OUR DISCIPLINED SPIRIT

The longer I go with God the more I find myself not really knowing what I thought I knew; things I thought I would die for now I am not so sure about. Oh I am not talking heaven or hell issues, but I am talking about things I find myself doing and saying that I would not do or say in the past. Some is for the good while others are not. Now do not worry I have not fallen off the spiritual wagon, but I have noticed a subtle drift in the discipline of my spirit and I cannot (and you too) allow this to happen. It is up to us to prevent this drift in our lives. It is up to us to discipline our spirit and daily walk with the LORD where we are sensitive to the guiding and direction of the Holy Spirit. Brother Paul knew this truth quite well when he said, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: (Strong’s #1396 harshly discipline or to lead away into slavery, claim as one’s slave) lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27) My friend this world (a system of thinking) and our love for our “self” will quickly overtake our soul if we allow them to. We must take heed to our self and our doctrine. Paul told Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:16) and it is no different today. In the early Church there was a manifestation of the life of Christ that was powerful enough to move an entire nation. Rome was greatly affected by it and nations ever since have been affected by it. Although the members of this early Church had received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and were used in the gifts of the Holy Spirit there were spiritual qualities such as; power and love that permeated these gifts which caused this powerful impact upon nations. In Acts 1:8, Jesus said that He would give us the power to become “His witnesses.” This includes the ability to do the works that He did, but there is to be more than this. He was referring to a quality of life, an element of the Spirit which would become the dedication (agape) of the Son of God resting within us. The early Church moved under the influence and power of this sacrificial dedication until all this became dynamic in the hands of God by which He was able to affect and move a nation. But today that is not the case. Today the church (worldwide) has had little impact in the nations and this is because the church today teaches just enough Gospel from the Bible for a basic knowledge of salvation to get someone into heaven and have stayed away from the critical issues of the day that would allow righteousness to be the order of the day and fill the nations. How do we expect the nation to turn back to God? How do we expect Christian children to grow up and become Christians if they are not taught and grounded in Godly truths when it comes to the social issues of the day from God’s perspective? In schools (from pre-kindergarten and up), from TV, movies, video games, Hollywood, even some churches the worldly view of social issues are force fed to Christian kids and slowly and subtly their mind and hearts are won over to the lie. And if you dare to speak against the politically correct view of such issues as: abortion, creationism, homosexuality, racism, etc. you are vilified called a hater, a homophobe, mean spirited, and more so the world can marginalize you and your message, but the Bible says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) My friend just because the Supreme Court says it is okay to do things God calls an abomination does not make it right. God is final judge for all things even the affairs of man. There are consequences (and we are seeing them now: disease in an ever increasing scale, social unrest, poverty, loss of peace in world, families being torn apart, the list is endless) for our willful disobedience to God’s word. Due to our slow and deliberate drifting of our spirit discipline we have replace the standard of the word of God with no standard at all. Paul in Romans tells us, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 2:28-32) The people knew the truth and they knew the judgment (Romans 1:18-19) of God’s reward for their actions was worthy of death (unless they were a reprobate), but they still choose to do that which was right in their eyes and this my friend is chaos and always leads to destruction. You know we blame the church, but in reality it is the people in the church that are at fault, after all the church is nothing more than the people. We are the church! We must get back to a disciplined spirit within us to maintain a moral standard within the world. As important as telling the truth in love (Ephesians 4:17) is there is a deeper thought I would like to look at when it comes to us having a discipled spirit. Although Jesus taught us the necessity of receiving His power we must always remember it is dangerous to allow its impact to overrule us. The same power that we feel when we are filled with the Spirit is the very power that can make us almost irrational with its moving. In response to a manifestation of this power we feel that we must do something, but we are not quite sure what it is. Then we become agitated and confused because the result was not what we expected. We must come to understand that there is another element that must be added. Believe it or not power and love is not enough to move in God. In the building of our spiritual life the field of motivation must be carefully thought about. There must be a right motivation behind each manifestation as we respond to the power of the Holy Spirit moving within us. We may have all of the gifts and be properly motivated by the love of God, but if there is not a disciplined spirit to go along with them they will not be able to accomplish their purposes. What is a disciplined spirit? This is a military term. Paul uses many military terms. The word here is used in connection with a General who has been disciplined in order to give discipline. He himself is under discipline so that the authority he now exercises will have a backing. One may have both power and love, but unless there is a “disciplined spirit” behind them they will accomplish little. For example, when Jesus called James and John He saw coming toward Him two young men whom He called “Sons of Thunder.” God’s hand was upon them, but they were not yet acquainted with the meaning of this hand that had been laid upon them. They were not fully able to interpret it at this time. I wonder what the mighty hand of God looks like? Today in the church we are filled with God’s grandeur and power yet there is no spiritual discipline in our lives for which God’s power can correctly flow. When Jesus gave them power to go out and minister John came back disturbed because the people in the city where he preached would not receive the LORD. He asked Jesus, “Do wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (Luke 9:54). John had the power to do this because Jesus had given it to him. John loved the LORD and wanted Him to be appreciated. These people had rejected Christ and their ministry therefore they wanted them to be punished. Then in verse 55, the Lord turned to James and John and said, “You know not what spirit you are of.” The difficulty was not in power nor was it with love. This reaction was due to a problem in their spirit. We must be motivated by God to be Successful, but it must come out of a right spirit. James and John had both power and love, but their motivation was flawed. The difficulty was in the undiscovered inner resources as seen with John. The territory within my heart that has yet to be discovered sometimes amazes me. There is territory within each one of us that must yet be taken. There are vast areas within our lives that are not yet conquered and the LORD needs to triumph in them. The Lord had seen John as a “Son of Thunder,” but He did not intend to let him remain as one. He used John in places where he would be able to “thunder” for a while. But the time came when God wanted to talk with him, so He took him to Patmos a barren isolated island. Here there was no one to “thunder” at. This was to be a time of quietness, a time to think, there was nothing else to do. Like John the Baptist God took him to a place where there was no water to baptize people, prison where he too could think about his motives and the reality of his ministry. You know I have friends who zealously work for God, but not much thinking about what they are doing. All they talk about is how God is using them or how God is blessing them, now do not get me wrong here, but God blessing us is not the message of the Gospel. The LORD was after John (He is after us) even more than He is interested in anything he will ever be able to do for Him. When we have been set on an isle like this by the LORD be careful not to accept the suggestions of all those who are willing to row us back to where we were, because we are so needed in God’s work. The LORD puts us in isolation at times so let Him keep us there! People may attempt to hinder us, but be determined to make time and room for the LORD, to allow Him the necessary conquest within us. When the thunder had become silent within us and the LORD had accomplished what He is after is us then He can gently speak to us. John knew that he had heard this voice before and thought. “Can it be my LORD?” Then the LORD said to John, “I have a message for you. It is not only for you, but for the Church as well. It will be projected down through thousands of years. Let me bring this forth through you.” John’s heart was already broken so just the call of his name was like a balm and he understood. “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the LORD’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” (Revelation 1: 9-10) Have you ever been in the Spirit on the LORD’s (which is every day) day? We know that we are to walk in the Spirit, but how many of us have experienced what it is to be caught up in the intimate moving of God? God gave John a vision and in it He covered every element of the earthly realm: the world, all creation, the skies, moon, stars, animals, trees, people, cities, nations, floods, winds, thunder, lightening. God took every tangible thing that John had ever known and used it all to make a most complicated, yet marvelous display. God has thundered in Revelation. But, did you hear John thunder in Revelation? No, all that was gone. What is the difference now? God is thundering through John. God did not call John because he could thunder. Knowing truth is critical in our walk with the LORD, but it is more important that we have a love for the truth. He did not want John's thunder. He wanted John’s heart condition (the beloved) and capacity for thunder, so that He could thunder through him. A marvelous change has taken place within his spirit. When John came back from the Isle of Patmos we read of John, “Little children let us love one another.” There is a tenderness, a brokenness, and a graciousness that was not evident when John thundered. So it is with our development. We have this capacity for thunder within us, but He will let us move along for awhile in our own thunder. But someday God will come after us and say, “I am going to dry up your thunder.” He will put us on our “Isle of Patmos” and everyone will wonder what in the world is wrong with us. Do not bring that soul to shore! He is bringing forth a disciplined spirit within us. When God begins to deal and judge within us to accomplish His purposes let us not be fearful He has not given us a spirit of fear. He has a purpose in view for us, both in time and in the ages to come. We are safe and secure in the hands of the living God as long as we have a discipled spirit. The question then is what kind of spirit are we of? Written by David Stahl

WHAT SHALL WE RECEIVE

One of the biggest drivers in our lives as to why we do things (even things for God) is based on our understanding of a reward system. Most rewards from God are not external although the church preaches this. How can you be “blessed” (which means happy) if you do not have a church of 1,500 members with big buildings, well manicured lawns, paved parking lots, or a network of churches so people can call you Apostle or Bishop? How can we be “blessed” if we do not have a BMW, Mercedes, Landrover or a big house with a circle driveway to entertain friends? How can we be “blessed” if we do not have a mighty ministry traveling around the world? For some strange reason we think since we are in service for the LORD He must give these things to us to show the world He is on our side (an African term), but not true. My friend God is not really too concerned about all of this stuff, but He is concerned about our heart condition and why we do things for Him. Funny He already knows our heart yet He allows us to continue in our selfishness and presumption hoping we will turn from our evil ways giving Him the preeminence. God said of Joseph, “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” (Genesis 39:2) All Joseph had at that time was a loin cloth and God. God did not list Joseph’s possessions because he had none, but what made Joseph prosperous? Well the Biblical definition of being prosperous has nothing to do with things, but means to push forward in God. Joseph was pushing forward in God as he allowed God to work in his life from the pit, to Potiphar’s house, to the prison, then to the palace. No palace unless there is a pit my friend. Man (both men and woman) even Christians (both men and women) often go after the external rewards because they have never really allowed God to work in their lives (like God did in Joseph’s life) and seek the external rewards because they feel unfulfilled in their lives (and heart) and secretly do not believe their eternal reward from God is waiting for them in Heaven. Karen made this observation and the more I observe people spiritually functioning in church the more convinced I am of her words. Now I find myself here often with my fellow brothers and sisters (I have not made it yet) and make no bones about it. I have a long ways to go (please pray for me), but God does not want to change our external situations and perceptions of our lives, but wants to change our inward desires and motives for external things. This is why in Ephesians Paul said, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” (Ephesians 3:16) Not with might by His spirit in the external man, but the inner man. Yes believe it or not God cares little about our external, but is intent on changing us inwardly and will do whatsoever we allow Him to do. Now before you get all depressed do not feel too bad Brother Peter suffered from the same ambitions and desires. In Matthew Brother Peter asked Jesus, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” (Matthew 19:27) Peter exposed his heart for why he did things for Jesus and why he followed Him. Peter wanted to know what he was going to get for serving the LORD. What is his reward, what shall he get for all of his troubles. I have met so many Christians (at all levels of spiritual growth and development) with this same question. Some ask in words, but others ask in deeds and actions. When we moved back from Germany to Jacksonville we started an once a month Home Group Meeting in our home. We continue this time of fellowship in our home in Sneads Ferry and is a great joy in our home. How can we not use our home (something God has given us) as a place to gather people to hear His word and fellowship with His children? God gives us things so we can use them to bless others. When we started I asked a friend (I still call him friend) I have known for over 30 years, traveled overseas many times in ministry, who lived 30 minutes (now 60 minutes) from our home, and is a great Bible teacher to come monthly and share with us. At first he was delighted (or so I thought) the people just loved him, he brought a strong word. Sometimes he would bring his wife and they would minister. When Karen and I would have friends from around the world come and stay with us (I would preach them around the area) they too would speak at our Home Group Meeting. It was a wonderful time many people (me included) looked forward to each month. But as we were driving back from a trip to Africa my good friend informed me he was no longer coming to our Home Group Meeting. To be honest I was not surprised you see while in Africa he asked me a question about his character and I told him the truth; what people in past have failed to do because if they tell him the truth they risk him breaking off relationship with him, which he has done with me and many others. Call me crazy, but if I care about you and our relationship I will not try to blow smoke in your ears, but try my best to share my heart, have it be at your level of expectation or not. But now what surprised me was the reason he gave me. He said, “sometimes I come and receive no money.” Now that was true, however there were also times he would come (and I know for a fact) he would receive $100s of dollars, so what was his motive in coming? Was it for the people to share (his wonderful gift to teach) the word of God or to make money? Well out of his own mouth spoke his heart. Now I do not share this story to demean him or make him feel bad (I would love to have fellowship with him, again he is a great Bible teacher), but I share this story so that we can learn from the loss I bear and feel in my relationship and somehow somewhere someone will not make the same mistakes. Also I share this story in hope (as strong medicine for both of us) it will be a means to come together again as the Bibles commands us to do, settle the offense in our heart, and once again join our God given strengths together to minister edifying the Brethren. You know we think God measures our ability in keeping relationship by the number we keep, well I am persuaded that is not true. God measures our ability in keeping relationships by how many we have lost not how many we have. I guess our entire relationship of over 30 years was not what I thought it was. Godly relationships are not one sided they are mutual in respect. One person is not over another oh no we all are to be servants, but when one thinks they are the boss or even a “mentor” (a mentor is a worldly business term) (even if someone willfully puts him in that place of authority in their life) they assume the role of providing guidance and direction which is the role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13) Jesus said “all” and He means “all.” We must not allow ourselves to be led astray in these areas even when it comes to people we look up to and admire. By all means live a Godly life and we must allow people to observe ours, but we must never allow people to pattern their lives after ours or live their lives according to our understanding of God. Mentor relationships are not Godly they are selfish built on arrogance, control, and manipulation the biggest sin of church leadership today. I have seen it all my life and on five continents. These relationships are not built on Godly principles, but built on an inward lack of the mentor (or mentoree) and their need to be esteemed and exalted. At its best any mentorship program (or mentor relationship for that matter) in a church is nothing more than a humanistic approach at leadership. Now friendship is much different it is based on mutual respect which honors the values and contributions each brings to the relationship. This is what God is looking for in relationships. It is amazing how we all seem to hide behind verses in the Bible when we are confronted with things about our character we get all spiritual ignoring people (but this is manipulation at its finest) who either made a heartfelt mistake or who would dare to speak the truth in love. Since I am on a roll I would like to touch on another touchy issue that is destroying relationships at all levels within the church and that is the endless stream of preachers from all over the world coming to America and even Europe on their annual business trip to get money and support for their church. That is not the model you find in the New Testament. Yes the disciples did carry money church to church, but they did at the direction of the Holy Spirit they were not manipulated and guilted into giving money as I see going on today. I will be honest African pastors have mastered this as a art. When I pastored in Germany our congregation was about 70% African and how the apostles, bishops, pastors, prophets, etc. would try to get their greedy little fingers in the heart and wallets of our people, but I would not allow them to come and fleece the flock which often caused problems between my African Associate pastor and me. I have gone to some churches who were having special services for such “men of God” and it was appalling to watch the manipulation and downright foolishness in the name of the LORD. In Africa I have sat in the office of pastors as they counted the Sunday offerings from four or five services (they are not that poor) and as pastor belonging to the greater denomination would bring in their money and add it to a money making pyramid scheme (a fee for service) for a spiritual covering within the country. This is not the model found in the Bible. But this foolishness also happens in America. Apostles, bishops, pastors, prophets make their way across the pond to America to see how much money they can get for their churches. I have heard them measure the successfulness of their trip by how much money they got. Now do not get me wrong I do believe in helping out churches overseas in need if I can, but it is at the direction of the Holy Spirit. Relationship is never the reason to make money. Relationship is the reason to join hearts and lives together, to come along side each other and work together. You know if your church cannot stand on its own two feet then maybe your church does not need to be standing. If God is not enough to provide what you need then all of the money in America will never do. Peter asked Jesus, “what shall we have therefore?” And Jesus said unto them, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” (Matthew 19:29-30) Did you get that? I did not see where Jesus said you will get money for driving a few miles once a month, crossing the oceans and living in squalor, or you will get a big name and be honored in the nations, but our reward is 100 fold IN OUR NEXT LIFE for those who can wait, those who like the back seat, and those who do not mind being last. Written by David Stahl

THE MAIN MESSAGE

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

NO COWARDS IN HEAVEN

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

IN GOD'S WORDS

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

GOD GOES AHEAD

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

DOING WRONG

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