JUST SERVE THE LORD

I do not know about you my friend, but life at times can be wearisome. Even ministry (even in God) at times can be very tiring. It seems the more we go and the more we press toward the goals established by God and us the more we seem to perish within ourselves and outwardly. Oddly, the older I get the less assured of myself I am, the less my health seems to support me, and the less I seem to know of God. Paul in 2 Corinthians shares these words in his second letter to the Church at Corinth, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) Paul’s words are very telling to the struggles we face and how these struggles affect us. Paul’s word reveals the possibility of us fainting at these daunting struggles as “our outward man perish.” If you have never experienced this in your life my friend you have something in God to look forward to. This thought of not wanting to perish has always been a driving force in man’s psyche. All throughout the Bible we read about man’s understanding of his mortality and his great desire not wanting to perish from the earth. We see this strongly represented in the Psalms, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. 15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.” (Psalms 103:13-16) Yes, God knows our frame and we know that God knows our frame. And we know that God knows we are dust and our days are as grass: as a flower of the field. Knowing God knows us is the only real hope we can truly rest in. Not even knowing we know God, but knowing God knows us. Do you see the difference? At the heart of this knowing is a basic simplistic truth of God that we must never over look and never forget which is found in the Book of Ecclesiastes which ends with these words, “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:11-14) Amazingly these verses do not talk about all of the good works of God that drain our strength, all of the good things we do for God nor does it talk about all of the hard work we must endure to be able to walk in the truth of these verses. All we must do, according to Solomon, is to “Fear God and keep his commandments:” everything else we do is above and beyond what God expects of us. Never forget the best we can ever do for God is to do what He expects of us and that is all we need to do. God never asks us to do something He knows we are not able to do. He knows us, He built us, and He knows what we can do. Now do not get out there in the realm of faith and expect God to give you power to do something He does not want you to do. God knows what we can do and He knows how He has built us; real faith operates in God by aligning with what God knows and wants, not what we know and want. Knowing this we do not have to struggle with the expectations of ourselves and others which will always get in the way and always get us into great trouble with God. Serving the Lord is easy we make it hard by heaping to ourselves ministry and unrealistic expectations that confuse and compound our relationship with God and others. We make serving the Lord so difficult, but do not feel too bad the 70 Disciples the Lord sent out made the same mistake. In Luke we read, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20) They got all spiritual on Jesus, “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” but, Jesus calmed them down and handled their zealousness and told them, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Boys (no girls in the 70 Disciples) do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but that your names are written in heaven. How simple how plain, but how to the heart of the issue. Serving God is not hard all we have to do is love Him and do what He has asked us to do. All of the ministry, miracles healings, all of the care, financing, and feeding of the local bodies around the world will take care of themselves. God does not need us to do all of these things, but God needs us to be obedient to him. I learned this lesson one day while in India. The crowd was huge maybe 400,000 and I thought I had to lay hands on the sick, but I could not reach them I was positioned on the stage too high up. In a way I was happy, because praying for people like this often teaches people to not go to God, but to man for answers. But God saved me and spoke, I do not need to lay hands on the sick He is the one that does the healing all I need to do is pray.

Serving the Lord is just loving God and keeping His commandants. Jesus shared the same thing in the Book of Matthew as did the Preacher in Ecclesiastes. One day a lawyer asked Him, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love (Strong’s #26 agape, dedicated yourself towards) the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love (Strong’s #25 agapao; to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of) thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40) Now do not miss the point here in all of this goodness. Jesus said there are some folks you are to be fond of (Strong’s #25) and there are some folks (Strong’s #26) you are to dedicate yourself towards. The first command is unto God and we must love (Strong’s #26) Him “with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” the fearing of Him in Ecclesiastes 12:13. What a job! Loving Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind (if we do this it will kill us no wonder we will faint and our outward man will perish), but this is the commandment we must follow to be obedient to God. That is okay because this is God’s idea. Remember God is not trying to make us happy He is trying to kill our sinful, fleshly, nature so He can conform us into His image. And the second commandment is to love (be fond of) our neighbour as our self. Now this is a lot easier to do, who does not like themselves? If you are not fond of yourself you will never be able to love (dedicate yourself ) God. We were made in His image right? For us to see no value in ourselves is an open rebuke to God, it is no wonder the world wants to kill babies in the womb they say babies are not created in the image of God they are just a blob of tissue we will take care of things, oh how foolish. Now on the other hand we must not get too carried away in thinking we are special, because if we do God has measures to take care of this wrong thinking. One of the greatest areas of danger in God is for Christians to think more highly of themselves than they should.

Strange as it may seem the more I go in God the less I know of God. The things I thought I knew and was convinced of (to the death) now I am not so sure about. Now I am not talking about my salvation that issue is settled for all eternity, but what I am talking about is what I have heard, seen, and touched of God. And if we really have a walk with the Lord what we know and believe (seen, touched, and heard) must give way to even greater revelation and ever increasing experiences. All truth is progressive and mysterious. Now this is a critical point if we desire to understand the truth of the word of God. Knowing the beginning will never lead us to the end of understanding unless we follow hard after the many veins of truth that accompany our lives. For us to be able to come to the end of all understanding we will first have to come not to know all truth, but come to know the creator of all truth. What is more important the fruit or the tree? Many Christians strive to know all truth (we see this in all of the denominations and religions of the world), but it is much better to know the creator of all truth. We desire to taste of the fruits of God, but it is much better we eat the tree that produces the fruit; then our lives can be a tree that produces Gods fruit. And as we come to know the creator of all truth we will quickly learn we know nothing at all. The depth and vastness of God always leaves us with more questions than answers, but at the same time deep within our heart and soul burns with a sublime yearning to know more and more of the creator. This simple yearning is at the heart of just serving God. No pressure to perform, no pressure to do things to see God glorified. You would not believe the number of times in Africa I was asked if I wanted them to stage a miracle. What crowds we would have the next day. A white man has come and has laid hands on an African and they were healed, what offerings we would get. What a sad, unholy way of thinking – I was shocked and dismayed. When we just serve God the pressure is on God. All of the going and doing is His idea. It is His responsibility to look after His word not ours’ our job is to just serve God.

Just serving God is, “the whole duty of man” as the Preacher said in the Book of Ecclesiastes. I think one of the greatest benefits of just serving the Lord is the rest to our heart we discover. Paul ended 2 Corinthians 4:16 with these words, “yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” He began this verse by talking about how the outward man daily perishes and it will just serve God long enough, but he ends with the secret of being able to just serve the Lord, we must day-by-day be renewed in the inward man by God. What peace we find, oh to just serve the Lord, oh what strength we find, oh to serve the Lord. And when it is time to be gathered unto Him, oh what joy we will find because we have just served the Lord. Written by David Stahl

OUR EMOTIONS

The church has become like the world, yet the world still wants what the church use to provide; God’s power to touch lives and transform hearts. I keep asking myself, “where is the power of God in Churches today?” I would say one of the biggest reasons for the lack of the presence of the Spirit of God in churches today is due to the lack of restraint of our emotions. My friend our emotions are out of control and if not held in check by ourselves (not God’s responsibility) they will move us out of God faster than sin. When I was a child I would see the power of God suddenly fall unsolicited. The Spirit of God would drop and people would be healed (without the laying on of hands) others would run with great abandonment and shame to the alter repenting, but where is this power today? It is not present, why? Because the people in most churches have failed to pay the price, they have failed to live a godly life (I include myself here at times) to have the presence of God manifest itself in our midst, they kept to rituals and customs in church, and they have failed to keep their emotions in line with what God expects. All throughout the Bible there were conditions the people had to meet to be able to meet with God, but today we bring bad attitudes, intentions, our selfishness, and wrong motives to church (in our thoughts and heart) we come to church dressed like we are going to a cook-out on the beach, we come with a predetermined time we plan to spend with God, and our time at church is always program driven. All of these areas are emotionally driven, we want what we want and we want it now. When I was child we did not have a piece of paper handed to us by the “door greeters” in church with the order of the service and announcements. Papers like these were given out at the ball games and venues of entertainment, not at church. But today: the who, what, when, and where of the church is the first thing you learn about. Sadly this church bulletin is nothing more than an old marketing ploy. Marketing experts have learned (and so have church leaders) people like to have something in their hand something they can read and take home with them, just go to the doctor’s office or shopping. Why take the Spirit of God home with you when you can take a piece of paper? Paper is cheap, but having the Holy Spirit in our midst will cost us something. All of this stuff feeds our emotions and is a substitute for what God wants to see in our lives. Our emotions are tied to our living and if we allow our emotions to rule our living our living will be very difficult and far outside of God. Here are a few areas I would like for us to look at in this article that if not careful our emotions will control all we do in and out of God.

Our spiritual behavior in and out of church is tied to our emotions. In a recent Wednesday night service (which was the second to the last nightly service to a Bible conference) we were praying corporately, then suddenly the prayer dropped off, and a lady began speaking in tongues everyone got still after all the church had been asking God to speak to them all week. I got a little excited it has been some time since I have heard tongues (not heavenly language or an unknown tongue) and then an interpretation (according to the gifts given in 1 Corinthians 12:10) God was going to speak to His people tonight, but before the lady finished an usher came down the aisle and sat the lady down in her seat. I could not believe it what they asked God for (for Him to speak to them) they turned away. Our emotions will change our behavior. Things that should not cause fear (dread or a feeling of doom) into our lives will control our senses and fill our heart with needless confusion and strife. Even the things of God will be distorted and even displaced by our emotions for the good or bad. Our sense of perception will be skewed to the point even our reality to the operating of the Holy Spirit will be distorted. We find this misapplication of the move of the Holy Spirit operating in most Pentecostal churches, especially in America, when it comes to speaking in tongues. Paul admonished the Church at Corinth, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.” (1 Corinthians 14:1-4) The words “gifts,”“him,” and “unknown” were added during the 1611 translation. Now this does not make these verses wrong, but it does add to “mysteries" that drives this misapplication of truth. Now I will be honest how this all happens is a mystery to me. I do agree with God speaking to us though some tongue and with the understanding from God through an interpretation in a language we know. There must be an interpretation or it is not of God. Make no mistake my friend there are counterfeit spirits in many churches today that duplicate this communication and many people who just out right fake it, be not deceived. Later on in Chapter 14 Paul corrects the Church at Corinth by saying, “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” (1 Corinthians 14:19) This is consistent with what happened in the Book of Acts, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4), please notice no “unknown tongue” in Acts. And of course the people knew what the disciples were saying, “And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:7-8) We must not allow our emotions to carry us away into presumption and out of God. We must reject the draw of hyper-spiritualism and apply God’s divine principles correctly if we are going to receive from them.

Our tongue is tied to our emotions. What can I say that we do not already know? Our tongue is the most destructive force in our lives. Look at the words James uses to define the power of the tongue, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:5-8) Our tongue is keen as an adder’s bite to take life, yet it also as powerful as birth to give life. The tongue has been given power by God to either bless or curse us and we are the ones who choose between the blessing and the curses for ourselves and others. And again it is our emotions that are in the driver’s seat. Our emotions drive our thoughts (which drives our heart condition) and out of our mouth speaks our heart. We must take heed to our tongue and keep it in total subjection if God will be able to bring us to the end and purpose He has planned for us. I cannot stress this point enough. A soft word turns away wrath, speaks of a tongue under control. Silence is the sound of God’s man in the school of spiritual growth and development, but a froward tongue is the way of haughtiness, contempt, and destruction.

Our words (especially singing) are tied to our emotions. If you are moved by man’s word’s God’s words will not move you. Take heed my friend, man’s words are kindled and spread with emotions that move our heart and will move us far away from God’s heart and will. Deception is spread by arrogant and presumptive words. Just watch Christian TV (like TBN) and watch the manipulation. Church leaderships have watched and learned the lessons of the propagandist and arrange services with music, lights, flags and banners to stir up the emotions of the people. The sadness to all of this is the people are missing out on a real move of God. Churches today have substituted God’s Spirit for a popular well written contemporary song. You can go from one church to the next, but in all of these churches they sing the same contemporary songs, why? What happened to the hymns? Traditional songs most if not all of them have been written out of an internal, intense dealing of God; like any one of Fanny Crosby’s 5,000 hymns or Horatio Stafford’s unforgettable song “It Is Well with My Soul,” were written out of personal loss, recognizing their great need for God, and a submission for an inward strengthening by God. Can we adopt the heart of the song as it was given by God to the writer? No of course not. Because we cannot share in the loss or the dealing of God like the writer, thus we have no spiritual part in it. Our singing is just an emotional ascent with the tune that tickles our emotions and the sad part is we think it is God moving on us when in fact it is not God moving on us, but our emotions leading us up and away from God. God is found down in a low place. God does not take us up like our emotions do oh no God takes us down in the depths of ourselves so we can see who we are as compared to who He is. Our emotions are subtle and mask our need to go down in ourselves, they want to lift us up in our self-seeking and selfishness, they want to be blessed, they want to be satisfied, they cry out “come fill me, come bless me” they say “I want to live and be happy” well God does not want us to live He wants us to die, because He knows if we can die to our self He will be able to live through us. Jesus taught, “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 12:24-26) You know I find it amazing the Bible only records Jesus singing one time after the Passover meal as He was heading out to the Garden of Gethsemane as a part of the Jewish custom to sing hymns (old Jewish chants) as they departed the feast. If singing is so important in a church service (where some churches spend 30 – 90 minutes) why did not Jesus tell us to do it? Paul knew the truth. In Ephesians Paul shows us the correct direction and location of music as it relates to Christians, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” (Ephesians 5:17-19) I have found churches that sing a lot in their service are usually led by emotional people and there is not much spiritual growth and development in their lives or the church. David is often given credit for all of the singing in churches services as in the Palms he wrote because of God’s dealings and judgments in his heart, but if you closely look at David’s life you will find David was a very emotional man and his emotions got him into trouble with God and man time and time again.

Sometimes I have a test of faith as I mature in God. He does not ask me to understand Him, but He understands me perfectly. I do not always understand Him, but I love Him anyway. Did you know the Lord has a right to leave us without a touch of His presence for weeks or months at a time? The further we go on in God, the less He is going to honor our field of emotions. We have to learn to walk with the Lord without His conscious presence, which at times is very terrifying. Less and less are we dependent on our devotional patterns that served for our living. How is faith going to develop in us if God is going to humor us along all the time? In those difficult places we will never be able to synchronize the state in which we are moving with our fluctuating emotions. We must control our emotions (our responsibility not God’s) as we allow our emotions to run parallel with our experiences in God. Written by David Stahl

MINISTRY 2010

Last week Karen read me the end of an article that appeared in our daily paper. The article was about how the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California was teetering on the edge of financial ruin. It ended with these words: “But those who have watched the church’s fortune decline believe Schuller and later his children failed to do much to attract younger people. Newer evangelical leaders like Rick Warren (a good Southern Baptist) and Bill Hybels (now here is where God and I are greatly disappointed) began offering hip worship services and an emphasis on social activism and the latest technology. Schuller got left behind, Thumma said.” How blind and unspiritual these words are. How ungodly and arrogant the nominal church in America has become. When I think of these words I see in my mind (and heart) what John was saying about the apostate church and what it will look and sound like, even in 2010. John shares, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (Revelation 3:17-18) They think what they are saying and doing in ministry, “rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;” is what God is after, but in reality they “knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” I really believe the religious crowd like TBN and all of the other Christian cable programming will be the spiritual platform that the Anti-Christ will use to deceive the world having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof. A self-seeking and oh so self-centered, selfish giving to get message like Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Rod Parsley, and others (I cannot call it preaching) spew. This week TBN had one of their three beg-a-thons (they seem to have them more often than before), I could not believe the out and out manipulation and lies, “quickly you have 3 minutes to run to your phone and call us to give us money so God will bless you.” Are they telling us God cannot bless us unless we call TBN and give them money? Woe unto them, shame on the owners and staff of TBN and even more shame on the people who believe these lies. Giving to get is man’s way of doing things, God’s way is giving so that others may receive. The Bible time and time again warns us, “be not deceived,” yet it happens every day on Christian TV and around the world in fleshly driven churches. I am convinced more and more that people in 2010 do not want to hear the truth. Many pastors (whom I personally know) have learned if they tell the world the truth they will not have a huge following and they will do whatever they can to destroy them. After all, Jesus told the truth and the religious folks of His day killed Him. And is the servant greater than the Master? Pastors have learned if they want people to like them and give them money all they have to do is tell the people what they already know and what they want to hear. Who wants to hear death to our selfishness? When will pastors learn if the world is running after your ministry God is not. When will pastors get back to the tried and true teachings and practices of the Bible alone and not be dependent on the power of technology, but on the power of God? I hear many pastors today say, “we must go where the people are,” 1000 percent wrong! No, pastors must preach the word of God as God directs them and then leave their ministry and the results to God. The reality is those pastors who use gimmicks, tricks, special services, and etc. really do not believe God can do what He said He can do, they have sold out the truth of the power of the Gospel message. They have called God a liar and deny His power. Jesus asked Peter who He was, “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (revelation) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:16-18) The revelation the church is to be built on is who Jesus Christ is, not on hip worship services and social activism. What has happened to truth? Honor? Simplicity? Integrity? A Godly ministry? Remember what you use to win someone to Christ (if you have) is what you have won them to. If you use a hip service or social activism you have won them to that not the Gospel. Do you see that? Oh I hope and pray you do. Jesus never got involved with the social issues or the politics of the day. He was always about higher things in life; like doing His Father’s will and bring men out of darkness of this world into the glorious light of God. Paul encouraged the slaves to be obedient to their masters. How strange this must be to the society of 2010 who lives for its freedom and personal desires. Jesus and Paul knew if the Gospel could penetrate the hearts and minds of the people they would be able to endure what life brings their way. Pastors who preach a social message, especially in some of the black churches with black liberation theology, have nothing of God within them (oh they may be popular, draw big crowds, and raise large sums of money) and try to make up from their lack of true spirituality by acting the part (hypocrites or actors) and selling the truth for worldly fame and fortune. You know people know the truth when they hear it and they will sell all they have to get it.

Ministry is 2010 oversees churches (especially in America) full of people who think they are Christians, but have been lied to by being told they must repeat the sinner’s prayer which is found nowhere in the Bible. I think one of the greatest mission fields in the world is the nominal churches in America. Oh they have done all of the right religious activities; worked hard to further their denomination or non-denomination church (remember most non-denominational churches like Calvary Chapel with churches in most big cities and other denominations are really denominational only they are trying to hide the truth so they could throw stones at the main-stream denominations), but have failed to allow God to make them the work of God. Paul tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) Do you mean I do not have to walk around abortion clinics picketing or work for some politician to be saved? Now please do not misunderstand me here; even by man’s laws (which makes it legal) abortion is ungodly and just flat out wrong, but becoming a social activist in the campaign to put a stop to abortion will not save your soul and win you to Christ. The same goes for feeding the poor, saving the whales, saving the earth, or any social program in the world. Salvation is a thing of the heart and an understanding within ourselves we have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The “good works” Paul is talking about here is not working for God, but becoming the work of God. And those “works” Paul is talking about is allowing God to bring His dealings and judgments into our lives. Now they will only be “good works” in our lives if we allow them to conform our character and nature into the image of Jesus Christ. If not they will cause us great heartache and pain. Funny man thinks he is going to work his way to heaven, he has a works centered heart condition, but this can never be. Man MUST become (a process of learning and ever learning through God’s work in our lives) the work of God and they have created or “ordained that we should walk in them.” Sadly, many people (cannot call them Christians) have given their tithes and offerings, but failed to give their heart and life in submission and obedience. They have not allowed God to write His words on their heart. Most pastors preach or teach a watered down sermon (not the word of God) every Sunday (most churches in 2010 have no Wednesday and Sunday night service), host Bible conference after Bible conference, but there seems to be no spiritual growth and development in their lives nor in the lives of the people. Our lives must reflect our preaching and teaching. At the church we attend we watch during the song service (usually three fast ones and a slow one) and have noticed the ones who sing the loudest, wave their hands the longest, and act the holiest; do not sit still for the preaching of the word of God they are always talking or playing with their cell phones, nor do they have their Bible. Have you noticed no one really brings their Bible to Church any more? Why should they after the song service (not praise and worship; praise is to speak of God’s goodness not to sing and worship, according to the Bible is to bow our heads to the ground) most churches throw the Scriptures up on the big white screen no need for the Bible or no need to take notes. Sadly from the starting point of when real commitment is needed to be saved they have been lied to and what they think is heartfelt repentance instead they have been converted to a denominational religion. And later when they try to walk upright before God and man they wonder why they cannot. They wonder what has happened? Why have they failed? Why they have no joy or victory in their lives? For our Christian life to be effective and fulfilling it must start with the correct foundation (built on the revelation of who Christ is) and then be bricked and mortared (supported) with Godly truths, precepts (where we get our concepts from), and principles all of our lives. I have seen it for years. I have written and spoke against it for years, yet this ungodly practices flourishes in main-stream denominations and even Pentecostal circles. Salvation is found only in the name of Jesus not in reciting a prayer or doing good works. Peter told the crowds, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12) John told us what we must do to receive this salvation, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess (not repeat a prayer, but speak from our heart even maybe feel bad and cry) our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8-10) The word “confess” here means we agree with God what He is saying about us is true. And what is God saying about us without Jesus Christ, “we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” How can we walk with God unless we agree with Him? I know I find it almost impossible to walk with my wonderful wife Karen if we are in disagreement. Our confession must end us in remorse and sorrow for what we have done and what sin has wrought in us and every relationship we have.

But in 2010 according to Rick Warren and others for a church to be successful you have to offer a hip service, rally your members to be socially active in things, and use the latest social networking medians; like Facebook, MySpace or Twitter. I cringe every time I hear a church say, “visit us on Facebook.” Whatever happened to the members of the church beating the pavement the old fashion way; visiting people in need, the sick, and inviting them to come to church? Are we that removed from people? Are we that busy? What value do we place on people that are lost in their sin? Do we really think they are going to take the first step? No of course not. We have become full and content in ourselves. We have become so technical driven and less and less in personal relationships in our day-to-day lives we expect things of the Spirit to apply as they do in the natural. I have said and will say again, the more we go towards technology the less of God is in our lives. I do not care how much you spin it, you know it is true. John tells us, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6) Things born of the world: technology gadgets, social media websites, movies, music (even most Christian music), and the like are of the flesh, but those things born of the Spirit are of the Spirit and they are Spirit and they are life. No matter how hard you try my pastor friends, you cannot use fleshly things to win people to Christ! You can win them to your kingdom or another’s, but never to the kingdom of God. Paul brings it down to the heart of the issue, “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 1:18) The hip services and social activism of ministry in 2010 is foolishness to God and those that go after them will perish, but the preaching of the cross (no matter how old-fashioned and appearing obsolete) is the power of God and is unto salvation.

I really believe for ministry to be effective and powerful in 2010 we must go backwards 20, 30, even 40 years ago, we must go back in time where the Gospel was shared one-on-one with power and authority unto salvation. Now please understand I am not writing these things to run down the church with negative criticism that is destructive, that is never my intention, but I am writing these things to provide constructive criticism that always sets our thoughts towards God, honest soul searching for the truth, and an inward reflection that always leads us to a closer walk with God. I am writing these things so that we will shake ourselves and wake up from our slumber before it is too late. When you look at things from God’s point of view maybe Robert Schuller and the folks at the Crystal Cathedral are right not to go after the worldly ways of ministry. In the end God will bring it all down; He is the one with the final word not man. Written by David Stahl

THE FEAR OF GOD

A few weeks ago while talking with a Christian friend on email he relayed some things he had done that he was sorry for and wanted to talk with someone. Now at this time he had not repented he was only sorry. Most often when we are sorry we are sorry we got caught and not sorry of our action or words and this was the case with my friend. During the course of our conversation I asked, “do you not have the fear of God?” and he quickly replied “yes.” I shook my head in bewilderment to his words he did not have the fear of God, because if he did he would not have done the things he did and when caught he would have gone back to repent of his actions and make things right before God and man. Our conversation and how fast he replied stuck with me and his words haunted me. Later the Lord opened up some thoughts I would like to share with you and end by sharing a true experience in my life.

I have known some churches that routinely practice public confession of sins now confessing our sins is always a good thing to do, but to confess in an open forum to people who have nothing to do with the transgression is only setting themselves up for greater condemnation and shunning by the brethren. My Christian friend quoted the beginning of James 5:16 and said he had to openly confess his sin at church. I encouraged him to confess, not to confess openly, but to the one he sinned against and to God. James was not talking about public confession when he said, “Confess your faults (sins) one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) James was talking about confession, but not publicly. He was talking about confessing to the one that you have sinned against and to God. And to pray with the one you have sinned against so that they will be able to come to a place of forgiveness and healing can take place in both lives. Never forget forgiveness is a two way-street, God’s idea is for both parties to walk in His glory and overcome in this relationship. But that is dependent not on God, but on both individuals involved. One can ask the other for forgiveness and be sincere while the other individual rejects his words, we see it happen all the time. Did you know if we do not confess our faults or sins to the one we have transgressed against God may not forgive us? I cannot say God will not do something He is God and I am not, but forgiveness is a thing of the heart and until we ask forgiveness from the one we have sinned against it is our heart that is held captive by our actions and ours words. Forgiveness is such a freeing feeling, I know times I have missed the mark and people have forgiven me, what a free soaring feeling I experienced. It was life and life abundantly. In Romans, Paul tells us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) and this is true, but please notice there is a sinning and a coming short. We must take heed to our selves because Jesus died for our sins not for our coming short of God’s glory. Coming short of God’s glory is not sin. Sin is sin. Sin is to miss the mark and coming short of God’s glory is coming short of God’s glory there is a huge difference between the two. We have already identified what sin is, but now coming short of God’s glory maybe a little harder to nail down. Coming short of God’s glory is our ungodly thoughts, attitudes, desires, and motives that will follow us to heaven and unless we allow God to deal them on earth He will have to in heaven. Timothy says, “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.” (1Timothy 5:24) The Bibles says God will wipe always all tears in heaven, “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelations 7:17) and again in Revelation “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) All of this will happen in heaven and now in heaven God will use a different standard; no longer grace, but now God’s purifying fire. Take time and take a prayerful look at 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 to complete this thought.

What will keep us on track and prevent us from sinning and coming short of God’s glory? Is it God’s grace, mercy, or His faithfulness? No these are things God gives us out from His love for us and expects us to freely give back to our brothers and sisters as freely as we have received. If they keep us from doing things against God’s word it will be because we have allowed this understanding to grip our heart to such a degree it becomes a part our daily life and becomes automatic in our lives, which is God’s intention in our lives. The only other thing I can compare this thought is likened to, what keeps me from sinning against my wife? The love and devotion she has given me over these last 31 years. The four outstanding kids she has given me and the forgiveness she has extended to me when I have failed her. No, strangely it is fear that prevents us from sinning against God’s word and man’s laws and regulation. I asked Karen what prevents me from robbing a bank or store and she said it was God in me, well that is partly true, God in me is the hope of glory, but I know many Christians like my friend who has God in them, but they still sin and come short of the glory of God. It is the outcome or the consequence of our actions that keep us on the narrow path that leadeth to life. If I rob a bank and get caught (no matter how much I love God) I could go to prison for the rest of my life, this I do not want to do. I would be afraid to rob a bank for fear of going to prison, this is what keeps me from robbing a bank. So too in God, fear of God’s reaction to me sinning or coming short of His glory keep me on the straight and narrow path and in the way everlasting. God’s judgments are final and eternal. Now we do not like that word fear, but did you know the Bible lists 400 occurrences with 385 verses in the bible, one for each day of the year and then some. It is the fear of God in us that keeps us from sinning and coming short of the glory of God. When we loose the fear of God we have thrown off respect for God and His word. When we lose the fear of God we have thrown off all restraint and common sense and then we are capable of doing anything, and I mean anything. We all are just one thought and action from total depravity, but for the fear of God keeping us on track.

Did you know there are many (we will look at five) types of fear in the Bible? The first type of fear is where we get the word awesome from. For example in Joshua we read, “That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.” (Joshua 4:24) The word fear here from Strong’s #3372 is to fear, revere, and to be afraid. We are standing on our feet with our hands at our side, our knees are shaking, and our head tilted back as we look heavenward. This is the picture of the awe and respect we have for God. It is also a fear, we are afraid of His reaction to our waywardness, but at the same time we have a reverence for His holiness that keeps us on the right path, the path he desires we walk. The second type of fear we find in the Bible has do to with our personality and inward strength. In 1Timothy we read, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” (2 Timothy 1:7-8) Many Christians (who do not really know the Bible) make a grave mistake by not knowing what type of “fear” God is talking about. We do not like fear. Fear is not of God. Why would God give us a spirit of fear? Well the fear Timothy is talking about is not the understanding of the word fear we think of and use today. The word “fear” here from Strong’s #1167 is timidity, fearfulness, and cowardice it has nothing to do with being afraid of something or even being afraid of God. God has not give us a spirit that is full of timidity, fearfulness, or cowardice, but a spirit that is bold and daring a spirit that is able to come boldly before the throne of grace and ask what we may. God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, no coward will inherit the kingdom of God. Many Christians quote 2 Timothy 1:7, but sadly their words only reflect their lack of knowledge of God and His word. I am here to tell you God will give you a spirit of fear. Back in 1993-1996 there were some areas in my life God wanted me to allow Him to work in, He knew what my future held, pastoring, teaching, and traveling for Him. He needed for me turn over those areas to Him so that they could be cleaned up, but I resisted. Never resist the Holy Spirit! So God stepped up the pressure on me, time was wasting. I cannot explain it like I cannot explain why the God of the universe wants to make our heart His eternal abode, but out from these areas God allowed a spirit of fear upon me that tormented me. Do you know fear has torment? Until I faced the fear head on and allowed God to work in those areas I had no peace of heart. Man what an unbelievable relief I felt in my spirit and soul after I submitted and surrendered to God’s work. We see God using fear all throughout the Bible. In 2 Chronicles and the fourth type of fear we read, “And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil. 14And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.” (2 Chronicles 14:13-14) Fear here is Strong’s #6343 for terror and dread. Would God put fear on man? You decide? As for me I say yes because the Bible bears this truth out. Or in Acts, “Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” (Acts 5:10-11) Here “fear” is Strong’s #5401 for fear, dread, or terror. Not just fear, but the bible says “great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” I would guess the most famous verse in the Scriptures that comes to mind when we talk of fear is from the Psalms, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psalms 111:10) Here the word “fear” is Strong’s #3374 for fear, terror, and fearing. Without the fear of God how can we learn wisdom? How can we get understanding? We cannot and if we say different we lie to ourselves, others, and the truth is not in us. It is the fear of God that keeps us from sinning. It is the fear of God in our lives that keeps us in our walk with God. It is no wonder many Christians have turned away from the truth of the word of God and are not walking with God. It is not about God’s grace or mercy oh no they are rich and free for the asking, why Christians in the Church today are falling away is because they have rejected the fear of God and replaced it with the fear of man. Jesus said, “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:27-28) Words we all must live by and take heed to if we will ever be brought to the end of the purpose of our lives. You know if we really had the fear of God in us we would do what He wants has asked us to do and love Him the more. Written by David Stahl

TO HONOR AND RESPECT

When we travel Karen keeps a pen at the ready as I drive, because God often speaks to me as we talk and cover the miles. I really enjoy these times as God gives me short bursts of thought and revelation that later becomes an article or is used to help write our newsletter. So was the case on our last trip, but I did not share my thoughts with Karen because I was resisting God’s word. I thought if I just ignored the thoughts and prompting of the Holy Spirit they would just go away, not so. I really wrestled writing this article maybe because we (that means me too) all have a lot of disrespect moving in our lives that we must allow God to remove if not we will never be able to come to the plan and purpose God has for our lives.

We have known a nice young lady for about one year or so who is a good friend of one of children. This young lady was having some problems with the older woman she was staying with and knowing her husband is a U.S. Marine serving in Afghanistan Karen and I opened our home to her until her husband comes (about three months) home. No money for rent, no money for food, no money for utility was asked of her, an unconditional invitation was extended and she accepted. Not a bad deal Karen would even make her breakfast and dinner. At first all was well no problems, but we noticed when we invited her to church she declined, strange for someone who claims they are a Christian. If you are a real Christian and have a honest walk with the Lord you will make time for God’s people or even talk about God once in a while. As time went on we noticed she was very disrespectful to her friends and especially some teachers at the college she attended. One evening after her first class I asked her about her teacher she relied, “he is an old fart in his 70s, wears hearing aids, and laughs at his own jokes.” I was shocked at her disrespect, but I did not say anything. One night the three of us went to a high school football game during the game (not once but three times) she called me by my first name and tried to correct me in public, I am older than her father, what disrespect. I had to speak to her with a stern voice she was shocked when I spoke to her that way. Now you can disrespect me all you want (I have tough skin) it is not really a big deal I am usually longsuffering, but when you disrespect my wife I must, before God, draw the line. When you have no respect for someone who cooks and cares for you, someone who has opened up their home to you this reveals an inward spiritual lack of honor and respect. Someone who really respects and honors someone would never ever think of speaking against them. My father was not a perfect man as we all are not, but even when I saw him do or say something he maybe should not have done I never thought about correcting him I had no right before God he was my father (God placed him there) in a superior place of spiritual authority and I was his son, my place was to keep my mouth shut, honor him, and pray if need be. This younger generation (even young Christians) has a big problem with respect for their parents and those in authority over them. After disrespecting Karen the three of us had a come to Jesus meeting. I told her she should be ashamed of disrespecting us and her teacher and she has no right, before God, to correct me even if I am wrong. Karen and I could not abide her open rebellion to us in our home so we asked her to leave. Later we softened our position and said she could stay, but she left anyway. We told her many times we would rather she stay, but it was her choice, not ours, to leave. Open rebellion and disrespect to authority always runs away when confronted with the truth. Disrespectful people always cast off restraint this is why they can never grow to any maturity in God. Restraint (restrictions) and limitations enable us to come to fulfillment and purpose they enable us to work well within the guide lines and rules God has laid out for us to walk, but a disrespectful person wants to operate outside God’s guidelines, they are the center of attention, the main attraction, the captain of their own ship, they think they lack for nothing, but in reality they are naked, poor, and blind to their own spiritual heart condition. I am really concerned about this younger generation, say 20-30 year olds (for the most part) have not been taught to give honor and respect. Their lives (for the most part) seem to be so plugged into screens, keypads, and electrical gadgets to the point they have forgotten how to be caring and respectful to peers, parents, and people in authority. Paul in Ephesians taught the kids, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)” (Ephesians 6:1-2) What is the promise Paul talking about? Long life? Maybe so, but I think Paul was talking about much more here. Children are to be taught to honor and respect their parents, the elderly, and those in authority from an early age and from this single lesson they begin to learn how to honor God when they become of age. In school I can always tell the kids whose parents have taken little to no time in teaching manners and respect. They are the one who always seem to be in trouble, dress poorly, and get poor grades. Honoring our parents has nothing to do with taking care of them in their old age. But, the real honoring of our parents is only achieved when we become what they have tried to instill into our lives, when we become the value set and standard of what they believe and tried to work into our lives. This alone is honoring to our parents as obedience alone to God is honoring to him. In some churches today they sing, clap, and wave flags thinking they are honoring and giving God glory, oh no my friend they are sadly mistaken. Our obedience alone (as it is with kids honoring their parents) is honoring to God.

Being disrespectful or dishonoring is a big big deal to God. Did you know in every sin is an element of disrespect moving. If we truly honor someone we will not try to kill them or take what is not ours. We will find value in them and encourage them in areas they may need to improve. But people who are disrespectful quickly speak and seek to deflect their own short comings and failures. A respectful person does not like being the center of attention even if they have earned it. I am reminded of the archangel Michael when he contended for the body of Moses with the devil, “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” (Jude 9) Michael could have said I rebuke you and probably would have won, but he did not he was not so presumptive to think he was that important and powerful. Disrespectful people know not how to give honor to someone who rightly disserves it. Oh the number of people I have met in my life that are jealous of someone else’s victory. If we cannot be gracious in someone else’s victory God will see to it that we have no victory. We must be able to “render therefore to all their dues.” Paul told the church in Rome, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” (Romans 13:7) If God cannot get us to give honor to whom honor is due then He cannot use us, we disqualify ourselves for service out from our disrespect. Now please know I am not talking about a honoring as the world says to show honor; through tolerance and diversity oh no. The world’s way of showing honor is by allowing sin to continue in lives. The world says I will honor your choice to reject God and His word. The world says we are to abide or be tolerant with ungodly, immoral life styles like sodomy and lesbianism, liars, thieves, etc., but God said these lifestyles are an abomination and He will destroy those who would dare reject and disrespect His word. The world dishonors a baby by killing them in the womb while the world would be tolerate and accept a woman’s right to choose. God too will destroy those who would murder an innocent life. Today we (even many Christians in the church) protect homosexuals and even give then a special status. I find it amazing those once powerful “men of God” (you know their names) who have been openly rebuked by God and found out for their homosexual desires and tendencies are now openly embracing this ungodly life style in their church and give permission to others to allow their fleshly desires to control them and the many Christians in their church.

This honoring and respecting is a big big deal to God. It is a part of our daily sincere, Godly walk with our brothers, sisters, and most of all our walk with God. Unless we can learn how to honor and respect people God will never give us His spiritual goods. Unless we can give honor where honor is due God can not use us, He cannot trust us to be faithful and honest. It is always about honoring and respecting.

READ THE BIBLE

Lately there have been a lot of preachers and teachers on TV trying to encourage many Christians into believing there will be a great turn around in the world and there will be a great revival (word not in the KJV) and many people will come to know the Lord. I will be bold and set the tone of this article early (as a matter of fact) I personally believe the best days of the corporate “Church” in America is behind her and if not careful it will taint the church world-wide causing great harm and deception. Now I am talking corporately, there are some solid local bodies of Believers left that still have a heart for God and to do what He has asked them to do, but the majority of the so called “churches” have sold out to the humanistic, apostate message of the Gospel – prosperity and blessing; serving and giving to God to get instead of serving God out of a heart of obedience and giving so that others may receive. I know what I am talking about I have seen the destructive influence of the American church for years in America and around the world. Now please do not get me wrong I would love to see many people come to the Lord this is God intention for us, but the Bible I read does not talk about this happening. So, why don’t we just read the Bible and believe what God’s word says instead of making up things to believe. But that is not what we see going on; large amounts of money is collected and some is spent on Christian TV programming and traveling the globe to prime the pumps for this great end-time revival, but again I do not see this anywhere in the Bible I study. Denominational kingdoms and mighty temples of worship for “mighty men of God” are being established all over the earth to fund and reap this phantom end-time harvest, but again the Bible I read speaks nothing about an end-time harvest as preached today. Now Jesus does mention the harvest, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” (John 4:35) and in Matthew, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37). Please notice in Luke Jesus answers His own question, “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2) Did you get that Jesus said the harvest is ready, but there is no one to go. Who was Jesus talking to? Why His disciples. It sounds like they were not ready to go into the field and reap the harvest. I wonder why not? When I traveled abroad every other month I would go and do the work of God, well after two or three years of this schedule I quickly saw I was not doing the work of God He was doing His work in and on me. All of the traveling, preaching, teaching, signs and wonders were more for my benefit than the people I ministered to. My friend we are the workmanship of God (Ephesians 2:10) and if we allow God He will work on us to the very end of our self.

Sure God’s grace is ever there and I daily pray many people take God up on His offer of salvation, but as time continues man also continues to walk away from God faster than he did in days of old, thus I cannot see more people coming to the Lord. As a matter of fact the Bible talks about the opposite happening. As we watch history unfold before our eyes and read the Bible how can we not believe what Peter, Paul and even Jesus Himself has said applies to today? How can we not believe we are living in the last days of man’s rule on earth and a time of grace for our sin and after that the judgment, but not too many Christians believe when Christ returns He will judge them and the nations, oh no they are looking for a baby in the manger to sing about and the presents associated with His birth. But all we have to do is read the Bible to discern the times. Back in Genesis God established a spiritual principle and man as ruler of the earth, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) and he will keep this title and function until Christ returns to judge the world. This is why man has some power to say and do things on the earth and they happen they are backed by God’s authority and His word. And why do we have no problem with worshipping or saying God, but we do with Jesus. I wonder why? Well that is easy, Jesus is Lord and man (me included at times) has never wanted a Lord reigning over him. Secretly in our heart we want to be the boss who wants to be ruled? We think God is afar off out there in space some where or some big sugar daddy who rolls over at our every whim; so God is safe to worship and serve, but not so with Jesus. He troubles us, He wants to come and live in our heart and expose our evil nature and character. Jesus wants to be involved with all of our relationships and our labors, how can we allow this? If we do we will not be in-charge. In 2 Peter we read, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:3-7) When is “the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men?” Does this not sound like today? Jesus told the disciples, “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) When Jesus comes back will He be surprised to find “faith on the earth?” How could that be? Does that sound like today? The Bible I read tells me what to expect when Jesus comes back why should I believe something else. In Matthew Jesus shares these words, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:4-14) Wait a minute I thought things were going to get better in the last days and there is going to be a great end-time revival? But the Bible does not say that the Bible says, “the love of many shall wax cold” And after the Gospel of the kingdom has been preached to the nations, “then shall the end come.” I cannot believe in this technological age of satellites and the internet not to mention the 2,000+ years of sending missionaries the Gospel message has not been preached to the nations. Further on down in Matthew 24 we read Jesus saying, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:22-24) Now I do not know about you, but these verses here give me great pause. I do not consider myself to be the “very select,” but Jesus was saying unless time is shortened the “very elect” would be deceived and no flesh would be saved. The Bible tells us all of these things so why don’t we hunker down and get serious with God? Did you know the Bible even gives us a picture of man’s heart condition, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:21-32) Does this sound like today? What else do we need to convince us that all we need is the Bible? What is the context Paul is describing here in verses 16-32? Was Paul talking about only the Church at Rome? I think not. Many Christians believe the Scriptures are written to only certain groups of people for a specific reason, well if this be true then all of the Scriptures in the Bible that deal with salvation do not pertain to us. Like when Paul told the Churches in the New Testament; women should not exercise authority (1 Timothy 2:10-14, Titus 2:4-5, etc.) over any man, oh that was just for them, but now it is okay for women to be a pastor, teacher, evangelist, a deacon, or elder. Does God’s word change with time or audience? I think not. I believe Paul here was describing the heart of man without the harnessing and discipline of God’s work and authority in our lives from the beginning of mankind to the end-times of man’s domination of the earth.

The Bible tells us all of these things and yet we still make up things and believe a lie. Why do we not just read the Bible and believe it as it is written? Remember God is not trying to Christianize the world, oh no my friend man is trying to do that. God is trying to evangelize the world (in one-on-one, personal, cost effective simplistic way) and having evangelized the world He desires to gather them together in what He calls the Body of Christ. And it is the Body of Christ; those who have answered the call of God will be His bride and to do this God expects us to read His word the Bible to know what He wants and what He does not want. My friend there is no big end-time revival coming (the Bible does not support it) be not deceived be a good steward with your resources, but there is an end-time coming and we must be ready for it and the only way to be ready is to just read the Bible and then move in the revelation given. Written David Stahl

OUR CHARACTER

God has really been pressing me on my character. I know the word character is not in the Bible (KJV) verbatim, but the entire word of God speaks about what God expects our character to be. My friend it is our character not our natural abilities, God-given skills and talents, or even our spiritual growth and development, oh no God is concerned about our character: how we treat our fellow man, what and how we hold things in our heart, are we honest or do we take advantage and manipulate people and situations for our benefit, do we have a simplistic view of God and how He relates with man, these and so much more as it relates to our character God is very concerned with. I like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his “I have a Dream Speech” he said these words, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Now Dr. King could have used any thing else instead of “be judged by the color of their skin” this was an issue that was at the heart of the civil rights movement, but please notice Dr. King wanted people not to be judged by the color of their skin or anything else, the criteria to judge someone was their character. This is the same criteria God will use to judge us when we stand before Him. God will not judge us according to the number of songs we have written and dance (Michael Jackson found this out) to, how much money or land we had, or how many houses or cars we owned. I wonder why we go so hard after these earthly things and neglect investing in our character? We always go after the things we think are important and will benefit us. Many Christians think a good character is of little to no value, but my friend they are dead wrong. It is our character that God is gravely concerned with not our personality or our outward looks. It is the inward man God focuses on and wants to see us develop, but we seem to put in little effort in developing a Godly character.

This character issue touches every area of our lives. I have seen this truth over the last 48 years of being a Christian. Now I will be honest I have not had the best of character all of my life, but I see the importance and desire for this transformation to happen in my heart and mind which will manifest outwardly in my character. I have seen this in the lives of people I considered to be mentors and fathers in the Lord, but in time and in the end I have seen the true character of these folks manifest and I was greatly disappointed. I have seen so many areas of my life where I have allowed these folks to persuade me, where I followed their advice and retrospect it was to my disadvantage. Please be very careful in the people you commit yourself to. Jesus never committed Himself to anyone, only the Father had Jesus’ total reservation of commitment. Even in prayer we must be careful here. I remember when I pastored in Germany many Bishops, teachers, preachers, pastors, mighty men of God who would come to our church (mainly to collect money to take home) and want to pray over me, well I said no. I did not know them from Adam and they would get offended this also called a separation at times between my associate pastor (a Nigerian) and I, but that was okay because Paul in 1 Timothy tells us, “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” (1 Timothy 5:21-22) That also means we should not allow someone to lay hands on us. I have shared before in a few other articles about a wonderful (I will still call him my friend because I still love him and I hold no anger in my heart towards him) friend we have known for over 30 years, but got offended at me and God and has broke off our relationship. Can you believe he even stopped sending me his newsletter? (since 1996 before we moved to Germany) I know why, he has been writing about us (Karen and I) to his (and our) friends. That is okay there is nothing else he can get from us because he has sucked our relationship bone dry. After all he said it is okay to talk about someone as long as you do not use their name. Is this right? No my friend I do not believe that is so. He has separated himself from me, my family, and the many people who would come to our monthly home group meeting quoting Scripture to justify his separation like, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Roman 16:17-18) Please know when you have to quote Scripture to justify yourself and your actions you are dead wrong. I am kind of puzzled though, I know he cannot be talking about me here, well I do have a big belly, but my “good works and fair speeches” have deceived no one. My heart is still towards him and sharing the Gospel message as we have done around the world for many years. But I am not surprised his parting shot to me was to tell me how he would come down to our home and share the word of God and sometimes not get any money. His character speaks loud and clear of his true heart condition for money and not so much for the sharing of the Gospel. After all out of our mouth speaks our heart. But we all are like this at times right? I know often I am. True character is not concerned about what they will receive in exchange for service to God, but is concerned about how much of service they can be to God.

I have seen this character truth play out in the churches we (as a family) attended. Remember the character of any given church will always reflect the character of the pastor and the people. I am reminded of a non-denomination church (that was started in our home) in Henry Country outside of Atlanta, GA that went United Pentecostal Holiness after we left for Germany. My three sons (Dave, Dan, and Joshua), Clyde Waldron (the pastor’s father), and I literally raised the walls of the building we were building to meet in, everybody else was busy that week. I have never seen such a group of people that grumbled, bellyached, and complained yet God worked in the lives of our children, Karen, and I preparing us for ministry in Germany. God can work in our lives anywhere if we give Him opportunity. God expects us not to retreat from God’s standards even to save the world. But this is what the church (especially in America) has done. We have compromised the truth of the word of God to pedal a humanistic, prosperity message, we have jazzed up the hymns (what a supreme insult to the writers like Fanny Crosby and Horatio Spafford) to make them more enjoyable to the younger population instead of telling them the true history how the hymns were birthed out of great loss and hardships. We have dumbed down true and honorable service to God, by making everything a ministry. After all everyone in church must be doing something for God, right? No everyone (in church or not) is to be allowing God to work on their character. This is God’s grand goal in our life to allow God to conform our character into the same character and image as was in Jesus Christ God’s precious Son through the transforming power of God. Not allowing God this opportunity and right of way has everything to do with a lack of character in our lives. Presently, Karen and I go to a solid non-denominational church here in Jacksonville the message is usually right on (the message of the cross) and their music is not too humanistic or self-seeking like most churches, but I cannot believe (like most non-denominational churches) they have a “them verses us” thinking. Not everyone else is wrong, but everyone else needs to be like us and if not then there are probably going to hell. It is the absolutes of the Gospels (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ – saved by God’s love and grace) that must be followed and agreed upon not the optionals (outward adorning, doctrines and rituals of man, church traditions and ordnances), but sadly most churches have made the optionals the absolutes and the absolutes the optional. And again this is because of lack of a Godly character in the people. I thought we are one Body, one Spirit? Paul taught us, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:2-5) Whatever happened to those verses (from the Bible) in the church today? I guess we think there is going to be a black and white section in heaven or a denominational or non-denominational selection. What are we doing? We are fracturing the Body of Christ for political and financial gain in the world.

Now after reading this article many Christians would say, Dave Stahl you are being too critical (I have heard this before) with regards to the Christians and the church, God is in control. It does not matter all we have to do is just keep loving the Lord and people and things will work out fine, well it is true we must keep loving the Lord and people, but God expects much more of His children than this Pollyanna, lazy attitude. God expects us to speak the truth in love so that people will grow up in God and become able to shoulder some responsibility and accountability. Paul scolded the church folks at Ephesus when he said, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16) But this is not what we find in most churches, who wants to grow up when we can stay a baby and get by with messing our spiritual pants? No responsibility, discipline, or accountability just do and say whatever we want to do and say. Well this is not God’s intention for us. God’s intention is for us to grow up and come to a place of maturing where we can join with Him in the yoke and plow the field of life together.

As I said recently God has been pressing me on my character and as He presses us our spirit is always more attuned (if we allow it to be so) to what the Holy Spirit is bringing into our lives. Here are two statements by two wonderful friends in my life that the Holy Spirit quickened to my spirit when I heard them. We had Pastor Victor O. Foster (Senior Pastor of Ecclesia Ministries in Richlands, NC) and His lovely wife over for dinner last week-end and as we were talking he said, “listen not to my words, but look at my life.” What a profound statement about character. Words are cheap and often clumsy, but our life is the truth about ourselves. And then today while at the gym I was sitting in the sauna talking with Mr. Russell (a retired SGTMAJ from the U.S. Marine Corps) and he said, “I have gotten much further in life with manners than with money.” How simplistic, but oh how true. We think money is the key that opens unto us the abundant life Jesus talks about in John 10:10, but not so my friend it is the silence of the heart before God and the character of Christ knowing we are ever becoming like the Father. Money my friend cannot buy this, but a Godly character can.