THE MAIN MESSAGE

As Karen and I were driving from Sneads Ferry, NC to Mentone Alabama (about 10 hours one way by car) to spend some time with our son Daniel and his wonderful family (Sarah, Abigail, John, and Hannah), Jeff (our son-in-law) and Connie (our daughter), and with Dan’s Pastor Jack, his charming wife Debbie, and their son Jason. What a wonderful time we all had up in the Alabama mountains where we all stayed in a huge three level cabin, hiking many miles on trails in the national and State parks, splashing in the streams, waterfalls, and lakes, fishing, just a wonderful quiet time with family. God has given us rest to enjoy. It was much needed after my long trip to Ethiopia and the death (that is okay she is in Heaven and I will see her again) of my mother shortly after I returned. God was so gracious to allow me to be home when she passed even though I was not in her presence when she entered the presence of the LORD. As we drive my attention often is peaked by the many churches along the road I see. Karen always tells me I need to knock off the skylarking when I am driving, but I seem to have a hard time being obedient when it comes to looking at God’s handiwork (nature) and man’s handiwork (buildings some call churches). Now I did not say, “God’s handiwork, the “church” because “churches” are not God’s handiwork (or workmanship) we and nature are God’s handiwork not a building. We are the house (the church) and unless we allow God to build us we will never ever become the instrument God is looking for to represent Him in the earth. Solomon said, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” (Psalms 127:1) Now Solomon should know because for a time he did NOT allow God to build him. For a time Solomon was building idols (that turned the heart of Israel from God) in high places for his many wives and concubines. Sadly Solomon then was looking for a new life and a new beginning with his new religions. Let us not follow that example. In Matthew Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) We are the bricks in the wall of the Body of Christ Jesus said He will build. Paul also knew this truth when he said, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) We are the workmanship of God not the fancy buildings or all of the good works we do in ministry, oh no it is our lives that God takes and molds, fashions, and shapes. When we submit our lives into the “good works” of God’s dealings and judgments that He brings our way we then are built on the revelation Christ spoke to Peter, “upon this rock” not a stone or building, but on the main message, built on the revelation of who Christ is. But as we traveled on I began to notice many of the “church” buildings had names like: New Covenant, New Beginning, New Life (there is a ton of church buildings named New Life) and maybe it was just the area we were traveling in that liked the name, but the “New” was always accented (like big letters or underlined) and preceded the focus of the congregation’s target what will be new. The message was if you come to our “church” you will have a new: covenant, beginning, life, etc. Funny though I never saw any “churches” named “New Creatures” (it probably does not ring right to the ear of most people) which is the thought of the verse these “churches” give their names and to the focus they are projecting, but Paul said, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Now Paul did not say we would have: a new life, a new covenant, or a new beginning oh no, Paul said we will be “a new creature.” Now there is a big difference between having a new life and becoming a new creature. Having a new life means the problems and situations in our old life has been done away with and everything now is sunshine, lollops, birds are singing, babies are smiling, and ships are at sea, but becoming a new creature now that can take time and can be a very painful process in our lives. Who wants to tell someone if you come to our “church” God may be able (if we allow Him) to make us “a new creature” where “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Now I really like the word “behold” here. In the middle of Paul’s thought he stops and says take a good look; “behold” you take a good look at this new creature! Do you want to become it? We become “a new creature” not because our external situation and circumstances have changed, but because our internal (thoughts and intents of the heart) attitudes, desires, motions, and motivations have changed. God does not need (and does not want to) to change our surroundings that is what man wants, but God is after changing our heart so that the bad surroundings, situations, and circumstances in our lives only drive us to Him and the more we go towards God the less we will be worried about our bad surroundings, situations, and circumstances. As we travel the world I have had the good pleasure to meet people who live in grass houses, sleep on dirt floors, and do not even have a pot to pee in, but have a smile on their face and a joy that three BMWs cannot give and a richness in God that humbles and drives me to my knees. Yes “old things are passed away” not by God bonking us on the head with His magic wand, but by us submitting to His work in our lives. Once God begins to work in us (oh yes it will be painful) we will cry and kick, even scream like a big baby who wants their own way, but when our tears stop and our selfish cries for self-preservation ends we then will be able to get a glimpse of some of the work God is trying to do in our lives. Isaiah said, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:7) If we go our way then we can never go God’s way and my friend God’s way is narrow, limiting, and restricting not much room to do what we want to do. I am afraid in America you will not get many takers for this message. Most want the new life and a new beginning without any work in their lives, without any change in their behavior or character, well my friend God does not work that way. This is why there are not really a lot of Christians in America that are “new creatures” only old creatures hoping for a new life. To me these “churches” projected the message that they represented. Their focus and projection is all about starting over, a second chance after messing up you get a do over, but believe it or not that was not the message Jesus taught when He was on earth, His main message was not about a second a chance, but an opportunity to be able (or choice) to tap into the power of God Almighty. Later in Ephesians Paul says, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” (Ephesians 3:16) WOW! Again Jesus message is not about changing situations and circumstances in our lives, but about changing our thinking and heart condition so that we will be able to endure life’s many problems, situations, and circumstances. Matthew, Mark and Luke all agree on this. In Mark we read, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15) For us the kingdom of God is always at hand all we have to do to enter the kingdom of God is just reach out and grab it in your heart by believing Jesus died for our sins and repenting (turning away, turning our back on) of our sin. Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God is at hand NOT you can get a do over if you blow it. And please know the kingdom of God is not Heaven, a place, an address, something to eat, drink, or wear, but is a heart condition, an understanding of what God wants for our lives, a way we are to treat our brothers and sister, even our enemies. Many Christians equate the kingdom of God to some earthly kingdom with lands to rule over, armies in which to conquer the enemy, and authority to judge the nations, well the only authority we have is what God gives us (we can earn it or take it) and the only land we will ever rule over (for now) is when we allow God to be seated as king over our heart, and remember the highest rank in God’s army is a private. Paul again helps us with this point in Romans, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:16) The kingdom of God is the righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit that we have allowed God to work and build in our lives. Please notice “righteousness” first (orders matters in the Bible) before “peace” and “joy.” God is a righteous God and wants His children to be righteous. No “righteousness” then none of God’s “peace” and “joy.” As we drove on and the more I thought on these “churches” the LORD spoke to me and said, “They have chosen the wrong message. They have focused on another message and missed the main message” which only opened up more thoughts like; I wonder why they shifted from the main message of Jesus to another messages? How could they (we) do this? Now, yes we do get a second chance, but that is not Jesus’ best, not even His intention for our lives. Jesus does not want nor does He expect us to mess up again and again because He has made a way (by us coming into the kingdom of God) where we can prevent this continual roller coaster ride of failure and victory. It is not God’s intention for us to keep making mistakes again and again so we can keep asking forgiveness from Him and our brothers and sisters. I do not know about you my friend, but I do not do things in my life with the intention or hope of making a mistake, if so then we will always be repeating everything we do. Example: oh I hope I mess this cake up when I make it. No we say I hope I make this cake right the first time, but if I do not then I can make another one. But even in making the second cake there is a cost we will bear for our mistake. This is why God does not want us to keep making mistakes. Oh no my friend we do things with the intention of doing things right the first time. Now if we make a mistake thank God for His grace, His longsuffering, and the grace and longsuffering of our brothers and sisters too. Yes forgiveness for our sin and our coming short of His glory is a part of the salvation package (the beginning of becoming a new creature), but believe it or not it is not the main message. Did you know if you focus not on the main message you will settle for other messages which may work to a certain degree, but in the end God’s plans and purposes will not be accomplished in our lives. Man seems to always go after something new: a new teaching, a new song, a new doctrine, something new. We are conditioned so by the world. Do not look at your old truck too long or you will begin to remember the new truck adds. Jesus did not come preaching the kingdom of God so that we can have new things, get a do over, or so we all can run off to heaven, but He came so that we can help others come into the kingdom of God. Jesus came to give us life, His life. In John Jesus tells us why He came, “The thief (not the devil here, but Strong’s #2812, an embezzler, pilferer, the name is transferred to false teachers, who do not care to instruct men), cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Jesus did not come to give us a new beginning, new life, or anything new oh no Jesus came to give us of His life so that we might be able (our choice) to stand and withstand life, deal with our love for the world and our self, and all that comes our way. Now that is more than just getting a do over. Written by David Stahl

NO COWARDS IN HEAVEN

God cannot use cowards in His army and they will have no place in the Kingdom of Heaven. In the Book of Revelations John tells us, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelations 21:8) I am amazed the company the word “fearful” keeps in these verses the, “unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:” The word “fearful” here is translated coward and my friend no coward will make it to Heaven. If you are fearful or timid, if you cannot stand up for or stand your ground to what you believe in word or deed God will not allow you into Heaven. Actions matter, but our words matter more to God when we say we are going to do something and then not do it. As Christians we must measure our words. How many times have we said something not really meaning it? Or how many times have we backed out of our promise because it was not convenient or we did not like the possible outcome or we were just afraid. I have been there and know God is not pleased when we do not measure our words when speaking. In the Book of Thessalonians Paul equates the word “fearful” with being “feebleminded.” “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14) This word really hits home to what the Holy Spirit is talking about. Someone who has a feeble mind (or feebleminded) is unstable, not committed, or dedicated in all their ways even though they think and say they are. Their mind is feeble, sick, not well, or unhealthy. Paul even goes further than John here; the word “feebleminded” is Strong’s #3642, fainthearted or cowardly. No feebleminded, fearful, or coward will make it to Heaven. In the past I would plan for months with brothers to travel abroad in ministry, but as we got closer to leaving they began to listen to voices (of seemingly everyone) of people who put fear in their heart and not the voice of God who puts truth and knowing in our heart, thus they turned their back on what God wanted for their lives. Now please know I am not trying to beat up on my friends and brothers or make them feel bad, but I am trying to draw a parallel from a real world, personal experience (in a hope to prevent the loss of spiritual growth and development in lives) and how the word of God directly applies in this situation. The saddest thing though was they thought they were turning their backs on the trip, but in reality they were turning their backs on the work God so desperately wanted (and still wants to do) in their lives. I told (and they knew it too) them the next level of spiritual growth and maturity in their lives leads through a successful completion of this trip. They knew this from the start and voiced it to me time and time again, but in the end the projected work God wanted to do in their lives was not enough to entice them to get over their self image of who they thought they were in God, their fear of losing their family, their comfortable lifestyle for awhile, their ministry, and possibly losing their lives for the sake of Christ. Unless God can bring us to the place where we are willing to sell out totally (Jesus could not do this with the Rich Young Ruler Luke 18:18-25) where we are willing to put our life on the line then God cannot use us as He so desires. Getting over the fear of death is the last great hurtle and obstacle before we can abandon all for Christ. What else than our life is held in such high esteem? We would gladly give up our precious treasures and even other people, but when our skin is on the line our flesh scream, “I want to live and do what I want to do” even at the sake of spiritual growth and development. God must be able to give our desire for life (both physical and spiritual) a death blow where we value more what God wants for us and our family than what we want for us and our family. Satan knew what he was saying when he said, “And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.” (Job 2:4) Make no mistake my friend when our skin is on the line (again I have been there) we will say (even make deals with God) and do anything to save our skin. But there will be no cowards in Heaven all will be skinned by God. In the Book of Luke Jesus gives us His standard for those who would be approved or qualify for ministry. “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26If any man come to me, and hate (Strong’s #3404, to hate, pursue with hatred, detest) not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 34Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 14:25-35) The word “hate” in verse 26 is the word we all know as hate. “Hate” means just that hate. Now Jesus was not saying we must detest our family to follow Him, but He was saying we must “hate” with a great passion turning our back on Him and others or not “bear his cross” (enduring life’s many situations and problems, our character shortcomings, and even sin areas in our lives) then we cannot be His disciple. Here the word “hate” talks about the intensity of the hatred and not the act of the hatred from our heart. The message Jesus is sharing in these verses is for us to count the cost BEFORE we embark! To measure our words because words matter; our words speak of our integrity and character. Cowards have no integrity, they have no commitment, and would never think of losing something for someone even God. Please notice the end of verses 26 and 27 “cannot be my disciple.” We may have asked Jesus to forgive us of our sins and on our way to heaven, but that is NOT Jesus’ criteria for becoming a disciple. Unless we turn our backs on the world and all (in favor of Him) in the world we will never be a disciple of the LORD. Unless we endure difficult situations (like many hours sitting on plane) in our lives, deny our self of time spent with family, give up our “good life” of ease for awhile, or plainly lose whatsoever is asked of us so that God may win we cannot be His disciple. There is a spiritual truth that most Christians have either forgotten or never heard, you cannot save yourself and someone else someone has to die, someone will have to lose their life. John tells us, “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. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (John 12:24-25) The word “hateth” is the same word used in Luke 14:26. In God if we love our life on earth we will lose our life for all eternity, but if we hate or deny ourselves while on earth we will find our life for all eternity. Losing come first, finding comes second. Not too many Christians want to lose their life, but this is another requirement to be a disciple of Christ. God knows when He can get us to lose something of our self the loss makes room for more of His glory to be deposited within us. This is why God measures our gain in Him not by what we add to our selves, but what we can lose of our self. What of the world can we lose that is in us? What of our carnal selfish nature can we lose so that we can be conformed more into the nature of Jesus Christ. Loss makes room in us for more of God. The more we lose the more we gain in God. Then Jesus goes into counting the cost, measuring our words and actions. Verse 33 wraps it all up, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Again cannot be my disciple not that your sins are not forgiven and on your way to Heaven there is a huge difference. If we do not count the cost (do not measure our words and actions) in God before we plan to do something we are like salt that has lost it savour not fit for the dunghill. You know God is watching our actions and listening to our words; whether they be salty (full of life in them) or unsalted (no life in them) and the production is based not on God’s abilities and power, but on our words and actions. Are they full of life or do they leave a bad taste in the mouth of God, His people, and the world. My friend there will be no cowards in Heaven only people of courage and faith in God. How gracious is God’s longsuffering and faithfulness? The answer is only seen in the second, third, fourth . . . chance to grow in the “grace and knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ” if not then we are cowards. Written by David Stahl

IN GOD'S WORDS

As we walk this wondrous and mysterious walk with the LORD I see the importance of following God and His word as it is written. Many Christians talk about the symbolism in the Bible (word of God) and I must agree there is so much I do not understand, but we are not to take the word of God and read or even interpret it as we wish. Our opinion on the word of God matters little to God. His word is settled in the earth and in the heavens. His word is written from His perspective not ours, so when we read the Bible as we wish or interpret according to what we believe we get into great trouble with God and get off track. The Body of Christ today is in a mess because we have “selected reading” when it comes to the word of God and choose what verses we will follow and what verses we will shun at the sake of our spiritual demise. One of the hottest topics in the Body of Christ (other than ladies in ministry and speaking in tongues) is the conversation of our salvation in Christ (which is much more than having our sins forgiven) through faith or grace. There are two camps out there: the faith camp that says we are saved only by faith all we have to do is just believe in faith Jesus died for our sins and when we die (no matter how we lived our life) we will go to heaven and receive our eternal reward. Just believe and that will get us through, well the Bible tells us demons believe. James tells us, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:19-20) So it has to be more than just believing and faith. Then on the other hand there is the grace camp who says we are saved by grace (which is true) alone. It is God’s grace that saves us and there is nothing we have to do, except receive of it and when we die we will go to be with the LORD forever and receive our eternal reward. This doctrine is just as bad as the once saved always saved doctrine; when I was nine maybe ten I walked the aisle and made a commitment to Christ and now when I die I will go to heaven and live forever with my reward. There must be more. A few years ago, while in Bulgaria I sat down with a pastor over a cup of coffee (Bulgarians like coffee more than any other country in the world) who told me of his new revelation from God, grace. Well there is nothing new about grace (God changes not), but there are always new twists and misinterpretations of grace. The pastor’s new revelation was nothing more than God’s grace repackaged and wrapped up with a new red bow and sold to his people as something new and fresh, “no matter what you do God will forgive you” and this is true, but this is not God’s grace this is a license to sin and then count on God’s and our brothers and sisters mercy and grace to give forgiveness without any consequence for our action. The pitch is God does all of the work and you can do whatsoever you want to do and still go to heaven. And if you are really saved then God’s grace will prevent you from sinning. Sadly if the members of his congregation have not allowed God to work in their lives (where they are the “workmanship of God”) where they can handle a little bit of Christian liberty (few Christians have) then the pastor is setting his congregation up for failure and a long way back to correction if they can find the way. So which camp is right? Well they both are wrong and both are causing great confusion, schism, and division within the Body of Christ. Paul gives us the answer in Ephesians, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) Our salvation (which is much more than having our sins forgiven) is by grace through faith and I will add this process happens in us as we allow God to work in our lives (taking us through some difficult times and situations) becoming (a life-long process) “his workmanship.” We were created by God “unto good works,” and God ordained that we should walk in them. Now the “good works” are NOT the good things we do for God and man, but the “good works” are the things we allow God to bring into our lives that help make us become “His workmanship” conforming us into the image (icon) of Jesus Christ. If we get this wrong and get too far over into grace at the exclusion of faith our lives will manifest a lascivious (showing much interest in sex and lustfulness) life-style where our fleshly sins will rule and reign in our lives. We will know no limits or restrictions (which are what brings us to fulfillment and purpose in God), do what we want to do, say what we want to say, go where we what to go who cares what God wants. This misapplication of truth will get us so far off track and the sad thing is Christians do not even know it. They think they are walking in the light of God’s word, but in reality they are over into presumption (thinking they know the truth, but in reality they are wrong) and far off the path of knowing God. Now just as bad as the grace camp is the faith camp. If we get too far over in faith then we will get over into legalism; a performance based religion where we think must do things (pay our tithes, clean the church cut the church grass, spend so much time reading the Bible or in prayers, and etc.) to please God to be saved and just like when over in grace too far we are over in presumption, wrongly thinking we know the truth of the Scriptures, but woefully missing the mark. Many Christians say the truth will prevent us from falling into either camp, well that is almost right. In John Jesus gives us the key that will prevent us from falling into legalism or lasciviousness. In John we read, “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:29-32) Now notice Jesus was talking to people who believed He was the Messiah, who believed He was the Son so it must take more than believing to know truth or even become a disciple of God. Which begs the points to be asked, if we only believe are we a disciple? I think if we only believed and then die we may (that is God’s call) go to heaven (and for some that is enough), but to be a disciple of Christ where we can do the things Jesus asked us to do in Matthew 28, “Go ye therefore, and teach (making disciples in the Greek) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching 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 28:20-21) there must be more. The word “teach” in verse 19 and “teaching” in verse 20 is translated from the same word in the Greek: as making or becoming learners or pupils. We are called to make disciples (teaching all nations), to make pupils, to make learners, and to do this we must do more than just believe, there is a deeper level of commitment and dedication we must engage with God to be able to make disciples of all nations. And it is not about truth, but it is about knowing the truth. Truth alone saves no one, but knowing the truth will set us free of ourselves and life’s many troubles and situations. To know truth we must abide in the words of Christ that is what Jesus told the Christians who only believed on Him and if we do that then we will be disciples in deed (action and commitment) and able to do what Jesus asked us to do. Sadly the majority of the Body of Christ cannot disciple someone, because they have never been discipled themselves. There does not seem to be a big desire in the Body of Christ today to make disciples, but there does seem to be a big desire for evangelism. I can get my name up in lights and make a name for myself. And oh the money I can make for God’s kingdom. In evangelism you really do not get your hands dirty, just share the gospel and off you go to the next crusade where making disciples happens every day of our lives as we mentor and instruct people, as we deal with relationships, religion, denominations, attitudes, emotions, and the greatest enemy our flesh. I am not sure when the switch happened to evangelism from Jesus’ words to make disciples, but we need to get back to living Godly lives were we can point at our lives as Paul did when he said, “follow me as I follow Christ.” Now notice the reply of the people, “They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?” and “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.38I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.” (John 34-40) Now remember Jesus is talking to people who knew Him as the Son of God, who believed on Him, but seek to kill Him. Jesus cuts to the chase and says, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” (John 8:44-45) Again Jesus was talking to people who thought they were Christians who believed, but in the end they too were over in presumption. You see it is more than truth it is more than believing, it is about knowing the truth, it is about allowing His words to abide in us, then and only then will we be free. My friend we must abide in the word of Jesus by abiding in the word of the Scriptures. If it says (and it does) “we are saved by grace through faith” then believe it and then stake your life upon it. Let’s go back to God’s words and stop trying to be interpret and change up what God is saying (so that we can get a big name or make a lot of money) to us in His Scriptures. They are His words not ours, we are to be His disciples and this will only happen when we allow God’s words to abide in us. Written by David Stahl

GOD GOES AHEAD

One of the most assuring thoughts we can have of God’s love is His ability to go ahead of us. This means He knows what we will face before we get there. This means God knows what we will need in order to do that which He wants us to do before we know we need it. Before we left for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia a brother who had already gave me $6,800 for airplane tickets gave me an additional $2,000 in case we needed the money to secure the venue for the crusade. I have purposed in my heart to return the money if we did not need it well we did not need it for the venue, but for airplane tickets. To make a long wonderful story short we missed (I have never ever missed my fight) our flight (now this was God’s idea I can go into details that will just make you marvel) and needed to head home as planned on 3 June. We went to a travel agent (who confirmed our ticket for our original flight) of a good friend and purchased tickets the same day (which is unheard of in Africa) and the cost for two ticket was $1,826. God had gone ahead to cover the tickets before we left. God had planned for Pastor Foster to ordain Elders and for me to minister in a church where 39 people re-dedicated their lives back to Christ and us leaving was not going to stand in His way. During the service Pastor Abebe was talking about his American friends and I thought he was talking about Pastor Foster and I, well again God has His plans and we have ours. Down the aisle came a team of 15 Americans from Kansas on a mission trip they sang a song and took their seat for the teaching. After the service I asked the pastor where in Kansas they were from and he said, “have you ever heard of McConnell Air Force Base? We are about five minutes from the base.” Which I replied, “as a matter of fact I do. My son Daniel and his wonderful family is taking orders to McConnell Air Force Base.” Who would have believed this meeting happened in Africa? God would have because He goes ahead of us. God goes ahead of us not to make our way easy, but to make our way meaningful and to serve as lessons for our spiritual growth and development. When I heard we missed our flight it was like someone kicked me in the stomach, but even through this God was working in us and our situation. God is always doing this if we have eyes to see and ears to hear. I was brought in the past by the Lord into an intense and pleasant prayer pattern. The Holy Spirit always flooded me with the Lord’s presence and power. The personal joy was so great that three hours in such an atmosphere seemed like merely 30 delightful minutes. It lasted only several short weeks. Then the Lord left it. What a disappointment! I attempted to force its reinstatement by forcing myself to be on my knees daily for long periods of time. But the Lord was no longer interested in continuing this past pattern. He wanted to bring me into another prayer pattern. After some days in my attempt to get the old prayer pattern moving the Lord came and stood behind me and asked, “What are you doing on your knees?” He certainly did not want to be involved in what I was doing. “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, “this is the way, walk ye in it when you turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left,” (Isaiah 30:21) No voice behind you is a good sign. Some believers are distressed over the fact that they never hear God’s voice. Do not be too concerned. In disobedience and out of the will of God the Word says, “You shall hear.” Now that is true and that becomes necessary, but what about a walk of obedience? God’s speaking may be very infrequent or even nonexistent in a walk in His will. Once we are in God’s will there is no need for His speaking unless there is a change in His will. We simply continue to follow in obedience. He goes before us as we follow in obedience. We have heard His direction. On the other hand we may not have been conscience of His leading. Something got us going on the right track. We may hear His voice in front of us as we go in obedience or we may not hear His voice as we continue on the proper path. Do not be overly concerned about His silence, but rather focus your attention on Him going before you. The Lord goes before us. The Lord is there. That’s a fact. If He goes in front of us then He arrives before we arrive. He goes before us. This is a needy and valuable anchor. We should recognize feeling or no feeling that the Lord is present and He got there before we did. This is a tremendously valuable truth to the person who finds himself in the difficult situations and circumstances. It would be to our advantage to know (before we wake up and discover that we are in them) that we are on our way to the wilderness. For if we know we are on our way to the wilderness, it will help to cushion the shock of the wilderness when we do arrive in that land of stark contrast. If the Lord goes before us He knows the circumstances to which we are coming into. This indeed is an anchor for our soul. It will hold us in difficult places. Our Shepherd goes ahead of us. What a great comfort. He knows every place which we experience in the whole of our lifetime. He has been leading you; He has gone ahead. The Lord is our Shepherd who goes ahead; He knows where He is leading me. He goes there before He begins to lead me there. He walks ahead of me as he leads, “When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them as the sheep follow him.” (John 10:4) He allured her into the wilderness, “Therefore, behold, I will allure her. I will bring her into the wilderness and speak comfort to her.” (Hosea 2:14) By His wonderful approaches He allures her. He did not lay all His cards on the table. There are hidden factors. She did not know where she was going. It is in His mercy and love for us God keeps certain factors hidden from us. If we knew that we were going into the wilderness chances are that we would balk and turn another path. But the LORD is clever and entices us, “Come, come right this way.” God’s call is always to come up near Him. “And the Lord said, here is a place by Me and you shall stand on the rock.” (Exodus 33:21) This is the initial invitation; this is the initial leading into the wilderness where spiritual growth and development can happen in us. The promise of Him leading us into the wilderness comes with another promise, “Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?” (Song of Solomon 8:5) We go to the wilderness to have our questions answered, where no one can hear us scream. God leads us into the wilderness so we can learn to lean on Him. In order for truth to be an anchor, it must grip our inner being. It is not to be gathered by mentally assenting to it, although that certainly will help somewhat. We must remember truth is not mental gymnastics of the spirit, if we are to have faith in the truth and if we are to gather truth it will be by the Holy Spirit by His work in our lives (through His dealing and judgments) and revelation. God measures man by how much revelation of God he possesses. Revelation is God’s measuring stick. On our part it will necessitate an ongoing surrender to the ways of God. More and more surrender in us the more truth will grip us. Regardless of the circumstances or the situations in which we find ourselves, we will know and live the truth. It will be a sure anchor for our soul. All along the way God made tweaks to us and our plans that improved what we thought should happen. We thought a two day crusade God thought three. We thought a big crusade in Addis Ababa, well God thought a huge crusade (about two hours drive from Addis Ababa) in Nazerate. If God is not tweaking our plans then we are in charge and He is on the side lines. Another brother was to go with us to Ethiopia making us a team of four, but he listened to people as they put fear into his heart. God cannot use a coward either we will trust God or we will believe men. He was not flexible enough in God and lacked the faith to be able to go along for the ride with God. He wanted months of prayer and meeting preparation with all of the churches involved in the crusade, but God does not need such plans all He needs is men and woman with a heart for Him and people, thus he missed out on the many 100s of folks that were saved and rededicated their lives back to Christ, and most important he missed out on the work of God in his life taking him to the next level of power and glory in God. I knew from the start with my brother (he also knew) this was what God wanted to do in his life, but he chose to turn back (not his first time) because of fear and because of a spiritual unstableness in him not getting his way. Ministry is not about us it is about Christ and all along the way God goes ahead of us to make our way rewarding. What a stark contrast and difference in brothers. One could anticipate what God was doing even though he did not have all of the details yet he was led (gave almost $9,000) by the LORD and made a difference in God while the other brother could not anticipate nor had any clue what God was doing because he wanted all of the details, his way, and lost out on all that God had for him. You know wanting to know things got Adam and us into a lot of trouble. Let us just go along for the ride knowing God loves us and goes ahead of us. Written by David Stahl

DOING WRONG

When I think of the things King David did in his walk with the LORD I have to shake my head and say, but for the grace of God there go I. You know we are no better and may have done far worse than him in his short comings. But, I have always wondered why King David thought he had the right (even in God) to just take another man’s wife? But if you study the scriptures (as we are commanded to) closely we will find this was not the first time King David took another man’s wife. After King Saul took his own life (1 Samuel 31:4-6) Michal Saul’s first daughter was taken by David to be his wife as King Saul promised him, only one problem Michal was already married, “And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face. 14And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 15And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 16And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.” (2 Samuel 3:13-16) His wife? Yes, Saul gave Michal to David (see 1 Samuel 18:27) then in a fit of anger King Saul gave Michal to Phaltiel the son of Laish (see 1 Samuel 25:44), but now many years later King David is coming after his wife? Now I am not beating up Brother David, but earlier in 2 Samuel we may find a clue that lends itself to why David felt he had the right to take Bathsheba. “And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake. 13And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.” (2 Samuel 5:12-13) Why not Bathsheba? After all I am king and I took Michal (and got away with it) so why not with Bathsheba? Now we would say how could God stand by and allow this travesty to happen? We would have thought how could a Holy God allow this wrongful, unjust, and unrighteous act to happen, but that was not God’s testimony of the event. Remember it is God who says something is right or wrong, just or unjust, righteous or unrighteous, godly, or ungodly not us. If fact God said nothing, God was deathly quiet (what long suffering) with their relationship until Michal got upset at David when he came dancing into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:20-23) with the Ark of the Covenant. Verse 23 says, “Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.” Maybe God’s longsuffering ran out with her open defiance and ridicule, maybe God’s opinion of David taking Michal from her husband was revealed in Michal never bearing children, a huge deal for a king and a huge deal for an Israelite woman. This story sheds the light on many areas in our lives. You know people ask me if Jesus is the fulfilling of the Old Testament why do we have to study the Old Testament, well that answer is clear so we will not make the same mistakes the people in the Old Testament made. Paul told taught this central truth to the Church at Corinth, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:11-13) yet they did not learn and sadly we too seem to have the same problems not learning the same lessons. You know I believe there are many things what we call sin that God does not. I can say you have sinned, but if God does not say you have sinned then you have not sinned. Many Christians would have been fast to accuse King David of his sin in taking Michal from her husband (even in his tears), but God did not call it sin. Sadly for David I believe MAYBE his past conquest of Michal MAY have embolden him to desire Bathsheba when he spied her taking a sponge bath on the roof. One thing for sure God hates sin and He wants us to stop. Sin was Jesus’ number one topic, yet today we hear little about sin from our church leaders. We hear of our destiny to rule and reign with Christ now and in the ages to come, well my brother I promise if you cannot allow God to deal in your heart with your sin nature you will never rule and reign with Christ in heavenly places. One of the biggest obstacles we face in allowing God to deal with our sin nature is we think sinning is about hurting others and ourselves well this is true to a certain extent, but when we sin it is NOT about us and others as much as it is always about us sinning against God and His word to us. Now there are two points here. The first, our sin is against God’s character and nature and the second is our sin is against God’s word telling us not to do something. Sin is not the act committed, but doing that which God told us not to do. God tell us, “do not lie,” but we do. “Do not steal,” but we do. “Do not you name it,” but we do. It is not the lying or the stealing that is the sin (now we must not lie or steal), but the act of doing that which God told us not to do. Remember what sin is; sin is to miss the mark, to know right, but willfully do wrong. What is the mark we miss? The mark we miss is not keeping God’s commandments and word to us because in our heart we desire what we want to do. I do not know about you my friend, but when (not if) I sin I know it. There is no surprise the Holy Spirit convicts me (thank God) after the fact, but at first I choose to do that which God told me not to do. I knew right, but I willfully choose to do wrong, sin. It is our love for God and our desire to learn how God functions and operates is what God uses to head off our wrong thoughts and changes our heart condition to prevent wrong choices. Paul tells us, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:15-16) You see it is not the act, but, “unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure.” Who shall see God now and in ages to come? Only those with a pure heart and clean hands. Now it says “nothing is pure.” When the Bible says “nothing,” all things, or every it means just that leaving none out. We see it is in their “minds and conscience” (their heart condition) the choice to be pure or not is made. This means we can do wrong things in the eyes of man, but God who sees and knows our heart may not call it wrong and will not ascribe it as sin to us. Again I believe there are many things man calls sin to manipulate and control people, but God may not call it sin. Let us look at the last word, “reprobate,” Strong’s #96; void of judgment, not standing the test, not approved, that which does not prove itself such as it ought, unfit, spurious. Here we see these people were “abominable and disobedient” because of their lack of judgment or their inability to make the right choice at the right time. God must get us to stop sinning if He is going to use us and for this to happen we must open ourselves to His dealings and judgments in our lives so that He can reveal to us the wickedness of our heart. Of the two points mentioned above the first point speaks volumes of our love for God. When we sin (and we know it) we are not sinning against anyone but God. We see this truth expressed in the words of Joseph and King David. First in the words of Joseph when he was enticed by Potiphar’s (his boss) wife. “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.” (Genesis 39:7-10) In verse eight we see Joseph made up his mind not to sin before he got in the situation. Joseph must have seen her looking at him he must have had some awareness of her desires towards him so he stiffened his resolve in God (before he was confronted) that he would not destroy the relationship between him, his earthly master, and his heavenly Master. What is the value of awareness? Sometimes the value can be our soul. And then in verse nine we read where Joseph said, “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Joseph knew the sin (he knew that which was right) was not the act, or against Potiphar (but it would have surely destroyed their relationship), nor even against himself, but against God. When we sin it is against God and God alone. King David knew what Joseph was feeling when Nathan the Prophet stood before him. In 2 Samuel we read where Prophet Nathan exposes King David’s ungodly relationship with Bathsheba and wanton murder of her husband Uriah who was a soldier in King David’s army. We pick up where King David recognizes his sin, “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. 15And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.:” (2 Samuel 12:13-15) King David realized two things here, one he sinned against God and two when we sin against God there is always a consequence for our disobedience. Now it may not be swift in coming, but some day it will come and we will know why it has been visited on us. Here swiftly God’s judgment fell, “And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David.” Please notice, “the LORD struck the child.” King David was found out for the man he was and now discovered he had to face his consequence; the open shame and death of his first born child with Bathsheba. David recognized his error (please read the entire story) and then took responsibility and the consequences for his actions. God is looking for this in us. If we fail (and we will) God is looking for us to recognize our sin (after all He has given us His precious Holy Spirit to help with this) and then bear up under His judgment with the strength He provides. Maybe this is why God said of David that “he was a man after my own heart.” In Psalms we read where King David gets down to the heart level with God, “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” (Psalms 51:3-6) True forgiveness of our sin begins when we recognize we have sinned against God and then ask His forgiveness and others if need be. When we do wrong we will know that it is wrong, because we know what His word says and we are sensitive to the wooing of the Holy Spirit like Joseph and King David. Do not focus on the sin (now if you are sinning STOP) Jesus died for that sin, but instead focus on God and His amazing forgiveness and strength. Written by David Stahl

A LOST GENERATION

I have really wrestled with this article because I do not want to believe it is possible. This article is somewhat different than most that I write and in ways is a call to action to parents who do not want to see their kids and an entire generation end up in hell. Lately, God has really opened up my eyes to the lost millennial generation. Now I know there is always hope as long as there is air in our lungs and I do not want to sound defeated, but I fear the youth, the millennial generation, of the day does not have the wherewith all to be saved. Please let me back up. I am not talking about all millennials there are some raised by Christian parents and there are some who are not so plugged into the world and have a heart for God, but the majority statistically speaking eight out of ten millennials know not God and the disturbing part is they have no desire to know God. Again I know they can be saved, but for this to happen they (like us all) first must recognize their need for salvation, confess their sins, and then repent (about face or go the opposite direction), but I do not believe they have the social and mental ability to achieve these requirements for salvation. How can they? They have been so mesmerized (since their youth) with fantasy by the school system, TV, movies, games, entertainment, social media, parents, and even their peers that they do not have the spiritual discernment nor the ability to understand the basic concept of salvation. They have had their minds stuffed with fairies, pixies, vampires, wizards, witches, (since their youth, thank you Disney) to the point they really do not know reality when they hear it or see it. Bewitched, Star Wars, and Star Trek in the 70s and 80s, Harry Potter and the like now, and all of the trash on TV has stolen their spiritual discernment and understanding. Almost everything in their lives has been design to pull down the truth of the Gospel in their lives and blurred the lines between good and evil. Their lives are filled with distractions (things that give instant gratification, but have no real lasting meaning) and meaningless, unfulfilled relationships communicated through a hand held device. At best their character is selfish, self-seeking, and at worse is narcisstic and delusional. They have been given everything they have asked and more while not really having to work. Sadly indulgent parents have ruined this generation trying to be a friend (drinking and shopping buddies) with their children (not parents) and now they are lost. This all has a chilling and damming affect on our society. Take for example the swing in acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle in America, something God called an abomination, the millennial generation (Christian millennials too) have wholeheartedly embraced and why, because of the lack of Godly parenting and the garbage the millennials have been fed all of their lives. You can look at any social issue in America have it be abortion, environmental issues, social justice all the millennials have embraced them against what God’s word says and against what God would have happen in all the earth. Let us face it most parents have raised a generation of children that are lost and do not have the ability in God to know they are lost. You would think the church would be a place for them to find safety and a sound footing, but not so. Many churches today where millennials go are nothing more than an extension of discos, theaters, and lounges. In manner of preaching and worship (a watered down Gospel and a hip Jesus) in most churches where millennials attend have shifted to be like the world so that they can be cool and net them like fish, well what you use to win someone to Christ you have won them to that. We do not need to change the message nor do we need to change the delivery all we need to do is give them the truth of the cross with the power of God and God will take it from there. The so called, “Christian music” that most churches have where millennials go is nothing more than rock and roll heavy metal music. Just turn off the sound and you cannot tell the difference between the Christian band and the heavy metal bands from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Remember the duck. If it walks like a duck and looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck it is probably not a chicken. In Romans Paul give us a description of a person God would call a “reprobate.” “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:28-32) Now please notice their ungodly character resulted in their inability to make clear and concise judgments about life and situations in their lives, thus it affected their character and not knowing nor having the ability to correct their character they just drifted farther and farther away from God and He just let them go. This is proven out in the word “reprobate” (Strong’s #96; void of judgment, not standing the test, not approved, that which does not prove itself such as it ought, unfit, spurious). It was not the people were all of those evil things in verses 29-31, but because they were “void of judgment” and “not able to stand the test” “God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” And why? Because God was angry with them? No because “they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” They were not concerned about God, they were more concerned with the things of this world: what they will wear and eat, who they will have relationships with, what they will do to make a living. You know it is sad not to know the truth, but it twice as sad not to know you do not know the truth. This is the case with the millennials today, they care less about God and His word, they live for what they want and can get without much effort in their entitlement world. We must take back the mind of the millennial generation through prayer and by telling them the truth and the great danger they face if there will be any hope of their salvation. Many parents will face alienation from their kids, but we can rest in God knowing we did our part in telling our kids the truth. We must stand in defiance to the social progressive liberal way of life and stress the traditional principles of self-governance, hard work, family, and God. No more sugar coated sermons to get people to come to fill seats and offering plates. No more talking about a hip Jesus. No more programs ad nauseaium to keep the people too busy to spend time with the LORD. We MUST demand the churches we attend stop selling out for mammon (money), for numbers, and cease all of the entertainment based worship. Who cares how much money, how big, and how much power your church has in the community! Churches must get back to basics and stop offering all of the amenities of the world to lure people in, if the power of the Gospel does not do it at your church then maybe your church needs to go away. We MUST tell the millennials what they have been told by the world and even by some leaders and teachers in school (elementary, middle, high, and college) that they have been lied too all of their lives. We must tell them they are being conformed into the image of this world through social media and entertainment. Parents MUST stand up and not be a part of the “beautiful people, the kool crowd” and tell their kids no matter their reaction how much you love them and how much you want them to turn away from the world and all of its delusions and distractions. Yes the Bible does teach in the last days there will be a great falling away, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” (2 Thessalonians 2:3), but that is conditional based on people hearing the truth then making the choice to reject the truth being void of judgment. We as parents can choose to tell our kids the truth and then allow them to make up their own minds ever keeping the truth before them in word and lifestyle. In Proverbs we read, “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:25-27) We must allow our kids to ponder their ways, but it is our responsibility as a part of our reasonable service to God to teach them, “turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Even though our kids are grown and some have their own kids there hangs a plague (Daniel bought for us in Germany) over our (Karen and I) front door that reads, “as for me and my house we will serve the LORD” taken from Joshua 24:15, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) No matter how old our kids get and no matter how many kids they have our kids are still a part (not physically, but emotionally and spiritually) of our (Karen and I) home and we (Karen and I) have an obligation and duty (while alive and on earth) to train and teach our kids (as they do their own) the right way to walk on the highway of holiness. Oh we may not have been perfect in this and I promise you if you stand your God given ground you will face challenges from almost everyone who disagrees, even your kids, but that matters not. The spiritual order in God’s home is: God, father, mother, children and the accountability to God in order never changes. Today we as parents in America can either accept the possible truth that our kids are a part of the great falling away generation (and that may be the case but, I hope not) or they can stand up to the foolishness the world spins in their mind and heart and counter it with the truth of the word of God in love. And yes speaking the truth in love will hurt feelings (usually all concerned) and ruffle feathers, but that too should matter not. What matters is character over consideration for feelings. What matters is, we as Godly parents have done that which is right in the eyes of God to help ensure our kids and their friends are not a part of the lost millennial generation of today. Written by David Stahl

TRUE WORSHIP

As we enter what many Christians call the “Easter” season I am reminded of the greatest display of worship man has even seen and that was when Jesus (willfully) laid down His life for us on a cross and arose from the dead on the third day as He said he would. This last point is critical to our belief in our salvation for if Jesus never rose from the dead then all of our good intentioned church activities are in vain. In Matthew we read, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” (Matthew 16:21-22) Am I ever glad Peter never had his way with Jesus. Can you imagine if Peter would have won out and Jesus would never have died? Where would we all be? Lost and undone, but Jesus’ words were true and up from the grave He arose with a mighty power against His foes, He arose praise God, Christ arose. Now we have a hope and future. Without the death of Christ we would not have a hope and a future. Paul taught the Church at Corinth, “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-19) My friend if Christ not be risen from the dead then we have no hope for ourselves to be risen from the dead and notice verse 19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” My friend if our hope is only in this life then at best we are miserable (Strong’s #1652 pitied). What a hope we have in Jesus! But notice our hope and future is based first on the death of Christ then the resurrection. Paul in Romans tells us, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:4-5) The only way to walk in the Father’s newness of life is to die (some physically) and be raised from the dead. Many denominations use these verses when they do a water baptism, but Paul was not talking about a water baptism he was talking about dying spiritually. Jesus with His death on the cross was teaching us about true worship. There is a divine spiritual principle in play here, to have true worship something or someone must die. True worship is a willful act of the heart and sprit and not of our intellect and emotions. Even when we do not want to worship God, “in spirit and truth” we must willfully die to our selfish desires and self-seeking ways. We go to church and say let us begin our worship and start singing songs, playing music, and in some churches wave flags and call that worship, well that is NOT worship that is singing songs, playing music, and waving flags. True worship is a thing of our heart NOT our emotions trying to get our spirit charged up or our fix for the week. Biblical worship is to bow our head to the ground. In Exodus 34 we read, “And 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.” (Exodus 34:8-9) Moses knew where his strength came from. When Moses was confronted by Korah and the 250 elders again we see Moses in a spirit of worship instead of defending himself or vilifying his enemy, “And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? 4And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:” (Numbers 16:3-4) Again Moses worshiped and again Moses knew where his strength comes from. Moses died to his pride and arrogance, he put his leadership mantle (how refreshing to see this) on the altar and allowed God to choose between him and Korah. In Genesis 22 we read where Abraham and Isaac worshiped the LORD. “Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 6And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 7And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.” (Genesis 22:4-10) What faith? Did you get that? “I and lad will go yonder (I wonder where “yonder” is) and worship and come again to you.” I wonder if Abraham knew something about worship? At that time Abraham had every intention to sacrifice his promised son (of his old age) to God in worship. Again something or someone must die to have true worship, but God provided the sacrifice for Abraham and Isaac which is always the result of true worship. God provides for us when we lower our heart and head to the ground, like with Moses and Abraham. Maybe that is why not many people receive from God not much death in us we want to live well, God wants us to die so that He may live through us. My friend worship is not singing or dancing, but dying. Who wants to die? Not many, but Jesus did so that we may have everlasting life. Take heed when we make melody in church and call it worship. In John Jesus said, “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. 25He 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) Who wants to die, oh no our flesh screams, “I want to live!” Well to live we will lose our life. True Worship is not conducted by instruments, it is born of the Spirit. It is not mechanical, but uplifting and ascending to God, to a holy God – holy, holy, holy – something fresh we offer from our heart. No flesh can stand in His presence, “that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:29) These days this needs to be brought out and emphasized because we try to bring God down to our level. Our highest vocation is not ministry, but it is to know and worship God. The more we come to know God the more we will want to worship Him. Many churches spend hours trying to work the people and the Spirit up (and they call that worshipping) to worship God, but if they really knew God there would be no need to work anybody up. We do not worship because we do not know God. Our attitude in God often counts. Worship is a tremendous self-giving to God, something that comes from within, and is going right up to God and right back to us to worship Him the more. We cannot worship in ourselves. Worship is born of the Spirit then He can worship through us for the world to see. Many Christians say we will have all eternity in heaven worshipping God well we better get it right down here on earth (and learn of the quietness of His heart) to be able to function correctly in heaven. How far we are from this in so much we see and hear. Oddly enough when we get really get into true worship we find He is just about 1,000 miles away from so much stuff we are doing, but that holds us it fascinates us and it keeps us going. A.W. Tozer said, “The feeling that we are to make converts at any cost has greatly wounded the church of today.” We cannot make converts we can only share the message and the LORD does the converting. If someone does not come forward to accept Christ we feel we have failed, the message of the Gospel has not went forth, but not true. We are to present the truth and then let the Holy Spirit do the converting. He (the Holy Spirit) needs no showbiz parlor tricks, music, light shows, or smoke and mirrors to do this. This soft and fluffy idea that in order to keep people coming and giving we do not need to offend them is not the message of the Jesus of the New Testament. The preaching of the Gospel must offend us if we are going to be changed. The crowds-at-any-price mania has taken a firm grip on American Christianity and is the motivating power not the power of the Gospel. My friend true worship must precede evangelism. For it is evangelism that God desires to use to draw those out of the world and from that group God will find His elect to sit with Him for all eternity. But, today we are working contrary to what God wants. We are bringing the world into the church. If we can but get some big shot (sports figure, Hollywood movie star, some celebrity) to say nice things about us or our church we rush to the media and airwaves to repeat the wonderful things they have said about us, but who cares what the world says about us? We need to be concerned about what Jesus says about us. The truth is Christ saves us to make us worshipers and workers and the more we know Him the better worshipers and workers we will be, but sadly we are ignoring the first principle the worshippers and only making workers. Christ calls men to carry a cross, we call them to have fun (be blessed and highly anointed) in His name. Christ calls them to forsake the world, but we assure them if they but accept Jesus the world will be their oyster. Christ calls them to suffer even endure persecution, we call to them to enjoy all of the comforts modern civilization can afford, in the name of Jesus. Christ calls us to self-abnegation and to death we call them to find their destiny and fulfillment in God. Yes my friend we have gotten off track. There must be a turning from this humanistic, amusement-based, pseudo-religion that the church of today around the world is. Way too much activity (too busy) and you know noise is not worship. It is far past time for the church to get back to worshipping God, “in Spirit and truth.” Let us learn to know God and worship Him rightly He deserves it. Let us learn to die so that He may be resurrected in us. Written by David Stahl