THE PATHWAY TO THE HEART OF THE FATHER (1 OF 9)

Here are some thoughts on prayer taken from a teaching of mine. There is a lot of praying going on today, but not much is being done in the Spirit. I think what we call prayer is much less than what God expects of us. God expects we get into the Spirit and touch lives and hearts, ours included. Unless we are in the Spirit, unless our words have been birthed by the Spirit we are not praying we are speaking into the wind. Most of what we call ''prayer" is done in the natural and never reaches the Spiritual realm. Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, even Catholics, and other mainstream Christian religions pray they even have their little prayer beads and pray to their gods, saints, and prophets, but that is not prayer. Did you know the word "prayer" is not in the Gospel or Epistles of John, but "prayer" is tied into John's life more then the other disciples. It seemed there was a greater quality of love in John's life. One can not really be involved in prayer if there is no love in their life. Prayer should be natural like breathing. We do not have to think or stop doing something to breathe. Prayer should be built in us. Prayer is always communion with God. Prayer is always to God if not then you are not praying. Now you do not have to pray you really don't, but if you do not pray you will not get very far in God. If you have a hunger in you, a desire "to draw nigh (near) to God" then God will meet you in that place and prayer will be the avenue God uses to touch your life. You know it should not be a duty to pray, but a joy. We at first "get with it" with duty prayer (pray over our food or before we close our eyes in sleep), but in time God will lead us out and into a deeper more effectual time with Him in a prayer life where we stop our living so we can spend time with God. But still there is a deeper level God desires to take us to and that is our life becomes a prayer. Where prayer automatically comes out of us like breathing out from our communion with God. He will lead us from duty prayer, to a prayer life (both more mechanical), and by His Spirit to where our life becomes a prayer. What we call prayer today would be typical of a religious duty or activity in the New Testament. Prayer is not a duty or religious activity, prayer is of the heart. Again prayer is communion with God. Our life is to be a constant prayer (communion with) to God. In Isaiah 58:1-14, (read) we have an example of religious prayer. Here is the commentary:

1. v1 - Is house of Jacob sins.

2. v2 - Looks and sounds good, but religion looks and sounds good. Religion has an outward appearance.

3. v3 - Bending God's arm. If we can not have faith and believe in God we force Him. God, I will pray and fast, you better give me what I want.

4. v4 - Does not match up with v2

5. v5 - God said is this really what I want??

6. v6,7 - God said, I do not want religion, I want "righteous living." God is not religious. Real prayer leads us into righteous living where we just live right and not know it.

7. v8 - Righteous living leads us to the glory of God. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8) God is after heart purity! Prayer (communion with God, not asking for healing or material things) is what leads us in "His Way" to heart purity.

8. v9 - We then BECOME like God. After all we were created in His image. We need to BECOME like the Father, just like Jesus did. Now prayer is not talking to God. Talking to God is talking to God and prayer is prayer. I have found my best prayers have no words. Often at times the best we can do in prayer is groan. I think God is listening for more groans than He is for words. We must remember Jesus gets everything from the Father. He does not do or say anything of Himself, only those things that He sees the Father doing and what His Father would be saying. Prayer is something alone, between you and God. The direction of prayer is ALWAYS to the Father If not to the Father you are not praying. In Matthew 6:9-15 Jesus was teaching the disciples something about prayer and somehow it has become, "The LORD's Prayer and is recited religiously in vain. When Jesus said this it was the first time spoken to God (usually said was "Avie" "my Father or around through"), "Abba Father" which means "direct address to the Father." This is the number one way "prayer" is translated in the Scriptures. Around Christmas time many folks sing a song "Avie Maria" or "Around through to Maria" instead of to the Father. Now Jesus was not teaching the disciples to say "Abba Father," but is teaching them to pray directly to the Father. Here are other critical divine spiritual principles Jesus was teaching the disciples: The proper attitude in Prayer is "Hallowed be thy name." God's name is to be "hallow" a most holy thing, purity, not hollow or usable. God does not operate by formula and rules, but by divine spiritual principles. "In the Name of Jesus" is not a formula for God to operate, we must be careful. God seeks worshipers not by rules, but in spirit and truth. We need to allow God to be God, then God can gather us into Himself as oneness with Him. 1 + 0 = 1 (we together) not 1 + 1 = 2. So we can have His desires in us. So we know what the way He takes is and we can then take the way He is taking. So we may walk in step in harmony with Him. Many Christian do not want to get in Him. They will have to lose themselves. Not too many draw nigh (near) to God, because He is a consuming fire. No one wants to be consumed. We would rather be on fire for the LORD, well the only way we can be on fire for the LORD is to fall into the ground and die, but no we would really rather give God things we do not mind see get consumed and save our self. Save our self? Oh no God wants to kills our flesh! Our proper motivation, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (verse 10) But if we do not draw nigh then He can not bring that oneness, He has no opportunity. How can God be God if we always want Him to dance to our tune, to do what we want Him to do. We say, I have given up all for you Lord. I want a return on my investment. Next verse, "Give us this day our daily bread." (verse 11). In the Greek, "Give us the bread today we need." Now I like that because we do not know what our need is. We think we do, but in reality we need to take on His desires and His need for our lives. Prayer is the way into harmony with God in meeting needs not ours, but also others. No where in the Bible does it say Jesus prayed for the sick, it says He healed the sick. The last thing I need when I cannot touch God's heart for myself is to have someone pray for me. Oh no I need someone who knows God and can touch His heart on my behalf. What does God want? What do we want?? We are to know what God wants so we can harmonize in meetings needs with God. Prayer helps us see what the Father is saying and doing. Healing the sick then is so easy and not a struggle. The character of Prayer, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (verse 12) God's intention in prayer is to bring us together with Him in a oneness and unity. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:" (Verse 13) He does not intend to lead us into temptation, but He intends to deliver us from evil. This happens as we come together in communion (prayer). You know our temple is to be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves to steal from God and whatever we can from God. Put $10 in the offering to get $100 back. This is giving to get. We give so others may receive not so we can be blessed. This is selfish and greedy We come together in a service so that we can be a blessing and not to receive a blessing. Oh no, we are to become the very expression of God. All I want is Him. And to be caught up in His glory to be this expression through prayer, communion with Him. Prayer is the pathway to being the expressed image of the Father. Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 65 (FROM HGM ON 11 JUN 19)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-65 TEXT: "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:39)

 

I. EITHER DIE OR DIE

 

A. All Israel should have joined Miriam in death, death to self and the flesh. Paul died daily. We are brought into the wilderness to die to self, especially in the Wilderness of Zin, the Lord brings us to a place where there is no more crying for water.

B. The Israelites were very concerned about their fleshly needs. They did not want physical death. Thus they never were able to die to the flesh needs. When God brought them into the Wilderness Zin, He brought them to the opportunity to die and love. This was to be their place of renewal where their finality of death to the flesh and unbelief was expected. Unbelief is very fleshly. Yet they continued to move in that. "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:19)

C. The Wilderness of Zin has been designed for perhaps the greatest victories of life. But the place which has been designed for victory can actually become the place of defeat and death. This is so sad because that which God has designed for life and victory often becomes the very thing in which death and defeat occur.

  D. Man has this dubiously wonderful talent of turning life into death. Look at man in the Garden of Eden. Look at the children of Israel. "And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron." (Numbers 20:2) They lost no time turning life into death. It doesn't sound like dedication or consecration to the Lord. Sounds like rebellion and complaint. Sounds like death.

E. The Wilderness of Zin becomes a place for a refresher course. This is not the first time these people were without water. Previously they failed the test in the waterless places. Now they have another chance. Have they learned anything for their previous experiences?

F. The test is given again to find out. It is the same test they already had, word for word, question for question. Can they pass it this time. The conquest of the land depends upon their passing this repeated examination? How can God graduate anyone if they do not pass the final exam? God is not going to excuse us from testings. After three failures He is not going to say, "That's okay, we'll forget it" and move us on anyway. But He will keep bringing us back to the same test as long as there is opportunity for Him to do so.

G. They answered the questions exactly the same way they did the first time they took the test. This is after God provides them with the right answers before at the bitter water. In reality they were bitter not the water.

H. "And the people chode [strove] with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before [when the earth swallowed the rebels, 14,700 died, Numbers 16:41-49] the LORD!" (Numbers 20:3)

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. Test after test and time after time God will bring us back to the place where He have an opportunity to work life and victory into us. It is not a question of His ability or power, but a question of whether or not we are willing to submit to His will. Whether or not we are willing to endure the time of testing to receive the reward. "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13)

WTFMT 64 (HGM ON 14 MAY 19)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-64 TEXT: "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." (Mark 10:21)

 

I. FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

 

A. Because the Wilderness of Zin is a critical point it can be a turning point for better or worse. Thus it can be a point of a new beginning. This is a place from which God calls the children of Israel to go up and to possess the land.

B. But the choice of these people is going to determine whether they have a new beginning and a better life or deal-end course and a worse life. And so the choice itself becomes critical

C. Jesus says to the rich young ruler, "sell all that you have and fellow me." The rich young ruler is forced to make a decision. Will he or won't he follow? One way or the other he will make a decision which will set his course for life, and then some. Just that one decision will carry unimaginable implications. "Come," Rich Young Ruler, "take Judas' throne."

D. Judas, called by Jesus to be one of the twelve chosen disciples, desired money, and so made material gain his objective in life. He made the greatest decision of his life, which cost him his life and his possibility his eternal position. E. Was it the riches, the money that caused them to turn away of the Lord? Or was it the love of earthly riches instead of the heavenly riches? "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (I Timothy 6:10)

F. What was it that the Lord was during in them to force them into making a choice? Was it the Lord not wanting to have money? No. Did the Lord hate Judas and the Rich Young Ruler? Of course not. It was their choice not to serve Lord. Jesus gave them both the same invitation, "follow me." They both made the wrong choice.

G. Saul of Tarus, on the road to Damascus, met this same person who crossed the lives of the Rich Young Ruler and Judas. "And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." (Acts 9:6) That choice resulted in monumental implications not only in the life of Saul himself (later to known as the great apostle Paul), but in the whole Church of Christ. That was just one decision.

H. God doesn't say to us, "Now watch out, this is your critical." How often is the right decision missed? We are to be ready at all times to give the Lord the answer, the response, the decision which He seeks. ALWAYS give God what He wants. That way we will not have to be concerned about when the critical may occur.

I. Our safety in this matter is to lay aside our own will and do the will of our heavenly Father. Ananias and Sapphira made their most critical decision when they decided to lie to the Holy Spirit and to God. (Acts 5:1-10)

J. The Wilderness of Zin, and especially the specific place of the encampment of the children of Israel, Kadesh, are very critical. "Kadesh" means "to consecrate," "to cleanse," "holy." These meanings play an important role in our choices. A life which is consecrated to God, a heart which is daily cleansed from sin, a walk of holiness, and pureness before God, the desire to obey God at all costs, become the element in our lives which will take us in God's direction and to His conclusions.

K. It was in Kadesh that Moses smote the rock instead of speaking to it. (Numbers 20:9-13) Kadesh, this place of holiness, was to be for Israel the place of final separation from the flesh.

L. The finality of it is seen in "and Miriam died there, and was buried there." Who is Miriam? She is the one who carried leprosy with her through the Red Sea. That is, she carried her faultfinding and murmuring within herself only to be manifested later. There is to be death to all this; sin shall not rule. Sin and flesh are not to have the victory. Paul tells us in Romans 6:14, "sin shall not have dominion over us."

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. A life in God must be maintained through daily rededication. God brought Moses and the people to a place of rededication, or renewed separation and concretion and cleansing. This was done at Kadesh.

B. On the basis of this renewal they would go up to possess the Promised Land. If they failed in the time of renewal they would fail in their choice and they would fail in their forward spiritual progression, and they would fail to go up and possess the land, failing to inherit that which God called them to inherit.

C. If there is to be any degree of success in God, there must be a constant renewing of our separation and consecration, our separation from the flesh and our consecration unto God. Just as the mercies of God are new every morning, so must our spirit, strength, inner man and mind be constantly renewed. (See II Chronicles 15:8; Psalm 51:10; Isaiah 40:31; Romans 12:2; II Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 4:23)

IDOL WORSHIP

As I was watching the historic and very beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral burn the LORD brought back to my memory the words of my sweetheart and wife (Karen) ":nothing that man makes will last forever." I thought ,yes, "For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb." (Psalms 37:2) then my mind advanced in the Psalms to, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more." (Psalms 103:13-16) We like the over 800+ year old Notre Dame Cathedral will wither and blow away some day. God knows our frame (He made us) that we are dust and our days just like the Notre Dame Cathedral "as a flower of the field" and "the wind passeth over it and it is gone." Yet they said they will rebuild. Same words spoken after the twin towers were fallen. The whole picture as it played out on our TV just smelled like something is not right. Why did it take over 2 1/2 hours to put water on the cathedral? The newscaster kept saying, "where is the fire department?" Why did not the sprinkler system work? Why was there not a fire plan in place? And why was not the cathedral insured? Well, it is quite clear now that the donation to rebuild (as of the date of this article) is now over 900 million dollars. Far greater than the 300 million Euros needed to refurbish the cathedral that the French people would not or could not provide, so the Catholic Church reached out to the world hoping for support for which they were not getting as reported by the French press. Something just does not smell right here, yet for us it is a vivid reminder of just how frail and wonderfully we are made, but in the end we all will, "as the grass wither away." Oh how the people mourned as the Notre Dame Cathedral burned! Their idol full of icons and statues was in great peril of being lost to humanity. They believe the actual crown of thorns (housed at the cathedral) Jesus wore on the cross, a piece or an actual nail (not really sure which) that fastened Jesus to the cross, and centuries of paintings, and religious artifacts were in jeopardy of being lost to humanity, oh how the people cried and prayed. How could the people in Paris and around the world believe this was the authentic crown of thorns Jesus wore without inspecting it for themselves? How can they believe in something without knowing for a shadow of doubt this is the real deal. To worship something based on another person's word is pure and simple idolatry. Yet billions of people around the world worship bits of metal, flakes of paper, and statues from history and feel they have touched the heart of God. Well my friend it CANNOT happen. True worship to God comes not by ritual or tradition, but from a heartfelt desire (that God builds in us) to know God in a deep spiritual way. The Psalmist writes, "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me." (Psalms 42:7) God has built in us all a desire to know Him in a way that transcends wise tales and generosity, that transcends form and function, and that transcend ritual and traditions. These are what most of the world worships to come to know God. They worship wise tales, generosity, form and functions of God, through rituals and traditions of men. Paul told Timothy and us, "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do." (1 Timothy 1:3-4) Even in the days of Paul and all throughout the Old Testament idol worship and endless rituals and traditions was used by the masses to try to come to a place to where they can come to a "Godly" edification, but statues of clay, sounding brass, and tinkling symbols never reach the heights of God's heart where true worship is found. The pageantry and spectacle of ceremony and ritualism only adds to man's vain attempt to come to God in any meaningful way. Walking the aisle holding books and icons does nothing to draw God to man, but man coming with a broken and contrite spirit before God, well all heavens moves (and is open) for the man or woman who lowers and humbles themselves before God. Robes and rituals never replaces humility and honor before God. You know our faith and believing has nothing to do with how we make our presentation before God. I remember in the 60s and 70s Christians (maybe some Believers) who would lay prostrate on the ground before the altar thinking God would see them lowering themselves to see just how holy they were acting and He (God) would accept their worship based on their position or custom, but not so in God. God looks at the heart not at what we do, wear, or repeat in some chant or ritual service. God does not want us to crawl on our hands and knees on broken glass or rose pedals, oh no my friend God looks at our heart. The Psalms says, "Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart." (Psalms 44:21) God knows our heart, even the secrets things we think we keep secret from our friends and family. He does not care about the idols and icons we wear around our neck or put on the dash board of our car. So many people (not sure I can call them all Christians) wear a cross some with Jesus still on the cross and some without Jesus on the cross, well both are pure idolatry. The piece of hardware becomes the focus as a symbol of worship and then the true worship to God from the heart by the Holy Spirit is lost in all of the hocus pocus mumble jumble. Also in the Psalms King David said, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' (Psalms 139:23-24) This searching goes far beyond our heart even to our thoughts to know our wicked ways. Then "lead me in the way everlasting." If we do not allow God to search our heart and know our thoughts then He will never be able to lead us in the way everlasting. Idol worship NEVER allows God to search our heart and know our thoughts; no matter how long we attend a certain church, give money to the poor (and the church) or sing in the choir. Did you know it takes greater faith to believe a lie than it takes to believe the truth? This is why we see the great effort it takes to be religious. We must keep all the 613+ laws, the sacraments, the sayings of a prophet perfectly or God will smite us. Oh no my friend we are saved by grace through faith. Not a faith in an idol, but faith in the work that Jesus alone did on the cross. Jesus needs no help from His mother, Apostles, or any so called Saint. Our salvation was completed in Him and Him alone. We need no help to get to God we can go direct to the Father if we are in Christ Jesus. Did you know for a lie to be believed there must be an element of truth moving in it? This is a spiritual principle that has been hijacked by religion and by all those who promulgate their lies and deception. The use of some truth grabs our heart, but we have to swallow the lie to feel like we have done something for God. This time of the year (around what many people call Easter which only means passover see Acts 12:4) billions of people are over into idol worship. Some even flog themselves as Jesus was flogged. And they wonder why their God seems distant. They wonder why their lives are unfulfilled and they have no joy or contentment, well they are worshipping dumb idols made by the hands of man. I see this in the mainstream denominations (especially in America) and religions of the world. They go through the religious holidays each year thinking maybe this year I will feel God and be fulfilled, but sadly their dumb idols just sit silently as they bow down going through the rituals. For God's sake stop all of the idol worship. Insanity is doing the same thing every time expecting to get a different result. I am amazed to talk with people who worship idols and I ask them what do you feel and many or most say nothing. They go to their churches, synagogues, mosques, and other houses of prayer habitually and faithfully to pray and worship their idol or statue that is dead and dumb. Oh yes they will rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral and oh the money they well raise to worship idols. Written by David Stahl

THE GOSPEL IS ENOUGH

In The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren (pastor of one of the biggest Southern Baptist Churches in America) said, "today the Bible is not enough to be saved." It is no wonder Rick has evolved/waffled his position on the Bible's view on homosexuality like many other big name speakers (cannot call them preachers) like T. D. Jakes. Deception is progressive just as is salvation. Either we walk in the truth of the word of God and it is enough for salvation or we shall walk in deception mixing other things and as a pastor or leader in a church deception begets deception of the people we lead. I am ever amazed (but I should not be) at how all types of churches use worldly means to try to hook non believers to come to church. Some churches have special services: like homecoming, pastor's appreciation day, family and friends day or they will book a gospel group (that does not sing about the gospel) because they know people would rather be entertained with song and music, be recognized for some great act of service, or will rally together for a great social cause than to sit and hear the word of God. Most churches have failed at presenting a concise, heartfelt and heart directed message of the true word of God so they have to resort to gimmicks, promotions, tricks, and even lies to get people to come to their church. As bad as these are before God that is not the worst part of this charade the worst part of this charade is the pastors and leaders of these churches think they are doing God a big favor in misleading people to come church. Is that what the church has come to in presenting the precious and eternal Gospel message? Is this the picture of most churches today? Paul writes to Timothy, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;" (1 Timothy 4:1-2) Sadly I say yes not knowing the difference between the truth and a lie. And why . . . follow the money. Believe it or not the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) is the root of all evil. Do we really need to represent half truths and parlor tricks to get people to come to church for money and influence? Around Christmas (I still have a hard time with that word) we have Christmas parties and have Santa Claus show up in his red suit and black boots and we say it is for the kids, but in reality we find the pictures taken posted to Facebook accounts of the adults. After all who (no matter the age) does not want to sit on Santa's lap? We sell this misrepresentation of the truth as ministering to the community or an outreach for the kids in the neighborhood, but in reality we are not honest enough to stand for the truth of the word of God and wink our eye a little to have some fun and who knows someone really might come and who knows someone really might hear something that will touch their heart, and who knows someone might really give their heart to the LORD. Well after all we pastors do have reports to send up the chain and we would not want to make our bosses unhappy, why they may even break our rice bowl and move us on. Then where would God be in all of this if we get our walking papers? Not just Christmas (still kind of sticks in my mouth), but over the passion week we have invented a cottage industry of half truths from events taken from the Scriptures in hooking people to come to church instead of using the Gospel message. The word "passion" is used one time in the Scriptures. In Acts we read, "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" (Acts 1:3) Which means suffering or vexed. (Strong's G#3598) Yet we have our holy week (holy week? I thought God is holy and He wants us to be holy, but a week?) starting with Palm Sunday which has nothing to do with the Gospel message. My friend the glorious Gospel message is found in 1 Corinthians we read, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) I read nothing here about palm branches. Any way the people that cried, "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the LORD" misidentified Jesus as only a prophet and were the same folks that said, "crucify him!" in a few days. I do not want to wave palms and be indentified with them. On Thursday we have Maundy Thursday that remembers the last supper. Yes Jesus and the disciples did eat a meal together (they kept the feast 1 Corinthians 5:6-8) before He was crucified, but it could not have been the passover, if so that would make John 18:28 not true, anyway what does that have to do with the Gospel? Next we have Good Friday. I do not believe Jesus was crucified on Friday, but Wednesday. On Wednesday opinion states that there were two Sabbaths that week. After the first one (the one that occurred on the evening of the crucifixion (Mark 15:42 and Luke 23:52-54), the women purchased spices—note that they made their purchase after the Sabbath (Mark 16:1). The Wednesday view holds that this “Sabbath” was the Passover (see Leviticus 16:29-31, 23:24-32, 39) where high holy days that are not necessarily the seventh day of the week are referred to as the Sabbath). The second Sabbath that week was the normal weekly Sabbath. Note that in Luke 23:56, the women who had purchased spices after the first Sabbath returned and prepared the spices, then “rested on the Sabbath.” The argument states that they could not purchase the spices after the Sabbath, yet prepare those spices before the Sabbath—unless there were two Sabbaths. With the two-Sabbath view, if Christ was crucified on Thursday, then the high holy Sabbath (the Passover) would have begun Thursday at sundown and ended at Friday sundown—at the beginning of the weekly Sabbath or Saturday. Purchasing the spices after the first Sabbath (Passover) would have meant they purchased them on Saturday and were breaking the Sabbath. Therefore, according to the Wednesday viewpoint, the only explanation that does not violate the biblical account of the women and the spices and holds to a literal understanding of Matthew 12:40 is that Christ was crucified on Wednesday. The Sabbath that was a high holy day (Passover) occurred on Thursday, the women purchased spices (after that) on Friday and returned and prepared the spices on the same day, they rested on Saturday which was the weekly Sabbath, then brought the spices to the tomb early Sunday. Jesus was buried near sundown on Wednesday, which began Thursday in the Jewish calendar. Using a Jewish calendar, you have Thursday night (night one), Thursday day (day one), Friday night (night two), Friday day (day two), Saturday night (night three), Saturday day (day three). We do not know exactly what time He rose, but we do know that it was before sunrise on Sunday. He could have risen as early as just after sunset Saturday evening, which began the first day of the week to the Jews. The discovery of the empty tomb was made just at sunrise (Mark 16:2), before it was fully light (John 20:1). But in the grand scheme of things, it is not all that important to know what day of the week Christ was crucified. If it were very important, then God's Word would have clearly communicated the day and timeframe. What is important is that He did die and that He physically, bodily rose from the dead. What is equally important is the reason He died—to take the punishment that all sinners deserve. John 3:16 and 3:36 both proclaim that putting your trust in Him results in eternal life! This is equally true whether He was crucified on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. My friend there was nothing good for Jesus on Friday (if then) he was crucified. It was a painful, horrid beating and slow death that He endured out from His love for us as he willfully went to the cross. Is that not enough? Paul tells us, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) God sent us to preach as He did Paul not to make up some holy week. The preaching of the cross the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Yet we make up things to try to get people to come to services (I believe) because we really do not believe the Gospel (and the Gospel alone) is the power unto salvation like Rick Warren thinks we need more. Then the crowning jewel in the week of religious activities the Sunday sunrise service. Do we really need to use religion to draw people when we have the Gospel message? No in great power Jesus came forth from the grave in victory and great power, the tomb was empty, He is Risen!! Is not that not enough? That is a part of the Gospel!! Then why do we have sunrise services? Do we need to get up before the crack of dawn and remember He has risen from the dead? If so why? Will a sunrise service help you believe more than the Gospel message preached under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit? I think not. And please do not get me started on all of the easter egg hunts and bunny face painting parties churches have, oh that right this is for the kids. How can we mix the truth with a lie? Sadly in reality our religious tricks and gimmicks only nullify the power of the Gospel in the lives of people who the Holy Spirit is drawing. In reality when we hold these services we actually are getting in the way. It is no wonder people are not coming to Christ. If the Gospel is not enough then we are wasting our time. There is no other name than Jesus, there is no other message than the Gospel, whereby people can be saved. In Acts we read, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) That means no mixing Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and presents and Christ. That means no mixing easter bunnies, easter egg hunts, and holy week and Christ. And while I am on a roll why do we kill ourselves and throw money for a week to do vacation Bible School then for the other 51 weeks (ah everyone else is doing it) care little to what happens with the kids? My friend when we add to or take away from the Gospel message by example we are saying the Gospel message is not enough whereby someone can be saved. When we mix such things with Christ it is plainly and painfully evident we do not believe the Gospel message is enough to save one from their sins. Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) The question I ask my friend is are you ashamed of the Gospel of Christ? Written by David Stahl

WTFMT 63 FROM HGM ON 9 APR 19

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-63

TEXT: "So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath." (Numbers 13:21) "Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there." (Numbers 20:1)

 

I. INTRODUCTION -- IN CRISIS

 

A. There two sets of meanings which the word "Zin" has. The first set is "prick," "barb," "hook," "something that is quite unpleasant or quite painful."

B. The other set of meanings is quite different; it is "preserve," "keep," "protect." So in one meaning you are torn to pieces in the brier patch (a loved one dies or trouble) and in the other meaning you are kept by God and can rest in His protection.

C. As strange as it may seem, the very incidents occurring in the Wilderness of Zin work in parallel with these meanings of this Hebrew word "Zin."

D. The place in which the children of Israel lived while in the Wilderness of Zin, Kadesh, is a focal point, and plays prominently in the message of this wilderness. "Kadesh" also carries two different meanings, much wider apart than the two sets of meanings for "Zin." "Kadesh" means "holy" and its related words. "Kadesh" also means "prostitute" and its related words. The very ones God called to holiness, a dedication to Himself, becomes spiritual prostitutes, dedicated to other gods. Today in the US the religion of Baal is alive and well.

E. This place, the Wilderness of Zin with Kadesh as its capital, so to speak, is a place of crises. For the children of Israel it is a very critical place and time.

F. We all have points of crises in our lives, turning points -- perhaps. Whatever your Wilderness of Zin may be it is the place and time when your die is cast (your mold is made), and you will set yourself in a certain direction until you come to the end of the road maybe the end of your earthly life. The Wilderness of Zin is a very critical place.

G. It would make it a lot easier for us if we were able to recognize the Wilderness of Zin when we come to it, but there is no signs or markings to let us know where we are. There is no spiritual wilderness which is marked that when we come to it we immediately know where we are.

H. It seems that God at least should mark the Wilderness of Zin since it is such a critical place. It is the point where you either go forward in God or begin to regress away from God.

I. But the response necessary to carry us forward in God, is not a response which God wants to see only in the Wilderness of Zin. The decision to move in the will of God and to obey the commands of God is ours to make, not only in the Wilderness of Zin, but every day of our lives.

J. When God calls us on into progression and into a greatness in Him which we have not yet known, it is our prerogative to heed or not to heed the call. Thus, what happens to us in the Wilderness of Zin is not because of our decisions. The decision which you will make will be based upon what you know or what you do not know upon what you believe o don't believe, upon what you desire or don't desire.

K. Our decision may be based upon the facts that God is wise and has our interest at heart. Or these facts may escape us and a different decision is made. Each, the knowing and the not knowing, will have a great effect on the way we respond to God and make our choices.

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS     

A. If we do not believe God loves us, we may choose differently than we would if we believed that God loves us. God may be calling us into a certain direction concerning His will. But a great desire for a different path in us may cause us to refuse His calling. A lack of a certain desire may make easy obedience to His calling. Or a strong desire in us to do His will may cause us to be obedient.

B. These three elements, desiring, knowing, and believing are not the only elements influencing our decisions. There are many elements playing their parts in our lives which help to bring us to certain decisions, and thus help to mold us.

OUR WICKED HEART

Jeremiah knew something about his heart (by the Spirit) that we all need to know and that is, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (Jeremiah 17:9-10) Here the LORD answers Jeremiah's question, "who can know it?" (in verse 10 starts) "I the LORD search the heart" and adds some critical insight to help us understand our wicked heart. I am glad the LORD searches my heart and not someone else because we can count on God being righteous in truth giving us what we need and not what we want which is true mercy. Our heart always wants mercy without the benefit of judgment. Open ended, boundless mercy no matter the offense, but this is not grace as most Christians believe from wrong teaching. And in fact our (I include myself here at times) desire for open ended mercy instead of righteousness and justice is a sign of selfishness and self-centeredness at the heart of our flesh and wicked heart. For grace to operate there must be judgment (either by God or us) to determine the amount of mercy to apply to the wound. I m not sure why we shy away from judgment so. Maybe because we do not have the spirituality to handle judgment or maybe our wicked heart does not want to be told we are guilty. Even God's grace is not open ended. As powerful as God's grace unto salvation is towards man and as much as God desires no one to be lost, sadly many people will make a judgment saying they have no need for God and will be lost and perish. So too as forgiveness is not open ended. Jesus told the disciples, "as you forgive you will be forgiven." (see Mark 11:25-26) God always operates as the same measure. Please see Luke 6:38. As we love others we shall be loved. As we give we shall receive. We do not give God $10 and He gives us back $100 as most "name it and claim it or blab it and grab it" TV charlatans teach. Oh no God operates at the same level. So too in our heart. God knows our heart, make no mistake here my friend we cannot fool God, oh we think we can, but in the end, "I the LORD search the heart." One of the greatest revelations God can give us is the revelation of just how wicked our heart is. The older I get the more often I find myself saying where did that come from? Or I cannot believe I said or did that. Now I can do what most Christians do at this time and blame the devil or someone else, but no we must have enough God in us and put the blame for our actions and words where they belong in our flesh. Paul like Jeremiah knew this when he told the Christians in Rome, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." (Romans 7:18) Please notice Paul was thinking some of this verse. The "(that is, in my flesh)" is a parenthetical thought. In other words as Pal was speaking, but in his mind he thought, "(that is, in my flesh)." Paul put the blame right where it belonged on his flesh which is his wicked heart. Our flesh is powerful and it can control our spirit easily if we do not feed our spirit with the things of God. After all it is our flesh (and it eats at our soul) and not our body or spirit that is addicted when we get over into areas such as unnatural desires, compulsive distractions in life, and especially alcohol and drugs . All we have to do is look at the opioid addiction the world deals with today. Yes the body suffers due to the chemicals dependency (and no God has not made of this way as some folks have said), but the addiction is in the flesh it fills the large hole it leaves in our heart from their lack of relationship with God. Something must fill this void, the flesh screams to be satisfied. The struggle of our will to serve God in any meaningful way is not light against darkness as much as it is our flesh against the work that God as been able to build in our spirit. Light against darkness is the position we as believers must live in this world, we must be the light in the darkness, but we can only do this if our spirit has been enlightened and our flesh has been put down. If we have not allowed the LORD to work in our lives to any degree then we are only a fleshly (if we have only asked Jesus to save us from our sins) carnal Christian. Remember confession and repentance of our sins is not spiritual growth and development. Spiritual growth and development comes by way of God's dealings and judgments in our lives as He reduces us, as He molds us, as He is able to break us, and as we allow Him to build His character and image of His precious dear Son Jesus Christ in us which is God grand goal in our lives. Without God's building program in our lives the only response we can have especially when bad things happen (like the death of friend or family member or when we lose all of our wealth, etc.) to us suddenly is our flesh comes alive, our wicked ole heart takes control of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions (because of the lack of God's work in us) and we move outside what God's word has told us to do. Our selfishness, our self-seeking comes alive and begins to control our mind and heart. Now we can respond in many ways, but unfortunately not in a Godly way because we have not allowed God to build in us His strengthen in our inward man. The art is to have God's work built in us before the bad things or loss happens. How can we be more than conquers in all situations? By having the work of God built in us by His dealings and judgments before the test. Most mainstream denominations reject God's working in us and in our lives and depend on traditions and rituals to help us cope with loss, but it is our flesh (our emotions, feelings, and thoughts) that drives us to hyper-anxiety, despair, depression, and other mental confusion. Oddly enough it is the personal loss we feel that makes our selfishness come alive. It is not really the loss that makes us feel bad and depressed, but it is our selfishness that makes us feel bad when we experience loss and the greater the loss the greater our selfishness comes alive. Now here is where our wicked heart really comes into the picture (in a greater way) to lead us away from the truth. If there was a lack in the relationship (in any way) or we feel we could have done something different or better or if we feel we are to be blamed (in some way) in the loss then our own heart will heap condemnation in us if we have not allowed God to work in our lives. Guilt and condemnation will fill our heart and life and we will beat ourselves up grasping at every little thing to ease our pain. And if we use worldly remedies, practices, techniques, and psychology to satisfy our flesh well, then our burden may be lifted somewhat, but the heart of the issues (our wicked heart) has not been dealt with properly and we will continue in the mourning process for months, years, maybe the rest of our lives. We must allow God through His Spirit to touch our mind and heart. John said, "For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. (1 John 3:20-21) John tell us twice in these two verses, "if our heart condemn us" now this is not conviction, but condemnation my friend and "God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things." Now I have lost a sister, a father, a mother, other relatives, and countless friends in my life time. But I learned (and still learning) of my selfish, wicked heart and how it can move me out of God back in 1967 during the Arab Israeli six day war. With all of the tensions in the middle east it was the perfect time to push from the pulpit the possible rapture of the church. Well I came home from school one day and usually the first word out of my mouth was "mom?" Now my mother was the perfect Believer! Those who knew her would agree and say amen. I always said if Beverly Stahl does not make it to heaven then no one will. Well, "mom?" No answer. Again, but louder, "mom?" No answer. So a third time, "mom?" No answer. I thought Jesus had come and I missed the rapture. My flesh (my selfishness) came alive and my emotions and thoughts, my feelings kicked in, woe is me I missed the rapture what am I going to do? I starting feeling sick to my stomach and sweating my loss was unbearable until I found the note on the kitchen table that said she went to the store and would be home soon. My friend our heart is desperately wicked and it was the thinking I missed the rapture that magnified my feelings and emotions. Mistakenly people say the more we love someone the greater the grief we will have when we mourn, but in reality that is not true. What is true is the greater the love for our self, friends, or family member we may lose the greater our flesh will come alive (unless God is holding us) and the greater the condemnation and guilt we will experience to where we will need to take medicine to calm our thoughts and feelings, or go to some shrink for therapy, and most assuredly put on our religious rituals and traditions to salve our heart and mind. Again the goal is to allow God to really work in our lives though His dealings and judgments before we experience loss. How could our wicked heart overcome God's work? Paul again in Romans, "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8:10-14) We are not to live after the flesh for if we live after the flesh we shall die. Now that is now spiritually and if we never allow God to build in us His works then it will be forever. The word "mortify" in verse 13 means "to put to death." We must through the Spirit "put to death" the deeds of the body (our flesh, our wicked heart) if we desire to live the life God desires for us to live to where we will be called "the sons of God." And the only way we can put to death the deeds of the body, through the Spirit, is to allow God's dealings and judgments in our lives before our wicked heart rears its ugly head. Written by David Stahl