KEEP THE FEAST WITH SINCERITY

There is a feast, a love feast we must keep before God and man. Everything we do as Christians must be done in love not a soft, spongy love, but a strong developing love that forces change in our lives. Now please let me stop here and say from the start I do not always keep the feast, but am trying to ever allow God to work in my life through His dealings and judgments and bring me to a place where I can with “sincerity and truth” say I am keeping the feast. Even truth must be projected towards those in the world with love if not the truth will kill and not make one alive. This is why Paul instructs, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” (Ephesians 4:14-15) The word “sleight” (Strong’s #2490, dice playing from the deception of men because dice players sometimes cheated and defrauded their fellow players) here really captures the heart of this verse. Unless we speak the truth in love (from a heart of sincerity, concern, and love to see someone push forward in God even if they get their feelings hurt) then those who need to hear will hear the truth and not be, “tossed to and from and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” It is no small wonder we have so many denominations and doctrines in the world today, they know not the truth and are deceiving many. Oh I know I am not suppose to speak against main stream denominations, how dare I call someone or some denomination deceitful or how dare I judge other Christians, who do I think I am to be so bold. Oh no we are told we are suppose to love everyone, look past everyone’s faults, and allow them to make mistakes, just love them in a spirit of meekness, well that is not the example of Paul, Peter, or even Jesus. If you prayerfully (and want to know the truth) and honestly study the Scriptures you will see the glorious message of the Gospel was delivered in aggressive confrontations, much contending for the faith, and even in much conflict, why even Paul had to withstand Peter to the face to correct some things in Peter’s message. Paul speaking in Galatians, “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face (Strong’s #436, to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose or in today’s language had a fight), because he was to be blamed.” (Galatians 2:11) When was the last time you heard a message on this verse? Oh no we hear sermons on forgiving everyone and how we are to ignore character flaws, well how are they going to know of their need for change? You know we are our brother’s keepers. How can we “keep” (guard, tend, support, cause to grow) them if we cannot speak a word of encouragement or correction? Now the problem Paul and Peter had was quite different than what we deal with today, but notice as the deception continued Godly people were being picked off and getting off track. “For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.” (Galatians 2:12-13) Barnabas, one who walked and ministered with Paul (from the start see Acts 13:2) was “carried away with dissimulation.” Because of the confrontation between Paul and Peter, Paul had the opportunity to speak the truth in love whereby people were set back on course and saved from the rocks of error. This is the heart of the issue, unless we speak the truth in love and tell our brothers and sisters they are off track and will fall out of the way and become a ship wreck on the rocks driven by the winds of false doctrines and character flaws (not sin mind you) that prevent the word of God to come through us and out to the world unfettered. We must love our brothers and sisters (keeping the love feast with sincerity) enough to be willing to suffer the loss of their relationship for the sake of sharing the truth with them. It is our responsibility before God to hear and honestly judge our hearts against the words spoken to us by our brothers and sisters. Their attitudes, tones, or even anger does not matter, this is a thing of the Spirit, we are to have enough of God in us to be able to remove our selfishness and self pride to hear what the Spirit is saying to us. How can we say we love someone and not tell them the truth? Our love for each other must not be in word (vain lip and eye service), but we must back up our words with a genuine concern and dedication (the meaning of Agape love) to want to see our brothers and sisters grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must desire, out of a genuine concern and dedication, to want to see our brothers and sisters, “grow up into him in all things.” And this my friend can only happen when we speak the truth in love not wanting to defraud, gain power, or influence over someone. Our motive must always be from a position whereby we desire to see our brothers and sisters grow in the Lord, even beyond where we are.

Not only Peter and Paul (and the other disciples), but many Christians (just like Christians of today) in the New Testament Churches never kept the feast. Paul time and time again had to encourage them, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity (Strong’s #1506, pure, sincere, unsullied found pure when unfolded and examined by the sun’s light) and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-8) There is a feast of “malice and wickedness” we can keep, but Paul encouraged the Church at Corinth to keep the love feast of “sincerity and truth.” Not just “sincerity” or just “truth,” but “sincerity and truth.” One will not work without the other as one cannot walk with someone unless they agree in these two divine spiritual principles. Paul said of the Church at Corinth, they gathered together for the worse and not the better or they were worse off spiritually after coming together as a local body of Christ and why? They were not walking in “sincerity and truth” they were walking as carnal babes, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) This description really says it all they were, “puffed up . . .” (1 Corinthians 5:2). As bad as this all was worse yet was there was no one present to be able (until Paul wrote his letter to them) to speak the truth in love and bring correction (God does this if we do our part) allowing spiritual growth and development to the Local Body.

In closing, I have a very good close friend (I still consider him to be a close friend) I have known for many many years who asked me a question and when I replied he did not like my response and got offended (even though he refuses to admit this) at me. We all have character flaws, but when they are introduced to us in good faith and sincerity they must never be allowed to take root in our heart and diminish a friendship. I think he thought I was trying to correct him, but this was the further thing from my mind. All I was doing was answering a question he asked as God was working in my heart the last few days. Now I know I am not perfect (Karen keeps reminding me of this) but, all communication between him and I (his choice not mine) has been cut off in spite of me not once but three (even at the funeral of my father) times telling him I am not upset with him and I love him. I do not know what else I could do to convince him, I guess all of the many years of looking up to him as a mentor and all of the stepping and fetching for him means nothing now, while in all of the years we have know each other he has never once returned the sentiment. You see there is a feeling of superiority (he has admitted the Word he delivers is superior then mine) over me about him. You see his offence was not in what I told him, but that I would dare think or say something negative about him. How could David Stahl say such a thing to me, who does he think he is to say such a thing. Now that I am writing about our tiff (maybe like Peter and Paul) he probably will be even more offended, but never forget truth will offend us. The preaching of the Word of God will offend people and they will get angry with you. They hated Jesus because of what he said and is the servant greater than the Master? Karen and I have friends we have challenged their approach in ministry and they have walked away from us and we have separated our selves from some acquaintances, some friends, and even family because they have refused to walk in the truth of the Bible. We do not like this and feel the loss of relationship, but truth is truth, the Bible is the Bible and if we are going to walk with the Lord we must always stand and speak the truth (so many will grow in the Lord) in love. If not, we lie and the truth is not in us. Expectance by all is not worth the price we will pay for our disobedience to God’s word. It seems we all (Christians) are more concerned about making peace with our friends and families than making peace with God and doing what He wants us to do. It seems we do not want to offend anyone, well how will the lost know they are lost if our words, by the Spirit, does not prick their heart? Be careful what you ask for my friend you may hear something that will really test your heart condition before God and man. Now it is true he is older than I and it is true God has opened up to him more things from the Word of God than I, but that does not make him better than I. The message one receives from the Lord is never an indication of someone’s spiritual growth and maturity. When I think I am some body special I remind myself God opened the mouth of an ass to speak through. It is not our Word it is God’s Word, He gives it to us as we are obedient to His leading and submission. Revelation from God is always seen by how we treat people not by what we say. Authority from God is seen in not reducing men to service, but in serving men. You know words are cheap. Revelation from God is to bring us down into a humble low place before God and man. And the more revelation we have from God the further and further it is to bring us down. It is our character, our motives, and our attitudes we carry in our heart for people that is the true measure of our ability to be discipled by God and the measure of our able to be used by God not what we have been taught in Bible School or how well we can speak. Well, enough . . . I look to God for reconciliation and the time we can once again eat of the unleavened bread of sincerity and keep the feast, but until then I will allow God to work in my life and keep the door open wide. Written by David Stahl

TO THE VERY END

The longer we walk with the Lord the more we will see our end coming into view and we will be able to see the end God has purposed and planned for our lives. Oddly enough these ends seem to be on two separate time lines, but we also have learned for us to be able to come to the end God has planned for us we must continue in Him to the very end. The end place God has purposed for our lives is a place of victory God always intends for us to come into victory, but whether we do or not depends not on God (it is His intention), but on our being able to be obedient to His words to us and move correctly in them. Victory is always the end God has for our lives. Funny how the death of my father has changed some priorities and some thinking in my life, but what has not changed was the truth of having to continue to the very end. Funny how my mortality and the end of my life is more before me as well as the end God has for me. Death is the ultimate equalizer it levels the playing field for us all. This end is spoken about all through the Scriptures; from the very beginning when the “foundations of the world” was laid to the ends of the age and world.

In Romans Paul asks, “Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?” All of that which has been and will be is first in God. In Him is an eternal purpose known only to Him and to those with whom He will share His heart. He has chosen man to be a partaker of that purpose, so much so that it is His very delight. Even in the beginning, God had in His heart a most blessed end for man. Paul’s words to the Ephesians say it so well: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved: in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3-12) The outpouring of the Spirit had to come through man to man. Just as Adam was the channel for death to enter into the world, so too the Lord Jesus was the means by which the Spirit of God would be poured out upon man. Before the Son’s obedience, those who obeyed the Spirit of God would be the channel for God’s Spirit to touch others. But that effect was limited in its scope. But when the Lord fully obeyed His Father, the Spirit was given to Him without measure. The effect of His obedience is both universal and eternal. Now, through the Son, man can be a partaker of the glory of God’s riches and grace. The question then becomes, “To what extent do we want to partake of those riches?” Will we avail ourselves to God’s will or will we frustrate the grace of God? By faith, we allow God to work in us “according to the good pleasure of His will.” God’s work is being accomplished according to the “counsel of His own will.” On the individual level, our predestination, justification, call, and glorification fit into a purpose far beyond what we can imagine. It is as vast as God Himself is. And despite how high and glorious God is, His love and grace overflow us daily, with the intent of having us be “holy and without blame before Him in love.” It is this abounding given to us, working in us, and working out from us, that causes us to be “to the praise of His glory.” The same selfless love with which He has loved us is now given back to Him by the effectual working of His power in the saint. “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:17-19) When the Lord first comes to us, He finds in us a fear of Him, His holiness, and rightly so. We fear Him because He is a threat to all that is related to our self-life. However, His love works to cast out that fear and to cause us to stand before Him. He comes with a heart full of expectations for us, expectations of which we are not aware. So with loving kindness and everlasting love, He assures us, “I know the thoughts I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an end and an expectation.” (Jeremiah 29:11) This end has been in Him since the beginning. His love is abounding toward us in the midst of our difficulties, weaknesses, temptations, and trials. As He comes to us, He knows the thoughts that He is thinking toward us. He has sealed us with His Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest, or the evidence, which will keep us in Him until we receive the promise. That promise contains a command, a charge, and a direction to walk in a particular way that would bring us to God’s intended end for us. That end is to be partakers of the divine nature. “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” (1 Timothy 1:5) and “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13) The word “end” is the point aimed at. God has a mark in mind for us to obtain. The command of God is contained in His Spirit and in His promise. It is contained in the love wherewith He has loved us. The Lord speaks, “This is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you.” His words are full of grace and truth, and that grace will be that which enables us to fulfill the command. He gives to us the command which He himself has fulfilled. He is a doer of the word. He did not just love us in word only but in deed and in truth. “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-17) Paul was constrained by the love of Christ to live the way he did and to enable him to abound unto others. This love of Christ is the love of God out from which God abounds to us through the Son. Paul declares, “From henceforth (from now and forever) know we no man after the flesh.” No longer will I live my life to pursue my own desires, but I will follow the leading of the Spirit who will take the things of Jesus and show them unto me. No longer will I know a Christ of tradition, or of imagination, or of the deceit of my own heart, but I will know the true God and His true Christ by revelation. We are to follow the leading of the Spirit and in so doing we will leave the old things of our earthly nature, with all its affections, behind. We will walk into ever greater light and see things as they truly are. All things are becoming new to us because we are discovering all of the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God. The old things become more distant to us and their draw upon us becomes ever weaker. Instead, we are caught up with the mark for the prize of the high calling of God that is in Christ Jesus. When we so walk, God’s abounding toward us is then put into us. Our cup overflows. That is to say God is blessing me above my ability to contain it all. Being so blessed, we are able to bless others out from the abundance of God in us. We give back to Him that selfless love which He first gave to us. That is why the trial of our faith is so precious. Our cheerful endurance in these trials, our offering up our moments of difficulties, our light affliction, becomes the sacrifice of praise which we bring into the house of the Lord. It is given to us to suffer on His behalf. How different those moments of suffering will appear as we stand before Him than they do here and now when we are in them. Those moments given to Him will “be found unto honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” They will testify of our love for Him, and they will be the basis upon which He honors us. May we be patient in tribulation and strong in faith giving glory to God. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:7-9) As I said, the end has a beginning. The beginning comes to us in the form of the word of the Lord to us individually. He has given us days and circumstances in which we can choose to glorify Him out from our hearts. Our love for the Lord is declared with each act of obedience and with each step we take in the will of God for our lives. Those steps, when taken in the will of God, will lead us through difficulties, darkness, opposition, and the overcoming of our own weaknesses. They will bring us unto the fulfillment of God’s purpose in our lives. That end is to be conformed to His image. He alone knows that image and the work needed in our lives for us to be conformed to it. “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (James 5:11). Paul tells us that we should be “to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.” When His work is completed in us we will carry His glory and that glory will reflect back to Him and His work. When His work is completed in us, we will be at the end of the thoughts God has for us and as we walk in His way God will be able to bring us to the very end of our lives in victory. Take heart my friend the end is just around the bend in the road. Written by David Stahl

WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND

After my father’s funeral last week Karen and I had to travel back to Fayetteville (about two hours by car) to get some important papers so I could start my father’s Veteran Administration benefit (a widow’s pension) for my mother. But now that I think about it even when my father was still in the hospital (the last two or three days near his earthly end) I started thinking about all of the things we hold near and dear in our lives, while we are alive and well, that have little use to us when on our death bed. All of the things we prize as our own, all of the things we work so hard for all of our life have no value to us when it is time to stand before God. And make no mistake my friend we all have a rendezvous with God some day to give account of our deeds on earth. After his death as I looked around my father’s office (he had a bed in his office and Karen and I would often sleep there) and around the big house he built less than two years ago all I could think of was how my father’s things has out lived him. When my teacher Charles Haun died in July 1996, he gave Jake Luffy some luggage and I thought I wonder who has Charles’ Bible? Even something as important as our Bible probably will out live us. How strange and surreal it was to see his lift-chair in the living room, all of his U.S. Marine Corps mementos, and all of his John Wayne things yet he is no more. Now memories of him and these things will keep him alive in our heart as long as we are alive, but for him all of these things are behind him and I thought only the things he did for the Lord are his today everything else was lost the day he departed the earth. So too shall it be with us. Please understand me well here, I am not saying we are not to collect things, even nice things, but what I am saying is what we collect will be left behind when we leave this world and only the things we do for God will have any eternal impact in our lives. Then the words of Jesus came sharply to me, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) From these verses the Lord drew my attention to the word “treasures.” We all know what treasures are right: gold, money, land, jewels, well that is not what Jesus was talking about. How vain and pompous we can be at times to presume to know what the Scriptures are really saying without taking time to study them, not to mention our selfishness and greed to go after lucre of this world. Oh Lord forgive us here. But, if you look at the word “treasures” (Strong’s #2344) in both verses 19 and 20, it means “the place in which good and precious things are collected and laid up.” The third meaning of the word I believe is more what Jesus was saying “storehouse, repository, or magazine (for ammunition)” suddenly all of this began to make sense to me. “Treasures” are not things of wealth they are the place to put things of wealth in. Now in verse 21 we find out what the place in which our precious and costly things are to be laid up or stored, our heart. Jesus twice referred to “yourself.” We are not to lay up our gold, land, jewels, etc., and all of the things we accumulate over our many years, but we are to lay up the true riches the true treasures of God: His joy (not happiness which is situational dependent), peace (that passes all understanding), mercy (where we really forgive our enemies), longsuffering (enduring even the unlovely of God’s children) , wisdom (knowing when not to speak), meekness (gentle and lowly like Jesus), forgiveness (extending mercy when grace will do), and so much more in our heart. Solomon said it this way, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:20-27) We are to lay up those things that are of eternal value. It is only the things we do for God while on earth that are of any real value. What are the things we are putting into our heart? Are we after things of this world or after things of God? Believe it or not the answer is easy to see. All we have to do is take a good look at what we say, who we hang around, what we go after in life, and how we spend our money? Our check book can be a real revelation of our faithfulness and dedication to God. Out of our mouth speaks our heart. If I want to know you all I have to do is just let you run off at the mouth and you will tell me what is in your heart and the reverse cutting edge of this truth what is not in your heart. What we allow in our heart will be what we shall be. What shall we leave behind when we are gone? What will our legacy be? Our legacy and what we leave behind will be what we have put into our heart. Also in Proverbs we read, “Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” (Proverbs 23:6-7) In the Greek the beginning of verse seven is translated, “as a gate swings wide open to, so is he.” The “gate” here is our heart and all through out the Bible our “gate” (our heart) is always a place of decision. And whatever we allow behind our heart (our gate) we shall be that. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate” and is not Jesus standing at the door (our gate) of our heart knocking to enter in? Make no mistake my friend whatever we allow behind our heart, whatever we fill our heart up with we shall be that (and only that) and that is what we will leave behind when we depart this world. Another area we can gage our self is our testimony. Now do not ever think our testimony is what we say about our self or even about our relationship with the Lord, oh no my friend. Our testimony, our real testimony is what other’s see and hear (and say to a certain degree) of our lives. I could tell you how intelligent I am, how skinny I am, how charismatic I am, but the truth will be known when you see and talk with me. Many denominational Bible teachers twist Proverbs 23:7 to say, “whatever we think in our heart we will be that” how foolish. This is the folly of the positive thinking doctrines. I can think I am a car all day long and even sit in our garage, but that will never make me a car. Our testimony is what others see us do and hear us say. This is the testimony we will leave behind when we depart this world. How much of our lives were consumed with caring for people, sharing the Gospel message, feeling pain when someone you knew hurt, and wanting to know God and His ways?

Let us take Paul’s words in Ephesians to heart when he said, “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” (Ephesians 5:14-19) Please notice we are to be filled with the Spirit and making melody in our heart, not in church or on some TV program, adding to our treasure box God’s real “treasures.” Today let us not be so concerned about collecting things, laying up things for a rainy day, or our 401K and money market accounts, but let us be concerned about filling our storehouse with eternal things, things that have impact in this life and our next life to come. Written by David Stahl

THE STING OF DEATH

I dedicate this article to the loving memory of my father John E. Stahl Sr. who died 3 Jan 2010. Dad I love and miss you so very much and know I will see you again. You have impacted my life is so many ways. In ways as a guide-on to model my life after; in being a Godly man, husband, father, grandfather, and even a great grandfather. In ways I am sure I will only learn about in time, as a life takes its heavy toll on me as it did on you, oh may I be found to be brave and faithful in God to endure to the very end without complaining or asking for pity like you did. Dad I am so proud of you and so proud to be called your son.

While I was at the viewing and sitting during the funeral I thought, all of these many people came today to see my father because he has died. Today in our society we use terms like passing, crossing over, set free, etc. to express what the Bible calls death. We do not like the term death, but did you know the word “death” appears 342 in the KJV of the Bible? Now do not feel bad if you use these terms even Jesus tried sugar coating death with the disciples. In the powerful story of Lazarus in the Book of John we read, “These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” (John 11:11-14) Jesus had much to say about death in the Gospels. As a matter of fact the number one topic Jesus spoke about was sin and the second most discussed topic by Jesus was life and death. When you really think about it life is all summed up into these three topics. Paul too often spoke of death. In 1 Corinthians Paul asked the questions, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-56) Death is our last fear to conquer and this is why we all must allow God to change us, to change our character, our thoughts, and heart condition so that we will have the inward strength to endure the conflicts and battles that war within our spirit, heart and mind. I also believe God wants us to feel the sting of death in our lives. A funeral is one time appointed by God for us to feel the sting of sin (death) in our lives and reflect on it. Today we make funerals a happy and joyous time, let us celebrate the crossing over of our dear departed, well in doing so we turn away from the prick of the Holy Spirit gouging into our spirit and soul. We (mankind) do not like to be unhappy or know grief we even make up songs instructing ourselves we are to live our entire life in total happiness, but Jesus was called a man of sorrows. Speaking of Jesus Isaiah said, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.’ (Isaiah 53:3) Well who wants to be acquainted with “a man of sorrow” when they can be happy? And something as noble yet mysterious as death, it is easy to turn our heart and spirit away from the sting, the pain and overwhelming ache in our heart that comes with the loss of losing our father, mother, brother or sister. In doing so we are rejecting God and His plan to draw us unto Himself. You see when we embrace the sting of death (our sin that could separate us eternally from God) we expose our weaknesses, our need, and our infirmities, all of those things within us that can only be satisfied by God whereby allowing God (and God alone) to minister to us and bring us into the truth and the life of God in the next verse, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57) It is only as we allow God to work in our lives can we ever hope to come into “the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” At the same measure we can embrace the sting of death, at that same measure we will be able to walk in the ultimate victory God has purposed and planned for our lives. I often wonder why some people start walking with the Lord then turn away? Well I am coming to the conclusion they (those who walk away from God) have never really understood the depth of what sin has wrought in their lives. I am convinced the more we understand the damage and destruction sin does in our lives the more we will be able to correctly understand the message of grace. My friend we are to be devastated (oh blessed devastation) when we come to the realization of who we are and how much we need Jesus to save us from our sin. I am afraid the sinner’s prayer (which is found no where in the Bible) lightens the sting of death and has watered down the true conversion process. Oh Lord have mercy on us for our waywardness here.

I would like share some outstanding words Cathy McHenry, (a wonderful lady friend of our family) penned to Karen and I and then passed them along at the funeral, now she knows what she is talking about because she lost her son only two years ago and still to this day knows the sting of death all to well. “God’s peace is not escape from reality. We are not mentally removed from feeling pain or struggling. Peace is not a stupor that that dulls our senses. It is not an elimination of responsibility for addressing hard issues and difficult circumstances. Rather, peace is an undergirding rock-solid foundation so that no matter the tears we cry or the sorrow we feel, deep down inside we know with an abiding assurance that God is with us. God is in control and joy of the Lord is going to emerge far greater than any depth of agony we may be experiencing.”

Now my father has the victory Paul was talking about in verse 57. I feel my father was ready to meet the Lord. When Mrs. Gertrude Ellis (and her daughter Jenny) would bring her white guitar by his home and sing old the hymns of the church he would sit there and big crocodile tears would come streaming down his face as my Mom’s (who now has Alzheimer’s) feet would bounce in-time, in the Spirit, with the music. Thank you very much Mrs. Ellis for loving them enough to ease their pain and bring to them once again the joy of timeless truths. But before my father’s eyes closed in death the Lord prepared me months ago so I would know I was to go to the ICU and make sure it was well with his soul. What a joy it was as big crocodile tears now streamed down my face as I prayed with my father as the ventilator pushed life into his body. Now for sure my father has the victory over sin, hell, death, and the grave.

Most of you all did not know my father was retired, after over 30 years of service to God and Country, from the United States Marine Corps serving in World War II, Korea, and Viet-Nam with great distinction and valor in all three wars. And in 2008 the United Marine Corps honored him as the 64th recipient of the Hard Core Warrior Award. In the Marine Hymn the last verse goes like this, “Here’s health to you and to our Corps which we are proud to serve; in many a strife we’ve fought for life and never lost our nerve. If the Army and the Navy ever look on heaven’s scenes, they will find the street are guarded by United States Marines.” I am sure when my father stood before God (as we all shall do some day) God said, “well done Gunny thou good and faithful servant” and my father standing at attention with a hand salute said, “thank you sir, reporting for duty.” I love you Dad! Karen says, she will see you later you ole fox and from me, Semper Fi. Written by David Stahl

SOMETHING I SEEM TO RE-LEARN

I would like to preface this article by saying this article has been written after much soul searching and inward reflection of my greater need to be more like Jesus in this area and many others. But, in 2009 the Lord again taught me again to keep my eyes on Him. The goal is to be more like Jesus, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) I know this all sounds simplistic, but that is God’s style of teaching. Jesus was a master of deep teaching by using such examples as: wine, bread, light and darkness, and seeds. We think we have made it when God opens our eyes to some unsearchable truth of Scriptures, yet we pale in comparison to the deep truths of life and relationship. Do you know God is more concerned about the maturity of our character than the maturity of our spiritual ability to teach and even know all truth. Now please do not get me wrong here, we must go towards truth and we must even speak the truth in love as Paul taught, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16) This is something most Christians have a hard time doing and is the biggest reason why most Christians; do not “grow up in him” and why “the whole body” (what we call the church) is not “fitly joined together.” This and of course the wrong teaching in this area that comes with it and because of the grand push in the church for denominationalism. But, knowing the truth and possessing a deep revelation of God must never over ride the maturity and development of our character.

Back in 2009 two great men of God that I have known for many many years, men I have looked to as mentors, men who I have read and studied their books, teachings, and lives, men in some ways I have idolized well let’s just say were exposed in their ministries and in my eyes for who they really were. This is a very scary place for all of us to come. And when we arrive at the place of knowing who we really are we refuse to agree with God what He is trying to reveal to us. We ignore and dispute what we see blaming everyone else or most often we through up some bogus teaching we have been preaching, but all of this will not work in our lives if we truly desire to walk in the truth and grow up and come to maturity in our character. Now if you willfully put yourself under someone make no mistake that person, unless they have truly dealt with and been humbled by God, will take that position in your life and even expect certain things from you. I have seen and even experienced this for many many years, but here is the problem. It is not you being a servant to someone, God desires us all to serve one another, but the problem is when someone thinks they are better than someone because of their message, revelation, or deeper teaching. At the heart of this thinking is: ambition, arrogance, and pride. Our human nature goes towards this in a great way. I have caught myself doing this, maybe that is why I can see it clearly when someone things they are better than me because of their understanding of God and His ways. Well here is a spiritual revelation my friend, no one is greater than the other. It does not matter how deep your knowledge, revelation, or teaching of the Scriptures is these do not qualify someone for being a leader of being over someone. The standard Jesus taught was, “But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Luke 10:43-45) True greatness, true spiritual leadership is achieved not by reducing men to one’s service, but in giving oneself in selfless service to them. And this is never done without a cost. At the same measure you can become a servant you will be great in God. At the same measure you can become a servant at that same measure you will be able to walk, not just teach, in the revelation God has given you. It is one thing to teach something (no matter how deep in God), but is it a different matter to walk in the revelation of the words we speak. I have seen it for years. It is funny how people really know the truth. Words often are cheap. It has been said, the way up is down and this is true, but let us not forget deep in God is also down.

Charles Haun (my teacher) addresses this issue in his four tape teaching series on “Truth.” Here Charles shares the importance of knowing the truth, by allowing the truth to develop our character so that we can come to greater levels of maturity not only spiritually, but also personally where God also desires us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us never forget truth is heavy to carry. Truth often can be too much for us to handle, especially if it is about us. In Daniel we read, “And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. 27And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.” (Daniel 8:26-27) I cannot think of anyone in the Bible that has received more truth than Daniel. Here we see Daniel’s response was “I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days.” It weakened him and caused him to lay sick for some time. Have you ever approached to know so much the things of the kingdom that it simply drains your strength? Again it takes strength to carry truth and the more truth you carry the more strength you must have. The more you know in the spiritual realm the more grace and strength you will have to have in order to live. And this is why men in God progress and the grace of God is upon them, they gain and gain in their knowledge and revelation until they are staggering under the load and to add to that load a claim to fame that comes with all that and some men neglect the other critical elements in their lives such as grace, mercy, and judgment which are necessary to grow in to sustain them under that heavy load and they fall. Most men in work of the Gospel have risen to an apex and then at some point they begins to decline and fall away because they have not cultivated and sought the grace and strength to develop their character to help bear up under the load. As the armor of God is not for children it takes strength it is not made for babes, those who are weak, so too we must develop our character so that we can develop strength to be able to bear up under truth. We can get too much truth and it will drown us and someone will haul up our body and say (what I said after I handled the ungodly things of these two men) I would have never expected that of him, nor did anyone expect the great loss to their ministry that follows their fall. For us to be developed correctly with truth we must be continually exercised in truth that is not to be selective, but receive whatsoever truth God gives to us and from whomever God brings our way.

Let us not think we are greater than what we really are. Take heed my friend, going after revelation and a deep teaching will lead you down that road and if you do not develop others abilities and skills in God you will find yourself being pulled out of the water wondering what happened. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” (Romans 12:3-5) This is the place of unity where the “whole body” can grow and come to maturity and spiritual development. Let us take heed to our selves. Written by David Stahl

THEY OVERCAME

After Thanksgiving 2009, Jake Luffy and I departed for Nairobi, Kenya to be with Pastor Joesph Mutua for a few weeks. Niki Marsov from Silistra, Bulgaria joined us when we arrived from Mombassa. We were asked to share in a week-long conference Pastor Joesph was holding and in some local churches during the week-ends. Jake brought a deep mysterious word that left the hearers in quiet contemplation and thought. He prefaced his word by saying, “if you do not understand what I am saying hold my words before the Lord and in time He will give you understanding.” I have known Jake for over 30 years and have had the pleasure of hearing him speak these many years, thus I know the depth of his message and his ability to skillfully weave the scriptures. Niki brought a strong relevant word mixed with humor which the people really responded to. It was his first time in Africa and he was magnificent. Humor sometimes helps the medicine go down. I can see in Niki a Timothy today and a Paul tomorrow, Niki and Lord willing. I brought a more sublime yet simplistic word directed at their hearts that enabled the folks to apply my words to their difficult circumstances and situations in their lives. Unless our words reach their hearts then what we say will profit the hearers little. The heart should always be our target and our goal must always be to see how low we can come down in our self so that the word of God we speak will be able to take root in their heart and lives. Jesus was a master of this, simple in His approach using wine, bread, water as examples to convey deep spiritual meaning that the people understood. I wonder why we try to get so deep and try to unwrap the dark mysteries of the Scriptures. Jesus talked about a corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying (John 12:24) to be fruitful. Maybe we should reevaluate our approach.

From the start of our trip I knew God wanted to do some things in my life, things that needed to be done. At first I was reluctant, because as Karen and I travel and minister from church to church, both in the States and around the world, I hear a great desire to be an “overcomer.” Now this in itself is not a bad thing God desires to bring us to victory in Him, but where we miss the mark is the desiring and all that goes into the presumptive approach to God and not the developing, the way God has designed for us to come into victory. Why there are even conferences and seminars today in the church where the theme is “Overcoming to Fulfill Our Destiny in Christ” (or something like that), but seldom do you hear of the real requirements at conferences and seminars to become an overcomer. John gives us three requirements to become to be an overcome, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelations 21:11) They overcame him, “by the blood of the Lamb,” “by the word of their testimony,” and “they loved not their lives unto the death.” We will talk more about the last requirement in detail. Most Christians will agree today in the church without the shedding of the precious blood of Jesus Christ (the Lamb of God (John 1:29)) we would not be able to overcome anything, so this is kind of a given, but the other two well they will require much more from us if we desire to apply them to our heart and lives to become an overcomer. John said, “by the word of their testimony.” Please know the word of our testimony is not what we say, but what other people see us do. I can tell you swelling words of faith, words that would bring tears to your eyes, words that would manipulate you to do things for me, but if my life does not reflect what I am saying then my words will profit me little to nothing and not benefit you at all. Remember, if you want people to give you money or do things for you just tell them what they want to hear and what they already know. But to be a true overcomer our lives and words must match up in unison with what the Spirit of God is saying. I do not care how many miracles God uses us to perform or how deep our revelation of God and His word is, if the works of God in our lives and the revelation we possess never affect changes to our character then it is all for nought. Make no mistake my friend I am talking about myself here. One thing I have learned at the heart of every issue it is always an issue of my heart. God’s work in our lives is to change us first then others second. Our understanding, wisdom, and knowledge of God must ultimately bring us down into a place of humility and humbleness if not we are no better than sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. Paul shared this critical truth with us in 1 Corinthians when he said, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) Now many call 1 Corinthians 13 the love chapter, but Paul does not use the word “love” but uses the word “charity” here and is at the heart of what Paul wanted to convey to us. The word “charity” has been translated agape, but it comes from and gets its root origins from Strong’s #25, “agapao” to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of which has little to do with love and much to do with being a humble and lowly servant. Agape, Strong’s #26, is a stronger mature love that has to do with a dedication of ourselves towards someone, as Jesus dedicated Himself toward the world in John 3:16 or a dedication that a husband has toward his wife for giving him 30 years of her life. Paul was talking about giving help to people in need, a kindness in judging people, and a good will to all other people. It is this heart condition that is greater than faith and hope. Now reread verse 2, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." Do you see the difference? Jesus said it this way, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Jesus was not talking about giving one’s life so another may live, but laying one’s life down as a lowly servant, losing their life so that they may find it in servant hood to the Brethren. It is not about love, but about being a lowly servant like Christ. All throughout Paul’s writing he warns the newly established churches (and us to today) take heed not to think highly of our self. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3) There is a subtle danger here to exalt our self that can over take our witness and destroy our character. Again I can say amen here. If we desire to become an overcomer we too must lose our life and all those things that we think elevates us above our brothers and sisters. How arrogant we are to think just because God has given us something special it makes us special, oh no my friend anything that God gives us (special or not) should bring us to our knees and make us a servant to the Brethren the more.

Now on this trip to Africa one of God’s main intentions (as I said) was for me to become more of an overcomer in a certain area. I knew right from the start God’s intention for me to be successful during this trip was for me to walk in restrictions and limitations to maintain my health, I could not eat what I wanted to eat and drink what I wanted to drink, but I had to maintain strict adherence to what I knew to do to fulfill what God wanted me to do. As a matter of fact the first opportunity I had to speak I spoke of how restriction and limitations not freedom and liberty bring us to completion and fulfillment in God. And I knew I would have to love not my life unto death. I knew God wanted be to go to Africa, to endure, to preach the word He put within me, and finish the trip strong in Him. Now this was first time I have traveled in the last two years. Before that a few of my trips were cut short due to health problems. For years I have pushed myself (zealousness in God is not what He is looking for) going abroad six to seven times a year, the air miles, stress and strain of ministry took a heavy toll on my health and on my desire to endure in the face of real sickness to the end. Now I will be honest this really bothered me. How could I stand and teach endure till the end and all I could think about was how I could get home sooner. But now on his trip I knew God wanted me to stay the course, finish strong in Him. For God to be able to do this I would have to love not my life unto the death. I would have to come to a place of assurance and rest (beyond what I have experienced before) in God that He will take care of me even if I get sick and He would make sure I get treated and come and go home as scheduled. I know all of this may sound strange, but this is where I found myself. Like Job I had to come to a place where I said and believed, “though God slay me yet I will trust Him.” Or like Esther, “If I perish I perish.” Now that is real faith. If we really desire to become an overcomer we must allow God to work in our lives, through His dealings and judgments, and bring us to the place where we willfully give over our physical life to God. We are not ready to life in God until we are ready to die in God. Each time the airplane lifted into the sky I would say, “Lord I commit my spirit, soul, and life into Your hands.” It is funny how the older we get the more our mortality is ever before us. How we can see our days quickly coming to an end and in our heart we bristle against what we see. The older we get the more we are concerned about our health and develop a desire for ease, good food, and comfort. It seems the older I get the more I enjoy hot water. When I was younger hot water cold water no problem, but now I like hot water. Well, if God will still use me as I feel He desires He will have to work in my life and get me over this desire for ease and comfort. I do not think I am any different than the next man we all are touched by our infirmities and weakness as grass we shall wither away some day to be with Him, but it is wonderful to know God knows our frame and He will work in our lives, if we desire Him to help us become (a process of learning to lean on our Beloved, Song of Solomon 8:5) an overcomer. I leave you with the words Jesus spoke to the disciples before He was taken to the cross to die for you and I, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32-33) Please hear the end of verse 33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” It is nice to know Jesus too was an overcomer. Written by David Stahl

LACK OF HEARING THE WORD

A few weeks ago Karen and I did a book signing at the US Marine Corps Exchange (MCX). I so enjoy doing book signings, what a wonderful time sharing the Gospel with complete strangers and selling a few books to support Beholding His Glory. We usually bring a six foot folding table and two comfortable folding chairs, many items from Africa and Asia for the people to handle which opens the door for questions, copies of our newsletter, some of our contact cards (not business cards the sharing of the Gospel MUST never be reduced down to becoming a business), some books, and of course our Bibles. We usually stay around six to eight hours or as long as our bottoms can last. Well by ten o’clock we were all set up, people were scurrying about (on this Saturday morning) things really looked promising, but as time slowly moved on no one stopped. Karen and I just sat there talking to each other as people passed by, it was like we were not there or invisible. A couple of our friends who saw us stopped, but the majority of the people walked by not even stopping to say hello or to see the strange and interesting items on our table. As I sat there the Holy Spirit brought to my mind these verses from Amos, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12) I thought today is the day. Few people really want to hear the good news of the Gospel, but then I remembered it is God who will “send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.” Now I have always read these verses and thought I understood them, but they really came alive (as we were sitting there) in my spirit due to the lack of curiosity or attention. They could see it was a Christian book and I am sure they saw my Bible maybe that was enough to keep them at arms length. Now I have some Christian friends who would have a problem with this verse, knowing it was God Himself that sent the famine in the land of hearing the word of God. Not the preaching of the word, but the hearing or having the spiritual ability to understand and comprehend what God is saying by His Spirit through His written and spoken word. They would say God would never do this He loves us so much. Oh yeah? Can you believe God creates evil? If you cannot believe God creates evil than you cannot believe God loves you. Most Christians do not believe this they pick and choose what they want to believe, but in the Book of Isaiah we read, God taking about Himself, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:5-7) Well my friend they do not know the true God of the Bible. God has been known to send evil spirits (Judges 9:23). God even hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 7:14) to bring His will to past. Can you believe God would turn over (give up on) people (who were once Christians) to a reprobate mind? This does not say much for the Southern Baptist once saved always saved doctrine. Oh my friend, do not be deceived. Paul tells us, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” (Romans 1:21-28) Now Paul was talking about Christians in the local body at Rome. They knew God, but became vain, were not thankful, and glorified Him not. Today in the paper Karen read to me an article about a Presbyterian Church that started a service for their dogs (how about cats, snakes, turtles, birds, etc.) in hopes to draw more people into church, what foolishness. Special services, promotion, programs, and gimmicks will not draw people to Christ, only the Holy Spirit as we lift of Christ. Jesus said, “If I be lifted up (not your animal, denomination, or religion) from the earth will draw all people to Myself.” (John 12:32) They are worshipping creatures and a worldly thinking and not the Creator in Spirit and truth, because of their lack of hearing the word of God and their continual walking (in presumption) away from God, how sad and oh so dangerous. Paul said, “God gave them over to a reprobate (Strong’s #96, that which does not prove itself such as it ought, unfit for, unproved, spurious, reprobate) mind.” God did these things, because these people heard the word of God that could meet the lack in their lives, but like the people at the MCX they did not recognize the real word of God because (I believe) they have been attending churches and denominational religious services that have been telling them lies and half truths ignoring the word of God. Karen and I had the truth we had the word of God, but the people did not stop they were too busy within themselves and spiritually lacking a hunger and thirst for God’s word in their lives. Many have heard the half truth message of the Gospel (like one man we knew from the past who stopped) and in their heart they have been numbed, deadened, and stripped of the power of the word of God’s convicting Holy Spirit. Oh my friend take heed, having our hearts hardened (like Pharaoh) by God to the hearing of His word, a lack of knowledge of who God is to us, and our great desire for a worldly waywardness are some of the most dangerous things in the world, because the end of this process in our lives is destruction. Amos shares these words with us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 7As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. 8They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. 9And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. 10For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD:” (Hosea 4:6-10) Please never forget God is to us what we are to Him. If we reject God my friend He will reject us. Listen to the last verse, “For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD:” Does that not sound frustrating? Oh my friend let us take heed to the Lord never to walk away from the Lord, but let us always have a open heart for knowledge (God’s personal dealings and judgments in our lives), and a desire not to walk in the way of the world or in the counsel of the ungodly.

I hear many Christians walk around saying they have the victory or we need to get the victory over Satan. Why do we talk about needing to get the victory? It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory, because Jesus (our victory) ought to have us so completely we need not worry about victory. It is one thing to say we have Jesus, but it is a totally different thing to say Jesus has us. Do you see the difference? All we need to worry about is allowing Jesus to meet our lack in our lives. Why should we worry about having faith to do something? If Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith we need not worry having faith, we will live “by the faith of Jesus Christ” and every word that proceeds out of His mouth. Paul shares these words, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16) I am ever amazed at the women we know who may be qualified (have the schooling and ability), but are not authorized to teach the word of God. But they do anyway in direct rebellion to the word of God and are not content with being the wife of their husband. The Holy Spirit through Paul was very clear on this topic, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1Timothy 2:11-14) How can we walk with the Lord and lack such understanding? Is getting our way that much more important than God’s word being held high above our denominational religious rituals and customs? These women (and other Christians) have a famine of hearing the word of God in their lives as “they wander from sea to sea, (even in ministry to the nations) and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek (in conferences, crusades, and seminars) the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. It is God’s word, He will open it up to whom He desires and that person is the one who has qualified and approved themselves before Him in sacrifice and obedience. Only God can meet the lack in our lives. When will we really (that includes me too at times) learn that? When will we (me again at times) wake up? The day is far spent and night is soon upon us let us keep our thoughts on Him, He who can meet our lack in Him, He who can met our need. Written by David Stahl