PREACH THE WORD

One of the most disturbing trends (other than the spreading of the prosperity doctrine world-wide) in the church is the move NOT to have a Sunday night nor a mid-week service. If they do have something on a Wednesday night it is centered around eating or choir practice and not on the preaching of the word of God. I find it remarkable how in the Bible when Jesus got a bunch of people together and fed them they had no stomach for the things of God, but just wanted their bellies full. I guess there is nothing new under the sun. Most churches today in America have one service; a Sunday morning service where they go all out and some even preach a 15-30 minute sermon, but sadly most churches in America have substituted eating, fellowship, and other church activities for the preaching of the word of God. Now this trend has been going on for some time, but recently it has really become noticeable to those who can remember a time in the church when the Spirit of God moved among the people and lives were truly changed. I thought maybe this is why America has been going downhill for some time. When the preaching of the word of God in any home, church, country, or civilization stops the only way for the sociality to go is down away from God and His ways. On a recent ministry trip I asked the LORD why this trend is increasing and He told me. Believe it or not if you ask God something He will tell you if you have ears to hear what He has to say. But on the way back I was meditating on this thought and thinking about some churches where this is going on and the LORD told me, “these churches and others really do not believe in the power of the Gospels message so they have substituted other messages, activities, and functions into the church thinking they will bring people in to see what the church has to offer, but this my son will never work.” There is a spiritual principle here in operation; what you lead people with is what you have won them to. So if you lead people to church with eating, singing and dancing, showing a good Christian movie, or other things then you have won them not to Christ, but to those activities. Now if you lead people to church with the preaching of the word of God then you will win them to the word of God and to Christ. There is a Baptist association of around 15 or so churches in Jacksonville every Super Bowl they throw (no church that night if they are still have a Sunday night service) a huge Super Bowl party at their administrative building to watch the game and maybe at half time they say something about the LORD. Their thinking is people will not come to church, but they will come to a party and maybe someone will say or do something that will lead them to Christ, but sadly all they have done was to lead people to the Super Bowl. And they do this every year. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing, but expecting to get different results. They keep having this Super Bowl party every year expecting to lead people to Christ when all they have done is lead people to the Super Bowl and here is why they really do it (like other denominations) they lead people to the Baptist denomination.

The Church does not seem to do well with eating, here a few examples. The communion table in the Gospels was always set in jealousy and confusion. Before the meal the Disciples were arguing among themselves who would be the greatest in the kingdom. The New Testament Church in the Book of Acts had problems when they mixed food and God. “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. ²Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. ³Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. ⁵And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:” (Acts 6:1-5) I guess the Disciples were serving the least and problems came as with most things in the church. Moses made the same mistake the Disciples made here. God told Moses to judge the people, but the Bible (Exodus 18:13-26) says, Moses (verse 24) “hearkened unto the voice of his father-in-law” and selected leaders that were “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness;” to judge the people. They may have been God- fearing and up right men, but God told Moses to judge the people and out from that we now have the Ten Commandants which are good (and many people still follow, but did you know you can follow the Ten commandments to the letter, die, and go to hell? As I said before I truly believe it was not God’s idea to give us the Ten Commandants. God told Moses to judge the people because God knew Moses’ heart condition and it was his heart condition that was the basis and baseline for his judgment. But when Moses selected other leaders there needed to be a new basis and baseline of judgment for the people and because of Moses’ disobedience he had to use the Ten Commandants instead of the work God did in his life. Here in Acts the Disciples should have dealt with the issue, instead of adding another layer of human flesh into the church structure. When the “whole multitude” was pleased this should have been a sign to the Disciples not to do this. Anytime church leadership is lead by the people things that God has put into place are up rooted and disappear. Later in 1 Corinthians we see another contention around eating and church. “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. ¹⁸For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. ¹⁹For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. ²⁰When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. ²¹For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. ²²What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.” (1 Corinthians 11:17-22) What a telling statement about the spirituality of the Church at Corinth. Paul was saying they were better off not coming to church because when they did they depart worse off than for the better doing all of this eating and other activities. Sadly this is the same spiritual conditions we find today in many churches.

Now please do not misunderstand me here, I am not saying we should never eat, but we must never substitute the message of the Gospel for eating, singing and dancing, church activities and programs for the preaching and teaching of the word of God. I was shocked when God told me, “these churches and others really do not believe in the power of the Gospels message so they have substituted other messages, activities, and functions into the church thinking they will bring people in to see what the church has to offer, but this my son will never work” because God has established the message, format, and median to deliver His message to the world and this my friend does not change with the times nor with cultural shifts.

Let us be honest the culture in most of America has shifted away from a conservative home spun lifestyle to a more liberal contemporary lifestyle. And this my friend is not good for America. The more America goes after this liberal contemporary lifestyle the less of God will be in America. Sadly you can track it over the years and sadly you can see the ruination of the people and the country.

My friend God’s message does not change. God’s delivery method is still the same one on one. How can we make disciples if we never talk to people? How can we make disciples if we preach and teach over the internet? The Gospel message (the death, burial, and bodily resurrection) is still the basis for our salvation. But did you know many churches today in America do not believe in the bodily resurrection, burial, or even the death of Jesus. Paul said it true, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17) Many churches today in America and others parts of the world are “ashamed of the gospel” and it is the gospel that “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” not eating, drinking, church programs and activities, Super Bowl parties, and the like. Sadly over the years many false preachers and teachers have crept in and weakened the foundation of many churches and turned their heads from the truth of the word of God so that they could establish church organizations, denominations, and institutions that will serve their agendas and pursuits. Paul also dealt with this with issue warning us this was going to happen and even gave us the answer when he was with the Church in Galatia, “Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ⁹As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:7-9) Not once but twice Paul admonished the Church, “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” I do not know about you my friend, but if I attended church that spends more time eating, singing, and dancing then preaching the word of God I would get my family and run as fast as I could out the door. The facts are clear and indisputable, yet many Christians stay in churches that do not preach or teach the word of God and wonder why they are not growing spiritually in the LORD. And yes, my friends we are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ.” God expects us to grow up and become mature men and women of God able to handle some responsibility in seeing the Gospel message shared with every man, woman, and child in the world, but this will not happen if we are always getting offended and falling out of the way God has for us to go. Jesus told us the way is narrow and straight, He meant that. To walk in God there is no wiggle room, our way is limited and restricted to the things God has established for us to do and say. In God we do not get say what we want, but are under restraints to our desires and wants by the Holy Spirit.

I am afraid in this age of contemporary “anything goes” world the preaching of the message of the cross has become out dated. Other messages have taken its place, but how is that working out? America and other so called Christian countries slip further and further into moral and ethical decay, sodomy, lesbians, and anything else that appeals to their imagination and evil heart condition. God’s message does not change and His message is the price upon the cross His Son died on. Paul again helps us, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-19) The wise and prudent of this world think God’s ways are out dated, “let’s have a Super Bowl party and say we are having a church service.” Well, God has a word for you, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” God will get the last word. Let us fear the LORD with all of our heart, mind, and spirit, and get back to His ways of preaching the word. Written by David Stahl

SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND WONDERS

Desiring or seeking signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts, in most Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, seem to be the main focus (and some of the most controversial points of church order and doctrine effecting our daily Christian living) and projection to God’s manifestation on earth, but not so to function and application in God’s divine spiritual plans for man. Instead of making our needed adjustments to God where we can purely operate in the spiritual gifts we go after things that tickle our fancy and puff-up our imagination to what and who God really is. Now please do not misunderstand me here I greatly believe in signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts disputing the existence (as some denominations and religions do) of these wonderful throughputs of God’s spiritual manifestation and edifications to the Body of Christ (and out from the Body of Christ to the world) is nothing but foolishness. There is to be a fire hose flow of signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts from God to the local assembly and then out to the world, but it often seems these signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts get log jammed in the local assembly of believers as we think this brother or sister is really spiritual if he or she can speak in tongues or prophesy, but this is so far from the truth. Being spiritual has nothing to do with our ability to execute the spiritual gifts and abilities God has given us. God made a donkey speak and we think we are something special when we speak in tongues, prophesy, or when God uses us in some special way. Let us never forget signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts are for the nonbelievers and I would say for the babes in the LORD. In 1 Corinthians Paul corrects this misapplication of truth to the Church at Corinth (who had every gift of the spirit in operation, but said that they gathered together for the worse than the better (1 Corinthians 11:17)) when he said, “In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. ²²Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.” (1 Corinthians 14:21-22) It is no wonder the church is full of nonbelievers or babes they are going after signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts lacking spiritual growth and development to be able to correctly be used of God. We make a grievous error thinking we are more than what we really are in God in the spiritual realm neglecting the foundational principle of simplicity, integrity, and humility.

Operating in the gifts of the Spirit does not manifest spiritual maturity in our lives, spiritual maturity alone is developed in us as we allow God to deal and judge in our lives. If operating in the spiritual realm builds spiritual maturity in us then Saul would have been a very spiritual man, but this was not the case. Not once but twice Saul prophesied out of a heart of anger, jealousy, and bitterness. In 1 Samuel we read, “And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. ¹¹And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.” (1 Samuel 18:10-11) How could this be, “God came upon Saul and he prophesied” while he was trying to kill David with a javelin? Then again in 1 Samuel, “And he (Saul) went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. ²⁴And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?” (1 Samuel 19:23-24) Again the Spirit of God was on Saul and he prophesied, no more no less. I promise you my friend if the Spirit of God falls on us we will prophesy and more, but do not think it is something special we have done to receive such a wonderful blessing. Our part is to be the vessel God can flow through and bring impact to the expression of God. Saul’s heart condition (in both cases) was wrong and all God could do was speak through him, but if Saul’s heart condition was humble and lowly of heart then God could have used him to fulfill His (God’s) purpose in the prophesy. In this mighty manifestation of God and in spite of God’s power being all over Saul his heart for David and for God was still unchanged.

It is when we are seeking the giver of the signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts God’s fulfillments in spiritual things can be accomplished in our lives and more importantly in the lives of others. In the Gospel of John we read of a wonderful story of Jesus healing a young boy without touching or even seeing him. “When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. ⁴⁸Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye (speaking to the disciples and the crowd that followed after Him) see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. ⁴⁹The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. ⁵⁰Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. ⁵¹And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.” (John 4:47-51) What a scolding Jesus gave the disciples, “Except ye (speaking to the disciples and the crowd that followed after Him) see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” You know seeing is NOT believing. In God NOT seeing is believing. This is why all of our efforts and hard work seldom yield any investment in God, but when our faith (when we hear God speak to us) is energized and God’s purposes are being met then things always work out for His and our glory. One thing I have observed over my many years in the LORD is how being zealous for God and even the things of God can get you off track faster than sin. With sin you have a way back (confession and repentance) to get back on track, but being zealous, well it is sadly like presumption; we do not know that we do not know. Zealousness distracts our attention from the heart of the issue and gets us off center. Zealousness (and most important) leaves us with a sense of well doing and feeling like we have accomplished something for God when in reality we have not. In 1 Corinthians Paul was sharing this point with the Church at Corinth, “There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. ¹¹Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. ¹²Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. ¹³Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.” (1 Corinthins14:10-14) Here Paul was not praising them, remember the Church at Corinth had every Spiritual gift in operation yet Paul said of them, “they were carnal, unlearned, full of division and fractures.” Zealousness will cause us to run after signs and wonders, and gifts. The Rich Young Ruler was zealous and Jesus could not do much with him. Luke tells us the Rich Young Ruler, “came running after Jesus,” but when Jesus pressed him for a commitment into servant hood he could not totally sell out and why? He was zealous to do the good works and the rituals and traditions of religion. Take heed my friend not to become zealous for God, but just love Him, become (a process of learning and knowing) obedient do what He directs, and He will take care of things from there.

My friend Jesus time and time again (also found in Matthew 12:39, 16:4, Mark 8:12) tells us not to seek a sign or go after spiritual gifts, “And he said, ‘Yea, rather, happy those hearing the word of God, and keeping it!’²⁹And the multitudes crowding together upon him, he began to say, ‘This generation is evil, a sign it doth seek after, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet, ³⁰for as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also shall the Son of Man be to this generation.” (Luke 11:28-30) Jesus is our sign He is enough. If we seek after a sign from God or after spiritual gifts it is a sign of our spiritual immaturity all the while thinking we are on track and spiritually minded. Christians who look for or seek spiritual gifts are out of balance and this reflects in every area of their lives not just the spiritual areas, but also in the natural areas. James tells us, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. ⁷For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. ⁸A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:6-8) We are not to “think” we have received from God, but we are to know through experience (out from our faith) we have received from God, if not we are a “double minded man” who is unstable in all their ways. Now when the Bibles says “all” it means “all.” Not just the spiritual things in the spiritual realm, but also the things of the natural realm. I have seen this play out in so many Christian’s lives, thinking they are doing what God told them to do, but in reality and in the end they confess they were wrong. Zealousness can also play a big part in this. Operating correctly in spiritual gifts are for the well developed and mature Christians and this my friend comes with much time spent before God, many failures, and much soul searching.

Funny how in the German language the word “gift” is translated poison. When Germans move to America they see many stores called “gift shops” and expect one thing, but get another. So too is the immature Christian. When an immature Christian goes after signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts they are like a poison to their spirit and to their spiritual growth and development. If not able to endure the disciplining of the LORD then they will live their lives missing the high mark of the LORD. Go not after signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts, but go after Jesus He is always enough. Written by David Stahl

HAVE MERCY ON ME

I do not know about you my friend, but I think I need more mercy in my life. I think we all would say a big amen to that. It seems the longer I go in God the less I know and the more I find myself doing things I ought not to be doing. Funny how God has limited me to doing the things I can do lawfully while honing (cornering) me down in my awareness to those things I should not be doing. Not that I cannot do them because I can, but those things I ought not to be doing, there is a huge difference. Things I could do in the past now are out of bounds and off limits. I really feel the longer we go with God the more God expects from us. The longer we go with God the more God expects our walk to be more righteous, faithful, and yes simplistic. All of the fancy things of ministry (traveling the world and preaching the Gospel in huge crusades and conferences) and our Christian living we think are important are not really that important to God as they are to us. God is really focusing on the little things in our lives, on the little things we think are insignificant, but not so with God, He closely examines us in these little things and makes judgments and qualifies us for future things. Our zeal at first is a huge driver in our lives, but God cannot do much with a zealous person. Saul later called Paul found that out the hard way. Peter too learned this lesson when he was older in years. After Peter’s heartfelt confession a place we all MUST come to if God is going to ever be able to use us to any degree, “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17) Peter finally (after three hard years of Jesus pouring His heart into Peter) was brought to the place where he knew (Jesus) “thou knowest all things.” What a place of confession and awareness of who Jesus is and who Peter is. But please notice what Jesus says to Peter after he is broken, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” (John 21:18) Please notice the last bit of that verse, “but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” When Peter was young (like many of us) He did whatsoever he wanted to do and said whatsoever he wanted to say, but when Peter got old he could not say and do what he wanted, he was restrained “and another shall gird (strengthened, empowered) thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” When we get older in God we too will be restrained to things we can do and say, restrained to the places we can go and compelled to go to the places we do not want to go, and even compelled to say and do the things we do not want to say and do. There is a divine spiritual principle in operation here that most Christians totally disagree with me on: limitations and restrictions lead us to fulfillment and purpose. Most Christians believe the longer we go with God the more freedom and liberty we have, well not so in God. It is being restricted and limited to only those things God and His word says we can do and say, will we ever hope to operate in what God wants for our life. How can we move in God correctly if we are doing and saying whatsoever we want to? We both know this is impossible, but when we restrict ourselves to God like an apple on a tree growing and maturing then and only then can we come to completion and fulfillment. I do not know about you my friend, but I think it looks like when we get older we need more mercy.

Mercy is something we all want more of in our lives and we even see this time and time again in the Bible in a great way. In Luke we read the account of Jesus heading up to Jerusalem via Jericho which is not very far time wise, but the way is through the wilderness and the “up” refers to the elevation and direction. At the beginning of the story Jesus tell the disciples what will happen to “the Son of man” (the name Jesus used to refer to Himself most often) and what they should expect. In reality these four verses foreshadow the marvelous and glorious Gospel manifesting on earth, yet the disciples did not have a clue what Jesus was saying, “Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” (Luke 18:31-34) Sounds like Jesus never received much mercy here. Jericho was the last town before they hit Jerusalem and also was the place the last miracle Jesus performed in His earthly ministry. Let us pick up the story as they enter the City of Jericho, “And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.” (Luke 18:35-43) Here sat a blind man (who called out Jesus Son of David and not Jesus Son of man) what a wonderful sight Jesus healing this blind man and everyone (the disciples and the crowd of people that always followed Jesus) that followed Him, “gave praise unto God” and that was that. The blind man called out (not once but twice) and in spite of the disciple’s interference and lack of faith Jesus healed him. Now here is my point: the format we see today in the church is we are sick, blind, hungry, poor, whatsoever we need and we cry out (like the blind man) and Jesus has to jump through the breakthrough hoop and heal us or give us some supernatural drop of money to make us happy again. Well, that is not how God operates. Notice what Jesus told the blind man, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.” Jesus did not say you are healed by grace oh no Jesus said again “thy faith hath saved thee.” Do you know we in the Church today confuse mercy with grace? Did you know there is a huge difference between mercy and grace? Grace is something God gives us that we do not deserve and mercy is something God gives us based on judgments and evaluations by Him. Before mercy can be extended there must be a judgment to determine the degree of mercy. Grace is open ended, all and all. Sorry to my Southern Baptist friends, but salvation is more than grace alone. If we rest in our salvation in grace alone we will not have the balance needed to keep us on track. In Ephesians Paul was correcting the church at Ephesus on this very matter, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”(Ephesians 2:7-10) How can you buy a gift? And please notice “For by grace are ye saved through faith;” Paul did not say, “For by grace are ye saved.” Grace alone means we have no part to play in our salvation, God does everything and we can just kick back and go along for the ride and do and say whatsoever we want to say and do. But the Holy Spirit through Paul added “through faith” now we have a part to play (not in granting or extending salvation), but in maintaining our salvation. Yes, my friend if not careful we can lose our salvation. I know many denominations teach we can never lose our salvation and this is true as long as we walk in the way that God has for us to go, but if we willfully turn our backs on God and the way He has chosen for our lives then we can lose one of the most precious things in our lives, our salvation. In the words “through faith” we are now accountable for our actions and there are consequences for our words and deeds. God is not the solo party we now have a role to play in our salvation. God can now shine His light of truth and righteousness in our lives and see what is moving. In the grace alone concept God is held responsible and accountable for our salvation. Those denominations that teach this half truth of grace alone (I believe) do it because they know this doctrine will fill seats, offering plates, and push denominational agendas; after all who wants to serve a God who holds our feet to the fire when they can serve a God who comes running every time you call and does all of the work. Our faith appropriates and gives us access into the grace that God has already provided. Paul tells us in Romans, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2) It does not get any clearer than that, it is grace and faith. Grace and faith separated are poison to our understanding of how God operates in the Spirit and death to our spirit, but mixed together they are a life-giving flow of knowledge, power, and of spiritual life. My friend, please do not be deceived by this grace alone heinous doctrine.

It is grace (God’s part) through faith (our part) and the how is found back in Ephesians, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”(Ephesians 2:10) Yes we are the “workmanship” of God. I like that in the German language we are the “beaustella” of God. And the more we allow God to work on us through His dealings and judgments the more we become His. At the same measure we allow God’s work in our lives at that same measure we will be His, no more no less. We have been created “unto to good works” God’s dealings and His judgments, the troubles (that can be our servant if we have the wherewithal), trials, and even persecutions God allows to come our way to hone off our rough edges and mold and make us into a son or daughter of God. God is the master potter; He gets to fashion the clay into whatsoever He desires and we get to spin on the wheel of life as God molds us and shapes us into something beautiful or He chooses to close His hands and pummel us into a heap of nothingness so He can start the process all over again and again until He is well pleased with what is in His hands. He is master potter and we are the clay and the clay does not get to talk back, all we get to do is just go around and around on the wheel of life allowing and giving Him access through our faith to our lives. I am sure we all can agree on the wheel of life we often beg for mercy, but mercy is not God’s intention, oh no, God’s intention is perfection (selflessness) and God knows for perfection to happen in our lives He must speed up the wheel, press us out again and again on the wedging board (where the impurities in the clay are worked out), grind the clay through His fingers, and heat up the kiln 10 times hotter. Why cry out, “have mercy on me oh Lord” instead we should cry out “have your complete way with me on Lord” not mercy, but blessed devastation then and only then will we have the sight that can see the spiritual things of God. Written by David Stahl

SLAVERY

When we think of the word “slavery” many thoughts and images come to mind. Most often today we in America think of the brutal treatment Africans endured during their journey coming from Africa to America on slave ships and once in America some of their lives were not much better. Yes this sordid and very sad period of American history was not one of America’s finest moments. Did you know the Bible has much to say about slavery, but please understand the slaves in Biblical times were treated much better (most often) than those of the Africans and please understand the Bible never has condoned any form of indentured servitude where one man owned another. Many today in America would push this lie wanting payback, but if they do they do it at their peril of distorting the truth of God’s word and will receive just compensation for the discord they sow among the Brethren. In Ephesians Paul encourages the servants (slaves) to be obedient to their masters, with fear and trembling, “Servants (Strong’s #1401, a slave, bondman, man of servile condition) be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6Not with eye service, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;” (Ephesians 6:5-6) and in Titus Paul encouraged the Church (who at that time was mainly made up of slaves and bond servants) to encourage the slaves to be obedient to their masters. “Exhort servants (Strong’s #1401) to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” (Titus 2:9-10) Slavery at all levels has been around for millions of years and make no mistake my friend, slavery is alive and well in the world today. I have seen all kinds of slavery in Africa, Asia, and even Eastern Europe. My friend within man’s heart (especially one not dealt with by God) runs a great selfish desire to enslave the lives of people for their own personal use and gain and I am convinced and I know this will be the case and outcome for mankind until Jesus comes back and runs the show on the earth. We see this slavery concept in everyday life; everything we watch on TV or read in the newspapers or magazines is directed at enslaving our body, mind, and spirit. Most of the people (Christians included) in the world today are slaves to fashion, social habits, and customs. We look at the movie stars in Hollywood and on TV and all the “beautiful people” who dictate what the norm is for society: tattooing, face piercing, music, movie, dress all against what God says is the norm, but still we continue (Christians included) in slavery to what the world says is important and not what God says is important. We continue (Christians included) in what our law- givers say is the law of the land (same sex marriage and abortion), in spite of it being openly rebellious to God’s word and not giving it a second thought and still call ourselves Christians. Yes my friend slavery is a very powerful device in our lives and unless we repent of our waywardness and return back to God’s word America will continue to be enslaved to ungodly thinking which will cause us to slip further and further into greater moral decay and even more spiritual darkness. Wake up America before it is too late God is waiting, but He will not wait forever.

I really like how Paul starts out most if not all of his Epistles; “Paul a servant (Strong’s #1401, slave) of God” or “Paul a bond servant (like a slave, but one who has earned their freedom) of God.” Now there is another form of slavery the Bible talks about that most Christians never learn about, maybe this is why most Christians today never live a victorious life in Christ. It is a place of victory in our lives God desires for us. And we must see that only being obedient to God’s word can we come into this place of victory for our lives. Only God and God alone can enable us (through our submission, allowing God to deal and judge in our lives) to come to this place of victory, we must see this in our lives if we are going to walk with the LORD the way He intends. Sadly many Christians live their lives wrapped up in the world’s form of religion and experience none of the life that God has for us; they are wrapped up in contemporary Christian music and a self seeking or self exalting form of working for God, but never ever BECOMING the work (Ephesians 2:10) of God. They are wrapped up in the ways and doctrines of the apostate church of today and wonder why they have no (not even a little) victory over the world, sin, and their self (in that order) and keep falling way, this is not God’s intention my friend. This other form of slavery I speak of is one of heart submission. We see Jesus working this concept into the disciples after He fed 5,000 men and probably more than 5,000 women and children. In Luke (I like Luke’s writing he was a doctor a man of details) we read, “But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. 14For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. 15And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.” (Luke 9:13-17) Now to really understand what is really going on here we must review a critical attribute of God’s word; God never does anything by accident. Words in the Bible are not just written down, but there is an order (a characteristic of God) to the words in the Bible. Always study the order of things and words in the Bible, if so the Bible will open up new revelations of truth. But, I have always wondered what happened to the 12 baskets of leftovers and why was there 12 baskets and not 10 or 13? I knew there was a meaning here to the 12 baskets so I held it before the LORD and recently God opened up my understanding to why 12 baskets. Notice Jesus gave the food to the disciples and the disciples gave the food to the people and they did eat sounds good, but when did the disciples eat? Well, they ate when the slaves ate. I do not know about you, but when I imagine this story and I see 12 big baskets, I see huge baskets that maybe two people would carry after all they just fed 5,000 men, women, and children, but in reality the baskets they used were about the size of a small lunch pail enough for one person. Hungry people do not leave a lot of scraps and fragments around. Jesus knew of the Jewish custom and tradition of after a feast to gather up the fragments and leftover food to give to the slaves. In Jewish society nothing was wasted especially food. Jesus was teaching the disciples, through these 12 baskets of leftover food, a fundamental concept of the Kingdom of God, “whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant (Strong’s #1401) of all,” but that is not what we (I include myself here at times) find today in the Church, oh no my friend most evangelists, pastors, teachers, preachers, or most Christians do not want to be a slave to all, most (if not all) want to be served and most want to be patted on the back and told just how wonderful they are, well not so in the Kingdom of God my friend.

In Mark Jesus took this slavery lesson a little deeper and right to the point we read, “Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. 35And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.” (Mark 10:33-37) Here Jesus is telling the disciples what is going to happen to Him, how He would be killed, but the disciples were only thinking of themselves, “Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.” Does this sound familiar? Does this sound like the most popular message (the prosperity doctrines) of the Church today? How selfish and self-seeking of them and us. But Jesus said unto them, “Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, "Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43But 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 (Strong’s 1401) 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.” (Mark 10:38-45) Jesus said you do not know what you are talking about. How gleeful and quickly the disciples answered “we can.” This just exposed their lack of the dealings and judgment of God in their lives. This just exposed their lack of knowledge and willingness of commitment to the cost of walking with the LORD at any degree. Quick replies means no thought. You see the disciples wanted to know who was going to be the greatest, but they failed to learn to have this great honor they first must be “prepared” they must qualify or be approved for this honor. They have not learned the lesson the way up in God is down. They have failed to learn what J - O - Y means: Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. They have failed to understand to be the greatest among the Brethren we must be a slave to all, now not some it says all. For us to be able to do this we must be dead to our self and to our desires and alive to what God wants in every given situation and circumstance of our lives. For this to happen we must be dead. Did you know a dead man does not do a lot of talking or much work?

One of God’s goals in our lives is to be able to bring us into total slavery not like we see in the world, but in the Spirit and in our heart condition before God and man; an open willingness and desire to be a servant not at the works level, but at the heart level and in the Spirit. You know it is easy to be a servant working for God we see it every week as the choir marches in or as the offering plate is passed back and forth and as the grass is cut to make the church grounds beautiful, but it is very difficult to be a servant at the Spirit and heart level, because at the center of this level is obedience to God the greatest requirement to be a servant. How foolish we are to think we are greater than what we really are. We all are just one breath from eternity. We all are saved by God’s grace and His good pleasure. How foolish to think we can manipulate God for our own interest and exalt ourselves above our brothers and sisters. How foolish to think we are in-charge when Jesus said of Himself He has no power and can do nothing. We strut around on stage in a $500 suit, diamond rings on our fingers, and gold necklaces around our necks and think we are someone special, while Jesus (on earth) did not have a change of underwear. Who do we think we are? Is the servant (slave) greater than the Master? Oh LORD have mercy on us! Written by David Stahl

WORSHIPING GOD

As we walk with the LORD and read the Bible we seem to pick and choose which rabbit trail (message, tradition, custom, or story mentioned in the Bible) we want to follow and hop down. I am amazed to the number of different denominations and religions in the Christian world and to think they all came from the same Bible. One group says we will focus on speaking in tongues while another group says we will focus on water baptism, and sadly the list goes on and on. But what is really sad is how each group says the other groups are wrong and know not the truth. Paul ran up against this same thinking with the Church at Corinth. It seemed there were divisions and contentions among the body of Christians (like today) that weakened the witness of the church collectively. One of the main divisions was who they called their spiritual leader or who they followed. In 1 Corinthians we read, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians1:10-13) How can the Body of Christ be light and salt to the world if it is divided and fighting among itself? I hear and see the same thinking today, the idol worship of evangelists, pastors, and teachers sickens me and I am sure it sickens God to see His Body so divided and confused. One says, “I am of Copeland, Hinn, Hagee, Warren, Parsley, or even Stahl” and sadly the list goes on. This is not to be our focus in whom we will follow my friend, if we want to be called a Christian the die has been cast our focus is to be 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. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:2-3) Not too many Christians want to follow Jesus it is much easier to follow a man, because if we follow Jesus we will have to identify with Him and we too will have to “endured such contradiction of sinners against himself” a price most Christians are not willing to bear. But this is the bitter cup we must drink if we are to come after (become like Jesus) Jesus and become what He wants us to become.

You know we see this wrong thinking also when worshiping God. One group will sing only the hymns while another group will sing only contemporary music (and say the other group is wrong), but in reality real worship has nothing to do with singing, dancing, our service to God, or even giving our money, oh no real worshiping of God has to do with bowing down our heads to God in reverence and honor. We find this act of worshiping God in the very first Book of the Bible, Genesis, “And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.” Genesis (24:52) In Exodus we find Moses worshiping God, “And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.”(Exodus 34:8) The list goes on and on, no singing or dancing just silence and stillness before a Holy God. Funny how we can get so far off track and not really know it, but even worse how we can get far off track and not even care. Did you know you can get so far off track you can get over into idol worship? I will be the first to say amen to that. I have seen it and I have done it and I am talking in the last two or three years. One thing for sure if we keep our head bowed down before the LORD and our mouth in the dust we probably will not have too much of a problem in this area.

When the LORD really began to draw my older brother I remember him sayings (as with all of us when God really gets our attention) as long as he was in good relationship with his pastor he could get to God, but there came a time (as with all of us) when he no longer needed his pastor to get to God, he could make his approach to God on his own. I think this probably holds true for all new believers; the one who they see in their eyes (most times the one who has led them to the LORD) who they want to imitate in the LORD and why, because they see within themselves a lack the other person in the LORD possesses. Come let’s face it we all know some people whose light is a little brighter than our own. I can relate to this also. At the age of six I became a Christian my mother led me to Christ, but like most if not all kids as they grew the light of God in their lives was merely a flicker, but it did not go out. As I look back over my years I now can understand Isaiah was talking about me when he said, “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” (Isaiah 42:3) God was longsuffering and did not break me to the point I could not walk nor did He put out my flame, but kept fanning my fire with people He would bring into my life and situations or circumstances that would keep me moving forward in Him. I thank God for these dealings in my life God knew just how to work in my life (as in all of our lives) to where I would have the stomach to go further in Him. And all through my years as I drew nearer to the LORD my relationship with my mother became more important (more important than a mother son relationship) she became a mentor and spiritual advisor to me and my family. Any time we really needed to get something from God we would call her and tell her our concerns and ask her to pray. Then after some time we would call again and ask her if God told her anything about us. She was the spiritual glue that held the family together, but now she is up in age and sadly her mind is not what it was and we are on our own. Now I guess that is okay for baby Christians, but that is not the behavior God is looking for in His children. God is looking for mature men and women who can hear from God for themselves, who have allowed God to deal and judge in their lives, where He has developed a fine tuned ear for His words. God is not looking for children that partake in idol worship of others. Now many Christians I know would love for you to come to them so they can say “thus saith the LORD” over you or prophesy into your life. I even know some Christians who like to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to seniority in the LORD. I do not know about you, but I cannot find the verses in the Bible that talk about seniority among Christians. I have a (I still call him a friend and love him, but he has broken off relationship, even though I have tried many times to talk, with me and even stopped sending me his newsletter, we three know why) friend who I have known for over 30 years who told me his word from God was deeper than my mine and I should take a back seat to him. But wait, I thought the word of God is from God. It is not my word that I speak when I teach, but God speaking through me. Our job is not to make up words to speak, but become a clean and usable vessel (through God’s dealings and judgments) God can open and pour us out into a lost and dying world of people. A vessel where God’s word can flow unhindered from our lips. People who think they are better than someone else has missed the whole point of being a servant. Now they may be gifted as a speaker and can teach the Scriptures with convincing passion, but they have missed the truth of what Jesus was telling the disciples, “Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43But 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 (slave) of all.” (Mark 10:42-44) Not too many Bible teachers want to be a slave to everyone, oh no most want to be told how wonderful and deep they are in their understanding of the Scriptures, well that is not what Jesus said. Now please do not misunderstand me I am not blowing my own horn, I know I have not made it and I know there are much better Bible teachers (like my friend who I so would still enjoy to listening) out there, but again that is not the measure God is looking for, oh no my friend God is looking for the humble servant and broken teacher. My friend the way up is down and if we want to be (or even think we are) greater than someone in any area we are gravely mistaken. This idol worship can really get carried away. When my teacher Charles Haun would teach in Bible Schools many students would imitate his dress, try to talk like him, and even wear glasses (they were called Haunites) thinking this outward change in them would somehow change their inside, but God does not operate like that. Oh no my friend, our inward man is only changed by God’s inward dealings and judgments in our heart and attitudes, God is after our character and if He cannot get that in us all we will ever be is as tinkling brass and sounding cymbals. Oh we may be able to recite Scripture backwards and forwards and even speak with great swelling skill and ability, but our words will be shallow and never touch the areas of lives God desires to reach.

Did you know a part of man’s make-up (created by God) is a desire to follow. Now this God ordained following is hard-wired in us; not following man, but following Jesus. Again the command is, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” It is Jesus who we are to follow not man, but from the age of a little child we are taught in schools and in the secular, worldly media; be all you can be and not what God wants you to be. Look at this guy, how would you like to be able to run, jump and score baskets or touch downs like him? Look at his influence around the world and the money he makes, not to speak of the power he has and the glory he receives how would you like to be this guy? Paul directly took this wrong thinking on in the Church of Corinth when he said, “Be ye followers (imitate NKJV) of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians11:1) Now Paul was not saying become like me, like the Haunites tried to do of Charles Haun, oh no Paul was saying imitate or follow me in those areas you see of Christ in me and if I am not measuring up to our standard (Jesus Christ) then do not follow me. It is only those things of Christ we become will have any eternal weight of glory and value in our lives and if we see Godly characteristics in others we are not to follow them blindly as sheep (to my shame I have done that before) or try to become like them, but we are to see these qualities and characteristics God has been able to work in others, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” We are looking at the Godly work and the fruit that God has developed in them. I do not know about you my friend, but I have not physically seen Jesus today. But I have seen His love and kindness in every act of giving of one’s self for another. I have seen His smile every time a baby’s eyes light up or when I see the clouds come floating by. I have felt His touch every time my wonderful wife rubs my tired legs and back. God is everywhere and is in everything in this world all we have to do is have the eyes and more important the heart condition to be able to see Him.

You know the longer I go with God and the more I do for Him the more I can see my great need to just stay within the lines. When we moved to Germany in 1996, I got a better understanding of the German culture when I drove on their side roads now not heir autobahns, but their secondary roads. You see these roads had concrete bricks that line the outer limits of the road and if you get too far to the right or left you get into trouble. To navigate successfully on these roads (and in the German culture) you have to stay in the center, so too in our Christians life. In Ecclesiastes we find the Preacher giving great advice to his son and to us. And in verse 13 we find all we have to do to please God, “The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. 11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:10-14) All of our hard work (running around the world) and book learning (running from this conference or that conference to hear the same thing you have heard before) is “weariness of the flesh,” but here is the whole matter (nothing else to do) “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” And why, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” My friend if we keep this truth at heart and before us all the days of our lives we will have no problem with worshiping God. Written by David Stahl

THE HAND OF GOD

The hand of God often times takes on many forms and pressures in our lives and in reality we do not recognize the real moving of the hand of God in our lives because of our biases, prejudices, and religious teachings. Most things we would swear was of the devil are in reality the hand of God directing us and guiding us in His plan and purpose for our lives. We always associate only the good things that come our way as being from the hand of God and discount the things we call bad, but in reality all things come from God; the good and the bad. Isaiah heard this revelation from God almighty, “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) Now many Christians refuse to believe these verses and secretly wish they were not in the Bible, but in doing so they miss out on the total picture of God’s eternal sovereignty and creator of all things in our lives, an on-going revelation of God the creator of EVERYTHING in our lives. If God does not create or allow all things in our lives then this leaves room in our mind and heart for other gods to be able to create, affect, and even have influences in areas in our lives. My friend either God is God of all (good and bad) or He is God of nothing at all in our lives. His intent is clear He desires to be God of all in our thinking and heart condition. Now in reality He is and we have nothing to say about it. He was God before us and will be God after us. He is God and we are not, but I find it somewhat funny to know we are the ones who give God the power to be God in our lives. Not by way of control of His power and ability, but by way of control of His power and ability in our lives. Never forget in the Scriptures; all that God has promised us is only His intention in seeing them come to pass, whether they come to pass in our lives is not up to God (they are His intention), but up to us do we meet the condition contained in the promise to bring it to reality. Every promise has a condition to meet. Funny we look at the promise, but God is not looking at the promise (they are His intention) God is looking at whether or not we have met the condition to receive the promise. Let us look at what God is looking at, therein is contains the promises of God.

In I Peter we read a command from God. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7) Notice the promise, “that he may be exalt you in due time.” Now many Christians whoop and holler dancing around the church waving flags while speaking in tongues saying God is going to exalt us, but they missed the condition of “humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God.” Singing, dancing, flag waving, feeding the poor, paying your tithes, working countless hours at the church, doing all of the latest denominational traditions and religious customs will not do it to be exalted by God you MUST, “humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God” to be exalted by God. Therein and therein alone is the promise received from God. And it says “care” not cares. Cares are things like cars, money houses, clothing, etc., but “care” is an attitude. We are to cast our attitude of caring for things on Him, because He cares for us. We think the “mighty hand of God” is a huge hand that comes out of heaven and causes us to submit, but this is a command from God for us to take the lead in the submission, not God. God will not make you say “uncle” or submit; I wish He would it would make things so much easier for us, but He is not after forcing us, oh no He is after a heart and will submission on our part. God already has angels to boss around, now God wants creatures created in His likeness to love Him to the point they will give the very life (the most precious earthly gift) God gave them for Him.

We can see this need to be humbled and to humble ourselves before a Holy God all throughout the Bible. In the life of Jeremiah we read his confession, “I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. 2He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. 3Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. 4My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. 5He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. 6He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. 7He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. 8Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. 9He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. 10He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places. 11He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate. 12He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. 13He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins. 14I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day. 15He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. 16He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. 17And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. 18And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: 19Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.” (Lamentations 3:1-20) All of these things God did to Jeremiah (out of his own words) was done so God could humble (verse 20) him. All of these things that happened to him was done by the “mighty hand of God.” You would say God would never do this, well if this is your confession then you do not know the God of the Bible. If God would use these ways and ends to break Jeremiah why do we think God would not use them on us? These my friend are the dealings and judgments of God in our lives that He uses to conform (Romans 8:29) us into the character and image of His dear precious Son Jesus Christ, God’s goal in our lives. God’s goal is not to make us rich, famous, or even good looking, but will do all He can to create in us the image (icon) of His Son. And why? So we look and act like Jesus? Yes to a certain degree, but the main reason God desires we be conformed into the icon of His Son is so we can serve as a dwelling place for God, an eternal habitation. As strange as it may seem God does not desire to dwell in Heaven, oh no (as strange as it may sound and hard to explain), God desires to dwell in the heart of man. Paul in Ephesians shares this timeless truth, “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:21-22) Did you know God has a building program for each and every one of us? We are the workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) of God, He is building, chipping away at our character, molding our personality, fortifying our integrity, constructing us an eternal abode.

We can also see the “mighty hand of God” all throughout Joseph’s life. From the start God had his hand on Joseph’s life, but often this favor can lead to offence by people as it was with his father and brothers, “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” (Genesis 37:3-4) I have seen God’s blessings turn the heart of men into green, envy and jealousy that can lead someone to do things beyond their understanding. So too was the case in Joseph’s life, “Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.” (Genesis 37:28), but this my friend was the “mighty hand of God” working in Joseph’s life to land him in Egypt the place God needed him to go. Oh you say God would never do that, well in the words of Pastor Yanko, “think again.” God even moved Joseph closer to the place (the palace) He wanted him by being sold into slavery, “And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.” (Genesis 37:36) This does not sound like the “mighty hand of God” blessing Joseph, ah the story has not come to the end. We always see God’s intentions at the end of the story. And to make matters even worse Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and sent to prison (even closer to God’s purpose for his life), “And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.” (Genesis 39:20) All the while Joseph was biding his time waiting on the LORD and doing what he could do in his present situation, God was working on his rise to power. And when God’s timing and plan was right in Joseph’s life God’s mighty hand moved, “And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:42-43) Who would have believed Joseph was raised from the pit to palace all according to God’s plan for his life and by the “mighty hand of God?” My friend this is the way God operates. There is always a time of qualifying and approving before He exalts us to a place of importance. Often we do not want to wait God out, but this is a must in our lives if we ever hope to come into the plan and purpose we have been created for. Please do not believe the “name it and claim” doctrines, they will lead you to ruin, confusion, and great distress in God.

Even Jesus had his waiting time of preparation as the Father’s mighty hand was working in His life. Paul writes of Jesus, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But 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. 9Wherefore God also 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.” (Philippians 2:6-11) What, Jesus humbled Himself under the mighty hand of God? Yes, Jesus took on the form of a man (empty Himself of all of His divinity) and humbled Himself and became a servant all according and under the mighty hand of His Father. And is the servant greater than the Master? The Writer to the Hebrews shares, “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:10) What Jesus (the Son of God) suffered while on earth? Yes. Now I know the cross was heinous to bear, but I believe the loss of His heavenly identity with the Father was a greater cross to bear. And yes all while submitting to the mighty hand of His Father for His life. And is the servant greater than the Master? So too the “mighty hand of God” will be evident in our lives if we have a heart to be obedient and follow unto death. This is the way to be exalted (humbled by God to be exalted) by God there is no other way: Job, Jeremiah, Joseph, and even Jesus learned this way and we must too.

JUDGE THE SPIRITS

As we are invited to minister and attend different churches we come across many different doctrines and traditions. Nowhere is this seen more than in the beliefs of running a service. Most churches had adopted the old tried and true format: three fast ones, a slow one, pass the plate, 15-20 minutes of a good sermon (where everyone feels good about themselves when they leave), and then off to their favorite cafeteria or restaurant for the noon day meal. Sometimes we run across churches where they sing for an hour or longer and you give your offering while the music “moves you,” no real preaching, then off for the noon day meal. I guess there can be a great combination in the elements of a service and the order seldom matters, but what does matter is whether or not the Holy Spirit is functioning and directing the services. I will be honest it has been some time since I have really seen a God ordained Holy Ghost move of God, where you know without a shadow of doubt that God has visited this service. Do you know how hard it is to bring a message from God to a crowd of people who expect a good sermon? Most Christians do not know how to react because they have been so programmed into a format for the service (as guided by leaflet service program) and would not even notice if the Holy Spirit began to move after the teaching. And if they did notice I am sure (I have seen it time and time again) He would be stifled and grieved, after all we must stay on track with the program. And then sometimes you can run across a church that has gone overboard in the opposite direction; everything is a move of the Holy Spirit, flags flying, people leaping and jumping around the church while wearing their favorite dance uniform, people dropping on the floors like flies, everyone speaking in tongues at the same time, no order just chaos in the service. When I am asked to teach in such a church I often think of the Church at Corinth, the Church where it was commonly reported some of the leaders and members were having sex (1 Corinthians 5:1) with their mother, the Church where every gift of the Spirit was in operation, but the same Church that Paul said of it, “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.” (1 Corinthians11:17) The Church at Corinth should be glad I am not God, because if I was I would have destroyed it and started again. We must always thank Him for His mercy and longsuffering. I always wondered (for years) why God would allow the sexual immorality, confusion, strife, division, and debauchery to continue at the Church at Corinth, but while listening to a cassette tape by Charles Haun I think God gave me the answer. Charles said for correction to come there has to be something moving if it is wrong, like at the Church at Corinth. God allowed Corinth to continue in her waywardness until Paul was ready to come and bring correction. God’s ways are not our ways we would cut it down, plow it under, and reseed, but not with God. Oh no God let the sin continue unabated and probably increased while Paul was being developed by God, strange how God operates. One thing I have learned; the longer I go with God the less of God I know. I like it that way, God is still a mystery to me.

Many Christians go to services hoping the visiting “man of God” would call them out of the crowd, lay hands on them, and prophesy over them, well this my friend is wrong thinking. When I pastored in Germany we would have so called prophets and evangelists come from Africa to minister to our folks. Pastor Joseph and I had an agreement that we both would discuss and approve anybody that would represent God before the people at our church. This was always a sore spot with us. Most prophets and evangelists from Africa were nothing more than thieves and robbers fleecing the folks and I would not allow this to happen. Joseph and I would go round and round sometimes and almost every time I would surrender my position I would be shocked and dismayed at the level of piracy and robbery. Many times these so called prophets and evangelists from Africa would want to lay hands on me to bless and prophesy over me; well I did not know these guys from Adam. Do not allow people you do not know to lay hands on you and speak over your life. You do not know what spirit they are of. Oh they may act and seem holy, but you do not know unless you have observed them for some time. It is easy to be deceived here in this area. Paul gave Timothy some great advice in this area, “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” (1Timothy 5:22) This command is frank and up front, “lay hands suddenly (without a time of observation) on no man.” We do not know what lurks in the heart of men nor do we know the motives of people who come forward for prayer, but God knows. This command is also true having someone laying hands on us. Only God knows the heart and He knows the spirit we are of. I have known people (who have been operating in churches for many years) to have counterfeit spirits and the smaller the church the more deceptive they are. We have found someone who takes the lead spiritually (again and again) in services usually is not operating in the Spirit, but operating in their own spirit and even worse in demonic spirits. Take heed and be not deceived my friend many Christians every Sunday in most Apostolic, Charismatic, or Pentecostal Churches are prophesied over and led astray by religious, ambitious, self-promoters led by their flesh and presumption. I have found out many of the so called prophets and evangelists from Africa and others from America are nothing more than just thieves and robbers. In 1 John we are given a warning to take heed to and help in knowing who is of the LORD and who is not of the LORD. John shares this great advice, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3) Now please do not say I would never be deceived, I am led by the LORD, well . . . I am telling you there are some very good counterfeit spirits out there and if you have never seen them in operation you will be deceived. I find those Christians who lay on the floor prostrate or bow down in so called worship are some of the greatest offenders. I remember a lady in a church in NJ who would bow down and whip her hair on the floor as big crocodile tears rolled down her face during the singing of songs, but later she was found out for the deception and adulterous affairs she was having. John’s admonition is crystal clear, “believe not every spirit, but try (test in the NKJV, judge in the Greek) whether they are of God because false prophets are gone out into the world.” But how do we do that? How do we try, test, or judge the spirits? Many Christians think they can do this through our emotions, oh no my friend our emotions are one of the most unstable forces in our lives. We must never be led by our emotions, in or out of God. Our emotions at best are deceitful and will only lead us out of the way God has for us to go. We listen to someone sing a song and say, how anointed and judge them as being a very spiritual person, but this is so far from the truth. I remember in the 70s through the 90s there was a favorite song of most churches, “Standing on Holy Ground” the music arrangement was good and the words powerful, but the writers and singers came out of the closet a few years after the song and proudly proclaimed their homosexuality and sadly the church played on. Most churches build their attendance around music; it moves people, it inspires them, it gets people on their feet, well that is not the direction God goes. God’s direction is down not up, God’s Spirit does not move us like music it draws them unto Himself and kills them. Music will never get us to God. The spirit of music is as dangerous as our emotions and it must be judged or we will be deceived. All you have to do is look at history and see how music was used to lead people astray from what was right and how it was used to deceive people. We must take heed and judge music and keep it in the context Jesus and the disciples did. I am sorry, I cannot see Jesus nor the disciples have an hour long praise and worship service like some churches do today. The Bibles records Jesus only once singing and then it was a hymn after the Jewish Passover meal as Jewish tradition dictates. Works is another area we must judge the spirits. Many Christians work and work for God, but never become the work of God, never allowing God to work in their lives. Yet on the outward they are hard workers for God. Anytime the pastor needs something they are there, but when God wants to reveal something in their character they get to work working so that they will not have to allow God to deal and judge in their lives. But how do we judge the spirits as John commanded us? Believe it or not that is easy. When I pastored in Germany we had an international church and as an American I could only bring an America understanding when dealing with relationship disputes in the church. I could not think like an African or an European, I was an American and could only bring an American understanding to the counseling session. After a while of not feeling like I was successful in counseling it finally hit me, I have to judge by the spirit, not the Holy Spirit as much as by the spirit of the two parties. I quickly found the one who took the low place, the one who came humbly, the one who was full of forgiveness was the one in the right. I learned this through observation at the counseling meeting, at church, and as I would meet them in the weeks to come. So too are we to observe people who say they are moving in God, we are to watch their lives, we are to watch their actions, and we are to watch the results of their words. Observation comes over time, that is why the Holy Spirit used the word “suddenly” is used in1 Timothy 5:22; do nothing suddenly in God, but observe over time to see if they be of God or not. Examine their character, notice their friends, judge them before men. See if their lives, “confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God” match up with the word of God and their spirit bears witness with yours and the Holy Spirit. If not then, “every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:” Now this confession is not in word alone, but in deed and in the spiritual realm. You know if a prophet in the Old Testament said something and it did not come to pass they were stoned. Maybe we should go back to this I am sure there would be a lot less so called prophets running around the church deceiving people.

You know if we get deceived it is our fault. It is our duty, it is our responsibility, it is our reasonable service before God to be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove. Be not so fast to jump into the spiritual realm with someone, but wait upon the LORD for His direction and His leading. If you truly have a relationship with the LORD you will know between someone who is genuine and who is fake. The church is full of fake, false people who say they represent God, judge the spirits and be not deceived. Written by David Stahl