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."