RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION

As I watch the political picture unfold in America I try so hard to keep my heart and words in check by the Holy Spirit, but I often fail miserably. I do love America after all I gave over 24 years of dedicated, honorable service to her in the U.S. Navy and would do it again if needed, but there must be a separation in my heart and thoughts if I am going to follow the LORD in what He wants for my life. It is hard for Karen also because she too served her country in the U.S. Navy. We both come from military families; service and love for country runs deep and is a part of our make-up and who we are. Now this is true, but it is also true if we place things of the earth (love of family, country, self, etc.) ahead of God and His word (in the end) we will suffer great loss along the way He has for us to go and will never finish what He has for us to do in this life. I will be honest inwardly I struggle in this area in letting go of this world and as the elections draw closer the more I struggle and I see this struggle play out in America. Oh how America has drifted from God! Oh how America has drifted from God’s word! Everything that plagues America is the direct result of her disobedience to God and His word and unless America confesses as a nation (from the President to the common man on main- street) of her waywardness and repents (goes in the opposite direction) of their ungodly life-styles America will be lost. Oh America God is not mocked, yes He is loving and longsuffering, but there is a time when God says enough is enough. “I will cut you down as a sickle threshes the wheat field and throw you into my fire of righteousness and your will be utterly consumed. Repent from your waywardness before it is too late. Yea I come quickly with My sickle in My hand to strike you down, repent before it is too late, turn before it is too late. Yea I come to smite you and to remove your candle stick from the face of the earth,” thus says the LORD. God tells us to have no other gods before Him and our lives are filled with gods that satisfy our fleshly, earthly desires. We go a whoring after pleasure and ease, building bigger barns (churches, ministries, and denominations) and statues to each other while turning our backs on the one true and living God. God tells us to defend the little ones, but we slaughter the unborn by the millions each year and we think God is not angry? Why do we think God turns His head to His word and truth to protect us? Oh my friend He does not. God’s wrath has been kindled against us since the early 70s when we told God we do not want Him in our lives, we want the right to choose over life or death and not him. America’s schools and universities no longer teach education, but have become bastions of ungodly liberalism that shake their fist at God and dare Him to show up. How can we expect anything less when in the 60’s we kicked God and His precious word out of our schools and told Him we need Him no more. Ungodly perversion covers our land: in the written media, on TV and movie screens, on the internet, and in every life-style. The Godly institution of marriage has been striped and voted out by our President and his government while endorsing: lesbianism, sodomites, and every type of ungodly (unspeakable and thinkable) relationship known to man. Our government dithers while religions from around the world desire to put to death America, her people, and our way of life. Businesses in America cheat the customer at best. America’s banking institutions lie and hoard money taking advantage of the little people. Many of our governmental law enforcement agencies are on the take and show no common sense and justice. Sadly our society has dissolved and we think God is not angry with us? America has drifted so far from the Godly principle and standards that once made this country great, but now our greatness is found only in her military might and we even see this dwindle as we watch the U.S. dollar slip away from the place God first established in America. And yet every Sunday we Christians gather together to sing two fast ones and a slow one, pass the plate, hear a good sermon (not a message from God), and blast out to lunch trying to beat the other religions and denominations to the cafeteria. Who are we fooling? The Church has Christian TV star preachers, pastors, and teachers that make millions of dollars and reign over huge empires. We have churches that fill 25,000 plus, yet America is drifting further and further away. Who are we trying to fool? God? Each other? I think not. America is following the pattern and way of Israel in the days of Samuel. The people looked around and saw everyone else had a king for a leader (a Prophet from God was not good enough) so they wanted one. My friend our wants will get us into great trouble. Please be careful with your wants. If God gives you an opportunity to pick something you want take heed and chose Godly. I tell my Christian friends who vote if you vote you better vote what the Bible supports.

In 1 Samuel we find the story of King Saul. Like many Christians he started out correct, but ended by taking his own life. “And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. 3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.” (1 Samuel 8:1-8) These eight verses truly reflect the moral decay of a nation. Samuel was old (no problem there) and his sons did not walk in his ways. The grass always looks greener on the other side, but when you get your head stuck in the fence you quickly acquire a taste again for the grass in the field God has put you in to flourish. Here like today in America they rejected God and His ways and later we will see God rejects them. Remember, God is to us what we are to Him. Notice when they rejected God they also rejected God’s man and the teaching God’s man shares. Oh do we see this in America today. So Samuel being obedient (the major key of our Christians walk with God), “And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. 11And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 12And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 18And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. 19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;” (1 Samuel 8:10-19) Here in these verses God is sharing what their lives will be under their decision. God always lets us make choices, but with our choices comes consequences, yes I know that is a dirty word, but I also know the word of God. “And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day." Here the LORD turned His back on them. You say Pastor Dave God would not do that, well . . . the word of God says so and I believe it. Still in all of this, “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;” Just like today in America with all of the crime, murder, death, and destruction America (as a nation) still chooses not to obey the voice of God. After all the Supreme Court has passed laws that directly contradict God’s laws, laws that allow man to stick their fist in God’s face and shake it in open rebellion as the people here did. Things got so bad with King Saul God said, “Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, 11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.” (1 Samuel 15:10-11) Oh to God we would have some sleepless nights in prayer (me too) for our country, but if we spend 10 minutes a day asking for things from God or trying to get God to jump through the hoop for us we think we have done God a major favor. Just think the people knew well in advance what kind of King Saul was going to be. But in the end God had enough of King Saul. And all along the way of Saul’s troubled life his open disobedience to God caused greater and greater troubles for the people. The outcome of our actions and words usually impacts greater in the lives of others than our own. Finally, “Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.” (1 Samuel 31:4) Saul’s armourbearer was smarter than Saul. He knew even though Saul was over in great disobedience he was still God’s anointed and to touch his life would be a great mistake, greater than disobeying the king. Saul started out on the right track, but in the end took his own life and destroyed the nation. Saul’s sad story rings so true today in the lives of many leaders and people.

When will America learn the Bible is words from God almighty and it is always true. When will America learn, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) The open rebellion of America to God and His words is ever before Him and man. Unless America’s leaders humble themselves, confess of their need for a holy God, and repent of their ungodly ways America is through, I am convinced her best days are behind her. President Obama, our leader, is running for reelection and I will prophesy he will be reelected as President of the United States unless America humbles herself, confesses of her need for a holy God, and repent of her ungodly ways. Now I wish no harm to come to President Obama or anyone in his administration I want salvation to come to them and America, but like Saul President Obama is anointed by God and has been raised up by God as a vessel of dishonor to punish America for her waywardness from God and His words. Righteousness exalts a nation! You cannot be a righteous leader and endorse unrighteousness, we are known by the fruit of our lives and lips. Take heed America: “I will cut you down as a sickle threshes the wheat field and throw you into my fire of righteousness and your will be utterly consumed. Repent from your waywardness before it is too late. Yea I come quickly with My sickle in My hand to strike you down, repent before it is too late, turn before it is too late. Yea I come to smite you and to remove your candle stick from the face of the earth,” thus says the LORD. Written by David Stahl

STAY IN THE BOAT

The longer I walk with the LORD the more I see at times my inability to follow God in some areas. Yes to my shame and horror at times I see my shortcomings and even sin and oh how I want to correct them. Now believe it or not this is what God wants to see in our lives. God wants us to see those areas where we have missed it, God wants His precious Holy Spirit to be able to convict us (conviction what a wondrous work of God in our lives) of our sin and our sins. Did you know we have a nature that is contrary to God’s nature what the Scriptures calls our sin nature (verse) and then we have our sins; our immoral, ungodly, and even unethical acts of our flesh (verse). These two areas of humanity are what keep us in a state of fallen mankind before a Holy God. Now it is true Jesus died for our sin and for our sins, but that does not mean we will live in victory over our sin and sins just because Jesus died for them more is needed. Now here seems to be the root problem in our Christian walk with the LORD we must engage at the level of understanding we are in God. In my earlier years of walking with the LORD I went after a deeper teaching from teachers like Charles Haun and others and passed over the milk of the word. Now many years later I see chewing on meat and bones (as I did) as a babe left me today missing some things I needed, after all babies born from a man and woman must suckle at the bottle before they can grow and endure harder foods. The lack I speak of is not of foundational or spiritual principles, but just some areas (I see within myself) of lack in me I see. Now I fully understand why God did it this way, He took me to the School of the Spirit and gave me a crash course. I thank God for shining His all seeing light on me and exposing these areas and I know in time and as I open up to His word of correction I will acquire these things I have missed. Order in God establishes correct function and usefulness. We plainly see this truth in the word of God. Never forget the words in the Scriptures were not just hap-hazarderly written down by the hand of man, as spoken to the heart of man by God, but were particularly arranged and placed for context and spiritual meaning. To say anything else is a pure denial of God Almighty Himself. And in us too is an order and a pattern we must follow to be useful and complete in God.

Now this thought is at the heart of what I would like to talk about in this article. As we have discussed in previous articles truth is progressive and as we walk with the LORD we are to grow from glory (level) to glory (level). In God there is always progression sin to saint, seed to fruit, child to adult no matter what and in all things God has built in us and in all He has created progression. And for those things that do not progress as planned by God they seem to fall by the wayside, except for people. In our spiritual growth and development there is a progression we too must follow: first faith, second trust, and then third rest and if we get this out of order or mess them up we too can fall by the wayside like the mighty oak who puts most of its energy into developing a strong bark, but spends little time in developing a strong root system and when a great wind comes the mighty oak is easily toppled. And why, no tap root, no foundational support, no peripheral nutrient or water gathering capability. The end result will be (as long as no storms comes) all is well, but if we serve God long enough the storms will blow our way God will see to it. When great storms arrive the mighty oak is unable to stand the test of the wind and its strength (its heavy bark) only adds to its quick demise. We Christians today are like the mighty oak tree at times, we spend a lot of our time in developing the outward appearance of our commitment with the LORD while neglecting the inward work of the heart, soul, and spirit and when our test comes we (like the mighty oak tree) quickly stumble (at sin, offense, and the like) and fall out of the way.

I am amazed when I study the Scriptures and read of all the different messages it contains and the longer I walk with the LORD the more He can open up different shoots of truth from these messages. The Bible is full of different messages and depending on our level of spiritual development and our desire we chose the message we want to believe. Did you know the number one message of Jesus’ ministry was sin? But, most Christians camp out all of their lives around the message of love and grace (and this is okay it is a wonderful message), but there is more God wants of us. God wants us to grow up (which means pushing forward from the elementary principles of salvation, Hebrews 6:1-2)) so that we can take on the authority and accountability of God in our lives and do the things He wants us to do. And for this to happen, my friend, there must be a correct understanding of spiritual principles, desire, and commitment to God. It is our commitment that carries us in God and the first sign of commitment to God is reading His ownership manual, the Bible. In Matthew 18 we find an amazing story of Jesus teaching the disciples some basic truths, now most people focus on Peter walking on the water, but that was not Jesus’ focus and nor should it be ours. Matthew (an eye witness) shares, “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”(Matthew 14:25-31) I wonder why Peter wanted to walk on the water? He had to know he would have had to walk on the water like Jesus in order to reach Jesus. How long was Peter with Jesus and he still did not know what Jesus looked like? Lord if it be you do a miracle so I will believe, but we know this was not true of Peter. Time and time again (often like us) Peter boasted of His love and faith in Jesus, but when the rubber hits the road Peter failed even in the face of Jesus praying for him, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” (Luke 22:31-34) Oh no my friend Peter had another motive here. And when did Peter doubt? When he left the safety of the boat or when he began to sink? I would say when he left the place of safety and security (the boat) he had no faith in what Jesus had provided for him and the other disciples. This story is not about faith building (even though many preachers and teachers spin it they know it will fill seats and offering plates better than other messages), but this story is about Jesus showing Peter how foolish it is to leave the place of protection and security God has provided. Yes Peter walked on the water (big deal), but in the end Jesus had to save him from his ignorance and presumption and where did they all end up, in the boat. Why do we think Jesus has to do some parlor trick miracle for us to believe He is who He says He is nor should He have to break the physical laws of nature to get us to believe. His word should be enough for us to believe, but no we today in the church want to see miracles and yet we do not believe. Remember, miracles are for non-believers, Believers are to walk by faith (remember this point we will look at this again) not by sight. Now I know I have heard many sermons from well-meaning preachers and teachers (maybe some not so well-meaning) who missed the truth of this story because they had some agenda or point they wanted to stress. When we make our approach to word of God it must never be from our prospective, but from God’s. When was the last time you heard “thus says the LORD?” No the most we hear today is a good sermon with some moral message that kind of goes along with the Bible, but if you really examine the words of the preacher or teacher they go against what the word of God says and does not represent truth. A good sermon will do not for us. What we need to hear is a message from God that does not puff us up, but lays us low and brings us down where God is.

The spiritual principle is found in Romans, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) To get a good handle on this truth it is best to read this verse in the Greek, “So then faith cometh by hearing a word from God.” (Romans 10:17 (Greek)) Faith comes (we get faith) by hearing not my experience, miracles, or even wisdom. When God speaks to us and we hear Him we receive faith. Why do we think we can build up or save our faith for a rainy day? Faith is not ours it is God’s and when we need faith to believe or do something God wants done He speaks to us and give us all of the faith we will ever need. Everything we get from God comes by way of Him speaking and us hearing, even salvation. Faith is the beginning order of the three and if we get faith wrong the other two (trust and rest) will be lost to us. Many say David give me an example of faith , “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16) Real faith fears not death.

We use to sing a song in church (it has been years since I heard this song) called “Trust and Obey.” Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey. People ask me to give them an example of trust so I give these verses from Job, “Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? 15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 16He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 17Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. 18Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.” (Job 13:14-18) What better than our life to put against God’s faithfulness? Trust is a deeper work of God in our life and will require a stronger and tougher dealing of God in our lives for us to possess it. Remember nothing is free in God even our salvation was not free it cost Jesus His life. Everything we get from God will cost us something and trust is no different.

Lastly rest. Rest is the spiritual place God desires to take us all to in Him. The Children of Israel never entered into the land God promised them because they never entered into this place of rest in God. I am not so sure God was talking about a certain geographical land, but a spiritual place of rest we can learn of Him. Did you know the word “rest” has 275 occurrences in the Scriptures (KJV) and the very first reference in the New Testament is Jesus speaking of Himself, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus says He can give us rest if we take his yoke upon us and learn of Him. So the yoke of the Lord is not for working but for learning. And what are we to learn of Christ, “for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Rest in God leaves us safely in the boat were God put us. Written by David Stahl

JUDGMENT THEN MERCY

In life there are physical rules in the physical realm we must obey no one is exempt from gravity, heat, or motion. There are biological functions that govern our delicate body, which must follow to be able to operate at its maximum ability. So too in the Spiritual realm; there are divine spiritual principles we must follow to be able to function and operate correctly in God. Take forgiveness as an example. We think forgiveness is doled out unlimited, but not so in God. As we forgive we shall be forgiven. So if we forgive a little we shall be forgiven a little. The opposite is also true and both are bound to God’s divine Spiritual principles. If we forgive much then we can expect to be forgiven by God much. Jesus said, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: ³⁸Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:37-38) In verse 37 Jesus was lining up the principle “forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” and then in verse 38 Jesus sets the standard of our forgiveness “For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Did you get that at “the same measure.” God operates at the same measure. I wonder why we think God is going to give us more than what we need? This type of thinking is just plain old greed which most church leaders (worldwide) exploit at the disadvantage of the Gospel message. God is to us what we are to Him and the more faithful we are to God the more faithful God is to us. What father would not in his heart have a great love for a son or daughter who is faithful? We read verses in the Bible such as, “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matthew 13:23) and have ungodly Bible evangelists, preachers, and teachers twist the precious word of God into another message for their personal gain and ambition whereby saying the seed is money, but that is not what Jesus said. Jesus explaining the parable said, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. ¹¹Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:10-11) Yet on Christian TV all you hear is bury your seed (money) into my ministry and God will give you a supernatural harvest of return, well not so in God my friend. God always operates at the same measure and does not honor a lie and subversion of His word. “Give and it will be given unto.” God knows what you have and what your need is. Do not get off track in the greedy stock market game of I will give $5 and God will give me $100 oh no my friend give to God, be led by the precious Holy Spirit, and He will give back to you what you need. Here then is a true trust and confidence in God to meet our needs. The basis of our giving is not built on how much money we have or the abundance of our resources, but on the right heart condition of giving. If we give with the right heart condition God can use whatsoever we give to meet His and our need. The widow lady who gave her last two mites (or one farthing) gave with a right heart condition. Jesus said of her, “Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: ⁴⁴For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12:43-44) I wonder what her reward for her obedience and sacrifice was? If her need was money I am sure (the Bible does not say) God met her need, but if it was something else (peace, joy, health, etc.) I am sure God gave to her in measures she could not contain. God loves to meet the needs of His children. I have seen this time and time again over the many years of walking with the LORD. The more I am faithful to God the more He meets our needs and even some wants. We serve a great God who loves us and yes wants us to walk in His truth and in the precepts of His words.

Another area in the Scriptures that we can look at that has a judgment then mercy principle in operation is the lady caught in adultery. Now I know this story talks about adultery, but you can replace adultery with any sin (lying, murder, cheating, stealing, etc.) and the story will still ring true. In John we read, “And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, ⁴They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. ⁵Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? ⁶ This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. ⁷So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. ⁸And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. ⁹And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. ¹⁰When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? ¹¹ She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (John 8:3-11) Here the scribes and Pharisees (the religious folks of their day) bring a lady caught in adultery to Jesus to trap Him into speaking against the Law of Moses, one of the most beloved member and law giver of the Old Testament. Notice the scribes and Pharisees came with words to accuse, but Jesus met them with silence. In verse six it says, “But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.” What an unorthodox way to defend yourself -- silence. When Jesus was before Pilate the Bible says, “and Jesus opened not His mouth.” You know in these types of situations all words do is just get in the way. Jesus knew, “A soft (Strong’s #7390 tender, delicate, weak) answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1) Jesus’ silence conveyed His great strength not to be moved (oh how I need this in my life) by words or pressured by people. In verse seven he broke His silence, “he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” and then went back to writing on the ground. In only 15 words Jesus convicted the entire crowd of men and they departed and then Jesus went back to writing on the round. Now left on stage is only the lady and Jesus face-to-face. And Jesus asks, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” And she replied, “No man, Lord.” She recognized Jesus (being in the appearance of a man) was not a mire man and He could not only condemn her, but He could forgive her of her adultery. She also knew He was the only man who could have taken up a rock and took her life. Jesus replied back to her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Now this is a wonderful story of mercy and forgiveness we all like and want to relate to it in times when we are caught doing something wrong. We all are like the lady caught in adultery we all at times, “have sinned and come short of God’s glory” right? Many preachers and teachers say Jesus was writing down the sins of the men in the crowd who probably had slept with her and were now trying to cover their infidelity with religious works of men. But, you know things are no different today. Instead of confessing our infidelity (and the like) and getting it taken care of (before God and man) we have programs in churches to deal with the shame and grief we have caused our spouse, family, friends, and even ourselves. We wrap our big sins (over drinking, gambling, divorce, etc.) up in a really nice Easter basket and cover them and their actions with words and meetings. The church counselor has replaced the somewhat busy pastor, after all the church counselor has a degree from the local university and they know all of the modern techniques of counseling people who needs to get honest and truthful before God, who needs the Holy Spirit to convict them so they can get right before God and man we have a 12 step program that takes care of our problems. I do not think Jesus was writing down the sins of the men in crowd if so He would have addressed them individually. Their sins were not addressed (to forgiveness) they were only convicted and they departed. Verse nine says, “being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last:” what a sad state to be in. They had an encounter with Jesus was convicted, but never had their sins dealt with. Is this not the picture of the church (worldwide) today? We come to church, hear the word of God preached and taught (in some churches), we are convicted, but depart without having our sins dealt with. Oh LORD please let this not be my life.

How could Jesus say, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more?” The answer is quite clear, Jesus did not condemn her because He had already judged her and found her guilty. Now I was not there, but I believe what Jesus was writing on the ground was a list of all of her sins. It must (just like ours) have been a big list because twice Jesus wrote on the ground. Here is the principle; judgment then mercy. Jesus was judging the lady in His writing. If we go to court and stand before a judge there must be a judgment rendered before the judge either punishes us with the full extent of the law or gives us some degree of mercy. So too in God, when we stand before Him (the highest judge and we all will someday) He must judge us and make a judgment about us based on His divine spiritual principle before He can execute His judgment (punish) or extend mercy. The judgment must happen for God to know how much mercy to extend. Remember God operates at the same measure, but God is the one that decides to either execute punish or extent mercy. Again, the spiritual principle is judgment then mercy. Paul in 1 Corinthians tells us, “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. ³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. ³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:30-32) The judging of ourselves will limit the amount of judgment by God and man on earth not all, but some. And the more we learn to judge ourselves as God judges (righteous judgment) the less God will have to judge us in our next life to come. Never forget this life is about qualifying or being approved for our position in our next life. We seem to put (me too at times) so much effort into living this life with ease and comfort and fail to be concerned about the requirements for our next life to come. Paul warns us also in 1 Corinthians, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3) When will we learn to judge the angels? In our next life? Oh no, in this life as we learn to judge ourselves and the again the spiritual principle is judgment then mercy. Oh I know we have been taught do not judge (who wants to be judged by another?), well this may be true for some, but for those who can handle the weightier things of God: matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith they are a requirement and our reasonable duty before God and man. Written by David Stahl

THIS WORLD

This world is an amazing place at times. It is a place of unforgettable beauty and goodness, but at other times it is a place of heinous shame and evil. In my short life I have seen the splendor of the ice capped mountain of Everest in Nepal and I have seen the throngs of wilder beasts running at break-neck speed along the Serengeti in Kenya and Tanzania, both sights to behold. I have seen waterfalls and trees that seem to almost kiss the skies. I have brought life into this world and sadly I must confess I have taken life out of this world. There is nothing more special in this world than to hear a new born baby cry for the first time as it comes into this world. With all of the beauty this world can offer yet at the same time it also offers great sadness, poverty, and despair. I have seen the swollen bellies of children around the world; the sickness, disease, and famine of biblical proportions and even the ravages of war in the eyes and lives of people around the world. Yes this world is an amazing place, but my friend if we take a liking to this world it will destroy us. We must keep our heart out of the world, we must never think of this world as our home. Yet we (I include myself at times) Christians do all we can to dig our heart and lives into the dirt of this world. Jesus told the disciples, “Heaven (Strong’s #3772 the universe, the world, the aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds and the tempests gather, and where thunder and lightning are produced) and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) Now Jesus was not talking about “Heaven” our heavenly home for awhile, He was talking about the sky, the clouds, the stars, the planets, etc. Like the disciples then today many Christians get things here confused when the “world” is mentioned and if you get confused here my friend you are in great danger of losing your soul.

Now the Scripture often uses the word “world” to describe and explain things that affect our senses and human reasoning. For example in the most memorized verse in the Bible and even in the next verse we read, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) John had a lot to say about the “world” maybe because he spent his last days on earth in exile on an island; funny how the love for the world seems to grow dim in our thinking and heart as we get alone with God and separate ourselves from all of the hustle and bustle of life’s busy routine. In 1 John we read, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” (1 John 2:15-17) In both examples the word “world” is used many times, but the same Strong’s translation word, Kosmos #2889, is used. How could God give His precious Son Jesus for the “world” in one verse, but in another verse tell us not to love the “world?” For us to understand this we must apply some good old common sense (that God gave us) and do what Paul instructed Timothy; to study the word to find thy self approved so that we would not be found to be in error. Never forget the truth of the word of God (both written and spoken) is contained in the words as the precious Holy Spirit gives us revelation understanding to the words and concepts contained in what God is telling us. If we look at the Greek meanings for the word “Kosmos” we find it has eight meanings:

(1) An apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.

(2) Ornament, decoration, adornment, the arrangement of the stars, “the heavenly hosts,” as the ornament of the heavens in 1 Peter 3:3.

(3) The world, the universe.

(4) The circle of the earth, the earth.

(5) The inhabitants of the earth, men, the human race.

(6) The ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ.

(7) World affairs, the aggregate of things earthly: the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce us from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.

(8) Any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort.

Most certainly (and using our common sense) God would not give His precious Son for any government or earthly order, any arrangement of the stars, nor for the universe of which he made (Genesis 1:16) in five words. In Matthew 24:35, Jesus was talking about meanings, 2-4. In John 3:16-17, Jesus was talking only about meanings 5 and 6. And in 1 John 2:15-17, John was talking about all of the meanings, except for number 5 and 6. And do not make the mistake of thinking the earth is this world it is not. The earth (and the fullness therein) is what God made and gave to man that will never be destroyed. The world is an ungodly system, a way of thinking and doing things that is in direct rebellion to God’s word. To see this system in action all you have to do is turn on the TV and watch the news and popular programming. The world is the legal system that says it is okay to kill babies when God calls it murder. The world says it is okay for men to marry men and woman to marry woman, but God calls this an abomination. Almost every social issue and cause today that is popular in the world is in direct rebellion to God’s word. Also to see the world’s system in action all you have to do is go to a contemporary church and see how they have sold out from the Godly principles of the word of God through; Christian rock and roll music, interpretive dance, flag waving, permissive dress with no modesty or decency, and the folksy, hip-hop, liberal, worldly sermons that deny the authority, revelation, and power of God while exalting the world. God’s idea is for the church (the Body of Christ) to change the way people (the folks Jesus gave His life for in John 3:16-17) operate in the world, but today the opposite has happened the world system has been adopted by the church and it is changing the hearts and minds of Christians world-wide. We must go back to the tried and true principles of the Bible, the old ways lead to life. We most certainly are not to love this world (and be very careful how we love this earth), we are not to put our heart and soul into this worldly system (no matter how good it looks or how good it feels) we are to shun the world and all of its trappings. There is a direct correlation to our spiritual growth and development and the love we have for the world; the more we go after the world the less of God will be in us. I see this in the way we go after technology; everyone has a cell phone and are glued to them, we are addicted to social media (Facebook, etal), our lives revolve around technology and we seldom have time to be quiet and still before God to hear His voice. We cannot even get in a car (alone) and be still we must turn on the radio, put on a CD (at unnatural levels) or text someone, for most people (Christians included) technology has overwhelmed our lives and our relationship with the LORD (for most Christians) is non-existent.

Now do not think you are immune to this love of the world. The Lord really showed me how I am addicted to things from our past. As Karen and I began to look at the furniture, pictures, and the “stuff” we planned to move to our new home I could not believe how strong in my feelings I had for some of the old furniture we bought when we first got married. Furniture we shipped all over the country, from duty station to duty station, even to Germany and back. Furniture and things collected through the years that remind us of places and people from a time that has passed us by. You know we will never be able to allow God to bring new things into our lives until we can allow God to remove the old things from our lives. It was really strange the time we spent after we were told we had to move seemed like we were in limbo or in neutral. It was kind of surreal we were in a holding pattern (to be honest it was confusing at times) just waiting to close and move, but in us was a peace because we knew we were going to be moving and we were heading into uncharted waters in God. This my friend is the place where God can be God (in the unknown) and not some puppet on a sting to command at our whim, but a holy and capable God who cares for us individually and cares for the plan He has purposed and planned for our lives. We see this clearly in the life of Abram. In Genesis we read, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” (Genesis 12:1) Did you know God is a great disturber? He loves to disturb us and put us in a real fix so He can fix us. This is what He did with Abram. Can you imagine God telling you to leave your country, leave your relatives, and even leave your family? Talk about the unknown and then God says I will show you as you go where you are going, but Abram (in obedience) had to let the old things pass away in his life so that God could show him the land he was to go to and so that God could bring all of His precious promises (that God had for him) into his life. But before God can get us to a place where we are willing to leave our country, relatives, and family God first but be able to cut the world out of our heart and minds. In Matthew Jesus shares some very hard and often misunderstood words with us, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39) Jesus says, I have a sword and I am going to stick it in your heart (if you let Me) so that I can cut you out of this world and it is going to hurt and even cause strife and anger in your family; between your parents, brothers, sisters, and even your children, because if you love them all more than Me than you are not worthy of Me. God has a cross (our will laid against God’s will for our lives) for each and every one of us to die on, to crucify our love for this world and its pleasures. Count the cost my friend Jesus comes with a sword to cut our affections and desires for this world out of us and it will hurt (we will cry) and we will even die, but “he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” The more we allow God to cut us out of this world the more of God’s life we will have in us. Two things I will promise you my friend and that is Jesus is good at wielding a sword at our heart, his sword cuts us coming and going and the second is it will hurt we will have pain, heartaches, and confusion, but if we allow Jesus to do His work in our lives at the end of the surgery we will be able to love the unlovable as Jesus did, endure the persecution and tribulation Jesus also promised us because we will not be of this world we will be birthed from above. Written by David Stahl

LIFE THROUGH DEATH

The longer I live on earth the more I seem to want to live to see our grand kids have kids and the more my flesh screams to be soothed and satisfied. Now do not get me wrong I do not have some death wish to leave this earth before God’s time and I know God still has much more for Karen and I to do, but I see within me lives a paradox that I battle and even struggle with dying so that I can live. Now you will not hear this spiritual concept taught at most churches (maybe 1 out of 10) most churches teach we are to live in the abundant life of Christ, be blessed in overflow, claim (concept not found in the Bible) it, just tune in to Christian TV and you can pick and choose the lie you wish to follow. But, it is the message of the Gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ) that is the power of the cross. The power of the cross is not about life it is about death. The power of the cross is not about abundance, but limitations. The power of the cross is not about freedom, but restriction because limitations, restrictions, and death to our flesh bring us to fulfillment and completion in God, not abundance, freedom, and life. Paul shares this stark, hard truth with the Church at Corinth and us, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) Things have not changed in over 2,000 years, today preaching the preaching of the cross (the Gospel message, death to our carnal selfishness, our self-centered nature, and our religious self-seeking) is still considered foolishness and many still perish. The truth is the more we can die to our intentions, emotions, and desires the more we can live in the God type of life (Zoe) and the more God can use us. But here is the key, we must die. The progression in God is not into greater life, but into greater death. Jesus said, “The thief cometh (not the devil) not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11) Jesus came so that we may have life, but for us to be able to walk in the newness of life in Christ He had to die. The hallmark and crowning glory of Christ’s ministry on earth was not all of His parables, teachings, miracles, and healings, but when He died between two thieves. Jesus came for one reason and only one reason to die on a cross so that we might be able to have His life. Jesus was not talking about going to heaven as most denominations and religious groups teach, oh no Jesus was talking about going to die, “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die.” The only place we are going to after we accept Jesus as our personal savior is to our cross (our will laid against God’s will for our lives) to suffer (soften our heart towards man and God) and die. Jesus takes us by the hand and leads us to places we do not want to go, but if we do go we can be raised in newest of life, God’s life. This too is a type and shadow of what God expects to happen in our lives. Please notice verse 11 says, “the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” Jesus had to die so that we, “might have life and that they might have it more abundantly” the spiritual principle: life though death and the more death we experience in God the more life in God we can experience. Jesus shared this same spiritual principle (used other words) with the disciples and they scratched their heads again. You know the disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying until the Holy Spirit came and yet many today say we do not need the Holy Spirit. It only shows us just how far we have drifted from the truth of the word of God and of the dark heart of the religious, humanistic, apostate (works focused) church of today. Jesus said in John again, “Verily, verily, (a double negative, strongest use of an imperative to express significance) I say unto you, Except (meaning: the only way there is no other way) a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:24-26) So the only way, there is no other way to be fruitful in God is to “fall in to the ground and die,” but no I thought God has called us to “life and it more abundantly?” No my friend God has called us to death not to life, God is calling us to lose our life for if we can lose our life surely we shall find it. Jesus repeats this thought in Matthew and added some other qualifiers, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39) Please notice the losing comes first and the finding is second. Never forget order in God really matters. If we do not allow God to strengthen us with might in the inward man (we cannot do it on our own this is called religion) to be able to lose our life we shall never be able to walk in the life that God has for our life. How could we? It is God’s power, it is God’s life not ours! We have no faith, faith is owned by God He even gives us a measure (Romans 12:3) to be saved and live Godly, everything is owned by God.

Paul knew this spiritual principle and the progression of it all too well, “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) Remember truth is progressive and the more truth we can allow God to work in our lives the more it will cost us. And to the extent of our death will measure the extent of our life in God. Remember death in God has a purpose. The purpose of death in God is resurrection. No death no resurrection. We all want to experience God’s newness of life, well to experience God’s newness of life we all first must die, we all must lose our life so we can find it. Is our life in God lost? No it is on the other side of death, both spiritually and physically. We see this in Romans when Paul taught the Church at Rome, “Therefore 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. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:4-5) Did you get that? “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.” And verse five brings it all home to our heart, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” Never think God highly exalted His Son Jesus because He was God’s Son, oh no if you do you will be grossly wrong. God, “ . . . hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” not because He was God’s Son, oh no, but because He, “ . . . made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Our way is clear and our path is sure, as Jesus is our example we too must fall into the ground and die so that we will be able to be fruitful and walk in the newness of life God has for us all. But, no death no life it is as simple as that. Written by David Stahl

OUR CHOICES

Our lives are made up from the sum total of our choices and there is nothing in our lives that did not happen beyond our ability to choose correctly in God. This is an understanding we must embrace if we are going to “grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ” because this is the understanding we must have to enable our dedication and commitment for God to be able to endure the consequences of our actions (dirty little words for most Christians today) and the many chastening, dealings, and judgments of the Lord. In these is where the Christ-like character conforming processes of God happens in our lives. It is not the cool waters and green pastures we relish and covet, but the inward retrospection and quiet times before God when He can open our heart and minds and show us our real character before Him. God is so concerned about our character. It is on the back side of the desert (in the wilderness) God’s people are tried and tested not in the well watered plains. I always thought it a bit strange that the good Shepard (Jesus) left the 99 sheep in the wilderness when He went after the one lost sheep. Luke tells us, “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” (Luke 15:4) Now I cannot believe the good Shepard (Jesus) did not know where the lost sheep was. Does Jesus not know everything? I believe the good Shepard tarried and sought the one lost sheep a while so that the 99 could spend some time in the wilderness. The wilderness will work some things out of us if we allow God to do the work in us. There was a work in the 99 that could only be done in the wilderness and the good Shepard had to allure them there. So too in our lives the wilderness is the only place where God can get our attention so that He can do a work in our lives. In Hosea we find this happening, “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.” (Hosea 2:14) And why? Because the wilderness is the only place God can speak comfort to us; there all of the other voices are distant, no one to depend on, and we are all alone with God. God’s goal in leading us to the wilderness (our choice if we want to go) is so that we can learn to lean on Him, “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” (Song of Solomon 8:5) The longer we walk with the Lord the more we will discover the wilderness is a wonderful (if not the major) making place in our Christian lives. Any one that ever amounted to anything in God was sent to the wilderness to be tried in the furnace of God’s purifying fire, molded and shaped in the hands (as clay) of the Master until they were ready for service. But make no mistake my friend we will end up in the wilderness (God’s making places for our lives) based not on God’s will for our lives (it is always God’s intention for us), but based on the choices we have made. We see the impact of making right and wrong choices from the very beginning of man in Genesis and how his choices have impacted on all humanity. In Genesis we discover a divine spiritual truth that runs as a scarlet thread all throughout the Bible, the word “every.” Now when the Bible says “every” it means “every” it does not mean some or only a few, but it means “every” and here in Genesis 1:29, 2:9, and 2:16 it says “every.” God told Adam “Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” (Genesis 1:29) God meant “every.”And in Chapter two, “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:8-9) Now please notice God used the word “every” again (and meant it) and even mentioned “the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” I have always wondered why Adam did not go after “the tree of life also in the midst of the garden.” God did not say Adam could not eat of “the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” But in verses 16 and 17 God reiterated Adam’s options of eating of “the tree of knowledge of good and evil,” but now gave Adam an opportunity to make a life or death choice. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) Most if not all of the choices God gives us are life or death, but we most often cannot see the future outcome of our choices when we make them, oh thank God for His longsuffering. God was telling Adam you can eat of this tree and this tree and this tree and even this tree, but if you eat of this tree (and you are free to eat of it) “thou shalt surely die.” I wonder why God changed His mind between verses Genesis 2: 9 and 16. Did you know God changes His mind sometimes? In Genesis later we read, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”(Genesis 6:5-6) Wow this sounds like today.

Or was God setting something different into motion in the earth to help us walk in the truth of His words? And that thing God set into motion was choice, our choice whether to sever Him or not sever Him, be obedient or not be obedient to Him, be committed or not be committed to Him. Without choice in our lives we are no better than the birds of the air, the fish of the seas, or even the Angels. Choice in our lives gives us the opportunity to walk away from God (what a chance God takes on us) or to draw nearer to Him. The more we understand this option of choice in our lives the more God’s love will grip our hearts and we will see what a loving God we serve and the less selfish and self-seeking we will become. I do not know about you my friend, but at times I can be very selfish and want my way. Why do we think God is going to do all of the work for us or do what we want Him to do? Why do we think God is going make choices for us like save this person we want saved or curse this person we want cursed? One thing for sure “every” thing we get from God will not be because God made it happen oh no my friend “every” thing we get from God will be based on the choices we have made in our lives. Now some Christians would disagree with me here, but I will go even further and include even those things God has allowed in our lives that are not according to His best for our lives. Did you know God will offer us His second best? As I was getting out of the U.S. Navy (USN) in Stuttgart I received a phone call from my detailer (someone who arranges duty assignments for Officers in the USN) and he asked me if I would consider a four year follow-on assignment at U.S. Marine Forces Europe (a three star, U.S. Marine Corps Headquarter in the Stuttgart area) doing the very same job I was doing at U.S. European Command. I even had other Officers campaigning for me to take the job unbeknownst to me. We would not have to move, I could still pastor the church, everything would be as it was, except for God’s will for our lives. My friend God will check us out to see if we really want His best for our lives and He will do this by offering us something that makes perfect common sense to our natural man and satisfies our fleshly desires. Take heed here my friend when God presents you with such a choice. Now I am sure everything would have worked out fine: God would have continued to bless Family Stahl, God would have continued to bless the church, people would have still come to Christ and lives would have been changed, but the down side to this choice would be we (me, my family, and our church) would miss out on God’s best for our lives and we would have known it. Remember; sin is to know right and not do it, to miss the mark, and the mark here for our lives was for me to get out of the USN. We could have chosen to do good things for God and I feel sure good things would have happened, but the best things God wanted for me and my family would not have been done and out from that we would have experienced loss in God and suffered in relationships and God’s favor. Did you know our obedience or disobedience in God can be measured? There is a point along God’s spiritual continuum time-line for our lives where we find (reality) ourselves in relationship to God’s will for our lives and then there is a point along God’s time-line where He expects us to be. The difference between the two points is the delta of either obedience (moving further to the right of God’s expectation) or disobedience (moving further to the left of God’s expectation) in our lives, now experiencing loss is very sad, but after an undisclosed prescribed time of God while walking in loss things gets worse. God told the Children of Israel, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” (Deuteronomy 30:19) Strange how our bad choices effect others in our lives. The deeds of what was to be the “record” that God was keeping apparently came to an end and God said, “I have set before you life and death (a choice), blessings and cursing:,” but please notice what God desires we choose “therefore (because all that has just said) choose life.” God’s choice for our lives is always life, blessings, and victory, but again it is not up to God (this is His intention for us), but it is up to us will we do and say the things needed to walk in the things God has purposed for our lives?

No where do we find this truth so vital and critical than in Ezekiel. We read, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 11-11) This is God’s intention for us. But it is in verses 13 and 15 we read the real fall-out of our choices, “When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.” (Ezekiel 11-13) What a sobering truth. Please notice, “if he trust to his own righteousness and commit iniquity” then all of his righteousness shall not be remembered and he shall die for it. Our willful choice to “commit iniquity” (lawlessness or to move outside the laws of God) in spite of all we have said and done for God will cost us loss; first the work that God has been able to do in our lives) and then ultimately we shall die for it. But, “If the wicked restore the pledge (confess and repent), give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. 16None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.” (Ezekiel 11-15-16) Life and death is in the power of our choices; it always has been since Genesis and will always be. God has purposed and plans things this way and is watching and listening to our choices. Written by David Stahl

OUR HURTS AND LOSSES

One of the toughest things we must allow God to do for us is to get us over hurts and losses in our lives. Now no one is immune from hurts and losses and I promise you the more we walk with the Lord the more we will have to confront them and allow God to strengthen us with might (an inward ability to deal with issues of the heart) in the inward man. God is good at making our way constructive in life to make our living worth the while of learning how to function correctly with Him. Many Christians fail to allow God to deal and judge in their lives and they carry these hurts and losses all along their way and even carry them to heaven where God will have to deal with them at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Please do not think we will be able to sneak into heaven with some unresolved issues in our lives. Sadly the message of grace has cheapened the requirement for spiritual growth and development in the church today. The message we hear today in most churches is: God loves you and He will forgive you which is true, but it is not God’s intention for us to continually use His grace (as a crutch) to ask forgiveness again and again. God’s intention for us is to confess with our own words and then repent (about face or turn away from) of our sin so that we grow in the grace and the knowledge (both) of our Lord Jesus Christ. John tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:9-10) God never intended for a bunch of babies with no spiritual ability, power, and revelation to lead His church. Remember at the heart of every issue is always an issue of our heart. And it is our heart (as God deals and judges in it) where our spiritual ability and character is developed. And guess what that brings us back to our hurts and losses.

Make no mistake my friend hurts and loss in our lives can be very painful. The sting of death hurts, even the death of a beloved dog. Recently our Boxer dog Grimme died, he was better than some people I know and even in this the sting of death was bitter to us. Now we understand he was a dog and not a person, but when our affections and feelings get involved in our decisions we hurt from our loss. We have always liked dogs. Karen has even taught our daughter Connie and others never to marry a man who would beat an animal, if he will beat an animal he will beat you, sound advice even for today. Do you know animals know love when they see it and when they do not see it? When we lived in Germany I pastored a church with people from all around the world who came to church with all kinds of different cultures and customs. One American custom I always liked (and still do today) is to invite people over for dinner. You learn a lot about people when you sit around a dinner table; do they fill their plate first or pass the food. Do they get the last piece of chicken or prefer it for their friends or host. But one thing I would notice was who our Boxer dog Annie (a very loving and humble dog) would go to for some affection. I noticed who Annie would let pet her, but more important I noticed who Annie would not allow to pet her, and time bore out those who Annie would not allow to pet her were real snakes in the grass.

One of the biggest areas we get hurt in is from our friends and our family. Karen and I can personally speak of this. Since returning from Germany in 2003 we have been excluded from our family because we have stood for the truth of the word of God. We have spoken out against the drunkenness and homosexuality in our family for this we have been vilified and marginalized. But that is okay I must answer to God not to my family. He will not thank me for compromising the truth of the word of God for the sake of family peace and togetherness, but I will have to answer Him for how I handled the truth of the word of God in my life, we all will. Now I will be honest I do not understand Christians some times. We understand sinners they cannot help themselves, but lately I have found sinners to be more truthful and with more integrity than most Christians, ah I forgot we have grace to fall back on. I can take you to five churches in Jacksonville (a Baptist, a Pentecostal, and three non-denominational) that Karen and I have been asked to leave or been given the cold shoulder because the pastor found out about Beholding His Glory (BHG). Two of the pastors (the Pentecostal and one of the non-denominational) invited us out to a restaurant to get to know us, but when the check came both pastors waited for me to grab the bill. One pastor (another non-denominational) and his wife we invited over to our home for supper and all they did was eat and grab three of my books not even asking me for cost to cover the books. And another pastor (the Baptist) never went out to supper with us nor even came over to our home even though we asked many times. Yet when all five pastors learned about BHG their attitudes and reactions did a 180 degree change towards us. All Karen and I wanted to do was attend their service, just come and go, give them some money, and not get involved, but once the people started talking to us and we opened up a little the pastors got defensive with us and started guarding their members as if we were going to steal members from them so we could start a church. We assured them this was not our intention, but the pastors poisoned the heart of the people against us and we got the cold shoulder so we moved on. Friend this ought not to be in the Body of Christ, but jealousy, anger, immaturity, greed, and plain old contention in the hearts of pastors and leaders will only yield division, jealousy, anger, immaturity, greed, and plain old contention in them and in the people. Never forget the closer someone is the greater the hurt they can cause in our lives. Just ask a divorce lawyer. We must guard our heart with great diligence, with the word of God, and even some good old common sense from such people who would want to manipulate and take advantage of us for their personal gain. The last time I went to Kenya we had a very busy and ambitious schedule. We spent three or four days in Mombasa (man was it hot and my air conditioner did not work in my room) and then we drove six hours up to Nairobi. Well on the trip our host pastor was getting tired (he is always a real trooper giving of himself and family) so my friend (I still will call him friend) suggested I drive since I had an expired international driving license. Now another name for an expired international driver license is no driver license, but my friend insisted I drive. Driving was not the problem, in the past I have driven from Mombasa to Nairobi, but then I had a license. I suggested we stop for an hour or two and let our host pastor get a power nap and then continue, but not my friend of 30 years he insisted I drive, well I said no, so he berated me soundly and took the wheel. He blasted off gunning the engine and I am not really sure what he did, but the entire time he drove the engine was not working properly and the brakes seemed to fail at times. This continued for some miles so we decided to stop in Sultan Hamud where our host pastor knew some folks who could take a look at our car. After about two hours and after our host pastor and the car (they could find nothing a wrong) rested our host pastor took off driving again for Nairobi. Now here is the best part of this story. When the conference started the next day one of the Kenyan pastors who served as my interrupter shared a story about how he was stopped, arrested, and taken to jail for driving without a driver license. In your country of residence it is important to follow the laws and rules of the land, but when you are a foreigner it is more important you follow the rules and laws. Just because we are doing the Lord’s work we think He is going to cover all of our little omissions of obedience to the laws of then land or following the rules in the name of the Lord, well this my friend will land you in jail just as fast as anyone else. We as Christians are held to an even higher standard of doing what is right and following the laws. I guess my friend of 30 years was not so concerned about following the laws or for my well being as he was about getting to Nairobi or resting our host pastor. But this is the same friend of 30 years who says he is eating up my sin against him (not a Biblical principle) for telling him the truth to a question he asked about his character and got greatly offended. Again take heed my friend it is your closest friends that will cause you the greatest hurts. Did you know God is more concerned about our character than He is about our ability to minister the word of God? Our revelation of God to minister the word of God must match our character if not we know not God because His words (the truth about ourselves) have not gotten down into our precepts and concepts that form our daily living, thus the manifestation of our character will always be fleshly and carnal, even though we can recite the Bible backwards and forwards or masterfully weave Scriptures to support what we are saying. Our character is God’s biggest area of concern in our lives. At the heart of all of these issues (even maybe some in me) believe it or not is pride. At the heart of our hurts and losses believe it or not is pride. Solomon tells us, “Only by pride cometh contention (confusion, anger, strife, bitterness, envy): but with the well advised is wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10) Now many Christians do not believe this verse. They blame everyone else, even the devil for the contention at work, in their home, or in their lives, but the Bible says it is pride. And it says “only by pride,” there is nothing else that causes contention in our lives. When our pride get hurts we strike back with everything within us to seek our revenge and get our pound of flesh. Our carnal nature wants its way and will do and say anything it can to get even. Think not our flesh is not alive, oh no my friend our flesh is alive and well, subtle and sure waiting for every opportunity to get hurt and play the martyr.

Did you know for us to allow God to get us over being hurt in our lives there must be a constant putting off of things so that we can put on other things? This is a spiritual principle we must operate in to get over hurt and even offense in our lives. In Romans Paul encourages us, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” (Romans 13:12-13) Now the spiritual order is, “cast off the works of darkness” and then we can “put on the armour of light.” No casting off, no putting on. No allowing God to work in our lives so that we can cast off hurts no putting on the new things that God has for us to replace the hurts. How can we receive the beauty God has for us unless we first get up from the ash pile? In our lives old things must pass away before God can bring new things into our lives. As we move from our present home to a new home and even our dog dying we must embrace these old things and allow God to work them out of us so we can walk in the new things He has for us. And again casting off hurts is painful, but please know when we get hurt it is most often our fault; we have opened up ourselves to people or things maybe we should not have. I was amazed to hear and watch the lies of Harold Camping when he said Jesus was coming back first in September 1994 and then recently in May 2011. It was not the lies of Camping that amazed me, but how the people who followed him were deceived. Millions from around the world believed him they sold or gave away their homes, cars, clothing, everything. I got emails and phone calls from Christians around the world asking my opinion if Jesus was coming back in May 2011. They all were hurt, but they all hurt themselves. No one held a gun to their head and said you must believe Camping’s lies. This is where knowing the truth will really save your life.

Now please let me turn to loss in our lives. We do not want to lose because when we lose we feel bad and cry, but this is nothing more than our selfishness coming through. When Grimme died we cried, we cried not because he died his death was a blessing due to his sickness, but we cried because we were going to miss him, it was out of our selfish nature that we experience loss and we do not like that. We all at the center of our will and nature are selfish and prideful, we do not want to lose anything and when we do our selfishness comes alive and causes us to hurt and our lives are now filled with pain and sorrow. But believe it or not God has a purpose for loss in our lives. Lose in our lives creates more of a place for God’s glory in us if we allow it. The more we lose the more God can come (if we allow Him too) and fill that empty place in our heart. If we never experience loss in our lives we will never be able to experience the spiritual gain God has for us. Did you know God measures our gain in Him not by what we can add, but by how much we can lose? The more we can lose of this world and our self the more we gain of God. This too is why God allows suffering in our lives to help keep our heart out of this world. But at the end of the day, no matter what hurt or loss we have experienced in our lives: death of a family member, an animal, our health, bankruptcy, whatever we must be able to trust them to God’s able and faithful hands, if not we will never be able to get over them in our lives. In our hurts and losses we must be able to say, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” while keeping our eyes on the Lord. Written by David Stahl