CHARACTER OR ABILITY

The longer I go with God the more I am convinced God is more concerned with our character and how we do things for Him than what we do for Him and our abilities. After all our abilities and talents are God-given, so why do we think God is impressed? Why do we go after someone with great ability with our whole heart? I laugh in bewilderment when someone scores a touchdown or makes a basket and then they point upward with one finger towards the heavens as to say God helped me score this touchdown, basket, or goal. God is not impressed by our physical abilities (that includes singing, dancing, or playing a musical instrument), but He is very impressed with our ability to humble ourselves and our obedience. God is very impressed with our ability to allow Him to work in our lives so the He could conform us more and more into the image and character of His precious Son Jesus Christ. Now the word “character” in not found in the KJV per say, but the Scriptures of the KJV of the Bible speaks volumes to how much God is concerned about His children possessing Godly character and attributes. One of God’s greatest characters attribute we can posses is being men and woman of great integrity and honesty. Now this integrity and honesty comes out not by doing the right thing every time (something we must also daily do), but out from the “experiences” we have allowed God to take us through to develop and mature the character of our inward man. Paul in Romans shares these verses with us, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience (Strong’s #1832, proving, trial, approved, tried character, a proof, a specimen of tried worth); and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5) It is the “experience” in God we have that develops us, that matures us, that allows the revelation of God to grip our heart to such a degree of reality that nothing in this world would be able to move us out of the way God has for us to go. This “experience” (character) we read about in Romans 5:4 gets it origin from the ancient world. In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens, to stop the practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money. They were men of honour who put only genuine full weighted money into circulation. Such men were called “dokimos” or “approved.” This is the type of life-style we are to live before God and the world. We are to be men and woman of integrity, men and woman of honor, and of good character. This character: proving, trial, approved, a specimen of tried worth is to go much deeper into the roots of our lives, even down into the recesses and corners of our need for righteousness and holiness. Paul told the Church at Corinth, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners (character). 34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) The Church at Corinth was over into some of the most vile despicable areas of sin the church has ever seen. Paul writes, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-16) It matters not how God uses us, but it matters how we do the things for God; are our motives and intentions pure? It is so easy to be deceived if we do not allow God to work in our lives bringing us to the truth. The truth of the Holy Scriptures does not come to us by way of good works at church or even joining a major denomination, but by allowing God to open His word in the Holy Bible and His words He speaks to our heart through the precious Holy Spirit. So many in the church and in the world are deceived and need to “Awake to righteousness and sin not.”

It is the issues around our character God draws close attention to in our lives. Sadly Michael Jackson, the king of pop music passed away. I say sadly because by his life he was not too concerned with the things of God. Oh he was a great singer and dancer and made millions maybe billions of dollars in his life time, but when he stood before God the day he died the standard of judgment was not how well he could sing and dance, but how much of God’s character did he possess? What was his relationship with God? Again it does not matter what man says about you or what you have done while on earth, what matters is “how” you do things for God and how much of God’s character you have allowed Him to work into your life. Reality and truth is always seen through the eyes of God. Truth is always from God’s word and perspective and if our lives do not align with God’s perspective and word then all we do with our time on earth is for naught. When I first heard Michael Jackson was taken to the hospital I shot a quick prayer up for mercy, but the Lord brought the first ½ of this Scripture to my mind, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) God is long suffering, but there is a time God says enough. God knows the past and future, He has plan and He will bring it all to pass. Now I am not saying Michael Jackson is in Hell, I do not know for sure, God is God and He gets to make that call. Hell is such a horrible place, I cannot imagine such a horrible place and wish no one would go there, but we know people daily do. But if we take a truthful look at Michael Jackson’s life we will see it was full of things that run contrary to the word of God. The international media and Hollywood and world entertainers are praising Michael Jackson for his revolutionary and innovative dancing skills and unbelievable voice, but that is not what God is saying about him. Please reread 1 Corinthians 2:9-16. We often do not apply these verses to God’s judgment, but that is what these verses are talking about. Who are those people who have missed out on what God has prepared for them? (verse nine) And why? Because, “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) Men who have not allowed God to work in their lives, men who go after the praises of the world more than the praises of God thus have missed out on life eternal with God. Oh they have life eternal, but it is not spent with God, but in Hell. The Bibles teaches “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalms 9:17) There are over 54 verses in the Scriptures that speak of Hell. My friend Hell is a real place as much as Heaven is. I really feel bad for Michael Jackson because I believe he was in great jeopardy of gong to Hell like all who reject Jesus Christ. I really believe Michael Jackson opened himself up to demon possession when he did the video “Thriller.” As Hell is real so are demons and if we open ourselves they and 1,000s of their cohorts will fill our mind and spirit. Tens of millions of people hailed him king, but if the world is running (that means in the religious Christian world too) after you and calling you king please know God is not. I cannot believe the number people on TV saying they do not want to live knowing Michael Jackson is dead, they need to find the real King of the world Jesus Christ. Even today “Thriller” is still the number one selling album of all times in the world. Men and women (both young and old) today are still hooked by the demonic spirits that projects Michael Jackson’s music around the world; chief of these demons are the spirits of homosexuality. The longer one goes towards the world and away from God the easier it is to see, not judgment per say, but spiritually discern their life. The world called him the king of pop music, but sadly in reality Michael Jackson died a premature death leaving behind three children, weighing 112 pounds, with needle holes all over his body, almost bald, living in fear and confusion (no wonder his heart failed him) from many allegations of pedophilia, homosexuality, being 500 millions dollars in bankruptcy, and having to take a medicine cabinet full of medications to find rest when all he had to do was turn his life and heart to Jesus Christ the real King of the world. He started out a good looking black man being raised by a Christian mother in the conservative heart-land State of Indiana, but ended up in the weird, freakish, anything goes very liberal State of California. His fifteen facial surgeries disfigured his face to the point he appeared clown-like. His bizarre thinking of reality opened him up to throngs of people abusing his generosity on a day-to-day basis. The world calls his life a success, but the word of God calls it sin and shameful. And his life was out from the choices he made, so too we will end up from the choices we make. Michael Michael, oh how I hope you are not in hell. I would not wish anyone to go to hell, but if so it happens out from the ungodly choices they make in life. Let us not follow the example of Michael Jackson and take a chance with our eternal soul, but allow God to so work in our lives so that we will come to know the truth of the word of God and escape Hell’s eternal flames and torment.

My friend God is concerned about our character and not our abilities. God cares about us drawing near to Him and not the world. Have we allowed God to test us by fire and trials like the coins? The truth we hold in our heart will be seen for all the world to see and hear. I was checking out my new free self-crank radio and I stopped on a Christian radio station. The speaker was talking (like everybody else in the media) about Michael Jackson and said, “we usually do not play Michael Jackson’s music on our station, but in honor of his death we are going to dedicate the next three days to his music.” How they compromised the truth of the message of the Gospel, for what? They replaced God’s message with a worldly entertainer all for the popularity and air-time, like the throngs of people who took advantage of him in life, taking advantage of him in death. God is really watching and listening to what we are doing. Now please do not misunderstand me I am not beating up on Michael Jackson it is too late for him, he will receive the rewards of his choices. But I am warning those who are still alive; take heed, take heed, take heed to ourselves and our relationship with God. Who cares if we are the best singer or dancer in the world? What profit are these when we stand before God? “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:34-37) On judgment day God will not be asking us what we did while on earth, He will already know. Written by David Stahl

PRAYING TO THE FATHER

Prayer is one if not the most mysterious working of God in our lives. I will be honest I do not know how prayer works, but I am glad it does. God had to take me to India and weaken me of my physical strength to teach me, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6) Make no mistake my friend all we do that will matter for God and all we receive from God will be by His Spirit, prayer is no different. It is interesting to know I pray not because I want something from God, but I pray so that others may receive (some how) and because Jesus told us to. But one thing for sure it is easy to see where someone is in God, by how they pray. Sadly most prayer is spent on our self, I do not believe that was God’s purpose and Jesus’ intention when He instructed the disciples how to pray. In Matthew six we find the beginning of what many call the model prayer. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13) Now Jesus was not saying to pray these words, Jesus said, “After this manner therefore pray ye” not to pray these words. Is it wrong to pray these words? I cannot begin to tell you the number of times at half time or after a game the coach said, “take a knee boys” then yelled and screamed at us for awhile, but most times at the end of the chewing out we recited Matthew 6:9-13. Maybe we did it to ease the coach’s heart condition anyway it is never a bad thing reciting verses from the Bible especially if you believe what you are saying. But Jesus was doing something greater than teaching us some words to recite He was showing us the direction “Our Father,” our attitude “Hallowed be thy name,” His purpose “Your Kingdom Come,” and so much more. Jesus was showing us the pathway to the heart of the Father through prayer. Remember the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, apparently they always saw Him praying and then saw His prayers get answered so they too wanted to know the secret of His power. Well, the secret of Jesus’ power in prayer was praying; not only in words as the heathens do, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:7-8), but praying by the Spirit of God with an utter dependency on His Father. For us to have our prayers answered we must spend time in prayer with the Father there is no short cut or other way around, this is a real revelation for some Christians Prayer is of the Spirit of God and at the heart of prayer is submission that reflects total dependency to the will of the Father. It is more than asking or beseeching the Father, but us aligning our desires and will with the Father’s. Prayer is a thing of the Spirit of God that should be coming out of us 24 hours a day. Not living our lives stopping to pray, but where our lives become a prayer 24 hours before God and the world. Do you see the difference? Now I am not there yet, but this is what the people saw in Jesus as He walked from town to town. This is what the people felt that drew them to hear His words and to follow Him. If we truly want to reach the world, our city, town, village, our family for Christ this is the place we will have to allow God to take us too. But few find it. This is the “strait gate” that few be that find it. Talking of this spiritual place in God, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:12-14) and prayer is the pathway to the “strait gate.” “Enter ye in” to what? Certainly not heaven, Jesus was not talking about going to heaven, He was talking about entering into this place in God, “which leadeth unto life” the life of God. But please notice, few not many find it. The many are not willing to endure the dealings and judgments of God in their lives so that God could bring them to such as place, but it is the place never the less we must come to if we desire to have the life of God in us. Prayer is the pathway that leads us to the life of God, not words and communication with God, but communion with God.

There are five points I would like to share that will help us to come into this place of prayer. Never forget in prayer there is no order, format, or routine, just heart to heart communion with God.
1. The first is confess our sin. Even as we know God is aware of all of our faults, failures, and sins it is important to let God know WE are aware of them as well. Too often we can hide and even deny areas in our heart that keep us from Godly relationships with God and man. Too often the world rushes us on and we allow situations to fester. Confession leads us to some painful realization as to our need for seeking forgiveness, reconciliation, and guidance.
2. The second points is give God praise. When we come into the presence of God, it is a time for reflection and introspection, a pause from our activities to focus on God and God alone. Spend time praising God for who He is and for some of the specific blessing He has given us and our families reflecting our gratitude and utter dependency, two qualities we must possess for God to be able to trust us.
3. The third point is give God thanks. After we have worshipped Him and come clean then we are ready to give God thanks. God knows our heart and does not like it when we stand with dirty lips. We count our blessings as we recognize all that God has done for us. From the smallest gift to the awesome love of God in the grace and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we give Him thanks.
4. The fourth is pray for specific requests for others first then your self. Remember first things first and what the word JOY stands for: Jesus first, Other next, and Yourself last. Spend some time praying for specific needs, but please do not get bogged down on praying for your self. God knows what you need and He will take good care of you if you take good care of Him and others.
5. Lastly praise God for answered prayer. Conclude by expressing faith and confidence that God will answer our prayers and give Him praise for what He will do, but this in no way is a formula to get God to do things for us. If we want God to be God to us then He gets to do what He wants to do and when He wants to do it. Our part is to count it all joy and endure until God thinks we are ready to handle Him answering our request. God is listening for the song in our heart. Are we singing “No One Knows The Troubles I Have Seen” or are we singing “Blessed Assurance” in tough and difficult times. God is listening to what song are we singing.

The first time I went to Israel back in 1984, I went for walk and by chance came across a potter. I stood there and watched the potter work some clay of the wedging board then wet his hands and spin some clay already formed. At times he would get up and check the fire under the kiln and when the fire was just right he would take a piece of pottery already formed and put it into the kiln and close the door. Well I stood there for about 15 minutes then it struck me, how does the potter know the pot in the fire is done so I asked. With a big open faced smile he relied, “when the pot is done it begins to sing a sound, a whistling sound that tells me to get it out of the fire or it will be destroyed.” I thought our Heavenly Father is just like that, He too is listening to what sound we are making to see if we too are finished and He will keep us in the fire until just the right time no matter how much we kick and scream, because like the potter our heavenly Father wants to make a quality pot, a pot that can stand the pressures of life, a pot that can hold life-giving rivers of the Gospel that flows out of our bellies. Prayer is the pathway to the heart of the Father. Let us allow God to work so in our lives that He will be able to mold and shape us into the vessel he desires us to be. Like the potter, our heavenly Father has the right to, “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory” (Romans 9:18-23) Who would have thought this word prayer even extends to our obedience and submission? My friend it all extends to our obedience and submission and prayer is no different. But the one who “might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory” is the one who has learned the secret of prayer, it is a thing of the Spirit of God. Written by David Stahl

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SERVICE

Service in God always begins with three things: submission to God, obedience to His word (written and spoken) to us, and death to our selfish self-centered ways. Now please be careful there is a huge difference (and difficult to understand) between obedience (what only many Christians are today) and submission (what God needs moving in our lives to be able to use us). We will look at the differences in detail later. In Exodus 12 we read of the 10th and last plague God used to break the will and heart of Pharaoh to let His people go. Here God gives His children very specific instructions (verses 1-13) to escape His wrath of the death of the firstborn to come. Did you know God is a very detailed God? If not then you do not know Him. Beginning in verse 12 we read, “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:12-13) The people were instructed by Moses (which required obedience, but not submission – the people did not have that in their hearts yet) to kill a male lamb without blemish of the same year and spread the blood of the lamb (Genesis 12:7) on the two doorposts and lintel as a sign of their obedience. Here there are two spiritual principles in operation; without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22) there is no forgiveness (not removal) of sin and there must be death to our selves before God can use us. Now other than for obedience sake I have always wondered why the Lord required the children of Israel to apply the blood, but recently God opened up to me it was not about the blood as much as it was about the death that had already visited their home. You see it was not about the blood of the lamb, the Lord was after the death of the people through their submission (not obedience) to His words, so too in our lives. The blood of animals was only effective to cover sin (not remove it like with the blood of Christ) out from obedience in keeping the covenant God established with man through Abraham. So too in our lives God is after death to our self-life and if He does not get it we can never be used by Him.

The issues of the heart are the toughest issues we face in life, so too as I said is the understanding between submission vs obedience. In Acts we read about Peter and John talking about being forbidden by the “rulers, elders, and scribes” to teach in the name of Jesus, sounds like today. “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20) Again the disciples were on trial for their lives, “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) In both situations the disciples valued doing what God wanted over what man wanted, but also in both situations they reacted in their hearts differently. Never forget (please my friend mark my words well) submission is a matter of attitude, while obedience is a matter of conduct. Thus, submission is absolute, but obedience is relative. In God often times, what we believe to be right or wrong does not matter. Be careful in judging absolutes. Slavery today is wrong in the eyes of man, but in the Bible slavery was okay. Paul even exhorted slaves to be obedient to their masters. “Servants (translated slave), be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;” (Ephesians 6:5-6) The issue was not the slavery, but the submission of the slaves – the submission in their heart. At the heart of every issue is an issue of my heart. Often times with issues of the heart we easily get off track. In Acts 4:19, their spirit was not rebellious, since they submitted to those in authority. Obedience however cannot be absolute. Some authorities must be obeyed; while others should not be, especially in matters which touch on the things of God and sharing the gospel. We can question, suggest, and reply to authorities, yet we must never show an unsubmissive attitude. Submission must be absolute. One who knows authority will be soft and tender. They will be absolute in their submission in heart, (in attitude) in word, and action – even if they disagree. There is no sign of harshness or rebellion. Thus, when delegated authority (men who represent God’s authority such as police and governments) and direct authority (God Himself) are in conflict, one can render submission but not obedience to the delegated authority. When Jesus stood before Pilate there was great resistance in Him. But the Bible said, “He opened not His mouth.” In silence He gave great resistance. He submitted, but did not obey Pilate. So here are the Spiritual principles: obedience is related to conduct, it is relative. Submission is related to our heart attitude and is absolute. God alone receives unqualified obedience without measure, any person lower than God can only receive qualified obedience. Should the delegated authority issue an order clearly contradicting God’s command, we give submission but not obedience. We submit to the person God gave the authority to (submitting to God in reality), but we must never disobey the order of God.

Over the last 48 years I have been a Believer I have heard the words, holiness, righteousness, submission, and obedience, but seldom do I see them in operation, this often includes my life too. I think many Christians (because of wrong or no teaching) lump these words together as being synonymous, but in reality they are separate and distinct in meaning and application in our lives. Holiness has to do with our heart condition (a willingness and desire to know God through a purifying process in our lives, some use to call sanctification) and life style (the changes people see in our lives that is contrary to the world’s thinking and ways) while righteousness has to do with our submission (absolute heart surrender to God’s will and purpose) and obedience (relative giving of our will and conduct) to God and His word. We will never be used of God any greater than our ability to humble ourselves and apply these virtues in our lives. The lower we can go down in ourselves the more the Lord can use us, if not we disqualify ourselves for service. I am so amazed at the number of Christians who are so caught up and snagged by the things of this world. Many preach and teach do not be conformed to this world, yet our lives are so entwined. Who cares who won the NBA championship or NASCAR race? We dig our heels into the world with every thing we buy. Who really cares how much our home or car cost? We buy new homes and cars so that we can take advantage of IRS tax incentives and the nicer the home or car the better deal we get, but these are worldly concepts whereby we spent our money on things that rust and decay while all being anchors around our necks if God would say to move tomorrow. Most Christians are not flexible and mobile they have bunkered themselves down mentally, spiritually, and financially into the world’s system and it will take God their entire life-time to free them from their disobedience, service for God is out of the question. Who really cares what is on TV? As we visit churches to minister I cannot believe how much Christians talk about what is on TV. I know of SBC Pastor who boasted on his church website “American Idol” is his favorite TV program – shame on him. Christians are mesmerized by: home improvement shows (no wonder we are not satisfied with what God gave us), cooking shows (it is no wonder most Americans are so over weigh), reality shows (anyone that religiously watches these programs needs Jesus to give them a real life), dance and talent shows (no wonder dance and contemporary music has taken over many churches today), and sports programs (I am ever amazed at what man invents to glorify his flesh). When will the church get out of the “pig pen” of the world. But sadly, the “pig pen” of the world is now common place and main stream (in life-style and thinking) in most churches today. The questions ought to be how much time did we spend alone with God today? Was there communication with God that led to communion? How long did we study (not just read) our Bible? When was the last time we did something for someone (who could not repay you) and that no one saw us (except God) do it? Are these not more important in God’s eye? Present day leaders have learned from the leaders of the past to control and manipulate people all they to do is give them sport, drama, and spectacle and you will win their minds and heart. This is all we see on TV and read in magazines and newspapers. They all are nothing but distractions that keep us from the real questions of life and more important from the dealings and judgments of God in our lives. Who wants to allow God room to work and have sway in our lives when we can watch TV or do something religious at church to make us feel good? Who cares about putting on the mind of Jesus, we have cable TV. Here I am guilty, ever since coming back from Germany I have become a news (Fox) junkie. I must be very careful not to allow this desire for news to take root in my life and choke out the precious gentle soft voice of the Holy Spirit. I may even have to something very spiritual like get rid of our TV.

What is the measure of being wealthy? I am told Bill Gates is one if not the wealthiest man in the world, but how is his wealth measured? My friend is it not true he with the most toys at the end of life wins? Is Bill Gates’ wealth measured in money and possessions alone? Or is his wealth also measured, in health, quality of life, joy, fulfillment, satisfaction, peace, maybe even in the number of days to live before he dies? Do you think it is possible to measure our wealth by the requirements (submission to God, obedience to His word (written and spoken) to us, and death to our selfish self-centered ways) for service to God? Why not? These are the only things that really matter in our lives. Yes my wife Karen and our kids are very important, but my family (even my sweetheart Karen) will not be able to stand with me when I stand before a holy God. I wish she could because she has done so much for me and is so much a part of who I am, but there are places in God we must walk alone. It is only the things we have done for God, with the right heart condition, that will matter everything else will rust and is corruptible. Jesus told the disciples, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) Could it be we either really do not believe these words of Jesus or maybe we have forgotten them? Like all things in Christ the choice is ours. We as humans always go after the things we hold valuable. Let us choose the requirements for service in our lives they are the only things that really matter. Written by David Stahl

OUR STRUGGLES OF LIFE

The longer we go with God the more struggles we will have in our lives. This is why many people turn their backs on God and walk no more with Him. All of these struggles in our lives center around our submission and obedience to God and His word. It is always about our submission and obedience to God. If we cannot be submissive and obedient to God our lives will be fruitless, unfulfilled, and God will not be able to use us as He desires. Now I know this on one level, but I really do not know this on another because I too often struggle in life. Often times we shift the heart of the struggle (our obedience and submission to God) to other things in our lives and get off track. We most often struggle in life because of our compromise, tolerance, and diversity to what God has said. Today our society, more and more, is built on compromise, tolerance, and diversity. Well these terms are not spiritual principles contained in the word of God. In America and around the world we see this shift away from the holy standard of God’s word to diversity, everyone is different and we must accept their individual expression and accept them for what they believe, well the Bible does not teach that. The Bible says we all were made in the image of God, in God there is no diversity. God expects us to look, sound, and act like Him not like some tattooed, body pierced, free thinking, anything goes person. Today we are told we must be tolerant. In the past the word tolerant meant to endure or put up with things and people we disagree with, but today tolerance means we must accept the differences of people where there is no right and wrong absolutes judgments, everyone’s point of view is considered valid and has merit, where there is not a Godly bench mark of truth (as the word of God) to guide our lives. And in the world today it seems the best we can do is compromise, giving up something to get something. We see this in the contemporary format of most churches today. The days of the traditional God inspired preaching and music are gone. Rarely do you find a church that holds the line on proper attire and behavior in church. We have compromised the word of God in church so now our lives too are compromised. Remember as the people go so does the church and as the church goes so does the nation. It is no wonder America is on her way out. We have given up Godly standards and principles to get people to come to church for the show. And what do they find – the compromised word of God that cannot save anyone. Standing our ground for the truth is not popular nor will it earn you much money or big crowds. Who wants to be poor in spirit when you can have a big church and travel around the world holding big services with millions of people? Now these terms are worldly terms, terms that are from the spirit of this age and of the world. We must always keep in the back of our mind, Jesus did not come to save the world (a system contrary to what God has said) it is lost and doomed, but Jesus came to save them that were lost. Luke tells us, “For the Son of man (Jesus) is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) This is a critical thought we must get well into our spirit and understanding, if not we will mix the things of God with the things of this age and of the world confusing our self and others. Make no mistake the world is lost and cannot be saved only fallen man can.

Today in the world and sadly in many churches we hear of political struggles, struggles for equality and for civil rights, but these are not struggles against man, but in reality they are struggles within us against God because we have not aligned our heart and thinking up with Him. At the heart of every issue is always an issue of the heart. In Genesis we read of a man struggling with God. “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled (struggled) a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled (struggled) with him. 26And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Genesis 32:24-30) There are some points from these verses I would like for us to consider. If we have to struggle with God to be blessed we have not found favor in God’s sight. Our struggle is a thing of the heart where God must deal and judge in our lives to be able to bring us to understanding and peace. Like Jacob, we struggle when we are alone. It is God and us alone in the valley or on the mountain top. Struggle is something we allow God to work out of us so that He can work His life into us. The more we struggle the less of God we will have in us. There is a better understanding of God and His ways after we have struggled awhile. I wonder what blessing God would have given Jacob if he would have not struggled so and submitted? All he got was a new name and walked with a limp for the rest of his life. We must not struggle with God. But notice Jacob was getting ready to struggle with his older brother Esau who wanted to kill him for lying and deceiving their father. Struggling with God often comes before struggling with man so that we will have the right heart condition to deal with man correctly.

Paul was really good at helping us to deal with our struggles. In Ephesians he helped us when he said, “For we wrestle (struggle) not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) The word “wrestle” here, Strong’s #3823, means to struggle in a contest between two people in which each endeavours to throw the other and which is decided when the victor is able to hold his opponent down with his hand upon his neck. Now Paul is not talking about spiritual warfare a divine spiritual principle not found in the Bible. Jesus nor any of the disciples used this term. Like most things we do not understand in the Bible we make up terms and names to support a thinking or doctrine we believe and want to spread to other people. This is why we have so many denominations and doctrines today. But, here Paul is saying we must not wrestle or struggle against man “we wrestle not against flesh and blood (especially our Christians brothers and sisters) because our struggle is against, principalities, against powers (Strong’s #1849, power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases), against the rulers (Strong’s #2888, the lords, kings, and rulers of this world) of the darkness of this world (Strong’s #4655, persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway), against spiritual wickedness (Strong’s #4189, depravity, iniquity, wickedness) in high places.” The word “places” was added by translators. Paul is describing this world’s (then and today) subtle seductive philosophy and thinking that is contrary to God and what God has said. It is always eminent and in direct rebellion to God and His word. This thinking is a heart condition that wants its way that wants its desires and emotions satisfied to belong, fulfilled, and justified. Just watch TV and look at what Hollywood and all the beautiful people say success looks like. I do not know why many denominations have hi-jacked this verse to make it seem more spiritual, but if Paul was taking about demons then he would have said demons, but he did not. He was talking about the wicked worldly rulers, principalities, and those in power and exercise authority who have brought great darkness to the church. We wrestle not against the kings, lords, and rulers (flesh and blood), but it is against the system they project in the world and as it manifests in our lives. Paul was telling us our struggle is against a world system that is contrary to God’s order and system. All throughout his writings Paul time and time again warns us not to be conformed to this world’s thinking and philosophy. For example in Romans, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2) How can we know what “is our reasonable service” and “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” if we are conformed to the world’s system of thinking and philosophy?

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) today struggles with their past. Recently I read of a SBC pastor who has asked the entire Convention to embrace the administration of President Obama (America’s first bi-racial President) saying it would go a long ways in the reconciliation process between blacks and whites making an atonements in ways for the SBC support of slavery in the past. Well, this pastor has been deceived in his heart and blinded by the civil rights gods of this world. The issue is not the need for civil rights or even the need for reconciliation between a black and a white man, but clarity of heart and understanding as to what God’s word says about the issue. The Bible is clear in God there is no slave or free, male or female, no earthly nations only Christ and Him glorified in our lives one (unity) in Him. Paul tells us “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28) If you are a Christian (black or white) and you are struggling over slavery then you are held captive in the prison of your heart to the things of the past because of the lack of understanding of God’s word. It is not about slavery, but what God has said. The real issue why the SBC and other Christians cannot support President Obama and his administration is because of their ungodly position on such topics as: abortion, sodomy, lesbianism, and so many others. Now I wish him no harm, but we will either believe the Bible or we will believe what the government says is true. And rarely do they agree. One is of the world (perishable) and the other is what God says (eternal). The word of God (the Bible) is very clear on these topics. God calls them sin (an abomination in His eyes) and in our heart and life-style we in America say no God is wrong these things are okay and we will do them. We thumb our nose at God shaking our fist in open defiance saying we know better. Well, either we in America (that includes Christians) will call things true what the world says is okay or what God calls them. We as Christians must not support (with our time or money) any organization (such as political parties) or anyone who supports things such as abortion, sodomy, lesbianism, or anything which is in direct rebellion to God’s word. How can the SBC support such lies and open rebellion? How can we call ourselves Christians and be a Democrat whose main ideology and philosophical agenda supports such heresy against God’s word? We cannot, but if we can then we have been deceived by the gods of this world and the truth of God’s word is not in us. How can we be called Christians (Christ like) and support the shedding of innocent blood of babies and other things God calls an abomination? It is not a reconciliation issue, but it is an issue of obedience to God’s word. When we believe the Government and the Supreme Court over what God says (the Bible) on spiritual issues then we have called God a liar. Just because the Supreme Court (which is made up of men and women) passes laws that does not change nor makes God’s words null and void. When will America learn?

God’s answer for our struggles is submission and obedience to His word. Obedience to God always brings us into a place of inward rest and contentment the place God desires we all allow Him (our choice) to bring us to. Who cares if the world is falling a part? Certainly not the one who is at rest in God and has stopped struggling. You know dead men (spiritually speaking) are dead to their selfishness and self-seeking and do not do much struggling. They are at peace with man because they are at peace with God. Peace and joy seems to be a great struggle for man, well guess what my friend there will be no peace and joy on the earth until Jesus comes back and sets up His earthly kingdom, until then we can only have peace and joy in our heart. We struggle for unity and peace (even in the church) through politics and worldly practices, again worldly philosophy and thinking, but God’s idea of peace and unity is through our submission and obedience to His word. Only when we have submitted to God’s word can we cease from the struggles in our lives. Oh we will feel the pain and anguish, but it will not matter our focus will not be on the struggle nor on the world, but a higher call to come up near God. Written by David Stahl

EXPOSING DARKNESS WITHIN

When Jesus told the disciples and the crowd that followed Him, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16) They could not believe their ears, they were horrified. They thought Jesus was speaking heresy. Like when Jesus told the disciples, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father (Abba Father, Strong’s #5 in the Greek) which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9) “Abba Father” is the customary title and literally means direct address when praying to God. Jesus told the disciples to pray directly to the Father and they could not believe their ears, because in the past they prayed “Avie Father” or around through to the Father. This is where we get the song Avie Maria. But here Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world” a title reserved for only the High Priest and some of Sadducees and Pharisees. The people could not believe their ears. Can you imagine Jesus was making the common folks equal to the High Priest? Can you imagine the reaction the High Priest had when he heard Jesus’ words? Jesus was doing nothing, but exposing the darkness in the lie of only the High Priest and his henchmen being the “light of the world.” We all can (our choice) be the “light of the world” if we have the darkness exposed in our lives. Funny how having the darkness exposed in our lives is the condition to becoming the “light of the world.” But, who wants to have their darkness exposed? I will be honest not me, but this is the price we all must pay to be the “light of the world.” Never forget, we know the real price after we finish paying for it. In God paying the price for things are very expensive, this is why many would rather be an actor speaking great swelling words on the stage of life than to have their darkness exposed. Unless we allow God to search our hearts and expose areas of darkness within us (individually) that are not of Him (so they can be removed) we will continue to walk in our darkness and know not God. The condition to know God is to allow Him to open up our heart and reveal how much we are not like His precious Son Jesus Christ. But who wants to do this? Most people (often me at times) like the darkness within and run from God shining His holy light on us to expose us for what and who we really are.

As we look at the magical complexity like qualities of light as it plays against the backdrop of darkness it holds a very vivid and powerful physical lesson that is often extrapolated into the spiritual realm. Did you know there are 129 occurrences in 55 verses that pit light against darkness? Now it is important to know the Bible is not talking about the absence of the physical property of light which is darkness in these 55 verses. I cannot tell you how many sermons I have heard using these properties (light and darkness) to make a moral or religious point. When we read these verses they make good common sense, but if you prayerfully read these verses you will know the Holy Spirit is talking about righteousness and God’s work in our lives (as light) and sin and an unrepentive heart condition (as darkness). If we walk with the Lord for any length of time and allow God to work in our lives His work in us will be deposited, it will be written on the tablets of our heart and mind. But if we wilfully walk away from God the first thing we lose is the work God has been able to do in our lives. The work God has done in our lives serves as belts and suspenders to keep us along with His grace and mercy. We are not saved by this work it is grace alone, but it acts as glue to bind us together. The work of God in our lives is what brings us all into the unity of the faith, all hearts being dealt with by God the same. Having a prayer breakfast, joint church service or social pot-luck dinners will never bring us into the unity of the faith, but I promise you if we all collectively open our hearts and lives to God’s dealing and judgments (at the same measure) we will have no option because our humbling and submission bring us into the unity of the faith with God and man. It is the memories of my failures and victories towards my wife that keeps the dedication and commitment of my word to her alive in my heart. I am sorry to say my Baptist friends we are the only person who can take us out of God’s hand by turning our back and wilfully walking away from God’s invitation of mercy and grace. The Bible is full of examples. To teach other wise is just plain wrong and in the end many people will be left deceived and undone on judgment day. I would not want to stand before God knowing I have caused “err” (intentionally leading someone into error) in even one life.

Paul in the Book of Ephesians shares with us the intent of God’s heart as it relates to light and darkness, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (Strong’s #1651, to convict, refute, confute generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted) them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” (Ephesians 5:8-13) In the NKJV of the Bible Paul tells us to “expose them.” We as the Body of Christ seldom do this, expose darkness. But how will those in darkness know they are in darkness? How will they hear of the conviction or experience the shame of sin if we do not tell them of their need for Christ? I have been told not to confront sin, just pray for and love them. Well my friend that is not what Paul told the New Testament Church to do, “but rather reprove them.” In all of Paul’s life he did not mince words, oh no he told the truth up close and personal. But today we compromise and placate sin in the church and in the lives of friends and family members not wanting to offend so that we will have large crowds in our churches and full offering plates. When will we learn (or will we?) this is just plain wrong in God’s eyes? Well, Paul was not concerned about such things, he was concerned about telling people the truth of God’s words so that they will be able to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

We sing songs like, “When We All Get to Heaven” what a day of rejoicing that will be. We sing songs that speak of a wonderful time in heaven, are you kidding? I am not looking forward to standing before a Holy God. I hear many Christians say they are, well I am afraid their words reveals their presumption and immaturity. I do not know about you, but I do not believe at first heaven is going to be such a wonderful place. First we must get through the Judgment Seat of Christ. We sing songs about no tears in heaven, but the Bible says in heaven God will wipe away all tears, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4). Maybe these tears God will wipe away will be the tears we shed for the loss we will experience in heaven for our disobedience on earth. Disobedience must always be judged by God no matter where we are. Oh our sins will be forgiven and we get to go to heaven, but we will come to know all our idle and wasted opportunities, words, and time in our prior life on earth and it will humble us and bring us to tears. After all who wants to see their hard work, big church and ministry built in their life burned up by fire? Remember it is not what we do for God that counts, but how we do things. Have they been done for the right reasons and were our motives right? Were they done with the right heart condition? Or maybe they will be tears shed knowing family members, relatives, and friends on earth did not make it to heaven. I do not know about you, but I have family members who are not saved. This dichotomy of light and darkness that Paul talks about I find myself wrestling within my heart, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) Now Paul is not just talking about marriage here, but all of our life relationships we enter into. How I would love to see my family come back to Christ, but that is their choice and until then my fellowship and communion with them can only be limited. If God and His ways are not the focal point of our relationships then we really have nothing in common. We may have and love the same parents who did their best to raise us all in God, but that is where any true fellowship or communion ends. Did you know silence about sin is almost always viewed as compliance of sin? We must never be silent when it comes to sin, we must tell the truth in love. With my family, until there is a change in their heart we will be there for them, we will prayer for them, but our distance from them will speak volumes of the separation between us and the darkness within them. Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:34-37) Jesus has come to cut us and our affections out of the world and if our family is a part of the world, sadly they must go from our heart. Jesus said, “either you are for Me or you are against Me” He meant it, there is no middle ground. However, I would still think it would be very difficult to spend eternity in heaven knowing my family members are in hell. I think I would probably shed tears knowing this. To think we will not know or be concerned about our family members in hell for all of eternity does not pass the Bible common sense test and is just pure self-centered and selfish thinking on our part.

Lastly this exposing darkness within us is seen in two divine spiritual principles; humility comes before exaltation as death come before glorification. If we desire to be exalted in life and in God then humility must be the beginning point of our assent to Him and what He has for us. We must decrease in our self-worth and thoughts so we can see the darkness within us. The way up is really down. Down is the direction of the revelation of who and what we really are. It is no wonder few Christians want to become like Christ, “meek and lowly of heart” this revelation my friend will kill us. And death before glorification. This is the central point of the Gospel. Death always precedes any thing God does in our lives. In every victory failure must be present. There is no victory without failure, so too death to the love we hold for the things of this world in us and our selfish and self-seeking desires must be killed in us before God can glorify us. Wait a minute, why do we think God has to always being blessing and glorifying us? He is God! He makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust. He gets to do whatever He wants to do. He is God! God delights in the death of His saints, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalms 116:15). It is our death in God where newness of life in God is found. Paul told the church at Rome, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:3-5) No death no resurrection and newness of life. No death no glorification. Did you know God also delights in the opportunity to open our heart to us so that we can see what we are made of and how much we are not like Him. This exposing darkness within us is the bedrock of our faith. Accepting Christ comes out of us first seeing our need for Him and when we see our need for Him we also see the darkness within us. Written by David Stahl

THE WORDS OF OUR TESTIMONY

Many of our readers do not know when in town I work as a substitute teacher at Brewster Middle School onboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. This is something God started for me, working as a substitute teacher at Department of Defense (DoD) schools, when I retired in Germany and He has not changed His mind in this area. We must be very careful when we change our lives around. We better make sure it is God changing our lives around and not our desire. Change is good only if God is the authority, because He then will be the finisher. When we returned (this is one reason why God moved us to Jacksonville, NC) to the States I knew I must seek out a DoD school to continue in what God has started and it has been such a great blessing in my life and in the lives of so many others.

Anyway, one day while I was working at Brewster a wonderful Christian lady who is a custodian at the school came up to me and asked (in sort of these words), “please keep me in your prayers today Pastor Dave I am under attack from the enemy and I need to keep my mouth shut.” Almost instantaneously these verses, especially verse 11, popped into my mind, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelations 12:9-11) I shared them with her and she went in peace. All I hear in the church and on Christian TV today is how to be an overcomer, books are written about it, conferences and seminars are held about it, songs are sung about it, sermons are preached about it, but few people if any seem to be overcomers. Now overcomers go over not around or under things. This is why they are called an overcomer. There must be an obstacle, a barrier something standing in our way that we cannot get over without God’s help. It seems we shun the obstacles and barriers in our lives, may be that is why there are so few overcomers in the church today. The Huguenot Bible Teacher and Author John Wright Follette often spoke of trouble as being our servant. What a strange thought, troubles in our lives as a servant to make us better Christians. Most people (to include Christians) think of a servant as one who carries our burdens and does our dirty work. Well not so, our troubles can carry us far in God if we have the eyes to see their value. Charles Haun taught me a new way to sing the song “Count Your Blessings.” “Count your troubles name them one by one, count your troubles see what God has done, count your troubles, name them one by one and you will be amazed to see what God has done.” Yes our troubles can serve us well if we do not get stuck in the trouble and learn the lessons they were designed by God to teach us. Yes, to be an overcomer we must overcome troubles and the biggest trouble to over come in our lives is our mouth. Please notice the three requirements in verse 11 to be an overcomer. The first is they “overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.” As Christians hopefully we need no reminder of the precious blood of Jesus that was shed for the remission of our sins. This is a divine spiritual principle that is a crimson thread of truth that runs from Genesis to Revelations; without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. The writer to the Hebrews said, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22) This was true in the Garden of Eden, in the Old Testament temple sacrifice covenant, and in the New Testament covenant of Christ’s death on the cross. This should already, as Christians, be understood and we need not re-plow this ground of understanding. But it is the other two areas I would like to focus on in this article. The next area was, “by the word of their testimony.” Please remember our real testimony is not what we say about ourselves, but what people see us do. I can tell you swelling words all day long how wonderful Jesus is to me and all of the great things God is doing in my life, but what happens to my words when someone sees me kick my dog, hears me yell and scream at my wife, or even steal or lie to escape punishment I rightly deserve? All of my words of how God is moving in my life and all of the mighty miracles God is doing through me have been thrown to the ground. Our real testimony is what people see in us and what they see us do. Did you know it is easy to see what we are made of? My friend, it is easy to see what we are made of just listen to what comes out our mouth. Jesus taught this lesson many times in the Gospels. “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” (Matthew 12:33-35) If I want to know what you like or dislike, what your real interests are, or how you really feel about something all I have to do is let you speak and you will tell me everything I need to know about you. The opposite of this divine spiritual principle is also true; by what is not coming out of your mouth will tell me volumes about your character and nature. I can tell what is not in your heart by what is coming out your mouth, but that makes perfect sense because a man cannot give what he does not have. It is the same thought with prayer. I can tell where you are in God by how you pray. Do you pray telling God what to do and how to do it? Who and how to heal someone? Or what you want to see God do? How can we give wisdom and love if they are not in us? If they are in us then they will come out our mouth. They have to come out our mouth, because that is what we are made of. I often tell my wife I love her without thinking about it. It is automatic like breathing, and why? Because she is in my heart no matter where I go and when I think of her the love I have for her must come out my mouth. The third requirement of being an overcomer from Revelation 12:11 is the most difficult of the three, “they loved not their lives unto the death.” Now there are two components of this thought; the first and more dramatic is what most Christians go after and that is the laying down of one’s physical life. This thought, especially in America, leaves a sour feeling in our stomach, but did you know more people have been martyred for the Gospel in the last 20 years then in the last 250 years? Today in America the worse the church gets is to be criticized, yet many Christians fold like a house of cards while around the world Christians by the 1000s are being slaughtered for the Gospel and few people have taken notice. Well my American friends that all may change in the near future if the Lord tarries. Many people when talking about faith like to read the 11th chapter of Hebrews and stop about say verses 32 or 33, seldom do they venture on to the end, because these verses does not set well with their theology, fill seats, or offering plates, “Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:34-40) Who wants to use their faith to endure troubles and hardships in God like these when we can use our faith to get God to give us pleasant and blessed things? Today in America we use the Gospel message to soften life’s hardships and not to allow spiritual growth and development in our lives. As I said my friend if the Lord tarries I prophesy, “America your days are numbered the die has been cast, unless you humble yourselves and repent, thus says the LORD.” We will see then what we will use our faith for. In the 2nd Chapter of the Book of Revelation we read where God gave the Church at Smyrna a word of praise and encouragement, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (Revelations 2:9-11) This is the same Church (located in present day Izmir, Turkey) were Polycarp (69 AD to 155 AD), who was discipled by John, was martyred for his testimony. If you get a chance please look up the account of Polycarp’s death, but here is his final prayer, “I thank thee that thou hast deemed me worthy of this day and hour, that I should have my portion in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, unto the resurrection of eternal life, both of the soul and body, in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among these may I be received before thee this day as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, even as thou hast prepared and made manifest beforehand, and hast fulfilled, thou who art the unerring and true God. On this account, and concerning all things, I praise thee, I bless thee, I glorify thee, together with the eternal and heavenly Jesus Christ thy beloved Son, with whom to thee and the Holy Spirit be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” Yes my friend, there is a price many have paid and will pay with their physical lives and we must never trivialize it, but also in the third requirement (in verse 11 of Revelation 12) to become (a process God works in our lives) an overcomer there is another thought (and I believe the main thought) John was expressing. Yes, physical death was a part of this verse, but I believe John also was talking about spiritual death to our self-life. We will never become an overcomer unless we can learn to die to our selfishness and self-seeking. It is our love for our “life” our rights, our way, our opinions and views, our many words, what we want to see happen, to get the last word no matter the cost all of this must be put to death in our lives. We must lose our life if we truly want to become an overcomer so that we will be able to find the life of Christ. 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. 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) Where did Jesus go to lose His life? To the cross to die. Where do we have to go to find our life? To our cross to die. Maybe not a wooden cross, but most certainly a cross made by our will and desires submitted and laid across God’s will and desires for our lives. This is the place of glorification and finding life in God, us dying to our self-life. Jesus told the disciples now is the time the Father is going to glorify me and they thought now Jesus will take the throne in Jerusalem, but Jesus was talking about His death on the cross, death before glorification. “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die” there is no way around or under it we must die to our self-life. This is what the custodian did she put her mouth in the dust (Lamentations 3:29), she “loved not their lives unto the death” by not having to get the last word or retaliating to save her self she just kept quiet. Did you know dead people do not do a lot of talking? So too is the words of our testimony as seen and heard in silence. Written by David Stahl

LIFE'S DISTRACTIONS FROM GOD

Our lives are filled up with nothing but distractions. In life we have two major choices; filling our lives up with things of this world (distractions) or the things of God rightly applied to our lives. I am ever amazed how we fill up our lives with sports programs (both watching and playing), cooking programs (both doing and watching), reality TV, yard work and gardening, reading books, our pets, our vocation of employment, vacations and leisure, volunteer and charitable programs, the list is almost inexhaustible. If the Christians of today would go after serving God with the same fervor and dedications as they do with charity and good will programs like: the Special Olympic, Relay for Life, animal rights, human rights, politics – God’s word would be shared in a more sincere, simplistic, and serious way around the world. I am ever amazed to see what new things man invents to occupy his time and to satisfy his flesh. My friend our flesh is wicked and cunning above all things. It will stop at nothing to be satisfied. Paul drove this point to the heart of the Christians in Rome when he said, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Romans 7:18-19) Do we not think all of our good deeds and works (even church works) is done out of the goodness of our hearts? If the truth is to be known most if not all of what we say we do for God is really done for our glory and honor. And it is our flesh that screams to be exalted, praised, and satisfied. At the heart of this deception are the distractions we keep alive in our lives that blind us to the truth about God’s word and ourselves. Paul said, “I know that in me” I wonder how Paul knew this? That is easy, he was not distracted from the truth of what God told him to do and to the truth of God’s word. He learned this truth with every hardship and obstacle he overcame in his life. With each stripe laid to his back and each distress in his life (2 Corinthians 6:4-10) the clarity of the word of God resounded louder and because of the lack of distractions in his life the word of God was seen clearer and felt when he opened his mouth.

Now please understand me, in themselves some of the programs and deeds are not bad and can be useful in our lives. However here is the rub, these distractions often are nothing more than man’s willingness to avoid God’s dealings and judgments in our lives. Who wants to have God rumbling around in our heart and thoughts to reveal areas in our lives that are not of Him? Oh no, we would rather go play sports, paint a picture, sing in the choir, read a book, go visit someone in the nursing home, listen to music, watch TV, and so on. Again in themselves they are beneficial, but when they come between our heart and the work God desires to in our lives they become a distraction spiritually ending us in a pitiful and loathsome place. There distractions are man’s attempt to keep God at arms length and out of our lives as our flesh is strengthened and emboldened. My friend the only thing God wants to do with our flesh is kill it. Oh we cry and say swelling words of what we will do for God, but He knows the truth He is the discerner of our thoughts and intents of our heart. The writer of Hebrews said, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13) At the heart of every problem is a problem of our heart. And the problems of our heart begin as we focus our thinking and intentions away from God’s word and His plans for our lives. And yes, what we refocus on are the distractions we allow to take root and grow in our lives. There are three areas of distractions I would like to look at in this article. I am sure you have your own list, but I would like for us to look at how: our thoughts, our life-styles, and our service to God can distract us from God.

Our thoughts are so distracted with things of this world. It is no wonder there is no peace in the heart and mind of Christians and those lost in the world. Our thoughts are so filled up with ways to satisfy our personal needs, buy the next car and bigger house we have no peace. Rest and especially sleep escapes us as we worry about tomorrow, but Jesus said worry not (Matthew 6:30-34) about tomorrow. When we came back from Germany the Lord told me not to buy a home and now seeing the economy I can see why. For us now Karen and I are free to move as God directs. I really believe God does not want us to buy lands, properties, and homes. God knows the more we sink our lives into the world the harder it will be for Him to uproot or cut us out from the earth. Karen said, (and I strongly believe) “those Christians that teach and preach the prosperity doctrine secretly do not believe they will get something in the next life, so they will say and do anything to go after all they can get in this life, how sad.” Daily Christians watch senseless acts of violence on TV and ogle perversion on the internet that sear their minds. I remember a hotel manager in downtown Atlanta told me they love it when Pentecostal preachers come to town because the in room pornography movies goes through the roof. Sociologist say by the time a child reaches their 18th birthday they will have watched over 100,000 senseless murders and rapes on TV. It is no wonder kids are committing murders and rapes today. Why is their no peace, fulfillment, and contentment in the lives of many Christians? Their minds are not stayed on God and what He has said. Their minds and thoughts are so occupied with things of the earth they have no desire or room for things of the Spirit and of the Heavenly. Isaiah tells us, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3) If we desire “perfect (selfless like God) peace” we must align our thoughts with God’s thoughts and keep our intentions on Him. Yet today in the lives of many Christians (me at times) we see a continued drifting away in our thoughts. Our own thoughts condemn us to the point we drift further and further away. Paul also in the Book of Romans told the Church, “Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; 16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:15-16) As we think in our heart so are we. It is no wonder Paul again and again tells us to renew our minds. And why? People whose mind is not stayed on God do not think right, that is why they say the most bizarre things and commit the most heinous acts. But when we align our thinking up with God’s thinking and His word, we just think and act right. I really believe this area of the three is the most important area we need get right with God.

Next our life-style is so full of distractions. Everything we do seem to be about us. Seldom do we do anything for someone else. And when we do we think we have done something special, well that is not to God’s liking. God intends for most of our day to be spent doing things for others. We are so distracted and this can be so easily seen when we look at each other. I just cannot believe the number of people (to include Christians) in the world that have tattoos and body piercings. Now if you got a tattoo before you gave your heart to the Lord, well live and learn, but I am talking about Christians getting tattoos and body piercings after they give their lives to Christ. God strictly forbids this behavior, but you see it is all about us, “a self expression of my personality and the way God made me” is what I hear. Well this is nothing more than a lie and a distraction. God said (and He meant it) in the Book of Leviticus, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks (Strong’s #7085, incision, imprintment, tattoo, mark) upon you: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:28) We are not to imprint or mark our bodies and why? After all it is my body and I am not harming any one, wrong! It is not your body, it is God’s body. It is the same reason why we are not to have sex before marriage, God said not to and because our rebellion can directly harm our physical body (you can get hepatitis and HIV from dirty needles), but most assuredly our rebellion will harm our spirit body. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit we just cannot do whatsoever we want to do with it. Our desire for self-expression is nothing more than direct disobedience to God and His word. Yet we see Christian athletes pointing up to sky after they score a basket or make a touchdown with their bodies covered with tattoos or their lips and ears pierced with rings and other things. Paul again helps us, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) We are to “glorify God in our body.” We “glorify God in our body” when we allow Him to touch our mind and heart conforming us to the image of His precious Son Jesus Christ. We “glorify God in our body” when do what He has told us to do. It is a matter of a heart condition of obedience, not when we score, dance, sing, etc., this type of thinking just causes more distractions. Another distraction is our clothing. You know you can judge a book by its cover. I do not need to look through the pages of a Playboy magazine, the cover shows me what is inside. Our dress does not reflect the modesty and honor God commanded us in. Today in most churches ladies come to church with their breasts hanging out and their dress or pants so tight there is nothing left to the imagination, a real distraction for men. Yes I know, “to the pure at heart all things are pure,” but the distraction need not be presented if we are walking in the light of God’s word. And the same for the men, who cares if you have hair on your chest, cover it up. God has called His children to a modest and chase life-style. When I was growing up we wore our very best to Church to honor the King of Kings, but today it seems the best most Christians can do is short shorts, flip-flops, and flowered shirts. Now brother do you not know the Lord looks on the heart? Well yes He does, but He also sees how much you honor Him in word and dress. When I first when to visit King Abebe in Aveile, Nigeria I could not just go visit him, I first had to clean myself up and look presentable before I could speak with him. This was an act of honoring him and the authority the people of Edo State placed within his hands. Honor is a thing of the heart and is seen not in words, but in actions. It is disturbing to know some Christians dress better for work then for church, it is easy to see where their priorities are. I cannot believe how distracted we are by technology. Our life-style is so plugged in and wrapped into technology. I have never met someone in my life that was so important that they needed to have instantaneous connection with someone else. Who do we think we are? Are we really that important? I think not. We have cell phones, blackberries, blueberries, and other berries, computers, and the list goes on yet we are drifting from communication with God. And why? Because the more we go after technology the less of God will be in us. It is either the things of God or the things of the world. It is our choice. I see people so fixated and distracted by Iphones, cell phones, anything electronic phone or gadget that has a touch screen or button. Please do not think life is about technology, God does not call us on our cell phone, if He did then the Pastor would not flip the slide at church that reads please turn your cell phone off or put on vibrate.

Lastly our service to God is so distracted. Our intention is good, but our application is skewed. A lot of pastors and leaders start out sincere and dedicated, but over the years they have compromised the truth of the word of God to maintain their good standing with their church and denomination who pays their bills, kind of like selling your soul to the devil. Music, dancing, drama, and not the preaching of the word of God drives the name and popularity of the church. Whatever happened to “thus says the Lord?” It was replaced with the touchy feel good music and no consequence for our actions preaching. Babes in the Lord need to feed their emotions (singing, dancing, etc.) to feel they have a connection with God. But this is not what the Bible says. The Bible says the just (justified and redeemed) shall walk by faith. The only message we hear today is God loves you (which is true), but the whole counsel of God is He wants us to grow up into mature men and women of God. The message of only love shows us one part of God’s character and nature. Did you know there is only one message in the Bible? From Genesis to Revelation it is the message of the cross unto salvation. “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. 18For the preaching (message, in the Greek) of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching (message, in the Greek) to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:17-21) If we allow all of these distractions to capture our mind and heart we will not hear this message and be lost. Written by David Stahl