SEPARATION FROM GOD

I remember a story of Charles Haun (my Bible Teacher) when he was on a platform waiting to minister in a church and the pastor leaned forward and whispered, "there are sinners here today." Charles somewhat puzzled replied, "that is good I like sinners. As a matter of fact some of my best friend are sinners." The pastor slid back in his seat. I wonder why so many Christians do not like sinners? There seems to be this big, "them verses us thinking" in the church today. Ah they are sinners we cannot have anything to do with them. Foolishness just foolishness! Funny if Jesus can eat with sinners I wonder why some Christians have such a hard time? In Luke we read, "And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat." (Luke 7:36) Maybe it is because Christians not wanting to identify with their old life and I can buy into that somewhat, but wait a minute the Bibles says we all were sinners. "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:22-23) Yes for those who have accepted the finished work of Christ on the cross once were sinners, but now we walk in the newness of life, a new creation in Christ Jesus yet still with a nature in us that could pull us back into our old way of living if we do not continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ. There is no neutral in the LORD either we are moving forward in Christ or we are back pedaling. You know I believe the LORD is more concerned about our coming short than He is of our sin. After all Jesus dealt with our sin, but He did not deal with our coming short. With things like our character, our integrity, honesty, and so many other SMALL things we think God is not so concerned about. This thinking whereby sin separates (even thinking we are better than sinners) us from God and other people in the world who are not Christians can go deep into our walk with God and man. I know in the past I have caught myself thinking such delusional thoughts. Could this be also why most churches are becoming obsolete? Is it because most Christians do not talk to people who need Jesus? Most Christians today hide and wait in a church building ready to pounce on some poor deranged sinner (in the Christians thinking) when (if) they come to church, but to meet the sinner in the market place, door knocking, or some type of evangelism outreach (something most churches never do) well this rarely happens. Most Christians in churches today have little to no spiritual wherewithal (because of the lack of spiritual teaching and the dumbing down of the Gospel message) to be able to discern if someone is even saved, filled with a demonic spirit, and have no opportunity to experience failure and growth in their walk with the LORD. It seems to be all about denominational agendas: reports to fill out, money to give (maybe pay back) to headquarters, even a rice bowl to protect. I believe denominations have done more to prevent (around the world) the sharing of the Gospel message than Satan. I have seen the lack of spiritual discernment and the denominational control and manipulation (around the world) in action and it is troubling to say the least. Here is a example. One Sunday night (when we lived in Jacksonville) we stopped by one of those "Non-denominational denominational" (non-denominational in name, but belongs to a network of 1,000s of churches) church just to see what it was like. Well with our Bibles in tow we went in and sat near the back of the church as the service had already started. Before we could get comfortable some people came up to us and started to ask questions not the typical pumping for information, but they started asking us if we were saved. Are you sure you are saved? How long have to been saved. What makes you think you are saved? This went on for some time till I asked the people to just leave us alone. They did, but later another group of people assaulted us with the same tactic. We repelled this second wave of attack by saying (in a more forceful tone) "buzz off and leave us alone." They left and as we looked around the big crowd we were the among the oldest people in attendance. This told me a lot. This told me there was not much spiritual growth or discernment in the people very zealous, but had not much wisdom. During the altar call we were attacked for the third time and was begging us to come down to the altar to give our hearts to the LORD, well I had enough and greatly pushed back to this immaturity. We left that night and never came back. Over the years 15 in the Jacksonville and Sneads Ferry area we have seen the lack of opportunity to serve, learn, and even be trained in service for the LORD seems to have fallen by the wayside for a more comfort driven routine and "just too much work involved attitude." We have attended and visited many churches in these 15 years, but I am not sure what the end means of our going to church there was. Please let me stop here. I do not want to seem like I am running down the pastors of these churches, but want to say we love these pastors and the people very much and for the truth to be known we want only to see God move in the lives (ours too) of these wonderful people. In hurtful and confusing times I understand clearer, "Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." (Proverbs 27:5-6) But almost every service we attended was a cookie cutter service. On Wednesday night the same routine: prayer, offering, and preaching by the pastor. The Sunday morning service was about the same routine with a few songs added before the pastor's prayer and preaching. Now the point is there is no reason for the people to come to church except to give money to the church, hear the pastor minister, and attend the traditional fellowship dinners such as Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Party, with each other. Most if not all had no discipleship program, no evangelic outreach strategy to reach the community, no weekly Bible (maybe ladies and men) study (except for the Wednesday night service) or no home group meeting where relationships are built. And why? I think most of the people do not really want to get involved, but again the point I am trying to make is there is no opportunity for personal ministry, no means for discipleship, nor is there a vision to reach the community all three critical elements of a healthy spiritual church that affects the community in a positive way. Let us face it if we are not affecting the community for God and people are not coming to the LORD then we have turned our budget and hearts inward toward the members and become a fortress daring a sinner to come and kick down our doors. If our congregation does not reflect (even in color) the community there are some things going on that needs to be addressed by God and the people. There is a great book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom S. Rainer I recommend all pastors take a read. It is small you can read it in two days or less, but do yourself a favor prayerfully read it because it is filled with wisdom from God that is needed to stop (grave yard dead) this decline and even departure of the Gospel message in the United States. For better or worse (I vote worse) America has chosen the structure of churches (we really know we are the church) as the means for people in America and the world to hear and spread the Gospel message and yes church denominations have capitalized on this notion and exploited it for money, influence, and power. I have written in the past how I believe the early church got off track and developed this structure for commonness and support, but in the beginning the Christians met (Acts 2:46) house to house breaking bread. I also believe, mind you very slowly, we will be going back to house meetings if the LORD tarries. Wow looks like the Holy Spirit had me drift some so please let me get back on target. I will be honest I do not know why people say sin separates us from God. On the contrary I would say sin draws the LORD closer to man if man makes a move towards the LORD. Now do not get me wrong here we should never go towards sin so that the LORD can forgive us. Nor should be ever languish in sin again and again (enjoying the pleasure for a season) knowing the LORD will forgive us. Paul addressed this issue and thinking with the Christians in Rome, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2) But believe it or not this wrong thinking "cheap grace" is being taught by many of the big prosperity and word of faith preachers and teachers. Shame on them! Yet it is a wrong doctrine that feeds our flesh and allows our emotions and carnal lower nature room to express itself and grow while rejecting the truth. Just like with denominations it is all about money, influence, and power and the people eat it up. To see this truth were sin does not separate God from man all we have to do is read and rightly divide the Scriptures. In Genesis after man disobeyed God and ate of the fruit from the "Tree of Knowledge and of Good and Evil" we find God in the garden not separated from man because of his sin, but calling his name looking to have a time of communion with man. In Genesis we read, "And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Genesis 3:9-10) God did not separate Himself from man when he sinned oh no on the contrary. Because of God's love for man God came closer trying to redeem man. A few Chapter later in Genesis we read where Cain kills his brother Abel. "And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.' (Genesis 4:9-10) and even in this horrific murder and sin God never separated himself from Cain in his sin. Nowhere in the Bible has God ever said I will turn away from man because he has sinned so. What a wonderful love God has for man. What a wonderful truth. Now notice the opposite can happen in man's life. Man can separate himself from God by rejecting again and again the loving drawing of the Holy Spirit to the point that man drifts away into a reprobate mind where man has no desire for God. I do not understand how this could happen (as I do not understand why a holy God would want to live inside of us see Ephesians 2:22), but God is a holy and righteous God and will uphold His eternal word. We read, "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;" (Romans 1:28) and "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:16) This is not God separating Himself from man, but man separating Himself from God. God's love for man is unconditional, but not so with man. Back in Romans we read, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." Romans 5:6-9) What unconditional love. My friend where can we run to separate ourselves from the presence of God? David said, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." (Psalm 139:7-8) You know if God separates Himself from man because of sin then God would have separated Himself from His own son Jesus while on the cross which is not true. I hear many preachers and teachers says because of sin God had to turn His back on Jesus while on the cross and even quote scripture, "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34) How foolish to think God separated Himself from Jesus because He became sin for us on the cross. God every day of our lives looks at our sin, but "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-19) If God separated Himself from Jesus on cross then God will separate Himself from us. But that is not what Jesus said. Oh no in Matthew Jesus said, "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 28:20). And you know what He means it! Written by David Stahl

DOING FOLLOWS THINKING

There is a critical spiritual principle that the LORD has been working into my spirit lately and that is "doing follows thinking." Our doing in and out of God follows whatsoever we think. We will go nowhere in that we have not yet thought about first. I can go to Germany (which I have never been to before) by just thinking about it or imagining what it would be like. Our thought life is what drives our physical life. There is no sin we will ever commit without first thinking about it. There is no good act that God has ordained in our lives that we first did not think about. The longer I go in God the more I see and understand how God communicates with us through our thoughts, our thinking. In Proverbs some of my favorite verses in the Scriptures are, "Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is notwiththee8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words." (Proverbs 23:6-8) As we think in our heart we shall be that, but if we get the wrong understanding from what we think we will be wrong. I can sit in a garage all day and think I am a car and even go beep beep, but that will never make me a car. Our thinking and understanding must align with the reality of what God wants us to do. If not we will get into trouble with God and man. If our wanting to understand at times can overrides what God wants us to know then we will get into trouble with God and man. Wanting to know out of God's plan got Eve (and the entire world) into a lot of trouble. Today we still suffer from Eve's lack of understanding and her wanting to know things that God did not want her to know. We again must want to know what God wants us to know. Anything more will get us into trouble with God and man. This thinking and our thoughts even gets down to the ministry of God's word. The word of God (a message and not a sermon) that we receive from God is from our thoughts/thinking. When we have an opportunity to minister God's word He will drop some thoughts in our thinking/thoughts and we will get an understanding of what He wants us to communicate to the people. God may even drop a burden in our heart, but for sure He will give us the thoughts on which to build His words from. And out from these thoughts is much external word (what we can write down) and out from the external word we will get the internal word where the Spirit of God dwells and what we share that gives life, the life of God for the people. The key is to get the correct understanding from our thinking /thoughts. If we get a wrong understanding then we will get the wrong message. I have seen and heard this play out in lives for years. People push for an understanding and what they get is a wrong understanding. You know it is one thing not to know and have a wrong understanding, but it is another thing and worse not to know you do not know and you have a wrong understanding. Now if we push for an understanding we will get one make no mistake (no pun intended) it may be wrong, but it is an understanding none the less. For some people sadly this is okay because it fits their agenda and philosophy in ministry. Sadly I have seen this play out for years also. Wrong understanding will lead us over into presumption; thinking we know what is right, but in reality it is wrong. In Philippians we can see this presumption play out if we do not have the right understanding. Paul writes, "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanks giving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:5-7) Here if we stay in the right context of these verses we will get a right understanding and there is even a great safety net that will prevent us from getting into trouble with God and man. Yes we are to let our needs be known to God there is no question about this, but that is all we do. Then (and only then) "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" we will not get over into presumption and get into trouble with God and man. Yet again and again I hear pastors and teachers tell people if they do not hear from God keep on asking, seeking, and knocking. They take the verses in Luke and Matthew out of context (twisting them) and try to beat God over His head with His own word. In Luke we read the words of Jesus, "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Luke 11:9-10) Now if you stay with the context of what Jesus was saying and look at the words you will find Jesus was not saying to keep asking, seeking, and knocking till God answers. I cannot begin to tell you of the numbers pastors and teachers I have heard spin this yarn getting people all worked up and when God does not answer they get disappointed and often fall out of God to the point they totally walk away from God. No my friend get out of the emotional realm and open up your spiritual understanding and Bible. Just ask and it will be given to you? Really? Just seek and you shall find? Really? Just knock and it shall be opened? Really? Jesus was not saying this at all. Jesus was not saying keep on bombarding heaven (as many pastors and teachers say) with your asking, seeking, and knocking till God surrenders and answers your prayer. This asking, seeking knocking teaching is nothing more than a works based performance religion where if I pray long, loud, and hard enough God will finally hear my prayer and answer it. Now read the verses with understanding. "For every one that asketh receiveth;" (it may not be what you were asking for, but if you ask for something you will receive something and it may not be from God) "and he that seeketh findeth;" (so too if you seek and seek you will find something, that is a part of our human nature we seek because we want to find something. We have this need in us to find something instead of waiting on God) "and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (we knock and knock on this door and that door and if no one answers we keep knocking till someone answers the door we are knocking on, but probably depending on the number of doors we have knocked on it will not be the door God wants to open to us.) Jesus was warning us. Jesus was saying to take heed in our asking, seeking, and knocking because we will probably get some things in our push for understanding (may not be God's understanding) that will be more destructive to our walk with the LORD than what the LORD has for us if we can wait on Him and receive. Does not God know what we need? Do we really need to ask, seek, and knock till God answers? I know when our kids were growing up and they wanted something (that I wanted to give them) they would ask and I would say okay. Now it is up to me when, where, and how to give them what they ask for, but if they kept bugging me (thinking they will get it sooner trying to manipulate me like many Christians try to do to God) their repeated pleads and petitions for what they have already asked me would become faint in my ears (even though I loved them very much) and would delay till they had the right heart condition to receive what they asked. In Matthew Jesus told the disciples and us, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Where withal shall we be clothed?32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." (Mathew 6:31-32) Does not the Father know what we need? So what is all of this asking, seeking, knocking? Can we not just trust in God without all of this religious arrogance? Oh I know I am going after some of the religious sacred cows, but it is high time for the Body of Christ to stop all of this "look see pigeon" (what the Chinese would say) when you release a pigeon from a cage that you paid good money for. It is suppose to make you feel good. The next few verses in Luke 11 says, "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:11-13) Do you see that? If we ask for bread is God going to give us a snake? No He knows what we need. He even knows bread may not be (even though we have asked) what we need, but since God knows what we need He will give us what we need in His good time. I asked God about going to Nepal recently and in spite of having all of the resources and planning done God gave me what He wanted me to have (because He loves me) what I needed, but it was not what I wanted. God is good at this. If you walk with the LORD any time you will find His love for us overshadows our begging for things we think we need. In God's answer is always the right understanding. We need not to ask, seek, or knock all we have to do is just in obedience receive what God has for us. If we get our thinking wrong then our doing can only be wrong. It is not we are doing wrong (that seems to be our focus because our actions reveal our doing) but in reality our wrong doing happens as we again and again think wrong. Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 53 (HGM ON 24 APR 18)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-53

TEXT: "And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed." (Exodus 17:12)

 

I. UPON OUR SHOULDERS

 

A. Does the way we look at things will determine whether we fail or succeed. Does our enemies have enough power to cause defeat in our life? No way! Not even the enemy Satan has the power over our life, that God does not allow him.

B. In the wilderness the children of Israel were fighting the Amalekits. At one moment, the Amalekits would be winning. Then, at another moment, there would be a change and the Israelites would be winning. Why? Was it because the power of the enemy was strong at one moment and weak at another moment?

C. No! It was Moses! When he has his hands up, Israel was winning. When his hands dropped, the enemy was winning. "And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. (Exodus 17:12)

D. It did not depend on God. It did not depend upon the enemy. It depended upon Moses. God has provided all things. Now the question is, how do we relate to all of God's provisions? How do we view the overall circumstances of life in light of God's provisions? Do we look at things as centering upon ourselves, but centering upon God?

E. The provisions and power of God do not determine whether we fail or succeed in our walk with God. His provisions and power are always at hand and without limit. The ability of God to work in and through us is not determining factor in our failure or success.

F. The Believer in the wilderness should not focus on:

1. Himself

2. The enemy

3. What God does for them

4. What God provides for them

G. The Believer should focus on God Himself. If anything in our life is in focus over and above God, we are out of bounds and in danger. Since all things move out from God, then let us have HIM as our focus.

H. As we follow this advice there will be only victory; there will not be defeat. If we find ourselves in a situation which, in our view, is bigger than God, what shall we do? We shall faint! We shall fall. This very situation is the place to which God has brought us for the sake of greater opportunities in Him.

I. But, alas! It becomes our place of failure and defeat. Why? Because God is not our focal point. The fault is not in God. Nor is it in the situation itself. The fault is not in another person; the fault is in us. The failure and defeat are our own doings. Remember, at the heart of every issue is an issue of MY heart.

J. The children of Israel were brought into a situation designed to bring them many blessings. They abode in the Wilderness of Paran. They dwelled in the "glory of God." But, what was their focus, what did they see in it? "Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there." (Numbers 113:28) It seems that they are seeing everything but God. Everything is in the picture but God. The unpleasant situation fills the vision. God is not seen.

K. It reminds me of the disciples counting the loaves of bread, the fish, and the people. "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" (John 6:9) Without counting and counting on HIM there is no answer to the situation.

L. Today most Christians believe that the enemies own and rule everything. There is unbelief as to who owns the land. How often do we hear, "The angels of the Lord! Oh, the angels of the Lord are everywhere around us!" We do not hear that as often as we hear, "Oh, demons are here; demons are there; demons are everywhere!" But, according to the Scriptures, "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." (Psalm 34:7) Most Believers have given the earth to Satan and wicked people. At least this is their faith. But it is not according to the Word of God, "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1)

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. The children of Israel were brought into the Wilderness of Paran for the specific and expressed purpose of going onward to possess the Promised Land. When we are brought into a wilderness by God, we are not brought in to be overcome by circumstances.

B. God has no intention of feeding us to wild beasts. He does not bring us into a wilderness to fail by unbelief, or to faint and die from weariness. God does not make the wilderness a part of our lives to defeat and discourage us. He does not bring us into the wilderness to kill us, as some of the Israelites thought concerning themselves. Our flesh, yes! Our body and spirit, Oh, No! We are brought there to take advantage of the opportunities which God has placed there for us.

WHEN THE CLOUD MOVES

Often there will be times in our walk with the LORD when we do not understand what is moving or why things are moving in a certain direction. Now I will be honest at these times I kind of like serving a God I cannot figure out, but on the other hand the uncertainty of not knowing can be a frustrating (sometimes to some debilitating) emotion in their life. At both times we must push beyond our feelings, our plans, our ambitions, and try to see what God is doing in this situation. Recently I have been making plans for a trip to Nepal to minister to the Nepalese people who are already under the gun, no pun intended. The government is tightening the screws on the Christians and making it very difficult for foreigners to come and share this wondrous Gospel message. If caught converting a Nepalese one could get 18 months in prison which is really a death sentence, Nepalese prisons are notorious for beatings, suicides, and murders. If a foreigner is caught evangelizing they will be arrested and deported within seven days. This holds true for India (much worse) and other parts of South Asia. At the time of this writing we are still planning to go, but God may have another idea. I know the Christian witness of the LORD by the Nepalese people and especially through the radio station Good News FM 105.1 (just upgraded to 500 from 100 watts) is of a far greater value to the LORD than us coming and being a bull in a china shop. Here we must push beyond our feelings and plans to see what God is doing here. Now we could go. We have the money (savings), we have the contact, we have plans in place, but what is God doing? What is God saying? You know it is easy to operate and flow with God when everything works out, but when things do not work out as we have planned and we still feel the LORD is moving then what? After all God wants us to shake the nations for His glory, right? No God wants to shake our heart with His love. We are to go and make disciples of all nations, right? Well no, we are to become a disciple of Christ first and then when He wants things to happen He will make them happen not us. One of the wilderness truths I so enjoy is the cloud that abided over the Children of Israel in the day providing shade and at night a pillar of fire providing warmth. In Exodus we read about the cloud, "And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people." (Exodus 13:20-22) Wow God expects night travel! I really like verse 20 they camped at the edge of the wilderness. It almost sounds like God had (He did) to push them into the wilderness. So who is at the edge of the wilderness? God and He will push us in so He can get our attention, so He can train us, so we can learn the lessons He has for us that will enable us to be successful when we come up out of the wilderness. The wilderness is a place we never build a home in only an expedient shelter. If we never go into the wilderness (God's making places) we will never grow up and just stay babes, we will never learn the lessons that will help us move and flow with Him. We will be unschooled, untaught, uneducated to God's ways God does not hold classes in well watered, fruited lands. Oh no my friend God holds school in dry, austere, troubled situations, and circumstance. Problems where we think we will die, but with God's instruction we learn our way through. But what happens when the cloud moves? One thing for sure if in the wilderness you better move with it. The Children of Israel moved, but usually under great protest. It is not about the moving of the cloud, but about our heart condition to the moving of the cloud. If we do not go and do for God it is not about us not going and doing, but more about how we feel about not doing and going? We have these great plans: conferences, crusades, we have spent money, people informed, and we do not go. How do we feel about that? No I really mean it, how do we really feel about that? After all what will our friends say? My friend all of that does not matter. What matters is what is God doing in all of this. The cloud was a visible sign of provision, a wealth of opportunity, and even security. What happens when the cloud dries up? Even a bigger question what happens when God changes direction for our lives? Maybe this thought is for another article, but make no mistake my friend in God a few things are consistent and one of these is change. In God, problems are seldom what we think they are. We blame others for our short comings and failures, but in reality we are the problem. Remember at the heart of every issue is an issue of our heart. In Proverbs we read, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) The words "issues" here are the good and so called bad things in our lives. No matter what happens in our lives God is looking at our reaction to whatsoever happened have it be what we call bad or even something good. I think it is the good things that happen to us that can get us in more trouble with God. After all good things rarely draw us closer to the LORD. When something good happens often we get a big head, want a pat on the back, and then have trouble get our big head through the door way, but now a good problem . . . well for most Christians that will bring us to our knees. In 2 Corinthians we see Paul has been under the cloud for a price, "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me." (2 Corinthians 12:3-6) Now many people say it was Paul that was "caught up in the third heaven" or "caught up into paradise," but here Paul says "I knew a man about 14 years ago" plus "And I knew such a man that was caught up in paradise." Odd that Paul used the word "paradise" and not heaven. Jesus had already died and rose from the dead, no more paradise heaven was a reality. Here Paul was talking about two men he knew not himself, however without any question Paul did receive special revelation from God. But the issue was not about the revelation or the "unspeakable words" and things in heaven, but the issue was Paul willing to endure his infirmities (and he had many) to receive the wonderful revelations God had for him. Revelation is God's measuring stick of a man. Revelations are not handed out like candy canes on a Christmas tree they are earned with each scar on our face from the smitter and each humbling by God. Now the cloud moves notice Paul's reaction. Ready read, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Even brother Paul wanted the "thorn in the flesh" removed as we all would, but God had a deeper purpose than sticking Paul in the flesh. Now Christians try to figure out what was the "thorn in the flesh." Was it his poor eye sight from his Damascus road experience? Maybe it was some unfulfilled longing in his life for greater companionship, or maybe it was an angel send from the Satan to get him off track no one really knows, but did you know it was NOT about the "thorn in the flesh" is was about Paul's reaction to the "thorn in the flesh." It was about what God was doing with the "thorn in the flesh" in Paul's life. So too in our lives it is not about what we have done (or not done) or what has happened to us now or in the past. It is about our reaction to what we have done (or not done) or what has happened to us in the past. Do we handle it in God as Paul did? Yes, three times Paul prayed (I probably would have prayed more) for God to deliver him from this "thorn in the flesh," but when God says "no" Paul's reaction was, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." Again it is not about the thorn or even the revelation it is about our reactions to the thorns and revelation when the cloud moves and make no mistake my friend the cloud will move God will see to it. Written by David Stahl

THE GOSPEL IS ENOUGH

In The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren (pastor of one of the biggest Southern Baptist Churches in America) said, "today the Bible is not enough to be saved." It is no wonder Rick has evolved/waffled his position on the Bible's view on homosexuality like many other big name speakers (cannot call them preachers) like T. D. Jakes. Deception is progressive just as is salvation. Either we walk in the truth of the word of God and it is enough for salvation or we shall walk in deception mixing other things and as a pastor or leader in a church deception begets deception of the people we lead. I am ever amazed (but I should not be) at how all types of churches use worldly means to try to hook non believers to come to church. Some churches have special services: like homecoming, pastor's appreciation day, family and friends day or they will book a gospel group (that does not sing about the gospel) because they know people would rather be entertained with song and music, be recognized for some great act of service, or will rally together for a great social cause than to sit and hear the word of God. Most churches have failed at presenting a concise, heartfelt and heart directed message of the true word of God so they have to resort to gimmicks, promotions, tricks, and even lies to get people to come to their church. As bad as these are before God that is not the worst part of this charade the worst part of this charade is the pastors and leaders of these churches think they are doing God a big favor in misleading people to come church. Is that what the church has come to in presenting the precious and eternal Gospel message? Is this the picture of most churches today? Paul writes to Timothy, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;" (1 Timothy 4:1-2) Sadly I say yes not knowing the difference between the truth and a lie. And why . . . follow the money. Believe it or not the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) is the root of all evil. Do we really need to represent half truths and parlor tricks to get people to come to church for money and influence? Around Christmas (I still have a hard time with that word) we have Christmas parties and have Santa Claus show up in his red suit and black boots and we say it is for the kids, but in reality we find the pictures taken posted to Facebook accounts of the adults. After all who (no matter the age) does not want to sit on Santa's lap? We sell this misrepresentation of the truth as ministering to the community or an outreach for the kids in the neighborhood, but in reality we are not honest enough to stand for the truth of the word of God and wink our eye a little to have some fun and who knows someone really might come and who knows someone really might hear something that will touch their heart, and who knows someone might really give their heart to the LORD. Well after all we pastors do have reports to send up the chain and we would not want to make our bosses unhappy, why they may even break our rice bowl and move us on. Then where would God be in all of this if we get our walking papers? Not just Christmas (still kind of sticks in my mouth), but over the passion week we have invented a cottage industry of half truths from events taken from the Scriptures in hooking people to come to church instead of using the Gospel message. The word "passion" is used one time in the Scriptures. In Acts we read, "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" (Acts 1:3) Which means suffering or vexed. (Strong's G#3598) Yet we have our holy week (holy week? I thought God is holy and He wants us to be holy, but a week?) starting with Palm Sunday which has nothing to do with the Gospel message. My friend the glorious Gospel message is found in 1 Corinthians we read, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) I read nothing here about palm branches. Any way the people that cried, "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the LORD" misidentified Jesus as only a prophet and were the same folks that said, "crucify him!" in a few days. I do not want to wave palms and be indentified with them. On Thursday we have Maundy Thursday that remembers the last supper. Yes Jesus and the disciples kept the passover feast (maybe a Thursday), but what does that have to do with the Gospel? Next we have Good Friday. I do not believe Jesus was crucified on Friday, but Wednesday. On Wednesday opinion states that there were two Sabbaths that week. After the first one (the one that occurred on the evening of the crucifixion (Mark 15:42 and Luke 23:52-54), the women purchased spices—note that they made their purchase after the Sabbath (Mark 16:1). The Wednesday view holds that this “Sabbath” was the Passover (see Leviticus 16:29-31, 23:24-32, 39) where high holy days that are not necessarily the seventh day of the week are referred to as the Sabbath). The second Sabbath that week was the normal weekly Sabbath. Note that in Luke 23:56, the women who had purchased spices after the first Sabbath returned and prepared the spices, then “rested on the Sabbath.” The argument states that they could not purchase the spices after the Sabbath, yet prepare those spices before the Sabbath—unless there were two Sabbaths. With the two-Sabbath view, if Christ was crucified on Thursday, then the high holy Sabbath (the Passover) would have begun Thursday at sundown and ended at Friday sundown—at the beginning of the weekly Sabbath or Saturday. Purchasing the spices after the first Sabbath (Passover) would have meant they purchased them on Saturday and were breaking the Sabbath. Therefore, according to the Wednesday viewpoint, the only explanation that does not violate the biblical account of the women and the spices and holds to a literal understanding of Matthew 12:40 is that Christ was crucified on Wednesday. The Sabbath that was a high holy day (Passover) occurred on Thursday, the women purchased spices (after that) on Friday and returned and prepared the spices on the same day, they rested on Saturday which was the weekly Sabbath, then brought the spices to the tomb early Sunday. Jesus was buried near sundown on Wednesday, which began Thursday in the Jewish calendar. Using a Jewish calendar, you have Thursday night (night one), Thursday day (day one), Friday night (night two), Friday day (day two), Saturday night (night three), Saturday day (day three). We do not know exactly what time He rose, but we do know that it was before sunrise on Sunday. He could have risen as early as just after sunset Saturday evening, which began the first day of the week to the Jews. The discovery of the empty tomb was made just at sunrise (Mark 16:2), before it was fully light (John 20:1). But in the grand scheme of things, it is not all that important to know what day of the week Christ was crucified. If it were very important, then God's Word would have clearly communicated the day and timeframe. What is important is that He did die and that He physically, bodily rose from the dead. What is equally important is the reason He died—to take the punishment that all sinners deserve. John 3:16 and 3:36 both proclaim that putting your trust in Him results in eternal life! This is equally true whether He was crucified on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. My friend there was nothing good for Jesus on Friday (if then) he was crucified. It was a painful, horrid beating and slow death that He endured out from His love for us as he willfully went to the cross. Is that not enough? Paul tells us, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) God sent us to preach as He did Paul not to make up some holy week. The preaching of the cross the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Yet we make up things to try to get people to come to services (I believe) because we really do not believe the Gospel (and the Gospel alone) is the power unto salvation like Rick Warren thinks we need more. Then the crowning jewel in the week of religious activities the Sunday sunrise service. Do we really need to use religion to draw people when we have the Gospel message? Yes in great power Jesus came forth from the grave in victory and great power, the tomb was empty, He is Risen!! Is not that not enough? That is a part of the Gospel!! Then why do we have sunrise services? Do we need to get up before the crack of dawn and remember He has risen from the dead? If so why? Will a sunrise service help you believe more than the Gospel message preached under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit? I think not. And please do not get me started on all of the easter egg hunts and bunny face painting parties churches have, oh that right this is for the kids. How can we mix the truth with a lie? Sadly in reality our religious tricks and gimmicks only nullify the power of the Gospel in the lives of people who the Holy Spirit is drawing. In reality when we hold these services we actually are getting in the way. It is no wonder people are not coming to Christ. If the Gospel is not enough then we are wasting our time. There is no other name than Jesus, there is no other message than the Gospel, whereby people can be saved. In Acts we read, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) That means no mixing Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and presents and Christ. That means no mixing easter bunnies, easter egg hunts, and holy week and Christ. And while I am on a roll why do we kill ourselves and throw money for a week to do vacation Bible School then for the other 51 weeks (ah everyone else is doing it) care little to what happens with the kids? My friend when we add to or take away from the Gospel message by example we are saying the Gospel message is not enough whereby someone can be saved. When we mix such things with Christ it is plainly and painfully evident we do not believe the Gospel message is enough to save one from their sins. Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) The question I ask my friend is are you ashamed of the Gospel of Christ? Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 52 (28 Mar18 HGM)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-52 TEXT: "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him." (Isaiah 64:4)

 

I. A NEW LOOK

A. We have such an abundance of inheritances and other blessings, that we presently have no idea how many and how great are God's provisions.

B. From the land of plenty and blessings, the wilderness is usually looked upon as an unhealthy and undesirable place. This is particularly true for those who have experienced what man would call failure in the wilderness (in their dry times).

C. But if God does not call it failure then it is not failure and nor should we. Failure is not sin. Sin is sin. Failure is another opportunity for God to teach us His ways when we have missed His mark. God takes our failure and works it to our benefit. Failure is not destructive to us unless we get stuck in it. Not learning the lessons God has purposed us to learn through this time. D. Indeed, the wilderness is a place of possible failure and I believe God would rather us fail a few times then succeed in most areas. Failure helps us get it right. Very few people do things right the first time. Failure helps us learn obedience. The more we succeed (unless through Him) the less we need Him. Success (unless through Him) leads us to self-strength and self-provision.

E. This is not the fault of the wilderness, and certainly it is not the fault of God. Nor is failure to be blamed upon the enemy. However, the failure of a believer in the wilderness is still the fault of that particular believer.

F. Certain believers coming to the wilderness will focus their attention upon its unpleasantness to such intensity that they see these unpleasantries magnified many times. The real problem is not the wilderness with its difficulties, but with the self-centered view of the believer.

G. Actually in most cases the view has been turned self-ward. Thus it can be clearly understood how some folks create for themselves more unpleasantness than is actually in the picture.

H. Because of a great sense of self-worth and self-preservation, we may consider a situation as very dangerous. If we could turn our vision away from self and focus upon God, our view would change altogether.

I. The situation is still stays the same, but with this different point of view, we would now discover God's purposes. Then, the situation we feared as dangerous would be seen as God's arrangement for the purpose of bringing blessings to us.

J. If we were suddenly confronted in the wild by a lion and we had no protection nor defense, we would normally regard that a dangerous situation. Samson (the first Judge of Isreal) found himself in this situation. "Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him." (Judges 14:5)

K. But, if this situation is viewed from God's point of view, the lion does not look like an insurmountable opponent. The one who intended to defeat and eat Samson became Samson's source of food. "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 14:6)

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. God works desperately to change our point of view in order to impact to us His faith and strength.

B. What we see is what we become. The apostle Paul says it this way: "But we all, with open [unveiled] face [our change of view] beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed [being changed] into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (II Corinthians 3:18) Thus in order for the victory and strength which are in the Lord to become ours we must look in the right direction.

WHEN YE PRAY

I would like to help with prayer because if we get prayer wrong we will not get too far in God. Now God wants us to pray. Jesus tells us this in Matthew, but He also tells us things not to do. Yet most Christians ignore them out of traditions of men and wrong thinking from a performance based denominational religion. In Matthew we read the words of Jesus, "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6:5-8) Prayer is one of the most mysterious functions and operations of the LORD. Our walk with the LORD is a huge mystery now I really like this. Who wants to serve a God you have figured out? We see this mystery when we read, "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:" (Colossians 1:25-26) and "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16) I learned this (and seem too often relearn it) the second time I went to India. After 10 days of a very busy schedule, sickness, and diarrhea I was at the end of my strength and self. It was late in the evening and my host pastor asked me to pray for a little boy who had not walked in 6 months. I said yes. The father brought the little boy over to me and I grabbed his little feet and I prayed this great prayer, "LORD please heal this little boy." No lightning bolts, no fancy words, God did not speak from heaven that was it. As I was reaching for my supper of chicken, curry, and rice (what I was fed to help my stomach) out of the corner of my eye I saw the father put the little boy down and as his little feet touched the ground the boy was off and running. The little boy is probably is still running. Well I never got to my supper that night a line quickly formed. But how did God do this? How did God heal this little boy? It was not me I had no strength so it had to be God. You know I find it amazing nowhere in the Bible did Jesus pray (like we do) for someone. Jesus just healed them He did not pray for them. You know if I cannot get to the Father on my behalf for healing I would not want someone to only pray for me. I think I would want someone who has a walk with the LORD who could touch Him on my behalf. Yes prayer is mysterious it reveals God's nature to us. His concern, heart, and love. How does He do this? Did you know prayer is translated six different ways in the Bible? The top three are beseeching, comforter, but the most common is "direct address to the Father." Not in communication, but communion. At first the disciples had it wrong when they prayed around through the Father. Many Christians sing the song, "Ave Maria" or around to the Father though Maria (Jesus' mother) , but in the LORD's prayer (beginning in Matthew 6:9) Jesus said to pray "abba Father." The word "abba" is a term of endearment, literally "daddy" in the Greek, an intimate word of the heart. Funny it is interesting to know John the Baptist disciples knew how to pray before Jesus' disciples. "And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." (Luke 11:1) There are seven points on prayer I would like for us to look at. John Wright Follette (my teacher's teacher) said, "we learn to pray by praying." Prayer is a work of the Spirit of God. Unless we have allowed God to work in our lives through His dealings and judgments we will NEVER enter into the "true" realm of prayer. Many Christians are begging God to bless the works of their hands and God is saying do something! As we pray we learn how to touch the heart of God. The second point is we cannot change God's sovereign will by praying. Jesus tried this in the Garden of Gethsemane, but in the end Jesus said, "not my will, but thy will be done." God has a plan and purpose for each and every life he created and praying will not change it. God is God and we are not no matter how hard we try to twist God's arm in prayer. The third point is prayer helps us adjust our heart and thinking with God's will. In the Psalms we read, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Psalm 37:4) Oh how we like to delight ourselves in the LORD: standing in services, raising our hands, shaking our fist, and bobbing our head as the preacher rolls while all the while our heart has not been touched by the Spirit. My friend if we do not receive the word of God by our spirit we will never receive it by our flesh. The word "delight" here means pliable, bendable,, moldable. If we cannot be the clay and if the LORD cannot be the potter then He can never give us the desires of our heart, but sadly most Christians in prayer care little what God wants. And remember clay does not talk back. Prayer is not the time to receive something from God. We are to use our faith for someone else. Does God know what we need? When is the last time you have heard this message? The next point is the Holy Spirit always prays according to His will. In Romans we read, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27) So if we have the Holy Spirit operating in our lives then why are all of our prayers not answered? Please consider we are not praying according to God's will. God does NOT have to answer any of our prayers, but He wants to show us His love and concern (His character and nature) so He answers some. And if not we get angry at God and threaten to leave Him or get a big boo boo face or twist His arm. We must pray according to what and how God tells us to pray and not what we want to see happen in the lives of our family, friends, even the world. The next point is ALL things work together for good as long as we are called according to God's purpose and I would add if we learn the lesson God is teaching. Still in Romans, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) God already knows what we are going to pray before we pray so why pray? To align our thinking up with God's thinking. The LORD's purpose in our lives, friends, family, and the world is to share this wondrous Gospel message. He wishes none to be lost no not one. We need no other purpose or calling, but if God asks us to do specific things for Him say in ministry then we are to answer the call and fulfill the LORD's purpose in our lives. We really have this verse down. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6) Now this is okay, but God is doing more than giving us things or healing our bodies in our prayers. He is teaching us a lesson of His character and nature in prayer. He is teaching us how He functions and operates so we will be useful now (somewhat), but more in our next life. God will not have to train us when we get to our next life we will already know how to move and respond with and like Him. The second to the last point is obedience to God is never substituted by prayer. Most Christians would rather pray for hours than be obedient. My teacher Charles Haun tells the story of a lady who God would wake up at night to pray for people. Well one night God roused her and she got up and went to her chair where she prays and prayed for about one hour for a missionary and then went back to bed. About 15 minutes later God roused her again and this time she got out of her bed , knelt by her bed, prayed about 30 minutes, and headed back to bed. About 15 minutes later God roused her again and this time she just laid in bed and started to pray, but drifted off to sleep. God never bothered her again that night. About three months later the lady heard in church the missionary was killed the night the LORD woke her up. There is always a cost for our disobedience and usually others pay the price. The last point is Jesus always prayed because He wanted to maintain contact with His Father not to do or get things from His Father. From this contact or communion God's goal in prayer is manifested, "righteous living" where we just live right before God and man. Just like we do not have to think to breathe, we just live right. It becomes automatic. For this to happen God must be able to get us over this "give me give me things" thinking, so He can take us deeper into the mystery of prayer. Jesus said, "of myself I have no power" and "I can do nothing except what I see the Father do." Jesus was so dependent on the Father for everything which came out of His relationship with the His Father. Prayer teaches us how to be dependent and how to have a relationship with our heavenly Father. In prayer it is not God needs to know, but it is we need to tell Him. There is a need in man to talk with God He put it in us. And in His response we learn His will and how He thinks and functions what He wants in every given situation. Prayer is amazing mystery of God.