A WIND IN THE HOUSE OF ISLAM

I often hear many Christians say, "what is God doing now in the world" I shake my head, and say to myself, "if they only knew what God is doing in the world they would be shocked." And that my friend is why most Christians do NOT know what God is doing in the world. Most Christians (especially in America) are secure (in their once saved always saved doctrine) and safe in their little church Sunday world (and maybe a mid-week service) three fast ones and a slow one, some announcements, pass the plate (cannot forget to pass the plate), maybe a special number or two, no more than 20 minutes of a sermon (sound familiar?), and then off to a local restaurant for the main course. Sadly this not what God has intended for His people when they come together, but this is what He gets in most churches. But what is God doing around the world? Well I will tell you my friend, there is a wind (the Holy Spirit) blowing around the world that is moving millions and millions of people from country to country, that are destabilizing nations. As a matter of fact this move of God is (in my humble opinion) bigger than the Azusa Street Revival of 1906, bigger than all four (1730-1755, 1790-1840, 1855-1930, and 1960-1980) of the Great Awakenings, and only second to the coming of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts. What is going on? The Holy Spirit is blowing people groups from one part of the world to another part of the world. If you want to read a good book to understand this mighty move of God I recommend you get the book, "A Wind in the House of Islam" by David Garrison. There are nine geo–cultural regions or "rooms" as David calls them in the "House of Islam" and the Wind of God's Spirit is blowing through every one of them. In every corner of the Muslim world Muslims are turning to faith in Jesus Christ. God is speaking to them in dreams and visions and the result is a historic and unprecedented movement of the greatest turning of Muslims to Christ in the history of the world. And it is happening right under the sleeping nose of most of the churches. These geo-cultural rooms are found mainly in what many missionaries call the 10/40 Window. The 10/40 Window is the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude. The 10/40 Window is often called "The Resistant Belt" and includes the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. The original 10/40 Window included only countries with at least 50% of their land mass within 10 and 40 degrees north latitude, but the revised 10/40 Window includes several additional countries that are close to 10 or 40 degrees north latitude and have high concentrations of unreached peoples. Approximately 5.04 billion individuals reside in approximately 8,631distinct people groups in the revised 10/40 Window. 5,918 or 68.6% of these people groups are considered totally unreached and having a population of 3.04 billion. This means approximately 60% of the individuals in the 10/40 Window live in an unreached people group. The 10/40 Window is home to some of the largest unreached people groups in the world such as the Shaikh, Yadava, Turks, Moroccan, Arabs, Pashtun, Jat, and Burmese. These are the people Jesus told the church to go after, but sadly we see these people have not been told about Jesus shoot they have not even be contacted. They are still unreached today. And why? Too hard, too expensive, too dangerous, plainly just too difficult. Maybe God made a mistake with these folks. In the last 50 years only 10% of all of the missionaries in the world have ventured within the 10/40 Window. Again approximately 60% of the individuals in the 10/40 Window live in an unreached people group.  So here is the question I have for the denominational missionary organizations. "What happened to Jesus' command to "Go ye" in Matthew 28?" Jesus commanded, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20) Maybe "all" does not mean "all." Or maybe they do not believe He will be with them "unto the end of the world." Now I have been to some of these places on the above map and I am here to tell you when you are there you feel like you are at the end of the world, but that is why it is important to know (before you leave) that God will never leave us or forsake us. Let us be honest and truthful my friend the church has significantly and miserably failed (especially over the last 50 years) to do the great commission work as Jesus has commanded and this (believe it or not) is at the heart of this massive movement of people. Now we would blame the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria that caused the people to exodus but not so. God has always used war, famine, and even governments to do his bidding to further the plans He has for mankind, just read the Old Testament and He had not changed. It is the hand of God in these wars and the wind blowing (the Holy Spirit) that is driving the people into places where the Gospel message can be heard. God in His love and mercy wishes none to be lost no not one. Brother Peter tells, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) God desires all to come to repentance and the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ so if the church/missionaries will not go where the people are then God (in His love and mercy) will send the people were the missionaries/church is. And that is what is happening. I have seen it with my own two eyes. The last time we were in Turkey we traveled to the Turkish Syrian (on the border) Town of Aleppo and saw the massive refugee camp. As far as the eye could see was white tents (and all of the things needed for a refugee camp) in the desert. The streams of people head west into Turkey or up from Greece to get passage into the Balkans and follow on into Eastern and then Western Europe. And all along the way destabilizing villages, town, cities, and countries. Like a swam of locus devouring everything in their path. Here the sad truth plays out; the price paid for our disobedience is usually paid by others. This scenario has been playing out since 2015 with no sight of shutting down, yet the world and most in the churches snoozes on. This flood of people will stop when the Holy Spirit stops blowing in the hearts and lives of the people who have never heard of Jesus Christ. But until then people are coming. Knowing the church has missed it in not going what is the church going to do now? What is God doing in the world? Giving the church another chance at the Great Commission. Written by David Stahl

THE WHISPERS OF GOD

Back in September our sleepy little fishing village (population around 10,000) was looking down the barrel (in the middle of the cross hairs) of a category 4 hurricane (winds 130- 156 mph or 209-251 mp/k) name Florence. Thank God it weakened to a Category 1 (winds 74-95 mph or 119-153 mp/k) and turned south at the last minute and we missed the brunt of the winds and storm surge. Still it devastated the area to the point even today four months later people are just getting some sense of normalness. I can remember getting a phone call from an old pastor (Doug Price from Johnston, PA) inquiring about our safety and I told him if Florence take our home we will move to Johnston, PA (and we meant it) and help him with his church. It all seems surreal, but in my spirit I felt a calm and peace that all would be well, but we all know God's ways are not our ways. As Florence drew near the coast it was certain Karen and I had to make some hard and fast decisions. So I did what we all need to do at times like this, ask God what to do and all I got was, "stay put." God spoke small to me, He seemed to whisper to my spirit in an almost quite way. You know often we miss God speaking to us because we have all of these other voices loud in our ears and thoughts. It is not God is not speaking, but most often we lack the ability to hear His voice. So I said okay we will go a school shelter in town. Now again at this time Florence had not downgraded and was still packing winds of over 156 mph. I felt good with our decision for safety and we were staying put as God directed. Our wonderful son Dan in Fort Payne AL over 10 hours by car and another wonderful son David in Greenville, NC about two hours (as well as many other friends) away invited us to come, but God said 'stay put." As the shelter at the middle school in town opened we found out it was built for storms not greater than category 2 (96-110 mph or 154-177 mp/k) and so anyone who signed in at the shelter would be bused three hours away, which is not staying put. What to do now. Here is where if we have a hearing ear we can hear God whisper to us what to do. Now many who say God does not whisper to us, oh yeah? In 1 Kings Chapter 19 we find God whispering to Elijah. "And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." 1 Kings 19:11-12) The word "small" here is Hebrew #1851 for thin, dwarf, or whisper. A voice cannot be big or small, but is measured in loudness of sound. You know when we expect God to speak to us we are looking for trumpets to sound, clouds to roll back, thunder to crash, but that is not how God speaks. God is not into the flashy, loud, look at me entertainment projections or even the sad, sorrowful heartfelt tear jerking songs like in most churches of today use to manipulate their people to get them to do things. Oh no the church thinks it is God, but in reality it is nothing more than our carnal, fleshy emotions that moves us to tears or to boast of things we have no intention of doing when the music stops. I always find it funny how while the music is playing and the drums are beating God is in our presence, but once the music stops God seems to disappear. Here in verse 11, "a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks" and Elijah expected to hear God in the mighty wind and the destruction of the mighty mountain, but God did not speak. And "after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:" God did not speak after the earthquake. And "after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire:" Surely after the mighty wind, an earthquake, and fire God would speak, but God was silent. What would make God speak if not for these major disasters? Does God not care? Yes my friend God does care and He wants to calm the raging storm, but it is not the wind, or earthquake, or fire He is concerned about oh no it is the storm that is raging in our heart. The fear and uncertainty that fills our heart and head during times like these. A day or so later I was talking to a really good neighbor Mr. Eulyss Stafford (a retired from the USMC and works as a contractor with the Coast Guard, we affectionately call him Prophet) who is a Christian and we told him we were planning to go to the middle school, but we heard they were going to send folks hours from Sneads Ferry and God said stay put. I asked him what was he was going to do and he said he was going to ride the storm out on the US Marine Corps Base at the Hostess House. The Base is self contained and self sufficient and the Hostess House (built in 1954 of steel and brick) provided a hard structure for Category 4 winds, had generators, power, food, everything we will need to ride Florence out and best yet it was still in the area so we could stay put. God spoke again. In my spirit faintly I could hear God say, "stay put and go to the Hostess House." I think God speaks low (like His nature) because He wants us to know we have heard Him speak. There was no doubt in my mind. I heard the voice of the LORD (I have heard it before) and now all we had to do is move in obedience. So in obedience Karen and I drove over to the Base and got a room at the Hostess House (plenty of rooms available is that just like God) and then drove back to our home and loaded up our truck with everything we would need to start our life over. It was quite a humbling experience getting all of the important papers, weapons and ammo, pictures, suitcases of clothing, everything we would need to start over. Driving out our drive way I said, "the LORD gives and the LORD takes away, blessed be the name of the LORD." We arrived at the Hostess House, rode out the storm and had to wait about a week before they opened roads to return home. Just like with Elijah after the storm God spoke. Verse 12 ends with these words, "and after the fire a still small voice." Please notice AFTER the storm. God whispered to Elijah not to still the storm, but to let Elijah know everything will be okay. So too in our lives seldom does God still the storm, but when He speaks is to comfort and reassure us that as He promsied He would never leave or forsake us and all will be well. Now that is not denying the storm, but in the strength of God enduring the storm and out from the storm we are developed and not just delivered. You know if God has to keep delivering us from the storms of life He knows the plans and purposes for our lives He has established are in jeopardy of being lost so he will pick us up and plant us in another field, but we must know we have not succeeded in God oh no we have failed. God wants us to go through life's many problems (in Christ) so that we can be developed and not delivered. While we were at the Hostess House I received an email from a good friend from Africa and he told me I am a man of God I need to command the wind, speak to the wind, command the storm, well the only storm I needed to command was the storm in my heart. If I had not heard God whisper twice and allowed Him to reassure me after the storm then I would not have been able to hold a church service at the Hostess House that Sunday. The Saturday before I was talking with the manager of the Hostess House and I asked him if the Base Chapels were closed and he said yes. So I said, "on Sunday most people go to church and we need to thank God for sparing our lives and community." And he said, "you are right." So I asked if I could hold a service in the breakfast area and he said, "yes, but the Hostess House could not look like it was in support of the effort so Karen and I starting spreading the word of the church service at 12:00 that coming Sunday. I would have never thought this could be possible knowing how the Department of Defense restricts Christian activities. But after the storm (like with Elijah) the LORD spoke and when the LORD speaks (especially a whisper) no one can stop it and only those with an hearing ear can hear it. Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 58 FOR HGM ON 27 NOV 18

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-58
TEXT: "And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done." (Judges 14:5-6)

I. VICTORY

A. As an enemy against the children of God, Sihon became God's enemy. It is not up to the children of God to conquer this enemy by their own strength alone.
B. But as an enemy, judged and defeated by God, he is delivered into the hands of the children of God for the execution of God's will. We may have a will as Moses once did, zealous to get our hands upon the enemies to give them several stinging swats, sending them sprawling to the sand.
C. That is not what God had in mind for Moses, nor for us today. It is God who delivers our enemy into our hands. It is then they become powerless in our grip. We can see this in the case of Samson.
D. A young lion roars against him, and the Spirit of God comes upon him. Samson is not characterized by a spirit which says, "I'll show you that I've got the power!" This is not an antagonistic spirit which comes upon him, making him so mad that he tore the lion to pieces. In the Bible "wrath" is only appropriate in God; it does not belong in the heart of man.
E. Samson "had nothing in his hand." This refers to no natural faculty to execute his feat. "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)
F. With Him (in the full sense of the meaning) we have in our hands all that is necessary to execute His will. In the final analysis He give the victory which we think we have won.
G. If there is to be forward moving on in our victorious Christian living, we must deliver ourselves into God's hands, and take our orders from Him. It is not for us to move in our intentions, fulfilling our own wills. It is not for us to execute our decisions upon the enemy. Watch this in the Bible. Read the Bible!
H. Do not spend more time listens to preachers and teachers and reading books than you spend in the Bible. The Bible is your place of anchorage in truth. In the Bible watch the prerogatives of God versus the prerogatives of man. And learn!
I. Moses does not have to change his spirit of peace to one of antagonism simply because the king of Heshbon is moving against him. Moses had never thought that he had to knock over every king in his path. His basic concern was the will of God. God delivers kings into the hands of the children of Israel, who receive the victory God gives.
J. Later, out of the will of God, Israel herself is defeated upon a number of occasions. This whole thing of victory moves upon God's prerogative, His intentions. "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6)
K. Moses does not move against Sihon. "Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz." (Deuteronomy 2:32) David does not move against Goliath. Sihon and Goliath move against the children of God, and thus against God. In Moses and David there is a response from God.

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

A. I am never disturbed by enemies outside my soul. If any enemy sets his power and forces against me, that is his problem, not mine. I have a strong high tower. "For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." (Psalms 61:3) I have no need to set myself against the enemy. It is not in my heart to strive with the enemy. If it were, it would distract me from my focal point upon God and His will.
B. We are not to be against anyone or anything. We are for God. If God is against someone, that is His business, not mine. My business is to serve God, doing want He wants me to do. If He wants me to confront a hostile enemy and defeat him, fine; that is what I will do, but I will do it in His strength.

PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS

As we travel around to many places in the world we do not see a lot of people who want to be poor and fewer yet who want to be "poor in spirit." But being "poor in spirit" assures us we have a place in the kingdom of heaven and maybe the kingdom of God. Jesus told the people gathered on the mountain , “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) Not too many people heard His words as many do not hear his words today. Now remember the kingdom of God is not a place and you cannot get a good job in this kingdom nor is the kingdom of God the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is a place we all (or I should say most Christians) hope to go to some day, but the kingdom of God is a heart condition it is within us. The Pharisees demanded of Jesus, "when the kingdom of God should come" and Jesus asked them and said, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21) Paul told the church at Rome, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14:17) I am afraid the nominal apostate church of today has done a great job in deceiving many Christians in not knowing the difference between the two kingdoms. We must come to a correct spiritual understanding of these two kingdoms if we will ever come to know other important concepts and precepts like what is prosperity and success in God. One thing for sure unless you come into the kingdom of God you will probably not come into the kingdom of heaven. Again the nominal (denominational churches, etc.) and the apostate churches have done a great job in redefining these words for those Christians who do NOT read their Bibles, but have a heart for God. They target theses Christians specifically so they can get money and service out of them to further their ungodly ambitions and programs. I have seen it all over the world in and out of the church. I will tell you God is not pleased, but He will let things go on and on (God's longsuffering), but my friend I am telling you now there is a day (it may be coming soon) when God will say enough is enough and pull back the curtain taking away our comfortable places to (what we call) worship and expose people for who they really are. Biblically prosperity has nothing to do with money yet the church (around the world ) is obsessed with collecting every dime and mite it can get its little greedy paws on. We use to go a church where no matter how many people were in the service the offering had to be taken up. Other components of the service could be exempt, but not the offering. Somehow I think they have missed the point of why we come together as a local body of believers and later (as we attended) it became sadly clear their true focus was not God, or the people, but the money and their agenda. It does not matter how much money a church has oh no money is not a measure of prosperity (especially spirituality) in God. Oh the number of churches that think they are "spiritual" because they have a nice building. And even sadder the number of churches that think they are spiritual because they are moved by their emotions. This year while teaching at the Mission Bible School in Agigea (a wonderful school), Romania the second year students and I had much discussion on the topic until I took them to the word of God Jesus told Nicodemus, "Verily, verily (a double imperative) , I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:5-6) They got it then. The Word of God always settles the issue if you have a heart for the truth. In Genesis God said of Joseph, "And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian." (Genesis 39:2) Did you get that? Joesph was a prosperous man yet all he had was probably a loincloth. My friend Biblical prosperity is not about money and riches, but to be in good condition or bring to a successful conclusion. To push froward in God. Not too many Christians are looking for this type of prosperity maybe that is why not many Christians are in good condition or are successfully brought to a conclusion. Success in God is not measured by who has the most toys, houses, or cars when they die oh no. Success in God is measured by correct understanding and wisdom in relationships and other things of God. No wonder Joseph was such a big success in life he always kept his relationships in check with reality. I will be honest here I get this wrong often. I like to see everyone as my friend, but in the end those people who like to use and take advantage of me well . . . . as God said about a pastor the last time this happened, "your were his friend in your heart, but he was not your friend." This prosperity and success message go beyond the church walls and into the depth of our heart. 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 this presence lifted they left as their interest was in being blessed rather than in being changed. we must desire to be changed and not just blessed. God can bless anyone, but cannot change someone unless they have a desire for the truth for the word of God and what words God speaks to our heart. Many have experienced touches of this higher realm of worship and desire more, but it cannot happen in the atmosphere of loud rock-like music and entertainment within the present day Church. This limits us to praise which cannot lift us into the higher realms of worship in the Spirit. True worship has nothing to do with singing, dancing, or flag waving, but to bow our head to the ground yet the church muddles on in its presumption, but her time is slowing running out. 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 as we have never seen before and some things God is changing up in parts of the world. As I said in this article we spent the week at the Mission Bible School (CRST) in Agigea. We got there on a Friday night and class began on Monday to Friday, but on Saturday they had a great symposium of the refugee crisis in the Balkans. Over the years I have followed it more from a distance since we live in the States and not touched by the magnitude of the mass of people and the seemly unending need to care, feed, and house the masses. But if you look close there is much more going on here. To really understand what is going on you must read a book called, "A wind in the House of Islam" by David Garrison. The book talks about the nine geo–cultural "rooms" in the "House of Islam," and the Wind of God's Spirit is blowing through every one of them. David Garrison spent three years travelling a quarter–million miles through every corner of the Muslim world to investigate reports far and wide of Muslims turning to faith in Jesus Christ. In this amazing odyssey, Garrison gathered the stories of more than a thousand Muslim–background believers, asking them the question. Due to the wars in Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, and other hot spots huge streams of people are moving from a dangerous place to a safer place. Strange how God would use war to move the Muslim people. So now we have country after country (Greece, Turkey, Germany to name a few) in crisis from this exodus of people. Now even though I was not asked to speak at the symposium they asked if I wanted to say something, but I told them they would not like what I had to say. I told them I would say the church for the last 50 years has miserably failed to answer the great commission call to go and make disciples of all nations as Jesus asked in Matthew 28:20. Only 10% of the missionaries (in the last 50 years) go to where 90% of the people who have not heard of the wondrous name of Jesus. It is either too hard, too dangerous. too expensive, you name it are not going so God said okay fine. I wish none to be lost no not one. So if the church will not go to the people then I will send the people to the church. The question I would ask is what will the church do now? The church (collectively) has failed to do what Jesus has asked so God is taking the initiative and now the masses of people are at the door and now what is the church going to do? You could say God would not do that. Well if you say that you would sound like my second year students at the Mission Bible School when I told them God changes His mind. You would have thought I was teaching heresy. God will do whatsoever he needs to do to get this wonderful message of grace through faith to people who have never heard it. God will stop at nothing and will use anyone who has a heart to share His love. This is why I really admire and honor the students at the Mission Bible School because when they graduate they go to places where Islam is the only religion knowing it may cost them their lives to share the Gospel. Yes my friend times are changing in the world. God is lining up things and closing some things down to keep things moving forward in God. On our trip this year to Bulgaria we found out about the new laws that would close down almost every Christian Church in Bulgaria. You would say God would never allow that to happen, well as of the printing of this article we are waiting for the news. What does the new legislation say? These are the main problems with the new legislation:

- Only Bulgarian citizens will be able to carry out liturgical activity if they have had theological training in Bulgaria or their foreign school is approved.

- Only Eastern Orthodox & Muslim believers will be able to train clergy and run schools.

- A foreigner will only be able to preach if doing so with a Bulgarian ordained minister.

- Foreign donations will only be allowed for building construction or social aid and will need government approval. No salaries of pastors for example could be paid from abroad.

- No religious activities can take place outside of buildings designated for them.

- Only religious groups with +300 people will have legal status.

On our trip to Romania and Bulgaria in every Church we went into we found stacks and stacks of KJV of the Bible. They all came from Greece from an organization that gives away free Bibles. All you have to do is contact them and they will send you (even pay for the shipping) as many Bibles as you want. I believe God is flooding Bibles, now in these days, into places where the freedom to share this wonderful Gospel message will soon be restricted. My friend we cannot get it wrong any more too many lives depend on us getting it right. Written by David Stahl

TRUE PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS

I was surfing through the channels last week and I came across this guy by the name of Mike Murdock. Now I will be honest it has been a long time since I have heard someone spin and misrepresent the truth of the word of God when it comes to prosperity and success. He was shameful. Now I am not going to tell you not to listen to this clown that is up to you. If you feel to give this man your hard earned money that is up to you, but be not deceived do yourself a favor and ask the Holy Spirit if this is what He wants or are you being deceived by a slick talking charlatan. You will thank me for it later. I was really struck by his sales pitch, "you have just 10 minutes to call in and get a piece of this special onetime offering." I guess people were calling I heard phones ring and saw people talking, but not sure the context. Again I am not going to tell you to give or not to give that is up to you. But one thing for sure we are to have a spiritual wherewithal to prevent us from being taken advantage of by people like Mike Murdock and the rest of the prosperity teachers and preachers like: Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, Benny Hinn, Andrew Womack, Creflo Dollar, Morris Cerullo, Paula White, and so many more. When it all comes down it is more about greed, manipulation , and self-promotion by the charlatans than about hearing from God and given. Prosperity in the Scriptures has little to do with money or wealth, but it seems those who pimp the Gospel for money and wealth (see names above) think it does. Now do not get me wrong God wants to met our NEED He does want the needs of the Gospel to be meet, but when you tie your obedience to man's requirements (what they tell you God told them to tell you) you are off the mark of the truth. We give not because man tells us God told us to, but because we feel in our heart this is what Jesus would have us do and in obedience to God in the giving we are rewarded not by the amount given, but by the act of obedience of giving. It mattered not what we give or do for God, but how we do and give things. God knows what we need does he not? The charlatans (see names above) say you are poor because you have not given your money back God as they feel you need to. Well what are the poor people in Africa and Asia going to do who have no money to give God? Have they sinned? I would say no way, I would say these folks are a lot more Godly than the charlatans. If this be so I guess Joseph while at Potiphar's house must have been in sin. God said of Joseph, "And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian." (Genesis 39:1-2) What? God said of Joseph he, "was a prosperous man?"  What did Joseph have? Money? Power? Wealth? No Joseph had nothing he was slave, maybe a loincloth to cover his manhood, yet God said of Joseph "he was a prosperous man." To God prosperity has nothing to do with money, but everything to do with pushing forward into God. Here in Genesis 39:2, the word "prosperous" means to push forward in various senses. Strange how some have twisted this word for their welfare, well maybe not so strange for the greedy and selfish. All throughout the Scriptures the word "prosperity" really has nothing to do with money or wealth, but means to be in good condition or to bring to a successful conclusion and has to do with our heart condition not riches. Maybe that is why the charlatans do not understand the Scriptures and work for their well being so hard. Mike Murdock's profile on Wikipedia says, "On March 3, 2003, the Associated Press reported Murdock asked followers for money to help the poor but spent more than 60% of donations on overhead, including his salary, and only a tiny amount (reported to be "legal minimums of 1% to 3%") on helping the needy, or any other 'public interest." This is not the heart condition of a broken servant of God. Again I not telling you to give him money nor not to give him money, but asking you to be spiritually aware. We need to be a creditable witness to the life changing power of God not a witness to how much money God will give us if we do something for Him. God is more concerned about our character and integrity than about our ability to do things for Him and that includes raising money for Him. I wonder why we always attach money to God's ability and love for us? If we have no money, a nice car, or place to stay does this means God does not love or want to use us? Many equate God's anointing with nice car, airplanes, big ministries, jewelry, and fame well that is not so. God does not care about these things. Again God's number one focus in our lives is our character. This is just utter foolishness because those who believe these things lack the ability to spiritually push forward in God they are more concerned about the earthly, carnal world of materialism, power, control, manipulation, and things than in God. In Joshua we see this word prosperous, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:8-9) The word "prosperous" here is the same word in Genesis 39:2, to push forward in God. Here the way of prosperity for Joshua comes by the way of, "thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:' When we "truly" know what God's word says we will not get over into side shows or trickery to try to take advantage of people. We will be rooted and grounded in the divine spiritual word of God that touch lives and help make a change in the lives if people who are lost and in need of a Savior. This is what the world needs not another millionaire Bible teacher or preacher. I do not see a single verse in the Bible that tells us we are to be super rich with many houses living better than the people who give to our ministry. Also from Mike Murdock's profile on Wikipedia, "On March 22, 2012, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Murdock's home, assessed at $1.5 million, was for sale. The 9,943 sq ft 25-room home with built-in wine cooler located on 6.89 acres at 2010 Whitebridge Rd., Argyle, TX 76226 was first listed for sale on Realtor.com on November 29, 2011 for $3.2 million and then subsequently on September 4, 2013 (MLS 12020088) for $2.7 million. According to public records, Murdock also was the owner of 2013 Whitebridge Rd." There is something wrong with this picture, but again you make the call. Success is like prosperity the meaning has to do with having a correct understanding of relational wisdom in areas of the things of God. It has nothing to do with hitting the lottery or our ship coming in. Oh no "success" from God's perspective has to do with understanding correctly in the areas of the things of God. In the weightier things of God. Once we push forward in God (be prosperous) we then will have the right perceptive in relationship with the things of God. We will understand how things in God operate. We will be able to see (understand) the big picture how things work together for our good. How what we call bad things that happen to us turn out to be a blessing. I am reminded of our neighbor's tree that was taken down by the hurricane that just hit our area. If you would see the tree laying down on the house you would think this is a very bad thing for the house and the neighbor, but a few days ago our other neighbor's house burnt down and if the tree that fell in the hurricane would have been standing it would have been a bridge to my other neighbor's house. Now did God know this in advance (your judge) I do not know, but I do know my neighbor would have lost his house if the tree was standing. "Good success" for us in God is when we have the understanding of how things in God happen and how we fit into His big picture. How can we operate in His will if we do not have the big picture? We cannot! We only fool ourselves, deceive others, and have to resort to being a charlatan. Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 57 (FOR HGM ON 23 OCT 2018)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-57

TEXT: "But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain." (Titus 3:9)

 

I. DON'T BE CONTENTIOUS AV - strife 4, debate 2, contention 2, variance 1; 9 contention, strife, wrangling.

A. A contentious person will be contentious to people. Avoid this attitude. Our life is not to take root in such characteristics and find its activities there. Our life is not to be motivated by that which we want to accomplish, but by God. At all cost avoid antagonism and contention, which are most costly to life.

B. The contentious heart is made manifest toward the enemy, toward a brother, and in the verse in Titus quoted above, toward God's word. Believers argue and contend over the Word. Contention jumps out of the contentious heart in almost every circumstances and situation.

C. Believers reveal their hearts to others. "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:" (2 Corinthians 3:2) That which is characteristically manifested in one area is generally moving in the whole of that person's life.

D. Jesus said, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." (Luke 16:10) The truth of His statement rests upon the fact that you are what you are, regardless of the circumstances in which you are operating.

E. In the Church, in the home, on the job, your character remains basically the same, with differences in the wrapping. Some wrappings are designed to hide the real character, which may fool some people. But many folks see through the covering to see the character for what it is.

F. A contentious heart can be seen even in prayer, and in reading and discussing the Word. The-real-you can be nothing more nor less than the-real-you. There is no helping that. ". . . for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matthew 12:34)

G. Do not be dissatisfied and disgruntled in what you do in this present life. Be dissatisfied and disgruntled in what you are. If there is a real dissatisfaction in what you really are, that is the beginning of change. He can correct a malignant (cancer) heart. We cannot affect the change simply by acting differently. It takes the creative powers of God. "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalms 51:10)

H. A life surrendered to the burning coals of God's altar will be purified. But there must be a willingness for the fire to burn our dross, a willingness to let go of our malignancy for the sanctification and purity God desires to establish in us.

I. The peaceful approach to Sihon by Moses is rebuffed and the king sets himself against the children of God. "But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day." (Deuteronomy 2:30) His heart is contrary to the character of God, and becomes more cemented in its malignancy by a continuous refusal of God's dealings. Thus he becomes the enemy to this peculiarly peaceful people.

DOWN IN BAPTISM

Nothing is more contentious today in religious circles than the topic of baptism. I think that is because most Bible scholars, the Christian educated folks, and the pew sitters of the day do not understand the direction of baptism which is down. Most Christians do not want to go down they want to go up, but the condition to go up in God is to first go down and die. Ah there is another reason why many Christians do not understand what baptism is they do not want to die to their self-life nor their self-seeking nature and ways. John shows us this way downward and the spiritual death we must experience to be able to walk with the LORD in newness and resurrection life. John writes, "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. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." (John 12:24-26) Verse 24 starts out "Verily verily" now this is a double imperative (strongest implication for truth) that means this is the only way there is no other way we can do what is being asked of us. John tells us we must "fall into the ground and die." "No I do not want to die I want to live, live, live I want to enjoy life after all in John 10:10 Jesus tells us, "I have come so that you may have life and life more abundantly."" Sadly most Christians can recite John 10:10 (backwards and forward), but they do not know John 12:24 which describes the process in our lives to become fruitful in God. My friend to be fruitful in God we must die. And why, our self screams to be satisfied and fulfilled, but in God fulfillment and completion is only satisfied by the death of our selfish character and ways. This is what Jesus was telling us here. The next verse (v25) tells us if we love our life we will lose our life, but if we hate (word means hate as we know it) or lose our life we shall keep or find our life for all eternally. Losing comes first then secondary we find. Jesus then asked the disciples to "follow me and where I am" well, where was Jesus? He was on His way to the cross to die. We will never be able to follow Jesus in any type or form of ministry if we do not desire to die spiritually to our fleshly appetites. We cannot kill our flesh we do not have the will power or ability within us to deal with our flesh, thus if our flesh is to receive a death blow we must give God permission into our lives to lay the axe to the root of all that grows forth (that stems from our selfish flesh) in us that is not of God. My friend down is the direction in God if we desire to go up. Spiritual death is the direction in our life if we desire to rule and reign with Him now on earth and in the ages to come. Paul knew this truth well. We see this in 1 Corinthians and in Romans when he was trying to help the Christians work through all of the wrong teaching (like about baptism) that was infecting the "church." Wrong teaching in the church has been more of an obstacle to the truth than sin and the devil. From the start, the church in Jerusalem (I believe) they got it wrong. For example all though out the New Testament we read where disciples were directed by leadership to bring money to the Church in Jerusalem. I wonder why? Now this is the right model one local body of believers bringing money or support to another local body of believers and not one local body of believers giving their money to a headquarters who divvies up the money according to their likes, dislikes, or if someone is playing ball with them. I have seen this all of my life (around the world) this denominationalism is a form of socialism. In Acts we read where, "And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart," (Acts 2:44-46) Now I believe they got verse 46 right (not called a church, but "house to house"), but verses 44 and 45 is nothing more than socialism and a form of social justice. No wonder they were poor, had no money, and needed support. No wonder all of the disciples had to bring money back to the "mother church." Sadly I have seen this around the world, especially in Africa. Collectivism and /or socialism does not work. Alarmingly socialism is being considered by the United States of America today, well the only problem with socialism is at some point you run out of somebody else's money. America take heed it did not work in the Bible and it will not work today. Looks like I drifted somewhat, well I guess the LORD wanted me to throw that in. In Romans Paul told the Body of Believers, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For 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) Now let me stop here and make a statement, baptism in water is NOT as a big deal as most churches today make it. Are we to get baptized yes! And why? Because Jesus asked us to. (see Matthew 29:17) It is an outward sign of an inward work of the heart from tradition, but you can get baptized all day long (even get your name on the church role) and still go to hell. Baptism will never save us from our sins nor will it lead us into greater spiritual development it is all about obedience. Many denominations (like the UPC and other Pentecostal groups) will put you in a devil's hell if you are not baptized in Jesus name, utter foolishness. We can see John the Baptist got into trouble because he would not stop baptizing God had to put him in prison a place where there was no water. Here Paul continues the theme in John 12:24, "many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" What we are baptized into the death of Christ and not His life? Well that is what Paul said. Paul went on to say, "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." Did you get that? Verse five, " For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:" How clear do we need it to become? If we want resurrection life we must be "planted together in the likeness of his death." We have to be dead to be resurrected. And that way is down. To have life we first must die, dying comes first then resurrection. Not too many churches teach this deeper truth they seem to glaze over these verses looking for verses that tell us of our power and authority in God, our destiny, well the only destiny we have in God is to follow Jesus to the cross and die so He can live through us. Paul all too well knew this truth because it has been worked into his life from the time he held the coats of the men who stoned Stephen, when he was called into service on the Road to Damascus, ship wrecked, naked, almost starved to death, in the deep (sea) for days, stoned through all of these and more Paul learned this truth. Paul also knew that there was only one Body. Let me say that again, Paul also knew that there was only one Body. There are many local bodies not churches because we are the church Jesus is not trying to build buildings or denominations to save the world, oh no the world is lost Jesus has come to save those who are lost in the world. My friend we (the people) are the church never forget that and never let some religious person tell you otherwise. There is only one Body of Christ in which we are baptized into. Paul in 1 Corinthians tells the local Body of Believers in Corinth, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) Though many members (people) yet one Body! One Spirit! We are NOT baptized into a denomination or a church, oh no we are baptized into the Body of Christ. Did you get that? And the way in Christ is down into His baptism into His death so that He can live though us. Written by David Stahl