COMING TO THE END

There is an urgent need for the intervention of God in the Church within His people and in the affairs of the nations while seeking out those whom He can use for His purpose as the time in which man is in control of the nations is coming to an end. I do not know about you my friend, but all I see and hear in the world is falling apart. No matter how hard the world system and nations try to put it back together the world continues to deteriorate. It seems with each passing year the deterioration of the world increases in volatility and complexity. Sadly many churches and denominations seems to follow in the same destruction while not even noticing it. They think they are rich in God, spiritual, doing mighty works of God, but in reality they are poor, naked, and blind willfully following the blind into a ditch. In Revelation, John says of the Church at Laodicea, "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" (Revelation 3:17) I am not sure if we are in the Laodicea Church Age as many Christians say, but I do see the parallel of the spiritual where-with-all and heart condition then all now. I hear many in the church say we have the power, but Jesus said I have no power. I of myself I can do nothing except for what the Father gives me. In the past, with few exceptions, the LORD moved through human agency, but was limited by the level of faith and yieldedness in those He used. However, the LORD is beginning to transcend these limitations as things continue to fall apart. At the end of 2014 the LORD spoke to me which I have shared in many churches in early 2015 and one thought was, "life as we know it is no more." Oh how this has played out in the world. It seems with each passing year life speeds up as God's minute hand on His heavenly clock has proceeded another movement. Many Christians believe we are approaching the end of the sixth day when the Church Age will close and the Millennial Kingdom will be established. Now I do not know if this is true, but what I do know at this present time the LORD is preparing a body of believers, those who desire to go beyond their present spiritual experience and will respond to His voice in obedience to His end. After all I am not sure how much of the "Kingdom of God" was established in the earth, but my thoughts matter not because God has a plan and purpose and He will bring them to an end whether we like or agree with it. After all time belongs to God it is not ours to command nor worry about. No one (except God) can add one measure of time to our life or the plan God has for our lives. Jeremiah clearly states this to be true, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11) It is God who has these thoughts towards us and it is God who has "an expected end" for us. As world conditions increasingly deteriorate it is becoming evident that there is no lasting solution to world problems except through divine intervention, but and as I read the Bible I do not see things getting better for the world. Any possible method of dealing with these present world dilemmas is so elusive that leaders must come to recognize that they are incapable of any resolution of these problems. That is okay God has something better in mind He is bringing His plan and purpose in our lives and in the world to an end, both at the same time. This is the time in which the LORD will lift into His end purposes all those who have entered a state of rest in Him and are willing and available to be used, beyond any level of faith or ability that they may possess. This my friend will require a high level of personal integrity, dedication, and commitment. There are two aspects to God's end purposes. The first is to be able to bring an end to some things in us not of God -- to put them to death, to a dead end. If there is sin in our lives we must stop sinning, we must bring sin to an end in our lives. We must allow God to still and bring to an end our hungers, thirsts, our intentions, motives, our desires that are not of Him. Or maybe it is character issues, lack of integrity, and the like things not open sin, but still things not pleasing to God, we must allow God to strengthen us with might to bring them to an end in us. If not we will never ever be used of God as He desires. The second is for God to be able to bring some things (spiritually speaking) to an end in our lives so that He can bring new things into our lives. We may come to an end in one aspect of our life (schooling, marriage, retirement, etc) or in ministry. God's purposes for us may end (for example) pastoring a church or traveling the world preaching the Gospel, but that is not the end only the end of one phase of the purposes and plan God has for us. Now this can be a very trying and confusing time in our lives. I know I am there in ways and can taste of the seemingly loss of purpose. Often times we will think we may have missed it or maybe we have sinned and God is kicking us out, but probably that is not the case. If we know (and we most often do know) we are NOT over in some area of sin in our lives and things are changing (maybe in our desires or motives) in our lives please consider the fact that God may have brought these things of ministry in our lives to an end so we can move into the next things God has for our lives have they be greater or lesser in scope. There is no economy of scale in God's eyes, great to us maybe nothing to God. We will never come to completion unless God can move us along His continuum for our lives. We humans are slow to react to change. We do not like to change, but change in God is the norm not the exception, yet we resist with all that is within us. These two end purposes: to be able to bring an end to some things in us not of God and to be able to bring some things (spiritually speaking) to an end in our lives so that He can bring new things into our lives can be viewed as being like a two-sided coin. Each side is different yet it is one coin, but if we can submit to His Headship we become a part of a greater purpose for our lives. As we respond to the LORD in obedience we grow into spiritual maturity. This two-fold relationship is impossible of attainment apart from the sovereign hand of the LORD being stretched out in our behalf to qualify us for His purposes. Therefore, to merely read the Bible and mentally grasp them is not sufficient. They must be experientially entered, step upon step. Paul tells us, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) Paul knew something about God working on him. It was not the good works Paul walked in that made him God's workmanship, oh no it was God's good plan and purpose for Paul life to change his character, desires, hopes, dreams all that God wanted Paul to become make him God's workmanship. To experience this level of identification we must unconditionally submit the totality of our being to God; all that I am, along with all that I do, and then specifically give Him permission to deal with us as He may desire. It is never the end in God. What does the future hold? I do not know and God usually is not telling. Yet man spins the Scriptures and the news of the day to come up with answers that seldom come true. They were known as false Prophets in the Old Testament, but today they are great Bible teachers. Do not be deceived by all of this. This time on earth is all about qualifying us for what God has next for us. Karen calls this earthly experience Christian boot camp where we learn the lessons and develop the ability to be able to function with God in our next life. Yes we will be able to do some things in the here and now in God, but I believe God is doing a deeper work in us, training us now so that we will useful in our next life. Training us now so when we get into our next life we will know how God functions and operates. He will not have to train us we will just flow with Him doing whatever He wants us to do. This allowing God to bring us to ends in our lives (while approving and qualifying us for greater and bigger things) is the first step in the process. We sing songs and write books about going to heaven yet we have never been there. Now I am sure it is going to be beyond my wildest imagination, but we do not really know. I think I like it better that way serving a God who is a mystery and has something waiting for me. Unfolding all He has for us as He is allowed to bring things in us to an end.  Written by David Stahl

THANK YOU LORD

Spring time is a wonderful time of the year that speaks of God's love for life and rebirth. This year (and yes I know I am telling on myself) this rebirth of nature really captivated Karen's attention: with each Bradford Pear (whose blossoms come out a brilliant white then turn into green leaves) she would see she would say thank you LORD for such a beautiful tree and oh look at those daffodils, tulip trees, on and on she would go in thankfulness to God for such beautiful creations to the point it would annoy me somewhat until the LORD showed me if I cannot be thankful to the LORD for the flowers and trees I will never have enough of His Spirit in me to thank Him for the other miracles He does in my life. What a wonderful lesson the LORD showed me through Karen, because at the heart of praise and worship (things we hold in high esteem in the church to the point of idolatry) at the very essence of our relationship with God is our thankfulness to God. "True" (always used in a spiritual projection from the natural to the spiritual realm) worship and praise is born out of our thankfulness. This is why many Christians can come to church week after week or day after day and not praise God or come into a place of worship -- lack of thankfulness. "True" worship and praise is born of and directed by the Holy Spirit and is birthed out of thankfulness. When a group of committed Christians who have never been together in a Gospel gathering worship the LORD it is the flow of the Spirit in a beautiful harmony that lifts up the hearts and spirits of the people. A casual observer might think they had been meeting together for years. This flow of worship is not the result of any learned ability, but rather it is due to their respect for and response to the presence of the LORD and the resultant lifting power of the Holy Spirit. Pure worship produces the unity that releases the Holy Spirit to impart the enabling power to lift us in a flow of a harmonious expression -- the heavens open and the presence of the LORD is released upon the gathering. Our worship will bring the Spirit of Revelation into a Christian gathering. It releases the anointing and the lifting power of the Holy Spirit upon the worshippers. As we respond to the presence of the LORD we will experience an increased purity and flow of Spirit and begin to receive prophetic revelation. This ability to flow together in harmony relates to the fact that we have received a prophetic ability to express worship to the LORD. This “spirit of worship” abides deep within each of us and awaits an opportunity for expression. All that is needed for us to begin to worship the LORD is the proper heart condition and some encouragement. “Worship” is the expression of pure adoration to the LORD and increases our desire to be in His presence. All throughout the Bible the word "worship" has been closely identified with bowing our heads and hearts to the ground not singing, dancing, or waving flags. We find Abraham's servant in Genesis worshipping, "And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son." (Genesis 24:48) The Children of Isreal and Moses in the Book of Exodus worshipped, "And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped." (Exodus 4:31) and Moses, "Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth ,and worshipped. 9And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance." (Exodus34:8-9) After Job lost his sons and daughters he worshipped, "While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped," (Job 1:18-20) The disciples worshipped, "And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him." (Matthew 28:9) even Jesus worshiped, "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." (Matthew 26:39) I wonder why we have gotten away from "true" worship? Maybe not much to see or hear when we are flat on our face. It is a key to our becoming sensitive to His presence and to our learning to recognize His voice. As we are faithful and thankful in our expression of worship to the LORD we will become increasingly more aware of His abiding presence and we will more easily discern His voice. Our heart condition to worship (our act of bowing ourselves before the LORD) will do much in helping to develop these spiritual qualities within us. Now “praise” is thankfulness to the LORD for all that He has done for us. In a service, drums and the like stir the soul (this usually is carnal and we must be very careful with music, instruments, and all that move our emotions and feelings) and those present begin to get excited and shout. However, when we become quiet in an attitude of "true" worship we will begin to worship the LORD "in Spirit and truth" and an expression of worship in harmony which will lift our hearts and spirits something impossible for the beat of loud drums. Praise is spoken words to the LORD for all that He has done for us individual and us collectively. Mere words coming from our heart expressing our gratitude, thankfulness, and love to God. I am not sure why we try to make these two expressions of communion with God more speculator with pomp and pageantry. The drum beat will excite our soulish nature (feelings and emotion), but will also reduce our expression to be thankful to the LORD leaving us far short of our desires and Gods' expectation in our gathering together. Satan knows this, but very few worship leaders do. There are many expressions of worship and praise within the Body of Christ, but most never get us to the heart of the LORD. There is a place of communion with God, blessed quietness, that He is looking for, but in most services (now and in the past) time is set aside for an emotional release (people are encouraged to dance, etc., but are told dancing is a sin) making a carnal assent to the GOD. Singing and dancing (what we call spiritual freedom and expression in worship) is not worshipping the LORD it is singing and dancing. "True" worship and praise to God is birthed out of thankfulness and cultivates the presence of the LORD in our lives. Moses both knew and valued the presence of the LORD. In Exodus Moses told the Children of Isreal, “And He (the Lord) said, My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. And he (Moses) said to Him, If Your presence go not with me, carry us not up here.” (Exodus 33:14-15) This intense desire within Moses to have the presence of the LORD abide with him did not just happen. It came about through circumstances (so too in our lives) that caused him to diligently seek the abiding presence of the LORD. Though Moses was “ . . . learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds” (Acts 7:22), he failed in Egypt and fled into the wilderness. Here while keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, he pursued the call that rested upon his life as he journeyed toward the Mountain of God. As he traveled, he noticed at a distance "to the side of his path" a bush which burned with fire, but was not consumed. We read from Exodus, “And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” (Exodus 3:2) As soon as Moses noticed this burning bush, he said, “I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned” (Exodus 3:3). He responded quickly to this visitation from the LORD -    This speaks of something within Moses that desired and was responsive to the presence of the LORD. When we engage in "true" worship and praise we too will turn aside please notice that the LORD appeared in a bush that was a “distance to the side” of the path that Moses was taking, even though he was moving toward the Mountain of God. This is because the LORD desires to be wanted. He seeks a response from us that indicates our desire for His presence. He chooses to reveal Himself in such a way that it requires a deliberate action on our part as an indication of our "true" desire for His presence. My friend please do not fool yourself our spiritual aptitude toward His presence does not come easily. It must be actively sought after and cultivated and "true" worship is a key to developing this spiritual sensitivity and aptitude for His presence. I am always amazed when people say things like, "let us enter into the presence of the LORD," well if not in the presence of the LORD where were they? Cannot God see us at all times? David knew He could, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;" (Psalm 139:7-9) Moses knew of this critical requirement to hear from the LORD, “And Moses said, I will now turn aside... And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I” (Exodus 3:3-4). Although Moses was intent on moving toward that which pertained to God he desired the presence of the LORD so much that he willingly responded to this manifestation of the supernatural. He was obedient to the voice of the LORD though at the time he did not understand what was taking place, but Moses wanted more he wanted to see the LORD Himself. God told Moses, "Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 21And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen." (Exodus 33:20-23) What do we want to see of God? Each of us are affected by the worldly environment that surrounds us. As a result of this we develop varying amounts of sensitivity to earthy things. When we were birthed from above we received the capacity to know and respond to eternal things. Through the working of the Holy Spirit within us, we began to understand that we are now a new creation and that we have entered a new and higher realm of life. We learn that the purpose of the LORD is not only to build up the temporal, but also to introduce us to the spiritual. This deeper understanding will help us to turn aside from lesser things and to focus our attention on eternal things by cultivating an increased sensitivity to His voice and presence. Everything that we do in a gathering should be directed toward our coming into this dimension of His revealed expression. We should develop this sensitivity to His presence so we will be able to recognize His presence, and know when to turn aside to lift our voice in pure worship. When Moses responded to the LORD’s presence in the burning bush and turned aside, the LORD spoke to Him and imparted the instructions that led to the deliverance of His people from bondage. The LORD enabled Moses to lead them into a land that was flowing with milk and honey. The value of our "true" praise and worship (not our emotional assent) is far more than we may realize. It releases the LORD to move in intervention as when we worship, the LORD works on our behalf. And, although the LORD has all the choirs of heaven to lead in heavenly worship, He responds and inhabits our praise and worship which all begins with our thankfulness.  Written by David Stahl

OUR OPEN GATES

If you ever visit the Old City of Jerusalem and you want to enter inside the city you will have to enter through one of eight gates. It may be through the Dung Gate (you can guess why it was called the Dung Gate) one not so popular today, but was very busy in the days of Jesus or it may be through; the Lion Gate, the Jaffa Gate, the Kings Gate or one of four other gates. Now there is a ninth, but it is purposely closed. It has been closed since the Ottoman Turks walled it up in 1530 AD. The ninth gate, the Eastern Gate, is blocked up and shut up waiting for the arrival of the Messiah, but at the time of Jesus the Eastern Gate was wide open and often was the busiest gate for commerce and transportation. You see not only were the gates of Jerusalem places of entrances and exits in and out of the Old City, but they were also places of authoritative decisions. The "elders" sat in the gates and made decisions that affected the city. We can see this in Proverbs when Solomon is talking of the virtuous woman, "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land." (Proverbs 31:23). Important agreements and commercial transactions were also made in the gates, but did you know our bodies also have gates through which truth and error, good and evil, enter into and exit our lives. We too are "elders" at our own gates and must make wise and responsible decisions for our lives. We have the ear gate, an eye gate, a mind gate, a feelings gate, a memory gate, a relationship gate, and a spirit gate. The enemy (used as a general term and not always the devil) of our soul is to be kept out and only that which has been carefully screened and deemed safe or good is permitted to enter. We must guard these gates lest an enemy try to penetrate our defenses. We must monitor our gates diligently to allow only that which is edifying into our lives. Gates all throughout the Bible have been a place of decision more than they have been a portal to enter into a city. We can go in and out of a city, but it is the decisions that we make will foretell our success or failure in life and in God. These narrow, limited, and restrictive decisions of life we make that leads us to purpose and completion in life and in God. Most church denominations teach we are to be free, no chains, great liberty in God, but my friend that is not what Jesus taught. Did you know you cannot come to purpose in life if you have not found your purpose in God? Oh you may make a bunch of money, have a trophy wife, have a big house and fancy car, a good job, but all of this will never bring you to purpose in God. Some of the most successful people in God like Mother Theresa have lost their lives so that others might find theirs. Did you know Mother Theresa was known as the "Saint of the Gutters?" Now many people today want to identify with the word "Saint" millions, but not too many people want to identify with the word "Gutters." I believe Mother Theresa was one of the richest persons in the world even though she had no money to call her own. Did you know you must die to be called a "Saint." It is when we lose our life for the sake of Christ we shall find it. My friend purpose is only found in losing our lives for Christ's sake so other may find theirs. Jesus taught the disciples, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." (John 12:24-25) Please notice "losing it" comes first and "keeping it" comes second. The condition to be fruitful in God is to die and abide alone not liberty and freedom to do what we want to do. I wonder why we have missed this critical truth today? Well that is easy no one want to die to their selfish, self-seeking ways it is easier to go and do things for God than become something in God. They say we cannot save our self and others too, one must die. This is what Jesus was teaching the disciples and make no mistake my friend they all died (some a horrible death) spreading the Gospel message so that others like us may live. Now Jesus was not talking about going to heaven, but He was talking about entering into the life that God has for us now here on earth. In Matthew we read, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) The word "strait" here has nothing to do with direction, but with confinement. The word "strait," Strong's #4728, means narrow from obstacles standing close about. Jesus was saying we enter into the life of God through the hard, narrow, restrictive decisions in our lives. Truth as a mirror reveals our heart and we choose a path to walk either towards God or away from God. We decide to be limited and restricted in areas of our lives that will bring us to completion and purpose. Jesus continues, "For wide (the unrestrictive, unlimited, and open way) (notice not the narrow or "strait" way, but the broad way) is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction." In God you cannot do what you want to do and say what you want to say and come to purpose and completion. This is the broad way, the wide gate (or wide decision ) that leads to destruction and Jesus said, "and many there be which go in thereat." Now they are not going into the life of God as some misguided teachers teach, but they are going into destruction. And also notice Jesus did not say they were going to hell, destruction is not hell, but we can end up in hell (and we can have hell on earth in our relationships and our lives) if we do not enter into the narrow way of walking with the LORD in the way He wants us to go. This gate topic is a huge deal in our lives. As we look closer at this topic we learn the open gate is really our heart. In Proverbs we read an important verse and if applied correctly would change our lives forever. Solomon writes, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee." (Proverbs 23:7) In the Greek text this verse is translated as, "For as a gate open wide so is he." Our heart is the gate in which life's decisions pass through and whatsoever we open our gate (our heart) to we will become that. If we open our heart to hatred, strife, and division we will become that and we will know it because out of our mouth speaks our heart. But if we open our heart as it swings wide open to love, joy, peace, and etc. then we will become that. We become what we open our heart to. In Matthew that is what Jesus was saying, " Enter ye in at the strait gate:" Another name for the "Eastern Gate" (the ninth gate of the Old City that is closed awaiting the triumphant return of the Messiah in victory, but was open in Jesus' time) often is called the Strait Gate. Jesus knew of this gate because it was the gate in 30 AD where He entered Jerusalem before His crucifixion and He knew it was straight from the gate to the temple in the shortest amount of time. Jesus knew of the Old Testament passage and also knew death comes before glorification, "And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house." (Ezekiel 43:4-5) The Word of God is full of examples of the critical importance to our gate. In Psalms David said, "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door (Strong's #1802, leaf, lid, gate) of my lips" (Psalms 141:3). This is one verse we drilled into the lives of our children. In the Book of Revelation Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door (Strong's #2374, portal or gate) and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelations 3:20) Here Jesus is knocking on our heart (gate) trying to get our attention so we will open wide our heart to Him. Again whatsoever we open wide our gate (our heart) to we will become that and make no mistake there we will find our treasures. Let us take heed to what we open wide our gate if not our lives will be filled with sorrow, despair, and destruction is behind the door. Written by David Stahl

A MEDITATION ON EASTER

Around Christmas time last year I shared some thoughts on Christ not being a baby and now as we draw closer to what many call the Easter season I would like to share some thoughts on this topic. First, the word we use to express the great victory of Christ, “Easter” is found once in the KJV of the Bible and has nothing to do with the Gospel; the death, the burial, and (our blessed hope of glory) the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The word “Easter” is found in Acts and is talking about Peter not Jesus, “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Acts 12:4) and is translated from the Greek as Passover, again it has nothing to do with the Gospel message. I am not going to go into all of the pagan rituals and religious traditional practices that surround the historical myth of Easter my intent is to lift up the name of Jesus. But, my friend we have “truly” (taking something from the physical realm and projecting it into the spiritual realm) drifted so far from the true meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the great price He paid for my sin and your sin. We have insulted God’s supreme act of giving His only begotten Son and the truth for an emotional swell during the holiday season, to increase church attendance, and to spread ones denominational message under the guise of sharing the Gospel. We do so much in church that displeases God and cover it up by saying we are sharing the Gospel. God please forgive us. God does not need special services that effect our emotions and feelings to share the Gospel message. God needs dedicated and consistent children to follow Him and His basic plan. A few years ago I heard a statement from a pastor (of a church we once attended) that just shook me to my knees. He said after Jesus was arrested and crucified the light of the world went out. How my spirit quivered within me. How my stomach churned and ached for this fellow’s words were not true, but was in keeping with the emotional Easter tradition. At no point in time has Jesus not been the light of the world. My friend even when Jesus obediently and willfully laid His life down, He was still in control; of all Heaven, earth, hell, and will always be the light of the world. His light will never go out. Death could not hold Him, the grave could not hold Him, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57) Because this is true about Jesus we too can say, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Let us not be led by our emotions and plans to practice an Easter season, but be led by the Holy Spirit to know and understand the true message of the Gospel. This my friend is the message that will change your life forever. At the Passover Supper (before He went out into the garden) Jesus knew the garden experience was there and He knew that the cross, death, the grave, and hell was waiting Him. Yet Jesus went out with a song in His heart, “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” (Matthew 26:29) How could He do that? He could sing because He had the victory already in His heart. The victory and trust He had in His Father to carry Him through the garden, onto the cross, and into and out of the grave. He knew His Father would never leave Him nor forsake Him. The victory was first won as the Father pressed out the life and will of Jesus at Gethsemane (which means where oil is pressed), “Then saith he unto them, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:38-39) Knowing what was before Him Jesus could still break bread with His disciples, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26) Knowing what was ahead for Him Jesus could still give thanks, “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28) He could only do this because it was the most sublime manifestation of faith ever expressed. We think He had faith when He restored sight to the blind, strengthened limbs, and raised the dead. Yes that was wonderful, but we must see the spiritual side of things. We must see the necessity of faith in the realm of the Spirit, not in the flesh (like the Easter myth), but the realm of the Spirit where we have the faith to dare to believe like Jesus. It is Jesus’ victorious life which leads up to His victorious death and that is what presents Him as the Lamb without spot and blemish. When seen on the Mount of Transfiguration, He is a Lamb without spot or blemish, but it is a Lamb that has been slain! We are not saved by His life we are saved by His death. His life is exemplary it is beautiful, but He did not come to display great character and to do miracles, He came to die for us. The way of life is through a region of death and unless we partake of His death we shall never reign with Him. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:3-5) The truth of the season is a bitter sweet message of death so that we may live. It is not about new clothing, many church activities, special foods, and musical programs to get people to come to church, but it is about us loving God enough to be willing (like Jesus) to fall into the ground and die, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 12:24)And, to love God’s word enough in simplicity to share it without fanfare and emotional ceremony knowing the Holy Spirit will do His work in lives. Then too we will be able to say we have before the throne (our heart) of God today a victorious risen Lord. Let us keep the love feast of Jesus’ sacrifice. Let us honor Him and His work in us and for those who we are to lead to the cross for His glory. Let not this season be a myth or holiday, but an invitation to life, the life of God.

OUR DIRECTION

When God formed man and breathed life into him He placed within man an objective, a direction you can say for his life. This direction is like a prize (we all like to win a prize) that is placed before us as a goal to be reached. Paul gives us a clue to the direction we must take if we desire to walk with the LORD, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) Now some Christians make heaven their direction, while others will make ministry their directional focus, or their prayers and efforts on their work. Whatever we may do or accomplish in life all this is never to be our direction to which we are to attain, if so then we have lost the prize. Rather it is the means by which the LORD develops in us to come through to the goal that He has placed before us. As a present reality this prize for our lives is calling out from deep within us to stir us to attain to it. This is why Paul prayed, “…but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12) All of the "things" that we do for Jesus are splendid, but we are not to become so involved in them that we lose our perspective and sight of the prize. To win the prize we must maintain proper direction and focus as we press toward the mark. These "things" will eventually pass away therefore, we must only become involved enough to get from them that which the LORD intends. We are to grow spiritually in the grace and knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ and yes this happens as we endure God's dealings and judgments in our lives, but we must never allow our direction or objective ever to be the dealings and judgments (suffer for the sake of suffering) or what we want (a mansion, a harp, a crown, etc) to have in God. I hear many denominations sing songs about going to heaven and getting a mansion just over the hill top, but what are they going to do when heaven goes away? Jesus told us, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35) In Revelation John tells us, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." (Revelation 21:1) Heaven is not my final home, but for those who are not expecting anything else after heaven they will not be ready nor will they able to move correctly in what God has for us then. The Bible I read says God is going to create a new heaven and a new earth and yes we are going back to the earth and going work, "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it." (Revelation 21:24) And in Isaiah, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. 24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:17-24) For those who are not ready for this new life they will not be able to function and move with God in what He is doing. Our direction need not be into heaven and all of His rewards, but Him and Him alone. I am not into heaven (now I am going and I hope I see you there), but I am into Him my eternal abode back to His heart where I came from. You know in a schoolroom there are many books to study, but these are not the education we seek they are merely the means that helps to produce it. We receive our education by becoming a reacting agent and allowing all these factors to play upon us. It is like our ministry, for through it, the LORD is doing something creative within us. You know God will never ask us how much work we have done for Him, but He will ask what has that work done within us and all of this will be registered upon our immortal spirit and will do something within us that we will not be the same as we were when He first saved us. There is to be within us a progression, our spiritual development and growth toward spiritual maturity. I am saved, but how far have I come into this process of becoming like God's precious Son Jesus Christ, which is God's goal in our lives. Well if heaven or ministry is not to be our prize then we are to press forward or plod on in what is to be held up before us toward which we can focus our daily living? It is not a "thing," but a what -- God's glory. Paul tells us, “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) and Peter helps us here, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever.” (1 Peter 4:11) The LORD has placed before us the “glory of God” as the direction that will require all that we are and have, to be submitted to Him. To glorify the LORD fully was the first vocation which was placed upon man when God created him. We are to “glorify God” in all we are and do. God made man and placed him in a garden, set apart to bring glory to Him, not to help Him do something. Man was made to glorify God. But we are born sinners and come short of this. Sin comes from a Greek word which means, “to miss the mark” the failure to do that for which it was made. Man was made and pointed to hit the bull’s eye (the glory of God), but he has missed the objective for which it was designed. This is sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Why are we sinners? Because we have come short of the glory of God the thing for which we were made. Whenever God does not receive the glory that should come to Him we sin. Man was made for a “mark” called the “glory of God.” How then are we to glorify God? If we are willing to abandon ourselves in the very root of our being to Him, God will take us into His possession. After God formed Adam He placed the benediction of His approval upon him, because He was well pleased with the arrangement which He had made our being limited and dependent on Him for life and Him alone. The instrument (Adam) was there, but it had not yet moved out where it could glorify God. The LORD says, I will now push you out into an arrangement here on earth and make a new law in the realm of spiritual living (Genesis 2:16-17), the law of testing and proving. This is the only way to develop and bring us to a place where God's glory may be released. You know our nature is a gift. We become a partaker of His divine nature purely on the basis of a gift He gave us. God gives us salvation, but He cannot give us a Christian character. We have to develop it. We are to grow and learn to subject our emotions and feelings continually to all the arrangements which God has placed in our life activities and as we do the will of God He is automatically glorified, for He is glorified whenever His will is done. Whenever God acts in a creative mood it is to His glory. He made the heavens, the seas, and man all that declares His glory. What is our objective in living? It is to glorify God. How can we do it? By accepting the will of God in our life directions. Therefore God knowing who and what we are places within our direction of life all the material that is necessary to reshape, recast, and make over that which He desires us to be. God can take the most disturbing things in our lives and make them become the means of us giving God glory. God’s objective is that through all the things that He subjects us to He is conforming us into the image of His dear precious Son Jesus Christ. He is approaching us because of His Son and what He sees in Him. He is tracing upon our spirit that we may be conformed to His image. For one day He will take us not just to heaven, but to be His (Ephesians 2:22) eternal habitation. When we see this we will be able to accept the trials, the discipline, the testings, and provings; for we see that this is the will of God and through it He will trace upon our immortal spirit the image and likeness of dear His Son. Only then will we find the satisfaction and fulfillment for which we were created and only then can we render the glory that is due Him. Written by David Stahl

WHAT WE CHOOSE

A week or so ago I was shopping with Karen at the air station commissary (I really enjoy our weekly food shopping with Karen) and I ran into a wonderful pastor friend (Pastor Young) and butcher at the commissary. I always so enjoy seeing him with his big smile and warm hug. It always should be a good time when two believers come together and greet each other; this is the communion that Paul was talking about when he said, "I speak as to wise men judge ye what I say. 16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10:15-17) Yes we are to keep the LORD's Supper (many call it communion) this is needed and good, but there is a greater communion supper that the LORD desires we keep every day of our life; the communion of the Saints as we keep the love feast with the bread of sincerity. Earlier in 1 Corinthians Paul tells us, "Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Corinthians 5:8) I believe this is the communion Paul was talking about (and what Pastor Young and I shared) because we can keep the ordinance of the LORD's Supper religiously, but if we do not keep the communion of the Saints everything else we do for God and in God will be for naught it will be the traditions of men. Keeping this communion is our choice. Whether we will have communion (not communication there is a huge difference) with this brother or that sister who has hurt or wronged us. If not then we will not be one bread, but be fractured, divided, and set apart from the Body of Christ. I have lived this thought. I have been in this situation with a friend I dearly love for over five years, but the LORD prompted me to email my friend (someone has to keep the fire burning) and we got together and had a great time. What communion (not just communication) we had for hours as we got caught up from five years, talked about times past and planned for future ministry, but just enjoyed each other in "sincerity and truth." You could say we tasted and saw that the LORD was good. But I digress, back to Pastor Young. Well we started talking and I made the statement, "whatsoever is planted grows" and as I was talking the LORD asked me why it grows? Now it is amazing as powerful as truth and the word of God is even if planted unless certain things happen it (not dependant on God) will not grow. Now that should give you a pause in your spirit. Growth of truth (as in God's words) has little to do with the seed it can only be life-giving it is the nature of God's word at all times. God's word has an ability, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) It cannot be anything different no more or no less, but I wonder why God's word planted in our heart and mind does not grow? After all every Sunday at church people hear God's word and it goes through their ear and eye gate has they read the Bible yet it does not grow. Amazingly as it sounds growth of God's word in our lives depends not on the power of the word (it is God's word no word is more powerful) or even on God (nothing is more powerful than God), but is based on our desire or our non-desire of the word we have heard. As strange as it may sound we choose what we want to be planted and what will grow in us. By our own desires we choose what we feel, hear, see, and experience. So too is the word of God planted in our lives. If we do not like the word of God that comes to us (what we have heard and read) we will reject it and it will have NO chance of taking root in our lives no matter how powerful and/or "anointed" it was delivered. If it does not appeal to our character and nature then the chances of God's word hitting its target (our heart and mind) is slim to none. But if God's word is received and planted we must not allow it to set by idle, oh now we must water it with tears of forgiveness and solitude, we must dung it with effort and perseverance to keep it alive. Did you know having all truth is not as important as having a desire for truth? Now I know that is not what most churches teach, but maybe that is why there is not much spiritual growth and development in most churches. We will either reject or receive what we hear, see, feel, or experience. We choose almost everything in our lives. We judge then separate what we do not like. Just go to the food store (commissary for us) and take a look at the cucumbers, lettuce, green onions, etc. We judge the good ones from the bad ones, we then choose which one we like and the ones we do not like. Believe it or not God has little to do with His word being planted in our mind and heart. Funny how we think God measures our ability to keep relationships by the number of relationships we have, but no my friend this is absolutely wrong. God measures our ability to keep relationships not by the ones we have, but by the ones we have lost. In Luke Jesus shares the parable of the sower, but I believe most Christians miss the point of the parable, Jesus said, "A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it." 8And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Luke 8:5-8) The power and ability of the seed did not change it was the same seed in all situations. The ability of the seed to take root and be productive was not dependant on the seed, but on the choices made out from the heart condition and actions of the people the word of God was being sown into. Jesus explains the parable: "The seed is the word of God. (Not money as most TV evangelists say) 12Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." (Luke 8:11-15) It was the same word with four different results yielding different harvest based on what the people choose to do with the word. The folks that choose to receive it, "in an honest and good heart, having heard the word keep it." Keeping the word has nothing to do with God, but everything to do with the people choosing to receive it. I wonder why we think God makes things happen spiritually in our lives for us? For the truth to be known God has little to do with our spiritual growth and development; He (God) proves the opportunity, the training, past lessons learned, and the wherewithal, and we must choose to make the right choice. After all God has already given us everything we need to choose right. Peter tells us, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:3-4). Did you get that? God has already given us "all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." What else if left? There is nothing else more God can give or do for us He has given us "all things." What if God made us choose right? Maybe that is what He needs to give us the ability to choose right. I think not. He has already given us the ability to do this now all we have to do is choose to do what He wants us to do. Written by David Stahl

A NEW SEASON

If we are feeling spiritually empty it may be the Lord’s intention for us to feel this way. The Lord often removes the old to make room for the new when we are about to enter into a new season, thus, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) What a painful truth to wrap our mind and heart around, but. rather than being discouraged or complaining about our present struggles we should hold this sense of being dissatisfied (being spiritually empty) before the Lord in anticipation of a new and deeper spiritual experience which is beyond our present level of spirituality. Jesus shared these words with the multitudes that followed Him on what we call "the sermon on the mount." Now some have made this message from God (was not a sermon) more than what it really was, but in reality all Jesus was doing was just ministering to the people who were trodden down with life, maybe suffering from persecution, and carrying many burdens. This is the best we can do when we minister just share our thoughts and heart with the people from the word that God gives us and do only those things directed by Him, anything else can be showmanship and can easily reach into manipulation. Often we can feel There is a fresh stirring of the Lord’s desire for us to become all that He would have us to be. We are hearing a new message, beyond anything that we have heard in the past. Our part is to be spiritually open and receptive. “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…" (Revelation 3:22) Hearing here more by our spirit and not our audible ear. One thing I am learning is anything new I read from the Bible and hear from our other ministers it is best not to allow our old bias to squash it in our thoughts and spirit. It is best to hold it before the Lord (even if we do not understand it) and allow the Holy Spirit to shine His light of truth on it and our heart and when it is for us we will be able to understand it or the Holy Spirit will reveal the error in it. Can you image the thoughts and misunderstanding the people had (probably some the same folks at the sermon the mount) when Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you." (John 6:53) Well if they had not continued to listen (held His words before them) they would not have had the opportunity to be saved and walk with Him. New does not always means bad, but make no mistake new most often means change and most people (especially Christians) do not like to change we are very happy in our old ways of understanding and doing things. Change is one of the hardest things for man to do when they have found success in doing things another way. We even make up sayings like, "if it is not broken then do not fix it." Well it may not be broken, but it can be improved on and that is what God is looking for in our lives improvement the first time he speaks. In the past there were times and places in which there was a substantial moving of the Spirit and many came to respond to the presence of the Lord. However, as soon as His presence lifted they left as their interest was in being blessed rather than in being changed. Funny how this can happen. As a small boy growing up in Pentecostal churches I remember moves of God where the Spirit of God (you knew it was not man originated) suddenly fell, but it has been some time since I have witnessed such a move of God. Two fast ones and slow one, announcements, take up the offering, about 15 - 20 minutes of good sermon (not a message from God), closing song, maybe altar call, and then blast out the door by 12:00 to beat the Baptists to our favorite cafeteria for lunch all directed by a service bulletin that nowhere says God can move when He wants. I hope this does not typify your service. Charles Haun (my teacher) told me a genuine move of God is 90% God and 10% man and the more man handles things the less of God is moving. When I was teenager living in West Virginia we use to attend a small Assembly of God Church in Wiley Ford. The Pastor was Howard Reckley how I loved this man. Well suddenly there was a move of God in the heart and lives of the 10 to 15 kids in the church. We would run down to the altar and praying hard weeping for hours. After school the first thing we would do before we went home was go to the church and spend time in prayer. God met us there in a great way, but the more we tried to formalize and orchestrate our getting together the less of the Spirit of God there seemed to be. Unannounced and in a sovereign way God came to us and the more we tried to do to get to Him the harder he was to be found until we loss interest in it all as you would expect of young teenagers. Many have experienced touches of a higher realm of worship and desire more, but it does not happen in the atmosphere of the worldly approaches (music, dance, lights, fog, drama, etc.) found within the present day Church. This limits us (which brings us to fulfillment and completion not freedoms and liberties) to praise (speaking words adoration to and about God) which can lift us into the higher realms of worship in the Spirit where we bow down, bring our head to the ground, or fall on our face before God which is the highest form of honor, respect, and love for God. I believe the Lord is beginning to unfold before us new levels of revelation as the age-to-come. Revelation as truth is never ours (it is owned by God, but shared with us) and is ever progressive. What I thought I knew (I did and it was real), but God opened another wrinkle, a new vein of understanding from that bit of broken bread to me. He is seeking to take us beyond our hearing sermons that relate to the past or to the future, but into the higher realm of prophetic revelation in which we are receiving a present living word for today. During the 1950’s, deeper-life Bible teachers like: John Wright Follette, A. W. Tozer, Walter Beuttler, and Oswald Chambers to name a few were criticized (there is always a price one will pay for revelation and for the greater revelation the greater the price) and judged because, as forerunners, they saw and understood that which was beyond was greater than what most were seeing or understanding in their day. As there were forerunners in that day there are those today who are reaching into the unknown who also must pay the price of not being understood. Now I am not saying I am a forerunner (probably not) as with John Wright Follette, A. W. Tozer, and Walter Beuttler I can think of others who have a greater revelation (in my most humblest of opinion) of understanding guys like Charles Haun, Wade Taylor, Bill Pepper, Jake Luffy to name a few. I hope you can name such great men in your life but please know when you say and do things that will require change by those who hear your words to come into a greater revelation the stones are coming your way. I think it was Oswald Chambers who said they build the monument to you in death from the stones they have thrown at you in life. They killed Jesus for telling the truth and for saying things for the people to hear. Still in John Chapter 6 we read, "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?." (John 6:60) It was not the multitudes this time that followed Him, but now it was His disciples who spoke these words. Verses 61-62, "When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? But look at Jesus' reply to His disciples, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63) Jesus was willing to receive the stones of murmuring to be the stone of stumbling unto their salvation. And is the servant greater than the Master? There is a present urgency and need to present ourselves as being available to become a place of habitation for the presence and glory of the Lord, beyond anything that has previously been experienced or seen. This manifestation of His glory will impact the nations. Walter Beuttler said God told him if he builds God a temple He will inhabit it. May we pray together that we will rise above our present feeling of dissatisfaction, and be ready for that day. Written by David Stahl