WTFMT 75 (FROM HGM ON 9 JUNE 20)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-75

TEXT:  "And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?"   (I Samuel 18:8)

         

 I.  SELF-CENTEREDNESS

 

     A.  Evidence of Saul's self-centeredness is more pronounced as seen in the above text.  Saul's very same problem manifested in Jonathan's victories in Chapters 13 and 14 also surfaced in David's victory.  

 

     B.  Saul's self-centeredness seen in relationship to the victories of Jonathan and David certainly was in Saul during the time between the victories.  As with backsliding and any other unrighteous characteristic in us they do not just pop up one day.  They are in us, right from the very start, all the while waiting to be manifested. 

 

     C.  Even as we grow in the LORD and even when He begins to work in our lives in a greater way certain things not of Him are still rooted in us.  And unless we allow God to lay an axe to the roots and gives it a death blow it will continue to linger in us quietly causing us great frustration and unfullment in the things of God.  We will just go through the motions not inwardly being truly satisfied with our relationship with the LORD and fail away. Most often we blame our Brothers and Sister, the Pastor, and even the world for our failure, but again it is a manifestation of our desire to not allow God to work in our lives.      

 

     E.  When Saul moved to avenge his enemies in I Samuel 14:24 he does not move in divine direction.

      "And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food."  (I Samuel 14:24)

    

    F.  He moved in his spirit wanting to do his own thing for his own purpose. "That I may be avenged on mine enemies." Doing his own thing brought great trouble.

 

    G.  But Jonathan moved in a different direction (eating) while his father moved in another direction (fasting)  "Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey."  (I Samuel 14:29)

     H.  Upon one (Jonathan) there was enlightenment; upon the other (Saul) there was darkness.  Jonathan acted out of necessity; Saul acted out of self-honor and glory. Saul hindered or limited God.

         "How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?"  (I Samuel 14:30)

 

     I.  Jonathan knew and understood the need for food for energy in the time of battle. (The manna ceased and the meat diet began for the Children of Israel just before the conquest of the Promised Land) If the people would have followed Jonathan's example, there would have been a great victory, and sin would have been prevented.  Saul moved in ignorance being self-centered and blind which brought about unfavorable results.

        "And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. ³² And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.³³ Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day." (I Samuel 14:31-33) The direction which Saul took moved the people into sin.

     J.  As Saul continued to withdraw from God there was a response from God to that withdrawal. The response was silence (which is a response). Thus a breakdown in communication occurred,

         "And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day."  (I Samuel 14:37) The reason God did not answer Saul and was silent was because Saul had withdrawn himself from God.  Saul rejected the commandments of God.

    K.  Disobedience led to rebellion.  Therefore, God rejected Saul.  He had been living in the disastrous place of wickedness, and was spiritually in very bad shape. But he continued to move more and more in his backsliding direction.

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

    A.  Saul did not intend to take the blame for his condition and the pitiful situation.  He sought a scapegoat upon which to lay the blame.  Self must not look bad nor take the blame which is the pride of life.

          "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."  (I John 2:16)

     B.  When sin gravitates from "the list of the flesh" to "the lust of the eyes"  repentance becomes more difficult.  When service to sin by the flesh and by the mind moves into man's spirit, "the pride of life" hopelessness sets in. Certainly it is not absolute hopelessness, but recovery is extremely difficult and rare. Saul did not recover.  He laid the blame upon Jonathan his own son. (I Samuel 14:38-45)

OUR PAST FAILURES AND MISTAKES

As I was studying the history of Nehemiah rebuilding the temple (70 years) and walls (52 days) the opportunity of compromise (see Nehemiah 6:1-8) was front and center in Nehemiah's life to make excuses for his failures and mistakes. As we look at our lives (hopefully in honesty) our thoughts sometimes go to our victories and triumphs, but most often when we think of the past, we think of our failures and mistakes. I wonder why that is? Now failures and mistakes in God are not a big deal as long as we do not get stuck in them. Failures and mistakes in God are to be an opportunity on which we can learn and ever be learning, but that is not what happens in many lives. It is very important that the failures and mistakes of our past are not repeated during our present life and in the things God has prepared for us in the future. How can we move into what God has for us if we struggle with our past? We are to learn from our failures and mistakes so we will have a future in God. Now I am sure this is easier said than done. We all struggle with our past failures, mistakes, and just wish God would wipe them all away as He will wipe away all tears in heaven, but He does not. Why? Because they are tools He uses for our learning. You know we sing songs, "no tears in heaven" well, I guess the author missed these verses, "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4) I think the tears we will be shedding will be from the failures and mistakes we made in our past that we never allowed God to deal with in our lives and now in heaven God has to judge them. The Word of the LORD to the seven Churches (Revelation 2:1-3:22) were opportunities to learn, but as we see some did and some did not, but at the same time prefigured the progression of events that span the entire Church Age. This also gives us indications as to why God's past dealings and judgments (even His visitations) did not come into the fullness of all that He intended or why they did not last can be found within the Word of the LORD to each of these seven Churches. These Churches (and not the Body of Christ) mentioned in the Book of Revelation can tell us much about our past and present world. Did you know only Paul uses the term "Body of Christ" to describe that mystical body of Believers, the Bride of Christ? The "Church" today (like then) is a collection of religious and traditional man centered organizations that practices the tenants and laws of man (humanism, seeker sensitive, hyper-spiritualism, word of faith, etc.) more than they do of God. Shamefully man focused and man run. Let us look at the seven Churches (pastors) of the Book of Revelation to see what we can learn today that will prevent us from making the same failures and mistakes in OUR lives. The first of these the Church at Ephesus was told that they had departed from their “first love” (Revelation 2:4). This was the Church that witnessed the faith and power of the early Apostles who had personally experienced the presence of the resurrected Jesus. The LORD expected those within the Church at Ephesus to maintain this experience of His personal presence of the resurrected Christ, but they had already begun to fall away. The Church of Ephesus was commended, however, because they “hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (Revelation 2:6). There is no explanation given in Scripture as to who these Nicolaitans were however we can come to an understanding of their identity through the meaning of the word “Nicolaitan” itself. “Nikao” means to conquer or consume the “Laos” or laity, the people. Those who became identified as being Nicolaitans advocated a compromise with the world system so Christians would be able to take part, without embarrassment or loss of status, in the social and religious activities of the society in which they lived. In the time of the Church at Ephesus the Nicolaitan teaching allowed Christians to participate in the Roman civil religion. Sound familiar? This resulted in the withdrawal of the manifested presence of the LORD (sound familiar) from their meetings which caused the loss of the spontaneous, quickening power, and stirrings of the Spirit that came to the members of this Church. The Nicolaitans represent a clergy that departed from the presence and power (sound familiar) of the supernatural and substituted form and ritual in its place. The compromise that they advocated caused the dulling of the spirits of the LORD's people as they became conversant with the society and practices of their time. Also the clergy gained control over the functions of ministry and did away with the spontaneity of worship that resulted in the manifest power of God being present. The people then became spectators (sound familiar) to the functioning of the clergy. In His message to the Church at Ephesus the LORD clearly said that He hated the deeds of a clergy that causes His people to depart from experiencing His manifest presence and the operation of the supernatural. In Ephesus these Nicolaitans were present, but hated. In the third Church, Pergamos, they are again mentioned by the Lord, “So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (Revelation 2:15). Here, they were firmly entrenched. Then in the fourth Church, Thyatira, the LORD said, “But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine.” (Revelation 2:24). By now the Nicolaitans were in control and only a remnant remained (like today). Sound familiar? This teaching of compromise by the clergy led to a progressive spiritual declension that culminated in the Dark Ages. During this time of intense spiritual apostasy and darkness a spark of revelation concerning justification by faith came to Martin Luther. Yet today the Catholic Church is trying to rewrite history and call the Protestants (or protestors) back home with lies. But with Luther this began a progressive restoration that developed within the fifth Church, Sardis, and found its full outworking in the last two Churches, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Concerning the fifth Church, Sardis, the Lord said, “I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead” (Revelation 3:1). This Church had returned to right doctrine, but failed to experience the restoration of the fervent “first love” that had been lost at Ephesus. Apparently the Nicolaitans still exercised considerable control and hindered the LORD’s people to the extent that they were not able to experience the quickening of the manifest presence of the LORD nor the power of the Holy Spirit moving in their meetings. The sixth Church, Philadelphia, speaks of an overcoming Church that experienced an open heaven. Of this Church, the LORD said, “I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength." (Revelation 3:8) Here the Nicolaitans were totally defeated and lost all of their influence and control. This Church had cultivated the presence of, “He that has the key of David, He that opens, and no man shuts: and shuts, and no man opens” (Revelation 3:7). The LORD’s manifest presence burned within them and all bondage melted away as the Holy Spirit had His way in their lives and fellowships. Once again the LORD’s people possessed this same fervent “first love” for the LORD that had been lost at Ephesus. There are those now who are also experiencing the manifest presence and power of the LORD what I call the church within the church, the remnant that will make up the Bride of Christ who Jesus is coming back for in the resurrection. These have contended for and gained an open door into the operation of the LORD in their meetings. Much will be accomplished through a present-day Philadelphia Church that will allow an open display of the LORD’s presence and power. Now the seventh and last is the Church of the Laodiceans. The Word of the LORD to this Church is, “Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17) The present-day Laodicean Church has been blessed with more prosperity, gifts, and ministry than any previous Church. Though it is quick to testify about these blessings this Church is exposed by the LORD as being spiritually immature "blind and naked." This prosperity, both spiritual and natural, is not the primary cause of their spiritual blindness and nakedness. Their problem rests in the fact that they do not recognize their spiritual need, “and have need of nothing.” They were satisfied with the things that they possess and were not seeking after the One who gave all this. So then the LORD is revealed as standing outside of this prosperous Laodicean Church, knocking upon its door, seeking to attract their attention, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20) (Please see Thoughts for Consideration in our newsletter "The Call of God" for more on this thought) Because this Church had lost its sensitivity to His voice the call of the LORD changed to seeking out individuals; those who would respond to His knocking on the “door” of their heart by the Spirit. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans has caused this Church to become dull of spirit. Let us take heed to this in us. The acceptance of and adjustment to material prosperity has effectively hindered the visitation of the LORD within this end-time Church and age. This is one of the primary causes of the failure of the Charismatic and word of faith crowd, their emphasis being on prosperity rather than on God and His work in our lives. The Nicolaitan spirit that sought to bring about compromise with the world system in the early Church is still present within the Church of our day. Jesus clearly said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) James told us, “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4) Notice the contrast between these two present-day Churches. In Philadelphia the LORD has set before them an "open door" into the revelation of His manifest presence and the operation of the supernatural in their midst. In Laodicea, He is outside of the Church knocking upon a closed door seeking out any individual who are able to hear His voice and inviting them to commune with Him. The LORD counsels those who willingly open the door of their spirit to Him to, “buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich.” (Revelation 3:18) This “gold” speaks of the divine nature as being of far greater value than all of these external riches that they possess and rejoice in. A glorious promise is given to those who choose to turn away from this materialistic spirit within the Laodicean Church, “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” (Revelation 3:21) This is the greatest of the promises that were given to these seven Churches yet the most difficult to attain even more so today, because of the many subtle deceptions and distraction that must be discerned and especially because of the intensity of the temptations that must be resisted. The LORD is looking for those who are willing to pay the price in order to be a part of the Church at Philadelphia and gain the spiritual life and strength that is available therein. Few will pay the price because the Church at Laodicea is very popular, just look at all of the many denominations that dot the land. The Baptist's alone have 8 different denominations that I know of and all different because of the spirit of the Nicolaitans. They know and use the techniques that will bring about Church growth and material prosperity, but not the power of God that truly changes a man's heart and gives a hope and purpose. Today April 2020 we ask where did the COVID 19 virus come from? The answer is from the pastors and leaders of the Nicolaitan churches of the past and present. They have refused to learn the lessons of their failures and mistakes moving further and further away from the Spirit of God, but God will let man go only so far before He reins man in. God is drawing man unto Himself and desires to correct the years of foolish Nicolaitan attitudes and heart condition in the "Church" and if they do not learn this lesson quite well then the "Church" will stay closed (meeting in cars and on-line) as many politicians have vowed. Funny how the people the denominations want to be like have closed them down. My friend we stand at a cross road in America and the world. Will the "Church" once again embrace the finished work of Christ on the cross or continue on in her arrogance and manipulation? I am sick of hearing "Christian" leaders remind their people of their duty and obligation to continue to give them their tithes and offerings money (when some do not have a job) during the COVID 19 pandemic. They have failed to give them enough of God so they must resort to manipulation and compromise to the word of God to maintain (for some) their lavish life style and apostate ministry. If their ministry is of God He will provide what is needed to continue or if He desires to do some pruning so be it. Make no mistake my friend the LORD is making the following passages of Scripture very real to those seeking a higher level of personal communion with Him. “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me. 21 that I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasure.” (Proverbs 8:17, 21) Those that learn the lessons God has for us will inherit not earthly treasures as much as the heavenly. Your choice my friend will it be the earthly you go after or will it be the heavenly? To gain the heavenly we must learn from our failures and mistakes. Written by David Stahl

A MEDITATION ON EASTER

Around Christmas time last year I shared some thoughts on Christ not being a baby and now as we draw closer to what many call the Easter season I would like to share some thoughts on this topic. First, the word we use to express the great victory of Christ, “Easter” is found once in the KJV of the Bible and has nothing to do with the Gospel; the death, the burial, and (our blessed hope of glory) the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The word “Easter” is found in Acts and is talking about Peter not Jesus, “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Acts 12:4) and is translated from the Greek as Passover, again it has nothing to do with the Gospel message. I am not going to go into all of the pagan rituals and religious traditional practices that surround the historical myth of Easter my intent is to lift up the name of Jesus. But, my friend we have “truly” (taking something from the physical realm and projecting it into the spiritual realm) drifted so far from the true meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the great price He paid for my sin and your sin. We have insulted God’s supreme act of giving His only begotten Son and the truth for an emotional swell during the holiday season, to increase church attendance, and to spread ones denominational message under the guise of sharing the Gospel. We do so much in church that displeases God and cover it up by saying we are sharing the Gospel. God please forgive us. God does not need special services that effect our emotions and feelings to share the Gospel message. God needs dedicated and consistent children to follow Him and His basic plan. A few years ago I heard a statement from a pastor (of a church we once attended) that just shook me to my knees. He said after Jesus was arrested and crucified the light of the world went out. How my spirit quivered within me. How my stomach churned and ached for this fellow’s words were not true, but was in keeping with the emotional Easter tradition. At no point in time has Jesus not been the light of the world. My friend even when Jesus obediently and willfully laid His life down, He was still in control; of all Heaven, earth, hell, and will always be the light of the world. His light will never go out. Death could not hold Him, the grave could not hold Him, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57) Because this is true about Jesus we too can say, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Let us not be led by our emotions and plans to practice an Easter season, but be led by the Holy Spirit to know and understand the true message of the Gospel. This my friend is the message that will change your life forever. At the Passover Supper (before He went out into the garden) Jesus knew the garden experience was there and He knew that the cross, death, the grave, and hell was waiting Him. Yet Jesus went out with a hymn in His heart, “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” (Matthew 26:29) How could He do that? He could sing because He had the victory already in His heart. The victory and trust He had in His Father to carry Him through the garden, onto the cross, and into and out of the grave. He knew His Father would never leave Him nor forsake Him. The victory was first won as the Father pressed out the life and will of Jesus at Gethsemane (which means where oil is pressed), “Then saith he unto them, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:38-39) Knowing what was before Him Jesus could still break bread with His disciples, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26) Knowing what was ahead for Him Jesus could still give thanks, “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28) He could only do this because it was the most sublime manifestation of faith ever expressed. We think He had faith when He restored sight to the blind, strengthened limbs, and raised the dead. Yes that was wonderful, but we must see the spiritual side of things. We must see the necessity of faith in the realm of the Spirit, not in the flesh (like the Easter myth), but the realm of the Spirit where we have the faith to dare to believe like Jesus. It is Jesus’ victorious life which leads up to His victorious death and that is what presents Him as the Lamb without spot and blemish. When seen on the Mount of Transfiguration, He is a Lamb without spot or blemish, but it is a Lamb that has been slain! We are not saved by His life we are saved by His death. His life is exemplary it is beautiful, but He did not come to display great character and to do miracles, He came to die for us. The way of life is through a region of death and unless we partake of His death we shall never reign with Him. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:3-5) The truth of the season is a bitter sweet message of death so that we may live. It is not about new clothing, many church activities, special foods, and musical programs to get people to come to church, but it is about us loving God enough to be willing (like Jesus) to fall into the ground and die, “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.” (John 12:24)And, to love God’s word enough in simplicity to share it without fanfare and emotional ceremony knowing the Holy Spirit will do His work in lives. Then too we will be able to say we have before the throne (our heart) of God today a victorious risen Lord. Let us keep the love feast of Jesus’ sacrifice. Let us honor Him and His work in us and for those who we are to lead to the cross for His glory. Let not this season be a myth or holiday, but an invitation to life, the life of God. Written by David Stahl

SPIRITUAL INITIATIVE

Not all initiatives are inspired, but all Godly initiatives are inspired and they give life. Many of our initiatives sound right, look right, but in God are not effective because they are not inspired by God. No matter the idea, plan, goal, objective, or initiative if not inspired by God degrees of failure can only be the end result. The old Yiddish proverb, "man plans and God laughs" is so true as it relates to initiatives for God. Over the years of my travels I have made plans and initiatives in many places of the world (and to be honest) some were inspired by God (the ones that brought the life of God to the people) and some not so much inspired of God (that were not bad or evil and did bring goodness and knowledge), but for ministry to be of God it must be inspired by God (His idea) and it must be spiritual. If we function in the spiritual initiative then we will see spiritual results. Sadly over the years spiritual results have not seemed to be important in the church or as a sign of the LORD in the world. It is far easier to fake a miracle then to allow God to do the work in us for a miracle to come forth from our ministry. One of the first times I went to Nigeria I was hosted by a pastor of about 40,000 members and before our first service he asked me if I wanted him to stage some miracles so the next night we would have some really big crowds. After all if they can get some photos of a white man of God from the United States opening blind eyes, lifting up Africans out of wheelchairs, folks coming off of a sick beds, well the news would spread like wild fire and the next night we would have massive crowds: more people means more money, bigger crowds means more influence in town, a bigger name among the folks, and so on, but it all means nothing with God. I told the pastor no thank you if God is not planning to do a miracle tonight then I do not want to change what God wants in the service. The pastor was unhappy, but that was okay with me. Sadly the church around the world has settled for parlor tricks, slight of hand, and manipulation instead of seeing real moves of God and even real miracles because they have not allowed God to work in their lives to any degree where God could trust the pastor not to seek the glory and benefit for the supernatural work God did in someone's life. They have not allowed God to deal and judge in their lives where He could strip them of their ambition and spiritual arrogance, dressed to the nines, strutting on stage like a peacock, professing of their power, education, ability, and influence. I have seen this, I have been this, so I know this. As I said some of my initiatives (although good and well intentioned) were not inspired by God. I would even say God blessed them and was involved to a degree, but not at the same measure if they were His idea. You know it is the humble and contrite minister God stands to His feet for. God's superstars names are not written in lights or on the credits of Christian TV programs or movies, but on the hearts of people who have allowed God to work in their lives to receive His life and then in turn they can minister His life to others. Now the remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life comes after we do our part. God does not give us overcoming life, but He gives us life as we overcome. Our part is allowing God to do the work in us to the point we will just take God at His word (the best definition of faith I have ever heard) so that we take the initiative. Not a taking away from God where we do our own thing like most ministers do, but taking up our responsibility and duties as He has them arranged in our partnership. We must get up God does not lift us up, nor does He do all the work, but it must be done in the right heart condition if not then it is not a spiritual initiative it is our own initiative and doomed not to project the life of God like most humanistic, seeker sensitive, or hyper-spiritualism projections that the church of today is infested with. If we will do the overcoming we shall find we are inspired of God because He gives us life immediately. Now this life of God can be found in a message (from God), a crusade, a conference, even in an act of love, or a single thought. The whole mystery of this spiritual initiative is it is God inspired so it is God's idea for His purposes, thus we have little to no understanding why God wants it to happen and then we should not want to grab any of God's glory. Most real spiritual things in my life have been small and personal. Now I am not talking about the books and booklets, the article writing, BHG crusades and conferences or the 1,000 of churches and the Bible Schools I have taught in, but I am talking about the intimate understanding that we get when God opens up our heart and mind. I can say I have only had a few of these experiences in my life, but they have changed me forever and they are what God uses to get me to endure the work He desires to do in me that enables me to move in a spiritual initiative with God. I am thinking now of a Turkish Fort in Silistra, Bulgaria, painful, but oh so rewarding spiritually. Again they can even be a thought. Last night God woke me up at 2:00 am and impressed upon me to write about Belinda Koehler. Wow what a wonderful lady. We met Belinda in Germany after I had my 950 pound cast iron, five draw, Top Secret safe fall on me. Yes it was very painful, but this was just God's way of getting us extra money in my retirement. Belinda was a medic (E-6) in the U.S. Army her specialty was physical therapy. She was a lovely lady, but at the same time she was very sad. My heart went out to her as we talked and as she laid hands and other medical devises on my neck and back during therapy. She was very kind and intelligent, but I could see great hurt in her life as she would shy away from some topics. You have plenty of time to talk during two hours of therapy. The more often I went the more she trusted me and opened up to share more personal things about her life. Her life was a train and car wreck all in one. Abused as a child almost all of her early life and when she left home at 17 to join the U.S. Army her life did not get any better. One abusive relationship after another ended her in confusion to her sexual orientation. When we met (I believe) she was coming out of this darkness. To make matters worse she came down with breast cancer and lost both breasts. She wore different wigs and did a good job at hiding the deformity, but the scars of years past and her battling cancer took a great toll on her spirit. I would look forward to my treatments because I would feel better and because I began to notice so did Belinda. One day (she asked about Christliche Gemeinde Stuttgart (CGS) our church) then she started to talk about the LORD. Ah an opening. I could not bring up God and religion (the old Officer and Enlisted familiarity rules), but she responded in great interest. She asked about coming and I invited her. She came and the LORD touched her. So the next treatment this was all we talked about. Now did God allow my Top Secret safe to fall on me to see Belinda saved? I do not know maybe, but the end result was Belinda was a new lady. I never said the "sinner" prayer" (not sure where that is found in the Scriptures) with her, but I could tell there was a great change in her and her life. She was faithful at attending Sunday service and our home group meeting on Wednesday. Then she really opened up about her breast cancer and the shame she felt, well we just loved and accepted her the more as she like a new flower blossomed. One treatment she said, "I had not paid my tithes in a long long time could she pay them at CGS?" I said yes. So she said, "great after work please come by the clinic and I will give you a check." So I did as she asked, obedience is better than sacrifice. She said, "here is the check and next week I will give you another." I said, "okay as you wish." I put the check in my pocket and headed for the bus back to Robinson Barracks where we lived. On the 30 minute bus ride I looked at the check it was for $700, wow I could not believe it. So next week after my treatment she handed me another check so I am thinking $700 + (maybe) $300 = $1,000 would make a good amount and round number, but again Belinda surprised me. The check was for $1,300 for a total of $2,000. I was floored. A few days before the first check I got an invitation to go to India, but did not have the money so now it was worth my while to inquire about the fare, so I called counting airport taxes, everything included is was $2,000 to the penny. God provided. It was God's initiative for me to go to India and He provided through Belinda as a leading to let me know this was His idea. In all of the years (since 2002) I have never twisted arms, begged, or manipulated people for money. If God does not provide when the need is made known then I do not go. Belinda rotated backed to the States before we did and moved to Texas with a friend, but she never forgot us in Germany. Every month faithfully she would send BHG $250 until her death. The cancer came back with a vengeance and she went down hard, but when she died I was told by her family especially her sister (who she was estranged) she had a smile on her face and love in her heart, it was a Tuesday. More than the money I missed Belinda knowing the work that was done in her life preparing her for her death. We want to see miracles (we even prayed for Belinda's healing), but the greatest miracle is the change of heart condition one must receive to really be saved. Before she died we talked on the phone a few times and oh the strength I received from her. In retrospect I see now we were preparing Belinda for her death another spiritual initiative of God. Is she in heaven well . . . my hope is to say yes I believe so and if so I will see her again. In the Scriptures we read of another spiritual initiative of a lady who had a medical issue. In Matthew we read, "And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour." (Matthew 9:20-22) In other accounts in the Scriptures it said she spend all she had, all her money, but did not get well. Many people read this story and think the miracle is when she was healed, but not so. All that she went through for 12 years, spending all of her money, enduring the shame and separation of being unclean, yet she still had faith to believe Jesus could heal her, "If I may but touch his garment." The miracle was not the physical healing, but the spiritual initiative to endure the pain and heartache for 12 years believing (like Belinda) someday Jesus would heal her. Hoping and believing in the LORD for things at times can far exceed the physical touch of God when we do not receive our healing. This is how I reconciled (1,000s maybe millions of people prayed for him to be healed) the death of my Bible teacher Charles Haun in 1996. This often is the difference between a physical and spiritual initiative of God. Written by David Stahl

GOD CHANGES HIS MIND

In the Book of Malachi and out of the mouth of our LORD we read, "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6) This concept of being eternal and changing not in character and nature is also true with the Son, In Hebrews we read, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8) The Father and the Son have an eternal perspective of past, present, and future and events (both for the good and bad in our understanding) where they do not change the will of man or circumvent man's free will, but change the way that God deals with man in ways to prevent man from being lost. Now when the scriptures says "the LORD changes not" or "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" it is NOT talking about their ability to affect the affairs of man or get involved with man's life, but is talking about their attributes of being omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, not to mention their character which is their: holiness, faithfulness, being merciful, forgiving, compassionate, dedicated to us. God's greatest character towards man is for man not to perish. We see this truth in 2 Peter, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) God loves man so much and in spite of His attributes and character every time man does not do that which God has purposed and planned for man God may (and has often) changed His mind to accommodate man's waywardness to fulfill God's desire to see no one perish. Now this is not excusing sin or even giving man a pass, but giving man another shot or another opportunity even coming from a different angle. Now I really like serving a God who loves us so much He will not just throw us on some trash heap if we sin or come short of His glory, buts work in our heart and lives through His dealings and judgments to bring us to a spiritual place, even if He has do something new in the world or in the means for our salvation. The way NEVER changes. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) Through the finished work and shed blood of Christ on the cross. But, the Scriptures are full of examples where God has changed His mind. Here are a few examples. From the very start of man God had to change His mind. In Genesis, God told man, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17) The word "die" here is Strong's H4191 which means, "must needs, slay, worthy of death, very suddenly." I believe God's intention for Adam was if he was disobedient and ate of the fruit then he would receive the reward of sudden death for his disobedience. You know God even gave Adam an option to eat of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (what a loving God we serve) God said, "Of every tree of the garden," BUT if you eat of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (then the consequence) "thou shall surely die.' God here put into place consequences for our actions. But Adam did not die, Adam (who God was talking with) lived over 970 years. Now do not misunderstand me here, sin brought death to man through Adam and Eve's disobedience, but God changed His mind in the life of Adam and Eve to give mankind (who He loves) another opportunity for correction and fellowship with Him. In Genesis 3 we read, "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." (Genesis 3:21) Yes God did cover Adam and Eve's body with the skins, but He was doing something far greater. Here God was establishing a type and shadow of the coming of Christ and the work He will do on the cross for us all, whereby, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. " (Hebrews 9:22) Not that Adam and Eve's sin was ever forgiven (the Scriptures never says they repented of their disobedience, I hope so), but this (I believe) was not a part of God's original plan for man and looking in the rear view mirror we can see then how the spiritual principles of animal sacrifice under the law, all throughout the ages, (until Christ's death) became the means for restoration with God. Just few Chapters to the right in Genesis we see where God was grieved in His heart with man due to man's wickedness, "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." (Genesis 6:5-7) Now this would be the first time God destroyed and all of creation except for a righteous remnant unless you believe in the "Gap Theory" (which is getting much traction in the Church today) where God created a pre-Adamic (before Adam) race of people whom God also destroyed due to maybe due to sin they are not really sure. But, as much as God loves man God said, " I will destroy man (that would be all of mankind) whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." So God changes His mind, but this time He spared some folks who are walking in the ways of righteousness. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." (Genesis 6:8-12) Noah and his family (wife, three sons, and their wives) are saved from the flood. Wow eight were spared. Eight means new beginning in the Bible, an accident? I think not. There are rewards for walking in the ways of the LORD. You know God can do anything He works not by a formula or rules, but by His will and good pleasure. Here He saved Noah and his family and used them to repopulate the earth. "And God spake unto Noah, saying, 16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. 17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth." (Genesis 8:15-17) Please notice what the first thing Noah and his family did, "And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar." (Genesis 8:20) Do you need more examples? Just a few more chapters to the right in Genesis we read (Genesis 11:1-8) where man again rose up in arrogance shaking his fist in God's face as they built the Tower of Babel. We see the haughty and arrogant attitude of King Nimrod and his people, "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.: (Genesis 11:4) But the LORD had other plans, "And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city." (Genesis 11:6-8) So God changed His mind and instead of killing them He confounded there language and scattered them around the world. Have we not learned from our folly? Today our global economy only connects us together in global disease (see the Corona virus and the other viruses plaguing our world) and heartache. I believe God intended man to be separated unto themselves (maybe regionally) and their culture and lifestyle. Globalism and the intertwining of lives (marriage, child rearing, etc.) and culture only adds to the unwanted confusion and complexity of man's attempt to become as a god unto themselves and the lives they rule over, just like King Nimrod. God changes His mind in individual lives too. In Isaiah 38:1-22 we see how God changed His mind about the death of King Hezekiah. In verse 5 of chapter 38, God says He has seen his tears and will add 15 more years to his life. Again God wishes none to perish. In Jonah we read, "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD." (Jonah 1:1-3) You know God has His ways of getting our attention to fulfill His plan for our lives. God wanted no one to perish in Nineveh. After Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of the great fish, "And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying," (Jonah 3:1) Jonah made it to Nineveh and proclaimed the word of the LORD and the city repented, fasted, and put on sackcloth and ashes, but this displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. At the end of the story, well let us say I believe (even though the Scriptures does not say) it did not end well for Jonah. We read, "Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: 11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?" (Jonah 4:10-11) God loved Jonah and gave him a second chance, but in the end well, it looks like Jonah missed the work God was doing. God is long suffering one of His characteristics. The examples of God changing His mind goes on and on. In the New Testament we find some critical examples. The biggest example of course is when God sent His son Jesus Christ (to bring the Kingdom of God) to earth to be the one and only sacrifice for the sin of mankind. For over 4,000 years it was animal sacrifice that covered man's sin before God (which was never good enough), but when Jesus died for man's sin it was once and for all totally atoned. God changed His mind from the animal ritual and religious system of the law to the blood of Jesus. God sent His Son to the Jewish people based on the covenant He established with Abraham and as confirmed through the years. I find it funny how many Christians today think God has made a covenant with the Gentile people. Nowhere in the Bible is it recorded where God made a covenant with Gentiles like He did with Abraham. The Jewish hope and spiritual future (things that unfold in the Book of Revelations) is still tied to this covenant. And make no mistake my friend God is a covenant keeper. The writer to the Hebrews shares, "But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure." (Hebrews 10:3-6) It was to be the Jewish people that were to carry the good news of the Kingdom of God to the world, but the Jewish people rejected Jesus Christ so God again had to change His mind to make a way for people to be saved. Oddly enough God (for now) has moved away from the Jewish people (even though they can be saved just like a Gentile) and it was the Gentiles through the Apostle Paul (Acts 9:1-9) who was called to carry salvation in the form of the Gospel message to the world. From Genesis 12:1 to Romans 1:1 has been written to the Jewish people, even the Gospels. Jesus was sent to the lost sheep/house (Matthew 15:24) of Israel not the Gentiles, but beginning in Romans 1:1 Paul was sent to the Gentiles. Did you know Paul only writes to the Body of Christ (even from prison) and never to the lost world? I believe one reason why the "Church" is so screwed up today is because Pastors like preaching from the Gospels which were written to the Jewish people and they shun the Pauline Epistles where Church doctrine, reproof, and correction is taught. If you look at the words and spiritual principles between the Gospels and Paul's letters you will find the spiritual concepts and application are totally different. Even in the Book of Acts (written mainly about Paul) which is not a history book, but a book of transition between the Gospels and the spiritual growth and development of the Body of Christ. For example in Acts the concept for salvation was, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) So it was "repent" and "be baptized," but that was not what Paul said, "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2:7-8) So it moved from animal sacrifice, to works (repent and be baptized) which was not enough, so God changed His mind again and introduced "grace" and "faith." The mystery Paul all throughout his epistles talked about. Has God changed His mind in your life? Will God change His mind in the future? Well, He may He can do anything, but one thing for sure if He does it is because He wished none to perish, whosoever will come. I like that.

WTFMT 74 9FROM HGM 17 MAR 20)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-74

TEXT:  "And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him."  (Hosea 11:7)    

 

I.   BACKSLIDING

 

     A.  Historically Israel was withdrawing:  she was sliding back and she was leaving her inheritance.  She was leaving the LORD who was her inheritance and she was sliding back from Him.

            "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot."  (Psalm 16:5)

 

     B.  This is whom Israel was leaving.  Hopefully Israel was to be example and a lesson to Judah.  As God moved upon Israel to chastise her for backsliding Judah was able to take note, to take a lesson from her sister.  If Judah was willing to learn she would have been able to correct her ways. 

 

     C.  In the recorded history it is seen that Judah did not learn and repent.  She moved into Bethaven, she joined Israel to leave God, and backslid into wickedness and unbelief.  Finally she went into bondage.Backsliding from God always leads to bondage, which leads to sin, which leads to death.

         "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."  (James 1:15)

      D.  Upon her part, as well as Israel's, there was the refusal to move forward in the revelation which God had given her. She went backwards into ignorance the extent of which can be seen in the Gospels where this very tribe calls for and receives the crucifixion of Jesus.  There was the refusal to move forward in true and sincere dedication to God.

 

     E.  Every day people decide to move backward into a dedication to idols and self.  They come to live in the "House of Vanity." a place of wickedness and idolatry in varying forms.  It is not for the faithful.

 II.  LOSS OF REVELATION

 

     A.  With a change of scenery, we will take a look at something else moving in connection with this word "Bethaven."  This second scene is not so much different from the first. More or less it is the same story in 1 Samuel with different characters, activities, and props.  It is the story of Jonathan and the victory which he won and the exceeding victory which followed.  But we will focus on his father and see what King Saul does in this victory.

 

     B.  The scene is set in I Samuel 14:1,

           "Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father."  (I Samuel 14:1)

 

    C.  "He told not his father."  In regards to this escapade, remember that his father at this time was moving, not in revelation, but in ignorance.  Do not focus overly much upon the occasion, but rather upon Saul himself. 

     D.  Some years before that time he began to move in revelation,

          " And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God." (I Samuel 9:27) Thus, in the life of Saul, the revelation of God began to move.  But as Saul failed in his responses to God and became disobedient, he gradually moved into the Wilderness of Bethaven so to speak. 

     E.  He began to backslide to move away from God and consequently out of the revelation which God has given him. Saul seemed to forget.  There was the possibility of Saul's kingdom being established forever.

         " . . . which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever."  (I Samuel 13:13)

         F.  But he moved back and withdrew his soul from that possibility.  He did not continue to move in the revelation which he had.  Thus, forward progression was lacking in the latter life of Saul.  He did not move into further revelation and light.  He moved backwards into ignorance, backsliding away for God, away from things he knew.

 

III. PARTING THOUGHTS

     A.  In a glance backward into Chapter 13, before going onward into Saul's life, we pick up evidence of a heart prone toward pride and thus prone to move away from God,

           "And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal."  (I Samuel 13:3-4)

 

     B.  Saul attributed Jonathan's victory to himself because of his selfishness.  He was jealous of Jonathan.  There was no correction in Saul of this form of idolatry (self-worship); it grew.  Self-worship is the core and fullness of Satan.  Sometime later in the life of Saul, it is seen in a much greater magnitude (I Samuel 18:8).  Where his self-worship and selfishness lead to rebellion, disobedience, sin, and unto death by his own hands. 

 

     C.  Backsliding does not happen overnight.  We do not wake up one morning and we have moved backward from God.  Backsliding is a gradual process of slowly moving away from God and His word in our lives.  Backsliding happens in our heart, but is openly manifested for all to see and hear.  Backsliding is something a sinner cannot do.  Paul warns us,

          "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."  (Hebrews 3:12)

 

WTFMT 73 (FROM HGM ON 11 FEB 18)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-73
TEXT: "And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven." (Joshua 18:12)

I. AVOID IT

A. The Wilderness of Bethaven is the second wilderness which should be avoided by the believer. "Bethaven" is two names in the Hebrew text: "beth" (house of," 1004, Strong's and other words and "aven" ("wickedness," 205, Strong's). "Vanity" is also tucked into the meaning of "aven" giving this Hebrew word for "wickedness" a particular shade of significance.
B. The Wilderness of Bethaven is the opposite of the Wilderness of Kedemoth. Remember that the Wilderness of Kedemoth was "a continual progress, moving ahead to victory and into fulfillment." The Wilderness of Bethaven is a moving in the opposite direction from that which God wants. In light of this, it is interesting to note that "aven" is translated "idol" in Isaiah 66:3. "He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations." (Isaiah 66:3)
C. Idolatry is moving or being away from God. In one part of its Scriptural context, the Wilderness of Bethaven is a moving away from the inheritance which God given. The Kedemoth is just the opposite, a moving toward your inheritance. The obvious picture is that the Wilderness of Bethaven belongs to no Christian, to no child of God.
D. Bethaven is a backsliding direction, a moving back, a withdrawing, a moving out from that which is promised. This is clearly seen in our text. In this description of the portion of land belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, the leaving, "the goings out," is at Bethaven.
E. This "leaving" is the basic principle found in Bethaven. In our text the physical inheritance is the point of application. In the realm of the Spirit, "inheritance," seen or unseen, will always be somewhere in the picture in relationship to the believer.
F. In the meaning of "Bethaven," there is always wickedness involved: rebellion -- walking contrary to the revelation of God, in the vanity of one's own mind. Whatever actions and causes are in the picture, physical or spiritual, it is leaving -- one is on the way out.
G. Bethaven is the door through which you leave. The Bible does not say that it is the point through which you enter. We know that it's the point through which you can come into a geographic area. But the Bible does not say that, due to the fact that Father is wanting us to focus upon a certain aspect by excluding another aspect. This is clearly portrayed by the prophet Hosea, "Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth. For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place." (Hosea 4:15-16)
H. Hosea addressed the divided nation, Israel the Northern kingdom, and Judah the Southern kingdom. Israel was playing the harlot in the sight of Judah. God warns, "neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear." Don't go in that direction which leaves to Bethaven. Israel had backslidden, and continued in that direction. Bethaven is seen as Judah's point of leaving, her sliding back, moving away from God. Idolatry was the scene of Israel's activity of worship, while swearing, "The LORD liveth."

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

A. Leaving God for idols is very dangerous. We are to avoid the Wilderness of Bethaven. Let us move forward rather than moving backwards, so that the Wilderness of Kedemoth, rather than the Wilderness of Bethaven, becomes to us an experience.
B. Bethaven is indicative of a condition portrayed by Israel. It was to be avoided by Judah. This historic situation is a lesson for us. "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 11 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. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:6,11,12)
C. Thus, "let him that thinketh he stand take heed lest fall." We are to "take heed" so we do not make the same mistakes. So that we do not think we are greater then what we really are. "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." (James 4:13)