THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

A week or so ago I was talking with a good friend of mine at the fitness center where Karen and I go (it is on base and free) and we got on the topic of emotions in the church and he made the statement emotions are good in God and made the comparison of the presence of the LORD is our emotions, well I just shuddered and thought if my friend (and I like him a lot) has this thinking then many more Christians are probably confused between the presence of the LORD and their emotions. I asked my good friend if the presence of the LORD is the same feeling he gets when his favorite team is on the verge of scoring a goal, full of excitement, and emotion, and he replied yes. I just shook my head in amazement because the presence of the LORD is something more special in our lives, something far greater than a fleshly emotional response to feelings, situations, circumstances, or a thrill down our backs. After some time of thinking on our conversation the LORD gave me this article. Did you know we pay a price for every last thing we get from God? I pay a price for it and I want to. He is not going to baby us we have to learn that and that is not pleasant. The further we go in God the less He is going to honor our fields of emotion. We will have to learn to walk with the LORD without His conscious presence at times which can be terrifying, but never the less this is what God expects from mature developed children. Less and less are we dependent on our old devotional patterns, our emotional approach to God, or getting tickled or thrilled (what many Christians call blessed) by God that serve our living. How can faith, trust, and rest develop in us if God is going to honor us along our emotional life? In those difficult places of life we will never be able to synchronize with what God is doing in our lives with our fluctuating emotions it just cannot happen. Our emotions must be dealt a death blow by God and never be allowed to run parallel with our experiences and learning in God. We must grow up and emotional Christians have not. I think another reason why we are confused about the presence of the LORD today in the church is because of the deliberate decision, by many denominations and religions, NOT to make disciples as Jesus told us to do. Jesus did not command us to make converts, oh no Jesus told us to make disciples, but this my friend takes many years of hard, one-on-one work, it is far easier to make a convert than a disciple. Less time spent, no real money invested, and you get to tally them on your people saved tally sheet. They say if all of the people the missionaries say were saved each year the world would be saved twice over each year. Who cares how many people get saved? We are NOT to make converts, but disciples! Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach (Strong’s #3100, to disciple, to follow His precepts and instructions, to teach, instruct) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mathew 28:18-20) Jesus was given “ALL” power (to make disciples) from the Father and Jesus gave us the power NOT to make converts, but make disciples. We are to be making disciples from all nations not converts, but that is not what we see. The focus in most churches and overseas ministry is salvation; now this is important, but not the focus of God. God’s focus is making disciples. God has a divine spiritual principle – seed after seed. If an apple seed is planted then an apple tree will grow and the tree will reproduce like seed again and again. Whatsoever is planted in our lives will reproduce. Spiritually this is why it is better to be a tree eater than a fruit eater and this is why it matters who your teacher is. This too is why we have so many evangelists and preachers and not so many teachers. It is easier to be an evangelist or preacher, but is much tougher in God to be a teacher, especially if they teach by the Spirit. Evangelists and preachers proclaim, but teachers explain. Acquiring the knowledge and wisdom from God to be able to explain the word of God will exact a heavy toll on relationships and is far more costly to our flesh. So the more converts you have (and not mature men and woman of God) the more emotionalism you will see. Many evangelists, pastors, and preachers measure the response by the people to the message by how many people run down to the altar, well there are few things we need to learn here. An emotional response to the word of God is not a move of God. I hear many evangelists, pastors, and preachers say the Spirit moved today in church, but if you press then on what is “moved” you will find a few folks walked down to the altar and had a time of prayer, well this is not a move of God. A response to the word of God is not seen in a tearful run to the altar, but in change to one’s character. I can remember growing up as a child in church when suddenly an unsolicited the power of the LORD (not the presence of the LORD, but His power) would drop like a ton of bricks, no piano playing softly, no one twisting arms or hearts to come forward to be converted just POW it was on us and we knew it was power of God; not an emotional approach to God with music, pleading, or our feelings just the power of God. It has been many years since something like that has happened. God’s presence comes to us we cannot go to it. His presence is a thing of the Spirit. We cannot pray it up, work it up by singing, dancing, or listening to our favorite Christian CD or DVD, or even preach it up, it is a thing of the Spirit and if we do not get it by the Spirit our flesh can never produce or conger it up. Moses asked God, “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. 14And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.” (Exodus 3:14-16) Here in these verses are some requirements and intents of God with regards to the presence of the LORD in our lives. The intent of the presence of the LORD is for knowing what God wants in any given situation or circumstance, not to make us feel good. God is not trying to make us happy or feel good. God started something in the Book of Genesis and He has NOT changed His mind. God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) God is still in the process of making man (God’s grand goal in our lives) in His own image and righteous living (where we just live right without having to think or pray about being right) is the requirement to have the presence of the LORD abide continually and does not come and go like an endless ebb and flow of victory and defeat that is in most Christians lives. I wonder what life would be like if we walked continually in the presence of the LORD? The progression in God is faith, trust, rest. We come to God by faith, but as we walk with Him we must progress far beyond faith and move into a place of trust. Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15). Esther said, “ . . . if I perish I perish,” (Esther 4:16), but there is a greater place than faith and trust in God where we can be at rest no matter what is moving around us. It would be like we are on the sea of glass before the throne of God 24/7. This place is far beyond the halls of the heroes of the faith, far beyond our sense of truth, and is a place in the Spirit realm that only rest is found. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) Verse 28 said, “I will give you rest” and verse 29 says, “ye shall find rest” I wonder which one is it; we will be given rest or we will have to find it? Can you believe both at the same time? When we come to the LORD in faith He gives us rest from sin (salvation) and our fleshly sins (sanctification) if we allow Him to work in our lives, but when we grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ and we start maturing in Him we discover the many depths of God (as waterspouts of glory) that establishes and settles us in His presence. Lastly the presence of God is the road we walk on back to the heart of the Father where we all came from. When we compromise our belief of the word of God no matter the goodness involved, we lose our integrity and who we are before God and man. Most people today know a phony when they see him/her and when they see a phony in church they really stick out. I would suggest to you there are four ways we can lose the presence of the LORD in our lives and in some cases our salvation: 

Presumption – Thinking we know right, but in reality we are wrong. The direction of presumption is always up the opposite direction God takes. Presumption always moves without really knowing (guessing at God’s will) what God wants and always leads to loss and death. Now God will not stop someone in presumption He expects them to love Him enough (Christians not sinners get into presumption) to stop and repent of their waywardness. You know it is bad not to know the truth in any given situation, but it is worse not knowing you do not know. The longer one goes in presumption the greater the loss. The loss that is experienced is from what God had originally purposed and planned in our lives during our time in presumption. I have a friend (I have been there before so I know) who is over in presumption (in ministry) not really knowing what God wants for their life. They are working hard and even some good things for God are happening, but this is not God’s will they have left His original purpose for their life and struggle needlessly. God’s will is not hard to find just ask Him and then be brave enough to follow His Spirit. 

Disobedience – Disobedience is the rejection of the throne rights of God. I think disobedience is probably the greatest of all sins. By the disobedience of one man (Adam), all of human race fell; by the obedience of one Christ, the whole human race (Romans 5:19) was saved, that is to say, provision was at least made, but salvation in obedience to God’s word is our choice. If you can picture God sitting on the throne: disobedience is pushing God off His throne and seating ourselves on His throne in His place. Disobedience is the rejection of the throne rights of God. Consequently, God cannot tolerate disobedience, rebellion against His sovereignty. As in the case of Saul, persistence in disobedience will surely rob us of the presence of the LORD and end us in death. 

Substitution – Allowing other things to creep into our lives. How careful we have to be not to let things to creep in that are out of harmony to the purpose of the will of God, even Christian things. Substitution leads to temptation. James warns us, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15) When we start substituting Godly principles for the principles of the world we end in death. God rarely changes His mind with regards to our lives. If God starts us in one direction in ministry we must be very careful not to change direction (even with other ministry) and if God gives us an opportunity to choose we better choose right, if not there will be hell to pay in our family and our life. 

Neglect – Neglecting our devotion and commitment, neglecting the LORD, simply being so preoccupied with things that we pay little attention to the LORD and allow the work of God done in our lives be replaced with carnal things, fleshly things through lusts and hungers for the things of the world and our selfish ambition. The writer to the Hebrews says, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” (Hebrews 2:3) The answer is we will not, we cannot escape God’s judgment and wrath if we neglect His salvation and turn our back on the presence of the LORD. How precious is the presence of God? It is life or death to us. Written by David Stahl

CHOICES AND DECISIONS

Karen and I attended a church some time ago and at the end of the service they planned to do a baptism, but before they conducted the baptism the young couple was asked to come to the front of the church and was read the church’s denominational covenant that they had to swear an oath of allegiance before they could be a member in good standing. The young couple, I guess they were married, stood there with the old “deer in the headlights look” as the leader read the requirements of the covenant. You could see the couple had no clue to what was being read and it was even clearer they had no comprehension to the gravity of the moment, yet they made a choice and a decision (maybe blindly out of emotion) that greatly impacted not only on their physical lives, but also on their spiritual life. Often we make choices and decisions out from our emotion which is extremely dangerous in God. The covenant’s introduction paragraph ends with these words, “we now give ourselves (Jesus never did this) to one another by the will of God in this solemn covenant” which is something James (who was the first leader of the Church in Jerusalem) strictly forbids, “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” (James 5:12) Jesus said this way, “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” (Matthew 5:33-37) I guess these folks missed these verses. The covenant goes on with six more short detailed paragraphs of requirement and then ends with “To this end we agree to co-operate in the promotion of denominational institutions and ministries, the support of the local church, and the evangelization of the world.” Whatever happened to the promotion of the Gospel message in integrity and simplicity? Jesus said, “whosoever will come,” (is that not all inclusive and simple enough), but here in this denomination the local leadership and their higher authority too makes choices and decisions like who will be allowed to join their fraternity based on certain preconceived man-made criteria. My friend I am glad God does not have things arranged like this; God’s membership in His church (Jesus said, “I will built my church”) is universal and open to anyone who loves Him enough to learn about Him and His ways. Those who have accepted His free gift of salvation, through grace, not by good works as this denomination preaches nor by written rules and requirements that gives the façade of clean hands and a clean heart, but in reality they are bound by the keeping of the law which no man can keep. God does not require our signature on a piece of paper or a man-made written covenant, but wants our obedience in allowing Him to write His laws on our heart and yes my friend this too is a choice and decision we all must make. Now the people at this church Karen and I dearly love they are near and dear to our heart so please do not misunderstand me here; we all make choices and decisions that impact our spiritual lives to great degrees and most Christians have no spiritual wisdom and insight to take such decisions and choices. As a matter of fact we can only go as far in God as our surrender to God will allow and our surrender to God is based on our choices and decisions we daily make. I could not believe the requirements, the yoke that this denomination was laying on this young couple. I cannot keep this covenant the leadership in this denomination cannot keep this covenant it is impossible to keep this covenant so why does this denomination require new people to make a solemn oath before God? Oh I know fear and manipulation to control their people, just like all denominations. Now I guess by now you can tell I am not a big fan of denominations, well I will even go further and say I believe denominations are the biggest obstacle to true revival in the world. I can tell you sad story after sad story around the world how some denominations have literally killed people for land and money. The Body of Christ is not one body one Spirit, one baptism, we are filled with division, strife, wrath, jealousy, arrogance, and even one-up-manship within the Body of Christ. Paul tells 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 4:2-6) Is this what we see today? No just drive down the road in your car the landscape is dotted with denominational church after denominational church. Are they are right? Do they all agree? No of course not. Do we really think God is going to bless us individually, as a local Body, and our nation if we His children cannot get this right? I think not. As I was watching this mockery the LORD brought to mind Acts Chapter 15, so I turned there and read, “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” (Acts 15:5-10) Here the Pharisees where trying to yoke the disciples and the people with things they themselves (just like today) could not keep. Peter was led by the Holy Spirit and put this wrong thinking in its place, but through the years it has slowly crept back into church leadership. Paul addressed this subtle, ungodly attitude, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21(Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:20-23) And guess what we make choices and decisions to believe these verses or ignore them. Leadership in many denominations have seen the power, control, and authority that can be gained to fulfil a denominational teaching and doctrinal position while yoking the Brethren and to hell with the truth. There is no need for denominations today. Why does it have to be a Baptist, Church of God, Methodist, Assembly of God, Lutheran, Pentecostal, non-denominational (the list goes on and on) church? Why can it just be a place where people gather to worship God in Spirit and truth? What service or ability to people does a denomination provide that a local body of believers led by the Holy Spirit cannot provide? Power in numbers, power equals money, and money equals more power, but Jesus said, “I have no power except for what the Father give me.” Religious organizations, traditions, and rituals are evil my friend sometimes far more than Satan. Many of my pastor friends tell me David you should not come down so hard on denominations you will not be invited to come and speak at their churches, well shall I lie to please men? Paul addressed this question, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10) How can I please men by following all of their rules and requirements when I have tasted and saw the goodness of God being led by the Holy Spirit. I do not have to worry what man will say because I am more concerned about what God will say. Did you know when you justify yourself before man you make man your judge? Jesus never did this because He was led by the Spirit. I teach by the Spirit so I always find religious folks reject my words, but those that have been birthed from above, those who are of the Spirit of God know my words are true and value my teaching. Funny how spiritual people can only be touched by spiritual people, but sadly most Christians are so use to humanistic sermons they cannot recognize the Spirit of God when spoken. I was taught by my teacher Charles Haun we must go for the heart when sharing the word of God and if need be offend the listener. It is far better they be offended and learn something about God than to lie to them. Jesus was great at this. We do not want to be humble and led by the Holy Spirit because we like to please men more than God. The requirement to be led by the Spirit of God is NOT to be led by man; this too is a choice and decision we all must make. Did you know a humble man knows another humble man? Here we have a choice and decision to make, to be humble or not and to be led by the Spirit of God or not. We cannot be led by both and it is our choice. When we are led by the Holy Spirit we are able to see our opportunities in God. There is wonderful story in the Gospel of Mark that really speaks of this. In Mark 10 we read, “And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” (Mark 10:48-52) Here blind Bartimaeus had a choice to make and he did not have a lot of time to make it. Actually Bartimaeus had only one opportunity because Jesus was on His way to the cross and would not be passing by this way again. In spite of all of the religious and well respected folks in town telling him to be quiet, “he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.” Can you imagine the Scripture says, “And Jesus stood still.” Oh that Jesus would stand still for us! Blind Bartimaeus was not following a religious covenant of men, but reached out to Jesus in His need, in Spirit and truth. My friend when we make the right choice and when we make correct decisions all heaven takes note and God moves on our behalf, but when we get caught up by making wrong choices and bad decisions in religion and denominationalism of this day there is not much God can do for us. God’s ability and power being active in our lives is not based on God’s ability and power, but on our choices and the decisions we make. Just ask blind Bartimaeus he could have followed the crowd and the religious leaders of his day, but he did not and now he sees or just like with the blind man in John Chapter 9, “These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 24Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:24-25) I wonder if we would be willing to be put out of a church to tell the truth, the choice and decision is ours. The difference between following man (religion and denominations) and God is seen in the manifested power of God. The difference in our lives is our choice and decision. Written by David Stahl

OUR COMMITMENT

This week the 30th Olympiad from London, England was on the world stage. Now I really like London it is a wonderful city where I have had many great memories and met so many friends. I probably watched too much of the Olympics after all the Olympics are nothing more than flesh glorifying flesh and country glorifying country through sports. The words of the Roman poet Juvenal, “give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt” was visible for all the world to see. Emperor Vespasian (who built the Coliseum) also liked this phrase when he said “to control the mob all I have to do is give them bread and circuses” (food and entertainment) in other words; a superficial means of appeasement, a simplistic motivation and manipulation of the common people. The phrase refers to entertainment intended to foil discontent or distract attention from a situation. In ancient Rome, “bread and circuses” were used to keep the underprivileged poor people quiet, but enough of that. However, what really caught my attention (and impressed me) was the commitment and dedication these athletes had. For some this was their third and fourth Olympics 12 to 16 years of training of steadfast commitment to their sport and to be the very best at one moment in time when it counted, when they crossed the finish line. So too in our lives God rewards us when we cross the finish line; not during, or at the half way point, but at the end. I wonder why we think we deserve rewards in this life? Knowing the pain and sacrifice these athletes made for years was impressive, but they strove for something of this earth that will quickly pass away as their memory will in time. Now here is my point, I thought do I have the same commitment and dedication for God as these athletes? Of course I quickly said yes, but in my spirit I knew God was going to check me and I was right, not so fast there big boy. The Holy Spirit is always good (if we have allowed Him to operate in our lives) to give us a gut check when we think we are moving correctly a most blessed thing indeed. You know one thing that surprised me was to discover not all Christians are committed to God at the same heart level until I realized not all Christians really love God. You cannot be committed to someone and not love them. Funny me I thought all Christians studied the Bible, prayed, and had a heart for God and His children, but after walking with the LORD some time I learned not all Christians really love God enough to be committed and dedicated to Him. Oh I know the naysayers are going to say how can you judge us, well it is not hard our lives and check book speaks volumes to our commitment and dedication to God and His people. Now I have been walking with the LORD for over 50 years at different levels of His grace and am just amazed to how things operate in church denominations and religious organizations. Sadly the commitment to denominations and religious organizations has superseded commitment to God. Now let us be clear here, Jesus never gave Himself totally to all people, but He did give His life for everyone. There is a critical lesson we must learn here. God will bring certain people into our lives for a certain length of time (based on our commitment to Him and the person) for certain purposes and intents of His. We must operate within them correctly to be able to go forward in Him and if one person fails to meet their end of the bargain God will not strand the other person who is committed, oh no God will move that person on to the next thing He has for them, but here is the sad point the intents and purposes of God will be lost. What wonderful things did God have in mind for this relationship that did not manifest because of no commitment. Either we will walk in what God wants us to walk in for our lives or we will go our own way and the end therein is loss and destruction. Isaiah tells us, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) Now it says “all” that included you and me. I can personally speak of this with our church in Germany. I know certain things God had planned never happened because of lack of commitment to relationships in the leadership and sadly God moved (even though we stayed exactly seven years to the minute -- a completed work of God) Karen and I back to the States early. Did great things happen yes! Were many souls saved yes! Did miracles happen yes! But in the end what God planned and purposed was not totally accomplished. This is the lesson Jesus was teaching the disciples here in Matthew, to work within confines and framework of God. In Matthew we read, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23) It was not that the people did not know God to a certain degree they used His power and authority, but it was God that did not know them. The people did do many wonderful, mighty works for God, but was never committed to Him and the people God brought into their lives. The word “iniquity” does not mean bad or evil, but lawlessness, outside the law, or outside the framework of what God wanted to see happen. The people here operated in lawlessness or outside the framework of God’s intentions and in spite of God’s word going forth, miracles, and such loss and destruction was the end result. We the Church have gotten so far off track for doing things for God and even answering to God it is alarming to me. The Church while “rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" has hamstrung itself whereby it can no longer be led by the Holy Spirit. The Church is so plugged into the world’s system of conducting business with the forms, rules, and regulations of this world they have forgotten God’s system and ways of conducting business. They have forgotten along with the forms, rules, and regulations comes government oversight and intrusion where freedom to be led by the Holy Spirit WILL be lost. The less government is involved in our ministry the better and the better we will be able to hear from the Holy Spirit. I cannot begin to tell you of the number of great evangelists, pastors, preachers, and teachers with a heart for God that have submitted, outside the will of God for their lives, to a board of deacons, elders, and a denomination. The pastor is the lead dog in the sled team in God’s eyes. He is responsible and accountable for the word God gives to him for the people and for the operations of the local body not the deacons, a denomination, or elders. We as leaders are to be committed to the people God has given us, but first and for most we are responsible and accountable to God. Today in the Church many denominations have their accountability programs whereby men are accountable to men. These programs are a humanistic approach to spiritual problems, but if there is sin in our lives who is best to tell us man or God? Are we trying to please men or God? Paul told the Church at Galatia, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:10-12) How many pastors have watered down the truth trying to please a denomination, the deacons, or the elders to keep the peace in the church? When we are committed to God we will not be a man pleaser because we will be able to behold the revelation of Christ. And something just as important we will have a freedom to speak and move with God without fear of man. There will be a bold, fearlessness and a liberty in the Spirit knowing it is God who sits in judgment over us. If God has called you to be an evangelist, preacher, or teacher and you willfully take decision (for whatsoever reason) to change things you will not be able to operate correctly in God. Sadly these accountability programs in churches are just another way denominations can manipulate their people. Again as leaders in the Body of Christ either we will be accountable to man or God, we cannot be to both. Why do we give to God to get a tax break? Pastor Joseph Mutua from Nairobi, Kenya told me once that in the past Kenyan pastors had all kinds of tax breaks; free duty on cars, trucks, and mini-vans, income tax exempt status, and a respect within the government, but due to gross abuse the pastors and the churches lost this most favored tax status. Should we not be giving to God so that others may receive? Is our commitment to God and seeing others receive as shallow as receiving an end of the year giving letter? We Christians are so plugged into the worldly system of business. Yes I do give out donation letters, but I thought you would like to know the biggest donator to BHG who basically bank rolled the building of the clinic In Aveile, Nigeria asked me NOT to give him a giving letter because he gives to God and then counts on God to take care of him, his family, and businesses. We Americans better get use to not getting an end of the year giving letter the winds of anti-Christian sentiment is blowing strong in our society and I feel sure the days of Christian non-profit organizations and churches getting a tax breaks are numbered, but is it not better to count on God than on the government? Lastly, rewards from God now and in heaven are given to us based not on what we did for Him, but on our commitment and dedication to Him and His people. In Matthew the servant was told “well done” not much done by his lord. “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21) It does not matter what we do for God, but how we do it. Did we do things with the right heart condition and with the right motives? Were we committed to God and what He has asked us to do? How did we treat the people God put in our way? You know most Christians are some of the most impersonal people on the planet and do you not know we always go toward the people we see value in or want to use for our benefit. How many times have we ignored calls or emails from people who we think have no value in our lives? Well guess what God thinks they have value. Or worse when finally calling or emailing we placate them with excuses, but do we not make time for people we think are important? My friend doing the right thing is always tough and rarely convenient for our schedule, but ignoring people is just flat out arrogant, self-serving, and displays no true commitment to God and people. Often making excuses is nothing more than a cover up for being offended at the person or God and not strong enough inwardly to tell the truth. Committed people and people who know dedication are responsible people and can handle the responsibility and accountability God has given them. People who shirk responsibility and side step people will never be committed to God oh they may act the part, but within their heart they and God know the truth. Our commitment to God is a thing of the Spirit of God. Our commitment to God is a heart condition like our testimony not what we say, but what people see of our lives. Written by David Stahl

A LITTLE FURTHER

A little further is always the place God desires to take us. This was a great desire of Jesus to be able to take all of the disciples a little further, but He could not He could only take three a little further. You know it is not up to God whether He can take us a little further it is His intention and desire, but if we go a little further it is because we have allowed Him to work in our lives to the point we can go further in Him and with Him. So too with the disciples Jesus could only take Peter and the Sons of Zebedee (James and John) a little further. In Matthew we read, “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,” (Matthew 17:1) Again in Matthew we read, “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:36-39) and then in Mark, “And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.” (Mark 5:37-38) Now it was Jesus’ intention (as it is God’s intention in our lives) to take all of the disciples a little further, but this does not happen automatically, oh no there are requirements we must fulfill to be able to go further with God; faithfulness, commitment, and obedience must be satisfied first in our lives before God can take us a little further in the Spirit. Of all of the disciples Peter, James, and John seemed to have a greater heart for the words of Jesus and they seemed to want to be near Jesus (John laid his head on the breast of Jesus at the last supper and Peter was the only disciple to have a correct revelation of Jesus, “why you are the Christ the Son of God”) more than the other disciples and out from this desire (so too in our lives) to be with Jesus there was a greater impartation of the Spirit of God given to Peter, James, and John and they were given as a reward to be with Jesus at some of the greatest moments (on the Mount of Transfiguration, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and John was at the cross when Jesus died) of Jesus’ ministry on earth. In all we do for God there is always something else we need to do. Our effort is always limited and not enough there is always a place we need to move a little further into to come to know the LORD. Nowhere is this seen any more than when studying the Scriptures. Now the Scriptures instruct us to study the Scriptures not to casually read a verse or a chapter each day as a part of our daily devotional or get the latest daily devotional guide from the latest popular Christian author, but study the Scriptures to show thy self without error. Study means study! Paul instructed Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved (without error) unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Study means study! At that time there was only the Old Testament to study the Bible as we know it with 66 books had not yet been complied. What are we to study: names, historical events, parables, numerology, miracles, all of Jesus’ words in red? No the words. The truth and power of God’s word (the Scriptures) is found in the words as the Holy Spirit gives us revelation and enlightenment to what the Holy Spirit wants to truly communicate to man through; the words, thoughts, and phrases, thus the more we study the words and allow the Holy Spirit to open up our understanding to the original thoughts of truth (or precepts where we get our word concept from) the more we will know what the original intent of the author and what the Holy Spirit is saying to us through the writer. My friend words like your teachers really matter. This is why I also stick with the KJV and study backward with the Hebrew (Old Testament) and the Greek (New Testament) to be able to look at the root words. Words on the surface in the Scriptures are quite different and not so deep in thought, but once you get into the root words your find more of what the Spirit wants to communicate to us. There is more of a heartfelt approach and a simplistic, clarity that gives rise, by the Holy Spirit, to our understanding and knowledge. Many people ask me do I have to go out and buy a Bible concordance or Bible computer program and I tell them no, it is your choice, but if you really want to know what the Bible is really saying and want to move correctly in understanding with the Holy Spirit then my answer is yes. When we as evangelists, preachers, and teachers do not go further into what God has for us by studying the Scriptures we settle for something less than what God would want to give His children. How easy is it to get a sermon off the internet or from another’s revelation from God in a book? I do not want to teach another’s revelation oh no, I want to share a fresh word from God and to do this I must spend time with Him, endure His dealings and judgments in my life, and go a little further in the Scriptures studying the words. I can always tell the depth of understanding and truth an evangelist, preacher, and teacher has by the way they approach the word of God; just like I can tell where you are in God by what comes out your mouth, how you pray, and how you give. The novice always goes after something that will make us feel good, something to encourage us and usually points our attention to a miracle Jesus did. Sadly these are nothing more than humanistic and inspirational sermons (not messages from God, messages from God are by the Spirit of God) appealing to our flesh and emotions. God is not trying to inspire our flesh He is trying to kill it. To be able to bring the life of God to people who are dying (in so many ways) we must go deeper into the Scriptures and seek to have the understanding, by the Holy Spirit, of what Jesus is teaching the people and stay away from all of the emotional things that blind our understanding, if not we will get the people and us off track from what is really being said and done. Stories in the Gospel are NOT stories to just make us happy (blessed) or give someone something to use to manipulate people with, either we get it by the Spirit or we do not get it at all. Stories in the Gospels are critical lessons for the disciples and us today. The miracles and emotional events in the Gospel are not the heart of the lesson, but we often make it so. The heart of the lesson is the interaction and relationship between Jesus and the people for a reason and purpose. All that Jesus did was for a reason and purpose have it be to enlarge someone’s faith or show the compassion, love, and grace of God. I do not know how many sermons I have heard on raising Lazarus from the dead, well the story in John 11:1-57 was NOT about raising Lazarus from the dead. The 11th Chapter of John has 57 verses and only 2 verses (John 11:43-44) dealt with raising Lazarus from the dead all of the rest dealt with Jesus’ interaction with Mary and Martha (and the other people mentioned) enlarging their faith to believe if God said it then it will happen. I do not know how many sermons I have heard on Peter walking on the water; like “you have to get out of the boat to walk on water,” but this story is not about Peter walking on the water it about Jesus teaching the disciples (and us) not to leave a place of provision He has provided. In the end Peter had to be saved by Jesus how foolish of Peter to leave a place of safety and security provided by God. I do not know how many sermons I have heard on Jesus feeding the 5,000 in the desert. This lesson is not about feeding 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes, but is about teaching the disciples how to be real servants (they ate last from one of the 12 “servant baskets” collected) and if they wanted to be first in the Kingdom of God they had to be last. Jesus was teaching the disciples if they want to be to be humble they must be humbled, but most evangelists, preachers, and teachers go after the miracle making up all kinds of humanistic and inspirational sermons while missing out on the real work of God in these stories. God’s work in these stories is always to bring us down in our selves. God’s word goes right after our heart and His pure intention is to waylay (even offend us) our pride and selfishness if we can stay away from all of the fancy emotional antidotes. In Philippians Paul shares these words with us, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:10-14) What was the “prize” Paul was talking about? The answer is in the beginning of verse 10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings.” What a wonderful prize from God, but not too many Christians would consider this to be a prize most Christians today consider this to be something to shun while they sing and dance their way to their perceived destiny reigning with God. Well my friend the only destiny we have in God is coming to “know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Without God’s death working in us there is no hope of any resurrection or reigning with God now and in our next life. We must come to a place in God were He can take us a little further into death, where we can identify with the “fellowship of His suffering.” We pray for faith well how much faith do we need? Can we store up our faith for when we need it? No of course not that is silly; all the faith we need is enough faith (which is given to us by God, Romans 10:17) to believe if God raised up Jesus from the dead (and He did) then He will be able to raise us from the dead too. Now I like this word “fellowship.” The word “fellowship” appears 17 times in the KJV from 16 verses; Strong’s #2844, a partner, associate, comrade, companion. It has nothing to do with eating as with a fellowship dinner or sharing time with someone talking, but has to do with becoming a partner, associate, comrade, companion with someone who is doing something, joining in and participating with, enduring the same hardship or enjoying the same victory. Now with that thought in mind let us go to the Book of Isaiah. In verse 53:5 we read, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) Now I know I am going after some sacred religious cows and some folks may call me a heretic, but that is okay it will not be the first time and God has given me big shoulders, we (God and I) both know the truth is more important than idle pettiness. Many denominations and religions use this verse to claim healing (while lacking relationship or fellowship with God) for their people “with his stripes we are healed” and when it does not happen they blame the person for not having enough faith to get the old black magic in this verse moving, well this is just foolishness due to not going a little deeper in the word of God to find out what is really being said here in this verse. It is “by, through, with (all translated the same in the Hebrew) his stripes we are healed,” but if we look at the word “stripes” which causes the healing we find God’s intent, fellowship. Strong’s #2266 (root word to #2250) “stripes” means: to unite, join, bind together, be joined, be coupled, be in league, heap up, have fellowship with. Our healing (no matter how long and hard we believe or pray) as many denominations teach amiss has little to do with claiming a verse, but with our fellowship with God. It is when we come into union, partnership, unite, fellowship with what God is doing in our lives and/or any given situation we are healed: physically, mentally or spiritually. We have taken this verse and made it the where with all to stand on the Scriptures which is NOT a divine spiritual principle of God. Paul told the Church at Corinth because they were taking the Lord’s Supper “unworthily” without really knowing what was really going on, “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” (1 Corinthians 11:29-30) Many Christians today are standing on Isaiah 53:5 instead of coming into a union and fellowship with God in their situation and “are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” When we come to embrace the “fellowship of his sufferings” we come to embrace healing. Do we not know when we have fellowship with God He hears our heart’s cry? Do we not know when we have fellowship with God who knows our frame and has pity on us will move on our behalf? Do we not know when we have fellowship with our Father He who knows how to give His children good gifts? Sadly we have made this verse in Isaiah some mechanical formula (and really twist God’s arm by praying in Jesus’ name) to get God to do something for us He may not want to do. Not everyone is to be healed when and where they think. Not everyone will be healed in this life. Who do we think we are? God is God we are not! God gets to decide what He wants for our lives and we need to shut our mouth and go along for the ride and be willing to go a little further with God. Written by David Stahl

NO SHOCK HERE MR. PRESIDENT

      President Obama said, “He and Michelle were shocked and saddened” when they heard the news of the senseless murders in Aurora, CO, but I was not shocked I was wondering why unthinkable acts like these have not happened more often. Oh I know, but for the grace of God. What do we expect? In 1962 the Supreme Court kicked God and the Bible out of school and replaced them with situational ethics where there is no right or wrong and now just look at our public school system they are out of control. Teen pregnancy rates are off the chart, oh I know the experts are saying teen pregnancy rates are getting better, but when was it is ever acceptable for a teenage girl to get pregnant? Our society has went over to the dark side with violent video games and slasher movies whereby desensitizing the heart and mind of impressible kids. Sadly main street (the people) and yes Wall Street (business) screams for this filth, but is trading America’s mind and soul for profit worth it? Drugs (both legal and illegal) are rampant in society. We do not think twice about saving a whale or turtle, but have a moral dilemma when saving a baby. What caused this horrible act? Our many years of walking away from God and sadly our society now reflect the evilness of man’s heart without being influenced by God and His ways. For the truth to be known the church in America for the most part has been MIA for the last 50 years. We have been looking for our destiny divided fighting over land, people, and power. Sorry Michelle, sorry Mr. President I was not shocked, very sadden, broken hearted, and yes even tearful, but not shocked. 

      Ungodly people are always shocked at the outcome of God taking His hands off. Believe it or not these tragic murders in Aurora, CO are in part God answering America’s request. Godly principles no longer influence America’s decision making, thus God (as we have told Him) is taking His hands off our great nation and in its stead God is turning America over to a reprobate mind – a mind that knows not good from evil, a mind that knows no truth. In the Book of Romans, Paul gives us some examples of what a country with a reprobate mind looks like, “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, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:21-30) I do not know about you my friend, but these verses sound like the ever increasing Godless American society of today. America I beg you please before it is too late turn back to a holy and living God. Please repent of your wicked ways. Pastors, church leaders get right with God, and be the example of God before man in servant hood. Many Christians say it is too late for America well I am not so sure about all that. But I do know God will continue to bless and use America for His purposes and intentions as long as America has a heart for God. It is not God bless America as I hear people sing, but it is America bless God. “Oh America return back to days of your youth, if not I will quickly come and remove your candlestick from the world,” thus says the LORD. Sorry Mr. President no shock here. Written by David Stahl

MY MINISTRY

Lately I have received a bunch of emails from some pastor friend asking me to keep them and “their ministry” in my prayers. No problem with this request it is an honor to keep my friends before the LORD in prayer. I find if I pray for others I will have less time to pray for myself asking God for all of those self-seeking, selfish things we often ask Him for. About seven or eight years ago I discovered this secret; when I pray for others more than myself God answers my prayers more often. While teaching in a church recently I made the comment this “is not your church you cannot do and say what you want to do and say” and Karen (my lovely wife) being in the congregation over heard someone behind her say, “yes this is my church,” well they are totally wrong and know not the Spiritual authority of God. My friend the church and our ministry is not ours it is God’s. Now we often think it is, but it is not. If we think such things it just highlights our lack of knowledge of the word of God and exposes our selfishness for the darkness it is. In Matthew Jesus said to Peter, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona (wild golden dove): 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 I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:17-18) What part of “I will build my church” do we not understand? How arrogant and selfish to think we are in charge of building Jesus’ church. Jesus laid down His life for the church and what we call “our ministry” for us to think we are responsible for what is going on is nothing more than foolishness and shameful. How can we attach our name to the word “ministry” (something Jesus laid His life down for) like: Benny Hinn Ministries, Joyce Meyers Ministries, T.D. Jakes Ministries, Paula White Ministries, and the list goes on and on how vain and presumptive to think we have something to do with this spiritual body of Believers. And even sadder we begin to personally identify with what God is doing through us (thinking we have something to do with it) and it begins to change our personality and character. Look at the number of ministries today with special little (usually something to do with a dove) logos, pins to wear on your lapel, different colored shirts with special white collars, and worse Bibles with their names on them. Who do we think we are to put our name on the Bible? The Gospel is not for sale, yet every day of the year ministries around the world merchandise the Gospel message for profit, power, authority, all so that they can manipulate their fellow man. Nothing has changed from biblical times, but now we are high-tech and use a more subtle, religious form to manipulate and control. Many pastors, preachers, and teachers really get this wrong and get in trouble with God; oh religious man has no problem with it and even encourages this deception the more, but to God this behavior and ungodly character stinks to high heaven no matter how hard you spin it on TV and in the media. Oh I know I am going to get criticized for this article by those Christians who are still in love with the world and themselves this is the way it always is, those that know God and truth are always criticized by those who do not know God or truth this too has not changed since biblical days. Jesus told the truth and they killed him, is the servant greater than the Master? It is not our ministry it is God’s we are only the vessel in which God has chosen to flow through and of that selection God can change His mind at a nanosecond of time in using us. Our service unto God is not based on our speaking ability, musical or dancing talent, good looks, money, family name, but on God’s intention and purpose and as we walk in His way He will continue to use us. The ministry God has called us to should never define who we are in God it must be our character. God is concerned about our character more than what we can do for Him, because our character speaks of the work we have allowed God to do in our heart. Our heart condition is a reflection of God’s real ability and power in our lives not our abilities and talents. Ministry is not to be our life ministry must revolve around our walk with God and family. Our daily living with our family and friends must take precedence in our relationships with God and man. When people think of me I hope they referred to as a man who loves his wife, family, friends, and man who is obedient to God in doing what He has called him to do and not he is the founder of Beholding His Glory Ministry a great ministry and work for the LORD. Ministry should be last in our lives, ministry is God’s responsibility our responsibility is to follow God and His ways. You know I really like the Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, but probably not for the reason you would think. These two wonderful Books of the Bible are full of great advice and encouragement, but during the course of Solomon’s life he never heeded his own advice. The Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes stands as a warning to us not to live our lives as Solomon; saying one thing, but doing another. But in the end before his eyes shut in death (thanks to God’s goodness, mercy, and longsuffering) I believe he did get it right. At the end of Ecclesiastes we read all what I believe God expects of us and please notice ministry and working for God is nowhere to be found. “The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. 11The 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 12:10-14) It is not about our ministry it is about our character. Husband and pastor it is not about your ministry it is about your character and family. Why are we so deceived into thinking God is more concerned about our ministry then He is about our character? The order is God (first), family (second), ministry (last) and if you get that wrong you will be out of balance with what God wants for your life. The order in relationship is “JOY;” Jesus (first), Others (second), and Yourself (last). “Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Many preachers and teachers say as we walk with the LORD and do the things He wants us to do ungodly character traits and to be honest frank sin (we know we are committing) in our lives will just fall away, but this teaching is not consistent with the Bible. There are things and even people in our lives we must forsake if we are going to serve the LORD and walk in His ways. And please do not make the mistake of thinking because God is using us He is over looking some character flaws and frank sin in our lives. We see this in the life of Brother Samson. In spite of Samson: sleeping with harlots in Gaza, partying with the world, marrying a woman (from the Philistines -- the enemy) not of the Jewish faith, and having an affair with Delilah while married God still used him. In Judges we read, “And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. 15And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.” (Judges 15:14-15) Just because God uses us in ministry does not mean we are some super anointed special Christian, God will use the vessel that is available not the best vessel. Now here is the great danger in all of this as Samson found out, the more God would use him in spite of his waywardness the more he thought he was okay until it was too late and Samson lost the use of his eyes. In verses 20-21 we read, “And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. 21But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.’ (Judges 16:20-21) Samson did not know the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Him he was thinking everything is okay I can play around and the LORD will still be with me well take heed my pastor friends there comes a time when God says enough is enough and He will lift His Holy Spirit from you and you will toil for years as Samson did. But much like Solomon the years in the prison house humbled Samson, his hair grew back, and he ended his life in the LORD, “And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. 29And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. 30And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.” (Judges 16:28-30) Sadly though in the end because of Samson’s arrogant and presumption (thinking God was with Him and He was not) he lost his life. Now it is strange how God allows things to continue in our lives that are not spiritually beneficial for us. God is long suffering, patient, and will even allow things (we all have them) that we know are wrong things (even frank sin) He wants us to stop, but He does not force our hand in these areas. It is not He cannot stop them in our lives all He has to do is stop our heart, but that is not how God wants to operate in our lives. If God has to stop our heart (I have known people God had to do this to) it is because He knows the intention and work He has planned in the people and in this setup is in jeopardy of being lost. When we started Christliche Gemeinde Stuttgart our church in Germany there was group of a handful of Africans that did not want to get involved with what God was doing and instead of leaving in peace they had a pastor friend come from Africa to take over. We were the outsiders, but God brought us into the picture to build this powerful work of God in Stuttgart and establish Beholding His Glory for the future. Well when this African pastor arrived we opened our arms to him in all sincerity, but behind the scenes he was gathering people to himself and plotting to take over the church well God wanted nothing to do with this. One Wednesday night when the pastor and his followers were meetings and while he was speaking he dropped over dead. Now Africans are a very suspicious lot of people and when the African population in Stuttgart heard what happened attendance almost tripled and we never looked back from there. It was like when Peter dealt with Ananias and Sapphira for their disobedience, “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) No one claimed his body so that it could be retuned back to his African country they asked me, but me still being in the U.S. military and a senior Officer I could not get involved. Take heed my friend to the company you keep and to your actions, God is watching and there are consequences for our actions. Sadly his body was cremated in Germany and never buried in African soil a true disgrace and unthinkable end. In these character issues and areas we think God is turning a blind eye to (in which He is not) and it is not God is slack to deal with us, but He wants us to love Him enough to stop doing things we know in our heart and spirit that are plainly wrong. He could make us stop, but He wants us to stop on our own because we learned, we know these things are wrong and He displeases of them. Recently one Sunday when I finished teaching a lady came up to me and said she was a visitor who just stopped by with her daughter in law. She said I really touched her heart I thanked her and then she asked me to pray for her. I agreed, asked what the need was, and she replied as she began to cry saying her husband of 51 years has left her for another woman and she wanted God’s wisdom in how to move correctly. I had no problem praying she was broken and as we prayed the presence of the LORD suddenly came and touched her heart. Later I thought of the encounter and concluded God had no problem touching her heart with the spoken Word and our prayer because there was already a huge hole in her heart that needed filled. Our real ministry in God is just being the vessel God can use to follow through to touch the hurting masses in the world, those lost and undone without His Son Jesus Christ, and those who have a huge hole in their heart that needs filled with God’s wisdom and favor, what I prayed for with this lady. My brother it is not my ministry or your ministry it is God’s ministry. Written by David Stahl

EXPECT FAILURE

I wonder why most Christians do not accept failure gracefully? I think it is because they do not expect failure to happen to them and because of all of the many wrong teaching that permeates the church (globally) today; teachings like we are free in God and we have great liberties in God to serve Him doing whatsoever we want, well for the truth to be known we have no freedom and liberty in God. Now it is true we are set free from the yoke of sin and yes there is liberty in Christ Jesus from sin, but we are not really free if we really desire to serve God and do His will for our lives. In reality when our sins are forgiven by God we have only traded one taskmaster for another and we have traded the yoke of sin and death for the yoke of grace and life. We will be yoked by either one or the other. Paul tells us of this wonderful conversion in our lives, “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage (yoke) of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Romans 8:21), but what happens next? Are we like wild horses to run around and kick up our heels in the field? If so wild horses with no discipline often will destroy themselves, the herd, and most assuredly they will never be useful, never coming to the purpose and intention God created horses for, to serve man. What comes next are the loving words from Jesus, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) What part of the yoke of the LORD says freedom to do what we want to do or liberty to say what we want to say and go where we want to go? The yoke of the LORD is a restrictive and limiting tool in our lives as was the “the bondage of corruption,” but the LORD’s yoke brings us to fulfillment and purpose. There are two places in a yoke; one for God and one for us and the better partner we are for God in the yoke the more is accomplished in our relationship. Now do not think the yoke of the LORD is for working, oh no the yoke of the LORD is for learning not doing and going and the more we can learn the more productive we will be when plowing the field of life. What are we to learn? We are to learn how meek and lowly of heart Jesus is and how Jesus’ yoke is easy. Jesus is an easy and light taskmaster. When we get saved we exchange taskmasters from one who would take us into sin and death for one that will take us into grace and life. When will the church learn it is the restrictions and limitations in our lives that brings us to fulfillment and completion in God? When the liars and thieves (globally) are exposed for what they are by those who know the truth or when the writer and composers of silly contemporary songs of today have a true conversion? Maybe so, but sadly that will probably never happen. We Christians do not like failure or losing (especially when it come to making money or projecting power) we are told we are winners and if we lose or do not have an abundance of earthly things then we do not have the favor of God, rubbish. Did you know failure in God is okay as long as you do not get stuck in it. This is not the case with your boss and friends. If you fail again and again at work you will probably get sacked and if you fail your spouse or friends again and again that relationship will probably be over, but not so in God. Failure is okay in God. We fail, we learn from it, and we march on. This is the order in God, but where failure in God is not okay is when we fail and do not learn the lesson God is trying to teach us. The divine Spiritual principle is learning and ever learning not learning but never learning what we see in most churches and Christian lives (mine included sometimes) today. As matter of fact we as Christians should come to expect failure. If we come to expect failure then it will not have a significant impact in our lives, we will then be like water and move around the failure in our lives. When God began speaking with Joseph he (being Joseph) made many mistakes that caused him some troubles later on in his life, but all along God used these failures and mistakes (which in reality was God’s will for his life) to bring Joseph to being number two in authority in all of Egypt. When Joseph was thrown into the pit by his “Christian” brothers, when in Potiphar’s house, or even in the prison under Pharaoh I am sure Joseph thought he had missed it in God, but not so. I am sure at times Joseph thought he had failed, but not so. I am sure in all that was happening Joseph was learning. In all of the hard times in Joseph’s life I would wager big bucks Joseph would have never thought he would be saying these words to his brothers, “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.”(Genesis 50:19-21) In all of the restrictions, limitations, and failures in Joseph he learned the lessons God had for His life. This failure and losing is a big deal in our lives. The more of the world and of our self we can lose the more of God we can have. The more we can lose of our self the more we gain in God. When we lose of our self it creates a place in our heart and lives for God to fill it with Himself. We must come to expect failure and loss in our lives. In John Jesus told the disciples and the folks that followed Him, “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, 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. 27Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.” (John 12:23-33) Even with God Himself speaking again out of Heaven (like He did in Matthew 3:17) the disciples could not understand what Jesus was saying. Jesus was saying He was going to be “glorified” or crucified (the Romans called it being lifted up) and if He is crucified He shall draw all men unto Himself. Now the disciples and the folks that heard Jesus thought, yes the Father is going to glorify Jesus, now Jesus will set up His earthly throne and He will kick the Romans out of Israel, but not so in verse 33 Jesus was talking about losing His life so that others may find theirs. The order is losing first then finding. In verses 25 and 26 Jesus defines the divine Spiritual principle, “He 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; (that is follow Him to the cross) and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." God the Father will only honour those that serve (as a slave) Jesus; working for Jesus, dancing and singing for Jesus, playing instruments for Jesus, even faithful attendance at church will not do it. Honor from God only comes by way of serving Jesus with our whole heart in truth and simplicity. We should know that every Christian who is called by the LORD to walk in His ways, nonetheless, is a Christian who is full of confusion, doubt, and failure. In fact we may even get the impression that the LORD no longer helps us in prayer as He once did. We may even feel we are losing a great deal of time and making no progress, but we must never stop and never allow anyone to get us off track even in our failure. In our failure the LORD is calling us to a deeper walk of faith in His divine presence. With a simple vision of our LORD and with an intense love toward Him (like a little child would have towards his mother) we cast ourselves into the gentle bosom of our LORD. This is the answer especially in times of our perceived failure. Our level of heart-felt seeking then is free from wandering imagination and from reasoning. Both of these are so distracting and can get us involved in speculation and introspection. The LORD brings failure (even dryness) because He knows so well that it is not by any means of our reasoning or by our effort that we are going to be drawn near to Him. How then shall we learn to get from under our failure; by a humble resignation to God’s will. This is where we begin. Noah was a perfect example of this. He was reckoned to be a fool and failure by the world, but later when the whole world was covered by water he was found out to be not so foolish. In all of his dark hours he walked by faith alone. Now do not think he understood the mind of God he did not as we will not. In failure and loss (as much as possible) be patient. Pay little attention to the failure (but expect it because it is coming) we must never give up regardless of the amount and severity of the failure we encounter. We must walk with a firm faith in God, dying to self, and to all of our natural efforts to know Him. Here is something to consider. Where does the divine blessing of God rest? The answer is somewhere deep within us. Therefore we must come to God silent, believing, patiently, and even maybe suffering. With confidence we press on. Rest in Him and be guided by His Holy Spirit. If our pursuit of Christ is pure then that is a sufficient reward. And yes our LORD may deprive us of our comfort in our failure even from understanding and at times we see no spiritual progress in our lives, but if we push into Him in these times there will be an enrichment that has been added to our lives far beyond our hope. We must never look down on ourselves if we cannot achieve what we have set out to do in our pursuit and consider it to be failure. In God achievement happen in His time. We must hold our peace and place ourselves before the LORD and persevere! We must trust (which is far beyond faith) in His infinite grace as though we are blindfolded and do so without a great deal of thinking or reasoning. We must place our lives in His kind, paternal hands, resolving to do nothing except His divine will and divine pleasure. Expect failure it is coming, but so is God’s everlasting, unchanging love. Written by David Stahl