NOTHING TO SOMETHING

One of the greatest requirement to be something in God is to be nothing.  But just look around nobody especially most Christians and some Believers I know want to meet this most critical requirement to really be used of the LORD.  Well, until we desire to become nothing in our selves we will never become something in the LORD's eyes.  Make no mistake my friend the names of God's superstars in the earth are NOT up in lights or splashed on social media or TV, oh no my friend they go about their daily lives laying down their lives so that others may come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  No fanfare or exalted platforms for them just hard work and sweat, but a love for God and man in them that the world can never take away one word.  This desire to be nothing does not originate in man, but must be worked in him through God's dealings and judgments.  Becoming nothing will require us to become a servant, to humble ourselves, have no reputation, submit to God's will, and yes may even require suffering on our part for the Gospel.  Maybe that is why not too many Christians (especially in America) and some Believers I know want to be a nothing.  Even Jesus did not have this desire in Him.  Even Jesus had to submit to His Father's desire for Him, but Jesus knew if He became nothing He would become something. Paul writes to the Hebrews, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; ⁹And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"  (Hebrews 5:8-9) Jesus had to learn (He did not have it from Heaven) obedience through sufferings. In John we I can of mine own self do nothing as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."  (John 5:30) Wow Jesus said of Himself  "I can of mine own self do nothing," but He created man, the universe, all that we know as life. Jesus knew He had no power and could do nothing because He sought not His own will, but the will of His Father. Paul writes of Jesus to the young Church at Philippi speaking of Jesus, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."  (Philippians 2:6-8) Did you get that?  If we want to be something in God we must humble ourselves, become a servant, and make ourselves of no reputation. Maybe that is why most Christians and some Believers (especially in America) I know have not become (a learning process not taught at a Bible School or university) something in God, they see within themselves abilities (even God-given abilities) and talents that they think will make them great in God, but oh no my friend they are gravely mistaken. To become great in God we must  see of ourselves no value in us. Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 5:3) The word "poor" here means spiritually bankrupt or they see of themselves of no value.  Not too many Christians or some Believers (especially in America) I know see themselves as being "poor"  oh no they see themselves as rich, blessed, and highly favored in God, but Jesus said,  "Blessed are the poor in spirit," not the rich, blessed or favored in spirit.  Little do they know they are naked, wretched, miserable and blind. I will be honest I am not worried about the move of God in the world, oh no His Spirit is moving mightily in places we think not all around the world, but I am concerned about the move of God in America. There seems to be a movement away from God towards humanism, religious traditions and ritualism, and socialism. Most of you all know we host a Home Group Meeting (HGM) (not a church service) twice a month at our home. It is always a wonderful time of fellowshipping around the elements (sing a couple hymns, take prayer requests and pray, share a few announcements) of a service, commune with the LORD around  the hearing of the Word of God, and then we end our time together (about 2 hours) in fellowshipping as we eat food (cake, pie, fruits, crackers, humus, nuts, and such) and drink some coffee or tea. Make no mistake my friend when you open up your home (and especially if you serve food) you will get all kinds of interesting people. Now I too believe "whosever come," but to be honest this year we have asked the LORD to move some folks on (they were just too disruptive to the group) and to replace them with folks (and He did) who were serious and really want to grow in the grace and knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ.  Well, a few months ago I received a phone call from a lady who wanted to know more about our HGM (we lightly advertise:  a few road signs, one local free publication, our website, and on our weekly radio program) because her and her husband (who is attending Liberty University) wanted to come.  They have been trying for about a year to have a HGM at their house, but cannot get folks to come.  Usually that means God is not in it.  In God things just seem to work out according to His will.  So they came, but they seemed a bit standoffish.  So I asked the husband if he would like to share one month and he agreed. He did a good review of the Baptist's position on are we saved by works or grace. The following month Karen wanted a head count (to make one cake or two) so I called them and asked if they were coming and the husband replied, "no because there were just too many red flags in my teaching."  I was stunned, "red flags?" I asked what red flags? Well, as you can guess they took everything I said out of context and shaded it with a more mainstream Baptist slant and then called it heresy. A typical reply from one who knows just enough to be dangerous.  Now this is the same man who was in the US Marine Corps (he ought to have known better), built an automatic machine gun and took it on a military base (said he forgot it was in his truck), was arrested, and sent to Federal Prison for six months.  You know if you do not know and respect the laws of man I should not have known he will not respect the laws of God.  Yes, if you cannot keep man's laws then you will never be able to keeps God's laws.  He went on and on letting me know just how much of the Bible he learned at Liberty University, well God told me to give him a teachable moment. Now remember he is the fellow who wants to have a HGM at his house, but now wants to bellyache, complain, and criticize Karen and I who have had a HGM for over 25 years (of our 41 years of marriage) at different places in the world. I told him he was "a know it all," he was unteachable, and I have seen guys like him all over the world. Guys like him who think of themselves as having learned something in God, a somebody, but has failed to learn the most important lesson (humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you in due time) if they want to be somebody in God. I guess he was a third year student at Liberty.  You know I like teaching fourth year students when I teach at a Bible School.  Third year students think they know it all, they are unteachable, but funny how their perspective changes when they become a four year student. They realize what they say they know and have learned now they will have to live out before God and man.  It seems they grow a spiritual brain and it all comes together when they find out they "truly" know nothing at all and now God can make them something.  I asked him why he did not do what the Bible asks us to do if we do not understand something?  He said what is that?  To go to the brother and ask clarification. He changed the subject dodging my question. He knows it all.  My friend if you do not understand something in God ask questions (which is the number one way we learn), ask for clarification, and by all means NEVER dispute it, but hold it before the LORD (maybe 5, 10, and 20 years) until He gives the understanding, again never be a disputer of the word of God this a great way to get in trouble with God. So they moved on. No problem all they did was made room for someone who really wants to come to know God and His ways. My friend if you really want to become something in God you must become a nobody! You must be teachable, open to the moving of the Spirit of God, you cannot be a know it all.  I really believe this is one of the greatest problems in the "church" today, being unteachable. LORD protect my heart from this evil!  This process of becoming a nobody will kill you, it will kill your ambitions, your dreams, your plans, your hopes, all that you want to become that God does not want to see happen in your life.  Just like my Baptist friend and his wife their focus is on becoming something maybe in the Baptist religious world, but one thing for sure they have not yet made the discovery to become something in God we must become a nobody.  Written by David Stahl

BEFDL 10 (FROM HGM ON 16 NOV)

 BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-10

TEXT:  "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."  (I Samuel 30:6)

I.   ENCOURAGING OURSELVES IN THE LORD

      A.  Champion boxers have an expression that goes "you're only good as your last fight" and this seems to be the case with King David. With all of the past battles he won in proving the hand of the LORD was with him, he still faces mutiny among his men.

      B.  Returning back to camp their camp, they are surprised to discover that the Amalekites have kidnapped their wives and children. There is nothing ordinary about this trial, since it strikes hard and deep to that which is closet to their hearts.  As a matter of fact, this is such a low point for the people and David alike, that they literally weep away their strength until nothing is left.

      C.  Have you ever reached the place where you have been emptied of all hope in self?  There isn't much left, is there?  David's distress did not end with the loss of his own family; it is also over the fear of reprisal from his followers. 

       D.  But in all this, he does not give up.  He does a remarkable thing.  Resisting any tendency of self-pity, he decides at the end of himself to seek the Lord.  The Bible tells us, "but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."  Meaning he worshiped the LORD and revived his strength to action. 

       E.  This is more than human fortitude; it is the pouring out of one's soul before the LORD in the knowledge that only His enabling power is capable of dealing with something beyond our control.

      F.  There will always be those perplexing circumstances in our life. "

   "Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward."  (Job 5:7)  It is not by accident that we have afflictions and troubles.  God, Himself has purposed them into our lives.

      G.  Just as the blade of an axe is applied to the grinding stone to be sharpened, so will the life of man experience adversity in refining him.  In the process, it may kick up all kinds  of debris, yet out of such chaos will come God's arrangement and order for our life. 

       H.  Like David, we need to learn how to roll the heaviness of heart over to the Lord in times of tribulation.  Things, life, our burdens have a way of becoming heavy, but as the hymn goes, "we often carry burdens to heavy, because we have not taken them to the Lord in prayer."

       I.   But when we take them to the Lord,  when we encourage ourselves in the Lord we are strengthened by the Lord.  There is no real strength outside the Lord.  All other strength will weaken us and we will fall. 

       J.  All other strength, not of God, will fail us when the winds of life blow, when we are shaken by situations and circumstances.

            "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger."  (Psalm 8:2)

Out of the mouth of the most vulnerable human beings in terms of having no ability to defend themselves, God has ordained that they have His strength.

      K.  We are given strength in the weak place, when our enemies are mighty against us, so that we may know God's divine strength.         

      L.  Approached how?  With a humble heart as a child. Thus, it is to our advantage that when we find ourselves in moments of weakness, and we will, we respond by encouraging ourselves in the Lord strengthening our hearts, through praise.

      M.  Jesus was making this point to the Pharisees,

             "And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. ¹⁵ And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased," (Matthew 21:14-15) Jesus turns to them and says almost the same words form Psalm 8:2, "And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"  (Matthew 21:16)

The blind and lame have no strength, like little children they come to receive healing and strength from the One who holds all strength.

II.   PARTING THOUGHTS

      A.  Clearly, when one is weak and at wit's end, this is a time when either our faith will move the mountain or the mountain will remove our faith.  In any event, we must turn to God to encourage ourselves. 

      B.  It is then we come and stand in His presence, worshipping Him with the attitude that says, "Lord, regardless of the circumstance and situation, my eyes are upon thee for the strength and the know-how." 

 

BIBILCAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING 9

 

BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-09

TEXT:    "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."  (Matthew 25:21)

 I.   THE VALUE OF OUR BEING FAITHFUL

      A.  Many of us have experienced the let down of an unfulfilled promise, and have felt the hurt and disappointment.  We were created in the image of God and feel, in a limited measure, as He feels. 

       B.  Just as we can feel disappointment, so also our Lord can be disappointed when we are not faithful to the outworking of all that He has made available to us.

       C.  In the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-12), ALL ten received lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom.  When the Lord delayed His coming ALL ten of their lights went out.  The Lord had been faithful, as He supplied them all with lamps and oil.  But the foolish did not develop a means, v3 "and took no oil with them," to resupply their lamps with oil.

        D.  The lamp represents our salvation, all ten were saved to some degree.  The oil speaks of the Lord's enabling grace and anointing, which quickens and maintains our spiritual life and strength.  When we are not faithful to maintain a personal relationship with the Lord, we use up the supply of oil that we were initially given and soon we feel dry. 

        E.  To be faithful on our part means that we take seriously our need to fellowship with the Lord and receive from Him His strength, His power, His grace, His forgiveness, His mercy, His life, and His LOVE.

"Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. ¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not."  (Matthew 25:11-12)

        F.  Notice the Lord did not say, they were bad people.  The word of God does not say what finally happens to them.  However, because they took their spiritual capacity for granted, thus they could not enter into the, v3: "marriage; and the door was shut."

     G.  Sadly, because of certain choices the five foolish virgins made, they could not enter into the purpose and fulfillment God had intended for their lives.  God could not bring His pre-ordained purpose and plan for their lives to completion.  Sadly, but also very true today, like the  foolish virgins, who could not enter in, many today will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

  "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."  (Matthew 7:21)

      H.  Entering into the kingdom of heaven is not done by working for God or having God do great works through us. 

    "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:22-23)

      I.  Instead of a focus of working and doing for God we must become the work of God.  We must maintain a spiritual capacity to allow God to work in our lives.   

         "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."  (Ephesians 2:10)

And out from the work God does in our lives we can feed the world the mercy He has given us, feed His forgiveness, His grace, and His joy.  We make those choices that will allow us to be conformed into the image of His Son Jesus Christ, the goal of being a Christian.  If not, then what can be give a lost and dead world? What will we share? Teach/preach about?       

    J.  The requirements for entering into "the joy of the Lord" and "the kingdom of heaven" is faithfulness, commitment, dedication, and obedience to God.  By making those needed adjustments God wants us to make in our lives, allowing us to, do the will of my Father"  will enter in. 

    K.  John tells us, Jesus Himself  said,

          "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode (enter into) with him. "  (John 14:23)

    L.  We will then be able to keep such words of Jesus as,

           "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. ³¹ And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."  (Mark 12:30-31)

II.  PARTING THOUGHTS

     A.  We will never become the overcomer who finds himself seated with the five wise virgins unless we allow God to work His nature and character into our lives. Unless we develop a life that is centered around God and His plan for our lives. 

     B.  No one can give to another their commitment to spiritual obedience.  We must spend quality time in the presence of the Lord.  There is no substitute for the time we spend before the Lord in church and most important during the time just the two of us spend together. 

     C.  Because it is during these times, when we are faithful to read His word and share our heart with Him, He will speaks to us and shares His heart with us.  We then see the value of being faithful we then enter in to the joy of the Lord. 

BIBICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING 8 (TAKEN FROM HGM ON 21 SEP 21)

 BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-08

TEXT:   "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12

 I.   PRESENT PREPARATION FOR FUTURE PURPOSE

       A.  The key to future purpose is hidden in the present preparation through relationship.  Relationship between the Lord first and family and our Christian Brothers and Sisters, second. We may never know the treasures of wisdom God has hidden in our brothers and sisters because of our desires not to know someone.  They will stay a mystery to us.

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:" (1 Corinthians 2:7)

      B.  The tendency of many believers is to seek ministry and/or activity rather than relationship.  But ministry comes out of relationship.  Jesus' ministry came out of His relationship with His Father and the disciples.

      C.  We can easily mistake the present preparation (our ministry and/ or activity) or whatever the Lord is having us to do, as the fulfillment of the purpose.  Ministry itself is not the purpose, but a means to bring us into the fulfillment of His future purpose, whatever that may be.

      D.  What is God purpose in our lives?  Paul eludes to this in our test,

             "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

God's purpose in our lives is to give us vision to Him and His ways, and to bring us to fulfillment.  Everything God made; plants, trees, animals even man has purpose, but only man can have fulfillment and vision.

     E.  How clear is your vision at present, has it become more clear than what you had seen in the past?  What knowledge do you now know that you never knew before?  Do you now know about yourself what the Lord knows about you?

          "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no."  (Deuteronomy 8:2)

     F.  When the LORD led the children of Israel through the wilderness, He led them in a particular way.  It was a way that would humble them and prove them.  He led them in such a way that as they came through each circumstance they would be acquainted with their own heart. 

     G.  They would come into a knowledge of themselves that they never had know before, though the Lord already knew what was in their hearts.  He wanted to bring them to a place that they know even as they are know.  It is a great place in God for Him to show you your heart.

     H.  Whatever we are presently doing or going through is a preparation for BECOMING.  The people ask Jesus,

           "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"  (John 6:28) Jesus answered and said,  "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."  (John 6:29)  Do you see the difference?  So, our present circumstance, we can be sure that its design is to allow the work of God to be effected in us. 

      I.  It is in the LORD's leading and dealing in our lives, that we come face to face with ourselves and the areas that needed matured so that we might become more like Jesus.  We have to come face-to-face with our fears and inability and conquer them in His strength, and be know as we are know.

II.  PARTING THOUGHTS

      A.  It is not what we do, but what we become that matters.  The LORD is doing an eternal work in us.  He is preparing us for eternity.  It is in this life we qualify for our eternal position.  Our focus is not to be our position but our focus is to become what He desires us to become.

      B.  God will take care of our position.  So whether you have a ministry or not is not the question.  The question is in the present circumstances are we aware that He is preparing us for an eternal purpose?  The eternal purpose is to know ourselves as he knows us so that we might have the things changed that need changed and come into the fulfillment of all that the Lord desires for us.

          "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (2 Timothy 4:7)   

HOW DO YOU DO THAT

We were listening to a well known evangelist on TV one Sunday morning ultimately preaching from a very well known passage of Scriptures in Ephesians 2, but his sermon (not so much a message from the LORD, you know there is a huge difference) came after about 70+ minutes of singing, sometimes singing the same song over and over and faster and faster not to mention the singing for the offering and praying for the sick. Now please do not get me wrong I am not saying this young evangelist is a bad man or does not know what he is talking about (well, maybe I am disappointed with the manipulation of his people), but like most famous, denominational (and even most non-denominational) preachers, teachers, and especially evangelists get our emotions involved, but seldom tell us how or what we have to do in the LORD so that we can receive the outcome the Scriptures are promising. After all, if it is in the Scriptures God must want us to receive it or it would not be inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Bible.  I mean that would truly be awful  of the LORD to say okay I want you to have this gift or this blessing, but not tell us how to receive it. But, most preachers, teachers, and evangelists who share along these lines come down on the side of naming it and claiming the things of God. This evangelist was leading prayer and claimed healing and deliverance for all of the people under the sound of his voice.  How do you do that?  How do you claim healing and deliverance for people you do not even know?  How can you know God's will for these people in all of this? And no it is not God's will for everyone to be in perfect health.  I can find no verse in the Scriptures that tells us how we can do this.  Actually, there is no verse in the Scriptures that tells us how to claim something from God.  My friend we cannot claim anything in God all we receive from God must be received by faith and in gratitude. Does God not know what He is doing? Thinking we can claim what we want from the LORD is just open arrogance and pride. Who do we think we are to tell the LORD anything?  Who do we think we are to take or claim something that is of the LORD even if He wants us to have it?  Everything we get from the LORD is given to us out from His love for us, even His discipline and correction, but I never hear anyone pray for God's correction especially on TV. My friend even our salvation is a free gift from God.  We cannot claim our salvation. If so, how can you do that? As a matter of fact the word "claim" is found nowhere in the Scriptures of the KJV of the Bible.  Sadly at the heart of this wrong teaching is wrong thinking which reflects a huge lack of faith and trust in what God has said and already done.  After all why have someone pray for you (what the LORD has put in place in the Scriptures) when all you have to do is claim your healing or deliverance?  Again, I am not beating up on the evangelist (well maybe some), but am just asking the obvious question how do you do that? The evangelist went on and shared a tear jerking story and read through an old very well known hymn (something to get his folks emotions involved again) and then went to Ephesians. He read, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."  (Ephesians 2:8-10) Now I really like these verses, but the evangelist kind of twisted these verses to help make his point while missing the truth in these verses.  Oh yes, we are "saved through faith that not of yourselves." Personally, I think these verses define salvation much better than John 3:16, but I guess the Church at Ephesus had some members who thought they were saved by their good works. Remember, when Paul talks about certain issues or topics he is addressing the need for correction within the given named local Body.  Now here is where the evangelist really got off track. He said the word "workmanship" in verse 10 means masterpiece.  Well, we are NOT God's masterpiece, He just loves us more than the other creatures and Angels.  Nothing can be so far from the truth. God's masterpiece is His Son Jesus Christ in whom we are to be conformed into His image and nature. When God made man He did not say man is My masterpiece. As a matter of Scriptural record after God made the earth and the fullness (Genesis 1:31) He said it all was "very good," but when God made man He said no such words.  And why? Man apart from the finished work of Christ on the cross is desperately wicked and evil nothing good in him. In Romans 7:18, Paul says, "For I know that in me (that is in with my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." But, I wonder what "good works" Paul was thinking about in Ephesians 2:8-10? Maybe being ship wrecked, stoned, naked, beaten, hungry, maybe time spent in the deep.  Paul was saying we are God's work, "His workmanship;" not the church buildings, not the ministry, not the TV networks and social media, not the services or the singing, nor all of the good things we do for the LORD. We (you and me my brother or sister) are God's "beaustella" (means construction in the German language) or we are God's construction. And created to "good works." What "good works?"  We know they are NOT "our works less any should boast" (verse nine). And Paul could not have been talking about the good things God has for us to walk in. This would be selfish, man-centered, and fleshly focused, but these "good works" have been created in Christ Jesus (in other words Christ Jesus originated or are found in Him) and they have been "ordained that we should walk in them" since time eternal, before the foundations of the world was laid. You know with the Chinese virus (COVID 19) and all of its control, the cultural woke revolution, the social justice sham, and the deterioration of the home, and so much more one of the most important areas of life today that is lacking is peace. But, how can we claim peace? How do we do that? Our inner peace is important and is to be treasured, guarded, and maintained. It can be hard not to react when we see or hear things happening, yet how essential we set aside our own reactions and come to a place of quietness that we might seek the heart of God instead. In peace there is healing. From a place of peace, we can more easily find direction. In peace there is quietness and rest. In peace there is victory! How can we claim the peace of God that passes all understanding? And yet knowing as I become peaceful I can better find my position in Christ and have a greater impact.  In Micah it says God has showed us NOT we have claimed that which is required of man, He hath shewed thee, O man, what good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8) Now for us to live this way is our own decision, contingent only on our own heart condition and the LORD living within us. It does not say if people are kind or deserving we can claim these things, oh no my friend we are just to behave (be good, do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly) this way as God works in our lives. Our holiness is developed in us as we allow God's work in us. Who I am is not defined by what others do! I am who I am by the grace of God and the daily choices that I make! You know we live with a present purpose and a future hope. The choices we make and the ways we decide to walk in peace may not seem to have much bearing on anything we perceive today, but they are forming who we are and will be in eternity. These choices also have a present impact, perhaps more than we realize at times. May we be carriers of God’s light, carriers of His peace and presence. We get this not by wishing or claiming, but submitting to the LORD's dealings and judgments in our lives whereby He can conform us into the character and image of His dear Son Jesus Christ.You see, the wrong thinking of claiming the things of God by-passes God's work in our lives and those "good works" which Paul knew about quite well. My friend may we be ambassadors for healing, for peace. And may we do what is right ourselves. May we be merciful toward others. May we walk humbly before God.  What is the LORD doing in these last days you would ask?  Well, the LORD is raising up a people to be carriers of His presence, those who will reflect His light and help bring healing and love to others who are hurting. And you know my friend you cannot claim that. No matter what happens, may we always lift our hearts upward that we might be prepared to reach outward, should opportunity come. Written by David Stahl

BIBICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING #7 (FROM 24 AUG 21 HGM)

BIBLICAL ELEMENTS FOR DAILY LIVING-07 

TEXT: "There is no fear in love; but perfect (mature/selfless) love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect (mature/selfless) in love." (1 John 4:18) 

I. MATURE LOVE 

A. The opposite of liberty is bondage. We are held in that bondage through fear. Fear holds us tight without the ability to love; God, ourselves, our brothers and sisters, and those in the world who do not know Jesus as their personal savior. 

B. What causes us to fear? As Believers we are not to be fearful. The absence of fear is faith and the absence of faith is fear. There is not a half way, either we are full of fear or we are full of faith. Fear and faith cannot exist at the same time. 

C. As Christians our walk is to be one of faith and love, because faith works by love. "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." (Galatians 5:6) So, as our love matures so does our faith, because, "faith which worketh by love," thus if our love for God, our self, and other do not grow neither does our faith. As the same measure our love grows so does our faith. 

D. There are many things that make us to fear at times. If we are honest with ourselves we could compile quite a list. Most would rank the fear of death as number one. Fear of death holds us tight in bondage. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:14-15) 

E. When we are delivered from that fear we are set free. We are at liberty to do God's will to walk where He would have us walk. But in order to get into that liberty, we must go through death. Many quote, "you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. But few quote the condition the Lord sated before those words, "If you continue in my words, you shall know the truth." 

F. If you continue in His word you are going to be delivered to death, that is, to the place where you must choose to give up the ghost. This is a crucial place in our walk. It is the making or breaking place. If we sin, we remain in the bondage of corruption. If we, "give up the ghost" we are set free. "For he that is dead is freed from sin." (Romans 6:7) It is at this point of death where, "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:" (Romans 6:8) 

G. It is this death of the Lord's saints which is precious in His sight. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." (Psalms 116:15) It is at this place where we discover, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (I Corinthians 15:55) What we once feared, death to self, turns out to be the very thing that takes us into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. 

H. We are set free from that which bound us through the fear of death. Now the enemy no longer has a place is us to that he could come to time and time again to defeat us. We have passed from death unto life and we know that, because love has manifested in our lives for the brethren. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." (I John 3:14) 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS 

A. As we die to self and our rights, the love for the brethren will grow in us and as our love matures (perfected), so will our faith. They are forever joined in operation by God. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love," (Ephesians 3:17) and  "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 1:13) 

B. We can sing about being free, and talk about it, and even preach about it, but until we pass through death to our self life, we will still be held in the bondage of corruption and self condemnation. C. But the Lord has abundance of grace and by Him, we can reign in life now. Our corruption confines us to the small place, but when we enter into the glorious liberty of a son of God, we are free to go where the will of God directs us, and in that place we will have great faith and mature love, no fear will be found in us.

 

LACK OF TRUTH

Truth! "What is Truth?" That was the question Pilate asked Jesus in John 18:39 when Jesus stood before him in judgment, but today I would ask where is the truth? Notice Jesus never replied back to Pilate, but in the previous chapter we can find the answer to Pilate's question. Jesus says, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 171:17) So the word of God is truth. Truth is not what we believe because or what someone else says: the word of God, the Bible, the Scriptures is the only truth in the world and when we depart from it we get over in areas that only lead to loss, destruction, and death, both physical and more important spiritual. For example we see today in the world if we believe we are a female, but created a male by God you can be a female if you want to. You can turn the truth into a lie and a lie against God's word. Man today is not dependent on God's word for a moral compass and standard to live by. Truth is situational and dependent on what we want, not an absolute like God's word. The Prophet Jeremiah knew God, yet felt utterly dependent upon God. The LORD's approval is with those who are dependent upon Him; those who seek counsel from the mouth of the LORD. We see Jeremiah's heart condition and desire for truth, dependency, and to know God. Jeremiah writes, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23) When we try to direct our steps we then step out of the will of God for our lives as a person or a nation. You know because of one act of disobedience by Adam, the human race fell, and that one act of disobedience cost the Son of God His life. Some of the consequences of being out of the will of God are easily seen in the spiritual and moral manifestations of a society. Moses knew this as he watched the Children of Isreal spin out of control on a daily basis like we see on the TV daily and hear on the news. Yes, there is nothing new under the sun. In Deuteronomy Moses writes, “And among these nations shall you find no ease, neither shall the sole of your foot have rest: but the Lord shall give you there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind.” (Deuteronomy 28:65) These are conditions, which are symptomatic of being out of the will of God: uneasiness, restlessness, uncertainty, fearful, lack of assurance, discontent, and spiritual bondage. There are others, but these indicate that something is out of alignment in our relationship with the LORD and with each other. When these conditions are present it would be well to consider our having missed the will and purpose of the LORD and this my friend can only end in total loss, destruction, and death as an individual or a nation. Always remember the absences of truth is fear. This is what we see in America, fear, it runs the country. We are afraid to live life to the fullest as God intended us to. This is the direction America is heading. And why? The leaders of the "church" have failed to walk in the truth of the word of God. When the truth is lost then all of the social morays and morality on which hangs the civility and goodness of a society shall fail and then according to the word of God, "no ease, neither shall the sole of your foot have rest: but the Lord shall give you there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind.” We mistakenly say the issues of abortion, lesbianism, homosexuality, BLM, and all of the other anti-Christ organizations are political issues, but not so my friend they are the moral issues of OUR day that rest on our understanding of the truth. Day after day I find myself saying what is going on? I cannot believe what I am seeing and hearing? What has happened to America? And what is going on is the lack of the truth in all walks of life. In every walk of life: politics, religion, financial markets, the military, education, business, sports, entertainment, technology, social media, medicine, science, you name it truth has been excluded from the social discourse making the way for non-truth or lies in all we do and say. I cannot remember when our society was so corrupt, when life had such a limited meaning or value, when a man's opinion mattered not to the collective, but was just something to crush under foot to make way for what others believe and want to see happen, even if it is evil and ungodly. You know we cannot foresee the future nor does it seem many people have the ability to discern what the LORD wants in days to come. Therefore, we should prayerfully make our decisions giving God the opportunity to redirect us because only He knows what is ahead. There must be a "sincerity of heart" when it comes to the truth in our lives and the lack of truth will only lead us to greater loss, destruction, and death. Jeremiah helps us again, “For you dissembled in your hearts, when you sent me to the Lord your God, saying, Pray for us according to all that the Lord our God shall say, so declare it to us, and we will do it.” (Jeremiah 42:20) “Dissembling in your hearts” is making a false pretense (not walking or acting in the truth) in intention. Here they had already determined that if God told them to not go to Egypt, they would go anyway. They did and carried the Prophet Jeremiah with them. We cannot expect God to guide us, love us, protect us, and care for us unless we are sincere and walk in the truth of the word of God and willing to obey His Word. Did you know there is a distinction between instruction and teaching? In Psalms David writes, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go….” (Psalm 32:8) Instruction reveals the principles of divine guidance which is what we lack while we walk away from the truth. While teaching helps us to receive and move in divine guidance. The LORD will teach us to discern His will through our circumstances or problems, therefore, we must understand the principals of His guidance. And in the loss of truth we will never learn the principles that will enable spiritual growth and development in us individually and as a nation. We will never learn meekness which is a pliability that enables the LORD to guide us gently, rather than by the force of circumstances. Most often guidance comes through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, or by divine providence. The LORD in His wisdom, has given us these three safe guards when we are in a difficulty. If the Word, the Spirit, and divine providence agree as one, we have a three-fold factor of safety, and we then can be reasonably sure that we are hearing from the LORD. Another form of guidance relates to personal integrity, God 's biggest focus in our lives. Solomon writes, “The integrity of the upright shall guide them….” (Proverbs 11:3) Now I like Proverbs and the Psalms, but to be honest I seem to have a hard time studying what the authors failed to live up to. They too walked away from the truth given to them. There is guidance by integrity (standards of righteousness) that we receive from the written Word of God. The LORD would have us to be guided by principles of integrity where we do what is right, even though we could evade it as others do. The Word of God establishes standards of right and wrong and the LORD expects us to adhere to these standards without special revelation. We do not need a revelation to discover that we are obligated to obey the Word of God. As I said with the lack of truth in our lives we will experience the lack of peace and fear will rule our heart. Peace is what the LORD wants for us, but did you know there is a differentiation between peace “with” God, and the peace “of” God. Peace with God has to do with our “relationship” with God. The peace of God has to do with our “walk” with God. Peace “with” God comes first, whereby the enmity between us and God is removed. The peace “of” God should follow after, but not all Christians (and some Believers) who have peace “with” God also have the peace “of” God. The peace of God comes through our walking in the Spirit and is a state of tranquility and rest produced in our hearts by the Spirit. It is a supernatural peace that passes all understanding. The peace of God is one of the forms of guidance, restraining us by an inner unrest, uncertainty, or confirming a certain course of action by a witness, satisfaction, or a deep inner rest. The peace of God can be described negatively, positively, experientially, positionally and judicially. It is not a mere absence of disturbance, but a conscious rest, which is independent of circumstances, favorable or unfavorable. Jesus taught in principle, “My sheep know my voice” (John 10:27). Many have often said, “But how do I know it is the voice of the Spirit?” One of the best ways to learn the recognition of His voice is through His sheep. They had learned to recognize His voice through continued association with Him and other people who know Him. At night, as we drift off to sleep we listen to a really good Christian radio station out of Atlanta, our white noise. On the hour they have a new cycle that repeats though out the night. One night, one of the spots talked about how over 400,000 Southern Baptist have left the denomination in the last year and blamed it on, like everyone else in the world, COVID for the exodus. Well, the LORD impressed on me it was not COVID for the departure, but it was the radical political stance the Southern Baptist Convention took in support of Black Lives Matters (an ungodly Marist organization whose main goal is to destroy the nuclear family as God has created it and America) and other anti-Christ organizations while still calling themselves Christians like all of the other denominations and religions in the world. They may be Christians, but certainly NOT Children of God because His children know His voice, they know His word, and they know truth. If you are interested in the recognition of His voice see to it that you live and walk in close association with Him. Written by David Stahl