A MEDITATION ON CHRISTMAS

When I meditate on this time of the year and what we call the Christmas (word not found in the KJV of the Bible) season I must conclude this is the most divisive time of the year just ahead of Easter. I wonder why these two holidays divide so many people in the world. Now I will tell you from the start Karen and I do not celebrate Christmas how can we the word is not in the KJV Bible, but we do celebrate the birth of our precious LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. As Christianity began to spread many were alarmed by the continuing celebration of pagan customs among their converts. We even see this throughout the New Testament Church as Paul constantly battled against pagan and cultural traditions from taking root in the young Church. At first the Church forbade this kind of celebration. But it was to no avail. Bible historians claim that the Christmas celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also to the Persians (Babylonian Chaldeans) whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. Oddly enough it was during this period the three Wise Men (also Magi) (Matthew 2:1) learned of the Star of Bethlehem by reading the prophecies of Daniel the Great Magi (Daniel 1:1-7). Sadly this religious deception continues today, even though the faces and names has been changed the spirit and intent has not. We Christians seem to be good at making up things to satisfy our flesh for fulfillment. Now as I said Karen and I do celebrate the birth of Christ, there is a huge difference. As we watch the news we cannot believe all of the fighting to keep Christ in Christmas. Where in the Bible did Jesus ask us to remember His birth? Now I can find plenty of Scriptures in the Bible where Jesus has asked us to remember His death, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26) Who wants to remember Jesus’ death when we can remember His birth? Yet few Christians really remember His death (Romans 6:3) while they go crazy in remembering His birth. I wonder why? Yes there is a wonderful story about the birth of Jesus in the Bible, but where are we commanded to make His birth an annual holiday like we in American have made: Independence, Veterans, or Valentine Day even Halloween? And when you merge religious with traditions and customs you have an unbeatable national money maker. Is not Jesus’ birth much more? Yes my friend I am afraid we have gotten off track and the merchants of the day (and for 100s of years) have capitalized on our selfish greed (maybe only in America, but I think not) and great presumption. The same way Hollywood has recently discovered the untapped market for Christian movies. I find it really strange how many Christians today would rather go to a movie then to Church to hear about Jesus. I wonder why? It is not about fighting to keep Christ in Christmas or even about a baby in the manger. You know we really like seeing baby Jesus in the manger, but you know my friend Jesus is not a baby any more, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34) Today Jesus is not a defenseless baby in the manger He is our victorious King of kings, Lord of lords, and someday soon He is coming back to earth not as a baby, but as a judge (to kick butt) and rule (to set righteousness in order) in the earth. Something else we are puzzled about is why Christians want to beat up on the Atheist in Washington State who put a sign beside a manger display in the Capitol building. I thought we were to witness to them and tell them about Jesus? There is not much of a Christian witness when we shake our fist and gnash our teeth at someone over a wooden display. How can this sign destroy the eternal timeless message of our precious savior Jesus Christ? It cannot and will not. Has the love of God been displaced by Christians wanting their traditional religious symbols? I too can speak for God and sadly I must say yes. Jesus did not come so that we could decorate our trees and yard with gold and silver balls or blinking lights. Jesus did not come so Christians could deck the halls with a blow up Santa Claus and reindeer on their roofs and lawn. What do we do with these verses? “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers that it move not.” (Jeremiah 10:2-4) Maybe we should ignore them or maybe the Holy Spirit made a mistake? I think God is very clear in what He is saying, but we continue in the lie with Christmas trees (a German custom) out from our American tradition (now transported to the world) and because we do not want to offend family members. Just look at the Christmas trees in churches today? What do we do with these verses? The answer will be what we do with Jesus. Never forget the Gospel message of Christ is very offensive and at times even divisive to the non-believers, but truth is truth. Either we will stand for truth or compromise for the lie for the sake of peace on earth. The truth is Jesus did not come so we could have songs to sing at our annual Christmas musicals. It is amazing how old Christmas recordings from people long ago come back to life every Christmas. Jesus did not come so we could run ourselves to death, buying presents for people, while going further into debt. It is no wonder support in America for missionaries and humanitarian programs dwindle to almost to nothing this season of the year. I am afraid the true character and nature of man comes out during Christmas. We even plug in a written list to a jolly fat man in a red suit that drives a sleigh of reindeer around the world in one night to make sure we get want we what for Christmas. Why do we think we should get a present on someone else’s birthday? Our selfishness and self-centered nature really comes shining through. Oh Lord please forgive us for the indulgence of our wrong attitudes, greed, and lust. Jesus did not come to give us a Christmas season to feed our passions. The Bible is very clear why Jesus came. Jesus tells us in His own words, “The thief (not the devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Jesus came so that we “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” not to get a bunch of Christmas presents to satisfy our flesh. Jesus came so that we might (our choice not His) have the life of God dwelling within our heart and lives. The creative eternal life of God moving in us and out from us to the world. Also in John Jesus tells us, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) Jesus came so that we might have life eternal (one part of salvation) which is knowing His Father (and ours), so that we too could “know the only true God” as Jesus did. So we too could know the sublime unity of knowing God as Jesus did. I would think that would be worth far more than anything we can buy each other. Did you know, Jesus (even though the Prince of Peace) did not come into the world to bring peace as many of the major denominations and religions of the world tell us. Religious deception always leads us away from Christ into the traditional religious worship of the customs of man (like Christmas and Easter) and into a good works salvation thinking. Oh no Jesus Himself said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance (Strong’s #1639 to cut into two parts, cleave asunder, sever) against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39) Jesus has come to cut our hearts out of the world with His word, the sword. Jesus has “come to set man at variance against” or sever every relationship where we love someone or something more than Him. Jesus came so that we could take up our cross (not Jesus’) and follow Him. Jesus came so we could lose our life so that we could then find our life in Him. We know and are persuaded if we lose our life for His sake we shall find it. We also know many of our friends will disagree (we hope and pray this is not the case) with this article, but that is okay getting the truth of the Gospel message out is more important than our friends getting offended at us. If they get offended at us over this article we know they probably are not our friends anyway. We have learned this truth the hard way. Please do not allow yourself to be deceived (your choice) by any pastor or person that says, “it is not a Heaven or Hell issue or it does not really matter” oh really? This thinking my friend is just spiritually wrong and a very subtle form of deception that has been carried on for 100s maybe 1,000s of years by the religious denominations and merchants both working hand-n-hand to get customers. Sadly at the heart of why we focus on the Christmas story and baby Jesus in the manger is so we do not have to deal with a risen Savior. How much more religious can we (like the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17)) who could not totally sell out be than to bow down and worship the Christmas story and the sweet little baby Jesus in the manger? This satisfies our religious flesh and helps to ease our guilt and feeling of disobedience from rejecting God’s word to us. Who wants to allow God to deal and judge in their hearts exposing areas where we must allow Him to work? It is much easier singing another song about Christmas as we buy presents for our family or even as we buy a present for some poor people who live down the street who we neglect the rest of the year. It is far less painful to go to every church musical and spend all we have than for God to be able to show us who we really are. Who wants to allow God free rein in our heart and lives to conform us into the image (icon) and character of Jesus Christ? Very few people do and the rest continue in this traditional religious lie year after year. I think I will end with a very sobering word; if you need a traditional religious holiday to know God sadly my friend your heart is very far from Him and you will never come to know Him. Let us turn our hearts away from the religious traditions of Christmas and allow God to bring the truth of His character and nature to us. It is our choice whether we desire presents on Christmas morning or the knowledge of God, we cannot have both. Written by David Stahl     

BEFDL 11 (From HGM on 21 Dec 21)

BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-11 TEXT: 

"The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:" (Deuteronomy 1:6) 

 I. BEING DISTURBED BY GOD 

 A. As shown in Deuteronomy 1:6, God rules in the havens and His government is in absolute control. We cannot measure God's grace. It is overwhelming and beyond our comprehension and understanding. It is all inclusive, so that none are rejected from it unless they choose to be. We can rest in that security even if God the Father does not have us in place of comfort. 

 B. The Lord at times will move us from our place of ease. Just as the Lord lead His children out of Egypt to the mount of blessing, the place where they had it all, and then told them to move on, He will cause us to move out of our comfort zones. 

 C. "Moving on" is a continuing theme in Bible. So too in our lives the Lord will move us out of a place that we enjoy and we find comforting. Yet He has an ultimate purpose, though we may not see it with our natural eyes of understanding. 

 D. In God's government there are three resounding elements. Through these elements, He desires to show us that our destiny is sure in Him and to reassure us that He is working towards that end. This is the certainty upon which we must plant our feet. God love and desires for our lives. 

 E. God will disturb us! He needs to keep us from being settled and attached, and earthly-bound in our thinking and ways. Though in the world we are not of this world. Abram (later Abraham) was told, "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:" (Genesis 12:1) 

 F. Not knowing where he was going, but following the LORD's direction he and his family took off and heads out. This today would be a very disturbing thing to do just to pack up and head out on the open road. Yet as Abram followed the LORD in blindness day-by-day he began to see God's beauty and how God was working on his behalf. 

 G. But first though, he had to be disturbed. We are often reminded by God that this earth is not our place to build or castle. If not we will sink roots of dreams, ambitions, and plans deep into the earth and it's systems of life. 

 H. Why did God allow Satan to disturb Job? Maybe because in his heart, Job was saying, "I am at ease." "His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east." (Job 1:3) As God's children we must take in the full scope of things, what we call the good and the bad. In the end are we able, as Job was, to stand on the ash heap when God disturbs us and say, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord." 

 I. Joseph also retained his integrity in the time of trial while God was disturbing him. As with Joab and Absalom (2 Samuel 14) God may set your fields on fire in order to bring you before the King of Kings. J. As God settles us we began to see God's government, point two, is progressive. He will continually call us to those things which are greater, higher, and deeper in Him. We are to be in love with the Man from Galilee to a point of surpassing all understanding no matter what is going on in our lives. 

K. The eagle stirs up her nest to push the baby eaglets out just as our Father must push us. "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:" (Deuteronomy 32:11) Again and again He will take us from the safety of our nest into the buffeting winds. And drop us to see if we have learned to "mount up at thy command." "Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? (Job 39:27) 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS 

A. With time, however, we will learn the flow of the wind currents and be able to soar to the new heights where He calls us. We cannot stay where we are at and attain the glory of the kingdom. 

B. We must be willing to take the initial step of letting God disturb us. Which brings us to our third point, He will never let us fall. Like the mother eagle God will soar down and catch us on His wing keeping us from dashing on the rocks below and He always returns us to the safety of the nest to continue the learning process again and again until, "She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place." (Job 39:28)

STEPS TO HEAVEN

As a Believer one of our chief goals is to make it to the Kingdom of Heaven. Books and songs have been written about it preachers and teachers have taught and preached about it, and it is our hope someday to be with the LORD, yet nowhere in the Bible does it say some one has ever been to Heaven and returned to earth to tell us what it is like. Did you know there are 582 verses in the KJV of the Bible that talk about Heaven, it must be a wonderful place to dwell. Oh, there are plenty of crack pots out there trying to make a fast buck on dimwitted Christians who do not know their Bible and want to believe with all of their heart this person died and went to heaven or hell for that matter and came back, but after time and when the facts truly come out they are exposed as a liar, a rich liar, but a liar none the less. You know if you really think about it for a moment it really does not matter what heaven is like because it is light years ahead of the only alternative home for all of eternally, hell. We have all of these concepts, images, and ideas about Heaven and I guess that is okay for some, but we really do not know for sure. Often when we talk of Heaven we often quote, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9) and think Paul is talking about Heaven, but read the next verse, "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." (1 Corinthians 2:10) Paul is talking about the things that God "by His Spirit" here on earth "hath prepared" for us now so that we can make it to Heaven. I surely hope God has prepared things for me and my family now on earth and we do not have to wait till we get to Heaven. But, again all of that does not matter. I mean, what are we going to do if we do not like what God has prepared for us in Heaven? My Bible Teacher Charles Haun talks about a dream he had about going to Heaven. When he was in the first heaven (you know Paul talks about a man he knew that was caught up into the third heaven 2 Corinthians 12:2) he said he was in a big auditorium standing around talking and drinking coffee. Charles said he was not too impressed. Then suddenly an Angel came walking by and Charles asked him where am I and the Angel replied, Heaven. Then Charles asked the Angel where he was going and the Angel said to the second Heaven. So Charles asked if he could go with him and the Angel said, yes. The Angel stepped up to a wall and then walked through it and Charles followed, suddenly he was in a world of light and music. Charles said he has never, in his entire life, felt so wonderful, every cell in his body was alive and worshiping God. The Angel motioned to a bench and Charles took his place, his clothing was suddenly changed and now he was wearing a robe of white light. The Angel touched him on the shoulder and said, come and go with me to the third Heaven. Charles said no this is Heaven to me I am staying here forever, but the Angel said no come and go with me to the third Heaven. Charles agreed and when he stepped forward from the bench his white, light robe was laying neatly folded on the bench and he followed the Angel to another wall and through they went. The Angel motioned for Charles to take a seat and when he did a screen came down in front of him and he saw himself sitting behind the wheel of his car and a man was yelling and cussing at him. It looked like he just ran into this man's car and he was letting Charles know it. Just then he felt waves of energy scan his body up and down, then he woke up. Charles said he thinks he was being checked out to see if he qualified to enter into the third Heaven. Yes, I am sure Heaven will be an amazing place, but really what matters is not what Heaven is like, oh no, what really matters is do we know how to get there? You can ask 100 people how to get to Heaven and you may get 100 different answers so I guess the only real source for us to use to find out how to get to Heaven is to use the Scriptures. Now before we get going we must understand the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven because they are not the same thing. As a matter of fact the Kingdom of God is not a place at all. Now the Kingdom of Heaven is a place where we shall dwell with the LORD for all eternity, where ever that is, then in the New Jerusalem on earth (see Revelation 21:1-5). But the Kingdom of God is much different. Paul tells us what the Kingdom of God is, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." (Romans 14:17-19) This is what Jesus came preaching after John the Baptist was thrown into prison, see Mark 1:14. As I said it does not matter how wonderful Heaven is going to be and will we earn a mansion and a crown, oh no, what really matters is do we know how to get there? Now, if you closely read the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:1-12) you will find the kind of folks who have overcome things in this world to be able to be God's son and occupy Heaven. John writes, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Revelation 21:7) So what are the things we must overcome to be able to make Heaven our home? Well, I am glad you asked. If you notice in the sermon on the mount you will find some things that we must overcome and notice the reward is not the Kingdom of God, but the Kingdom of Heaven. Now I am not saying if you overcome these things you will go to Heaven, but what I am saying is these are some things we will have to be and overcome in our lives to make it to Heaven. I hope you see this point. So for this article let us use the nine things Jesus said we are "blessed" as steps and if we do them we shall make Heaven our home. Matthew writes of Jesus' words, "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:1-12) Now I am not sure if they are in sequence order or set at random, but for sure they are true to heart because Jesus promised us in this world we shall have tribulation, see John 16:33. So the first step to make Heaven our home is to be "poor in spirit" or not to see any value in our earthly self, humble, meek, lowly in spirit like Christ (see Matthew 11:29), spiritually bankrupt. Here we chose do we want the things of the world that rusts and the moth eats or the things of God that are eternal riches, notice in the Kingdom of Heaven, not Kingdom of God. All of the other steps are built on this first step. If we cannot be "poor in spirit" God cannot use us we will disqualify our self for service. The second step is if we mourn we shall be comforted. Now that is not mourning for the dead or even feeling bad about our situation in life, but it is a mourning where we put our mouth in the dust (see Lamentations 3:27-32), we keep our mouth shut until God tells us what to say, then we have something important to say. The third step meek in spirit goes with the first step, but it pertains to our earthly witness before men. When we come from a position of meekness people will listen, but if we come all preachy and as a know-it-all people will tune us out. Karen always reminds me I can say anything as long as I say it nicely. The next, the fourth step is critical, hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Our thirsts and hungers will carry our direction, purpose, and completion in God. Do we hunger for the things of the world, the things to work for God in ministry like most Christians, or God Himself? Now notice it does NOT say we will be filled with righteousness, oh no, it says we shall be filled. Filled with what? I believe whatsoever we need to do that which God wants us to do. Step five, being merciful. Not too many Christians are merciful. We like to get our pound of flesh in an argument or we like to cram that last bit of truth down some poor sinner's throat. Not to mention business dealings. Giving mercy especially to the one who cannot return your mercy is one of the greatest signs of spiritual maturity and development in God. Wow, who wants to see God? Well, step six and the condition to be able to see God that is now on earth and sometime in Heaven is to have a pure heart. David tells us in the Psalm, "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." (Psalm 24:3-4) Well, how do we get a "pure heart?" Only one way my friend and that is through God's dealings and judgments in our lives. His work in our lives is a purifying fire. Not too many Christians want to be purified because if they are there will be nothing left of themselves. The seventh step has a lot to do with to do with our ability to bring peace and strength into situations and circumstance in life through God. Why is the person blessed if they are a peacemaker? Well, he is at peace with God and himself now He can bring peace to others. Unless we are at peace with God AND our self we will never be able to affect peace in our lives and in the lives of others. What is the value to someone who is in gloom, despair, depression, a gnawing anger for themselves and others, and then someone comes with a life line of cheer, sunshine, and hope? And, the eighth and ninth step go together they are the biggest steps to climb to make it into Heaven because they will be the greatest obstacles we will face in our lives. Now notice if we are persecuted for righteousness sake ours is the Kingdom of Heaven, but NOT if we cause the persecution. We cannot escape from persecution my friend, we cannot escape being reviled, we cannot escape being spoken evil against they did all of this and more to Jesus, they even killed Him. Do we think the servant is greater than the Master? Oh no my friend, all the days of our lives we will have to endure persecution. Paul told Timothy and us, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2Timothy 3:12) Persecution use to be normal experience for the Christian in the Bible, they even looked forward to it, but not so today. I am afraid we (now I include myself here) have gotten soft, maybe that is why we do not see a lot of godliness? Heaven is to be our eternal home, but focus not on Heaven, focus your life on doing the things you need to do to make Heaven your home. Written by David Stahl

NOTHING TO SOMETHING

One of the greatest requirement to be something in God is to be nothing.  But just look around nobody especially most Christians and some Believers I know want to meet this most critical requirement to really be used of the LORD.  Well, until we desire to become nothing in our selves we will never become something in the LORD's eyes.  Make no mistake my friend the names of God's superstars in the earth are NOT up in lights or splashed on social media or TV, oh no my friend they go about their daily lives laying down their lives so that others may come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  No fanfare or exalted platforms for them just hard work and sweat, but a love for God and man in them that the world can never take away one word.  This desire to be nothing does not originate in man, but must be worked in him through God's dealings and judgments.  Becoming nothing will require us to become a servant, to humble ourselves, have no reputation, submit to God's will, and yes may even require suffering on our part for the Gospel.  Maybe that is why not too many Christians (especially in America) and some Believers I know want to be a nothing.  Even Jesus did not have this desire in Him.  Even Jesus had to submit to His Father's desire for Him, but Jesus knew if He became nothing He would become something. Paul writes to the Hebrews, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; ⁹And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"  (Hebrews 5:8-9) Jesus had to learn (He did not have it from Heaven) obedience through sufferings. In John we I can of mine own self do nothing as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."  (John 5:30) Wow Jesus said of Himself  "I can of mine own self do nothing," but He created man, the universe, all that we know as life. Jesus knew He had no power and could do nothing because He sought not His own will, but the will of His Father. Paul writes of Jesus to the young Church at Philippi speaking of Jesus, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."  (Philippians 2:6-8) Did you get that?  If we want to be something in God we must humble ourselves, become a servant, and make ourselves of no reputation. Maybe that is why most Christians and some Believers (especially in America) I know have not become (a learning process not taught at a Bible School or university) something in God, they see within themselves abilities (even God-given abilities) and talents that they think will make them great in God, but oh no my friend they are gravely mistaken. To become great in God we must  see of ourselves no value in us. Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 5:3) The word "poor" here means spiritually bankrupt or they see of themselves of no value.  Not too many Christians or some Believers (especially in America) I know see themselves as being "poor"  oh no they see themselves as rich, blessed, and highly favored in God, but Jesus said,  "Blessed are the poor in spirit," not the rich, blessed or favored in spirit.  Little do they know they are naked, wretched, miserable and blind. I will be honest I am not worried about the move of God in the world, oh no His Spirit is moving mightily in places we think not all around the world, but I am concerned about the move of God in America. There seems to be a movement away from God towards humanism, religious traditions and ritualism, and socialism. Most of you all know we host a Home Group Meeting (HGM) (not a church service) twice a month at our home. It is always a wonderful time of fellowshipping around the elements (sing a couple hymns, take prayer requests and pray, share a few announcements) of a service, commune with the LORD around  the hearing of the Word of God, and then we end our time together (about 2 hours) in fellowshipping as we eat food (cake, pie, fruits, crackers, humus, nuts, and such) and drink some coffee or tea. Make no mistake my friend when you open up your home (and especially if you serve food) you will get all kinds of interesting people. Now I too believe "whosever come," but to be honest this year we have asked the LORD to move some folks on (they were just too disruptive to the group) and to replace them with folks (and He did) who were serious and really want to grow in the grace and knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ.  Well, a few months ago I received a phone call from a lady who wanted to know more about our HGM (we lightly advertise:  a few road signs, one local free publication, our website, and on our weekly radio program) because her and her husband (who is attending Liberty University) wanted to come.  They have been trying for about a year to have a HGM at their house, but cannot get folks to come.  Usually that means God is not in it.  In God things just seem to work out according to His will.  So they came, but they seemed a bit standoffish.  So I asked the husband if he would like to share one month and he agreed. He did a good review of the Baptist's position on are we saved by works or grace. The following month Karen wanted a head count (to make one cake or two) so I called them and asked if they were coming and the husband replied, "no because there were just too many red flags in my teaching."  I was stunned, "red flags?" I asked what red flags? Well, as you can guess they took everything I said out of context and shaded it with a more mainstream Baptist slant and then called it heresy. A typical reply from one who knows just enough to be dangerous.  Now this is the same man who was in the US Marine Corps (he ought to have known better), built an automatic machine gun and took it on a military base (said he forgot it was in his truck), was arrested, and sent to Federal Prison for six months.  You know if you do not know and respect the laws of man I should not have known he will not respect the laws of God.  Yes, if you cannot keep man's laws then you will never be able to keeps God's laws.  He went on and on letting me know just how much of the Bible he learned at Liberty University, well God told me to give him a teachable moment. Now remember he is the fellow who wants to have a HGM at his house, but now wants to bellyache, complain, and criticize Karen and I who have had a HGM for over 25 years (of our 41 years of marriage) at different places in the world. I told him he was "a know it all," he was unteachable, and I have seen guys like him all over the world. Guys like him who think of themselves as having learned something in God, a somebody, but has failed to learn the most important lesson (humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you in due time) if they want to be somebody in God. I guess he was a third year student at Liberty.  You know I like teaching fourth year students when I teach at a Bible School.  Third year students think they know it all, they are unteachable, but funny how their perspective changes when they become a four year student. They realize what they say they know and have learned now they will have to live out before God and man.  It seems they grow a spiritual brain and it all comes together when they find out they "truly" know nothing at all and now God can make them something.  I asked him why he did not do what the Bible asks us to do if we do not understand something?  He said what is that?  To go to the brother and ask clarification. He changed the subject dodging my question. He knows it all.  My friend if you do not understand something in God ask questions (which is the number one way we learn), ask for clarification, and by all means NEVER dispute it, but hold it before the LORD (maybe 5, 10, and 20 years) until He gives the understanding, again never be a disputer of the word of God this a great way to get in trouble with God. So they moved on. No problem all they did was made room for someone who really wants to come to know God and His ways. My friend if you really want to become something in God you must become a nobody! You must be teachable, open to the moving of the Spirit of God, you cannot be a know it all.  I really believe this is one of the greatest problems in the "church" today, being unteachable. LORD protect my heart from this evil!  This process of becoming a nobody will kill you, it will kill your ambitions, your dreams, your plans, your hopes, all that you want to become that God does not want to see happen in your life.  Just like my Baptist friend and his wife their focus is on becoming something maybe in the Baptist religious world, but one thing for sure they have not yet made the discovery to become something in God we must become a nobody.  Written by David Stahl

BEFDL 10 (FROM HGM ON 16 NOV)

 BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-10

TEXT:  "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."  (I Samuel 30:6)

I.   ENCOURAGING OURSELVES IN THE LORD

      A.  Champion boxers have an expression that goes "you're only good as your last fight" and this seems to be the case with King David. With all of the past battles he won in proving the hand of the LORD was with him, he still faces mutiny among his men.

      B.  Returning back to camp their camp, they are surprised to discover that the Amalekites have kidnapped their wives and children. There is nothing ordinary about this trial, since it strikes hard and deep to that which is closet to their hearts.  As a matter of fact, this is such a low point for the people and David alike, that they literally weep away their strength until nothing is left.

      C.  Have you ever reached the place where you have been emptied of all hope in self?  There isn't much left, is there?  David's distress did not end with the loss of his own family; it is also over the fear of reprisal from his followers. 

       D.  But in all this, he does not give up.  He does a remarkable thing.  Resisting any tendency of self-pity, he decides at the end of himself to seek the Lord.  The Bible tells us, "but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."  Meaning he worshiped the LORD and revived his strength to action. 

       E.  This is more than human fortitude; it is the pouring out of one's soul before the LORD in the knowledge that only His enabling power is capable of dealing with something beyond our control.

      F.  There will always be those perplexing circumstances in our life. "

   "Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward."  (Job 5:7)  It is not by accident that we have afflictions and troubles.  God, Himself has purposed them into our lives.

      G.  Just as the blade of an axe is applied to the grinding stone to be sharpened, so will the life of man experience adversity in refining him.  In the process, it may kick up all kinds  of debris, yet out of such chaos will come God's arrangement and order for our life. 

       H.  Like David, we need to learn how to roll the heaviness of heart over to the Lord in times of tribulation.  Things, life, our burdens have a way of becoming heavy, but as the hymn goes, "we often carry burdens to heavy, because we have not taken them to the Lord in prayer."

       I.   But when we take them to the Lord,  when we encourage ourselves in the Lord we are strengthened by the Lord.  There is no real strength outside the Lord.  All other strength will weaken us and we will fall. 

       J.  All other strength, not of God, will fail us when the winds of life blow, when we are shaken by situations and circumstances.

            "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger."  (Psalm 8:2)

Out of the mouth of the most vulnerable human beings in terms of having no ability to defend themselves, God has ordained that they have His strength.

      K.  We are given strength in the weak place, when our enemies are mighty against us, so that we may know God's divine strength.         

      L.  Approached how?  With a humble heart as a child. Thus, it is to our advantage that when we find ourselves in moments of weakness, and we will, we respond by encouraging ourselves in the Lord strengthening our hearts, through praise.

      M.  Jesus was making this point to the Pharisees,

             "And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. ¹⁵ And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased," (Matthew 21:14-15) Jesus turns to them and says almost the same words form Psalm 8:2, "And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"  (Matthew 21:16)

The blind and lame have no strength, like little children they come to receive healing and strength from the One who holds all strength.

II.   PARTING THOUGHTS

      A.  Clearly, when one is weak and at wit's end, this is a time when either our faith will move the mountain or the mountain will remove our faith.  In any event, we must turn to God to encourage ourselves. 

      B.  It is then we come and stand in His presence, worshipping Him with the attitude that says, "Lord, regardless of the circumstance and situation, my eyes are upon thee for the strength and the know-how." 

 

BIBILCAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING 9

 

BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-09

TEXT:    "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."  (Matthew 25:21)

 I.   THE VALUE OF OUR BEING FAITHFUL

      A.  Many of us have experienced the let down of an unfulfilled promise, and have felt the hurt and disappointment.  We were created in the image of God and feel, in a limited measure, as He feels. 

       B.  Just as we can feel disappointment, so also our Lord can be disappointed when we are not faithful to the outworking of all that He has made available to us.

       C.  In the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-12), ALL ten received lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom.  When the Lord delayed His coming ALL ten of their lights went out.  The Lord had been faithful, as He supplied them all with lamps and oil.  But the foolish did not develop a means, v3 "and took no oil with them," to resupply their lamps with oil.

        D.  The lamp represents our salvation, all ten were saved to some degree.  The oil speaks of the Lord's enabling grace and anointing, which quickens and maintains our spiritual life and strength.  When we are not faithful to maintain a personal relationship with the Lord, we use up the supply of oil that we were initially given and soon we feel dry. 

        E.  To be faithful on our part means that we take seriously our need to fellowship with the Lord and receive from Him His strength, His power, His grace, His forgiveness, His mercy, His life, and His LOVE.

"Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. ¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not."  (Matthew 25:11-12)

        F.  Notice the Lord did not say, they were bad people.  The word of God does not say what finally happens to them.  However, because they took their spiritual capacity for granted, thus they could not enter into the, v3: "marriage; and the door was shut."

     G.  Sadly, because of certain choices the five foolish virgins made, they could not enter into the purpose and fulfillment God had intended for their lives.  God could not bring His pre-ordained purpose and plan for their lives to completion.  Sadly, but also very true today, like the  foolish virgins, who could not enter in, many today will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

  "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."  (Matthew 7:21)

      H.  Entering into the kingdom of heaven is not done by working for God or having God do great works through us. 

    "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:22-23)

      I.  Instead of a focus of working and doing for God we must become the work of God.  We must maintain a spiritual capacity to allow God to work in our lives.   

         "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."  (Ephesians 2:10)

And out from the work God does in our lives we can feed the world the mercy He has given us, feed His forgiveness, His grace, and His joy.  We make those choices that will allow us to be conformed into the image of His Son Jesus Christ, the goal of being a Christian.  If not, then what can be give a lost and dead world? What will we share? Teach/preach about?       

    J.  The requirements for entering into "the joy of the Lord" and "the kingdom of heaven" is faithfulness, commitment, dedication, and obedience to God.  By making those needed adjustments God wants us to make in our lives, allowing us to, do the will of my Father"  will enter in. 

    K.  John tells us, Jesus Himself  said,

          "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode (enter into) with him. "  (John 14:23)

    L.  We will then be able to keep such words of Jesus as,

           "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. ³¹ And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."  (Mark 12:30-31)

II.  PARTING THOUGHTS

     A.  We will never become the overcomer who finds himself seated with the five wise virgins unless we allow God to work His nature and character into our lives. Unless we develop a life that is centered around God and His plan for our lives. 

     B.  No one can give to another their commitment to spiritual obedience.  We must spend quality time in the presence of the Lord.  There is no substitute for the time we spend before the Lord in church and most important during the time just the two of us spend together. 

     C.  Because it is during these times, when we are faithful to read His word and share our heart with Him, He will speaks to us and shares His heart with us.  We then see the value of being faithful we then enter in to the joy of the Lord. 

BIBICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING 8 (TAKEN FROM HGM ON 21 SEP 21)

 BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-08

TEXT:   "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12

 I.   PRESENT PREPARATION FOR FUTURE PURPOSE

       A.  The key to future purpose is hidden in the present preparation through relationship.  Relationship between the Lord first and family and our Christian Brothers and Sisters, second. We may never know the treasures of wisdom God has hidden in our brothers and sisters because of our desires not to know someone.  They will stay a mystery to us.

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:" (1 Corinthians 2:7)

      B.  The tendency of many believers is to seek ministry and/or activity rather than relationship.  But ministry comes out of relationship.  Jesus' ministry came out of His relationship with His Father and the disciples.

      C.  We can easily mistake the present preparation (our ministry and/ or activity) or whatever the Lord is having us to do, as the fulfillment of the purpose.  Ministry itself is not the purpose, but a means to bring us into the fulfillment of His future purpose, whatever that may be.

      D.  What is God purpose in our lives?  Paul eludes to this in our test,

             "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

God's purpose in our lives is to give us vision to Him and His ways, and to bring us to fulfillment.  Everything God made; plants, trees, animals even man has purpose, but only man can have fulfillment and vision.

     E.  How clear is your vision at present, has it become more clear than what you had seen in the past?  What knowledge do you now know that you never knew before?  Do you now know about yourself what the Lord knows about you?

          "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no."  (Deuteronomy 8:2)

     F.  When the LORD led the children of Israel through the wilderness, He led them in a particular way.  It was a way that would humble them and prove them.  He led them in such a way that as they came through each circumstance they would be acquainted with their own heart. 

     G.  They would come into a knowledge of themselves that they never had know before, though the Lord already knew what was in their hearts.  He wanted to bring them to a place that they know even as they are know.  It is a great place in God for Him to show you your heart.

     H.  Whatever we are presently doing or going through is a preparation for BECOMING.  The people ask Jesus,

           "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"  (John 6:28) Jesus answered and said,  "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."  (John 6:29)  Do you see the difference?  So, our present circumstance, we can be sure that its design is to allow the work of God to be effected in us. 

      I.  It is in the LORD's leading and dealing in our lives, that we come face to face with ourselves and the areas that needed matured so that we might become more like Jesus.  We have to come face-to-face with our fears and inability and conquer them in His strength, and be know as we are know.

II.  PARTING THOUGHTS

      A.  It is not what we do, but what we become that matters.  The LORD is doing an eternal work in us.  He is preparing us for eternity.  It is in this life we qualify for our eternal position.  Our focus is not to be our position but our focus is to become what He desires us to become.

      B.  God will take care of our position.  So whether you have a ministry or not is not the question.  The question is in the present circumstances are we aware that He is preparing us for an eternal purpose?  The eternal purpose is to know ourselves as he knows us so that we might have the things changed that need changed and come into the fulfillment of all that the Lord desires for us.

          "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (2 Timothy 4:7)   

HOW DO YOU DO THAT

We were listening to a well known evangelist on TV one Sunday morning ultimately preaching from a very well known passage of Scriptures in Ephesians 2, but his sermon (not so much a message from the LORD, you know there is a huge difference) came after about 70+ minutes of singing, sometimes singing the same song over and over and faster and faster not to mention the singing for the offering and praying for the sick. Now please do not get me wrong I am not saying this young evangelist is a bad man or does not know what he is talking about (well, maybe I am disappointed with the manipulation of his people), but like most famous, denominational (and even most non-denominational) preachers, teachers, and especially evangelists get our emotions involved, but seldom tell us how or what we have to do in the LORD so that we can receive the outcome the Scriptures are promising. After all, if it is in the Scriptures God must want us to receive it or it would not be inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Bible.  I mean that would truly be awful  of the LORD to say okay I want you to have this gift or this blessing, but not tell us how to receive it. But, most preachers, teachers, and evangelists who share along these lines come down on the side of naming it and claiming the things of God. This evangelist was leading prayer and claimed healing and deliverance for all of the people under the sound of his voice.  How do you do that?  How do you claim healing and deliverance for people you do not even know?  How can you know God's will for these people in all of this? And no it is not God's will for everyone to be in perfect health.  I can find no verse in the Scriptures that tells us how we can do this.  Actually, there is no verse in the Scriptures that tells us how to claim something from God.  My friend we cannot claim anything in God all we receive from God must be received by faith and in gratitude. Does God not know what He is doing? Thinking we can claim what we want from the LORD is just open arrogance and pride. Who do we think we are to tell the LORD anything?  Who do we think we are to take or claim something that is of the LORD even if He wants us to have it?  Everything we get from the LORD is given to us out from His love for us, even His discipline and correction, but I never hear anyone pray for God's correction especially on TV. My friend even our salvation is a free gift from God.  We cannot claim our salvation. If so, how can you do that? As a matter of fact the word "claim" is found nowhere in the Scriptures of the KJV of the Bible.  Sadly at the heart of this wrong teaching is wrong thinking which reflects a huge lack of faith and trust in what God has said and already done.  After all why have someone pray for you (what the LORD has put in place in the Scriptures) when all you have to do is claim your healing or deliverance?  Again, I am not beating up on the evangelist (well maybe some), but am just asking the obvious question how do you do that? The evangelist went on and shared a tear jerking story and read through an old very well known hymn (something to get his folks emotions involved again) and then went to Ephesians. He read, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."  (Ephesians 2:8-10) Now I really like these verses, but the evangelist kind of twisted these verses to help make his point while missing the truth in these verses.  Oh yes, we are "saved through faith that not of yourselves." Personally, I think these verses define salvation much better than John 3:16, but I guess the Church at Ephesus had some members who thought they were saved by their good works. Remember, when Paul talks about certain issues or topics he is addressing the need for correction within the given named local Body.  Now here is where the evangelist really got off track. He said the word "workmanship" in verse 10 means masterpiece.  Well, we are NOT God's masterpiece, He just loves us more than the other creatures and Angels.  Nothing can be so far from the truth. God's masterpiece is His Son Jesus Christ in whom we are to be conformed into His image and nature. When God made man He did not say man is My masterpiece. As a matter of Scriptural record after God made the earth and the fullness (Genesis 1:31) He said it all was "very good," but when God made man He said no such words.  And why? Man apart from the finished work of Christ on the cross is desperately wicked and evil nothing good in him. In Romans 7:18, Paul says, "For I know that in me (that is in with my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." But, I wonder what "good works" Paul was thinking about in Ephesians 2:8-10? Maybe being ship wrecked, stoned, naked, beaten, hungry, maybe time spent in the deep.  Paul was saying we are God's work, "His workmanship;" not the church buildings, not the ministry, not the TV networks and social media, not the services or the singing, nor all of the good things we do for the LORD. We (you and me my brother or sister) are God's "beaustella" (means construction in the German language) or we are God's construction. And created to "good works." What "good works?"  We know they are NOT "our works less any should boast" (verse nine). And Paul could not have been talking about the good things God has for us to walk in. This would be selfish, man-centered, and fleshly focused, but these "good works" have been created in Christ Jesus (in other words Christ Jesus originated or are found in Him) and they have been "ordained that we should walk in them" since time eternal, before the foundations of the world was laid. You know with the Chinese virus (COVID 19) and all of its control, the cultural woke revolution, the social justice sham, and the deterioration of the home, and so much more one of the most important areas of life today that is lacking is peace. But, how can we claim peace? How do we do that? Our inner peace is important and is to be treasured, guarded, and maintained. It can be hard not to react when we see or hear things happening, yet how essential we set aside our own reactions and come to a place of quietness that we might seek the heart of God instead. In peace there is healing. From a place of peace, we can more easily find direction. In peace there is quietness and rest. In peace there is victory! How can we claim the peace of God that passes all understanding? And yet knowing as I become peaceful I can better find my position in Christ and have a greater impact.  In Micah it says God has showed us NOT we have claimed that which is required of man, He hath shewed thee, O man, what good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8) Now for us to live this way is our own decision, contingent only on our own heart condition and the LORD living within us. It does not say if people are kind or deserving we can claim these things, oh no my friend we are just to behave (be good, do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly) this way as God works in our lives. Our holiness is developed in us as we allow God's work in us. Who I am is not defined by what others do! I am who I am by the grace of God and the daily choices that I make! You know we live with a present purpose and a future hope. The choices we make and the ways we decide to walk in peace may not seem to have much bearing on anything we perceive today, but they are forming who we are and will be in eternity. These choices also have a present impact, perhaps more than we realize at times. May we be carriers of God’s light, carriers of His peace and presence. We get this not by wishing or claiming, but submitting to the LORD's dealings and judgments in our lives whereby He can conform us into the character and image of His dear Son Jesus Christ.You see, the wrong thinking of claiming the things of God by-passes God's work in our lives and those "good works" which Paul knew about quite well. My friend may we be ambassadors for healing, for peace. And may we do what is right ourselves. May we be merciful toward others. May we walk humbly before God.  What is the LORD doing in these last days you would ask?  Well, the LORD is raising up a people to be carriers of His presence, those who will reflect His light and help bring healing and love to others who are hurting. And you know my friend you cannot claim that. No matter what happens, may we always lift our hearts upward that we might be prepared to reach outward, should opportunity come. Written by David Stahl

BIBICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING #7 (FROM 24 AUG 21 HGM)

BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-07 

TEXT: "There is no fear in love; but perfect (mature/selfless) love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect (mature/selfless) in love." (1 John 4:18) 

I. MATURE LOVE 

A. The opposite of liberty is bondage. We are held in that bondage through fear. Fear holds us tight without the ability to love; God, ourselves, our brothers and sisters, and those in the world who do not know Jesus as their personal savior. 

B. What causes us to fear? As Believers we are not to be fearful. The absence of fear is faith and the absence of faith is fear. There is not a half way, either we are full of fear or we are full of faith. Fear and faith cannot exist at the same time. 

C. As Christians our walk is to be one of faith and love, because faith works by love. "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." (Galatians 5:6) So, as our love matures so does our faith, because, "faith which worketh by love," thus if our love for God, our self, and other do not grow neither does our faith. As the same measure our love grows so does our faith. 

D. There are many things that make us to fear at times. If we are honest with ourselves we could compile quite a list. Most would rank the fear of death as number one. Fear of death holds us tight in bondage. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:14-15) 

E. When we are delivered from that fear we are set free. We are at liberty to do God's will to walk where He would have us walk. But in order to get into that liberty, we must go through death. Many quote, "you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. But few quote the condition the Lord sated before those words, "If you continue in my words, you shall know the truth." 

F. If you continue in His word you are going to be delivered to death, that is, to the place where you must choose to give up the ghost. This is a crucial place in our walk. It is the making or breaking place. If we sin, we remain in the bondage of corruption. If we, "give up the ghost" we are set free. "For he that is dead is freed from sin." (Romans 6:7) It is at this point of death where, "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:" (Romans 6:8) 

G. It is this death of the Lord's saints which is precious in His sight. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." (Psalms 116:15) It is at this place where we discover, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (I Corinthians 15:55) What we once feared, death to self, turns out to be the very thing that takes us into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. 

H. We are set free from that which bound us through the fear of death. Now the enemy no longer has a place is us to that he could come to time and time again to defeat us. We have passed from death unto life and we know that, because love has manifested in our lives for the brethren. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." (I John 3:14) 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS 

A. As we die to self and our rights, the love for the brethren will grow in us and as our love matures (perfected), so will our faith. They are forever joined in operation by God. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love," (Ephesians 3:17) and  "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 1:13) 

B. We can sing about being free, and talk about it, and even preach about it, but until we pass through death to our self life, we will still be held in the bondage of corruption and self condemnation. C. But the Lord has abundance of grace and by Him, we can reign in life now. Our corruption confines us to the small place, but when we enter into the glorious liberty of a son of God, we are free to go where the will of God directs us, and in that place we will have great faith and mature love, no fear will be found in us.

 

LACK OF TRUTH

Truth! "What is Truth?" That was the question Pilate asked Jesus in John 18:39 when Jesus stood before him in judgment, but today I would ask where is the truth? Notice Jesus never replied back to Pilate, but in the previous chapter we can find the answer to Pilate's question. Jesus says, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 171:17) So the word of God is truth. Truth is not what we believe because or what someone else says: the word of God, the Bible, the Scriptures is the only truth in the world and when we depart from it we get over in areas that only lead to loss, destruction, and death, both physical and more important spiritual. For example we see today in the world if we believe we are a female, but created a male by God you can be a female if you want to. You can turn the truth into a lie and a lie against God's word. Man today is not dependent on God's word for a moral compass and standard to live by. Truth is situational and dependent on what we want, not an absolute like God's word. The Prophet Jeremiah knew God, yet felt utterly dependent upon God. The LORD's approval is with those who are dependent upon Him; those who seek counsel from the mouth of the LORD. We see Jeremiah's heart condition and desire for truth, dependency, and to know God. Jeremiah writes, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23) When we try to direct our steps we then step out of the will of God for our lives as a person or a nation. You know because of one act of disobedience by Adam, the human race fell, and that one act of disobedience cost the Son of God His life. Some of the consequences of being out of the will of God are easily seen in the spiritual and moral manifestations of a society. Moses knew this as he watched the Children of Isreal spin out of control on a daily basis like we see on the TV daily and hear on the news. Yes, there is nothing new under the sun. In Deuteronomy Moses writes, “And among these nations shall you find no ease, neither shall the sole of your foot have rest: but the Lord shall give you there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind.” (Deuteronomy 28:65) These are conditions, which are symptomatic of being out of the will of God: uneasiness, restlessness, uncertainty, fearful, lack of assurance, discontent, and spiritual bondage. There are others, but these indicate that something is out of alignment in our relationship with the LORD and with each other. When these conditions are present it would be well to consider our having missed the will and purpose of the LORD and this my friend can only end in total loss, destruction, and death as an individual or a nation. Always remember the absences of truth is fear. This is what we see in America, fear, it runs the country. We are afraid to live life to the fullest as God intended us to. This is the direction America is heading. And why? The leaders of the "church" have failed to walk in the truth of the word of God. When the truth is lost then all of the social morays and morality on which hangs the civility and goodness of a society shall fail and then according to the word of God, "no ease, neither shall the sole of your foot have rest: but the Lord shall give you there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind.” We mistakenly say the issues of abortion, lesbianism, homosexuality, BLM, and all of the other anti-Christ organizations are political issues, but not so my friend they are the moral issues of OUR day that rest on our understanding of the truth. Day after day I find myself saying what is going on? I cannot believe what I am seeing and hearing? What has happened to America? And what is going on is the lack of the truth in all walks of life. In every walk of life: politics, religion, financial markets, the military, education, business, sports, entertainment, technology, social media, medicine, science, you name it truth has been excluded from the social discourse making the way for non-truth or lies in all we do and say. I cannot remember when our society was so corrupt, when life had such a limited meaning or value, when a man's opinion mattered not to the collective, but was just something to crush under foot to make way for what others believe and want to see happen, even if it is evil and ungodly. You know we cannot foresee the future nor does it seem many people have the ability to discern what the LORD wants in days to come. Therefore, we should prayerfully make our decisions giving God the opportunity to redirect us because only He knows what is ahead. There must be a "sincerity of heart" when it comes to the truth in our lives and the lack of truth will only lead us to greater loss, destruction, and death. Jeremiah helps us again, “For you dissembled in your hearts, when you sent me to the Lord your God, saying, Pray for us according to all that the Lord our God shall say, so declare it to us, and we will do it.” (Jeremiah 42:20) “Dissembling in your hearts” is making a false pretense (not walking or acting in the truth) in intention. Here they had already determined that if God told them to not go to Egypt, they would go anyway. They did and carried the Prophet Jeremiah with them. We cannot expect God to guide us, love us, protect us, and care for us unless we are sincere and walk in the truth of the word of God and willing to obey His Word. Did you know there is a distinction between instruction and teaching? In Psalms David writes, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go….” (Psalm 32:8) Instruction reveals the principles of divine guidance which is what we lack while we walk away from the truth. While teaching helps us to receive and move in divine guidance. The LORD will teach us to discern His will through our circumstances or problems, therefore, we must understand the principals of His guidance. And in the loss of truth we will never learn the principles that will enable spiritual growth and development in us individually and as a nation. We will never learn meekness which is a pliability that enables the LORD to guide us gently, rather than by the force of circumstances. Most often guidance comes through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, or by divine providence. The LORD in His wisdom, has given us these three safe guards when we are in a difficulty. If the Word, the Spirit, and divine providence agree as one, we have a three-fold factor of safety, and we then can be reasonably sure that we are hearing from the LORD. Another form of guidance relates to personal integrity, God 's biggest focus in our lives. Solomon writes, “The integrity of the upright shall guide them….” (Proverbs 11:3) Now I like Proverbs and the Psalms, but to be honest I seem to have a hard time studying what the authors failed to live up to. They too walked away from the truth given to them. There is guidance by integrity (standards of righteousness) that we receive from the written Word of God. The LORD would have us to be guided by principles of integrity where we do what is right, even though we could evade it as others do. The Word of God establishes standards of right and wrong and the LORD expects us to adhere to these standards without special revelation. We do not need a revelation to discover that we are obligated to obey the Word of God. As I said with the lack of truth in our lives we will experience the lack of peace and fear will rule our heart. Peace is what the LORD wants for us, but did you know there is a differentiation between peace “with” God, and the peace “of” God. Peace with God has to do with our “relationship” with God. The peace of God has to do with our “walk” with God. Peace “with” God comes first, whereby the enmity between us and God is removed. The peace “of” God should follow after, but not all Christians (and some Believers) who have peace “with” God also have the peace “of” God. The peace of God comes through our walking in the Spirit and is a state of tranquility and rest produced in our hearts by the Spirit. It is a supernatural peace that passes all understanding. The peace of God is one of the forms of guidance, restraining us by an inner unrest, uncertainty, or confirming a certain course of action by a witness, satisfaction, or a deep inner rest. The peace of God can be described negatively, positively, experientially, positionally and judicially. It is not a mere absence of disturbance, but a conscious rest, which is independent of circumstances, favorable or unfavorable. Jesus taught in principle, “My sheep know my voice” (John 10:27). Many have often said, “But how do I know it is the voice of the Spirit?” One of the best ways to learn the recognition of His voice is through His sheep. They had learned to recognize His voice through continued association with Him and other people who know Him. At night, as we drift off to sleep we listen to a really good Christian radio station out of Atlanta, our white noise. On the hour they have a new cycle that repeats though out the night. One night, one of the spots talked about how over 400,000 Southern Baptist have left the denomination in the last year and blamed it on, like everyone else in the world, COVID for the exodus. Well, the LORD impressed on me it was not COVID for the departure, but it was the radical political stance the Southern Baptist Convention took in support of Black Lives Matters (an ungodly Marist organization whose main goal is to destroy the nuclear family as God has created it and America) and other anti-Christ organizations while still calling themselves Christians like all of the other denominations and religions in the world. They may be Christians, but certainly NOT Children of God because His children know His voice, they know His word, and they know truth. If you are interested in the recognition of His voice see to it that you live and walk in close association with Him. Written by David Stahl

BIBICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING 06

 BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-06

TEXT: "We love him, because he first loved us."  (1 John 4:19)

 I.  HE LOVED US FIRST

    A.  The "We" in this verse is us, every believer.  Every believer is to love Him.  I cannot explain to you why you love Him and why someone else doesn't.  But I do know that you will love Him if you are His child.    

    B.  The more you see yourself as a child of God and loved by Him, the more you will love Him.  I am not saying that you will not at times doubt your love for Him and maybe His love for you, but one thing is sure, our doubt does not change His love for us, "Because He first loved us." 

     C.  I am not saying that we all fell an equal love.  Some have grown to love Him more intensely.  But, this is His desire toward us, that we grow to love Him more and more.  Not His gifts or presents, but His presence, in the stillness and quietness of the moment.

     D.  Loving God because He first loved us is sufficient evidence of grace in our soul.  If you are loving Him it is because you are loved of Him.

     E.  If you are loving God it is because you are loved by God.  True love could not come into our hearts in any other conceivable way.  How does the heart that the Bible calls desperately wicked begin to love God? 

     F.  If your desires have been aroused to love God, meditate on His great love, and then trust yourself to that love.  Doing this we by faith then trust our souls to His love.  Often times we do not really trust God with our life. We may sing songs and confess with our mouth our trust in God, but when the real test comes, the trust in God is far away from our lips and hearts.  

    G.  But that's okay, faith and trust in God is a learning process He takes us through.  It is His vast love which sets before us God's way of salvation.  We realize what God requires of us.  He requires that we be nothing but instead trust Him to be everything.

    H. We begin to see that the plan of salvation is all love.  he loves us first and we respond to His great love.  If we forget then our souls are cast down and needs to be restored to the truth of His great love for us.

    I.  No matter who we are in Christ there are times when our souls are cast down.  (despondent, heavy, downcast) Remember what David did when his soul was cast down?  He spoke to it.

                    "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."   (Psalms 42:5)

Notice he told his soul what he was going to do, "I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."

Then he talked to the Lord,

        "O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar."  (Psalms 42:6)

  II.  PARTING THOUGHTS

       A.  God's love for us is the birthplace of our love for Him.  Love comes by contemplation.  It flows and grows out of a sense of the love of Christ.  Feed on His love like you would a sweet honeycomb.  The honey of His love will make our whole nature become sweet as His.

      B.  Feed, feed, feed, ponder, ponder, ponder, magnify, magnify, magnify.  We are changed into His same image.  We can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory and changed into the image of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18) and love is the tool that engraves us into His image