NO HOPE AND CHANGE YET

Back in July I wrote a letter to the editor that was published on 29 July called “Shooting in Colorado comes as no surprise” and ended it with these words, “It is not God bless America as I hear people sing, but it is America bless God. Oh America return back to days of your youth, if not I will quickly come and remove your candlestick from the world,” thus says the LORD.” Now I am sure most readers blew me off and ignored my musings as idle babble, but if you are honest and if you take a closer look at what has happened in our society since then you will discover my words are true as is God’s word. Since the movie theater mass murder in Denver, CO on 20 July 12, seven people were killed by a white supremacist at a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, WI on 5 August 12, a guard was wounded by a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocate on 15 August 12 at the Family Research Council office in Washington DC, and then on 24 August 12 two people were killed and 9 wounded on the steps of the tallest building in New York City. Please do not tell me God is not taking His hands off of America. As bad as all of this carnage was, what was NOT reported by our national media was even more chilling. As reported by the Chicago Tribune: since 25 August at 6:00 (CST) four people have been killed and 12 wounded in separate incidents. Between 23 and 24 August 12 (in Chicago) there has been 19 people shot and of those 13 were shot in a 30 minute period. So far this year in Chicago there has been 328 homicides and 2,217 shootings. In 2011 there were 441 homicides. I wonder why these mass murders and shootings have not been reported through our national media outlets? Maybe these mass murders and shootings are not news worthy in Chicago. Maybe this violence has become common place in Chicago’s society? Please do not try to tell me God is NOT taking his hands off of America. My friend God is not mocked, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7-8) If the American people keep shaking their fist at God and His word, in defiance, God will have no recourse than to take His hands completely off of America letting us go after our own desires. These shootings in Chicago (and around America) is not a gun control issue as many career politicians make it out to be nor is it a poverty, education, racial, or even a break down of the family issue as professionals would have you to believe, but it is a heart issue whereby the American people have turned their hearts away from God and His ways and now all God can do is slowly take His hands off of America giving us what we want based on our decisions and choices. The news media is all a twitter with the politics of today, but it does not matter who is in the White House if God is not seated on the throne of America our nation is through. The President is not in charge of America nor is the Senate and House of Representatives, God and God alone hold the keys to life and death for America. God controls everything and God said, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) Now it is important to know this verse was not written to people that do not believe in God and His ways, but to people who “are called by my name.” And the bottom line (as it has always been) America’s future depends not on the government nor on non-believers, but on those who say they know God and have been called by His name. Will we do our reasonable service: humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, turn from our wicked ways? Oh I will vote too and I will vote the Bible; you cannot call yourself a Christian and vote for people who do not believe what God’s word says no matter how much you lie to yourself. God is slowly taking His hands off America we can see this from the death and destruction in our society and we can even see it in the weather patterns; no it is NOT global warming, it God taking His hands off of America and He has not changed His mind yet. Written by David Stahl

THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

A week or so ago I was talking with a good friend of mine at the fitness center where Karen and I go (it is on base and free) and we got on the topic of emotions in the church and he made the statement emotions are good in God and made the comparison of the presence of the LORD is our emotions, well I just shuddered and thought if my friend (and I like him a lot) has this thinking then many more Christians are probably confused between the presence of the LORD and their emotions. I asked my good friend if the presence of the LORD is the same feeling he gets when his favorite team is on the verge of scoring a goal, full of excitement, and emotion, and he replied yes. I just shook my head in amazement because the presence of the LORD is something more special in our lives, something far greater than a fleshly emotional response to feelings, situations, circumstances, or a thrill down our backs. After some time of thinking on our conversation the LORD gave me this article. Did you know we pay a price for every last thing we get from God? I pay a price for it and I want to. He is not going to baby us we have to learn that and that is not pleasant. The further we go in God the less He is going to honor our fields of emotion. We will have to learn to walk with the LORD without His conscious presence at times which can be terrifying, but never the less this is what God expects from mature developed children. Less and less are we dependent on our old devotional patterns, our emotional approach to God, or getting tickled or thrilled (what many Christians call blessed) by God that serve our living. How can faith, trust, and rest develop in us if God is going to honor us along our emotional life? In those difficult places of life we will never be able to synchronize with what God is doing in our lives with our fluctuating emotions it just cannot happen. Our emotions must be dealt a death blow by God and never be allowed to run parallel with our experiences and learning in God. We must grow up and emotional Christians have not. I think another reason why we are confused about the presence of the LORD today in the church is because of the deliberate decision, by many denominations and religions, NOT to make disciples as Jesus told us to do. Jesus did not command us to make converts, oh no Jesus told us to make disciples, but this my friend takes many years of hard, one-on-one work, it is far easier to make a convert than a disciple. Less time spent, no real money invested, and you get to tally them on your people saved tally sheet. They say if all of the people the missionaries say were saved each year the world would be saved twice over each year. Who cares how many people get saved? We are NOT to make converts, but disciples! Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach (Strong’s #3100, to disciple, to follow His precepts and instructions, to teach, instruct) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mathew 28:18-20) Jesus was given “ALL” power (to make disciples) from the Father and Jesus gave us the power NOT to make converts, but make disciples. We are to be making disciples from all nations not converts, but that is not what we see. The focus in most churches and overseas ministry is salvation; now this is important, but not the focus of God. God’s focus is making disciples. God has a divine spiritual principle – seed after seed. If an apple seed is planted then an apple tree will grow and the tree will reproduce like seed again and again. Whatsoever is planted in our lives will reproduce. Spiritually this is why it is better to be a tree eater than a fruit eater and this is why it matters who your teacher is. This too is why we have so many evangelists and preachers and not so many teachers. It is easier to be an evangelist or preacher, but is much tougher in God to be a teacher, especially if they teach by the Spirit. Evangelists and preachers proclaim, but teachers explain. Acquiring the knowledge and wisdom from God to be able to explain the word of God will exact a heavy toll on relationships and is far more costly to our flesh. So the more converts you have (and not mature men and woman of God) the more emotionalism you will see. Many evangelists, pastors, and preachers measure the response by the people to the message by how many people run down to the altar, well there are few things we need to learn here. An emotional response to the word of God is not a move of God. I hear many evangelists, pastors, and preachers say the Spirit moved today in church, but if you press then on what is “moved” you will find a few folks walked down to the altar and had a time of prayer, well this is not a move of God. A response to the word of God is not seen in a tearful run to the altar, but in change to one’s character. I can remember growing up as a child in church when suddenly an unsolicited the power of the LORD (not the presence of the LORD, but His power) would drop like a ton of bricks, no piano playing softly, no one twisting arms or hearts to come forward to be converted just POW it was on us and we knew it was power of God; not an emotional approach to God with music, pleading, or our feelings just the power of God. It has been many years since something like that has happened. God’s presence comes to us we cannot go to it. His presence is a thing of the Spirit. We cannot pray it up, work it up by singing, dancing, or listening to our favorite Christian CD or DVD, or even preach it up, it is a thing of the Spirit and if we do not get it by the Spirit our flesh can never produce or conger it up. Moses asked God, “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. 14And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.” (Exodus 3:14-16) Here in these verses are some requirements and intents of God with regards to the presence of the LORD in our lives. The intent of the presence of the LORD is for knowing what God wants in any given situation or circumstance, not to make us feel good. God is not trying to make us happy or feel good. God started something in the Book of Genesis and He has NOT changed His mind. God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) God is still in the process of making man (God’s grand goal in our lives) in His own image and righteous living (where we just live right without having to think or pray about being right) is the requirement to have the presence of the LORD abide continually and does not come and go like an endless ebb and flow of victory and defeat that is in most Christians lives. I wonder what life would be like if we walked continually in the presence of the LORD? The progression in God is faith, trust, rest. We come to God by faith, but as we walk with Him we must progress far beyond faith and move into a place of trust. Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15). Esther said, “ . . . if I perish I perish,” (Esther 4:16), but there is a greater place than faith and trust in God where we can be at rest no matter what is moving around us. It would be like we are on the sea of glass before the throne of God 24/7. This place is far beyond the halls of the heroes of the faith, far beyond our sense of truth, and is a place in the Spirit realm that only rest is found. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) Verse 28 said, “I will give you rest” and verse 29 says, “ye shall find rest” I wonder which one is it; we will be given rest or we will have to find it? Can you believe both at the same time? When we come to the LORD in faith He gives us rest from sin (salvation) and our fleshly sins (sanctification) if we allow Him to work in our lives, but when we grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ and we start maturing in Him we discover the many depths of God (as waterspouts of glory) that establishes and settles us in His presence. Lastly the presence of God is the road we walk on back to the heart of the Father where we all came from. When we compromise our belief of the word of God no matter the goodness involved, we lose our integrity and who we are before God and man. Most people today know a phony when they see him/her and when they see a phony in church they really stick out. I would suggest to you there are four ways we can lose the presence of the LORD in our lives and in some cases our salvation: 

Presumption – Thinking we know right, but in reality we are wrong. The direction of presumption is always up the opposite direction God takes. Presumption always moves without really knowing (guessing at God’s will) what God wants and always leads to loss and death. Now God will not stop someone in presumption He expects them to love Him enough (Christians not sinners get into presumption) to stop and repent of their waywardness. You know it is bad not to know the truth in any given situation, but it is worse not knowing you do not know. The longer one goes in presumption the greater the loss. The loss that is experienced is from what God had originally purposed and planned in our lives during our time in presumption. I have a friend (I have been there before so I know) who is over in presumption (in ministry) not really knowing what God wants for their life. They are working hard and even some good things for God are happening, but this is not God’s will they have left His original purpose for their life and struggle needlessly. God’s will is not hard to find just ask Him and then be brave enough to follow His Spirit. 

Disobedience – Disobedience is the rejection of the throne rights of God. I think disobedience is probably the greatest of all sins. By the disobedience of one man (Adam), all of human race fell; by the obedience of one Christ, the whole human race (Romans 5:19) was saved, that is to say, provision was at least made, but salvation in obedience to God’s word is our choice. If you can picture God sitting on the throne: disobedience is pushing God off His throne and seating ourselves on His throne in His place. Disobedience is the rejection of the throne rights of God. Consequently, God cannot tolerate disobedience, rebellion against His sovereignty. As in the case of Saul, persistence in disobedience will surely rob us of the presence of the LORD and end us in death. 

Substitution – Allowing other things to creep into our lives. How careful we have to be not to let things to creep in that are out of harmony to the purpose of the will of God, even Christian things. Substitution leads to temptation. James warns us, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15) When we start substituting Godly principles for the principles of the world we end in death. God rarely changes His mind with regards to our lives. If God starts us in one direction in ministry we must be very careful not to change direction (even with other ministry) and if God gives us an opportunity to choose we better choose right, if not there will be hell to pay in our family and our life. 

Neglect – Neglecting our devotion and commitment, neglecting the LORD, simply being so preoccupied with things that we pay little attention to the LORD and allow the work of God done in our lives be replaced with carnal things, fleshly things through lusts and hungers for the things of the world and our selfish ambition. The writer to the Hebrews says, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” (Hebrews 2:3) The answer is we will not, we cannot escape God’s judgment and wrath if we neglect His salvation and turn our back on the presence of the LORD. How precious is the presence of God? It is life or death to us. Written by David Stahl

CHOICES AND DECISIONS

Karen and I attended a church some time ago and at the end of the service they planned to do a baptism, but before they conducted the baptism the young couple was asked to come to the front of the church and was read the church’s denominational covenant that they had to swear an oath of allegiance before they could be a member in good standing. The young couple, I guess they were married, stood there with the old “deer in the headlights look” as the leader read the requirements of the covenant. You could see the couple had no clue to what was being read and it was even clearer they had no comprehension to the gravity of the moment, yet they made a choice and a decision (maybe blindly out of emotion) that greatly impacted not only on their physical lives, but also on their spiritual life. Often we make choices and decisions out from our emotion which is extremely dangerous in God. The covenant’s introduction paragraph ends with these words, “we now give ourselves (Jesus never did this) to one another by the will of God in this solemn covenant” which is something James (who was the first leader of the Church in Jerusalem) strictly forbids, “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” (James 5:12) Jesus said this way, “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” (Matthew 5:33-37) I guess these folks missed these verses. The covenant goes on with six more short detailed paragraphs of requirement and then ends with “To this end we agree to co-operate in the promotion of denominational institutions and ministries, the support of the local church, and the evangelization of the world.” Whatever happened to the promotion of the Gospel message in integrity and simplicity? Jesus said, “whosoever will come,” (is that not all inclusive and simple enough), but here in this denomination the local leadership and their higher authority too makes choices and decisions like who will be allowed to join their fraternity based on certain preconceived man-made criteria. My friend I am glad God does not have things arranged like this; God’s membership in His church (Jesus said, “I will built my church”) is universal and open to anyone who loves Him enough to learn about Him and His ways. Those who have accepted His free gift of salvation, through grace, not by good works as this denomination preaches nor by written rules and requirements that gives the façade of clean hands and a clean heart, but in reality they are bound by the keeping of the law which no man can keep. God does not require our signature on a piece of paper or a man-made written covenant, but wants our obedience in allowing Him to write His laws on our heart and yes my friend this too is a choice and decision we all must make. Now the people at this church Karen and I dearly love they are near and dear to our heart so please do not misunderstand me here; we all make choices and decisions that impact our spiritual lives to great degrees and most Christians have no spiritual wisdom and insight to take such decisions and choices. As a matter of fact we can only go as far in God as our surrender to God will allow and our surrender to God is based on our choices and decisions we daily make. I could not believe the requirements, the yoke that this denomination was laying on this young couple. I cannot keep this covenant the leadership in this denomination cannot keep this covenant it is impossible to keep this covenant so why does this denomination require new people to make a solemn oath before God? Oh I know fear and manipulation to control their people, just like all denominations. Now I guess by now you can tell I am not a big fan of denominations, well I will even go further and say I believe denominations are the biggest obstacle to true revival in the world. I can tell you sad story after sad story around the world how some denominations have literally killed people for land and money. The Body of Christ is not one body one Spirit, one baptism, we are filled with division, strife, wrath, jealousy, arrogance, and even one-up-manship within the Body of Christ. Paul tells us, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:2-6) Is this what we see today? No just drive down the road in your car the landscape is dotted with denominational church after denominational church. Are they are right? Do they all agree? No of course not. Do we really think God is going to bless us individually, as a local Body, and our nation if we His children cannot get this right? I think not. As I was watching this mockery the LORD brought to mind Acts Chapter 15, so I turned there and read, “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” (Acts 15:5-10) Here the Pharisees where trying to yoke the disciples and the people with things they themselves (just like today) could not keep. Peter was led by the Holy Spirit and put this wrong thinking in its place, but through the years it has slowly crept back into church leadership. Paul addressed this subtle, ungodly attitude, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21(Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:20-23) And guess what we make choices and decisions to believe these verses or ignore them. Leadership in many denominations have seen the power, control, and authority that can be gained to fulfil a denominational teaching and doctrinal position while yoking the Brethren and to hell with the truth. There is no need for denominations today. Why does it have to be a Baptist, Church of God, Methodist, Assembly of God, Lutheran, Pentecostal, non-denominational (the list goes on and on) church? Why can it just be a place where people gather to worship God in Spirit and truth? What service or ability to people does a denomination provide that a local body of believers led by the Holy Spirit cannot provide? Power in numbers, power equals money, and money equals more power, but Jesus said, “I have no power except for what the Father give me.” Religious organizations, traditions, and rituals are evil my friend sometimes far more than Satan. Many of my pastor friends tell me David you should not come down so hard on denominations you will not be invited to come and speak at their churches, well shall I lie to please men? Paul addressed this question, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10) How can I please men by following all of their rules and requirements when I have tasted and saw the goodness of God being led by the Holy Spirit. I do not have to worry what man will say because I am more concerned about what God will say. Did you know when you justify yourself before man you make man your judge? Jesus never did this because He was led by the Spirit. I teach by the Spirit so I always find religious folks reject my words, but those that have been birthed from above, those who are of the Spirit of God know my words are true and value my teaching. Funny how spiritual people can only be touched by spiritual people, but sadly most Christians are so use to humanistic sermons they cannot recognize the Spirit of God when spoken. I was taught by my teacher Charles Haun we must go for the heart when sharing the word of God and if need be offend the listener. It is far better they be offended and learn something about God than to lie to them. Jesus was great at this. We do not want to be humble and led by the Holy Spirit because we like to please men more than God. The requirement to be led by the Spirit of God is NOT to be led by man; this too is a choice and decision we all must make. Did you know a humble man knows another humble man? Here we have a choice and decision to make, to be humble or not and to be led by the Spirit of God or not. We cannot be led by both and it is our choice. When we are led by the Holy Spirit we are able to see our opportunities in God. There is wonderful story in the Gospel of Mark that really speaks of this. In Mark 10 we read, “And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” (Mark 10:48-52) Here blind Bartimaeus had a choice to make and he did not have a lot of time to make it. Actually Bartimaeus had only one opportunity because Jesus was on His way to the cross and would not be passing by this way again. In spite of all of the religious and well respected folks in town telling him to be quiet, “he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.” Can you imagine the Scripture says, “And Jesus stood still.” Oh that Jesus would stand still for us! Blind Bartimaeus was not following a religious covenant of men, but reached out to Jesus in His need, in Spirit and truth. My friend when we make the right choice and when we make correct decisions all heaven takes note and God moves on our behalf, but when we get caught up by making wrong choices and bad decisions in religion and denominationalism of this day there is not much God can do for us. God’s ability and power being active in our lives is not based on God’s ability and power, but on our choices and the decisions we make. Just ask blind Bartimaeus he could have followed the crowd and the religious leaders of his day, but he did not and now he sees or just like with the blind man in John Chapter 9, “These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 24Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:24-25) I wonder if we would be willing to be put out of a church to tell the truth, the choice and decision is ours. The difference between following man (religion and denominations) and God is seen in the manifested power of God. The difference in our lives is our choice and decision. Written by David Stahl

OUR COMMITMENT

This week the 30th Olympiad from London, England was on the world stage. Now I really like London it is a wonderful city where I have had many great memories and met so many friends. I probably watched too much of the Olympics after all the Olympics are nothing more than flesh glorifying flesh and country glorifying country through sports. The words of the Roman poet Juvenal, “give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt” was visible for all the world to see. Emperor Vespasian (who built the Coliseum) also liked this phrase when he said “to control the mob all I have to do is give them bread and circuses” (food and entertainment) in other words; a superficial means of appeasement, a simplistic motivation and manipulation of the common people. The phrase refers to entertainment intended to foil discontent or distract attention from a situation. In ancient Rome, “bread and circuses” were used to keep the underprivileged poor people quiet, but enough of that. However, what really caught my attention (and impressed me) was the commitment and dedication these athletes had. For some this was their third and fourth Olympics 12 to 16 years of training of steadfast commitment to their sport and to be the very best at one moment in time when it counted, when they crossed the finish line. So too in our lives God rewards us when we cross the finish line; not during, or at the half way point, but at the end. I wonder why we think we deserve rewards in this life? Knowing the pain and sacrifice these athletes made for years was impressive, but they strove for something of this earth that will quickly pass away as their memory will in time. Now here is my point, I thought do I have the same commitment and dedication for God as these athletes? Of course I quickly said yes, but in my spirit I knew God was going to check me and I was right, not so fast there big boy. The Holy Spirit is always good (if we have allowed Him to operate in our lives) to give us a gut check when we think we are moving correctly a most blessed thing indeed. You know one thing that surprised me was to discover not all Christians are committed to God at the same heart level until I realized not all Christians really love God. You cannot be committed to someone and not love them. Funny me I thought all Christians studied the Bible, prayed, and had a heart for God and His children, but after walking with the LORD some time I learned not all Christians really love God enough to be committed and dedicated to Him. Oh I know the naysayers are going to say how can you judge us, well it is not hard our lives and check book speaks volumes to our commitment and dedication to God and His people. Now I have been walking with the LORD for over 50 years at different levels of His grace and am just amazed to how things operate in church denominations and religious organizations. Sadly the commitment to denominations and religious organizations has superseded commitment to God. Now let us be clear here, Jesus never gave Himself totally to all people, but He did give His life for everyone. There is a critical lesson we must learn here. God will bring certain people into our lives for a certain length of time (based on our commitment to Him and the person) for certain purposes and intents of His. We must operate within them correctly to be able to go forward in Him and if one person fails to meet their end of the bargain God will not strand the other person who is committed, oh no God will move that person on to the next thing He has for them, but here is the sad point the intents and purposes of God will be lost. What wonderful things did God have in mind for this relationship that did not manifest because of no commitment. Either we will walk in what God wants us to walk in for our lives or we will go our own way and the end therein is loss and destruction. Isaiah tells us, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) Now it says “all” that included you and me. I can personally speak of this with our church in Germany. I know certain things God had planned never happened because of lack of commitment to relationships in the leadership and sadly God moved (even though we stayed exactly seven years to the minute -- a completed work of God) Karen and I back to the States early. Did great things happen yes! Were many souls saved yes! Did miracles happen yes! But in the end what God planned and purposed was not totally accomplished. This is the lesson Jesus was teaching the disciples here in Matthew, to work within confines and framework of God. In Matthew we read, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23) It was not that the people did not know God to a certain degree they used His power and authority, but it was God that did not know them. The people did do many wonderful, mighty works for God, but was never committed to Him and the people God brought into their lives. The word “iniquity” does not mean bad or evil, but lawlessness, outside the law, or outside the framework of what God wanted to see happen. The people here operated in lawlessness or outside the framework of God’s intentions and in spite of God’s word going forth, miracles, and such loss and destruction was the end result. We the Church have gotten so far off track for doing things for God and even answering to God it is alarming to me. The Church while “rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" has hamstrung itself whereby it can no longer be led by the Holy Spirit. The Church is so plugged into the world’s system of conducting business with the forms, rules, and regulations of this world they have forgotten God’s system and ways of conducting business. They have forgotten along with the forms, rules, and regulations comes government oversight and intrusion where freedom to be led by the Holy Spirit WILL be lost. The less government is involved in our ministry the better and the better we will be able to hear from the Holy Spirit. I cannot begin to tell you of the number of great evangelists, pastors, preachers, and teachers with a heart for God that have submitted, outside the will of God for their lives, to a board of deacons, elders, and a denomination. The pastor is the lead dog in the sled team in God’s eyes. He is responsible and accountable for the word God gives to him for the people and for the operations of the local body not the deacons, a denomination, or elders. We as leaders are to be committed to the people God has given us, but first and for most we are responsible and accountable to God. Today in the Church many denominations have their accountability programs whereby men are accountable to men. These programs are a humanistic approach to spiritual problems, but if there is sin in our lives who is best to tell us man or God? Are we trying to please men or God? Paul told the Church at Galatia, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:10-12) How many pastors have watered down the truth trying to please a denomination, the deacons, or the elders to keep the peace in the church? When we are committed to God we will not be a man pleaser because we will be able to behold the revelation of Christ. And something just as important we will have a freedom to speak and move with God without fear of man. There will be a bold, fearlessness and a liberty in the Spirit knowing it is God who sits in judgment over us. If God has called you to be an evangelist, preacher, or teacher and you willfully take decision (for whatsoever reason) to change things you will not be able to operate correctly in God. Sadly these accountability programs in churches are just another way denominations can manipulate their people. Again as leaders in the Body of Christ either we will be accountable to man or God, we cannot be to both. Why do we give to God to get a tax break? Pastor Joseph Mutua from Nairobi, Kenya told me once that in the past Kenyan pastors had all kinds of tax breaks; free duty on cars, trucks, and mini-vans, income tax exempt status, and a respect within the government, but due to gross abuse the pastors and the churches lost this most favored tax status. Should we not be giving to God so that others may receive? Is our commitment to God and seeing others receive as shallow as receiving an end of the year giving letter? We Christians are so plugged into the worldly system of business. Yes I do give out donation letters, but I thought you would like to know the biggest donator to BHG who basically bank rolled the building of the clinic In Aveile, Nigeria asked me NOT to give him a giving letter because he gives to God and then counts on God to take care of him, his family, and businesses. We Americans better get use to not getting an end of the year giving letter the winds of anti-Christian sentiment is blowing strong in our society and I feel sure the days of Christian non-profit organizations and churches getting a tax breaks are numbered, but is it not better to count on God than on the government? Lastly, rewards from God now and in heaven are given to us based not on what we did for Him, but on our commitment and dedication to Him and His people. In Matthew the servant was told “well done” not much done by his lord. “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21) It does not matter what we do for God, but how we do it. Did we do things with the right heart condition and with the right motives? Were we committed to God and what He has asked us to do? How did we treat the people God put in our way? You know most Christians are some of the most impersonal people on the planet and do you not know we always go toward the people we see value in or want to use for our benefit. How many times have we ignored calls or emails from people who we think have no value in our lives? Well guess what God thinks they have value. Or worse when finally calling or emailing we placate them with excuses, but do we not make time for people we think are important? My friend doing the right thing is always tough and rarely convenient for our schedule, but ignoring people is just flat out arrogant, self-serving, and displays no true commitment to God and people. Often making excuses is nothing more than a cover up for being offended at the person or God and not strong enough inwardly to tell the truth. Committed people and people who know dedication are responsible people and can handle the responsibility and accountability God has given them. People who shirk responsibility and side step people will never be committed to God oh they may act the part, but within their heart they and God know the truth. Our commitment to God is a thing of the Spirit of God. Our commitment to God is a heart condition like our testimony not what we say, but what people see of our lives. Written by David Stahl