TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Faith is one of the most mysterious works of God in our lives. Often times we like to short circuit God working in our lives by going after miracles and such instead of waiting on the LORD or allowing Him to take us through some hard dealings and judgments in our lives. After all getting something for almost nothing feeds our carnal nature the more. Now I will be honest a good miracle makes me stand up and salute smartly, but in the end a good miracle will not get us far in God because a miracle does not develop faith in our lives and in reality it stunts our spiritual growth and development. Remember if the world is running after you God is not. I see so many ministries that are built on signs and wonders, yet Jesus said do not seek a sign He called them "perverse and a wicked generation. Now were they wicked people well I will leave that with the LORD, but for sure they were misguided because of their desire to see something in God instead of becoming something. In the 4th Chapter of Exodus we see Moses learning some lessons that will carry him his entire life. The lesson's God teaches are to be used our life-time not just for a given situation. Here in the wilderness Moses asked God how will the people know you have appeared to me, "And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: 5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee." (Exodus 4:2-5) Ah a miracle what a sign, but if we look closer we will see much more happening in Moses. Now I do not know about you, but if God told me to reach out and grab a serpent by the tail I am not so sure I would be as obedient as Moses. You know if you grab a serpent by the tail you make a foundation for the serpent to strike. Believe it or not God was testing Moses' obedience here even to the point of death. God knew if He was going to use Moses as He wanted He had to get Moses to be willing to lay down his life at God's command. So too in our lives. If we are going to be used by God to do mighty things for God we too must be willing to lay down our lives. No flesh shall glory in the sight of God. So much is missed by many Christians and many people do not receive because many Christians are not willing to put their life on the line. God always asks for everything, nothing is free in God, and nothing is ever left for our self. Once we have made up our mind God can begin to use us beyond our abilities, but not until. Later on in the 4th Chapter of Exodus we see a change in the life of Moses. The rod in Moses' hand has undergone a name change, now it is called the "rod of God." In verse 20 we read, "And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand." (Exodus 4:20) The "rod of God" all throughout Moses life was God's power and authority in his life. Oh that we would have a "rod of God" to do miracles with, we do. Later when Moses has an audience with Pharaoh he uses his rod to do a miracle. "And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent." (Exodus 7:8-9) God has already prepared Moses for this encounter and Moses won a great victory, but the victory was short lived. After some time Pharaoh let the Jewish people (you know the story) go and off they went into the wilderness (the wilderness has a way of taking care of things in our lives) a wonderful place of spiritual growth and development. The Jewish people left Egypt with the spoils of her treasury in great victory, but this miracle was short lived. In the 14th Chapter of Exodus the Jewish people are trapped (God is good at putting us in a fix so He can fix us) between the Red Sea and 600 chariots of Pharaoh's army hot on their heels. Here now we find Moses crying. "And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea." (Exodus 14:15-16) I guess the miracle of the rod to snake and then back to rod again and the miracle of the exodus from Egypt was not enough to build up Moses' faith for this situation. Moses was reduced to crying! Now let us not beat up on Brother Moses too often this is the position God often finds us. Moses was saying, God you will have to do something or all is lost, come on God do another miracle on our behalf, well that is not what God had in mind. God told Moses (what is in your hand?), "But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it:" Why are you crying to me for another miracle I have already given you what you need to take care of this situation. Here Moses was operating in one level of faith (what he needed God to do for him) but as God saved Moses and the people their faith in God never really increased. We know this to be true, because only Joshua and Caleb (from the original group that left Egypt, even not Moses) made it into the promised land. The others the Bible says their carcasses fell in the wilderness from unbelief. The writer to the Hebrews writes, "But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:17-19) We see in this story from Exodus one level of faith "seeing is believing" (lives characterized by carnality, unstable, and emotional), but that is not God's best for our lives. There is another level of faith God wants us to move in that is beyond our natural senses and emotions that is the opposite "believing without seeing" (lives characterized by spirituality, stable, and established). Sounds simple, but make no mistake my friend it is not. Faith is not added to us when we see a miracle oh no, but the world and the "church" scream for one. Jesus constantly performed miracle after miracle, but five times in the Bible Jesus said of the disciples "oh ye of little faith." First of all faith is added to us when we hear from God. It is the way it is the only way. Paul tells us in Romans, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.' (Romans 10:17) In the Greek we read, "Faith comes by hearing a word from God." (Romans 10:17 (Greek)) Do you see the difference? In the Greek version (better articulated) it is the word directly from God that contains the faith and everything we will need to do that which God wants us to do. Hearing a word from God contains all of the wisdom, the knowhow, all of the provision, everything we will need. Faith does not come by what we hold on to, what verse we stand on, or even what we believe. I can sit in my garage all day long, go beep beep, and believe I am a car, but that will never make me a car. I am a man created in the image of God. "Faith comes by hearing a word from God," but there is a deeper level of faith God is looking for in our lives, the believing without seeing. In John we see this play out in the life of Thomas. Now I like Brother Thomas he gets a bad rap too often, but in reality he said and did nothing that almost all Christians have done. In John we read, "And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:" (John 20:26-30) Did you get that? Jesus said, "blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." The next level in the LORD is in faith not needing to see a sign or a miracle before we believe. We just simply believe based on what the word of God says and what we know in our spirit to be true. Now like for the disciples in verse 30 Jesus still had to do "many other signs" for them to believe even though they touched his flesh. So too I will lay hands on your head till your hair falls out if need be for you to believe, but that is not the best God wants for our lives. Why does the LORD have to keep doing miracles for us? God has already given us everything we need to do His will and plan for our lives. Peter writes, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:3-4) The LORD has already given us "all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" what else do we need? How many more miracles do we need before we believe? What will it take before we can go to the next level where we believe without seeing? Growing up as a child in Assembly of God, Church of God, Pentecostal, etc. churches I can remember unannounced spontaneous sovereign moves of God where you knew it was God, but it has been over 20 maybe 30 years since I have seen this manifestation of God. I am sure it is not God who has changed maybe it is us. For greater than 15 years I have held before the LORD questioning (if you do not know something hold it before the LORD and in time when you can handle it He will respond) why we do not see this move of God in churches today and I feel God answered my question through this article. In the past there was a simplistic, naive approach as a little child to the LORD where we just believed without having to see or feel something, but that is not the case today. In the past our emotions were dulled by hard work (both in our occupation and in the service of the LORD), commitment, and by a sublime desire to hear from God in a meaningful way, but not so today. Today our emotions are energized with lights, music, sounds, videos, even fog with a desire for God to come and bless us, make us feel good (self-seeking songs have sponsored this wrong heart condition) or we have not heard from God. No longer are the hymns (songs sung to God) sang in our assemblies they have become old fashion and do not represent a hip Jesus. They have been replaced by praise and worship songs (songs sung about God) that seek even command a blessing from God. Well I will be honest if God never blesses me again that will be okay as long as my wife and family receive from Him. We have forgotten we go to church so that we can be a blessing not so God can bless us. The Christians of yesteryear knew this that is why God met them in their circumstances in a powerful and meaningful way. Our flesh and our senses are fed till they scream, but wait a minute God is trying to kill our flesh so we can be conformed into the image of His dear Son. You know we use the word "spiritual" for all kinds of things, but our forefathers knew being "spiritual" was being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and Him responding back in kind. As we lay our head to the pillow at night we (Karen and I) often listen to teaching tapes from deep spiritual teachers (all who are not with us today) such as Haun, Follette, Beuttler, Taylor and there is such a child-like quality, but a depth that calls unto deep in us. We have become so sophisticated and we think we are "deep" in our understanding, well deep my friend is down where Jesus is, meek and lowly. Maybe that is why I enjoy so going overseas and ministering. There in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia you find a lowly spirit and a true appreciation for the things of God and for what God provides. I think once we return to a child-like approach to God and stop all of this silly entertainment (can you believe all of the Christian movies? Hollywood found an untapped market, Christians) and self-seeking God will be able to take us to the next level where we do not have to feel or see something, but just believe. Written by David Stahl

HGM TEACHING FOR 23 FEB 16

HOME GROUP TEACHING OUTLINE (WITHOUT MARGIN NOTES) FOR MEETING ON 23 FEB 16

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-30 TEXT: "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace." (Leviticus 10:1-3) .

 

I.  GOD GETS NASTY

 

A. If there is to be a continual approach to God, there must be a concern for holiness in all areas of our lives. Peter attempts to press this into our hearts when he wrote; "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (I Peter 1:15-16) And consider these words in Hebrews; "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" (Hebrews 12:14) This urging to prepare one's heart so frequent in the Word of God that I would be afraid to ignore it.

B. How can one assume to continually approach God for an ongoing and growing relationship, and yet always bring with him elements contrary to the righteousness of God? Divine order must be maintained . Otherwise your communion with God will be hindered and we will not be able to progress ever upward in Him, ever seeking the righteous character of God to become the very core of our life and activity.

C. If we are to walk with God, the two of us must be in agreement. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3) If we have one attitude and God has an opposing attitude, we better straighten out ours. God is not going to change. If we want His best, something must take place in us to cause us to correct our ways in order to conform to God's ways.

D. If correction is not forthcoming, God may take a rare extreme measure. It is not uncommon for God to take one totally, out of the picture to ensure His will is done in a group or in the life of a believer. God's actions may be very drastic at times, but He would like to avoid such harsh measures. "A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory." (Matthew 12:20) This does not mean that God enjoys a broken reed, and loves smoke in His eyes. What Matthew is conveying is God has patience with wrongs, but hopes for correction or victory through the judgment He sends. God does not want destruction, He wants correction. But if there can be no correction effected, then He must go to extreme, harsher measures.

E. The judgment of God for correction will always and continually be applied to those who are correctable, no matter how evil they may be, and no matter how long it takes. If God cannot get correction in one place under one type of judgment, H e will try another place under another type of judgment.

F. The longer correction is withstood, the greater the hindrance to spiritual growth. And as one continues in the wrong path, more and more of one's spiritual life is chipped away. For example: some believers refuse to apologize to others, or to make wrongs right, and therefore grow bitter toward these individuals. The increasing bitterness chips away at their spiritual lives, and no spiritual growth is realized. There are believers (believe it or not) who do not want to correct wrongs and straighten out their crooked paths. Are they waiting for the harshness of God?

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. A refusal to walk a straight path causes personal problems. Basic righteousness must be fulfilled. There is no way to skirt the issue and yet achieve progression in spiritual living. People who are operating in the gifts of the Spirit come to me with their problems. Usually I discover unfulfilled basics. These cause problems. Some do not believe even the most basic Scriptures. Others are more interested in their ministry.

B. God is after correction. He brings His people to the Wilderness of Sinai to iron out the wrinkles. The children of Israel spent many months in this wilderness. God brought them to a long halt in their journey in order to enhance their progression. Often times when we feel halted along our spiritual journey, it may be for correction and instruction, in order that our spiritual journey will be what it ought to be.

C. God will always bring His children into a place where they can receive correction. If we reject correction we are rejecting the best God can offer to us at that time. Correction from the Lord brings us into fulfillment and peace. Learning to receive correction from the Lord or one over us in spiritual authority will go a long way in our spiritual growth and development.

     

THE TEST

We are exhorted to set the gaze of our spirit upward toward Jesus whose life was openly displayed for us to look upon. We are to both consider and meditate upon the example of His life as the pattern for our lives. “Looking to 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.” (Hebrews 12:2) The shame we often feel (believe it or not) can be a test that God has placed before us to see if we can qualify or be approved for the next thing God has for us. Jesus our supreme example was tested not only by the religious folks of the day (like us) and the disciples, but also from His loving Heavenly Father. Jesus' trust and obedience for everything was in the Father will for His life. This is how He could say, "of Myself I can do nothing." John shares this account from Jesus, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (John 5:30). Yet today we run around and say we have the power and do little with it and say we can do all of these things, but Jesus said He has no power (unless the Father gives it to Him) and can do nothing unless it be "the will of the Father." Something is very wrong here. Even the Old Testament speaks prophetically of Jesus regarding the implicit trust He placed in His Father concerning His life and ministry. “For the Lord God will help Me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” (Isaiah 50:7) Due to His faith and implicit trust in the character of His Father Jesus was enabled to fully obey His Father’s will. He knew His Father would not fail Him in the time of need or in time of testing. Paul also set the gaze of his spirit toward the LORD and diligently followed the pattern he saw in the example of Jesus. He gave his testimony expressing the result of his living, as the LORD lived. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14) And make no mistake Paul of all of the disciples was tested more than the other 83. Paul knew something about testings and trials and like Paul, the other disciples, and our LORD we are exhorted to have this same “mind.” Paul writes in Philippians, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you.” (Philippians 3:15) If we are to grow spiritually we must have both vision and direction along with an implicit trust not only in the ability, but also in the willingness of the LORD to bring us into the fullness of His intention for us through testing. Yes testing is the tool God uses in our lives to grow (as water, sunshine, and dung grows plants) up and to qualify or be approved for the next thing He has for us. Knowing this I wonder why I kick at the goads like Paul when God brings a good test my way? Maybe because we do not see it as a test? Or maybe we know it is a test, but resist the gain for the cost of the pain. John Wright Follette wrote a wonderful small booklet called, "Troubles Our Servant" that teaches us what we call troubles (what God calls a test) can serve to make us better men and women of God. Charles Haun sang the song, "Count Your Blessing" this way. Count your troubles name them one by one and you will be amazed to see what God has done. Tests and troubles in our lives serve as a blessing if we can allow them to define and refine our character to be more like the image and character of Jesus Christ, God's goal in our lives. Recently a good friend of mine gave me a healthy chunk of money to Western Union (WU) or bank wire to a missionary friend in Africa. After four trips (to the bank) the bank finally told me the Department of Homeland Security (fear does have has torment) turned off the bank transfer pipes and even WU that originate in the US. Well I knew my friend needed the money and I did not want to let him down so with every trip to the bank and trying to send the WU at a local grocery store the level of frustration was heightened. This was a test from God, but I did not see it at first. It had nothing to do with the money transfer that was the tool God used to reveal my heart condition during the test. God wanted to see (but sadly He always knew) and wanted me to see my attitude during the frustration and the 35 minute car ride (one way) to the bank from our home. To be honest I did not do well in this test. My attitude towards the bank representative (who was trying to help me) was poor at best. You know the only thing we are really in control of is our attitude. We must never forget at the heart of every issue is an issue of our heart. If we do then we will fail the test time and time again and the LORD will raise the stakes a little bit for the next test. You know we think God is more concerned about the big tests He brings our way, but oh no my friend this is wrong thinking. God is more concerned about the little small teeny tiny test, those that we think are insignificant. As a matter of fact the smaller the test the more God closely scrutinizing us in it. God knows if we cannot be faithful in the small things then we will not be faithful in the big things. Jesus told the disciples, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." (Luke 16:10) So too in our testing from God. God knows if we cannot be successful in the small test then we will never be successful in the big test. Lastly we have not exhausted the depth of revelation that is buried layer upon layer within the Word of God. There is hidden manna spiritual principles that are not openly available, but made manifest to those who have certain overcoming qualities in their lives for those who have learned the lessons God is giving and for those who have qualified for them through testing. Many theorize God's end-time plan for man but, before the LORD will reveal more to us we must have a proper attitude, spirit, and a pure heart motive. First we must be walking in integrity with Him in the out-working of the Word that we have already received. Through illumination this present Word should be vibrant (a living reality) having relevant meaning in relation to and through our present circumstances and time. The LORD is progressively bringing us into a greater understanding of Himself, of His desire for the growth and well being of His Church, and the establishing of His kingdom (righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit Romans 14:17) in our heart. I hear many people (even Christians) ask what is life about? The number of books written on the meaning of life are astounding, talk shows on TV (even Christians) command hours and hours of our time, but all fall short of God's working, though His dealings and judgments (His testing), in our lives are not understood. What is the meaning of life? Life is one big test from God not to see if He can trick us or set us up for failure, oh no our life is a series of many tests to see if we can qualify and be approved for what God has for us in our next life to come. May we be found faithful. Written by David Stahl