partisan bickering in our government continue destroying the greatest country (America) that God has ever graced into the world? Will life become more of a struggle for mere survival? Will brother continue to strive against brother? Will food be sold for the soul of a man? One thing for sure we know life for Christians in the future will only get tougher and even deadlier. We talk of faith and even preach from the so called “Hall of Faith” from the Book of Hebrews, but it is in the end of Chapter 11 that really talks of the great need for faith in our lives, “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: ³⁶And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: ³⁷They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; ³⁸(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. ³⁹And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: ⁴⁰God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:33-40) Not too many sermons lately from these verses. Is this what we are to look forward to in 2012 and beyond? We can see this now somewhat as political correctness and Christian bias is beginning to sway the opinion and common sense of the average person and if this continues in time a viral hatred for Christians will develop around the world and persecution will once again be the order of the day for all Christians. Or will the heart of man repent and turn toward a loving God? I would think not. Many Christian leaders believe (now it would be wonderful if it happens) there will be a great end-time harvest of souls, well the Bible nowhere support such thinking. The Bible says, “now is the time for salvation.” Does God promise us tomorrow? The end-time harvest wishing and message is just another way many Christian leaders (you know them because you see them on TBN and other Christian TV programming) can make money fleecing the flock and deceiving the masses of unwitting people, but at any rate they will be deceived and lost because they have little desire to know the truth. Oh how sad how the one and only message (the Gospel message) which was meant by God to save mankind has been perverted, used by greedy and ambitious men (the apostate church worldwide) to deceive many folks in the world. All we have to do is read the Bible and see the state of man’s heart condition near the end, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ²For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ⁶For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ⁷Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7) Here is the heart of man in Paul’s day, sounds like today. How many conferences and seminars do we run to trying to learn, but in the end know not God and His ways? I wonder if this be the same in 2012? I wonder if the world’s financial market will collapse in 2012 as predicted? I wonder how many people will die from hurricanes, floods, tornados, droughts, and famines? Is this just mother nature at work or God’s judgment on a wayward and unrepentive man? Looks and sounds like judgment to me. I hope we will not have to steal food or maybe worse have to kill to survive in 2012 and beyond?

My friend we must not live our lives according to end-time prophets and teachers, but live our lives in Godly righteousness and simplicity. Each day of our lives must be focused on seeking the kingdom of God which is not a physical place or a means to life, but a state of sublime submission and commitment to God. Paul tells us what the Kingdom of God is, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17). I wonder why so many people try to make the “kingdom of God” a ministry or service to God? Jesus told us, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ³⁴Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:33-34) We must live day by day as if we truly believe like the disciples that Jesus was coming back soon. It is sad how some Christians have become content to make this earth their home. We must live our lives for God as if each day was our last on earth (and soon stand before a Holy God) after all no one is guaranteed tomorrow. I wonder in 2012 if the leadership in the churches worldwide will humble themselves and be the example to the world, repenting of their gross waywardness to God and deception of man? Jeremiah tells us of a time when in his life he hoped for this, “For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her, ¹⁴They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments. ¹⁵They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there. ¹⁶The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders. ¹⁷As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us. ¹⁸They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.” (Lamentations 4:13-18) Could 2012 hold for us the truth found in verses 17 and 18? If so, oh LORD please have mercy on us.

Did you know the disciples thought the end was near and that Jesus was to come back in their time? We must live our lives for God today and worry not about tomorrow. Doing the things we need to do today to be ready for His return. Many Christians say when Jesus returns (and I believe He is) it will be His second coming, well that makes no biblical sense. For those who can read and those who study the Bible we find Jesus came the first time as a baby, “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:21) was crucified (died physically) on Calvary and went to hell to win victory over death, hell, and the grave “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ⁹(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)” (Ephesians 4:8-10) and “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”(Revelation 1:18) came back to earth His second coming and was seen by over 500 eye witness, then was caught up in the clouds “Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: ³To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” (Acts 1:2-3)and “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11), so when Jesus comes back this will be His third coming not His second. This third coming makes Godly sense because the number three symbolically all throughout the Scriptures stands for a complete work of God. Jesus’ third return will complete another part of God’s master plan for mankind whom He loves very much.

My friend the outlook for 2012 does not look bright for those outside of God. To survive in 2012 and beyond we must be hidden in Christ Jesus. This is much more than words this is a heart attitude of dependence on God, this is a mindset that fixes our attention and focus on God, and this is a way of life that transcends mere earthly living that no matter what happens in our lives; as Job said, “though God slays me yet I will trust Him” or Esther “if I perish I perish” (now that is real faith) we rest in being hidden in Christ Jesus. We are not seen by the world and nothing can harm us. We must fall in love with Jesus again in 2012 and never lose our love for Him and for a lost mankind. I really believe the 2012 year will be a foundational year to usher in many things waiting for man in the future. Now I do not know, but I know who knows, God knows and if He is not telling we do not need to know. All we need to know is God knows and that is enough for us. Our part is to just love Him and allow Him free reign in our heart and lives to conform us into the character and image (icon) of His precious Son Jesus Christ through His dealings and judgments in our lives. I really believe the minute hand on God’s clock has moved closer to 12 o’clock and the appearance of His precious Son is nearing. We must live in the first 65 Books of the Bible worry not about the Book of Revelation and all of the end-time prophecies they are beyond us. If you hear someone say they have a special understanding of the Book of Revelation I would gather up my family and run from them as fast as I could. Once we get past Chapter Three of Revelation words and Scripture become mysterious, blurry, and steeped in great symbolism. John had to be in the Spirit (as a dead man) to even receive it. We must worry not to the things we do not know, but allow God to show us our weakness. Blessed is the man who knows His weaknesses not his strength. Blessed is the man who knows His weaknesses not his strength. Yes 2012 will be here very soon and we cannot stop its arrival and the end of 2011 is near an end. What we did or what we did not do for God soon will pass way, but what will not pass away are the rewards for our actions in 2011, we will have to either face them hidden in Christ Jesus or alone in 2012. Remember a reward is something we receive from God out from our words and deeds. Good or bad they are our rewards and we will receive (because we earned them) them for our obedience and faithfulness in 2011 and in the past. Written by David Stahl

A MEDITATION ON CHRISTMAS

When I meditate on this time of the year and what we call the Christmas (word not found in the KJV of the Bible) season I must conclude this is the most divisive time of the year just ahead of Easter. I wonder why these two holidays divide so many people in the world. Now I will tell you from the start Karen and I do not celebrate Christmas how can we the word is not in the KJV Bible, but we do celebrate the birth of our precious LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. As Christianity began to spread many were alarmed by the continuing celebration of pagan customs among their converts. We even see this throughout the New Testament Church as Paul constantly battled against pagan and cultural traditions from taking root in the young Church. At first the Church forbade this kind of celebration. But it was to no avail. Bible historians claim that the Christmas celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also to the Persians (Babylonian Chaldeans) whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. Oddly enough it was during this period the three Wise Men (also Magi) (Matthew 2:1) learned of the Star of Bethlehem by reading the prophecies of Daniel the Great Magi (Daniel 1:1-7). Sadly this religious deception continues today, even though the faces and names has been changed the spirit and intent has not. We Christians seem to be good at making up things to satisfy our flesh for fulfillment.

Now as I said Karen and I do celebrate the birth of Christ, there is a huge difference. As we watch the news we cannot believe all of the fighting to keep Christ in Christmas. Where in the Bible did Jesus ask us to remember His birth? Now I can find plenty of Scriptures in the Bible where Jesus has asked us to remember His death, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. ²⁵After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. ²⁶For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26) Who wants to remember Jesus’ death when we can remember His birth? Yet few Christians really remember His death (Romans 6:3) while they go crazy in remembering His birth. I wonder why? Yes there is a wonderful story about the birth of Jesus in the Bible, but where are we commanded to make His birth an annual holiday like we in American have made: Independence, Veterans, or Valentine Day even Halloween? And when you merge religious with traditions and customs you have an unbeatable national money maker. Is not Jesus’ birth much more? Yes my friend I am afraid we have gotten off track and the merchants of the day (and for 100s of years) have capitalized on our selfish greed (maybe only in America, but I think not) and great presumption. The same way Hollywood has recently discovered the untapped market for Christian movies. I find it really strange how many Christians today would rather go to a movie then to Church to hear about Jesus. I wonder why? It is not about fighting to keep Christ in Christmas or even about a baby in the manger. You know we really like seeing baby Jesus in the manger, but you know my friend Jesus is not a baby any more, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34) Today Jesus is not a defenseless baby in the manger He is our victorious King of kings, Lord of lords, and some day soon He is coming back to earth not as a baby, but as a judge (to kick butt) and rule (to set righteousness in order) in the earth. Something else we are puzzled about is why Christians want to beat up on the Atheist in Washington State who put a sign beside a manger display in the Capitol building. I thought we were to witness to them and tell them about Jesus? There is not much of a Christian witness when we shake our fist and gnash our teeth at someone over a wooden display. How can this sign destroy the eternal timeless message of our precious savior Jesus Christ? It cannot and will not. Has the love of God been displaced by Christians wanting their traditional religious symbols? I too can speak for God and sadly I must say yes.

Jesus did not come so that we could decorate our trees and yard with gold and silver balls or blinking lights. Jesus did not come so Christians could deck the halls with a blow up Santa Claus and reindeer on their roofs and lawn. What do we do with these verses? “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. ³For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. ⁴They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers that it move not.” (Jeremiah 10:2-4) Maybe we should ignore them or maybe the Holy Spirit made a mistake? I think God is very clear in what He is saying, but we continue in the lie with Christmas trees (a German custom) out from our American tradition (now transported to the world) and because we do not want to offend family members. Just look at the Christmas trees in churches today? What do we do with these verses? The answer will be what we do with Jesus. Never forget the Gospel message of Christ is very offensive and at times even divisive to the non-believers, but truth is truth. Either we will stand for truth or compromise for the lie for the sake of peace on earth. The truth is Jesus did not come so we could have songs to sing at our annual Christmas musicals. It is amazing how old Christmas recordings from people long ago come back to life every Christmas. Jesus did not come so we could run ourselves to death, buying presents for people, while going further into debt. It is no wonder support in America for missionaries and humanitarian programs dwindle to almost to nothing this season of the year. I am afraid the true character and nature of man comes out during Christmas. We even plug in a written list to a jolly fat man in a red suit that drives a sleigh of reindeer around the world in one night to make sure we get want we what for Christmas. Why do we think we should get a present on some one else’s birthday? Our selfishness and self-centered nature really comes shining through. Oh Lord please forgive us for the indulgence of our wrong attitudes, greed, and lust. Jesus did not come to give us a Christmas season to feed our passions. The Bible is very clear why Jesus came. Jesus tells us in His own words, “The thief (not the devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 101:10) Jesus came so that we “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” not to get a bunch of Christmas presents to satisfy our flesh. Jesus came so that we might (our choice not His) have the life of God dwelling within our heart and lives. The creative eternal life of God moving in us and out from us to the world. Also in John Jesus tells us, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) Jesus came so that we might have life eternal (one part of salvation) which is knowing His Father (and ours), so that we too could “know the only true God” as Jesus did. So we too could know the sublime unity of knowing God as Jesus did. I would think that would be worth far more than anything we can buy each other. Did you know, Jesus (even though the Prince of Peace) did not come into the world to bring peace as many of the major denominations and religions of the world tell us. Religious deception always leads us away from Christ into the traditional religious worship of the customs of man (like Christmas and Easter) and into a good works salvation thinking. Oh no Jesus Himself said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. ³⁵For I am come to set a man at variance (Strong’s #1639 to cut into two parts, cleave asunder, sever) against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. ³⁶And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. ³⁷He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. ³⁹He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39) Jesus has come to cut our hearts out of the world with His word, the sword. Jesus has “come to set man at variance against” or sever every relationship where we love someone or something more than Him. Jesus came so that we could take up our cross (not Jesus’) and follow Him. Jesus came so we could lose our life so that we could then find our life in Him. We know and are persuaded if we lose our life for His sake we shall find it. We also know many of our friends will disagree (we hope and pray this is not the case) with this article, but that is okay getting the truth of the Gospel message out is more important than our friends getting offended at us. If they get offended at us over this article we know they probably are not our friends anyway. We have learned this truth the hard way. Please do not allow yourself to be deceived (your choice) by any pastor or person that says, “it is not a Heaven or Hell issue or it does not really matter” oh really? This thinking my friend is just spiritually wrong and a very subtle form of deception that has been carried on for 100s maybe 1,000s of years by the religious denominations and merchants both working hand-n-hand to get customers.

Sadly at the heart of why we focus on the Christmas story and baby Jesus in the manger is so we do not have to deal with a risen Savior. How much more religious can we (like the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17)) who could not totally sell out be than to bow down and worship the Christmas story and the sweet little baby Jesus in the manger? This satisfies our religious flesh and helps to ease our guilt and feeling of disobedience from rejecting God’s word to us. Who wants to allow God to deal and judge in their hearts exposing areas where we must allow Him to work? It is much easier singing another song about Christmas as we buy presents for our family or even as we buy a present for some poor people who live down the street who we neglect the rest of the year. It is far less painful to go to every church musical and spend all we have than for God to be able to show us who we really are. Who wants to allow God free rein in our heart and lives to conform us into the image (icon) and character of Jesus Christ? Very few people do and the rest continue in this traditional religious lie year after year. I think I will end with a very sobering word; if you need a traditional religious holiday to know God sadly my friend your heart is very far from Him and you will never come to know Him. Let us turn our hearts away from the religious traditions of Christmas and allow God to bring the truth of His character and nature to us. It is our choice whether we desire presents on Christmas morning or the knowledge of God, we cannot have both. Written by David Stahl

LESS NOT MORE

I wonder why we think more is better for us? We strive to get more of things at great peril in our lives and to the shame of other things in our lives. Society tells us get all we can in life, get a better house, get a bigger house, get a newer bigger car, bigger is better less is bad more is good, well that is not the way God operates. In God less is better than more. I know that will raise some eyebrows with my name it and claim it friends and even anger from my word of faith friends, but that is okay with me; for the truth to be said is more important than friends who would wilfully walk in darkness and distort the word of God. If we critically look at the Bible we will find the progression is from big to little, large to small, more to less. This thinking more is better is very destructive to our walk with the LORD and our walk with our brothers and sisters in the LORD and friends and acquaintances. In God the way up is down, down is less. John the Baptist said, “I must decrease and He must increase.” The more we can become of a lowly, humble heart the more we can become like our precious savior Jesus Christ. Gain in God is not measured by how long we can speak in tongues, how long we can preach and teach, how much money we give to the church, or the numbers of good works we do for the LORD. Oh no, God measures our gain in Him not by what we gather (bind) to ourselves, but what we lose of our self. How much of our self can we allow God to empty us of? How much of this world will we allow God to empty us of? Did you know the only way to be full of God is to allow God to empty us. The condition to be full of God depends (not on God but us) on how much we have allowed God to empty us and at the same measure we allow God to empty us of the world, our desires, and our hopes (so He can fill us with His desires, hopes, and plans) at that measure we can be filled with God and His glory. Why do we think God comes and fills us with His glory and virtue and leaves the old carnal nature within us? Can God put new wine in an old wine skin? Of course not the old wine bottles would bust. Jesus told the disciples, “And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. ³⁸But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. ³⁹No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.” (Luke 5:37-39) As the new wine is made it undergoes a very violent fermentation process for weeks until it is settled and brewed and if you put new wine in an old bottle the violent process of maturing will explode the old bottles. We allow God to empty us of our old ways and thinking when He gives us a new heart (Spiritually speaking) to hold the new wine of the Holy Spirit that He pours into our lives. This process of becoming something in God starts when we allow God to empty us of the old (wine) ways and thinking. We cannot empty ourselves oh no, this is a process of submitting to God’s dealings and judgments in our lives whereby He brings things (both sin and not sin) in our lives into judgment and then we can chose to separate or not separate them from our daily living. ll throughout the Bible we see this process of more to less in operation. One of the best examples is the story of Gideon’s victory over the Midianites. We read in Judges, “Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. ⁴And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. ⁵So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. ⁶And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. ⁷And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.” (Judges 7:5-7) Gideon went from an army of 22,000 to 300. The progression in God is always downward not upward, less is more. Even Jesus never could do much with many people He always used a few to touch many. In Matthew we read how Jesus fed the multitudes not once, but twice, “And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. ²¹And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.” (Matthew 14:20-21) and in the 15^th Chapter we read, “And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. ³⁷And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. ³⁸And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.” (Matthew 15:36-38) yet after feeding 9,000 people (some could have been the same folks) when He spoke of Him being the bread of life and they had to eat of Him they had no stomach for His words. I have found in my travels the masses (the more) like to be fed with earthy (natural) food, but it is the few (the less) that like to be fed with the heavenly (Spiritual) food. This is why huge churches share in no real communion (all hearts one in the Spirit), but operate on a natural level, where small churches (for the most part) know each other more intimately and can share each other’s burdens. Again, big is not better in God. Always remember if people are running after something, someone, or flocking to a big church God is not. We even see this truth play out in the life of Paul. What an outstanding teacher and world traveler Paul was surely Paul would have millions of people following him, after all Paul wrote 2/3 of the New Testament and brought great correction to the Church, but we read in 2 Timothy, “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:” (2 Timothy 15:15-16) Now know when the Bible says “all” it means “all” not some or a few it means “all” every last one. Everyone in Asia turned their backs on Paul. The folks in the Churches at Antioch (where the term “Christian” was first used), Ephesus, Galatia, Troas (where Paul got his Macedonian call Act 16:6), “that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me” yet the Gospel message (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ) marched on. On a massive scale we know when the children of Israel left Goshen they numbered over 2.5 million people yet only two Joshua and Caleb made it into the promised land. God had to pare down the people to see what was in their heart, “All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. ²And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” (Deuteronomy 8:1-2) We too must allow God to pare us down to see what is in our hearts. God must bring us way down by way of the wilderness in our lives so that He can humble and prove us for service. Salvation is free for us (not Jesus it cost Him His life), but everything else we get from God will cost us something of ourselves.

In God the direction is less not more, downward not upward. In God numbers, ability, and strength do not matter only obedience, commitment, and faithfulness matter. Our way with the LORD is a way of less not more. It is limitations and restriction (less) that bring us to fulfillment and completion. Today in the church I hear songs that say “we are free to run in God,” well that makes no Spiritual sense and is not supported by any Scripture. The only freedom we have in God is to choose whether or not to enter in to God’s restrictions and limitations for our lives and to walk in the way God chooses for us to go. Everything else is direct rebellion to God’s word. More my friend? Oh no, less my friend is God’s will for our lives. Written by David Stahl

PREACH THE WORD

One of the most disturbing trends (other than the spreading of the prosperity doctrine world-wide) in the church is the move NOT to have a Sunday night nor a mid-week service. If they do have something on a Wednesday night it is centered around eating or choir practice and not on the preaching of the word of God. I find it remarkable how in the Bible when Jesus got a bunch of people together and fed them they had no stomach for the things of God, but just wanted their bellies full. I guess there is nothing new under the sun. Most churches today in America have one service; a Sunday morning service where they go all out and some even preach a 15-30 minute sermon, but sadly most churches in America have substituted eating, fellowship, and other church activities for the preaching of the word of God. Now this trend has been going on for some time, but recently it has really become noticeable to those who can remember a time in the church when the Spirit of God moved among the people and lives were truly changed. I thought maybe this is why America has been going downhill for some time. When the preaching of the word of God in any home, church, country, or civilization stops the only way for the sociality to go is down away from God and His ways. On a recent ministry trip I asked the LORD why this trend is increasing and He told me. Believe it or not if you ask God something He will tell you if you have ears to hear what He has to say. But on the way back I was meditating on this thought and thinking about some churches where this is going on and the LORD told me, “these churches and others really do not believe in the power of the Gospels message so they have substituted other messages, activities, and functions into the church thinking they will bring people in to see what the church has to offer, but this my son will never work.” There is a spiritual principle here in operation; what you lead people with is what you have won them to. So if you lead people to church with eating, singing and dancing, showing a good Christian movie, or other things then you have won them not to Christ, but to those activities. Now if you lead people to church with the preaching of the word of God then you will win them to the word of God and to Christ. There is a Baptist association of around 15 or so churches in Jacksonville every Super Bowl they throw (no church that night if they are still have a Sunday night service) a huge Super Bowl party at their administrative building to watch the game and maybe at half time they say something about the LORD. Their thinking is people will not come to church, but they will come to a party and maybe someone will say or do something that will lead them to Christ, but sadly all they have done was to lead people to the Super Bowl. And they do this every year. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing, but expecting to get different results. They keep having this Super Bowl party every year expecting to lead people to Christ when all they have done is lead people to the Super Bowl and here is why they really do it (like other denominations) they lead people to the Baptist denomination.

The Church does not seem to do well with eating, here a few examples. The communion table in the Gospels was always set in jealousy and confusion. Before the meal the Disciples were arguing among themselves who would be the greatest in the kingdom. The New Testament Church in the Book of Acts had problems when they mixed food and God. “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. ²Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. ³Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. ⁵And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:” (Acts 6:1-5) I guess the Disciples were serving the least and problems came as with most things in the church. Moses made the same mistake the Disciples made here. God told Moses to judge the people, but the Bible (Exodus 18:13-26) says, Moses (verse 24) “hearkened unto the voice of his father-in-law” and selected leaders that were “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness;” to judge the people. They may have been God- fearing and up right men, but God told Moses to judge the people and out from that we now have the Ten Commandants which are good (and many people still follow, but did you know you can follow the Ten commandments to the letter, die, and go to hell? As I said before I truly believe it was not God’s idea to give us the Ten Commandants. God told Moses to judge the people because God knew Moses’ heart condition and it was his heart condition that was the basis and baseline for his judgment. But when Moses selected other leaders there needed to be a new basis and baseline of judgment for the people and because of Moses’ disobedience he had to use the Ten Commandants instead of the work God did in his life. Here in Acts the Disciples should have dealt with the issue, instead of adding another layer of human flesh into the church structure. When the “whole multitude” was pleased this should have been a sign to the Disciples not to do this. Anytime church leadership is lead by the people things that God has put into place are up rooted and disappear. Later in 1 Corinthians we see another contention around eating and church. “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. ¹⁸For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. ¹⁹For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. ²⁰When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. ²¹For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. ²²What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.” (1 Corinthians 11:17-22) What a telling statement about the spirituality of the Church at Corinth. Paul was saying they were better off not coming to church because when they did they depart worse off than for the better doing all of this eating and other activities. Sadly this is the same spiritual conditions we find today in many churches.

Now please do not misunderstand me here, I am not saying we should never eat, but we must never substitute the message of the Gospel for eating, singing and dancing, church activities and programs for the preaching and teaching of the word of God. I was shocked when God told me, “these churches and others really do not believe in the power of the Gospels message so they have substituted other messages, activities, and functions into the church thinking they will bring people in to see what the church has to offer, but this my son will never work” because God has established the message, format, and median to deliver His message to the world and this my friend does not change with the times nor with cultural shifts.

Let us be honest the culture in most of America has shifted away from a conservative home spun lifestyle to a more liberal contemporary lifestyle. And this my friend is not good for America. The more America goes after this liberal contemporary lifestyle the less of God will be in America. Sadly you can track it over the years and sadly you can see the ruination of the people and the country.

My friend God’s message does not change. God’s delivery method is still the same one on one. How can we make disciples if we never talk to people? How can we make disciples if we preach and teach over the internet? The Gospel message (the death, burial, and bodily resurrection) is still the basis for our salvation. But did you know many churches today in America do not believe in the bodily resurrection, burial, or even the death of Jesus. Paul said it true, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17) Many churches today in America and others parts of the world are “ashamed of the gospel” and it is the gospel that “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” not eating, drinking, church programs and activities, Super Bowl parties, and the like. Sadly over the years many false preachers and teachers have crept in and weakened the foundation of many churches and turned their heads from the truth of the word of God so that they could establish church organizations, denominations, and institutions that will serve their agendas and pursuits. Paul also dealt with this with issue warning us this was going to happen and even gave us the answer when he was with the Church in Galatia, “Which 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 1:7-9) Not once but twice Paul admonished the Church, “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” I do not know about you my friend, but if I attended church that spends more time eating, singing, and dancing then preaching the word of God I would get my family and run as fast as I could out the door. The facts are clear and indisputable, yet many Christians stay in churches that do not preach or teach the word of God and wonder why they are not growing spiritually in the LORD. And yes, my friends we are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ.” God expects us to grow up and become mature men and women of God able to handle some responsibility in seeing the Gospel message shared with every man, woman, and child in the world, but this will not happen if we are always getting offended and falling out of the way God has for us to go. Jesus told us the way is narrow and straight, He meant that. To walk in God there is no wiggle room, our way is limited and restricted to the things God has established for us to do and say. In God we do not get say what we want, but are under restraints to our desires and wants by the Holy Spirit.

I am afraid in this age of contemporary “anything goes” world the preaching of the message of the cross has become out dated. Other messages have taken its place, but how is that working out? America and other so called Christian countries slip further and further into moral and ethical decay, sodomy, lesbians, and anything else that appeals to their imagination and evil heart condition. God’s message does not change and His message is the price upon the cross His Son died on. Paul again helps us, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-19) The wise and prudent of this world think God’s ways are out dated, “let’s have a Super Bowl party and say we are having a church service.” Well, God has a word for you, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” God will get the last word. Let us fear the LORD with all of our heart, mind, and spirit, and get back to His ways of preaching the word. Written by David Stahl

SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND WONDERS

Desiring or seeking signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts, in most Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, seem to be the main focus (and some of the most controversial points of church order and doctrine effecting our daily Christian living) and projection to God’s manifestation on earth, but not so to function and application in God’s divine spiritual plans for man. Instead of making our needed adjustments to God where we can purely operate in the spiritual gifts we go after things that tickle our fancy and puff-up our imagination to what and who God really is. Now please do not misunderstand me here I greatly believe in signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts disputing the existence (as some denominations and religions do) of these wonderful throughputs of God’s spiritual manifestation and edifications to the Body of Christ (and out from the Body of Christ to the world) is nothing but foolishness. There is to be a fire hose flow of signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts from God to the local assembly and then out to the world, but it often seems these signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts get log jammed in the local assembly of believers as we think this brother or sister is really spiritual if he or she can speak in tongues or prophesy, but this is so far from the truth. Being spiritual has nothing to do with our ability to execute the spiritual gifts and abilities God has given us. God made a donkey speak and we think we are something special when we speak in tongues, prophesy, or when God uses us in some special way. Let us never forget signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts are for the nonbelievers and I would say for the babes in the LORD. In 1 Corinthians Paul corrects this misapplication of truth to the Church at Corinth (who had every gift of the spirit in operation, but said that they gathered together for the worse than the better (1 Corinthians 11:17)) when he said, “In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. ²²Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.” (1 Corinthians 14:21-22) It is no wonder the church is full of nonbelievers or babes they are going after signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts lacking spiritual growth and development to be able to correctly be used of God. We make a grievous error thinking we are more than what we really are in God in the spiritual realm neglecting the foundational principle of simplicity, integrity, and humility.

Operating in the gifts of the Spirit does not manifest spiritual maturity in our lives, spiritual maturity alone is developed in us as we allow God to deal and judge in our lives. If operating in the spiritual realm builds spiritual maturity in us then Saul would have been a very spiritual man, but this was not the case. Not once but twice Saul prophesied out of a heart of anger, jealousy, and bitterness. In 1 Samuel we read, “And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. ¹¹And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.” (1 Samuel 18:10-11) How could this be, “God came upon Saul and he prophesied” while he was trying to kill David with a javelin? Then again in 1 Samuel, “And he (Saul) went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. ²⁴And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?” (1 Samuel 19:23-24) Again the Spirit of God was on Saul and he prophesied, no more no less. I promise you my friend if the Spirit of God falls on us we will prophesy and more, but do not think it is something special we have done to receive such a wonderful blessing. Our part is to be the vessel God can flow through and bring impact to the expression of God. Saul’s heart condition (in both cases) was wrong and all God could do was speak through him, but if Saul’s heart condition was humble and lowly of heart then God could have used him to fulfill His (God’s) purpose in the prophesy. In this mighty manifestation of God and in spite of God’s power being all over Saul his heart for David and for God was still unchanged.

It is when we are seeking the giver of the signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts God’s fulfillments in spiritual things can be accomplished in our lives and more importantly in the lives of others. In the Gospel of John we read of a wonderful story of Jesus healing a young boy without touching or even seeing him. “When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. ⁴⁸Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye (speaking to the disciples and the crowd that followed after Him) see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. ⁴⁹The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. ⁵⁰Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. ⁵¹And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.” (John 4:47-51) What a scolding Jesus gave the disciples, “Except ye (speaking to the disciples and the crowd that followed after Him) see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” You know seeing is NOT believing. In God NOT seeing is believing. This is why all of our efforts and hard work seldom yield any investment in God, but when our faith (when we hear God speak to us) is energized and God’s purposes are being met then things always work out for His and our glory. One thing I have observed over my many years in the LORD is how being zealous for God and even the things of God can get you off track faster than sin. With sin you have a way back (confession and repentance) to get back on track, but being zealous, well it is sadly like presumption; we do not know that we do not know. Zealousness distracts our attention from the heart of the issue and gets us off center. Zealousness (and most important) leaves us with a sense of well doing and feeling like we have accomplished something for God when in reality we have not. In 1 Corinthians Paul was sharing this point with the Church at Corinth, “There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. ¹¹Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. ¹²Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. ¹³Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.” (1 Corinthins14:10-14) Here Paul was not praising them, remember the Church at Corinth had every Spiritual gift in operation yet Paul said of them, “they were carnal, unlearned, full of division and fractures.” Zealousness will cause us to run after signs and wonders, and gifts. The Rich Young Ruler was zealous and Jesus could not do much with him. Luke tells us the Rich Young Ruler, “came running after Jesus,” but when Jesus pressed him for a commitment into servant hood he could not totally sell out and why? He was zealous to do the good works and the rituals and traditions of religion. Take heed my friend not to become zealous for God, but just love Him, become (a process of learning and knowing) obedient do what He directs, and He will take care of things from there.

My friend Jesus time and time again (also found in Matthew 12:39, 16:4, Mark 8:12) tells us not to seek a sign or go after spiritual gifts, “And he said, ‘Yea, rather, happy those hearing the word of God, and keeping it!’²⁹And the multitudes crowding together upon him, he began to say, ‘This generation is evil, a sign it doth seek after, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet, ³⁰for as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also shall the Son of Man be to this generation.” (Luke 11:28-30) Jesus is our sign He is enough. If we seek after a sign from God or after spiritual gifts it is a sign of our spiritual immaturity all the while thinking we are on track and spiritually minded. Christians who look for or seek spiritual gifts are out of balance and this reflects in every area of their lives not just the spiritual areas, but also in the natural areas. James tells us, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. ⁷For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. ⁸A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:6-8) We are not to “think” we have received from God, but we are to know through experience (out from our faith) we have received from God, if not we are a “double minded man” who is unstable in all their ways. Now when the Bibles says “all” it means “all.” Not just the spiritual things in the spiritual realm, but also the things of the natural realm. I have seen this play out in so many Christian’s lives, thinking they are doing what God told them to do, but in reality and in the end they confess they were wrong. Zealousness can also play a big part in this. Operating correctly in spiritual gifts are for the well developed and mature Christians and this my friend comes with much time spent before God, many failures, and much soul searching.

Funny how in the German language the word “gift” is translated poison. When Germans move to America they see many stores called “gift shops” and expect one thing, but get another. So too is the immature Christian. When an immature Christian goes after signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts they are like a poison to their spirit and to their spiritual growth and development. If not able to endure the disciplining of the LORD then they will live their lives missing the high mark of the LORD. Go not after signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts, but go after Jesus He is always enough. Written by David Stahl

HAVE MERCY ON ME

I do not know about you my friend, but I think I need more mercy in my life. I think we all would say a big amen to that. It seems the longer I go in God the less I know and the more I find myself doing things I ought not to be doing. Funny how God has limited me to doing the things I can do lawfully while honing (cornering) me down in my awareness to those things I should not be doing. Not that I cannot do them because I can, but those things I ought not to be doing, there is a huge difference. Things I could do in the past now are out of bounds and off limits. I really feel the longer we go with God the more God expects from us. The longer we go with God the more God expects our walk to be more righteous, faithful, and yes simplistic. All of the fancy things of ministry (traveling the world and preaching the Gospel in huge crusades and conferences) and our Christian living we think are important are not really that important to God as they are to us. God is really focusing on the little things in our lives, on the little things we think are insignificant, but not so with God, He closely examines us in these little things and makes judgments and qualifies us for future things. Our zeal at first is a huge driver in our lives, but God cannot do much with a zealous person. Saul later called Paul found that out the hard way. Peter too learned this lesson when he was older in years. After Peter’s heartfelt confession a place we all MUST come to if God is going to ever be able to use us to any degree, “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17) Peter finally (after three hard years of Jesus pouring His heart into Peter) was brought to the place where he knew (Jesus) “thou knowest all things.” What a place of confession and awareness of who Jesus is and who Peter is. But please notice what Jesus says to Peter after he is broken, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” (John 21:18) Please notice the last bit of that verse, “but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” When Peter was young (like many of us) He did whatsoever he wanted to do and said whatsoever he wanted to say, but when Peter got old he could not say and do what he wanted, he was restrained “and another shall gird (strengthened, empowered) thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” When we get older in God we too will be restrained to things we can do and say, restrained to the places we can go and compelled to go to the places we do not want to go, and even compelled to say and do the things we do not want to say and do. There is a divine spiritual principle in operation here that most Christians totally disagree with me on: limitations and restrictions lead us to fulfillment and purpose. Most Christians believe the longer we go with God the more freedom and liberty we have, well not so in God. It is being restricted and limited to only those things God and His word says we can do and say, will we ever hope to operate in what God wants for our life. How can we move in God correctly if we are doing and saying whatsoever we want to? We both know this is impossible, but when we restrict ourselves to God like an apple on a tree growing and maturing then and only then can we come to completion and fulfillment. I do not know about you my friend, but I think it looks like when we get older we need more mercy.

Mercy is something we all want more of in our lives and we even see this time and time again in the Bible in a great way. In Luke we read the account of Jesus heading up to Jerusalem via Jericho which is not very far time wise, but the way is through the wilderness and the “up” refers to the elevation and direction. At the beginning of the story Jesus tell the disciples what will happen to “the Son of man” (the name Jesus used to refer to Himself most often) and what they should expect. In reality these four verses foreshadow the marvelous and glorious Gospel manifesting on earth, yet the disciples did not have a clue what Jesus was saying, “Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” (Luke 18:31-34) Sounds like Jesus never received much mercy here. Jericho was the last town before they hit Jerusalem and also was the place the last miracle Jesus performed in His earthly ministry. Let us pick up the story as they enter the City of Jericho, “And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.” (Luke 18:35-43) Here sat a blind man (who called out Jesus Son of David and not Jesus Son of man) what a wonderful sight Jesus healing this blind man and everyone (the disciples and the crowd of people that always followed Jesus) that followed Him, “gave praise unto God” and that was that. The blind man called out (not once but twice) and in spite of the disciple’s interference and lack of faith Jesus healed him. Now here is my point: the format we see today in the church is we are sick, blind, hungry, poor, whatsoever we need and we cry out (like the blind man) and Jesus has to jump through the breakthrough hoop and heal us or give us some supernatural drop of money to make us happy again. Well, that is not how God operates. Notice what Jesus told the blind man, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.” Jesus did not say you are healed by grace oh no Jesus said again “thy faith hath saved thee.” Do you know we in the Church today confuse mercy with grace? Did you know there is a huge difference between mercy and grace? Grace is something God gives us that we do not deserve and mercy is something God gives us based on judgments and evaluations by Him. Before mercy can be extended there must be a judgment to determine the degree of mercy. Grace is open ended, all and all. Sorry to my Southern Baptist friends, but salvation is more than grace alone. If we rest in our salvation in grace alone we will not have the balance needed to keep us on track. In Ephesians Paul was correcting the church at Ephesus on this very matter, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”(Ephesians 2:7-10) How can you buy a gift? And please notice “For by grace are ye saved through faith;” Paul did not say, “For by grace are ye saved.” Grace alone means we have no part to play in our salvation, God does everything and we can just kick back and go along for the ride and do and say whatsoever we want to say and do. But the Holy Spirit through Paul added “through faith” now we have a part to play (not in granting or extending salvation), but in maintaining our salvation. Yes, my friend if not careful we can lose our salvation. I know many denominations teach we can never lose our salvation and this is true as long as we walk in the way that God has for us to go, but if we willfully turn our backs on God and the way He has chosen for our lives then we can lose one of the most precious things in our lives, our salvation. In the words “through faith” we are now accountable for our actions and there are consequences for our words and deeds. God is not the solo party we now have a role to play in our salvation. God can now shine His light of truth and righteousness in our lives and see what is moving. In the grace alone concept God is held responsible and accountable for our salvation. Those denominations that teach this half truth of grace alone (I believe) do it because they know this doctrine will fill seats, offering plates, and push denominational agendas; after all who wants to serve a God who holds our feet to the fire when they can serve a God who comes running every time you call and does all of the work. Our faith appropriates and gives us access into the grace that God has already provided. Paul tells us in Romans, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2) It does not get any clearer than that, it is grace and faith. Grace and faith separated are poison to our understanding of how God operates in the Spirit and death to our spirit, but mixed together they are a life-giving flow of knowledge, power, and of spiritual life. My friend, please do not be deceived by this grace alone heinous doctrine.

It is grace (God’s part) through faith (our part) and the how is found back in Ephesians, “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) Yes we are the “workmanship” of God. I like that in the German language we are the “beaustella” of God. And the more we allow God to work on us through His dealings and judgments the more we become His. At the same measure we allow God’s work in our lives at that same measure we will be His, no more no less. We have been created “unto to good works” God’s dealings and His judgments, the troubles (that can be our servant if we have the wherewithal), trials, and even persecutions God allows to come our way to hone off our rough edges and mold and make us into a son or daughter of God. God is the master potter; He gets to fashion the clay into whatsoever He desires and we get to spin on the wheel of life as God molds us and shapes us into something beautiful or He chooses to close His hands and pummel us into a heap of nothingness so He can start the process all over again and again until He is well pleased with what is in His hands. He is master potter and we are the clay and the clay does not get to talk back, all we get to do is just go around and around on the wheel of life allowing and giving Him access through our faith to our lives. I am sure we all can agree on the wheel of life we often beg for mercy, but mercy is not God’s intention, oh no, God’s intention is perfection (selflessness) and God knows for perfection to happen in our lives He must speed up the wheel, press us out again and again on the wedging board (where the impurities in the clay are worked out), grind the clay through His fingers, and heat up the kiln 10 times hotter. Why cry out, “have mercy on me oh Lord” instead we should cry out “have your complete way with me on Lord” not mercy, but blessed devastation then and only then will we have the sight that can see the spiritual things of God. Written by David Stahl

SLAVERY

When we think of the word “slavery” many thoughts and images come to mind. Most often today we in America think of the brutal treatment Africans endured during their journey coming from Africa to America on slave ships and once in America some of their lives were not much better. Yes this sordid and very sad period of American history was not one of America’s finest moments. Did you know the Bible has much to say about slavery, but please understand the slaves in Biblical times were treated much better (most often) than those of the Africans and please understand the Bible never has condoned any form of indentured servitude where one man owned another. Many today in America would push this lie wanting payback, but if they do they do it at their peril of distorting the truth of God’s word and will receive just compensation for the discord they sow among the Brethren. In Ephesians Paul encourages the servants (slaves) to be obedient to their masters, with fear and trembling, “Servants (Strong’s #1401, a slave, bondman, man of servile condition) be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6Not with eye service, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;” (Ephesians 6:5-6) and in Titus Paul encouraged the Church (who at that time was mainly made up of slaves and bond servants) to encourage the slaves to be obedient to their masters. “Exhort servants (Strong’s #1401) to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” (Titus 2:9-10) Slavery at all levels has been around for millions of years and make no mistake my friend, slavery is alive and well in the world today. I have seen all kinds of slavery in Africa, Asia, and even Eastern Europe. My friend within man’s heart (especially one not dealt with by God) runs a great selfish desire to enslave the lives of people for their own personal use and gain and I am convinced and I know this will be the case and outcome for mankind until Jesus comes back and runs the show on the earth. We see this slavery concept in everyday life; everything we watch on TV or read in the newspapers or magazines is directed at enslaving our body, mind, and spirit. Most of the people (Christians included) in the world today are slaves to fashion, social habits, and customs. We look at the movie stars in Hollywood and on TV and all the “beautiful people” who dictate what the norm is for society: tattooing, face piercing, music, movie, dress all against what God says is the norm, but still we continue (Christians included) in slavery to what the world says is important and not what God says is important. We continue (Christians included) in what our law- givers say is the law of the land (same sex marriage and abortion), in spite of it being openly rebellious to God’s word and not giving it a second thought and still call ourselves Christians. Yes my friend slavery is a very powerful device in our lives and unless we repent of our waywardness and return back to God’s word America will continue to be enslaved to ungodly thinking which will cause us to slip further and further into greater moral decay and even more spiritual darkness. Wake up America before it is too late God is waiting, but He will not wait forever.

I really like how Paul starts out most if not all of his Epistles; “Paul a servant (Strong’s #1401, slave) of God” or “Paul a bond servant (like a slave, but one who has earned their freedom) of God.” Now there is another form of slavery the Bible talks about that most Christians never learn about, maybe this is why most Christians today never live a victorious life in Christ. It is a place of victory in our lives God desires for us. And we must see that only being obedient to God’s word can we come into this place of victory for our lives. Only God and God alone can enable us (through our submission, allowing God to deal and judge in our lives) to come to this place of victory, we must see this in our lives if we are going to walk with the LORD the way He intends. Sadly many Christians live their lives wrapped up in the world’s form of religion and experience none of the life that God has for us; they are wrapped up in contemporary Christian music and a self seeking or self exalting form of working for God, but never ever BECOMING the work (Ephesians 2:10) of God. They are wrapped up in the ways and doctrines of the apostate church of today and wonder why they have no (not even a little) victory over the world, sin, and their self (in that order) and keep falling way, this is not God’s intention my friend. This other form of slavery I speak of is one of heart submission. We see Jesus working this concept into the disciples after He fed 5,000 men and probably more than 5,000 women and children. In Luke (I like Luke’s writing he was a doctor a man of details) we read, “But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. 14For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. 15And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.” (Luke 9:13-17) Now to really understand what is really going on here we must review a critical attribute of God’s word; God never does anything by accident. Words in the Bible are not just written down, but there is an order (a characteristic of God) to the words in the Bible. Always study the order of things and words in the Bible, if so the Bible will open up new revelations of truth. But, I have always wondered what happened to the 12 baskets of leftovers and why was there 12 baskets and not 10 or 13? I knew there was a meaning here to the 12 baskets so I held it before the LORD and recently God opened up my understanding to why 12 baskets. Notice Jesus gave the food to the disciples and the disciples gave the food to the people and they did eat sounds good, but when did the disciples eat? Well, they ate when the slaves ate. I do not know about you, but when I imagine this story and I see 12 big baskets, I see huge baskets that maybe two people would carry after all they just fed 5,000 men, women, and children, but in reality the baskets they used were about the size of a small lunch pail enough for one person. Hungry people do not leave a lot of scraps and fragments around. Jesus knew of the Jewish custom and tradition of after a feast to gather up the fragments and leftover food to give to the slaves. In Jewish society nothing was wasted especially food. Jesus was teaching the disciples, through these 12 baskets of leftover food, a fundamental concept of the Kingdom of God, “whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant (Strong’s #1401) of all,” but that is not what we (I include myself here at times) find today in the Church, oh no my friend most evangelists, pastors, teachers, preachers, or most Christians do not want to be a slave to all, most (if not all) want to be served and most want to be patted on the back and told just how wonderful they are, well not so in the Kingdom of God my friend.

In Mark Jesus took this slavery lesson a little deeper and right to the point we read, “Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. 35And 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.” (Mark 10:33-37) Here Jesus is telling the disciples what is going to happen to Him, how He would be killed, but the disciples were only thinking of themselves, “Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.” Does this sound familiar? Does this sound like the most popular message (the prosperity doctrines) of the Church today? How selfish and self-seeking of them and us. But 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 (Strong’s 1401) 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 10:38-45) Jesus said you do not know what you are talking about. How gleeful and quickly the disciples answered “we can.” This just exposed their lack of the dealings and judgment of God in their lives. This just exposed their lack of knowledge and willingness of commitment to the cost of walking with the LORD at any degree. Quick replies means no thought. You see the disciples wanted to know who was going to be the greatest, but they failed to learn to have this great honor they first must be “prepared” they must qualify or be approved for this honor. They have not learned the lesson the way up in God is down. They have failed to learn what J - O - Y means: Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. They have failed to understand to be the greatest among the Brethren we must be a slave to all, now not some it says all. For us to be able to do this we must be dead to our self and to our desires and alive to what God wants in every given situation and circumstance of our lives. For this to happen we must be dead. Did you know a dead man does not do a lot of talking or much work?

One of God’s goals in our lives is to be able to bring us into total slavery not like we see in the world, but in the Spirit and in our heart condition before God and man; an open willingness and desire to be a servant not at the works level, but at the heart level and in the Spirit. You know it is easy to be a servant working for God we see it every week as the choir marches in or as the offering plate is passed back and forth and as the grass is cut to make the church grounds beautiful, but it is very difficult to be a servant at the Spirit and heart level, because at the center of this level is obedience to God the greatest requirement to be a servant. How foolish we are to think we are greater than what we really are. We all are just one breath from eternity. We all are saved by God’s grace and His good pleasure. How foolish to think we can manipulate God for our own interest and exalt ourselves above our brothers and sisters. How foolish to think we are in-charge when Jesus said of Himself He has no power and can do nothing. We strut around on stage in a $500 suit, diamond rings on our fingers, and gold necklaces around our necks and think we are someone special, while Jesus (on earth) did not have a change of underwear. Who do we think we are? Is the servant (slave) greater than the Master? Oh LORD have mercy on us! Written by David Stahl

WORSHIPING GOD

As we walk with the LORD and read the Bible we seem to pick and choose which rabbit trail (message, tradition, custom, or story mentioned in the Bible) we want to follow and hop down. I am amazed to the number of different denominations and religions in the Christian world and to think they all came from the same Bible. One group says we will focus on speaking in tongues while another group says we will focus on water baptism, and sadly the list goes on and on. But what is really sad is how each group says the other groups are wrong and know not the truth. Paul ran up against this same thinking with the Church at Corinth. It seemed there were divisions and contentions among the body of Christians (like today) that weakened the witness of the church collectively. One of the main divisions was who they called their spiritual leader or who they followed. In 1 Corinthians we read, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians1:10-13) How can the Body of Christ be light and salt to the world if it is divided and fighting among itself? I hear and see the same thinking today, the idol worship of evangelists, pastors, and teachers sickens me and I am sure it sickens God to see His Body so divided and confused. One says, “I am of Copeland, Hinn, Hagee, Warren, Parsley, or even Stahl” and sadly the list goes on. This is not to be our focus in whom we will follow my friend, if we want to be called a Christian the die has been cast our focus is to be Jesus, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:2-3) Not too many Christians want to follow Jesus it is much easier to follow a man, because if we follow Jesus we will have to identify with Him and we too will have to “endured such contradiction of sinners against himself” a price most Christians are not willing to bear. But this is the bitter cup we must drink if we are to come after (become like Jesus) Jesus and become what He wants us to become.

You know we see this wrong thinking also when worshiping God. One group will sing only the hymns while another group will sing only contemporary music (and say the other group is wrong), but in reality real worship has nothing to do with singing, dancing, our service to God, or even giving our money, oh no real worshiping of God has to do with bowing down our heads to God in reverence and honor. We find this act of worshiping God in the very first Book of the Bible, Genesis, “And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.” Genesis (24:52) In Exodus we find Moses worshiping God, “And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.”(Exodus 34:8) The list goes on and on, no singing or dancing just silence and stillness before a Holy God. Funny how we can get so far off track and not really know it, but even worse how we can get far off track and not even care. Did you know you can get so far off track you can get over into idol worship? I will be the first to say amen to that. I have seen it and I have done it and I am talking in the last two or three years. One thing for sure if we keep our head bowed down before the LORD and our mouth in the dust we probably will not have too much of a problem in this area.

When the LORD really began to draw my older brother I remember him sayings (as with all of us when God really gets our attention) as long as he was in good relationship with his pastor he could get to God, but there came a time (as with all of us) when he no longer needed his pastor to get to God, he could make his approach to God on his own. I think this probably holds true for all new believers; the one who they see in their eyes (most times the one who has led them to the LORD) who they want to imitate in the LORD and why, because they see within themselves a lack the other person in the LORD possesses. Come let’s face it we all know some people whose light is a little brighter than our own. I can relate to this also. At the age of six I became a Christian my mother led me to Christ, but like most if not all kids as they grew the light of God in their lives was merely a flicker, but it did not go out. As I look back over my years I now can understand Isaiah was talking about me when he said, “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” (Isaiah 42:3) God was longsuffering and did not break me to the point I could not walk nor did He put out my flame, but kept fanning my fire with people He would bring into my life and situations or circumstances that would keep me moving forward in Him. I thank God for these dealings in my life God knew just how to work in my life (as in all of our lives) to where I would have the stomach to go further in Him. And all through my years as I drew nearer to the LORD my relationship with my mother became more important (more important than a mother son relationship) she became a mentor and spiritual advisor to me and my family. Any time we really needed to get something from God we would call her and tell her our concerns and ask her to pray. Then after some time we would call again and ask her if God told her anything about us. She was the spiritual glue that held the family together, but now she is up in age and sadly her mind is not what it was and we are on our own. Now I guess that is okay for baby Christians, but that is not the behavior God is looking for in His children. God is looking for mature men and women who can hear from God for themselves, who have allowed God to deal and judge in their lives, where He has developed a fine tuned ear for His words. God is not looking for children that partake in idol worship of others. Now many Christians I know would love for you to come to them so they can say “thus saith the LORD” over you or prophesy into your life. I even know some Christians who like to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to seniority in the LORD. I do not know about you, but I cannot find the verses in the Bible that talk about seniority among Christians. I have a (I still call him a friend and love him, but he has broken off relationship, even though I have tried many times to talk, with me and even stopped sending me his newsletter, we three know why) friend who I have known for over 30 years who told me his word from God was deeper than my mine and I should take a back seat to him. But wait, I thought the word of God is from God. It is not my word that I speak when I teach, but God speaking through me. Our job is not to make up words to speak, but become a clean and usable vessel (through God’s dealings and judgments) God can open and pour us out into a lost and dying world of people. A vessel where God’s word can flow unhindered from our lips. People who think they are better than someone else has missed the whole point of being a servant. Now they may be gifted as a speaker and can teach the Scriptures with convincing passion, but they have missed the truth of what Jesus was telling the disciples, “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.” (Mark 10:42-44) Not too many Bible teachers want to be a slave to everyone, oh no most want to be told how wonderful and deep they are in their understanding of the Scriptures, well that is not what Jesus said. Now please do not misunderstand me I am not blowing my own horn, I know I have not made it and I know there are much better Bible teachers (like my friend who I so would still enjoy to listening) out there, but again that is not the measure God is looking for, oh no my friend God is looking for the humble servant and broken teacher. My friend the way up is down and if we want to be (or even think we are) greater than someone in any area we are gravely mistaken. This idol worship can really get carried away. When my teacher Charles Haun would teach in Bible Schools many students would imitate his dress, try to talk like him, and even wear glasses (they were called Haunites) thinking this outward change in them would somehow change their inside, but God does not operate like that. Oh no my friend, our inward man is only changed by God’s inward dealings and judgments in our heart and attitudes, God is after our character and if He cannot get that in us all we will ever be is as tinkling brass and sounding cymbals. Oh we may be able to recite Scripture backwards and forwards and even speak with great swelling skill and ability, but our words will be shallow and never touch the areas of lives God desires to reach.

Did you know a part of man’s make-up (created by God) is a desire to follow. Now this God ordained following is hard-wired in us; not following man, but following Jesus. Again the command is, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” It is Jesus who we are to follow not man, but from the age of a little child we are taught in schools and in the secular, worldly media; be all you can be and not what God wants you to be. Look at this guy, how would you like to be able to run, jump and score baskets or touch downs like him? Look at his influence around the world and the money he makes, not to speak of the power he has and the glory he receives how would you like to be this guy? Paul directly took this wrong thinking on in the Church of Corinth when he said, “Be ye followers (imitate NKJV) of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians11:1) Now Paul was not saying become like me, like the Haunites tried to do of Charles Haun, oh no Paul was saying imitate or follow me in those areas you see of Christ in me and if I am not measuring up to our standard (Jesus Christ) then do not follow me. It is only those things of Christ we become will have any eternal weight of glory and value in our lives and if we see Godly characteristics in others we are not to follow them blindly as sheep (to my shame I have done that before) or try to become like them, but we are to see these qualities and characteristics God has been able to work in others, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” We are looking at the Godly work and the fruit that God has developed in them. I do not know about you my friend, but I have not physically seen Jesus today. But I have seen His love and kindness in every act of giving of one’s self for another. I have seen His smile every time a baby’s eyes light up or when I see the clouds come floating by. I have felt His touch every time my wonderful wife rubs my tired legs and back. God is everywhere and is in everything in this world all we have to do is have the eyes and more important the heart condition to be able to see Him.

You know the longer I go with God and the more I do for Him the more I can see my great need to just stay within the lines. When we moved to Germany in 1996, I got a better understanding of the German culture when I drove on their side roads now not heir autobahns, but their secondary roads. You see these roads had concrete bricks that line the outer limits of the road and if you get too far to the right or left you get into trouble. To navigate successfully on these roads (and in the German culture) you have to stay in the center, so too in our Christians life. In Ecclesiastes we find the Preacher giving great advice to his son and to us. And in verse 13 we find all we have to do to please God, “The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. 11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:10-14) All of our hard work (running around the world) and book learning (running from this conference or that conference to hear the same thing you have heard before) is “weariness of the flesh,” but here is the whole matter (nothing else to do) “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” And why, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” My friend if we keep this truth at heart and before us all the days of our lives we will have no problem with worshiping God. Written by David Stahl