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