WHAT IS TRUTH?

Lately in the news the word “truth” has made a big come back in our thoughts. The more and more the church in America wallows in the world of politics the more the Gospel message is blurred. When will the Christians of America embrace the truth of holding the spiritual high ground? We have the answer to the world’s problems and His name is Jesus Christ, but when we lower ourselves into the world of politics and compromise we lose our God-given place of spiritual authority (in God) and dumb down the Gospel message to a common message of our earthly needs being satisfied. Remember the opposite of holiness is commonness. God said, “Be ye holy for I am holy.” God meant that, but when we willfully lower ourselves out of God’s intention for us for political gain and to win the church’s earthly rights (and not win Christ) we become common and not holy. Why this week, I learned of the “social Gospel” message that is really vile hate speech being preached in the black churches in America. My friend there is only one Gospel message and it has nothing to do with being social, the poor, or even the down trodden, but everything to do with the redemption of man from his sin by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Also this week I learned from reading the Baptist Press about the heated entanglement, among the leadership, of the Southern Baptist Convention (America’s largest protestant denomination) over global warming and other environmental issues. What does this have to do with Jesus dying on a cross for our sins? Oh how the church in America has fallen from the truth of the word of God. Oh how the major denominations and religions in America have deceived the people to the truth in the word of God for fame, money, power, and ungodly ambition.

When Jesus stood before Pilate the topic of truth also came up, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?” (John 17:37-38) Here out of Jesus’ own mouth and in His own words we can begin to get a glimpse of what truth is and how it is truly expressed. Here we read Jesus the living word of God came, “to bear witness unto the truth.” Jesus’ entire life was the truth and nothing but the truth because He was God in the flesh, but what about our lives? I remember reading a statement (not in the Bible but true never the less) about truth, if we speak the truth we will not have to rely on our memory. Our lives are to be true, honest, and righteous before God and the world. We like Jesus are in the world to bear witness unto the truth. Our life is to be filled with righteousness to where honesty and truth is automatic like breathing. We do not have to stop and think to breathe, our life in God is to be the same, righteousness and truth is to be as much a part of our lives as breathing is. This is God’s intention for us, this is what God wants to see in our lives, but is this what we want to see in our lives? Here are some maxims with regards to truth: Truth is never from our perspective, but from God’s eternal view from His sovereignty. Truth is always seen in tough times. Truth is not dependant on our intelligence, skills, or abilities. Truth is not dependant on our emotions, feelings, situations or circumstances. Truth is not dependant on our spirituality or lack of spirituality. Truth cannot be religion, but must always be from a righteous heart.

Truth has a two fold action within us. Truth is not only objective, but when people yield their hearts and lives to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit can then take this truth and incorporate it into their lives until the things which are purely judicial (of judges, law courts, or their duties, careful in forming opinions and making decisions, fair) may be brought down to actual living. The Holy Spirit takes that which is purely objective and judicial, and makes it a reality in our lives until it is incorporated into our being; it will then be a subjective realization. Here is a contrast between the two actions of truth within us. SUBJECTIVE: It is not produced by external stimuli resulting from conditions within the brain and other sense organs. The subjective side of truth means how much of the truth is actually our by experience. The subjective side of truth is the realization of it; it has been personalized; it is experimental in nature. OBJECTIVE: It is external; apart from our self-consciousness and end of action to be reached. While contemplating or mediating we are refreshed. For example someone gives us a lovely nugget of truth which is purely objective, but a little later God brings a little crisis and says, “Now I am going to take the truth and make it a demonstration (subjective realization) in your life.” As truth has a two fold action within us there seems to be two precepts on which truth’s two actions move as we experience God. Please remember, concepts are made from our precepts and it is our concepts we live and move in God. So, if we do not have Godly precepts then our concepts too will be wrong. The first precept = light and life, the positive teachings of the word of God; victory and joy - it is creative. And the second precept = discipline, suffering, and death to self, all of the seemingly negative teachings of the word of God - it is corrective. My friend truth is never ours until it has been personalized. It is never ours until we have laid ourselves open to God in our inner being and the Spirit has been able to bring that truth inward and we have by faith taken hold of it and allowed the truth to do the work in us that it should. It may be creative or perhaps corrective, but whichever it is, it is the tool and means God will be using to affect His desired change in us. Truth is purely progressive in all forms. The heart has to be conditioned continually (often with sorrow, hardship, and pain) for its reception. Truth often softens our heart. It is an invisible miracle in the heart; ten years from now the truth we hold will have a fuller and greater meaning. Truth comes by way of revelation not by mental processes. We can not make up truth, God alone is the author of truth and this truth my friend it seems we must discover again and again. The Holy Spirit is the guide, instructor, and furnisher of the power. Faith is before rest in God and yet, it is so difficult to reduce the natural man and teach him to walk patiently with God in truth, but being able to allow truth to hold us teaches us how to come to a rest in God.

Please note back in John 18:37, we read “Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” Here Jesus was answering the question Pilate would soon ask Him by telling Pilate truth is not so much about what, but about hearing and knowing. It we hear then we will know the truth. Jesus said, “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” (John 10:3-5) The sheep follow because they know the Shepard’s voice and because they know his voice they will follow and be obedient. You see understanding truth is about hearing and knowing. Again, “Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” One of the main drives and hungers of the church corporately today is to run from church to church, conference to conference, or music fest to music fest looking for the truth. But the truth is not found in the going and the doing, but in the hearing and knowing. Sadly the major denominations and religions have divided the people out in the going and doing to the point they cannot hear and know God’s truth. In John Chapter 17 we read, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:20-21) The words “which shall believe” (Strong’s #4102) means the conviction of the truth of anything. It is more than just having faith or confidence, but goes to the heart and soul of knowing and hearing. This is why some Christians cannot grow and mature in God they misunderstand what Jesus was saying here in the real Lord’s Prayer, John Chapter 17. Jesus was not praying for all of the Christians to come into unity with each other. Now that would be nice, but as long as our fleshly desires and lusts reign in our moral bodies this noble desire can never be. Jesus was praying for something greater, He was praying for each and every Christian to come into the unity with the Father (not with other Christians) as He (Jesus) was in unity (or oneness) ”That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee” with the Father. And then each and every Christian can come into oneness (unity) in God and Christ “that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” so that the world may “believe” (the same Strong’s word #4102 for the conviction of the truth of anything) Christ was sent by the Father. How can the world believe Christ was sent by the Father if we do not walk in the truth of the word of God? How can the world believe in the Gospel message if Christians do not hear God’s voice and come to know Him? My friend unity with God is His intention for our lives and this intention is fulfillment in our lives through limitations and restrictions that bring us to completion.

If we cannot hear God’s voice we will never be able to know the truth, we will never come to know God, but continue in our present day denominational and religious swill of separation, division, and strife. We must get back to the truth that people are not won to Christ by what we have voted on as our doctrinal truth or even what we stand for, but by the preaching of the Gospel message from a broken and contrite man alone. Written by David Stahl

UNPLUGGING FROM THE WORLD

A very special friend of ours, we will call him Tony, preached a message on the very avant-garde movie “The Matrix” that almost got him relieved as Pastor. Now I am sure it was not the message, but the stony hard hearted condition of the people in his church that almost cost Tony his job. I have always known Tony to be humble, warm, and genuine, a great big teddy bear of a man full of God’s love and grace. Now I will be the first to admit “The Matrix” movie is quite bizarre and I do not endorse it, but if you have some wisdom and spiritual ability to look beyond the Hollywood theatrics there is a chilling warning for the church of today. The central theme of the movie centers around the life and death struggle of people who come to the painful awareness of how they have literally been “plugged in” and live inside a huge deceptive computer grid program that blinds them to the truth of reality. Everything they say, do, and touch is being generated by this huge computer grid program. Now this computer program, “The Matrix” has the people so “plugged in” it uses their physical bodies (as batteries) and life to power the computer that runs the program that keeps the people in darkness to the truth of who they really are in life. Sadly many Christians today, like in the matrix movie, are “plugged-in” to religious denominations and the traditions of men. The computer grid program is the denominational dogmas, sermons, and teachings that keep the people deceived to the truth of the word of God. Paul could see this deception going on even in the early church. This is why he time and time again taught the early church, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2) Friend we will never be able to “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” if we are plugged into the world’s religious systems and its ways. God’s thoughts and ways are not the thoughts and ways of denominational teaching, oh no, God’s ways are far above our feeble attempts to reach Him with our emotions and talents. God’s thoughts are far above our thoughts. Our thoughts for the most part center around our needs and wants, where God’s thoughts always have an eternal purpose and intention. My friend we must unplug from the worldly religious systems so that we can come to the truth of the word of God, if not we will ever be conformed to this world, what Paul warned us about. This time of the year, what the church calls Easter is a prime example of what I am talking about. The celebration of Easter with its eggs, baskets, and chocolate bunnies, gets its roots in the pagan worship of a fertility goddess and spring-time rituals. Just do a Goggle search on the history of Easter and you will start unplugging from the religious matrix. Easter has nothing to do with Jesus coming forth from the grave with power and authority. As with almost all Christian holidays Easter has been secularized and commercialized. The dichotomous nature of Easter and its symbols, however, is not necessarily a modern fabrication. Since its conception as a holy celebration in the second century, Easter has had its non-religious side. In fact, Easter was originally a pagan festival. The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with an uproarious festival commemorating their goddess of offspring and of springtime, Eastre. When the second-century Christian missionaries encountered the tribes of the north with their pagan celebrations, they attempted to convert them to Christianity. They did so, however, in a clandestine manner. It would have been suicide for the very early Christian converts to celebrate their holy days with observances that did not coincide with celebrations that already existed. To save lives, the missionaries cleverly decided to spread their religious message slowly throughout the populations by allowing them to continue to celebrate pagan feasts, but to do so in a Christian manner. As it happened, the pagan festival of Eastre occurred at the same time of year as the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ. It made sense, therefore, to alter the festival itself, to make it a Christian celebration as converts were slowly won over. The early name, Eastre, was eventually changed to its modern spelling, Easter. Why we even find the word, “Easter” in the Bible (Acts 12:4) to give this lie a sense and air of legitimacy, but it has nothing to do with the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, but means Passover. We cannot mix something of the flesh with something of the Spirit and get something of God. I do not care how many Easter musicals or sunrise services we have with Christ coming forth from the tomb, “That which is Spirit is Spirit and that which is flesh is flesh.” (John 3:6) We need no special Easter pageant or service, but need to embrace a risen Savior in truth, and in glory and then fall on our face before Him in true worship. Yes, sad but true we have been lied to all of these years and guess what the lie continues today. As I was sitting in a large denominational church looking at the older people the Holy Spirit brought this thought to my attention, “for them to really accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior they will have to come to the realization that all of their lives they have been lied to.” Lied to by their parents, friends, Pastors, teachers, all of their lives. (I remember how stunned I was when I found out there was no Santa Claus, another cute little lie our parents often tell us) They have been lied to by everyone who has kept these religious traditions and teachings. Imagine having to deal with our parents lying to us all of our life about something that has to do with life and death? My friend this is a very heavy thing to wrestle with at any age, but when older and set in our ways it becomes a mill stone around our neck preventing us from ferreting out the truth of the word of God. This is why Paul begged us, “I beseech you therefore, brethren” not to be “conformed” or plugged into the world, but to be unplugged from the world by the Spirit of God allowing our mind to be renewed by the transforming power God. How can our mind be renewed if we are plugged into the world’s way of doing things? How can our mind be renewed if we are plugged into the traditions and religions of this world? My friend it is impossible to be transformed by God’s power if like in the matrix movie we are still plugged in and being deceived. We must allow God, through His dealings and judgments in our lives, to unplug and show us who we are in Him and what He desires for our lives. Now my friend this is a painful process in our lives as it was in the movie, but painful or not we must come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ which is much more than merely the John 3:16 salvation. Now we must have this salvation experience I am not discounting this experience, but there is so much more for us to experience and know in God. In Philippians Paul tells us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:2:5) How can we put on the mind of Christ if we do not first take off or unplug our mind and heart from the world? Either we will be plugged into the world and its denominational religions or Christ, it is our choice. My friend let us not get caught up in the lies and deception of the world’s denominational religions, let us get caught up in Christ and Him alone. Written by David Stahl

THE STRONG ARM OF THE FLESH

We (my wife and sweetheart Karen and I) just returned from four days at Duke Medical Center taking care of my father. My dad is 83 years old and He had been very mistreated by some doctors at another hospital. My friend it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of our healthcare system without God and your family. My father has been put through the ringer and yet through it all he has maintained such a wonderful attitude and spirit even to the point of allowing God to speak to me through him. He has now been in the hospital for 23 days. Every time the medical and nursing staff tells him to do something he said yes sir or yes ma’am. When asked how he is doing my dad replies, nothing could be any better. He is a man who understands discipline and authority, his 30+ years in the military seeing brutal combat, great devastation, and of course great loss of life in World War II, Korea, and Viet-Nam has served him well in developing his attitudes and perspective.

As I look at my white haired father (along with the IVs, foley catheter, and the two drains draining bile and pus from his liver bed and abdomen) I see faithfulness, devotion, and great dedication, but also I see the scriptures being fulfilled. Scriptures such as; “Because all flesh is as grass, and all glory of man as flower of grass; wither did the grass, and the flower of it fell away, 25and the saying of the Lord doth remain—to the age; and this is the saying that was proclaimed good news to you.” (1 Peter 1:24-25) My friend this process of growing old is a process God has ordained in our life. This is the process God has chosen for us to ultimately be with Him. This also is the process God has ordained for our spiritual growth and development. Not too many Christians are really concerned about spiritual growth and maturity, but everything God has created grows and must develop or it will prematurely come to the end and purpose God has planned. Many Christians are more concerned about be delivered, this is the heart cry of most in the church today, God deliver me from my troubles and sicknesses. Well my friend no where in the Bible did God deliver anyone. Daniel went into the lion’s den, the three Hebrew children went into the fiery furnace, and even Jesus was not delivered from the cross. Oh no my friend, Jesus was not delivered from the cross. And yet through these troubles they were developed, even Jesus. Because He humbled Himself and endured the cross He was given a name above all names. Spiritual growth and development, God’s major goals in our lives, comes our way through troubles and problems not by way of singing songs, waving flags, and speaking great swelling words about each other but, in silence and brokenness of spirit and of heart. Silence where God has stilled our words, desires, and thoughts. A broken heart is the real sign of God working in our lives, not fame, riches and wealth as the nominal church of today teaches. We often fail to come to God’s best for our lives when we depend on our abilities and strength and when we depend on the strong arm of our flesh. How can we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) when we depend on something that, “all flesh is as grass, and all glory of man as flower of grass; wither did the grass, and the flower of it fell away?”

Sadly time and time again we often depend on our skills, God-given talents and abilities to strengthen us enough to get to God, where real life is found. Jesus said, He came to give us life (the life of God) not to make us something wonderful, special, rich, famous or take us all to heaven. When we lean on our strong arm of the flesh we miss the mark and fall out of the eternal way God has purposed and planned for us. Jeremiah gives us the right direction and hope, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:5-8) The way of yielding fruit and God blessing us is by trusting in the Lord. Only as we trust in God will, “be as a tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green.” This is the place of the life of God, but this too is the place of growth as a root digs down (rooted and grounded in God) and as the young shoots grows upward, “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. 8I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: 9Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: 10Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: 11To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.” (Job 5:7-11) This my friend is the place of spiritual growth and development, this too is the place our strong arm of the flesh is dealt a death blow unto life. And this is the place we can also see God walking with us in the valley of the shadow of death were God walks alone with man. Written by David Stahl

WHO WANTS TO DIE?

In the Book of Acts we read, “And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:11-13) I have always liked Paul he was one tough man. Paul knew his time of death was soon at hand and he also knew following the Lord will would hasten his death. We all think about dying and the older we get the more we are preoccupied of thinking about our end, but Paul was more concerned about the will of God for his life then his life. Now I would like to think that I would die peacefully or at least gracefully. But probably, when my time is at hand, I will be kicking and screening like a crazy woman. None if us want to die. Many will say they are not afraid to die, well I am not sure of that. Many make grand boastings, but when it is their time I believe they will be like all of the rest of us and desire to hold on to this life long as possible.

On a recent flight coming into the airport there was so much turbulence I was really scared. David reached over and we held hands. I could see the ground and we were still a long way up in the air. Faith flew out the window as I wondered if the engines fail would I pass out or be fully awake as the plane hurtles to earth. I was not ready to meet God that day and frankly I am not ready today. Oh my sins are forgiven and I should die I believe I will go to Heaven, but that day and today I have no desire to see God. Death seems rather scary – the unknown. Yet people die every day some to their eternal reward and some to their eternal damnation, both is our choice. Either we play by God’s divine spiritual principles while we are alive and kicking or we send ourselves to the place of eternal separation from God, a place of gnashing of teeth, where the worm dies not, Hell. A few years ago there was movie called Ghost where this guy is killed, but still lingers on earth to help his girlfriend avoid the same bad guy that killed him. In one part of the movie another bad guy runs in front of a car and is instantly killed. He sees himself dead on the car and sees the hero of the movie (who is dead also) then these dark shadowy beings come and drag the bad guy away. Personally I think something like that is how it will be for some. We choose our paths here on earth which in turn reveals what path we go when we die. And I truly believe if it is not our time to go we will not. So although none of us are ready to die let us plod on following the Master, Jesus Christ, who showed us how to die and will lead us where we are to go in life and into death. Lastly I am reminded of the final words of Dwight Lyman Moody, one of America’s most famous Evangelist, Preacher, Bible Teacher, Publisher, and so much more. On his death bed it is said his final words on earth were, “so this is death, welcome death.” Let us so walk with the Lord that we will be able to welcome death the end of our earthly life and go forth into the next life God has for us. Like Paul, let us so walk with the Lord we too will be able to say, “I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Written by Karen Stahl

HALTING BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS

In the Book of 1 Kings is a story that sadly plays out today. We think of the stories in the Bible as past events, but not true my friend they are reminders to us today so that we would not follow after them and make the same mistakes. Paul speaking of the Children of Israel said, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12) The exodus history recorded in the Scriptures are not for historical reference, but, “for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition,” so that we would not make the same mistakes again and again, but it looks like we are learning, we are in God’s school of learning, but never learning the lessons. In 2 Timothy Paul again takes up this concern, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.” (2 Timothy 3:7-9) Just like in ours, Paul’s, and Moses’ days here in Elijah’s days we see the same thing going on. The people were halting or wavering between two opinions. Here (1 Kings 18:17-40) Elijah, the Prophet of God, was in a life and death struggle for the hearts, minds, and souls of the people. Then and today, the story line is the same, “And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.” (1 Kings 18:18) Now it is important to know the people were following a lord. The word “Baalim” means lord of the world. Just like many Christians today, the people were following the lords of their world and sadly today the church has allowed the lord of this world into the church by following after the way the world does things. Beloved we are not to be of this world, we are to be set a part, a holy generation unto the Lord are we not? The Scriptures think so, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (2 Peter 2:9) But that is not what we see in most churches and more importantly that is not what those lost in world see. Those lost and undone who do not know Christ as their personal savior see no difference in the church and the world. I have asked them and they reply, I do not need to go to church to listen to rock music, sing and dance, or do drugs, and talk about my friends. When a good friend at the church we attend heard we traveled up to NJ he asked if we were gambling and said I would not believe the number of people, in our church, who travel up to Atlantic City, NJ to gamble. Our nephew (in NJ of whom we are very proud) replied to his father’s question why he does not join the youth groups at church, “I do not like rock music, anyhow most if not all of the kids in the youth group do drugs.” Now this is not all churches, but I would say most churches. Friend, most (not all) churches looks, acts and sounds like the world no need for the lost to apply. Karen and I were riding around Jacksonville and with what we call “Easter” (which is listed only once in the KJV of the Bible, Acts 12:4, and means Passover) is coming soon the signs are already up, “Easter Fun Days” face painting, Easter egg hunt, and more. If I remember correctly what we call “Easter” was not much fun for Jesus. How we have taken the death of Christ on the cross, something sacred and turned it into a lie and a fun time only to get people to come to church and support denominational religions. My friend the intent is right, but the motives and desires are wrong. Believe it or not the church is wavering or halting between two opinions.

As the battle between the prophets of Baalim and Elijah raged on Elijah said, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21-22) Today God is asking the same question, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” If God is all powerful then let us serve God, but if He is not let us use the ways of the world to trick and cajole people to come to church to hear a watered down Gospel message that centers around joining the church instead of a life long learning of the things of God that is manifested in changed lives and spiritual growth and development. Two cannot be achieved together, either the focus will be Christ and Him crucified providing all that is needed or church programs and activities to support the local Body. My friend if God is for what you are doing He will provide all you need to do it. There is no need for special programs and activities to raise the funds. Just give the people the truth of the word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to convict hearts to support. God is God serve Him! But also as we drive around Jacksonville we see in front of many churches signs that read, “Divorce Counseling Services Now Provided.” Divorce counseling, my friend God does not sanction divorce. When we stand before God and make a oath, it is for life. God is serious about His words and ours. He keeps a record of them. Now the church is involved in divorce counseling just like the world. Many say it is okay, it is counseling from a Christian perspective, wrong, there is no such thing. What we have is worldly techniques and methods spun together with Scriptures. John 3:6, says, “that which is Spirit is Spirit (Scriptures) and that which is flesh (worldly techniques) is flesh.” Any time we mix the Spirit and flesh we get flesh. What about the power of God to change lives? If Baalim (divorce counseling and all counseling services and the such in churches) be god them serve him, but if God be God then serve Him. We have allowed worldly ways and techniques to be the way and process the Body of Christ functions. Even the language we use, we conduct our “business” meetings with worldly parliamentary procedures. When did the Gospel become a business? Either God is God and is all powerful able to change lives and restore marriages or not, if not then serve Baalim serve the world’s way of doing things. When I travel overseas to minister I often talk about nurseries, Sunday School, Children’s Church, and all of the programs and activities we have in churches for kids in America. They chuckle and ask why do we have such programs and activities is not the main service okay for the kids? In our church in Germany we had no such programs or a nursery. The parents would keep the babies and young children in the main service and kept them quiet disciplining them in silence and self-control. Overseas and our church in Germany services who go on for three or four hours maybe more and these kids would not dare act like the kids I see in America: talking, playing, drawing, throwing paper, not paying attention, how shameful, but more shameful no adult calls them down. Growing up we five children would not set with the other kids in church, oh no, we would have to sit right in front of our father and he had the fastest wrist in the world. If we even looked like we were going to talk he would hit us in the back of the head and have the song book back in the holder before we picked ourselves up off the floor. We learn respect and discipline for the house of God, our parents, and God. We find all of these activities and programs get their roots out of a desire to work for God instead of becoming something in God. Everyone must have their own ministry, well this is not God’s intention. But, being a pew sitter is not glorifying, it is hard to be faithful in the mundane things of God, but here is where the real secrets of servant hood is seen and where God openly rewards those servants with a heart to be the last and not the first, to be the tail and not the head.

Lastly from this wonderful story in the Scriptures we see the solution to the problem for the people in Elijah’s day and for us today, “we must repair the altar of the Lord.” The church must again have the ability in God to call the people with a Holy Spirit inspired message with power and authority from God calling the people to come near. “And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.” (1 Kings 18:30) My friend we must repair the years of denominational folly and presumption that has, like a cancerous tumor, plagued the Body of Christ. We must get back to the old-time Gospel message that has opened eyes, healed the sick, and set the captives free. My friend either we will focus and depend on worldly ways, activities, and programs or God, we cannot depend on both. If we continue to depend on the ways of the world and such we will continue to share a powerless and impotent message. Either we will continue to halt between two opinions emasculating the power of God and His authority or stand up for the truth, righteousness, and glory of God. Elijah asked, “How long.” How long can we continue in playing foot loose and free with God? How long will God let us continue? Oh the long suffering of God! Thank you Father for being long suffering on my behalf, but LORD please strengthen me and teach me your ways and lead me in the path everlasting. Help me never to halt between two opinions, but always draw me nearer to You. Written by David Stahl

KEEP THE FEAST

As we study the Scriptures we must always put them into the perspective of truth as they are written, understand the correct context of what is being said, and most important what is the personal application God desires we learn. God is very concerned about us learning those lessons that will ensure His primary goal of conforming us into the character and image (icon) of His precious Son Jesus Christ. It is a shame we are not so concerned about learning these lessons. It seems we are more concerned about doing things for God and not becoming something in God. We are not very concerned about spiritual growth and development, we are more concerned about the seen things in God and not the hidden things of the heart. You know music, programs, church duties, dancing, flag waving, and the like will only carry you so far in God. People will go where they get fed. Most church growth is from lilies willfully picking themselves up (because they are not being fed the word of God) and looking for another field to plant themselves, well this is not God’s idea of church growth. The church, the God-ordained organization to edify and build up the Body of Christ, is to grow through salvation of non-believers, but this is not the case. Most Believers who get a real taste of the Word of God will leave if they are not getting fed. Again music (which is so entrenched in most church service) and such will only carry us so far. Sadly most church leaders do not know they are the blame and will say, “the people are in rebellion and it would be good for our local church body if they leave.” Well, my friend this is so far from the heart of God, but it happens all of the time.

We must guard against making up things to do for God (even though well intentioned) and call them a ministry. Remember, God is concerned how we do things for Him, not so much what we are doing for Him. Do we do things for God with the right heart condition, with the right motives, and for the right reasons? Often times we read things in the Bible and jump to conclusions ending with the word ministry. When Jesus said to go visit those in prison, I do not believe He was saying to start a prison ministry. But, He was saying to the people He was speaking to; if your friend is in prison, go visit him. To the ones who were sick, naked, and hungry Jesus was not telling the disciples to start a soup kitchen or medical ministry (this is the local church’s responsibility), but He was saying, if your friend is sick, help him get well, if hungry feed him, and if your friend is naked clothe him, because as you help, visit, feed, and clothe people you are doing that unto Me. All we do for God is boiled down by how and why we do things for Him.

One day Jesus was talking with the disciples, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” (John 6:53-58) The question is: how much of God’s glory can we hold? Well the answer is how much of His “blood” can we drink and “flesh” of Christ we can eat. Unless we eat of His “flesh” and drink of His “blood” we will not have eternal life and will not be raised up at the last day. Now please understand Jesus was not talking about literally drinking His blood and eating His earthly flesh. Oh no, Jesus was talking about eating of His words, character, and nature of His very life. We eat of Christ every time we die to our self and allow our brothers and sisters to win. We eat of Christ every time we take the lowly and humble place, every time we identify with loss so that we may gain Christ. If we have not eaten of Christ how can we follow Him? What eternal life can we have if we do not eat of Him? How can we be raised up if we do not die? Now the disciples took His words literal and could not comprehend what He was staying. “These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?” (John 6:59-61) Many Christians today do not understand what the Scriptures are really saying so they make up things to soften the hurt of truth. But this my friend will never do. In verse 61 Jesus asks the disciples, “Doth this offend you?” The word “offend” here means to take away your heart to follow the Lord. My friend if we too desire to follow Jesus He will speak words and allow things into our lives that will prove us, test our resolve, and too take away our heart to follow Him. Many Christians say, God loves us and He would not do anything to hurt us, well God does love us very much, but He knows we must learn those hard lessons to be useful to Him. In Deuteronomy we read “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) The word “humble” here means to afflict or weaken. God’s leading often in our lives is to afflict us so that we may learn of Him and weaken us so that He may be strong. All of this is done to “prove thee, to know what is in our heart.” If we get things wrong, if we do not eat of His flesh and drink of His blood, if we have no life of God in us we will fall out of the way. We must have the heart to follow God no matter what. And the way to eat and drink of Him to have His life is in a downward direction not up. Remember, the way up is down where Jesus is. It is a meek and quiet spirit that is incorruptible, not the high and mighty spirit full of self-strength. We can only put on incorruption if we have died.

I got an email from a lady today and I challenged her with regards to being called to a ministry that is not called a ministry in the Bible which was an example mentioned once in passing. We do all of these crazy things that satisfy our religious flesh and call them ministry because we do not want to do what God wants us to do. She became very offended (a good thing) at me. Did you know if you walk long enough with God you will get offended? He will see to it. The disciples walked with Him and time and time again they got offended at Jesus. The goal here is to get offended so that we can learn about ourselves and change so that God can use us. Sadly many are learning, but never learning. Many are never coming to the understanding and knowledge of what Christ desires we know of Him and our selves. Sadly we make up religious traditions and customs so we will not have to focus on our evil heart condition and self-seeking motives. We see this play out with the disciples in what we call the last supper or the communion table. Now I really believe Jesus was NOT establishing a custom or ordinance of the church when He and the disciples sat around the Passover table before He was crucified. Jesus was a good Jew and kept the law. I know this will ruffle many religious feathers and some will even get offended and brand me a heretic, but that is okay there is a lesson of truth waiting for you here. If we look at the four references of the last supper in the Bible either before or after is always set in strife, disagreement, division, and confusion. Here in 1 Corinthians we see the church in great spiritual immaturity, strife, and disagreement as were the disciples in the three references in the Gospels: Mathew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-24, and Luke 22:17-20. In Luke we read, “And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! 23And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. 24And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.” (Luke 22:22-24) The communion table is always set in strife and it was this strife and even offense Jesus and Paul wanted to end using the Passover feast. During the meal, Paul said, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And 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 11:23-26) Jesus took the bread and said this bread is my flesh, you MUST eat of my life or you will not have the strength to possess the life of God in you to follow me where I am going. And fellows I am going to a cross so that I can spill my life out for the sin of the world. And in the same manner, Jesus took the cup and said, fellows this cup is my blood and you MUST drink the bitter cup of loneliness, fatigue, shame, misunderstanding, humiliation, ridicule, and even death like me or you will never have any part of Him. Verses 25 and 26 drives my point home, “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.” What Jesus was saying, every time you pick up a glass of wine and a piece of bread (both essential staples in the Jewish diet) remember Him and to think of the forth coming sacrifice on the cross as He told them time and time again, until He comes again as promised. This was to be a moment-by-moment event in our lives not a monthly ritual service with pomp and folding white sheets that is announced or observed during special occasions. Jesus and Paul was not starting an ordnance or tradition for the church, but using the moment to teach a critical lesson that will yield, if received in the vain of truth, the life of God. This too is why Paul said, “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-30) If we eat any other things except the “blood” and “flesh” of Christ we, “eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” And, “for this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” Many have no strength to survive. They are weak they eat of ambition, pride, self-strength, arrogance, and desire fame and riches they eat the wrong food and many sleep because they have no life within them. My friend Jesus was not establishing a tradition or custom, but the way we may receive the very life of God. How can we examine our self enough to be worthy of God’s wonderful saving grace? We cannot, “But let each man examine himself” or stand before God in a holy moment of reverence as they eat and drink of the Lord.

My friend let us keep the feast by eating of the “blood” and “flesh” of Christ. It is the only way to end the strife and division that is found in our heart and thus in the church and to help endure the offense of the cross, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled (afflicted and weakened) himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8) which is designed by God to kill us like it did Jesus. Brethren please let us keep the feast. The Master calls, “come and dine.” Written by David Stahl.

UNITY (ONENESS) WITH THE FATHER

Every time I say something I should not the Holy Spirit brings to my spirit the spiritual truth; out of our mouth speaks our heart. Whatever our feelings and thoughts for our spouse, friends, maybe our job will come out our mouth. There is another spiritual truth we must understand. We will respond to whatsoever is inside of us. Even as Christians if those things of the world such as ungodly worldly (self-seeking contemporary and Christian rock) music and the ways and means of the world are inside of us we will respond to them. It is easy to see what is inside of us, just wait and look at what we respond to. Is it the world or the word of God we respond too? If it is the word of God then we will respond to the Father in obedience and come into unity and oneness with Him. What we respond to is often seen in times of testing and when we are under pressure. The greater the pressure the more of our real nature and character is exposed. Pressure and stresses refines and defines our character. Even the tares and the wheat grow together in harmony and are not exposed for what they are until the tares are separated from the wheat by the reaper, “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:30) My friend whatsoever is inside of us will be seen for what it really is during the time of separation, tribulation, testing, and harvest. How much unity we are in with the Father will also be seen during times of pressures, testing and tribulation.

Now many Christians believe Jesus came to make us all Christians so that we all can come into unity with each other and make heaven on earth, well not so my friend. Jesus came so that we might have “life eternal” (John 10:10), the life of God. “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 may know the Father. Jesus came so that we could come into unity with the Father. We can only have the life of God and know Him if we are in unity with the Father. And the more we are in unity with the Father the more of Him we can have in our life, the more of His peace, joy, and rest we can have. How can we partake of the Father’s blessing if we are not in unity with the Father? My friend it will not happen. In the Psalms we read, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” (Psalms 133:1-3) Now the word, “unity” (Strong’s #3162) in verse one here means: unitedness, union, altogether, alike. Behold, how good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell together in union, unitedness, union, altogether, and alike, but not in oneness. Did you know there is a degree of importance in the words in the Bible? The Holy Spirit did not randomly select words, but hand picked them and individually plugged them into Scripture. In different verses we can see this truth in action. Here in Psalms 133:1 we read “good and pleasant,” but not “perfect” as in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) The word “perfect” here Strong’s #5048 means to be brought to an end, made complete, finished not like without flaws like a flower, but a completed process in our life. The verse did not say, “Behold how perfect it is . . .” it said how good and how pleasant. Man cannot be perfect, good, or even pleasant unless the Father is allowed (man’s choice) to change their lives. Please understand man’s ability to be good and pleasant is even based on his ability to be in unity with the Father. Those that enjoy a level of unity with the Father will be good and pleasant with man. Please keep this important thought in your mind as you read on.

Now the oneness that Jesus prayed for in the real Lord’s Prayer John 17 was a desire of the Father for us. Please know Jesus was not praying for the church to come into unity, He already knew this would not happen due to man’s selfishness and greed. So many denominations struggle and strive so hard to find common ground even to the point of compromising the Gospel message to be in unity with each other, but this can never be unless all hearts are in unity with the Father. The basis for unity or oneness with the Father is submitting to and enduring His dealings and judgments in our lives unto death. All those who desire to be in unity or in oneness with the Father will have to die. Jesus learned this truth as He daily walked with the Disciples, when the Father pressed Him as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane “not my will, but thy be done,” and then personified it when the Father glorified Him when He physically died. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4) If we desire to walk with God “in newness of life” we must taste of the waters from the baptism pool of His death. What a stark and vivid truth that is missed by the denominational teaching of water baptism today. Only in unity with the Father does life come out of death. We today may die physically, as Jesus and as some of our brothers and sisters have, but if not physically surely we must die spiritually to our selfishness, our self-seeking nature and ways, and of course we must die to all of those religious traditions, emotional rituals, and customs of man that the church of today is bound in. Now Jesus was praying for us to be “one” or in unity with the Father as He is in unity or “one” with the Father. What a powerful thought, what a transforming word. “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:22-23) The word “perfect” here is the very same word that is found in Matthew 5:48 and the word “one” (Strong’s #1520) here means one; like in the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit is one with an eternal completeness of purpose. Jesus was praying that we would see the need to come into unity into the same oneness of eternal completeness of purpose that He shares with the Father. Wow what a powerful truth for us to move in. But, please notice Jesus did not make this unity happen for us, but gave us a choice. Sadly for many the prayer of Jesus has fallen on the ground. Sadly all that Jesus prayed for us has been swallowed up in our willful disobedience. We can see this disobedience in the diversity of doctrines and denominations that breed: confusion, strife, and division within the Body of Christ. Sadly we can see this truth moving in the diversity of sub-denominational churches that change a name, but the rebellious heart condition has not. Unity or oneness with doctrine will not give you unity or oneness with the Father, however many churches preach this lie to their shame. Join our denomination we are the right church, we can track our history back to the Bible days, what a lie.

Brethren there is only one Church someday Jesus is coming back for. There is only one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God. “Endeavouring to keep the unity (Strong’s #1775, and comes from Strong’s root word #1520) of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one (Strong’s #1520) body, and one (Strong’s #1520) Spirit, even as ye are called in one (Strong’s #1520) hope of your calling; 5One (Strong’s #1520) Lord, one (Strong’s #1520) faith, one (Strong’s #1520) baptism, 6One (Strong’s #1520) God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:3-6) Now if these verses are true (and they are) then why are there 100s of denominations and sub-denominations in the Body of Christ today? That answer is easy, rebellion to the word of God because of no unity with the Father. When we are in some level of unity with the Father we will want what He wants. His desires will be ours desires, His plans will be our plans, His purpose will be our purpose, but when there is no unity with the Father what we want takes our heart and our selfishness and unrighteous desires over rides the Father’s purpose ending in fruitless toil and total destruction.

My friend this is not the Father’s intention for us. Back in Psalms 133, we can find the Father’s purpose in His unity and oneness with man, “2It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” (Psalms 133:2-3) Where is the “for there the LORD commanded the blessing?” It is the beard of Aaron? Or maybe on the mountains of Zion? Oh no my friends, it is found only in that place of unity with the Father. Only in unity with the Father can He bless us and give us His life. Only in this place of oneness with the Father can this blessing be found. More than money and fame the Father’s blessing contains “life for evermore.” Even Godly ministry comes out from this place of unity with the Father. No wonder what we see on TV and at many churches have no life, they have no unity with the Father. This my friend is not the Father’s desire for us. He desire for us is to be in unity with Him so that He can command “the blessing, even life for evermore.” Oh my friend let us today desire and allow the Father to work in our lives bringing us into greater and greater unity with Him. Written by David Stahl