SUBSTITUTING THE SPIRIT OF GOD

Did you know there is a difference between compromising and substituting? I hear many Christians say we are compromising (I may even be guilty of this) the Spirit of God, but in reality we are not compromising (settling an argument or dispute in which each side gives up part of what it wants or to put in danger of being criticized or disgraced) but substituting (a person or thing that takes the place of another) the things for the Spirit of God. Now both are ungodly and we (I include myself here) in the Body of Christ ought to be ashamed of ourselves if guilty. As we drive around town we see many churches with signs selling their latest and greatest program, but wait a minute, where and when does the Spirit of God fit into these programs? One of my favorite signs is the announcement of revival services. My friend you do not have revival (word not found in the Bible) at a church just by posting a sign on the grounds. If your church is being revived (word found in the Bible) by the Spirit of God you will not need to hang a sign or publish your revival services note in the church happenings section of the newspaper, people will be drawn by the Spirit of God and will come and be filled and changed by His Spirit. By word of mouth this good news will spread like wild-fire from town to town, but you know I do not see this. I see sign after sign substituting man’s plans and programs for the Spirit of God. I see churches offering counseling like the world. I see signs offering divorce counseling. Well does God agree with divorce? I see signs offering mental heath counseling. What is the answer to man’s mental heath? Someone knowing God enough to be able to give them the Spirit to God without using worldly techniques and ways. Why there is even a Baptist church in town where you can get your college degree, who needs the Spirit of God, education is where it’s at, isn’t it? What are we doing to the house of God? We are substituting things of the world for the Spirit of God and making God’s house a house of merchandising (John 2:16). We may not be selling doves and bulls, but we are selling CD’s, books, anything with value.

We substitute singing songs with all of their instrumentation and emotional pseudo-spiritualism for true worship; which is bowing down our heads and hearts (before the Lord) to the ground. Worship has nothing to do with singing, but being quiet before God. David said, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” (Psalms 95:6) Joshua said it this way, “And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?” (Joshua 5:14) Jehoshaphat worshiped this way, “And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 20:18) the list goes on Moses and so many others. True “worship” is not speaking or singing words, but bowing down our heart and lives before God in quiet awe and reverence. I hear many Christians praise Sister Miriam for her worship after the great miracle of the parting of the Red Sea, “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15:20) Take heed pastors when you get a bunch of women moving in a service. Just like today many Christian women dance around the church with their tambourine in hand singing, “the horse and the rider hath he thrown into the sea,” but I guess they have never read in Numbers how Miriam spoke against her brother Moses, “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.” (Numbers 1:1) and for this she received, “And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.” (Number 1:10) You see Miriam carried these hateful feelings and offence through the Red Sea. All of her singing and dancing profited her nothing. All of her singing and dancing was not true “worship,” but a mask, a cover, a substitute for the Spirit of God. Her true heart was exposed and God had to deal with her and the people. In so many churches today we sing and dance instead of allowing God to work in our heart, well keep on singing and dancing my friend, but I promise you there will come a time when all of your singing and dancing will come to an end and you like Miriam will be face-to-face with a holy and righteous God. Paul tells us, “Quench not the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19) When we substitute things of the world for the Spirit of God we are quenching the Spirit. God does not want us to sing other’s songs, but allow God to work in us to such a degree our lives become a song. Young David’s songs in the Psalms were not written for us to make songs of, but were produced as God developed David from the pastures to the palace. I think all of this singing in church is nothing more than traditions of men and idolatry, from church to church we sing the same songs, why? Now if you want to sing songs in church to pump up your emotions or get everyone to feel good about themselves okay, but please do not call it “worship” please call it what it is, Christian entertainment or even service filler. My friend music is a very powerful tool to get people to do what your want them to do. People love and will die for a song. All you need to do is take a good look at history, especially World War II and see the extremes some people will go. I really cannot believe all of the effort and resources expended for doing something Jesus and the disciples did not do. They may have sung hymns (I enjoy too) or even recited Jewish scripture chants, but it was nothing like the worldly contemporary and rock-n-roll Christian music of today. Some one has to sound the alarm before we drive another generation into a ditch and get them off track. I know I am speaking heresy to most Christians and my words might cost us some friends, but I am not trying to tickle your ears, manipulate you, or make you happy (nor is God, He is trying to conform us into the image and nature of His dear Son Jesus Christ), I am trying to warn you and the church corporately before it is too late. Our society is (and sadly so is the church) so music orientated. We give an altar call and the musician rush up and start playing softly, is the Holy Spirit not able to move hearts and emotions? My friend it will take the Spirit of God to remove this thinking from us and the church. For us it is not about singing, but about being developed, singing has never developed anyone into the character and nature of Jesus Christ. But who wants to be developed? This my friend is a very painful process in God. It is much easier to sing about others being developed. We sing “I want to dance like David danced,” well to be able to dance like David danced you have to go through the things David went through. In Psalms 30:12 we read, “To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” (Psalms 30:12) David is not talking about singing songs, but his “glory (Strong’s #3519, honour, abundance) may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.” The “glory” that he has allowed God to work in his life will come forth from the recesses of His heart and not be silent before Him. We must not substitute singing and dancing in the house of God for the Spirit of God.

Another area we substitute the Spirit of God with something is a desire to see miracles, signs and wonders. God’s intention for us is to come to the fullness of His Son, to grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, to come to know Him and the power of His might, but if we have a taste for manna (miracles, signs and wonders) we will not develop a taste for the deeper things of God and His word. The writer of Hebrews shares some of the saddest words in the Bible about a church of believers, “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:11-14) Mature men and women of God, men and women “of full age” survive not on milk, but on strong healthy meat from God’s wisdom and experience as He draws us, as He deals in our lives, and as He judges us for greater qualification. When we go after miracles, signs and wonders (manna) we are babes. Meat is worked into our lives through the many experiences we have in God and as He is able to deal and judge in our lives. The stronger the dealings and judgments of God in our lives the stronger the meat we can eat of. David says, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” (Palms 34:8-10) Where did David learn, “the young lions do lack, and suffer hunger?” When he tasted of the things of the world, but when he tasted of the Spirit of God his testimony was, “they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.”

We see this truth moving in the lives of the Children of Israel. It was not God’s intention for the Children of Israel to spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness. God’s desire for the Children of Israel was for them to go directly and possess the promised land, but they did not have the maturity and Spirit of God in them to believe God because they too have substituted the things of the world for the Spirit of God. Even after seeing miracles, signs and wonders that was not enough to develop them into the people needed to conquer the promised land. “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 24But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. 25(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.” (Number 14:22-25) so they wandered in the wilderness in training. And in the wilderness God could not feed them meat they were not able to receive meat God had to give them manna, “what is it?” Manna (God’s supernatural provision) was not God’s idea for the Children of Israel He wanted them to eat meat, but manna is food for those Christians in training, meat is for those Christians who have been trained and of full age. “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) For 40 years they wandered in the wilderness in training and until the older generation who saw the miracles, signs and wonders of God in Egypt died. Seeing God’s miracles, signs and wonders was not enough, God was after teaching them, “that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” Seeing God’s miracles, signs and wonders was not enough to replace the true Spirit of God. The disciples rejoiced over miracles, signs and wonders, but Jesus corrected them, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20) Miracles, signs, and wonders will do little for us, we must not go after them and when we do we are substituting the Spirit of God. It is not God’s intention to do miracles and wonders for us. We go after the miracles, signs, and wonders, why? It is not about the miracles, signs, and wonders, but about following the Lord in obedience. When the Children of Israel were ready to conquer the promise land, the manna stopped. “Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals (Strong’s #6718 provision of meat, venison); for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.” (Joshua 1:10-11) Manna (miracles, signs, and wonders) are for babes and those in training, but meat is for the mature Christian one who can be counted worth by God for conquest and victory. I wonder why there are so many babes in the church? Are we ready? Did you know while the Children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness because of their unbelief and disobedience (Hebrews 3:16-18), while living on manna they defeated 5 kingdoms, but when their diet changed to victuals (meat) and they entered the land promised they conquered 31 kingdoms. What we eat and use for strength makes a big difference to our physical body, but even more to our spirit man.

Behind all of this substituting things for the Spirit of God is unbelief and our self-seeking glory. We really do not believe God can and will do it as He said, so we try to help Him with programs and our good ideas, but no man is God’s counselor. God needs no help from us, what God needs is our willingness and obedience. Our presumption is religious and very subtle, but in the end it brings our self and others to a dead end. Substituting anything for God’s Sprit always leads to a dead end. Paul warned Timothy of this very thing, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:5-7) You know when we substitute the things of the world for the Spirit of God, thinking we are drawing those in the world to church, they really in their heart loathe us even the more for our compromise to the truth and us denying them the opportunity to satisfy the hunger in their soul. Let us desire the real Spirit of God which comes not by way of works or good intentions, but by being broken and poured out. Written by David Stahl

FOLLOWING TO OBEDIENCE

My heart is full and my mind has many thoughts to share. I wonder why we sing songs like “I surrender all” and do not. We say we are ready to lay down our life for the sake of Christ but, I find big singing boastful words usually means quick retreat in the face of the enemy or in austere times. I wonder why we raise our hands in submission to God swinging our arms to and fro in the air while having a tearful emotional experience promising God to do something and not do it? It would be far better for us to just keep our mouth shut. We must be very careful with what comes out of our mouth God is very good at making us eat our words, you can ask Jephthah, “And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, 31Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” (Judges 11:30-31) and now the result of a quick emotional vow to God “And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. 35And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.” (Judges 11:34-35) In these cases others usually pay most of the price. Did you know when we raise our hand and promise something before God we are making a vow, an oath, or swearing to do something for God? My friend, God takes a very narrow view of saying something and not doing it. I would recommend at your next song service to please pay attention to the words you are mouthing. As I began to grow in the Lord I thought these emotional approaches to God was what He was after, but now much older in the Lord I believe (even though I was well intended) these times did little to help me overcome things in my life that would enable me to be obedient to God. My friend we must be very careful when we get our emotions involved with the things of God. Our emotions are dangerous and will run us out of God and off track faster than anything I know. Please take time as you read the Bible to see how emotions got such mighty men of God as Adam, David, Solomon, Samson, Jonah, Gideon, Elijah, all of the disciples (the list goes on and on) in trouble and off track. In the Proverbs Solomon shares, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit (control our emotions) than he that taketh a city.” (Proverbs 16:32) I wonder where Solomon learned this truth? Maybe from his father King David. Today we want to conquer the world for Christ, well He wants us (with His strength and ability) to be able to conquer our spirit and mouth. If you really want to grow in God to be accountable do not look for the next praise and worship service to get all blubbery in, but look within your heart and spirit for the next area of fear (that lives in the pit of your stomach) or failure in your soul that needs to be conquered by God by allowing Him to strengthen you in your inward parts. Did you know the word praise in the KJV Bible has little to do with singing, but more with making confessions, thanksgivings, a discourse like speaking well of someone, or a commitment to something in words not music? Our progression in God is not measured by what we do or give to God, but what we lose of our selfishness self-life and how much we allow God to strengthen us. We must not allow our emotions (and that includes our flesh) to rule over us, but channel them into a Godly focus from following to obedience.

Thus far this year Karen and I had not traveled to the nations. The first part of 2008 we were helping to take care of my parents (and still are in ways) and the middle of the year we hosted some wonderful friends from Nepal and India, but now Jake Luffy and I planned a trip to Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria. The need was certainly there and God provided the funds, but just because God provided does not mean this is what He wanted to happen. I think most times God is more concerned about our heart’s desires to go and do than the actual going and doing. Now here is where things really get foggy and over into some gray areas in God. Oh you say there are no gray areas in God? Well walk with the Lord long enough and go to the places He wants you to go (and not the places you want to go) and you will see the gray areas fade to black and into the darkness of the unknown of God. I have been traveling abroad for the Lord since July 1996 and at first I went to where I wanted to go and said the things I wanted to say within His call on my life, but when I got older I needed others to “girdedst” or strengthen me. In John Jesus shares this wonderful truth with Peter, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” (John 21:18) The older I get the more the truth of this verse becomes more alive and more of a reality in my heart and life. Now I will be honest I wanted to go on this trip the need was great, but still in my heart (I will be honest) I did not want to go on this trip. I do not need to travel ministering the word to be fulfilled and satisfied in God. I know there are many great men of God in Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria who can do a much better job than me. I am very content and very happy at home with Karen, working on writing my books, writing our newsletter and articles, helping keep the maternity clinic in Aveile, Nigeria, the radio station in Katmandu, Nepal, and the tuberculosis clinics in Addis Abba, Ethiopia (on auto pilot now) up and running, soon Bible schools in Rwanda and Kenya, and attending a local Body and ministering locally. There are plenty of Godly and righteous things I can be doing to feel like I am “ministering” or doing something for God. However, we planned and prepared, but the night before while I was laying on the couch and Karen (my sweetheart) was rubbing my feet a cloud like veil descended over my eyes, right away I knew my blood pressure (for no apparent reason) went up. I went up stairs and got the blood pressure cuff bought for me in Turkey last year and I asked Karen to take my blood pressure. Sure enough I was right. I should know this happening by now because on the last five trips I have taken I have experienced blood pressure problems. Starting in India in 2006, in Rwanda, in Romania and Bulgaria, in Nepal, on my way to Tanzania but ended up in Istanbul, Turkey where the plane dropped me off and I spent six hours in the emergency room, and then again on our (Karen and I) last trip to Turkey in 2007 (where they bought me the blood pressure cuff) I had a blood pressure problems. And now before we leave for Turkey another blood pressure problem, well I remember all to well the feeling of helplessness and danger I was not so fast to run out the door the next morning. God sure has ways of getting our attention. When we are in our teens or early 20s we think we are invincible and we will live for ever, but as we get older say into our 30s and 40s we begin to see our mortality ever before us. And as we reach our 50s and 60s we notice every pain, bump, and lump on our body questioning everything, wanting to hold on to every bit of life we can. Now please do not misunderstand me here, I am ready to die, but I do not want to die God still desires for me to share His wondrous Gospel message and I so love and enjoy my wife Karen and our family. Anyone that says they want to die, both sinner and saint alike is lying. I was getting my hair cut one day and the Korean lady barber and I were discussing this topic and she said the older we get the more we look at our self, she is right. We even have “beauty parlors” to camouflage our age and faults. Believe it or not spiritually there is a parallel to this thinking. The older we get the more our flesh desires not to do the will of God. It seems the older we get the more and more our fleshly desires needs to be beat into submission and dragged along (even kicking and screaming) as we overcome in obedience doing what God has asked us to do. It seems our flesh is more of a stumbling-block to us than man or the devil. I was very grateful that God allowed me to have this blood pressure problem before we left the States. After going to the doctors I found out I may have a stenosis (narrowing) of the renal (kidney) artery or a tumor on my adrenal glands that produces a sudden surge of epinephrine, both will cause my blood pressure to suddenly go up. Time and testing will give us the answer and a miracle or treatment will follow. Now I am not saying it was my flesh that was causing my blood pressure problem, but on the other hand I would not put it past my flesh. Jake and I must rest in knowing God had a better plan (inspite of the great need) for us than to go to Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria now. In my case now I see it is a physical problem that God wants to be corrected for the future. But my friend our flesh is wicked and deceitful above all causing us to do so many things we would not have done. Our flesh is to be but to death. God has no intention of keeping our flesh alive and is counting on us to help put it to death. When we get over into emotions and allow our thoughts to run away our flesh is in control. Did you know at the heart of our emotions is selfishness? When we do not get our own way or we think we have lost something what moves our emotions is our selfish nature. I remember as a small boy when coming home after school and my mother not at home thinking oh no the Lord came and I was left. I would go from room to room calling her name, get on the phone if need be, just seeking her out not feeling bad about my youthful sinful heart condition, but I was seeking her to reassure my selfish nature. We cannot handle our flesh by our natural ability, but we first must allow the Spirit of God full sway in our lives to work in us an ability to “mortify” or put the deeds of our body to death. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:11-14) If we desire to be led by the Spirit of God we first must put to death the deeds of our flesh. My friend either our fleshly emotions or the Spirit of God will be leadings us it is our choice.

Now we (Karen and I) are not saying we will never travel in ministry again, we already have had wonderful friends in India, Nepal, Nigeria, and Tanzania wanting a visit in 2009, but what we are saying is; if God wants us to go and we know that we know it is God’s leading then we will endure even blood pressure problems. Our heart is to glorify God and His children. We cannot glorify God and His children if we come with problems to add on top the problems our wonderful friends already face. Times are perilous and expensive enough the last thing our wonderful friends around the world need is to have to care for people who ought to have known better. And it is not about going in faith and counting on God to make a way, this my friend proves to be foolish and unscriptural. God gave us a mind and expects us to use it. I still shake my head at Peter leaving a place of safety and provision that Jesus provided so that he could do something spectacular and miraculous yet in the end Jesus had to save him from his fleshly ambition. It was not about going to where Jesus was or Peter walking on the water, but about foolish ambition and pride as it would be the same for us going to minister some where in the world (like in the past) with a problem in hand. Jesus told Peter, “This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.” (John 21:19) When reading this verse we often focus on “what death he should glorify God,” that is true, but we should be focusing on the “Follow me.” Where are we to follow Christ? Into the great abundant life in John 10:10? No my friend in reality we are to follow Christ into His death. We are to follow Him into a death of our selfishness into a newness of life into our selflessness and then literally into a physical death. I think the more we die to our selfishness and self-life the easier it will be to fall into the group physically. Today Jesus says to us, “Follow me” yet I see so many Christians going the opposite direction of Christ while they say they are following Him. Where are they following to? To their cross (not Jesus’) to daily impale themselves on? How are they following Him? In a humble, lowly, and contrite way? Are they following to obedience or are they following to presumption; thinking they are doing right, but in reality doing wrong? The only way we can glorify God is to follow Him in obedience. Following to obedience will kill you time and time again, but if you can die then you will really be alive to follow Christ anywhere He leads. Written by David Stahl

ALL OF GOD'S LOVE

One of the most memorized and beloved verses in the Scriptures is found in the Book of John. “For God so loved (agape, Strong’s #25 to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly) the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Now I really like the Book of John, but did you know the word “prayer” does not appear in any Book (KJV) in the Bible that John wrote. Not in the Gospel of John, not in any of his three epistles, or in the Book of Revelation, but the attitude and heart of “prayer” seems to be flowing out from John’s words. The Bible is a spiritual Book and must be understood by the Spirit of God or we will miss its meanings and misrepresent the words just like with the word “prayer” not being in the five books of the Bible that John wrote. God’s word, the Bible, is truth and has many edges of understanding that is progressive. Now please remember there are also God’s words, the individual words God speaks to our spirit so that we will know His will in a given situation or circumstance. Now God can speak to us in many ways: through nature, His word, the Bible, or to our spirit if our spirit is tuned to the Holy Spirit. For example Paul in Romans shares, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Many Christians say faith comes by hearing the Bible preached or riding around in a car listening to the Bible on tape. We know this cannot be true, millions of people attend churches around the world and hear the Bible and yet have no faith. This was very popular when I was growing up, but that is not what the Bible says. The Bible says “faith comes by hearing” and “hearing by the word of God.” In other words we get faith when we hear God speak to us through His words. The Greek version of this verse does a better job explaining this truth, “So then faith cometh by hearing, a word from God.” (Romans 10:17 (GK)) Do you see the difference? Today if you need faith you must hear from God (faith is God’s not ours), because in the hearing is contained all of the faith you will need for the situation or circumstance you are facing. We cannot work it up, pray it up, or stand on God’s promises to get it up, we must hear from God, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Well now that I have your attention and we have a better understanding of the many facets of the workings of truth, let us take a closer look at John 3:16. I do not know about you my friend, but this verse scares me to death. Why do we Christians believe our lives are going to be filled with flowers and candy, a real bed of roses, all of the time? Let us read John 3:16 again, but this time let us not use the Pollyanna, sugar coated thinking that sets many Christians up for failure, “For God so loved the world, that he gave (Strong’s #1325, of one’s own accord to give one something, to his advantage) his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) We often miss the point here that God stood by while His Son Jesus Christ was crowned with 3 ½ inch thorns, flogged, beat with a cat of nine tails (whip), despised, spit on, had His beard plucked out, and then when totally exhausted from the loss of blood and physical pain, had His only begotten (a past participle of beget; to be the father of; cause to be; produce) Son crucified. And God loves His Son very much. God the Father gave His own Son for His (not Jesus’) own advantage. What an unbelievable love (agape) by Jesus, but who wants God to love them that much? I am not sure if I would raise my hand here. Paul tells us in Romans, “He (God) that spared not his own Son, but delivered him (Jesus) up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) God spared not His Son and we think He will do more for us? Why do we think God wants to only give us a happy and pleasant (a life of Riley) things and not allow some hard, difficult, and troubling things into our lives? Is the servant better than the Master? I think not. My friend we better wake up to the reality of truth before we wake up from our religious dream and find God is loving us like He loved His Jesus. Make no mistake my friend hard, difficult, troubling times are coming our way God will see to it. I believe America, because of her waywardness to God and His words (both spoken and written) is looking down both barrels of God’s judgment and punishment. I hope I am wrong (if I am I will get the rocks), but I feel strong in my spirit hard, difficult, and troubling times are heading America’s way. I am really a coward and do not want to see them come, but we can only play fast and loose for so long then God will say enough and pull up on the reins. For all of those who look to America for financial help and support, please I would advise you all to start looking at the Lord for your help and support. Again I hope I am wrong, but as with all things in God time will tell.

For years I had a hard time with the word “agape” (love) because what I had been taught and what I saw around me did not seem to line up with what I was reading in the Scriptures. But one day, my teacher, Charles Haun, opened up a more complete understanding of the word that opened it up to me personally, but also allowed me to help others with it. Agape is defined as a dedication to the well-being of another. The Greeks have three words one being agape to express what we use one word to express our love. But agape is nothing like love as we thing of it something warm and fuzzy. Agape is a marvelous force in God that moves from God towards us and then from us towards Him and then towards others. It makes choices and then it is faithful to the choices it made (faithful, that is, to the object of the choice, or the person to be loved). If I make a choice for Jesus through agape moving in my heart then I will be faithful to him – regardless of the situations, circumstances, or consequences. If I were to be hauled away and delivered to the lions, I would still remain faithful to Jesus. Circumstances and situation never changes agape. It is no wonder Jesus could go to the cross, agape was moving in His life and not just love. If we only love our spouse (or family) when they get old and their hair and teeth fall out we will leave them, but if we agape them, if we dedicate ourselves one to the other no matter what happens in our relationship we will never leave them. In its simplest form, agape is a decision, not an emotion. Whether we like it or not we are saddled with certain emotions and we have to learn to deal with them. If not they will lead us off track and out of God faster than anything else. We must not allow our emotions to dictate the way we relate to God and people, we must let the principles of the Spirit and the word of God direct and lead us. Agape is not affected by our emotions. It is something totally apart from our natural feelings. It was no wonder Jesus could endure the cross, agape was the force and not His feelings and emotions that compelled Him to lay His life down. Please know if we love the things if this world too much, then agape I not in us. It is agape that holds together all of the affairs of men, especially a marriage. A week or so ago our Pastor asked me to pray for marriages within the church, I said I would and I did, but what is needed is not more prayer, or more love, but more agape (dedication) towards each other. If a good husband holds his wife as his objective and her well-being becomes his interest, then his every decision is based upon her needs as agape moves through him toward her. What we need is more agape working in lives today, if so we would have less divorce and unfaithfulness in marriages. Most people can quote Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” but how many Christians can quote verse Romans 8:32? Did you known agape is the foundation of our faith? We do not want to identify with a God that will hold us accountable for our actions. We will quickly give our life for a God who forgives all of our sins, but how about a God that is holy and righteous and who expects His children to be the same. Now please do not misunderstand me, I too like to be forgiven when I sin or fall short of God’s glory, but unless I learn the lesson of my failure and there is a change in my heart condition (which will always cause a change in my attitude and behavior) my failure and God’s forgiveness will do me little good. Oh yes, my sins will be forgiven and if I die I would probably go to heaven (God gets to make that call not the Pastor or friends), but I will not be of any use to God while on earth. Always wanting and having to have our sins forgiven is a selfish position in God. We say we want all of God’s love, but we are not to keep having our sins forgiven. Jesus died once on the cross for our sin and He Himself died once to sin. “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.” (Romans 6:10) It is God’s intention for us to confess our sin once and believe Jesus died for us once, then “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18) There is no wonder there is not a desire for spiritual growth and development in the church we keep laying again our foundation of dead works, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.” (Hebrews 6:1) I think today one of the greatest works we should allow God to do in our hearts is faith toward God.’ I believe most Christians go to church to do all of the religious duties and traditions of men, but really and maybe secretly in their hearts have not really settled if there is a God. They may have “walked the aisle” as a good Southern Baptist would say, but there has not been an inward change in their heart and lives. Their decision was based on an emotional response to a gifted speaker or maybe fear from the promise to be saved from hell’s eternal flames, but inwardly there was no realization of what sin has wrought in their lives, no dedication to the things of God, a momentary decision to soothe a guilty conscience, but no real commitment to God and His ways. Apparently we do not believe some day we will stand before a holy and righteous God or we would get serious about our walk with the Lord (I can include himself here at times) and stop all of this religious denominationalism; what the Chinese would call “look see pigeon” or what I call it “a Christian dog and pony show.” My friend let us embrace all of God’s agape. Remember for those who agape God His agape towards them is His longsuffering, mercy, and forgiveness. But for those who only eros (covers our animal instinct and most of our strongest feelings and emotions. It is where we get the word erotic) or phileo (friendship love) God His agape toward them (same agape as those who agape Him) is His judgment, wrath, and punishment. The difference is our heart condition toward Him, not His towards us. His heart is always, all of His agape towards us. Written by David Stahl

HOW LONG OH GOD

I have said and still believe prayer is one of the most amazing, but at the same time most mysterious thing God brings into our lives. It is no wonder the disciples wanted Jesus to teach them how to pray. “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1) Now this “John” in this verse is not John one of the 12 disciples, but John the Baptist the one that came before Jesus. I wonder where he learned to pray? And then he taught his disciples. My friend prayer is a work of the Spirit of God in us it cannot be taught, but it must be worked into our spirit as we learn the lessons God desires for us to learn in His answers back to us. Maybe praying and having our prayers answered (which are two different processes) is something more than what we have been told? Maybe having our prayers answered timely is more dependent on us and not so much on God. After all God’s desire for us is only for our good no matter what He chooses to do in our lives. God is holy and sovereign He knows what is best for our lives and He will do everything we will allow Him to do in our lives to bring the truth and words of Jeremiah, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11) into our lives. Coming to God’s “expected end” for our lives is not up to God, but up to us. God wants His “expected end” to be alive and moving in our lives, but how bad do we want it? Bad enough to be obedient to Him? Bad enough to deny self-seeking ways and a sin sick heart? Bad enough to fall into the ground so that He may live? Well my friend prayer works the same way. Do we desire God’s will in our lives more than our feeble collection of words to express our wants? Do we desire to live a holy and righteous life before God and man so that His name will be glorified in all the earth? Do we desire to be baptized into His death so that we may be raised in resurrection life? Remember, no resurrection life without death. In Romans Paul tells the church at Rome and us today, “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) Paul was not talking about water baptism as most denominational pastors misrepresent this verse when conducting water baptisms, but Paul was talking about us falling into the ground, dying to, and identifying with the loss and death to our flesh and carnal nature, like Jesus did on the cross so that we may be able to walk in the resurrection and power of the “newness of life” God gives us. Death before glorification, that is God’s order and He changes not.

After observing Jesus in prayer with the Father and then personally observing the healings of who knows how many 1,000s of people I am sure there was a great desire within them to do the things that Jesus did, but maybe it was not for the same reasons Jesus did them. Maybe their motives were selfish and more self-centered. We see all throughout the Gospels the disciples really never got it while Jesus was with them in the flesh, but before Jesus went away (as He said He would do) He said He would send the precious Holy Spirit and He would remind them of Jesus’ words and they would begin to move in the power and might of the Spirit of God. But before then time and time again we see the disciples doing things for their selfish gain and wants, I doubt suddenly they would have used their prayers for others, not so unlike us today. Lord help us. In James we read, “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss (Strong’s # 2560, miserable, to be ill, improperly, wrongly, to speak ill of, revile), that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:2-3) James tells us “we ask and receive not” from God because we “ask amiss” not because God is not listening, He does not care, or He is not all powerful, but because we have asked a Holy God improperly or wrongly. Do you think it was the words the people used to ask God for something that caused the “amiss” state? I do not think it was the spoken words per say, but we must always remember our words are always a reflection of our heart condition. Jesus taught, “Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” (Matthew 15:17-18) It was not their spoken words, but the lustful selfish heart condition that their words reflected. Now we are getting down to where the rubber meets the road. Our words speak of the amount of God’s work in our lives or the amount of God’s work that has not been done in our lives. Truth has two edges and cuts us both ways. My friends, “Let the words of my (our) mouth, and the meditation of my (our) heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my (our) strength, and my (our) redeemer.” (Psalms 19:14) if we desire to have our prayers answered.

But there is something deeper here we must learn and understand about prayer if we want to be able to move with God and not get frustrated at God. Now I do not know about you, but to me there seems to be an enjoyment God receives by not answering our prayers quickly. Maybe He knows something we do not. Maybe while we are waiting for Him there is a deep work He wants to do is us so that we can be conformed ever the more in our heart and mind, a deep work and an experience in us to be able to handle His answer. In His delay of answering our prayers there seems to be a projection of God’s Holy nature and sovereign character that keeps us before Him in our desire (not to have our prayers answered for selfish and lustful reasons) to know Him in a deeper way. Prayer is God’s projection that He uses to show us His will and the way we must go with Him if we desire to walk in obedience. Prayer is God’s major tool He uses to teach us and train us to walk His everlasting way. And in our praying (beseeching) and in this way we will pray and God will answer our prayers not according to His power (that should be understood without question), but according to His plan and our heart condition. Please let me say that again. God answers our prayers according to His purpose and our heart condition. In His delay there seems to be periods of time where things within us needs to change, to adjust, or align with what God wants to do in our request and according to His plans. A delay in God answering us is most often about us needing to mature or spiritually grow to be able walk in what He desires to bring into our lives. Also timing becomes an issue, God is arranging things for our good so that all things can work out for God’s glory, but most often in a delay in our prayers God is waiting for us to open up and allow Him to correct some conditions in us. Let us be willing to open our heart and lives up to God so that He could work until His hearts delight.

Did you know in every parable that speaks of the Lord’s second coming in the Scriptures has this element of delay while an inward work is either being done or waiting to be done? In Luke we read the parable of the good shepherd seeking his lost sheep. “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” (Luke 15:4) When we read this verse we automatically start plugging in characters; Jesus is the good shepherd and we are the lost sheep, well I would not be so fast in assigning roles. If Jesus is the good shepherd how could He lose one of us? Or did Jesus just give the sheep enough grace to wander off so that He could teach the sheep a lesson. If Jesus was the good shepherd He most certainly would not have left the 99 (other sheep in the fold) in wilderness, oh no Jesus would left them in green pastures and beside still waters, right? Well maybe not. Maybe the wilderness is the place where we grow and mature in God, not by the still waters and in green pastures. The wilderness is the place we go to learn about God. It is the place we go where no one will hear us scream. It is a place of death at first glance, but upon further inspection it is the place we learn to know God and His ways. It is the place we go to learn to lean upon our beloved, “Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved?” (Song of Solomon 8:5) It is the place we go where God answers all of our questions. Always know the wilderness has ways of correcting things is us. I think both, the lost sheep had a lesson to be learned and the 99 in the fold too had to be corrected. This delay, this time of correction in the 99 sheep happened while the good shepherd was seeking the lost sheep. There seems to be a purpose in the seeking, in the delay. The good shepherd did not find the sheep right away he had to seek until he found the lost sheep. This seeking or delay seemed to be for a specific time to bring a condition of correction to the sheep already in the fold. And when the 99 were found fit for the one lost sheep then and only then the good shepherd found the lost sheep. So too this delay in prayer is specific in us it always works on getting situations and conditions right in us and always reflects our true character. A delay in God answering our prayers is always about our character being defined and refined. The end of Luke 15:4 is just amazing. Do you know why the shepherd put the sheep on his shoulders? Maybe the sheep was tired or hurt. Well maybe so, but probably not. As a custom in Israel, if a sheep wanders too far from the fold, out where the enemy can get to them, the shepherd in great concern for safety and deep love breaks the right front leg of the sheep. How would you like to be loved like that by God? Well in ways God does hobble us, maybe not by breaking our leg, but He has His ways of keeping us close to Him like not answering our prayers in a time of delay while we allow God to work on our character is such a way. The sheep is then carried by the shepherd (not like in the footprints in the sand poem) on his shoulder until the leg heals. During this time of healing the sheep gets a good sense or smell of the shepherd and comes to depend on the shepherd for everything. When the sheep’s leg is healed the shepherd put the sheep back in the fold and now with a new lease on life the sheep always stays very close to the shepherd. What a lesson by God.

Last Sunday we had a very soft and humble lady come to our church who was a potter. She had the service and talked about how the potter forms the clay on the wheel through demonstration while sharing some verses from the scriptures that supported her message. She did a great job sharing the verses, but at times she seemed to be a little nervous and weak, a wonderful and safe place in God when sharing the word of God. It was so refreshing not seeing someone (present pastor excluded) full of self-strength, well dressed, strutting around yelling, and showing off their great speaking ability. Where she really excelled was when she became the potter and turned the wheel. Her demeanor and countenance changed, she was transformed from a humble, gentle lady to a strong, very skillful, precise potter. As she worked the clay her muscles would flex revealing the arm strength required to be a potter. I was impressed, not with her skills as a potter (I do not know a good potter from a bad potter), but with her transformation. Now most people in church were mesmerized (we had a camera trained on the clay as it went around and around) by the wheel you could have heard a pin drop when she got going, but I found myself drawn to and looking at the wedging board; the place where the potter pounds, beats, and works the clay over and over before they can even think of putting the clay on the wheel. The place where all impurities are found out and removed. It is the place where all hidden air pockets are removed from the clay that might if not removed blow up in the kiln. And it is the place where mixing the clay making it homogenous (work together), no drier, stiffer spots and softer, moister spots. Making your clay homogenous makes it easier to work with and lessens the chance of it cracking while drying. I was fascinated by the wedging board and not so much by the wheel. I learned (a very critical ongoing element in our lives) the process of transformation from darkness into the glorious light of God in our lives does not happen on the potter’s wheel (we are molded and formed on the wheel), but on the wedging board. And the more we allow God to pound and beat us, the more we allow God to work us over on the wedging board the better He (being the potter) can mold and shape us, so too with prayer. The more we allow God to work in our lives and teach us those critical lessons about prayer and correcting conditions and areas in us the more He will be able to open up to us the answers to our prayers. How long oh Lord? As long as it takes to work us on the wedging board of life. Written by David Stahl

HOW ARE WE RUNNING

We are told from childhood we must win in life, but learn as we get older it takes a life time to determine what that means. I do not know how many times I have heard, “he with the most toys at the end of life wins.” Well my friend that statement is just plain wrong in God. Winning or losing in life has nothing to do with having or not having toys, houses, money, cars, or a huge portfolio, rather winning or losing in life is based on whether or not we know God by accepting His precious Son Jesus Christ as our personal savior. Starting from kindergarten (some even sooner) we are taught winning means these things and losing means those things, but seldom are the things racked and stacked then run through the Scriptures to see how they measure up with what God says winning and loosing is. Sadly this winning and losing concept has subtly yet pervasively invaded the church. Sadly today competition between denominations and large non-denominational churches for people, resources, time, and dollars (to see who can get the biggest and best looking church in town) has only blurred the truth of winning and losing in God. This thinking is nothing more than vain hearted, self-seeking religious pride. The hook is sharing this wondrous Gospel message, but at the heart of this fleshly projection is selfishness and greed. There are many well intentional Christians trying to do that which is right, but sadly because of ungodly leadership and wrong teaching (which always results in wrong thinking) many Christians get off track and compound their deception by leading others off track.

Jesus told Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6) We must stop all of this marketing and selling of the Gospel. Merchandizing the things of God are just wrong. Everything is for sale: we sell tickets to conferences and Christian musicals, CDs, books, seats in church, why we even have Christian book stores selling everything that will turn a profit. The church is born of the Spirit, yet we sell it, Why? To satisfy those things born of the flesh. Shame and again I say shame on those who would sell the Gospel to earn a living. Jesus saw this going on for years in the Temple, but right before He was crucified He had enough. Jesus cleaned His house of the greed and marketing that was going on (like today) and He will do it again, hide and watch.

We twist verses in the Scriptures to support our presumption for ministry. Everything is a ministry; singing, dancing, drama (poor choice of word to describe Godly ministry) painting, decorating, cutting grass, driving the bus, how we have cheapened the Scriptures shame on us. The Bible is clear and defines what ministry is, read it. The word “ministry” (Strong’s #1248 and #3009, one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister even at their own cost) has nothing to do with doing things, but submitting ourselves in righteousness. We want to work for God, well God wants us to submit to Him in obedience. Ministry is about obedience to God. But it is far easier to make something for God than to become something in God.

We run to and fro to conference after conference for what? What are we looking for that we cannot find at our home church or time spent with God? I hear many say this man has a special anointing come hear him, oh really? Show me his scars? Anointing comes by way of paying a price (not in dollars) to receive God’s ability and power. No scars no anointing. No price paid no authority. No scars no power. Shame on us for all of this running around deserting our family duties and responsibilities. What are we looking for? Why do we do this? All of this is nothing more than zealous religious ritual, like the Hindus, Buddhist, and Muslims have their festivals we become sounding brass and tinkling cymbals instead of becoming more like Jesus Christ. We pay money and time for thrill seeking and special favor to hear from God, but the Bible I read says it is those who wait upon the Lord shall receive. We run ourselves into the ground for what? Service to our brothers and sisters? I think not. Most often to be told well done or to get a pat on the back from the Pastor, well . . . we have our reward. Limited resources at the local church are exhausted so that many can attend a meeting or conference for what? To feed the poor, provide shelter, or clothing for the needy as Jesus had asked us to do? No of course not. In the name of fellowship we have a group come (adding even work and more stress to the folks) to our church or we go some where else to be “ministered to.” This is selfish and self-centered. My friend that is not Jesus’ idea of ministry. Jesus our Master said, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) The teachings of Jesus is to get us to a place where we willfully lay our life down for people. Our service in God is not for our selves, but so that we may be a blessing to others. We give not to receive, but so that others may be able to receive. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2) Now here is were we get the idea we are in a race and the winning or losing concept takes root in our thinking. But if you read the next verse correctly it tells us how to run, “looking unto Jesus” not running to and fro from church to church or conference to conference, but being patient and settled “enduring the cross, despising the shame.” My friend if we want to “set down at the right (the place of honor and glory) hand of the throne of God” we must endure our cross and like Jesus “who for the joy that was set before him” find the joy within us, through His Spirit, as we too are despised. Now I beg you have not heard that message at any conference lately. What are people looking for when they go to conferences and meetings? Information or revelation? Information they will find it is from man, but revelation is from the Holy Spirit. Information about God is a mental projection that never can take us to God, but revelation comes by way of spending time with God and is a spiritual projection that gives enlightenment to our need for more of God in our lives. No man can give us revelation only God through the precious Holy Spirit. I can not give you revelation I am just a dispenser of the truth.

Why do we have signs in front our churches advertising our name and when services begin? Is a church (place where Christians gather and then go out to help those lost and undone in the world) like a business? Remember John 3:6? Would it not be better if those lost in the world knew this no named building, right here, is a place where Godly people gather, who have something special in their lives, and they can go and get help? Make no mistake those in the world know what time church starts and also know the truth about most churches. They also know where they can go to get help. If your church is growing by people moving in and planting themselves from another church your church may be in trouble. God’s idea of church growth is by conversion (the lost and undone redeemed by the precious blood of Christ) not Christians warming their hands at others fires.

Paul tells us, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:” (1 Corinthians 9:24-26) Paul draws a comparison to our wondrous walk with the Lord to those in a foot race. Again many get off track here. Only one person can win this race, but not so in God. For all that run the race correctly in God they shall receive the prize of an incorruptible crown. To run, win, and receive an incorruptible crown does not go to the strongest nor the swiftest of foot, but to the one who endures, does not get entangled with the affairs of this life, and the most important qualification for victory, “except he strive lawfully” (Strong’s #3545, function or operate within the law or within the framework and plan God has established things to be done) Paul taught Timothy these truths, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5And if a man also strive for masteries (Strong’s #75, metaphor. to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers), yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (2 Timothy 2:3-5) My friend running the race is not about winning or losing, but about how we run the race. Do we run the race “lawfully” within the framework God has established or do we run the race for our own glory and to get things? We seem to think the bigger the church and the more people we have we are winning, not so in God. God can do more with a hand full of dedicated people than He can with millions of well intended, but mislead people. Do we run so that others may win or do we run with our winning as the goal? Can we lose so that God can win?

Today this thinking of running to win is best seen in the heart of some Pastors, Teachers, and Evangelist. Did you know there is a big difference between a gifted preacher and broken preacher? God does not care what you know, but cares greatly how much you care. A message filled with the knowledge of the world full of facts and quotes is not of God. Well written sermons or even some messages with pages of notes and cute hip sayings does nothing for the move of the Spirit of God. A gifted preacher has many notes and follows them, but a broken preacher follows the leading of the Holy Spirit because he is counting on Him to carry the service. The broken preacher is well tuned to what the Spirit is saying. I do not see many broken preachers today. I see many pages of notes being turned, but no tears or contriteness of heart. I see self-strength ability and self-made educated men with great zeal try preaching the word of God, but never touch the hearts of the people. My friend these types of preachers are dangerous and will never be used by God. It is in the place of brokenness the Spirit of God is discharged. We have replaced the Holy Spirit with worldly; education, Bible schools, and seminaries. Lord help us all. I know my words seem incendiary and some folks would even call them blasphemous, but who gets to speak for God? If my words have ruffled your feathers, good. My goal is to offend you. Never forget the preaching of the word of God is to offend us to the point where we see our need for soul searching and reflection. If you reject my words no problem (I still love you), but someone needs to stand up for the truth and sound the alarm before it is too late for many in the world. All I ask is for you to keep my words before the Lord in your heart and in time and if you allow God to work in your life you will see the value of my words. My friend we in the church today have played the harlot for too long. For too long we have been deceived by church leaders who are pushing a denominational doctrine and a man-centered agenda. Enough is enough. We must wake up, read the Bible, and allow the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the truth. We must embrace the truth in the word of God. How long will we be deceived and misled. For the love of God, wake up before it is too late. How long will we halt between two opinions? On my friend, I prophesy the signs, religious division and strife, and years of denominational folly will be pulled down and brought to naught in our life time, God will see to it. It would be far better for us to willfully take them down now before they are taken down for us. When shall we learn to work together and flow with the Spirit of God? In Heaven? I think not. If we do not learn the lessons here on earth we need to learn to be useful in our next lives we will spend our time (in our next lives) in school learning those things we ought to have learned on earth. How can God use us if we do not know how He operates and functions? My friend if you are proud of your denomination take heed you are NOT proud of Jesus. And take heed your place in Heaven may be in question. Jesus taught no one can serve two masters. Take heed my friend, come Lord Jesus. When He comes and if we are not ready He will remove our candle stick. How is our running? Let us continue to walk with the Lord and not run, but let us turn our hearts from our selfish greed and denominational parochialism towards the Father and straight way walk into the heart of God where we once came from. Written by David Stahl

GOD'S TYPE OF DISCIPLINE

In this article I would like to tackle a very uncomfortable topic, a topic most Christians like to ignore, but if they do they forfeit the spiritual growth and development God so desperately desires they receive. How can we know God if we do not grow up and become a mature man or woman spiritually? How can we know God if we have no discipline? How can God trust us with His goods (abilities, power, and authority) if we are babes and continually make a big mess in our pants and of our lives? God will not give us His things if we cannot handle them. Many Christians beg God for things that are beyond their ability in Him, why? Why do we think we need more of God’s abilities and power if we are not correctly walking in what He has already given us? Why do we need God’s power? Some think we can store up God’s power to use for a rainy day, well my friend this is wrong thinking out from wrong teaching. God gives us the power to do things for Him when we need to do them. This wrong thinking of storing up God’s goods can really get some Christians off track and over in areas of hyper-spirituality. Our wondrous walk with the Lord is to be simplistic. It is to be a humble, submissive, narrow way that causes our hands to be clean and our heart to be pure. David asked the question, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” (Psalm 24:3-4) He who has allowed God to teach humbleness. He that has allowed God to teach them submission. He that has resisted (to flow in the opposite direction) the devil. He that has drawn nigh to God. He that has been afflicted, who has mourned, and knows something about tears. Someone who has been crushed by the “heaviness” of their sin. He that has allowed God to humble them so He can lift them up. James gives us these qualifications if we desire to “ascend into the hill of the Lord” or “stand in his holy place.” I wonder why we think we do not have come down in our proud thinking and selfish nature to see God? James teaches, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:6-10)

The way up is really down. The question is how low can we go? So many Christians want to go up where God is, well God is not up He is down in a low and humble place, wanting us to come down where He is. From the beginning God has been trying to get us down to where He is. Even after Adam and Eve ate of the tree knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:8) God still wanted to get man alone with Him. I do not know why we say sin has separated us from God. Ever since man’s disobedience in the garden God has been trying His best to do things to get us in close proximity with Him. He even sent His dear Son to earth to die a horrible death so that He could live in our hearts. There has always been a deliberate progression of God coming to live within man. I wonder why God has not achieved His goal of living within some Christians? Could it be God lacks the ability and power? No of course not, God is all powerful and all knowing. Maybe it is sin, yeah, sin is too strong in our lives and God cannot defeat sin in our lives. No God’s power and authority controls the universe, nothing no nothing can stand in God’s way, except our lack of discipline. The one thing that caused Adam to sin was his lack of discipline. It was not the taste or color of the fruit, but his lack of willingness to say no to his self-life and selfish desires because of lack of discipline in his and Eve’s life. Now please do not think I am beating up on brother Adam and sister Eve, oh me, I am at times so undisciplined, only God can help me. But discipline is so lacking in our lives today and I believe it is the one thing that prevents us from moving in obedience with God. It is not sin, it is our lack of discipline which is to help us overcome in areas we are weak in. Remember sin is to miss the mark, to know right, but do wrong. Well if we know to do right and not do right, why not? Lack of discipline. It is not about getting more and more power from God to do right, but learning more and more discipline so that we will be able to stand and withstand in the evil day. Paul knew quite well this truth when he said, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection (to make a slave and to treat as a slave i.e. with severity, subject to stern and rigid discipline): lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (disqualified in NKJV).” (1 Corinthians 9:27) How did he bring his body into subjection? Through discipline. “I keep under (Strong’s #5299, to beat black and blue, to smite so as to cause bruises and livid spots or like a boxer one buffets his body, handle it roughly, discipline by hardships) my body.” Now this is a physical form of discipline that will only carry you so far in God. A must at times, but God has a better type of discipline for us. Oddly the Scriptures do not say a lot about discipline, but I will tell you if we fail in the area of discipline God cannot use us as He desires, we willfully have disqualified (become a castaway) ourselves for service. As a matter of fact the only verse in the Scriptures (KJV) that uses the word “discipline” is found in the Book of Job, “Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. 10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity (translated from the Greek as lawlessness or not working outside the frame of how God wants things to be done). 11If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.” (Job 36:9-11) Please notice these verses closely: God showed them their work and their transgression, God opened their ear to discipline and commanded they stop sinning. Only God can do these things if we have a desire to hear Him speak. For God to be able to discipline us we must desire to be disciplined. Jesus said, “make disciples,” well this is all grand and wonderful, but for the disciples to be “made” they must make a commitment and dedication to be discipled. It is like reading the instruction manual a real commitment and dedication to ownership. Sadly many Christians have no desire to receive God’s discipline, no real commitment and dedication. We take no ownership in the process expecting God to do all of the work in our lives, well my friend God does not work that way. God expects us to willfully (if need be) receive the lash of the smiter or the verbal draw of correction from the wise and learned.

I think the biggest reason we are not disciplined is because we do not understand how and why God disciplines us. Too many Christians have this ugly picture of God in heaven (with a big whip in hand) in the strike position. Well I must be truthful, at times this maybe be true, but please know God is not mad at us and if he has to lash out to teach us a lesson it is for our benefit. I think our wrong thinking of the word discipline is what prevents us from the benefit of God’s correction. The writer of Hebrews (I believe to be Paul) gives us this invaluable insight into God’s type of discipline, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth (Strong’s #3809, to train, teach, or instruct), and scourgeth (Strong’s # 3146, to whip) every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth? 8But if ye be without chastisement (Strong’s #3809, but more complete of the whole training and education of children which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment. It also includes the training and care of the body) whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:6-8) Never forget the truth of the word of God is contained in the words at the Holy Spirit gives revelation. God’s discipline is rarely about punishment, but always about correction through training and education so that we some day can manifest the character and nature of His dear Son Jesus Christ.

Please let me try to explain through an experience I had with my earthly father. All of my friends were buying kites and I did not understand why I too could not buy a kite, so I asked my father and he said no. Growing up we never had a lot of money to waste of such foolish things. But, I knew where there was some money, in my father’s coin collection. My dad had a very extensive coin collection that boasted of silver dollars from the 1800’s. So I took some money and visited The Spot, the only mom and pop store in town where you could buy a kite. With all of the new found wealth I invited my friends (I was always a generous young man) to come and enjoy my riches. I bought five or six of my friends a kite and some gedunk (sweet cake, candy, and the like), funny how you always have friends when you have money. I doubt if any of my friends who enjoyed the fruits of my crime would have been willing to take even one or two lashes. Well the owner of The Spot knew me, my father, and knew I was spending 1800s silver dollars so he called my dad. My dad went down to The Spot and redeemed his silver dollars and thanked the owner. When he got home he called for the three of us (John, Chris, and I) kids to come to the kitchen. When we assembled I saw what was coming so I asked to go to the bathroom. I purposed to spend the rest of my life in the bathroom fearing if I come out my father would kill me. He granted me permission and off I went, but through the door I could hear the festivities. First he asked my big brother John if he stole the money, of course he said no. Next he asked my sister Chris if she stole the money and of course she said no. He already knew it was me, but wanted to see if I would tell the truth to save my brother and sister from getting a beating. Through the door he yelled, “David did you steal the money from my coin collection,” of course I yelled back no. So he said okay, “I will beat all three to make sure I get the right one.” John was first. He took John into another room and I have never heard such wailing and crying in my life. I got scared. Next if was my sister Chris’ turn. The door closed and again I heard wailing, crying, and begging. Oh man did I get scared. Finally it was my turn my dad said get out of the bathroom, so reluctantly I did. Without a single word he marched me off to the bedroom and told me to drop my pants and pick up my shirt. For the next five minutes or so he beat me with the fire belt (very thin razor strap like belt) it seemed like an eternity, but his arm finally got tired and he quit. Over the years I have often thought about this time of discipline, wondering what good it did. My earthly father has always been a very stern, strict, and disciplined man, but at the same time he possessed a heart for compassion when compassion is required. Maybe it was his involvement in three wars that taught him the need for giving mercy when mercy is called for. War is one of those tumultuous experiences in our lives that intimately teach us about sacrifice and loss which always leaves us wanting mercy and grace. Now that I am older I see the beating I got I desired, but at the same time it built in me a respect, fear, and honor for my father. I also found out he did not beat John and Chris, see he knew I was “the man,” I was the one who stole the money from his coin collection. At the time I thought he was cruel and mean, but as I got older and wiser I saw the wisdom. In Proverbs we read, “The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.” Proverbs 20:30) and “Train (Strong’s #2596, instruct, teach, or discipline) up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) This discipline or training is not about punishment, but about learning those life lessons required to be successful in God and to be able to be brought to a successful end and fulfillment. No discipline no completion or fulfillment in God. One thing that always stuck with me was my earthly father never made me go back and replace the money he had to spend when he redeemed his very valuable silver dollars. He purposely and willfully took the loss. I wonder if this sounds like another Father we are to know. Written by David Stahl

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME

One of the most mysterious and marvelous things God gave us was prayer. Now I will be honest I do not know how prayer operates. I do not know how prayer works, but I really like that. I really like not knowing how God does things for us, they are mysteries. I really like serving a God I cannot figure out. I think if I could figure out God I am not so sure I would be so willing to follow Him. God took me to India to show me it is not by my might or by my power when He performs a miracle. After 10 days of diarrhea, eating chicken, curry, and rice, and enduring daily temperatures of 110 degrees or more I was dead, a great place in God to be used by Him. It was 10 pm (after preaching three times for 1 ½ hours each time and praying for the sick in between) and I was looking down the barrel of another plate of chicken, curry, and rice when Pastor S. J. Peter from Hyderabad asked me to pray for a little girl who had not walked in months. Well, by this time I had no strength God drained me, what a wonderful place in God to be drained of our strength and emptied of our ability. If you walk with the Lord long enough and go for Him and not yourself or another, He too will drain and empty you. This is the place God desires to take us all to for when we are weak He is strong. At first I did not want to pray for this little girl, but within my spirit I felt God wanted me to pray for her so I did. When God is leading it is always correct to do what He wants us to do and prayer is no different. Why do we think prayer is automatic or routine? Something we do over our food, when we go to bed, or when we need something even from God? If prayer is not born of the Spirit of God we are wasting our time fulfilling some religious ritual or custom. We must be able to hear Him speak to us because in the hearing is contained the faith needed to follow His leading. Never forget, “faith cometh by hearing” (Romans 10:17) To make a long wonderful and amazing story short I reached up and took the little girl’s feet in my hands and said (I did not pray) something like, “Lord please heal this little girl.” I turned towards my dinner plate and out of the corner of my eye I saw the father put the little girl down. Well when her feet hit the ground she was not walking she was off and running. I have never seen a little girl run so fast. To this day she is probably still running for the glory of God. I never got to my dinner that night, suddenly a line appeared and I prayed for 100s. Jesus told Martha, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) The first part of this verse is the key to receiving from God, “Said I not unto thee.” My friend if God did not say it then it will not happen. I do not care how long you hold on or what promise you are standing on, God must speak it, it must be God’s idea born of His Spirit or it will not happen. In verse 40 is contained the rule of threes how our faith operates. Rule one: “Said I not unto thee.” God must speak it. Rule two: “that, if thou wouldest believe.” We must believe what God is saying is true. And rule three, "thou shouldest see the glory of God?” If we hear Him speak (so that we can receive faith, not by claiming or taking it) and we believe we shall “see the glory of God” or behold the glory of what we are believing for. It is comforting to know the responsibility of our healing is not on God’s shoulders alone, but we too shoulder some of the responsibility. Why must God do all of the work? We like to blame God and others when things do not go according to our expectation, well our healing is based not on God’s ability (that should be without question), but on our ability to hear Him and according to His will and plan for our lives. Why do some people get a miracle or healed (there is a big difference between the two) and other are not? I do not know, but God knows, but I do know when healing or a miracle comes it is critical we have the ability to hear Him speak. Now the folks that got in line for prayer after the little girl was healed I am not sure what happened with them. If my memory serves we well, only one man who walked with a cane (I was told) was healed the others I do not know what happened with them.

Over many years God has changed my heart and thoughts when it comes to prayer. Now this change has come by way of much heart reflection and searching of the Scriptures. I cannot find in the Scriptures were Jesus prayed for people like we do today. Jesus never lined the people up and took one by one and prayed for them. Jesus never said, “okay disciples let us lay hands on these folks and pray for them.” Oh no, the Scriptures says, Jesus healed them. The last thing I need when I am sick and can not get to the Lord is for someone to pray for me, “Oh Lord please touch brother Dave and heal him.” Oh no what I need is for someone to have such a walk with God who can touch His heart on my behalf. I do not need someone to pray for me I need someone who can be a vessel where healing can flow through to me. Jesus was such a vessel, “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.” (Matthew 4:24) and “When Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. 16When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:” (Matthew 8:14-16), and so many more wonderful verses. No where does it say Jesus prayed for them, it says He healed them. There is a huge difference. The lady with the issue of blood (Luke 8:45-48) touched Jesus He did not touch her. Her healing happened without a single word being spoken. It is not about praying, but about having such a walk with the Lord so that He can manifest His power in all the earth. Did you know the word “prayer” does not appear in the King James Version of the Gospel of John, his three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation? There was no need. Of all of the Gospels, John’s writings reflect such a communion and closeness with God, prayer was written in the heart and spirit of the words. Even brother Peter was such a vessel where one was healed without praying, “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” (Acts 3:4-8) No where does it say Peter prayed for the lame man the verses talk about him being healed. This is what God is looking for in us, to be such a vessel where we can just touch someone sick (as Jesus did) and they be healed or our shadow as with Peter falling on someone and they would be healed. “Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.” (Act 5:15-16) I wonder why this is not the rule of thumb today in the church? Maybe we are praying too much because we (and I include myself here) are not willing to pay the price for such power.

When we started our church in Germany our service would be typically around (according to my daughter Connie) three to three and half hours. Then after service I would pray for the people. Each Sunday many of the same people came forward for prayer for the same reasons, this would stretch the service long and longer and before we knew it we had been in church for six or more hours. And as our church got bigger the longer and longer we would stay. Now if God says pray for you I will, but if not I will not. Prayer must be born of the Spirit of God and it must flow out from our communion with God or we are wasting our time and engaging in idolatry. Often the approach to God is come to me and I will pray for you instead of God said for me to pray for you. The difference is who the focus or attention is in the coming, God or me. When people come for prayer (not God ordained) we are indirectly teaching them not to go to God. Jesus taught, “Our (Abba) Father which art in heaven” not to our Father through man. The disciples were shocked with Jesus told them, “After this manner therefore pray (direct address to the Father) ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9) In the past the disciples was taught to pray “Avie Father” or around through someone to the Father like the high priest, but Jesus taught them to pray, “Abba Father” direct to the Father. This was hard for the disciples to understand and for us to understand too. Also as our church grew so did the amount of time I spent on my handy (name for a cell phone in Europe). Every time some one needed prayer they would call, at all hours of the night they would call and I would do the religious thing and pray for them. But there came a time I had to say enough is enough. The time was for spiritual growth and development in the people. The more I prayed for them the less of a need they saw for their direct address to the Father. I was teaching them to come to me and I would go to the Father for them which is wrong teaching. Now many denominations and churches like their pastors and leaders praying for people there is great control and manipulation in this. If someone can hold getting you to God over your head you will do anything to keep that person happy. I have seen this time and time again in so many churches. Jesus taught the disciples different, please do not be deceived. The Scriptures teaches we are to go on to spiritual growth and maturity, to perfection, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (Strong’s #5046, brought to its end, finished or wanting nothing necessary to completeness): not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” (Hebrews 6:1-2) God’s goal in our lives is to conform us into the image and character of His dear Son Jesus Christ. For this to happen we must grow spiritually and come to maturity. And for God to be able to bring us to: our end, finished, or wanting nothing necessary to completeness having someone getting us to God will not do. We must be able to touch the heart of God on our own. I remember my big brother John telling of his need for close companionship with Jake Luffy (his pastor and mentor) to get to God, but there came a time when he no longer needed Jake to get to God he went direct to the Father for him self.

Sadly we think a big church with many members, many programs, a big choirs, a clean well painted parking lots, and big well-built buildings are the glory of God, well my friend they are not. For those who think they are the glory of God, God would say, Ichabod (the glory has departed) to you. The glory of God is seen when we allow God to make us and break us so that He can give us strength to touch His heart. What else can we use to see God’s glory? What else can we use to make our approach to Him? In James 5 we read, “Is any among you afflicted? let him (not the elders) pray. Is any merry? let him (not the elders) sing psalms. 14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5:13-15) The “pray over him” is translated praying in God’s presence. If not in His presence how else can we be healed? James 5:15 is not saying to have the elders of the church come and lay hands on you to pray for healing, but is saying for the elders to come into the presence of God and anoint the sick with oil and then “the prayer of faith (of the sick person not the elders) shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” Only in the presence of the Lord can this happen. My prayer for you can not save you, this is something you must do on your own. My prayer for you (as born of the Spirit of God and in obedience to God) can touch the heart of God. But God desires we take time and touch the heart of the Father for our selves. Pray for you? Well . . . maybe? But do you not think it would be better if you talked to the Father for your self? Written by David Stahl