WTFMT 71 (FROM HGM ON 10 DEC 19)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-71 TEXT: "And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab." (Number 25:1)

 

I. DEATH LURKS IN MOAB

 

A. Relationship to the area of Moab breed death. A life lived in fear, unbelief, and defeat not only leads to death, but brings the shadow of death over everyone it touches. Such a life can drag others into the death stream. B. Death, in the context of Moab, is seen in, "And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand." (Numbers 25:9) In application to the spiritual life; one's giving oneself to the spirit of Moab, that is, to the spirit of fear and immorality, is an indication of unbelief which leads to defeat and death.

C. Beyond the area of Moab, any area of the enemies of the cross of Christ, "(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:" (Philippians 3:18) can be likewise applied. Certain religious factions are enemies of the cross. Certain "Spirit-filled" Christians are enemies of the cross, refusing and denying death to self and the flesh. This is why we see individuals in the church living defeated lives.

D. This present world's system and philosophy are enemies of the cross. When a believer is influenced toward ungodliness through his relationship with the world we see the results in his defeat; we see his spiritual life ebbing from him.

E. God has put fear and trembling upon His enemies. Fear and trembling have never been meant for the child of God in their negative sense. John in his first epistle writes, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18) Fear is a horrible feeling. Developing a pure relationship with the Lord (in which Jesus is allowed to be the Lord of your life) will do away with this awful fear.

F. There is a direct relationship between a person's lack of dedication to the Lord and the amount of fear existing in his life. In other words, your fear is in ratio to your lack of dedication. If dedication is 40%, fear is then 60%. If dedication is 99%, then fear is 1% and so on. When dedication is complete there is no more fear in the surrendered heart.

G. In God there is no horrifying fear. God has no sense of dread which causes Him a seizure of fearful trembling. God is afraid of nothing, for His power and control are over everything and everyone. "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;" (Philippians 2:10)

H. "And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!" (Matthew 8:25-27) Was Jesus afraid? The disciples were afraid. Yet both were in the same boat under the same circumstances. In the same danger, the disciples were afraid but Jesus was not. Why?

I. Completeness! Complete love (agape equals dedication) Perfect love relates to perfect trust -- complete, absolute trust! Would they be afraid if they were sitting in God's lap upon His throne? Would you?

J. Because of fear those men of war who left Egypt failed to possess the Promised Land. The giants in the Land were huge and powerful (Numbers 13:31). This was the vision of the soldiers. They did not see God's strength being greater than that of giants. They saw the giants as having the ultimate power and control. Danger filled their vision, danger to them and their families.

K. Often times faith operates contrary to natural sight. Faith doe not depend upon natural agents. Faith trusts God. That which God speaks must be mixed with faith. God told them to go up and possess the Land. But, they feared; they doubted; there was no faith; there was no trust; there was no proper vision; they died in the wilderness. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. The question tonight is, "Where is our faith?" Jesus asks his disciples' "And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him." (Luke 8:25)

B. The answer to this question reflects the disciples' character and contents of heart. Our answer does also. "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" Jesus asks them in Mark 4:40. Fear eliminates faith.

ARE YOU SAVED

What a powerful question, are you Saved? Of course there are only two people who know the answer to this question and they are God and you. Are you not glad God looks at the heart to answer this question? Man looks at our deeds and listens to our words, but God's focus is on our heart. I am glad God is the final judge of this question because if it was me I would probably put some people I know in hell that should not go. And the other person is you. We know the truth about our self, whether we are saved or not. We know what we do in secret that no one sees except God. We know the truth about our self that nobody knows, but God. A few days ago I heard this guy talk about a letter he received from a lady who asked, how do I really know I am saved and am a Christians. Now I like the word Believer instead of Christian. You know you can be a so called "Christian" and not believe in the death, burial, and resurrection (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Many main stream denominations and religions only believe parts of the Gospel of some not at all. We must be very careful how we use the word "Christian" and not give credence to groups of people that shun the truth of the Word of God. So I like the word "Believers" these are folks that believe the Gospel message and take the Scriptures literally as written. But this guy's reply back to the lady contained four questions. What he was saying is if you can answer yes to three of the questions and yes to the fourth question then you probably are saved, because non saved people do not enjoy engaging in the detailed behavior below. As a matter of fact their behavior is directly opposite from those who consider themselves to be Believers. Okay enough the first question: Do you enjoy being around other people that call themselves Christians and say they are saved? Please notice I did not say who go to church. The writer to the Hebrews tell us, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-25) At this time in the history of the New Testament Church they did not have mega-churches, but met house to house or in small groups due to the persecution. I do believe these times will revisit us again. I would think there is more of God's power in operation and manifestation in a small group of Believers than in a large group of Christians. To carry that thought on I would say the bigger the group the less of God's power is in operation. After all the more flesh you get corralled under one roof the tougher time it is to allow the Holy Spirit to put our flesh down. We see this principle all throughout the Scriptures and live today on TV and the internet. Now there are probably some people who go to church you like and some you do not like. You can also find this in a small group setting, but I have found most people who go to church (and not a small group setting as much) go for the wrong reason. Going to a small group setting is more of a deliberate desire because it will require more of self participation, less people to hide among. But what is important is the reason we gather together as Believers not to receive a blessing, but to be a blessing. It is not about the gathering, the music, times of fellowship, or the programs that minister to the heart of man, but the Holy Spirit. Our focus must alway be on Christ and what He has done for us on the cross and out from that the ministering power of the Holy Spirit can touch our heart and mind giving us revelation as we hear the Scriptures come alive in our hearts. If you do not like gathering with Believers then you are probably not saved. Question number two: Do you enjoy praying? Here are some practical precepts found in the Believer's life, "Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:15-22) Here Paul again teaches the Church at Thessalonica practical principles for daily living that will enable them to be successful in their walk with Him. Now prayer is so much more than what we call prayer today. Prayer is something we use to get things from God or something we use to twist God's arm to get Him to do something for us, but my friend that is not prayer. Prayer must begin with God, it must be birthed by the Holy Spirit or you are not praying you are just speaking into the wind. Prayer is not something that was written 200 years ago by some great guy, but it must be alive and heartfelt that melts our heart into a mush of compassion and dedication. It is something we use to reach out and touch the heart of God to satisfy our longing and needs. If you do not enjoy praying then you probably are not saved. Question number three: Do you enjoy studying the Bible? Notice I did not say read the Bible I said study the Bible. There is a huge difference between reading something and studying something. in 2 Timothy Paul commanded Timothy to, "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." (2 Timothy 2:14-16) Now Timothy did not have the New Testament as we do to study, it was the Old Testament as we know it. We today have both the Old and New Testament to study, but statistically speaking the average Christian spends less than 5 minutes a day reading the Bible and rarely thinks about studying it. Wow the love letter from God for reproof and correction, for exaltation and edification for wisdom and history sits on most coffee tables as a fixture to be seen and seldom touched, maybe to wipe off the dust when another Christian comes over. If you do not like studying the Bible then you probably are not saved. And the final question number four: Are you guided or led by the Holy Spirit. Most definitely if you did not answer yes to this question then you are not saved, you are lost in your sin, and on the road to Hell and ultimately the Lake of Fire with the Devil and His Angels. John tells us in the Book of Revelations, "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:14-15). But those people who are led or guided by the Holy Spirit, "they are the sons of God." Paul helps us here, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, where by we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" (Romans 8:14-16) The sign that tells the Believer that they are a son of God is they are guided or led by the Holy Spirit. Because the Spirit of God will "bear witness" with our spirit. This too is how we will know we are saved, the Spirit of God will not bear witness or communicate to our spirit we will know without a shadow of doubt we are not saved and need to correct our behavior before it is too late. The person who is not led by the Holy Spirit is not and cannot be saved unless there is a change in their heart. Are you saved? Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 70 (TAKEN FROM HGM ON 19 NOV 19)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-70

TEXT: "And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab." (Deuteronomy 2:8)

 

I. AVOID IT

 

   A. The only reference to the Wilderness of Moab as such is Deuteronomy 2:8. This is one of two wildernesses which should be not be part of the Christian's life. However, at times if does touch the Christian's experience.       B. When the word "moab" first occurs in the Bible it is in an incestuous situation. "Ab" is the word for "father" and "mo" is the preposition meaning "from" and attached to "ab." Thus the translation of "moab" is "from father." When the elder daughter of Lot gave birth to her child which she had conceived by her own father she named him, Moab. (Genesis 19:36-37)

  C. No part of Moab, wilderness or whatever, was to be part of Israel's possession. "And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession." (Deuteronomy 2:9) As the children of Israel were to have nothing to do with this territory so is the Christian to avoid it in its spiritual sense which in its first setting is incest.

   D. The second reference in which "Moab" occurs is, "And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith." (Genesis 36:35)

   E. This is a setting of defeat. Midian is smitten in the field of Moab. Defeat is not to become a possession of the believer victory is, but so many believers seem to be living in defeat in the field of Moab. They live in the world's field or the field of personal circumstances. They do not live in God. If your life is hid with Christ in God you will discover that there is no defeat in God.

  F. Fear and distress causes defeat in Moab. "And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel." (Numbers 22:3) This is more than suggestions it presents a type of fear and dread which should not be part of the Christian's life, this is not the believer's possession. King David pens, "I will fear no evil."

  G. A believer's life in God should reflect his faith in God's power and care. Some believers live a fearful life. This is unbelief. Furthermore, there is no vision in the soul. God's loving care cannot be seen; instead, enemies and adverse situations are seen. They are the focal point of some Christians. Come out of Moab and be healed! Come out of Moab for your peace and strength! The aspects if Moab should not be found in a believer's life.

 

II.  PARTING THOUGHTS

 

     A. How can one come out of Moab? The very fact a Christian is in Moab indicates a lack of complete and unconditional surrender to God. One's own will and desires are followed and catered to. Thus, to come out of Moab requires a reversal of these detrimental trends.

   B. How does one suddenly reverse patterns following for years? He doesn't. The solution is to continually and habitually bring oneself in helplessness and dependency before God. The solution is to continually and habitually read the Bible with a desire to be conformed to it.

WTFMT 69 (FROM HGM ON 8 OCT 19)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-69

TEXT: "For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin." (Numbers 27:14)

 

I. MAKE A CHANGE

 

A. We are brought to the same situations, as the children of Israel, for the same tests over and over again. In this way, we have ample opportunities to correct our errors, then change our attitudes. Take advantage of these testing. Charles Haun said, "Count your testing name them one by one and your will see what God has done." Repent, make your renewed dedication, and avoid permanent failure.

B. The Wilderness of Zin is the most critical and serious of all the wildernesses in the Bible. Rebellion persists right up to the last minute of opportunity; that's serious.

C. There was no submission to God in the situations and conditions in which persisted. The attitude of knowing more than God persisted. "And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?" (Numbers 20:4) Why? Why? Why? Moses, don't you know any better than that? Rebellion against spiritual authority, rebellion directed toward each other, rebellion at God. Thus they bring an indictment against God at Kadesh, the place for their renewed dedication.

D. Are we much smarter than these people? Have you ever heard or said words something like these? Why am I in this situation? Why am I without the blessing of God? What did I do wrong to be brought to such a desolate place? What's going to happen? I don't understand any of this. I'm going to fail here, I just know it. All indictments against God.

E. These statements and the like are a manifestation of a heart in disagreement with God's divine arrangement. At this point there is only one element into which this heart can enter, and that is failure. Prevailing impatience, murmuring, and rebellion mean failure. There can be no further progress in God until these matters are out of the way. "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" (1 Peter 2:1-2)

F. To follow the correct course is not a matter which is so mystical, so high above us that we cannot come to it. It's a simple matter of obedience. It all boils down to a heart desiring to be submitted to God and all His appointed situations. It is not something which is so far above our understanding that it is difficult to comprehend and obtain.

G. It is not even doing that which God wants done. It is doing that we know God wants done. It is a matter of reading the Bible over and over to become familiar with God's priorities in relation to His will.

H. The problem with most intelligent people is that they always must stop to analyze everything. There is no matter they call allow to rest in simplicity. "Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 1:21) It is difficult for some to obey without analyzing. As a result, paralysis of analysis sets in. Instead of a simple obedience to the word, their feet are stuck in the analytical quagmire. I. They are attempting to understand, rather than obeying. We must first see what it is; we must tear it apart and examine it. Instead of moving on in obedience, they piddle around in some curious investigation. Thus a substitute for obedience and dedication stops them cold.

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

A. So when we come to our Wilderness of Zin, and we will time and time again, the very first thing we must do BEFORE we start looking around is to make sure our dedication is up to date. If need be, again come to our Father in complete surrender so that we can follow Him in obedience.

B. Doing so will assure our success in going up to possess that which He has set before us. He has set before us the great unknown. Do you have the courage and faith to move toward it? But look head to the right the Wilderness of Moab is waiting.

OUR FAITHFULLNESS

Faithfulness is a big big deal to the LORD. I wish many Christians (myself included at times) would have such a great concern as the LORD does knowing His eyes are ever on us and on our faithfulness to Him and our brothers and sisters. In the Psalms we read, “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful…” (Psalm 101:6) Ah yes we have grace now and we do not have to be creatures of our word. We can presume on our brothers and sisters good nature and forgiveness to say and do things we really do not mean. How many times have we said, "I will be over" or "I will do this or that" or "you can count on me" yet when these words were spoken there was no intention in us to make them true. My friend God is serious about our faithfulness to Him, our brothers, sisters, and others in this world. If we will not be faithful to God how can we be faithful to anybody else? Sadly we cannot, our words and actions only convict us of our wayward heart and our glib reaction to situations and circumstances we try to manipulate in our lives. We see this truth play out in the parable of the talents. Jesus shares this parable with us, "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 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. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, 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. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:14-30) In the parable there are two types of servants. The one that pleased the LORD and received a reward. The other did not! I do not know about you my friend, but I want to be like the servant that pleased the LORD. Now regarding the servants that pleased the LORD one servant had five talents, the other two. Though the number of talents varied the reward they received was identical. To both the LORD said the same, “Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.” (Matthew 25:21) Rewards are not based on how much I have done, but rather in being faithful with that which I have been entrusted with. The LORD was displeased with the servant with one talent not because he only had one, but because he was not faithful in using wisely the one that he had been given. It does not matter if I have five talents, two, or one. What is important is that I am faithful with that which the LORD has entrusted to me in the place where I am. Again it is not about the number or the types of talents, but what we did with the talents. The word “faithful” is found at least eighty-two times in the Bible. The dictionary defines faithful as maintaining allegiance to someone, or to something, of being a constant, loyal, friend. Faithfulness also speaks of showing, or having a strong sense of responsibility, of being conscientious, reliable, and full of faith. Paul talking to the Church at Corinth (who were very unfaithful) in 1 Corinthians 4:2 said, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” The word “required” is a very strong word. To require means to demand as being necessary or crucial. Of a steward or servant, it is necessary, crucial, that he be found faithful. Well why is faithfulness so important to the LORD? Luke helps us here, “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 if we are faithful in small things then God knows you will be faithful in big things. Did you know it is the small things God is concerned about in our lives? Oh we think God is concerned about the big things: how long we can speak in tongues, how much money we give, how hard we work at the church, etc., but the LORD is not looking at all of this, oh no, He is looking at our character and integrity. he is looking at how much we express the image of the Father in our daily living. We like to work for God, but remember it is not much done that counts, but how things were done. Did we do them in the right heart condition and for the right reasons and motives. My heart attitude is the key to my being faithful in whatever the LORD has called me to do. I am to do it out of a desire to please the LORD, and be found faithful in His sight. You know we all have different responsibilities. I may be called to cook or teach. Or I may be called to do construction work or work in an office. Perhaps I am a pastor or a missionary or maybe I have a ministry of helps. Did you know 90% of all ministries are helps? Not a lot of Christians want to help they seem to want to preach and teach. Well the last thing the LORD needs is another preacher or teacher, but now a servant God can use that. Again the reward is not for what I do. Rather it is for my faithfulness in doing what I do. What matters is that I am faithful in that which the LORD has entrusted me with. In my own life, at times I have held multiple positions all at the same time. Lately I am serving as a leader. In another, I am the song leader as woeful as that may sound. In another, I set up chairs and clean up with Karen. In each position I was just as happy because I understood the reward was not for what I was doing, but my faithfulness in whatever it was that I was doing, even if it meant just pushing a broom. Make no mistake my brother if you think you are too good (as I know many Christians today feel) to push a broom or set up chairs God cannot use you My contentment comes from a deep inner desire simply to please the LORD and be found faithful in His eyes. This simple understanding ever changes my life. My purpose (right or wrong big or small) is no longer what I am doing, but how I am doing it. My purpose is to please the LORD in whatever it is I am called to do. As the LORD continues to work in our lives through circumstances and responsibilities that He has allowed a working of the Holy Spirit is to continue in our lives, purifying our love for Him, increasing our desires to please Him. This love continues to grow, displacing all other desires. No matter the size of the work faithfulness is to be borne in our lives. I hear people at times say, if I could do this, or if I could do that, if I could be here, or go there, or have this, or have that, then I would be happy. That is not where true happiness lies. Happiness is in pleasing the LORD where He has called us and doing what He has called us to do. True happiness comes from that sense of being in right alignment with the LORD. True happiness comes simply from being faithful wherever, whatever. Our part is simply to be faithful. He will do the rest. Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 68 (FROM HGM ON 10 SEP 19)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-68
TEXT: "But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:" (Ezra 3:12)

I. FIRST THINGS FIRST

A. Prevent failure by a rededication by a reconsecration, again and again, as often as is necessary. We must always have a solid foundation of continual rededication and reconsecration build on Christ Jesus. If we do not have a proper foundation, return to the basics. Otherwise we will always be in trouble.
B. If we continue to build and build on a faulty foundation we will lose a great deal. There is no short cuts in this. Certain issues and testings cannot be avoided if there is to be spiritual gain and health. We cannot leave out one fourth of our foundation and expect spiritual prosperity.
C. Not to many Christians seem to be interested in the ABC's. More seem to be interested in the XYX's. But God wants us to fulfill the ABC's. Many times when someone is initiated into the Kingdom of God, they are told that they need to be operating in the PQR's. That is why there are so many problems in the Church today. There is a lack of proper foundation.
D. Let us fulfill the basics before waiting to go on to something greater in the Lord. Even if God has called us or is leading us into greater things, let us make sure of our foundation before we go on into them. Remember that there are basic obligations you have under God which hold priority to other obligations, even those which God is laying on you.
E. This was necessary in the life of Moses. Even the will and leading of God has to be delayed in his case until the foundational work was completed. At age 40 Moses knew of his calling. But the foundational work was not completed until he was 80.
F. When answering God's called, especially in ministry, we must be built on a solid foundation and be sure we are obeying Him in proper order.
G. I know many woman who insist upon moving in the leading of the Spirit in spiritual ministry when it disrupts and worsens their relationship with their husband. The universal defense which covers it all is "we must obey God rather than man." Then do it. Obey God. But do not obey God in the matters you like and allow the other areas to rest in disobedience.
H. In obeying God, be sure of the order. Obedience to the basics must take precedence over obedience to the other types of God's leading. The basics are found in the Bible. I cannot understand how some can fulfill spiritual ministries while their households are in great need due to lack of attention. I do not know how one can ship the ABC's and move up to the PQR's without creating plenty of serious personal problems. They cannot.
I. If this is your case, you will have to back down to the ABC if you expect to solve your personal problems. Always return to the basics if they yet need fulfillment. Pride and presumption will prevent us from returning and fulfilling the basics.
J. "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee." (John 4:1-3) Jesus comes from His Father and to do His will (John 10:32; 12:50) Thus in making disciples and baptizing, Jesus was doing the will of His Father. But another principle enters the picture, and it takes precedence over the present leading of God in the life of Jesus. The ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus were to be in a certain arrangement, according to prophecy. Thus Jesus had to back down from making disciples in order to fulfill something more basic. Not until Jesus was off the scene did Jesus come preaching. "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God," (Mark 1:14)
K. At age 12 Jesus said, "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49) But what He knew to be His "Father's business" had to be laid aside for 18 years while the basics were being fulfilled.

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

A. "And when thou [Moses] hast seen it,[the Promised land] thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered." (Numbers 27:13) Moses could only see, not enter, the Promised Land because 38 years ago he failed the basic matter of consecration at Kadesh. Moses died and buried my God without victory and conquest of the land. "For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin." (Numbers 27:14)
B. Do not fail at your Kadesh, that is in this matter of personal consecration. Failure in the ABC's means failure in the XYZ's. Do not avoid a "foundation" walk with God; it must be a constant factor in your Christian life.

THE PATHWAY TO THE HEART OF THE FATHER (8 OF 9)

A continuation on my teaching on Prayer. Also let us continue to look at the word beseeching. We cannot convince God to do for us what we want Him to do when we want it. Paul tried it. "For this thing I besought (beseech) the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me." (2 Corinthians 12:8) The word "given" is translated "gift"; "there was given (gift) to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, . . (verse7) What a gift from God. We would do whatever we could to get this off our back. Cast out Satan, do whatever it took to convince God to take back His gift. This was a big deal to Paul to the point God had to directly speak to Paul, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9) We must be willing to walk through whatsoever God brings our way, oh me! Jesus in Matthew 4 waited until verse 10 to tell Satan get thee hence. Jesus did not try to kill him, nothing. We would have tried to bind him or cast him out, whatever we had to do to get Satan gone, but Jesus did not do that. Jesus did not attempt that, He accepted, He was willing to walk in what the Father wanted for Him, for as long as the Father wanted Him to walk in it. God cannot develop us unless we are willing to endure His work in our lives. Now there is a point if not developed God will set us on a shelf so we can watch others. This is what Paul was saying here in 1 Corinthians, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." (1 Corinthians 9:27) The word "castaway" means (in the Greek) to be on a shelf I have seen this in lives of Christians and in lives of churches. God had enough of all the unfaithfulness from leaders and the folks, eating each other, and just selfish ambition which is agenda driven. So God will scatter the people and look for others to fulfill His will on earth as it is in heaven. The will of God is amazing so many things, but it is the very best thing for our lives. Often times, in the will of God, we begin to go under, by not being willing to walk in the will of God and God must rescue us or lose us. And we think because God has delivered us so we have succeeded, but in reality we have failed. We have failed by not going through what God desires for us to go through, not being molded and conformed into the image of Jesus, not willing to trust in God's grace. All the while the folks thinking they have succeeded because they get out of their discomfort, but it is failure. Success is found in and only happens in the will of God. Anything outside the will of God, even if God is doing it, is failure. God does not always get what He wants, look at Adam, Samson, Saul, the Bible is full of people God wanted to use, but in the end they were put up on the shelf. I do not know about you my friend, but that scares me and causes me to double my effort toward God. Just because God is using us does not mean He is happy with us or we are moving in God's will. Make no mistake God will use us in our obedience or He will use us as firewood. So we need to be willing to walk in the will of God and when God is not convinced by us we do not need to get upset and think we have succeeded when God says no. Now if we pester and push God to say yes, after He has said no, we have failed. No means no!! If God appears to have changed His mind rest assured you have NOT received God's best, but His second best. I do not know about you I want God's best for me, my family, and the folks God wants me to minister too. Beseeching also has to do with requesting or supplication. Where there is a response from in a given situation, or we give a reaction. God wants to teach us to make the right reaction or response. Jesus said, "Pray (beseeching) ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:38) God desires to teach us that our life with God is not totally involved with praying, but through the praying much will come out in different areas of our activity in the kingdom of God. To bring us into this, to teach us to be active, so that our response, our reactions should be what they need to be coming out of our life of prayer. Prayer is not the "all and in all" or end, but the beginning of God's response to a situation and events in our lives and others. Jesus did not instruct them to pray to send forth labors into the vineyard, but to look unto the field and then He expects our response, You look and now you can give that response. God wants us to be aware. He wants our spiritual awareness to increase so that we can move in His will and how to join in all of this. Prayer trains us to be able to move with God now and in our next life to come. So that we become an expression of God. Giving what God wants you to give as a result from a response or reaction to a condition that you have seen, know, and understand that comes and now God is getting what He wants in all of that. Our prayers are to be an expression of what God wants on earth in lives as it is in heaven. You know God is not after things as much as He is after our obedience. In Luke Jesus said, "Watch ye therefore, and pray (beseeching) always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36) The word "always" means in every fitting situation. We are to give the correct response in every situation and circumstance God wants. For this to happen God must train us in this response. If we would know God's intentions it would be so easy to beseech God's will. But, we get off on our own things beseeching God. But in every situation God wants a certain response. To be trained in the righteousness of God is to walk right in the eyes of God, just to do right. God is after our total life to be a correct response, our reaction, and action is righteous. Without knowing we are right. It is God in us as He builds in us His righteousness to where we just do right. God wants to train us in His righteousness, so we can do right, live, it becomes automatic. Again in Luke, "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed (beseeching) for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:31-32) Now Jesus did not pray for Peter, it was a reaction to the Father in form of a request because of what He saw relating to Peter, "Father, do not let Peter's faith fail." Not a prayer but a request to the Father for Peter, so everything ahead for Peter and the disciples does not fall apart. And what is ahead? Returning back to the heart of the Father where he came from. Written by David Stahl

THE PATHWAY TO THE HEART OF THE FATHER (7 OF9)

Continuation of my teaching on "Prayer." In Mark we read, "And there came a leper to him, beseeching (praying) him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." (Mark 1:40) The word "prayer" is often translated "beseech" (#3870 parakaleo) one who pleads another's cause with one; to convince; to persuade; and convict of sin. The leper was attempting to persuade Jesus to heal him. The leper knew Jesus could heal him because he heard and saw he was totally convinced Jesus could, but he was not convinced Jesus would heal him. I know you can, but will you. In our prayers we often know God can move in our lives, but we question will He. His faith in his approach was in the ability of Jesus to heal him. Our faith is easily put into the ability of God. There is no question about the ability of God. God can do anything He wants to do. Nothing in God should amaze, because God can do anything. But can we put our faith in His willingness to do something right now is the question. At the end of the day we MUST put our faith in God's willingness to heal us not His ability. So God wants to move us in alignment with what He wants rather than His ability. We cannot follow His ability, it is so vast. But His will for our lives we can accurately follow in that and experience the ability of God as it relates to us, and not someone else. What does He want? What does He want from you? What does He want you to do? Our faith must be in God's will for our lives not in what we see and hear or even others victories. The leper was not sure of Jesus' will. He was not convinced, but He pressed in, "And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean." (Mark 1:41) What comes first "be thou clean" or "I will"? The order is important. In prayer all we really need from God is, "I will" and then we know exactly how to move, exactly what to do, how to act. Because when we hear we then know how to move. If God gives us the word then we move on the word knowing we are in the will of God. Knowing faith comes with the word from God. "So then faith cometh by hearing a word of God." (Romans 10:17 (Greek)) Everything we will need to walk in the word God speaks to us is in the word. We do not to struggle, strain, or work it up. It is nice to know we do not have to manufacture faith. If God says raise the dead, just say dead person raise up. God brings it to us. Healing the sick is the easiest thing in the world. God wants us to join with Him, to move with Him, and walk with Him in all of His moving, doings, wishes, desires and ways. God wants us involved. So don't worry so much about straining after the will of God. He will clue us in, and if it is none of our business He will not clue us in. But if He wants us involved along a certain line or issue, He will bring us into that understanding and it will become for us the will of God. And, everything fits together, everything works in the will of God. If God does not tell us we must not try to guess and follow after that guessing, or we'll fall into a ditch. We need to relax and allow God to speak to us concerning what He wants us to do. But often many Christians operate in guessing what God wants and not knowing (by hearing from) what God wants. Then we get into trouble seeking after God's will. God should I do this or that? God is the boss we need to allow God to call the shots and not ask Him just move in what He is giving us at that time. The more we can relax the more we can hear from God. As we begin this wondrous Christian walk we are after something; The key of receiving. The key is not, is He able, but is He willing. And, if we do not get the answer we are looking for, we then go into a tether whether it is or is not God's will, because we are looking to receive. The less we are concerned about receiving the more we will find ourselves in God's will. We should not want to receive anything from God. Do you know God can do a lot without money? We cannot eat money or wear it, nor can we live inside it. Many think God is tied to our money. Often times God will link Himself with our money for us to give and help spread the gospel, in order to get from our heart the habitual giving and sacrifice he wants. Our focus should be on giving not receiving. Why? Because the more we give the more God can give to us. God will give to us as He wills and that will be all sufficient. He is able to give us $20,000 a month if He wants, He is able. But we must move in the will of God and we will see His suffienecy. We will never get a better view of God's faithfulness then from the bottom of the barrel. Do not worry about hard times you will be able to see God better than in good times. Whatever God gives to us should be all that we want. We must not get upset as He does His will in us. Many think Satan has attacked them when they are in the will of God. Satan has nothing to do with it, we are just walking in the will of God, to know Him and see Him. Oh, that He may show Himself to us. We best see God in tough times and narrow places. If we really want to come to know God then we will have to know tough times. Often times we can approach God not knowing if it is the will of God, but knowing God can come across if he wants to, and we move in it and sometimes we hit God's will, but most often we miss it. But sometimes we hit it and God says "I will" we get so tickled and think we are blessed, but if this becomes a pattern and/or habit we get all bent out of shape when it does not happen. We must never get use to God providing one way or another. He is God He can use anything. Did you know there are no rules or formulas in God? God operates by His divine spiritual principles that always leads back to the heart of the Father. Written by David Stahl

THE PATHWAY TO THE HEART OF THE FATHER (6 OF 9)

Continuation of my teaching on prayer. We need this work of God constantly in our lives. Jesus said, "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;" (Luke 18:1) It say and He (Jesus) means "always." Just like we have a life of breathing, we must have a life of praying. Do not try to move yourself to the next prayer pattern, it does not work that way. Being faithful in duty prayer and a prayer life, will lead us into the next pattern, a life of prayer. And next, I do not know. All I know is it will be beyond our ability to understand. Paul tells us to, (a continual direction) "Pray with out ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17) God will put things in our heart so we can carry them with us until God gives us the understanding. Carry them until God, what Paul called, "the pure conscience" (1 Timothy 3:9) of the mystery of Godliness." (1 Timothy 3:16) causes things to happen in our lives and cause things to function that we do not understand. You know we do not really need to know everything. There are some things that God knows and not meant for men to know and we must stop wanting to know the things that belong only to God. But we do not need to try so hard, just relax, go along for the ride. We do not need to think about things so hard. But in "pure conscience" just allow God to do the work, He understands and we do not need to. What we need to do is surrender ourselves to His work and He then can bring it all to pass, not us. The more surrender in our lives the more work of God in our lives. Often, most Christians get into trouble trying to bring things to pass for God. We do this in trying to get people saved. God knows the times and seasons, He knows when one is to be saved. We press on for our own time and our own season. We want what we want when we want it. So often, we cannot wait for God, He is too slow for us. But God will teach us to wait for Him if we allow Him. Our wants in and out of God gets us and most often others in trouble in God. Funny how our disobedience to the LORD affects others more than us. Take heed, it does matter who your Christian friends are. Now no one wants to wait. Just go to a food store and see how long you can stand in line patiently. Most people (me too at times) cannot wait 5 minutes without saying something to themselves. But in these waiting periods in our lives God is teaching us to wait, even at a food store. The best making places God teaches us to wait is in our failures and the loss in our lives. Yes tough places indeed, but a sure method of teaching patience none the less. Jesus goes into the wilderness to pray. The wilderness is a great place to pray. It is a great place to develop that communion with God. When it seems you are all alone and no one understands. No one understands what you are doing. And when you tell them they, seem never to have the right answer. They can tell you exactly what is wrong, but they cannot touch you. But God's servants are developed in silent (you can scream in the wilderness and no one will hear you) heart searching and confession before God and man if need be. In Luke we read, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?" (Luke 15:4) Here the good shepherd goes looking for one sheep, but he leaves 99 of his sheep in the wilderness. I would think he would have left them in a well watered place with green pastures, but no he leaves the 99 in the wilderness. Why? Because God has lured us into the wilderness to get alone with Him. Strange as Luke 15:4 is in Hosea we find something even stranger, "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her." (Hosea 2:14) God "allures" or tricks, even baits her to get into the wilderness not to see her suffer, but to "speak comfortably unto her." The wilderness is the place God speaks comfort to us, where we will finally listen. The wilderness has a way of getting our attention. God brings us there alone with no answers. Away from the crowds and masses of people. There in the wilderness He can give us the answers. Unless we get alone with God we will never have our answers from God, the world yes, but not from God. If we find our answer from the world and the religious folks then we do not need to lean on Him. Solomon said, "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? . . . " (Song of Solomon 8:5) Our direction in prayer will lead us by way of the wilderness to be given answers and learn how to lean on Him. The purpose of the wilderness is to LEARN to lean on God! I promise you one thing here if you go through tough times, bad situations, dry periods, etc. one of two things will happen: you will learn to pray or your carcass will fall in the wilderness and fall out of God. Speaking of the Children of Israel the writer of Hebrews (I believe to be Paul) says, "But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?" (Hebrews 3:17) He knows everything. We do not need to know everything, so now we can rest in Him not knowing , but can trust Him and His wisdom for our life. The wilderness is a great place to learn how to have communion with God, to learn how to pray. God will have to keep us into the wilderness (depending on us learning) for a time, until we get over the complaining, before He can begin to teach us how to trust Him and be quiet to know Him, to walk with Him. So He will lead us to the wilderness to teach us in the wilderness to pray right. We do not need blessings we need God. The one we are to be dedicated to. The blessing and such are by-products. And in the learning process in the wilderness He must strip us of things. Because we seem to want what He gives and not Him. The more we can be stripped by God (we cannot do this work in our lives) of the world and ourselves the more of God we can have. The more of the blessings (the by-products) of God we can have. Now even deeper my friend. When we then learn, when we pray, and things keep getting worse, we must resign ourselves to the situation by resigning ourselves to trusting God in this situation. No longer do we want to get the monkey off our back. We say okay God, I will give your monkey another piggy-back ride around the track. It is not the devil as most Christians say from wrong teaching, oh no, he does not want to see you develop in God he wants to keep you in deception, take heed here. The only way to get to, "my cup runneth over" is by way of the "valley of the shadow of death." We need to be content to trust Him in the valley, in the situation without crying to Him for deliverance from the situation. Until we are at home in the wilderness. Even the valley of the shadow of death is home to us. We then learn who God is. God teaches and trains us who He is by delivering us from difficult situations even when there is no deliverance. Our deliverance comes not by magic wand, but by walking in the making places (the wilderness) of God where we can be developed unto deliverance. Nowhere did God deliver His people. Daniel had to go into the lions, den, the three Hebrew children had to go into the fiery furnace, Jesus had to go to the cross, and is the servant greater than the master? I think not. If God has to deliver us without developing us think not you have been saved, oh no you have lost. God knows the plan and purpose for our lives are in jeopardy of being lost, but think not we have won we have not we have lost the best for our life for now. Written by David Stahl

PATHWAY TO THE HEART OF THE FATHER (5 OF 9)

A continuation of my teaching on prayer. Our direction in prayer is toward God, believing (in faith) God will give it to us according to His will because of our relationship with Him, not our prayers. Remember, prayer is communion with God. An intimate communion that helps us along His way as we return to His heart where we came from. If our relationship is not intimate then we are not praying. God wants to bring us into a relationship with Him, where there will be a reality of communication, a real union, a real communion with the Father. This was Jesus' desire and burden for us, "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:" (John 17:2) Prayer is the pathway back to God's heart to unite with Him. Now the "they" are us. God wants us to be in unity with the Father not just unity as the world knows unity, but a imitate unity as He (Jesus) was in unity with the Father. WOW a deep and heartfelt unity that supersedes all relationships and friendships. When we begin as a little one we stumble, flounder, and blunder along, but God ultimately (if we allow Him to) will brings us more and more in line with what He wants. At first as children it is what we want, then hopefully God can cure us of the gimmes and give us a heart of dedication and sacrifice that all we want to do is give, rather than to receive. If God can not develop this kind of heart in you He cannot use you. Jesus said, (Acts 20:35) "It is more blessed to give then receive." You know if God cannot get us over the gimmes then He cannot use us we will disqualify ourselves for service. One of the greatest signs of spiritual growth and development is really believing this verse. Giving so that others may receive. Not wanting to be blessed, but rather wanting to see others be blessed. We can do this because God has taken upon Himself the responsibility of everyone of us to care, to give us what we need so we can be liberated from ourselves and move in God. Where we become (a process) what He wants us to become. Uniting in character and intention and move in Him in a real partnership that really works. And not projecting to God and others from our self current desires to have our own way to get what we want, when, and how we want it. Remember the word "blessed" comes from the word "happy" or "happen stance" where our happiness is based not on God and the spiritual realm, but on natural (often carnal) earthly situations and circumstances where our happiness is situational dependant. This is a pitiful way for a Christian to live. (babes) Remember "real (taken from the natural realm and projected into the spiritual) "joy" is found in the acronym JOY. Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last. Now that is the right order in God. If we get this right then we can cast our care on the LORD. Peter tells us, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7) There is the order "Humble yourselves" then we can "cast our care upon him;" Now it says not cares, but care. Cares are things like I need a new car, house, job, more money, etc., but "care" is an attitude of caring for things. We are to cast our attitude for caring for things upon the LORD, "for he (that would be God) careth for you." We then can come boldly to the throne of grace FOR OTHERS first then ourselves second. So God will bring us into Himself and there will be a response, a reaction from ourselves to God in a way God desires, because of the accomplished work that He has done in our lives, so that we become, what God wants and then can give Him what He wants. Now this is a deep thought, God is looking for a correct response from us based on not what we do, but what He has done. We do not give Him what He wants then become what He wants us to become. We become and give what we are, what we have. All of our testimonies and all we do in God comes out from what we are, not what we are not or even what we desire to be. I can listen to someone pray or hear a testimony and hear where they are or are not in God. In giving the same principle holds fast. Our direction in prayer is to build us into a house of prayer. Jesus said, "in my father's house are many mansions." (John 14:2) Maybe we are the many mansions Jesus is talking about? In Matthew, Jesus said, "And said unto them, It is written, My house (not church) shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (Matthew 21:13) We are the church! Jesus is building us not a building or a denomination. We are His bride and God is conforming us into the nature and character of the Bridegroom, so we will be compatible. When we pray for ourselves more than others (for our wants) we become thieves, robbers, and steal from God. Each one of us are to become an expression of God. At every place and at ALL times we are to be an expression of God, not in word. John tells us, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18) We do not really know what love means any more. Here John is saying not to only say we love someone, but show them in "in deed" or action. But John takes is much further than the spoken word and actions, but "in truth." How can we love someone in truth? By telling them the truth. It is easy to tell someone you love them and for some it is easier to do things for people to show them (without word) how much they love them, but Paul teaches "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" (Ephesians 4:15) It takes great love on our part when we dare to speak the truth in love to someone we love and maybe have to endure ridicule, anger, manipulation, separation (I know for a fact on this one) etc. for them to be able to hear your love. This is what John and Paul was saying. You know the word love has been so distorted. We love cars, houses, jobs, you name it. The word "love" appears in the Bible 280 times and is translated in a few ways in the scriptures. The Greek have 12 forms of the one word we call "love." In the scriptures "love" is translated "agapao" (brotherly love, good will) which comes out of "phileo" (to approve of or to like). But agape has nothing to do with our emotions, so when we talk about this warm and fuzzy type of love we not talking about what the Bible is talking about. Knowing that giving is at the heart of the Gospel, "for God so loved (agape or dedicated) the world He gave . . . ." The Bible is talking about something far far beyond that. If we are to translate the word "love" to use one word, it would be "dedicated." God has called us to dedicate ourselves one to another. Just as He has dedicated Himself to us. We cannot agape (dedicate) unless we give of our self to a great degree. We first must dedicate ourselves to God if not then we CANNOT never no ever dedicate ourselves to our spouses, our friends, and others. His dedication to the world was so great He gave His only begotten Son. God desires to brings His life into us so that we would become so dedicated. Our prayer is to be directed to God so that we too can become dedicated and give. You know it is so easy to drift from one church to another church, or be into religious TV, with no responsibility, just hanging around, no dedication to anything, except yourself. Even the Pharisees had agape. They were dedicated (loved) the praises of men, they dedicated (loved) the upper seats. They were dedicated (loved) to them all their whole lives, but we are to come in line with God so our character can be corrected, transformed, matched-up, realigned with the character of God like He intended in the beginning when He made man in His own image after His likeness (Christ-likeness). This is nothing new, this is still God intention and God is still working on it. In Genesis God said, "Let us make man in our image, . . . . ." (Genesis 1:26) And God has not changed His mind He is still making man into His image. Our direction of prayer will take on different forms at different times. There is no formula or form that indicates if it is prayer. If it is not communion with God, then it is not prayer. Jesus' life was a life of prayer and so too God expects our life to be a life of prayer. We will never ever realize the fulfillment of God's desires through us unless we decide to move with Him in communion apart from what we want. To move into His heart to find out what He wants, His intentions with a purpose in our heart to die to self and unite with God. Unless we die to our self man we will never no ever unite with God. Our death to our self life and love for the world is the price we must willfully pay for communion with God and being that expression God is looking for as we make our way along the pathways back to the heart of the Father.  Written by David Stahl 

PATHWAY TO TEH HEART OF THE FATHER (4 OF 9)

Continued thoughts on Prayer from a teaching of mine. Our asking, believing, and receiving in prayer must be according to God's plan for our lives and according to His divine spiritual principles. Even in the face of the supernatural God's divine principles must operate according to what God has established. In Matthew Jesus answered the disciples, "Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done." (Matthew 21:21) Here Jesus teaches us in Matthew the Father knows and will supply all of our need (Matthew 6:32). You know if we really believed Matthew 6:32 our life on earth would be much easier. If we really believed Matthew 6:32, we then could turn lose and be doing what the Father wants us to be doing. If we really believed Matthew 6:32 we would not be so confused and dismayed when things do not go our way. And we would not worry our centerness would be in Him and everything we do is unto God. But our asking, believing, and receiving is usually done in selfishness and self-centeredness because God is not the center of our attention. If our focus and attention is on God then we generate a heart of gratefulness to God for all of the things He provides, God caring for us. He becomes our center of attention, so the asking, believing, receiving will turn from us (our desires) to God (and His desires) and what He wants. This is what Jesus meant when He said about prayer and fasting, this communion with God that moves us into the heart of God so there is no problem in believing when it comes to doing what God wants done. If you know what God wants done there is no problem you will have, no trouble doing what God said to do. You can just do it and it is done. That all comes out of praying. (communion, moving into the heart of God) Then His desires comes out of His heart and we then can function as Jesus did. Doing only those things we see the Father doing. In all of this He becomes the center, and we must die. We must die to our selfish life and desires to take on God's will, ways, intentions, and desires. We must be stripped of our will, ways, intentions, and desires and take on the purity of God to function in this way that God wants. I really believe God's power is not manifested in the earth as He desires because His children are not willing to die to their flesh. We should not worry about believing as we move into the heart of God and make our approach to Him, we will pick up faith as God speaks to us. His words contains faith and anything else we need to receive. You know most Christians get frustrated about how much faith they do not have. They try all of the religious gymnastics, read all of the books on faith and work themselves almost to death at church thinking God will increase their faith, well this is wrong thinking out from wrong teaching. Faith will come to us when we are able to hear from God. In Romans Paul tells us, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) I remember in the 80s and 90s Christians would get their cars and drive around town with the Bible playing on tape or put a recording of the Bible on playing it all night expecting to increase their faith, but that is not how God works. Many people (Christians included) go to church religiously every Sunday and hear the Word of God preached yet they leave as they came without faith because that is not the way our faith is increased. Our faith is increased when we hear a word from God. I like Romans 10:17 in the Greek, it is more what really happens in the spiritual realm. In the Greek, "Faith cometh by hearing a word of God." (Romans 10:17 Greek) When we hear God speak to us His word itself contain all of the faith we will need to accomplish all that God wants us to do in His speaking. This divine spiritual principle is so evident when we pray for healing. Now we must remember there is a healing, God restoring our bodies through earthly means: doctors, medicine, surgery, etc. and then there is a miracle. Most time we ask for a healing, but are expecting God to do a miracle because that is what we need. We need to pray, believe, and receive for what we need. If not then do not get mad with God if we ask amiss. Also often times when we pray for the sick we do not have (THE word) what it takes to believe for a miracle. Jesus told the disciples to heal the sick (they did not have the technology we have today so they always needed a miracle), not to pray for them. Nowhere is it recorded in the KJV that Jesus prayer for the sick, He healed them. Again in Matthew, "And Jesus went forth, . . . and was moved with compassion and he healed their sick." (Matthew 14:14) We all believe He can, but will He do it, and now! When we are sick we do not need prayer we need healing. In James, "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." (James 5:15) The word "prayer" is translated "vowel," or strong confession or statement. In James 5:14, " . . . let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him (praying in His presences) , anointing him with oil . . . " This is not, "Oh Lord I believe," but getting into His presence, close to His heart so you will know what He wants in this situation. When Peter healed the lame man, "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." (Acts 3:6) What did he have then he did not have the day before? Peter passed by him every day. Jesus probably passed by him every day, they both probably gave him money. What did Peter have? Peter had the "word." He had the mind of the LORD to heal him, notice no prayer, "And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength." (Act 3:7) Healing is the simplest thing to move in, when it is God's will. It is really easy doing anything in God when we know what He wants. Well this is God's idea to be able to tell us His mind and this happens when we "truly" (take something from the natural into the spiritual realm) get into prayer where we touch God's heart. For this all to happen He needs a total surrender, a commitment so He can take us and do with us what He wants to do. We often do not move in God as He desires because we are so plugged in to the world and our self. Our commitment and surrender to God will only carry us so far. The greater our commitment and surrender to God the greater our ability to function in God. I have never cursed nor have I ever met someone who could speak to (curse) a fig tree and it wither, but Jesus said we have the ability and power. I wonder why the disconnect? Funny how mountains (obstacles and problems) have ears. Jesus said we can speak to them and they would be removed. You know Jesus said to speak to the mountains, not to speak to God about the mountains. Seems like we are speaking amiss. We seem to do a lot of speaking, but not much is being removed. If we desire to have this ability and power in God it will cost us things far greater than what we are now giving. Written by David Stahl

THE PATHWAY TO THE HEART OF THE FATHER (3 OF 9)

We always seem to want to understand everything so when we find something we do not understand we push for an understanding and often times come up with an understanding, but it may be a misunderstanding. We do not need to know everything in prayer. We instead need to rest and we need to know God who gives understanding. Our understanding comes from God not from figuring things out. He gives understanding in His ways, works, and words. We need to be content to hold with a good and pure conscious the mystery of Godliness that we be willing to hold correctly a mystery something we do not know, and hold it in our heart and be content not to understand it and move further along into the heart of God. When we look at the big picture we really do not know much. We often think we know much maybe that is why we pray so much, but the Spirit knows and the Spirit who knows will help us who do not know. So it does not matter what you know, but matters who you know. We do not need to know anything, but if we know God we will know whatever God wants us to know. Us knowing only what God wants us to know is one of God's main objectives in our prayer. Proper communication brings us to the whom rather than to the what. And the whom (God) then can bring us to the what He wants in any given situation. Then we can harmonize with the will of God in our request, and when asking we then will flow in the will of God. How can we ask amiss if we know what God wants in any given situation? We never will we will just flow with what God is doing. And for us to flow in the will of God in prayer we MUST lay down our ways and our will to take on His ways and will, we MUST lay aside our thoughts and take on His thoughts. For us to lay aside our thoughts we must have our mind renewed by the Spirit. Paul tells us in Romans, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1-2) How do we do this? Does God have a magic wand and bonk us on the head? No well then how do we renew our minds with all we see and hear in the world? By displacement. We willingly and deliberately replace those things of the world with the things of the Scriptures and the words that God speaks to us. We listen to Godly (hymns and such) music, we read and study the Bible, we talk with friends and family about wholesome and edifying things, we have Bible studies with friends and family, we assemble in an assembly or Fellowship with like Believers, we turn away from the things of the world and fill our head with the things of God. It is like when a big battleship slips into the water after a time in dry dock. As it slips in and sinks down to the water line all of the water from the keel to the water line is displaced out and now the steel of the battleship has replaced where the water once was. Paul tells us to do this or we will not be able to, "know what is good, acceptable, and perfect will of God." How can we know these things God wants us to know? We cannot because our mind is filled with the things of this world? So, prayer puts us in touch with God, not what we think, but in reality, as we are willing to commune with Him it brings us closer and closer until our life is in touch with God's. Prayer is not theoretical or a mental assent, but in reality focused on touching God's heart. This communion then will move us away from the "gimmies" (what most of what we call prayer) and we are then able to speak to God on behalf of others. We can then even speak to God about those who are giving us a hard time. We are to be concerned about those who are not in touch with God, we are to talk to God about them. Unless God can get our attention here we will NEVER be able to speak on the behalf of others. If God cannot change our heart how can we speak for others? Knowing we are not here to get, to receive, but we are here on this earth to give. When the Lord gives to us He is giving it to us so that it (whatever He gives you) may flow out of us after He gives it to us. What He gives is not our goods, but His goods. In Matthew Jesus said, "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." (Matthew 25:15) We are to be the servant who receives from their master. What God puts in us starts a flow. We are then able to invest into the lives of others. And if we can invest in the lives of others then that will bring a return the LORD is seeking. God gives to us so that we might be able to give to others. So prayer brings us into all of these things (probably even more than our understanding is able to comprehend) and into the glory of God. The last and most important purpose of prayer is to bring us into the glory of God. Prayer brings us into an intensity and purity that leads us to His glory. And His glory leads us to adjustment and correction. Luke tell us, "And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering." (Luke 9:29) This is not the transfiguration (term not in the Bible), but the glory of God. And Moses after he came down from the mountain, "But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:" (2 Corinthians 3:7) I wonder why we do not see this glory today? Maybe we do not really believe. In the Book of Acts Stephen, "And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." (Acts 6:15) There it is the glory of God. When was the last time you saw the glory of God? The intensity of God's glory will come on those who are willing to pay the price and willing to adjust and be corrected. God is after correction. There will be those shook loose and shaken out of the way, they will fall by the way side if they cannot be corrected and God will take those who can be corrected, His elect only. Believe it or not prayer is one way God brings adjustment and correction to our lives. Oh no, God's glory does not come by way of singing and dancing, hours of heartfelt worship, working inside (cleaning) and outside the church (cutting the glass and painting the building), but by an inward change. We need to hold this desire to commune with God. It is about knowing God and being conformed into His precious Son's (Jesus) image. We need to ask Him for this desire, this hunger will bring us into communion with Him which can bring a change (if we allow) in our lives. Where we are not concerned with what we will get, but to walk hand and hand with Him, to harmonize with His character and intentions, to walk the way He desires for us to go, and not to worry where He is leading us. Because He is leading us to one place and that is our Calvary to die. God lovingly takes us by the hand and gently leads us to our destiny our death on our cross (not Jesus' cross), but ours. Where our will can die so God's will can live. In Mark Jesus calls His followers and His disciples and says, "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:34-35) The order is come after Him, deny ourselves, and take up your cross so that we can follow Him or become like Him. Where are we going to follow Jesus to? Our cross which is the battle of wills, our will pitted against God's will, our cross. And if we can die on our cross (like Jesus) then we shall save our life. Saving our lives leads by way of the heart of Father. Written by David Stahl

THE PATHWAY TO THE HEART OF THE FTAHER (2 OF 9)

Continued thoughts on "Prayer" from a teaching of mine. As we saw from teaching 1 of 9, prayer is communion -- direct communication with God anything else is not called prayer in the Bible. Jesus never got the disciples together each morning or at the synagogue and took prayer requests. Lately I have been rethinking what we are doing when we take prayer requests during a service because this was NOT the pattern and custom Jesus used in His life. I think a lot of requesting prayer for people during a service is time filler and tradition. Now if the person is in attendance by all means, let us do what James tells us to do. "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church (assembly or gathering); and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil (or in the Greek "praying in the presences of the LORD") in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." (James 5:13-15) Since prayer must be birthed of the Spirit one thing we are doing now is when the request is mentioned and if the Spirit moves on your heart in some way then that is the one request God wants to spend your time in prayer with the LORD about. Then it can be something spiritual and not a time of shotgun beseeching on behalf of others. Jesus would always get away to pray. For example in Matthew we read, "And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone." (Matthew 14:22-23) Again real prayer is to get alone with God, to get into our closet (Matthew 6:6) and "shut the door" or close the world out and pray to our Father in secret. Not sure how much secrecy we have if we have a gaggle of friends helping us pray. But through Jesus' death and resurrection He provided many things. One thing He provided was a ribbon veil (His flesh) through which we can enter into the heart of God. So Jesus made a way into the heart of God like never was made before. Never before was there such a closeness and unity with the Father, Jesus' death made this closeness possible. If there is a breakdown in communication there is loss. The loss happens out from the disconnection. What ever relationship we are involved there must be communication and the more that is hindered the greater the loss. We must be careful not to get involved with or tied to things like family, working, and even work unto the LORD where we project ourselves toward them to such a degree that we are consumed by them taking up our time and effort to where we have no time to communicate with God. Knowing God must be the primary focus in our lives not our living. When communication between us and God is cut we start to cultivate desires for the thing that has broken off our communication. We ourselves cultivate our own desire for the things of the world. The more we eat of the world the more we develop a liking for them. We cultivate a hunger for the things of world by doing it. And it overcomes us and God's purposes are then lost. The more we get into our mind during the day the more your mind will run on. The less of this life we get in us, the more of God we will have in us. We are filled with either the things of this world or of the things of God. It is our choice. Paul tells us we are to have the mind of Christ. In Philippians we read, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" (Philippians 2:4-5) This then will prevent us from things like worrying and fretting. These are not good for our communication between us and God. God will take care of us. You know we really must come to a place in God were we truly believe God will take care of us. Most Christians are hedging their bets; one foot in the world and the other in God playing the odds to see which one is doing better for them at any given time. We then can allow the Spirit to communicate Spirit to us. We cannot really pray without the Spirit of God in us and we will never have the Spirit of God residing in us if the spirits of the world are alive and well in us. Can good and evil come from the same fountain? Prayer is of the Spirit. Just open your heart to the Spirit and the Spirit will communicate from God to you, through me. But, first you must open your heart to the Spirit what God is saying to you. I know this message will be taught in darkness to some and maybe in five or ten years the Spirit will turn on the light to get to you the understanding. Things are not what we think they are. Prayer is not made by God so we can get something from Him. People like to pray if they think they can get something from God. Well if not for getting then why did God invent prayer? Here are some PURPOSES OF PRAYER: 1. The main purpose of prayer is to know God, His ways, and His works. Now we must always remember we are the ignorant one in prayer. We do not know God does, He knows everything! So we are not communicating anything to God He does not already know. To know His words, not only the words in the Bible, but the words in His heart. To know His whys without asking why. Prayer moves us into knowing His whys without asking. 2. To know His wisdom. As we look at His wisdom on first glance it is foolishness, but to God it is wisdom, but God's ways are wisdom. But to man they are foolishness, Now when we know His ways and wisdom we will be in trouble from our fellow believers. Ant time we move in God's wisdom and will for our lives expect troubles from our family and friends, especially our Christian friends and family. Jesus taught us tribulations (or troubles, afflictions) are coming our way (John 16:33). We often think these troubles, afflictions, and persecutions are coming from sinners and heathens, but most of the time they are coming from people we know and love. No one can hurt or discourage you faster than a family member or a brother or sister in the LORD. I am speaking here out of years of experience. Even Peter and Paul sadly knew this truth. Please do not think their relationship was all flowers and puppies, oh no they were constantly at odds over Paul's revelation of grace. when they would get together often they would have strong words for each other. In Galatians we read, "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed." (Galatians 2:11) In other words Brother Paul got up in Brother Peter's face and dressed him down. I can almost see them (maybe they did) spitting they were so angry with each other, but in the end they decided Peter and the other 11 disciples would go to the Jewish people with a mixture of the law and grace and Paul would go to the Gentiles with the message of grace. This is how Paul could teach, "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:10-12) So do we have a desire to "live godly?" If so, like Paul persecution and afflictions (I like Paul do not like it) are coming our way. We are not to be like everybody else, but to move into the heart of God close to Him to know Him. For this to happen we must face troubles, afflictions, persecutions, even temptations. If we can watch and pray we will know the way God takes, unlike the disciples who did not know the way God was taking. Do not get yourself in trouble by going the wrong way. How do we stay on track? Watch and pray that we do not go down the wrong track. So communication puts us into knowing God's ways. Now reading the Bible is good and helps to move us in the right direction, but without knowing God even the Bible will be confusing and meaningless in many places and if we do not know God's wisdom and ways we will not understand how things fit and misunderstand them. So our purpose on earth is to know God and prayer is one of God's main means to know God through. We must be able to allow God to show us the big picture and how and where we fit in, prayer, communication, communion is the way to the heart of the Father.

WTFMT 66 (FROM HGM ON 9 JUL 19)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-66 TEXT: "And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink." (Numbers 20:4-5)

I. BELIEF IS CORRECT

 

A. After many times of being hungry and thirsty. Two years go by after leaving Egypt, almost to the day. Now they are in the Wilderness of Zin under the same situation which they had experience upon a number of other occasions.

B. In spite of the demonstration of God's provisions upon those other occasions, these people still move in unbelief. It must take a great effort of stubbornness to move against such demonstration of God. God's faithfulness is seen, yet there is unbelief.

C. They just expressed a desire for death in verse three. "And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!" (Numbers 20:3) The problem with their death wish is that they always wanted to die in another place in another time, rather than in the here and now. But eventually they wanted to keep the murmuring flesh alive as long as possible.

D. Is today's Christian much better than the murmuring and complaining Israel in the Wilderness of Zin? Has God also called the Christian to a death to the flesh? Does not the Christian come into situations where his comfortable flesh has been agitated? Does your flesh ever get agitated? If it does, it is very much alive.

E. What are we going to do when we make the discovery (hopefully) that our flesh is very much alive. We must come to rededication and reconsecration. We must come to Him for renewal or further cleansing and separation.

F. When we discover our flesh is still alive, do not continue to feed it. Do not continue to give the same wrong answer to God. Change the song. Do not sing the tune of flesh's desires and life. Rather, sing of flesh's death, on the altar of God upon which the flesh is consumed.

G. Bring the flesh to the altar of dedication and consecration. Offer it. Allow God to consume it. In that way our answer can be correct. We can pass the test. We can graduate and go on to possess that which God has for us.

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. Has our Miriam died? Is she still buried? Or is she up and moving around. The Wilderness of Zin is the last place where we have opportunity to deal with her. Better stay there until we get our Miriam dead and buried.

B. If need be, go back to the altar of consecration again and again and again, as often as we must. There are some folks who must "get saved" every week or so. They seem to live a life of repeated dedications and consecration. If that's what it takes to keep us going then follow that route.

C. It's better to do that for two years than to be turned back wandering for forty years, and final death without victory. Only if our Miriam is dead can we move out of the Wilderness of Zin into conquest and possession. The only other alternative is to die in the wilderness.

THE PATHWAY TO THE HEART OF THE FATHER (1 OF 9)

Here are some thoughts on prayer taken from a teaching of mine. There is a lot of praying going on today, but not much is being done in the Spirit. I think what we call prayer is much less than what God expects of us. God expects we get into the Spirit and touch lives and hearts, ours included. Unless we are in the Spirit, unless our words have been birthed by the Spirit we are not praying we are speaking into the wind. Most of what we call ''prayer" is done in the natural and never reaches the Spiritual realm. Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, even Catholics, and other mainstream Christian religions pray they even have their little prayer beads and pray to their gods, saints, and prophets, but that is not prayer. Did you know the word "prayer" is not in the Gospel or Epistles of John, but "prayer" is tied into John's life more then the other disciples. It seemed there was a greater quality of love in John's life. One can not really be involved in prayer if there is no love in their life. Prayer should be natural like breathing. We do not have to think or stop doing something to breathe. Prayer should be built in us. Prayer is always communion with God. Prayer is always to God if not then you are not praying. Now you do not have to pray you really don't, but if you do not pray you will not get very far in God. If you have a hunger in you, a desire "to draw nigh (near) to God" then God will meet you in that place and prayer will be the avenue God uses to touch your life. You know it should not be a duty to pray, but a joy. We at first "get with it" with duty prayer (pray over our food or before we close our eyes in sleep), but in time God will lead us out and into a deeper more effectual time with Him in a prayer life where we stop our living so we can spend time with God. But still there is a deeper level God desires to take us to and that is our life becomes a prayer. Where prayer automatically comes out of us like breathing out from our communion with God. He will lead us from duty prayer, to a prayer life (both more mechanical), and by His Spirit to where our life becomes a prayer. What we call prayer today would be typical of a religious duty or activity in the New Testament. Prayer is not a duty or religious activity, prayer is of the heart. Again prayer is communion with God. Our life is to be a constant prayer (communion with) to God. In Isaiah 58:1-14, (read) we have an example of religious prayer. Here is the commentary:

1. v1 - Is house of Jacob sins.

2. v2 - Looks and sounds good, but religion looks and sounds good. Religion has an outward appearance.

3. v3 - Bending God's arm. If we can not have faith and believe in God we force Him. God, I will pray and fast, you better give me what I want.

4. v4 - Does not match up with v2

5. v5 - God said is this really what I want??

6. v6,7 - God said, I do not want religion, I want "righteous living." God is not religious. Real prayer leads us into righteous living where we just live right and not know it.

7. v8 - Righteous living leads us to the glory of God. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8) God is after heart purity! Prayer (communion with God, not asking for healing or material things) is what leads us in "His Way" to heart purity.

8. v9 - We then BECOME like God. After all we were created in His image. We need to BECOME like the Father, just like Jesus did. Now prayer is not talking to God. Talking to God is talking to God and prayer is prayer. I have found my best prayers have no words. Often at times the best we can do in prayer is groan. I think God is listening for more groans than He is for words. We must remember Jesus gets everything from the Father. He does not do or say anything of Himself, only those things that He sees the Father doing and what His Father would be saying. Prayer is something alone, between you and God. The direction of prayer is ALWAYS to the Father If not to the Father you are not praying. In Matthew 6:9-15 Jesus was teaching the disciples something about prayer and somehow it has become, "The LORD's Prayer and is recited religiously in vain. When Jesus said this it was the first time spoken to God (usually said was "Avie" "my Father or around through"), "Abba Father" which means "direct address to the Father." This is the number one way "prayer" is translated in the Scriptures. Around Christmas time many folks sing a song "Avie Maria" or "Around through to Maria" instead of to the Father. Now Jesus was not teaching the disciples to say "Abba Father," but is teaching them to pray directly to the Father. Here are other critical divine spiritual principles Jesus was teaching the disciples: The proper attitude in Prayer is "Hallowed be thy name." God's name is to be "hallow" a most holy thing, purity, not hollow or usable. God does not operate by formula and rules, but by divine spiritual principles. "In the Name of Jesus" is not a formula for God to operate, we must be careful. God seeks worshipers not by rules, but in spirit and truth. We need to allow God to be God, then God can gather us into Himself as oneness with Him. 1 + 0 = 1 (we together) not 1 + 1 = 2. So we can have His desires in us. So we know what the way He takes is and we can then take the way He is taking. So we may walk in step in harmony with Him. Many Christian do not want to get in Him. They will have to lose themselves. Not too many draw nigh (near) to God, because He is a consuming fire. No one wants to be consumed. We would rather be on fire for the LORD, well the only way we can be on fire for the LORD is to fall into the ground and die, but no we would really rather give God things we do not mind see get consumed and save our self. Save our self? Oh no God wants to kills our flesh! Our proper motivation, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (verse 10) But if we do not draw nigh then He can not bring that oneness, He has no opportunity. How can God be God if we always want Him to dance to our tune, to do what we want Him to do. We say, I have given up all for you Lord. I want a return on my investment. Next verse, "Give us this day our daily bread." (verse 11). In the Greek, "Give us the bread today we need." Now I like that because we do not know what our need is. We think we do, but in reality we need to take on His desires and His need for our lives. Prayer is the way into harmony with God in meeting needs not ours, but also others. No where in the Bible does it say Jesus prayed for the sick, it says He healed the sick. The last thing I need when I cannot touch God's heart for myself is to have someone pray for me. Oh no I need someone who knows God and can touch His heart on my behalf. What does God want? What do we want?? We are to know what God wants so we can harmonize in meetings needs with God. Prayer helps us see what the Father is saying and doing. Healing the sick then is so easy and not a struggle. The character of Prayer, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (verse 12) God's intention in prayer is to bring us together with Him in a oneness and unity. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:" (Verse 13) He does not intend to lead us into temptation, but He intends to deliver us from evil. This happens as we come together in communion (prayer). You know our temple is to be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves to steal from God and whatever we can from God. Put $10 in the offering to get $100 back. This is giving to get. We give so others may receive not so we can be blessed. This is selfish and greedy We come together in a service so that we can be a blessing and not to receive a blessing. Oh no, we are to become the very expression of God. All I want is Him. And to be caught up in His glory to be this expression through prayer, communion with Him. Prayer is the pathway to being the expressed image of the Father. Written by David Stahl