EXPOSING DARKNESS WITHIN

When Jesus told the disciples and the crowd that followed Him, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16) They could not believe their ears, they were horrified. They thought Jesus was speaking heresy. Like when Jesus told the disciples, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father (Abba Father, Strong’s #5 in the Greek) which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9) “Abba Father” is the customary title and literally means direct address when praying to God. Jesus told the disciples to pray directly to the Father and they could not believe their ears, because in the past they prayed “Avie Father” or around through to the Father. This is where we get the song Avie Maria. But here Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world” a title reserved for only the High Priest and some of Sadducees and Pharisees. The people could not believe their ears. Can you imagine Jesus was making the common folks equal to the High Priest? Can you imagine the reaction the High Priest had when he heard Jesus’ words? Jesus was doing nothing, but exposing the darkness in the lie of only the High Priest and his henchmen being the “light of the world.” We all can (our choice) be the “light of the world” if we have the darkness exposed in our lives. Funny how having the darkness exposed in our lives is the condition to becoming the “light of the world.” But, who wants to have their darkness exposed? I will be honest not me, but this is the price we all must pay to be the “light of the world.” Never forget, we know the real price after we finish paying for it. In God paying the price for things are very expensive, this is why many would rather be an actor speaking great swelling words on the stage of life than to have their darkness exposed. Unless we allow God to search our hearts and expose areas of darkness within us (individually) that are not of Him (so they can be removed) we will continue to walk in our darkness and know not God. The condition to know God is to allow Him to open up our heart and reveal how much we are not like His precious Son Jesus Christ. But who wants to do this? Most people (often me at times) like the darkness within and run from God shining His holy light on us to expose us for what and who we really are.

As we look at the magical complexity like qualities of light as it plays against the backdrop of darkness it holds a very vivid and powerful physical lesson that is often extrapolated into the spiritual realm. Did you know there are 129 occurrences in 55 verses that pit light against darkness? Now it is important to know the Bible is not talking about the absence of the physical property of light which is darkness in these 55 verses. I cannot tell you how many sermons I have heard using these properties (light and darkness) to make a moral or religious point. When we read these verses they make good common sense, but if you prayerfully read these verses you will know the Holy Spirit is talking about righteousness and God’s work in our lives (as light) and sin and an unrepentive heart condition (as darkness). If we walk with the Lord for any length of time and allow God to work in our lives His work in us will be deposited, it will be written on the tablets of our heart and mind. But if we wilfully walk away from God the first thing we lose is the work God has been able to do in our lives. The work God has done in our lives serves as belts and suspenders to keep us along with His grace and mercy. We are not saved by this work it is grace alone, but it acts as glue to bind us together. The work of God in our lives is what brings us all into the unity of the faith, all hearts being dealt with by God the same. Having a prayer breakfast, joint church service or social pot-luck dinners will never bring us into the unity of the faith, but I promise you if we all collectively open our hearts and lives to God’s dealing and judgments (at the same measure) we will have no option because our humbling and submission bring us into the unity of the faith with God and man. It is the memories of my failures and victories towards my wife that keeps the dedication and commitment of my word to her alive in my heart. I am sorry to say my Baptist friends we are the only person who can take us out of God’s hand by turning our back and wilfully walking away from God’s invitation of mercy and grace. The Bible is full of examples. To teach other wise is just plain wrong and in the end many people will be left deceived and undone on judgment day. I would not want to stand before God knowing I have caused “err” (intentionally leading someone into error) in even one life.

Paul in the Book of Ephesians shares with us the intent of God’s heart as it relates to light and darkness, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (Strong’s #1651, to convict, refute, confute generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted) them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” (Ephesians 5:8-13) In the NKJV of the Bible Paul tells us to “expose them.” We as the Body of Christ seldom do this, expose darkness. But how will those in darkness know they are in darkness? How will they hear of the conviction or experience the shame of sin if we do not tell them of their need for Christ? I have been told not to confront sin, just pray for and love them. Well my friend that is not what Paul told the New Testament Church to do, “but rather reprove them.” In all of Paul’s life he did not mince words, oh no he told the truth up close and personal. But today we compromise and placate sin in the church and in the lives of friends and family members not wanting to offend so that we will have large crowds in our churches and full offering plates. When will we learn (or will we?) this is just plain wrong in God’s eyes? Well, Paul was not concerned about such things, he was concerned about telling people the truth of God’s words so that they will be able to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

We sing songs like, “When We All Get to Heaven” what a day of rejoicing that will be. We sing songs that speak of a wonderful time in heaven, are you kidding? I am not looking forward to standing before a Holy God. I hear many Christians say they are, well I am afraid their words reveals their presumption and immaturity. I do not know about you, but I do not believe at first heaven is going to be such a wonderful place. First we must get through the Judgment Seat of Christ. We sing songs about no tears in heaven, but the Bible says in heaven God will wipe away all tears, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4). Maybe these tears God will wipe away will be the tears we shed for the loss we will experience in heaven for our disobedience on earth. Disobedience must always be judged by God no matter where we are. Oh our sins will be forgiven and we get to go to heaven, but we will come to know all our idle and wasted opportunities, words, and time in our prior life on earth and it will humble us and bring us to tears. After all who wants to see their hard work, big church and ministry built in their life burned up by fire? Remember it is not what we do for God that counts, but how we do things. Have they been done for the right reasons and were our motives right? Were they done with the right heart condition? Or maybe they will be tears shed knowing family members, relatives, and friends on earth did not make it to heaven. I do not know about you, but I have family members who are not saved. This dichotomy of light and darkness that Paul talks about I find myself wrestling within my heart, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) Now Paul is not just talking about marriage here, but all of our life relationships we enter into. How I would love to see my family come back to Christ, but that is their choice and until then my fellowship and communion with them can only be limited. If God and His ways are not the focal point of our relationships then we really have nothing in common. We may have and love the same parents who did their best to raise us all in God, but that is where any true fellowship or communion ends. Did you know silence about sin is almost always viewed as compliance of sin? We must never be silent when it comes to sin, we must tell the truth in love. With my family, until there is a change in their heart we will be there for them, we will prayer for them, but our distance from them will speak volumes of the separation between us and the darkness within them. Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:34-37) Jesus has come to cut us and our affections out of the world and if our family is a part of the world, sadly they must go from our heart. Jesus said, “either you are for Me or you are against Me” He meant it, there is no middle ground. However, I would still think it would be very difficult to spend eternity in heaven knowing my family members are in hell. I think I would probably shed tears knowing this. To think we will not know or be concerned about our family members in hell for all of eternity does not pass the Bible common sense test and is just pure self-centered and selfish thinking on our part.

Lastly this exposing darkness within us is seen in two divine spiritual principles; humility comes before exaltation as death come before glorification. If we desire to be exalted in life and in God then humility must be the beginning point of our assent to Him and what He has for us. We must decrease in our self-worth and thoughts so we can see the darkness within us. The way up is really down. Down is the direction of the revelation of who and what we really are. It is no wonder few Christians want to become like Christ, “meek and lowly of heart” this revelation my friend will kill us. And death before glorification. This is the central point of the Gospel. Death always precedes any thing God does in our lives. In every victory failure must be present. There is no victory without failure, so too death to the love we hold for the things of this world in us and our selfish and self-seeking desires must be killed in us before God can glorify us. Wait a minute, why do we think God has to always being blessing and glorifying us? He is God! He makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust. He gets to do whatever He wants to do. He is God! God delights in the death of His saints, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalms 116:15). It is our death in God where newness of life in God is found. Paul told the church at Rome, “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) No death no resurrection and newness of life. No death no glorification. Did you know God also delights in the opportunity to open our heart to us so that we can see what we are made of and how much we are not like Him. This exposing darkness within us is the bedrock of our faith. Accepting Christ comes out of us first seeing our need for Him and when we see our need for Him we also see the darkness within us. Written by David Stahl

THE WORDS OF OUR TESTIMONY

Many of our readers do not know when in town I work as a substitute teacher at Brewster Middle School onboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. This is something God started for me, working as a substitute teacher at Department of Defense (DoD) schools, when I retired in Germany and He has not changed His mind in this area. We must be very careful when we change our lives around. We better make sure it is God changing our lives around and not our desire. Change is good only if God is the authority, because He then will be the finisher. When we returned (this is one reason why God moved us to Jacksonville, NC) to the States I knew I must seek out a DoD school to continue in what God has started and it has been such a great blessing in my life and in the lives of so many others.

Anyway, one day while I was working at Brewster a wonderful Christian lady who is a custodian at the school came up to me and asked (in sort of these words), “please keep me in your prayers today Pastor Dave I am under attack from the enemy and I need to keep my mouth shut.” Almost instantaneously these verses, especially verse 11, popped into my mind, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelations 12:9-11) I shared them with her and she went in peace. All I hear in the church and on Christian TV today is how to be an overcomer, books are written about it, conferences and seminars are held about it, songs are sung about it, sermons are preached about it, but few people if any seem to be overcomers. Now overcomers go over not around or under things. This is why they are called an overcomer. There must be an obstacle, a barrier something standing in our way that we cannot get over without God’s help. It seems we shun the obstacles and barriers in our lives, may be that is why there are so few overcomers in the church today. The Huguenot Bible Teacher and Author John Wright Follette often spoke of trouble as being our servant. What a strange thought, troubles in our lives as a servant to make us better Christians. Most people (to include Christians) think of a servant as one who carries our burdens and does our dirty work. Well not so, our troubles can carry us far in God if we have the eyes to see their value. Charles Haun taught me a new way to sing the song “Count Your Blessings.” “Count your troubles name them one by one, count your troubles see what God has done, count your troubles, name them one by one and you will be amazed to see what God has done.” Yes our troubles can serve us well if we do not get stuck in the trouble and learn the lessons they were designed by God to teach us. Yes, to be an overcomer we must overcome troubles and the biggest trouble to over come in our lives is our mouth. Please notice the three requirements in verse 11 to be an overcomer. The first is they “overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.” As Christians hopefully we need no reminder of the precious blood of Jesus that was shed for the remission of our sins. This is a divine spiritual principle that is a crimson thread of truth that runs from Genesis to Revelations; without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. The writer to the Hebrews said, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22) This was true in the Garden of Eden, in the Old Testament temple sacrifice covenant, and in the New Testament covenant of Christ’s death on the cross. This should already, as Christians, be understood and we need not re-plow this ground of understanding. But it is the other two areas I would like to focus on in this article. The next area was, “by the word of their testimony.” Please remember our real testimony is not what we say about ourselves, but what people see us do. I can tell you swelling words all day long how wonderful Jesus is to me and all of the great things God is doing in my life, but what happens to my words when someone sees me kick my dog, hears me yell and scream at my wife, or even steal or lie to escape punishment I rightly deserve? All of my words of how God is moving in my life and all of the mighty miracles God is doing through me have been thrown to the ground. Our real testimony is what people see in us and what they see us do. Did you know it is easy to see what we are made of? My friend, it is easy to see what we are made of just listen to what comes out our mouth. Jesus taught this lesson many times in the Gospels. “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” (Matthew 12:33-35) If I want to know what you like or dislike, what your real interests are, or how you really feel about something all I have to do is let you speak and you will tell me everything I need to know about you. The opposite of this divine spiritual principle is also true; by what is not coming out of your mouth will tell me volumes about your character and nature. I can tell what is not in your heart by what is coming out your mouth, but that makes perfect sense because a man cannot give what he does not have. It is the same thought with prayer. I can tell where you are in God by how you pray. Do you pray telling God what to do and how to do it? Who and how to heal someone? Or what you want to see God do? How can we give wisdom and love if they are not in us? If they are in us then they will come out our mouth. They have to come out our mouth, because that is what we are made of. I often tell my wife I love her without thinking about it. It is automatic like breathing, and why? Because she is in my heart no matter where I go and when I think of her the love I have for her must come out my mouth. The third requirement of being an overcomer from Revelation 12:11 is the most difficult of the three, “they loved not their lives unto the death.” Now there are two components of this thought; the first and more dramatic is what most Christians go after and that is the laying down of one’s physical life. This thought, especially in America, leaves a sour feeling in our stomach, but did you know more people have been martyred for the Gospel in the last 20 years then in the last 250 years? Today in America the worse the church gets is to be criticized, yet many Christians fold like a house of cards while around the world Christians by the 1000s are being slaughtered for the Gospel and few people have taken notice. Well my American friends that all may change in the near future if the Lord tarries. Many people when talking about faith like to read the 11th chapter of Hebrews and stop about say verses 32 or 33, seldom do they venture on to the end, because these verses does not set well with their theology, fill seats, or offering plates, “Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:34-40) Who wants to use their faith to endure troubles and hardships in God like these when we can use our faith to get God to give us pleasant and blessed things? Today in America we use the Gospel message to soften life’s hardships and not to allow spiritual growth and development in our lives. As I said my friend if the Lord tarries I prophesy, “America your days are numbered the die has been cast, unless you humble yourselves and repent, thus says the LORD.” We will see then what we will use our faith for. In the 2nd Chapter of the Book of Revelation we read where God gave the Church at Smyrna a word of praise and encouragement, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (Revelations 2:9-11) This is the same Church (located in present day Izmir, Turkey) were Polycarp (69 AD to 155 AD), who was discipled by John, was martyred for his testimony. If you get a chance please look up the account of Polycarp’s death, but here is his final prayer, “I thank thee that thou hast deemed me worthy of this day and hour, that I should have my portion in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, unto the resurrection of eternal life, both of the soul and body, in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among these may I be received before thee this day as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, even as thou hast prepared and made manifest beforehand, and hast fulfilled, thou who art the unerring and true God. On this account, and concerning all things, I praise thee, I bless thee, I glorify thee, together with the eternal and heavenly Jesus Christ thy beloved Son, with whom to thee and the Holy Spirit be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” Yes my friend, there is a price many have paid and will pay with their physical lives and we must never trivialize it, but also in the third requirement (in verse 11 of Revelation 12) to become (a process God works in our lives) an overcomer there is another thought (and I believe the main thought) John was expressing. Yes, physical death was a part of this verse, but I believe John also was talking about spiritual death to our self-life. We will never become an overcomer unless we can learn to die to our selfishness and self-seeking. It is our love for our “life” our rights, our way, our opinions and views, our many words, what we want to see happen, to get the last word no matter the cost all of this must be put to death in our lives. We must lose our life if we truly want to become an overcomer so that we will be able to find the life of Christ. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:24-25) Where did Jesus go to lose His life? To the cross to die. Where do we have to go to find our life? To our cross to die. Maybe not a wooden cross, but most certainly a cross made by our will and desires submitted and laid across God’s will and desires for our lives. This is the place of glorification and finding life in God, us dying to our self-life. Jesus told the disciples now is the time the Father is going to glorify me and they thought now Jesus will take the throne in Jerusalem, but Jesus was talking about His death on the cross, death before glorification. “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die” there is no way around or under it we must die to our self-life. This is what the custodian did she put her mouth in the dust (Lamentations 3:29), she “loved not their lives unto the death” by not having to get the last word or retaliating to save her self she just kept quiet. Did you know dead people do not do a lot of talking? So too is the words of our testimony as seen and heard in silence. Written by David Stahl

LIFE'S DISTRACTIONS FROM GOD

Our lives are filled up with nothing but distractions. In life we have two major choices; filling our lives up with things of this world (distractions) or the things of God rightly applied to our lives. I am ever amazed how we fill up our lives with sports programs (both watching and playing), cooking programs (both doing and watching), reality TV, yard work and gardening, reading books, our pets, our vocation of employment, vacations and leisure, volunteer and charitable programs, the list is almost inexhaustible. If the Christians of today would go after serving God with the same fervor and dedications as they do with charity and good will programs like: the Special Olympic, Relay for Life, animal rights, human rights, politics – God’s word would be shared in a more sincere, simplistic, and serious way around the world. I am ever amazed to see what new things man invents to occupy his time and to satisfy his flesh. My friend our flesh is wicked and cunning above all things. It will stop at nothing to be satisfied. Paul drove this point to the heart of the Christians in Rome when he said, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Romans 7:18-19) Do we not think all of our good deeds and works (even church works) is done out of the goodness of our hearts? If the truth is to be known most if not all of what we say we do for God is really done for our glory and honor. And it is our flesh that screams to be exalted, praised, and satisfied. At the heart of this deception are the distractions we keep alive in our lives that blind us to the truth about God’s word and ourselves. Paul said, “I know that in me” I wonder how Paul knew this? That is easy, he was not distracted from the truth of what God told him to do and to the truth of God’s word. He learned this truth with every hardship and obstacle he overcame in his life. With each stripe laid to his back and each distress in his life (2 Corinthians 6:4-10) the clarity of the word of God resounded louder and because of the lack of distractions in his life the word of God was seen clearer and felt when he opened his mouth.

Now please understand me, in themselves some of the programs and deeds are not bad and can be useful in our lives. However here is the rub, these distractions often are nothing more than man’s willingness to avoid God’s dealings and judgments in our lives. Who wants to have God rumbling around in our heart and thoughts to reveal areas in our lives that are not of Him? Oh no, we would rather go play sports, paint a picture, sing in the choir, read a book, go visit someone in the nursing home, listen to music, watch TV, and so on. Again in themselves they are beneficial, but when they come between our heart and the work God desires to in our lives they become a distraction spiritually ending us in a pitiful and loathsome place. There distractions are man’s attempt to keep God at arms length and out of our lives as our flesh is strengthened and emboldened. My friend the only thing God wants to do with our flesh is kill it. Oh we cry and say swelling words of what we will do for God, but He knows the truth He is the discerner of our thoughts and intents of our heart. The writer of Hebrews said, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13) At the heart of every problem is a problem of our heart. And the problems of our heart begin as we focus our thinking and intentions away from God’s word and His plans for our lives. And yes, what we refocus on are the distractions we allow to take root and grow in our lives. There are three areas of distractions I would like to look at in this article. I am sure you have your own list, but I would like for us to look at how: our thoughts, our life-styles, and our service to God can distract us from God.

Our thoughts are so distracted with things of this world. It is no wonder there is no peace in the heart and mind of Christians and those lost in the world. Our thoughts are so filled up with ways to satisfy our personal needs, buy the next car and bigger house we have no peace. Rest and especially sleep escapes us as we worry about tomorrow, but Jesus said worry not (Matthew 6:30-34) about tomorrow. When we came back from Germany the Lord told me not to buy a home and now seeing the economy I can see why. For us now Karen and I are free to move as God directs. I really believe God does not want us to buy lands, properties, and homes. God knows the more we sink our lives into the world the harder it will be for Him to uproot or cut us out from the earth. Karen said, (and I strongly believe) “those Christians that teach and preach the prosperity doctrine secretly do not believe they will get something in the next life, so they will say and do anything to go after all they can get in this life, how sad.” Daily Christians watch senseless acts of violence on TV and ogle perversion on the internet that sear their minds. I remember a hotel manager in downtown Atlanta told me they love it when Pentecostal preachers come to town because the in room pornography movies goes through the roof. Sociologist say by the time a child reaches their 18th birthday they will have watched over 100,000 senseless murders and rapes on TV. It is no wonder kids are committing murders and rapes today. Why is their no peace, fulfillment, and contentment in the lives of many Christians? Their minds are not stayed on God and what He has said. Their minds and thoughts are so occupied with things of the earth they have no desire or room for things of the Spirit and of the Heavenly. Isaiah tells us, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3) If we desire “perfect (selfless like God) peace” we must align our thoughts with God’s thoughts and keep our intentions on Him. Yet today in the lives of many Christians (me at times) we see a continued drifting away in our thoughts. Our own thoughts condemn us to the point we drift further and further away. Paul also in the Book of Romans told the Church, “Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; 16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:15-16) As we think in our heart so are we. It is no wonder Paul again and again tells us to renew our minds. And why? People whose mind is not stayed on God do not think right, that is why they say the most bizarre things and commit the most heinous acts. But when we align our thinking up with God’s thinking and His word, we just think and act right. I really believe this area of the three is the most important area we need get right with God.

Next our life-style is so full of distractions. Everything we do seem to be about us. Seldom do we do anything for someone else. And when we do we think we have done something special, well that is not to God’s liking. God intends for most of our day to be spent doing things for others. We are so distracted and this can be so easily seen when we look at each other. I just cannot believe the number of people (to include Christians) in the world that have tattoos and body piercings. Now if you got a tattoo before you gave your heart to the Lord, well live and learn, but I am talking about Christians getting tattoos and body piercings after they give their lives to Christ. God strictly forbids this behavior, but you see it is all about us, “a self expression of my personality and the way God made me” is what I hear. Well this is nothing more than a lie and a distraction. God said (and He meant it) in the Book of Leviticus, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks (Strong’s #7085, incision, imprintment, tattoo, mark) upon you: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:28) We are not to imprint or mark our bodies and why? After all it is my body and I am not harming any one, wrong! It is not your body, it is God’s body. It is the same reason why we are not to have sex before marriage, God said not to and because our rebellion can directly harm our physical body (you can get hepatitis and HIV from dirty needles), but most assuredly our rebellion will harm our spirit body. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit we just cannot do whatsoever we want to do with it. Our desire for self-expression is nothing more than direct disobedience to God and His word. Yet we see Christian athletes pointing up to sky after they score a basket or make a touchdown with their bodies covered with tattoos or their lips and ears pierced with rings and other things. Paul again helps us, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) We are to “glorify God in our body.” We “glorify God in our body” when we allow Him to touch our mind and heart conforming us to the image of His precious Son Jesus Christ. We “glorify God in our body” when do what He has told us to do. It is a matter of a heart condition of obedience, not when we score, dance, sing, etc., this type of thinking just causes more distractions. Another distraction is our clothing. You know you can judge a book by its cover. I do not need to look through the pages of a Playboy magazine, the cover shows me what is inside. Our dress does not reflect the modesty and honor God commanded us in. Today in most churches ladies come to church with their breasts hanging out and their dress or pants so tight there is nothing left to the imagination, a real distraction for men. Yes I know, “to the pure at heart all things are pure,” but the distraction need not be presented if we are walking in the light of God’s word. And the same for the men, who cares if you have hair on your chest, cover it up. God has called His children to a modest and chase life-style. When I was growing up we wore our very best to Church to honor the King of Kings, but today it seems the best most Christians can do is short shorts, flip-flops, and flowered shirts. Now brother do you not know the Lord looks on the heart? Well yes He does, but He also sees how much you honor Him in word and dress. When I first when to visit King Abebe in Aveile, Nigeria I could not just go visit him, I first had to clean myself up and look presentable before I could speak with him. This was an act of honoring him and the authority the people of Edo State placed within his hands. Honor is a thing of the heart and is seen not in words, but in actions. It is disturbing to know some Christians dress better for work then for church, it is easy to see where their priorities are. I cannot believe how distracted we are by technology. Our life-style is so plugged in and wrapped into technology. I have never met someone in my life that was so important that they needed to have instantaneous connection with someone else. Who do we think we are? Are we really that important? I think not. We have cell phones, blackberries, blueberries, and other berries, computers, and the list goes on yet we are drifting from communication with God. And why? Because the more we go after technology the less of God will be in us. It is either the things of God or the things of the world. It is our choice. I see people so fixated and distracted by Iphones, cell phones, anything electronic phone or gadget that has a touch screen or button. Please do not think life is about technology, God does not call us on our cell phone, if He did then the Pastor would not flip the slide at church that reads please turn your cell phone off or put on vibrate.

Lastly our service to God is so distracted. Our intention is good, but our application is skewed. A lot of pastors and leaders start out sincere and dedicated, but over the years they have compromised the truth of the word of God to maintain their good standing with their church and denomination who pays their bills, kind of like selling your soul to the devil. Music, dancing, drama, and not the preaching of the word of God drives the name and popularity of the church. Whatever happened to “thus says the Lord?” It was replaced with the touchy feel good music and no consequence for our actions preaching. Babes in the Lord need to feed their emotions (singing, dancing, etc.) to feel they have a connection with God. But this is not what the Bible says. The Bible says the just (justified and redeemed) shall walk by faith. The only message we hear today is God loves you (which is true), but the whole counsel of God is He wants us to grow up into mature men and women of God. The message of only love shows us one part of God’s character and nature. Did you know there is only one message in the Bible? From Genesis to Revelation it is the message of the cross unto salvation. “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching (message, in the Greek) of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching (message, in the Greek) to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:17-21) If we allow all of these distractions to capture our mind and heart we will not hear this message and be lost. Written by David Stahl

TO THE END OF THE WORLD

When Jesus was giving the disciples (and us too in many ways) their marching orders He said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20) I wonder where and when the end of the world is? Now I can tell you a story (on a border crossing between Bulgaria and Romania) where had not Jesus been with me “lo, I am with you always” and a stranger took a severe beating for me my life would have been taken from me. Times like these we think we are at the end of the world, but not so. No matter when and where, we all shall come to the end of the world and it shall be seen through the eyes of the spiritual comparison and understanding in our lives. It is most often these comparisons in retrospect and understandings in reality where we can see God working in our lives moving us from one glory to the next glory.

But never forget beauty and glory is always in the eye of the beholder. What I would say is beautiful and glorious in my eyes may be ugly in your eyes. Man’s beauty and glory is comparable with something else man has made. But make no mistake only the glory of God is eternally glorious, beautiful, unique, and genuine in every way. In God’s scheme of things He desires to give us beauty for ashes. Strange how ashes come before beauty; we would think just the opposite. Well not so strange in God, it is like losing (John 12:25) first so that we can win. Man’s beauty and glory fades, withers as grass blowing the wind, but God’s glory and beauty last forever. Whatsoever man makes will rust, crumple, and even fall to the ground. Even a building to gather in to hear the preaching of the word of God and to pray will fall into the ground some day. We see this concept of beauty in our eyes moving in the Book of Ezra, but there is something much more critical to our spiritual growth and development here if we have the eyes of understanding to see it. “And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.” (Ezra 3:11-13) Here the “ancient men” (older men) saw both houses of the Lord. They had the opportunity to compare both houses of the LORD. Now their tears were not tears of joy, but tears of sadness. They compared the beauty and glory of the first house of the LORD against the beauty and glory of the second house of the LORD and the result of their observation was they, “wept with a loud voice.” Now please notice verse 13, “So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout.” The old men cried so loud the shouts of joy were muffled or almost drown out. I wonder what they thought when they saw the second temple? I bet they remembered the first temple, our mind works that may. In ways I kind of know what the old men were feeling. Unlike seeing a temple I remember how America and especially the power of God in church use to be. It has been years and years (maybe 10-15) since I have seen a genuine move of God’s Spirit in a church in America. I will be honest with you I really really struggle with the movement of America away from the conservative, traditional, and Christian values she was founded on to a liberal social progressive valueless society of today. And to make things worse these liberal social progressive values now are the bedrock of the church instead of the word of God which was the bedrock of the faith of our fathers. I gave 24 years of my life in service to the U.S. Navy and to watch America fade and fall from her “light upon a hill” as the late President Ronald Reagan would referred to America’s goodness and hope for the world gravely sickens me. I know this is Scripture being fulfilled, but in my heart I cry as the “ancient men” did when they saw the second temple. Please pray for me in this area. I even know America’s present administration has been raised by God to take her in directions to fashion her as a vessel for dishonor because of her continual waywardness and rebellion to God’s word. Just because the Supreme Court says something is okay does not change God’s word. Isaiah told Israel these words and my friend they are true for America today, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 1:19-20) Only being "willing and obedient” to God’s word brings to a nation His blessings, protection, and peace, but I prophesy if we reject God’s word then we must walk in the truth of verse 20, “ye shall be devoured with the sword (of our enemies): for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Our willingness and obedience will determine how far we go in God not His gifts and blessings. Often times God has to bless us outside His plan for our lives to keep us moving and interested in Him, but sadly He has not given us anything of Himself.

I'm convinced that there's an epidemic that has infected the Western church of the 21st century. I'll simply refer to the epidemic as myopia. No, I'm not referring to the medical condition in which objects can be seen distinctly only when held very near to the eye. I'm talking about spiritual myopia – a kind of Christianity and life style that has become so focused on self that it no longer resembles the faith of our fathers. The side effects of this spiritual myopia can be seen and heard all around us. Christian bookstore shelves are lined with volumes of self help books that entreat us to live our best lives now and become a better you. We hear this time and time again when we do our book signings for “Adventures with God.” Much of the music that receives a substantial amount of airtime on Christian radio stations is devoid of any reference to God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Gospel. Those references have been replaced with much more subjective ones that focus on me, myself and I. Songs are now intentionally written with a much more man-centered focus in the hope that they will receive playback on mainstream media outlets. Even preachers have not been immune to this debilitating epidemic. In some circles the sermon no longer is seen as the vehicle through which men of God seek to communicate the truth of God "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:4). Preachers increasingly have given in to the temptation to allow their congregations – and not God – to shape their messages. Consequently some preachers have traded substance for style and our congregations are showing the myopic effects of the exchange. The only cure I'm aware of is to take the focus off ourselves and to "turn our eyes upon Jesus." How do we begin to do that? I think we've got to start from the top. Pastors must stop allowing the culture and their congregants to determine their message. God's ambassadors must faithfully deliver the message of their King once again by preaching "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). Preaching the whole counsel of God might not always draw large crowds, but if it is a huge following that the pastor is seeking, he is part of the problem and not the solution, and shame on him. Our churches need to recapture a passion for the vital ministry of prayer. When we have spent time humbling ourselves in prayer we are less likely to think about our own desires over the desires of God? My own experience has proven that I'm never more concerned about the things of God than when I am praying. As the old song says, "The things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." We must make the Father's business (not selling the Gospel) our business once again. We have all found ourselves asking this question: "Is God really satisfied with what I'm doing right now?" There are many details of God's will that can cause us to wonder about such things. Yet, when we attempt to fulfill the “Great Commission” the questions and doubts begin to go away. The one thing Jesus commanded us to do when He ascended on high was to "make disciples of all the nations" and He has not changed His mind. He said that we should be a people constantly committed to the work of going, baptizing and teaching. A cure for our current epidemic will surely be found as the local Bodies of Christ begin to turn their attention and “eyes upon Jesus" surely our lives, our families, and our churches will express this same manner of urgency as well. May God grant this healing in our churches and then in America. Again America’s hope is “willing and obedient” men and women God can count on. The transformation of our lives and the salvation of the lost is depending upon it. The hope and salvation of America is not found in her military power, politics, or prosperity, but in a repentive broken church worshipping on bended knees. A church that has rejected a money and purpose driven works mentality with a liberal contemporary social Godless Gospel and now clings to a conservative Gospel message from days gone by. For too long the church of America and around the world has rejected and walked away from the foundational truths of the Gospel looking for personal fulfillment and self expression. This self-centered emotional approach to God leads to a selfish and self-seeking spirit that has birthed the denominational division and strife in the world.

A few months ago as I was welcoming some friends to our home group meeting I said these words, I never thought I would ever be saying these words, but I feel I will be alive to see the return of Christ. I have always thought I would go to be with the Lord by way of the grave, but now I am not so sure. Things have accelerated it seems the minute hand on God’s time piece has moved a few clicks. Paul shares these words with us, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having 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 3:1-7) My friend does this not sound like today? You know it does. Yet we ignore God and His word to us to fulfill what we want to do, shame on us. We ignore God and His word to us to fulfill our religious agenda and programs, shame on us. Denominational religious programs span the world, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (from ocean to ocean), yet we attend services faithfully, singing and dancing distracting ourselves from the truth of God’s word and His desire to deal and judge in our lives, while believing all is well with our soul. The Disciples believed Jesus would return in their life time yet He did not, but they lived their lives in a hopeful expectation as if He was at hand to make His appearance. My friend we too must live our lives as if the end of the world is at hand, because you know it is. Come now LORD Jesus! Written by David Stahl

IN THE IMAGE OF GOD

Karen and I just returned from being with our son Daniel and his wonderful family. When I see Daniel and his son John I see so many similar characteristics. From their red hair to their passionate personality I see how John was made in the image and likeness of his father Daniel, so too with our oldest son David and his wonderful son Caleb. When I see Caleb I see David when he was a little boy. I see his continual smile, good nature, and huge heart. They say when you see the son you see the father, well my prayer is that my sons (all three) will have a greater walk with the Lord than I and be conformed into the image of God. When we see our grandchildren we see how they were made in the image of their father. This continual process of being made in the image of our father is a spiritual principle that God has ordained for our lives. We must understand this process if we are ever going to come to the completed image of our Heavenly Father. Caleb and John were made in the image of their fathers, but they were not made complete in their development, they both still have to grow and mature if they are going to come into the completed image of their fathers, well this principle holds true for our lives in the spiritual realm. We see this truth of being made in the image of our Father in the Book of Genesis. In the first Chapter of Genesis we read, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) Man was made in the image of God, but like Caleb and John man was not made complete and needs to grow and develop into a completed image of his Father. Here we see “And God said” another continual process in our lives we must come to understand if we are ever to come to the completed image of our Father. God said it and now it must come to pass. Anything God said is truth, there is no doubting or rejecting what God says. God’s spoken and written words are a continual revelation of our Father and reveals the critical need of being made into His image, that we must believe and mingle a part of our daily lives if we are ever going to come into His image. We see this truth of being made into the image and likeness of our father as something God wants in our lives as seen in the life of Adam who was made in the image of God. In Genesis Chapter five we see this process and revelation being carried out in the life of Adam, “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:” (Genesis 5:3) But like Adam, Caleb, and John Seth was not born as a fully matured developed image of their father, they were only born in the likeness and image of their father and had to grow to become a completed image and likeness. And likewise when God created Adam in His image and likeness he was not made in the complete image of God, but had to grow and develop. Now the image of God was there, but it was latent. When talking a picture using film the image on the film is there, but it is latent. The likeness and image is there, but it is not developed and cannot be seen until the film is processed. As with Adam there was a latent image of God in him when he was created that had to be developed. So too in our lives when we become new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17) created in Christ Jesus there is a latent image of God in us that God MUST be able to develop in us if we are going to look and operate like God. Now God begins to develop us by doing and providing certain things in our lives. It is important to know God provided everything Adam needed before what we call the “Garden of Eden” was created. Please do not miss this point. Adam had everything he needed before God put him into the garden. It is important to know I am strictly speaking from what the Bible says (by verse) and not some religious denominational doctrinal belief. So too in our lives God provides (and only God can provide) all we need to grow and develop to come to the image and likeness of our Father. In Genesis we read, “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree (that would include the tree of good and evil and the tree of life), in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” (Genesis 1:29) All that Adam needed for his physical growth and for his physical maintenance God had provided for him. Now after this God planted a garden and put man in the midst. “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. (Genesis 2:8) Please notice God said “the man whom he had formed” drawing our attention to the forming process and not the creating (Strong’s #1254, to create, shape, form) process. The word “formed” (Strong’s #3334, to bind, be distressed, be in distress, be cramped, be narrow, be scant, be in straits, make narrow, cause distress, beseige) here has nothing to do with making or creating, but to cause to suffer distress. So now God planted a garden and put Adam in it for a greater forming process, well guess what my friend God too has a garden just for us. The physical Adam was already created and already provided for there was nothing God needed to add for Adam for his physical provision, but now God does something else, something different. For now God must provide for His spiritual being. After caring for Adam’s physical development God must now provide for Adam’s spiritual growth, maintenance, for his spiritual welfare and development. To do this God plants a garden and puts Adam into the garden in order to form Adam’s character, to development his spirit man, and to develop this latent image and likeness God has put within him. ”And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant (precious in the Greek) to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9) Maybe not precious to see to look at or behold, but precious for the vision and spiritual insight God wanted to bring Adam into, “and good for food.” But the physical food had already been provided (Genesis 1:29). This no doubt was for another type of feeding and goes well with the word following, “the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” So these were provisions God has laid down for Adam to use to develop into the image of God. Do not ever forget God planted “the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” The devil did not plant these trees God planted them. So now in Genesis 2:15, “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress (Strong’s #5647, to serve or translated five different times in the Old Testament as worshipper) it and to keep (Strong’s #8104, to obey, observe (like keep My commandants) or take heed) it.” (Genesis 2:15) I wonder where Adam existed before he was put in the garden? I wonder where God took Adam from so that He could put him in the garden? Now the Bible does not say so, but I believe Adam was where he ended up in life. Where we all end up in life, the same place we start from in life, the heart of God. When God made man He contemplated (paused and thought) “let us make man in our own image and after our own likeness.” Here God is speaking these words out of a longing heart for man to know Him, but for this to happen man had to be developed spiritually to grow in understanding and in the ways God operates. There must be developed in Adam (and is us) an attitude of dependence and obedience. Remember the physical means for Adam’s life was already provided, but his spiritual life needed to be developed through a process of approving and qualifying so he could move from one level of obedience (glory) to the next level of obedience (glory). Our next level of usefulness in God depends not on our gifts and abilities, but on our willingness and obedience to endure God’s developing program. God cares not how well we sing, play an instrument, dance, how fast we can run, shoot a basketball, or preach and teach, but God cares about how obedient and willing we are to His word. For Adam the dressing and keeping of the garden was more an attitude of learning and worship then one of service and duty in responding to God’s approaches. Obedience was God’s goal in Adams’s life. Adam’s approach back to God was on a spiritual level and not sweat effort, because Adam did not till the ground (Genesis 3:19) until after Adam sinned. God would even come and talk with Adam (as seen in Genesis 3:6) in the cool of the evening. God’s first approach to man is always on a spiritual level to develop him into His likeness and image. So if God is developing Adam into His own image Adam will have to by necessity be brought into the power of choice and many other things in his life, ”And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) Adam’s development program was a garden of plenty and his approving test was whether or not he would believe God’s word. When God is working and developing us He will always come and inspect us and will expect to see in us a manifestation of the works He is putting into us. I find it amazing to know God expects certain things in us to grow and produce. God expects honesty, integrity, honor, virtue (strength), humbleness, gentleness, and so much more to grow and produce a harvest in us so that others can partake of God’s divine goodness in us. The seed that is sown in the ground is not money as many TV evangelists and preachers spin their lies of manipulation and control (they are so deceptive to those who know not the truth of the word of God), but is the words of God that has been planted in our heart. If this seed takes root and dies then we too can fall into the ground (John 12:24) and die to our selfishness and self-seeking life. Sadly we know the rest of the story how Adam failed and was not developed. From what we can read in the Bible God never saw His purpose done in Adam. But always know God’s purpose will be completed in time and by someone. After Adam God continued to lay foundations in many people until His precious Son Jesus Christ was born into the world to be the second Adam of which God’s purpose was completed. Jesus is the mature and completed image of the Father, solely dependent on His Father for everything. I wonder what impact the church would have on those folks lost if we (the Body of Christ) were solely dependent on God for everything? God’s goal (now and has always been) to conform us into the image (Romans 8:29) of Jesus Christ, thus we being conformed into the image of God. Jesus was God on earth to show us how His Father operates and functions, to show us His Father’s dedication (love) to us. God has no plan or objective in making us rich, happy, or popular (like most in the church today believe), but still desires to complete what He started backed in Genesis, to conform us into His image.

You know it is really easy to beat up Brother Adam, but guess what, God desires to develop us too. God too has planted a garden for our lives to be developed and matured in. Oh it may not have the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or the tree of life, but make no mistake my friend the consequences for failure is the same for us as it was for Adam – sin, a willful walking away from God, and an eternal separation from God if we do not repent. In life today failure in God is not an option, yet we play fast and loose with God. Oh Lord please forgive us! The price for us to pay to become conformed in the image of God is the same price Jesus paid, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” (Philippians 2:6-9) Never think the Father gave Jesus a name which is above all names because He was God’s Son, oh no my friend. Jesus was given His name, power, and authority because He willfully became (a process of development) obedient, the requirement to become the image of God. Written by David Stahl

THE CHURCH WITHIN THE CHURCH

My friend there is a religious denominational church (this includes large non-denominational churches) on planet earth and there is a God-ordained church within the religious denominational church that pleases God and meets His expectation of being called the Body of Christ. Now please do not think these churches are a part of the Body of Christ they are not. They are only a church in name and not in Spirit. We the people of God, the local Body of Believers (one presently and continually giving themselves to God in faith, living in a vital relationship to Him, which enables the Believer to be discipled by the Lord) are the church not a building, denomination, religious, or Christian organization.

Over the many years of traveling, teaching, and writing we have gotten many comments, none more often than thank you for telling us the truth. I am not a smart man, but I do know the truth when I read and hear it. My friend it has always been our aim to tell the truth even if means stepping on toes, our included. Karen and I do not want to have our ears tickled and you should not either. What we need is a strong word from God to bring us down in our self-life and self-seeking, a rich yet hard and revealing word from God that brings us to tears and leaves us on our knees before Him. They say, if you want people to like you and give you money just tell them what they already know and what they want to hear. This is what you hear in most churches today. Well my friend I do not need your money, God provides for me, my family, and our ministry. If you support Beholding His Glory I thank you very much, but we desire you do so out from a heart condition that has been touched and melted to support us by the Spirit of God. Please do not expect us to try to make you feel good, oh no my friend the last thing we all need is to want to feel good about our self, what the Bible calls deceitfully wicked. What we all need is a good kick in the butt from God, now that will get our attention. Our goal is to share with you thus says the Lord and stick His words in the center of your heart. For in doing so there is great life for both of us.

In our day we are witnessing, as never before in our memory, the nations of the world casting off restraint. Immorality and perversion have replaced the righteous standard of God’s word. In America God’s priorities have been replaced by the importance on money and meeting the needs of “me, myself, and I.” Our system of governing laws protects the rights of minorities from being trodden underfoot by mob rule, but we have lost our sense of boundaries. We as Christians cast votes for men and woman who feel the most innocent among us, the unborn child, should be sacrificed to excuse an undisciplined action. Our moral compass has lost its true bearing. In Proverbs we read, “Where there is no vision (revelation in the NKJV), the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18) The word “vision” here has nothing to do with future plans, but is translated from the Greek as limitations or restrictions. I do not know how many pastors, preachers, and teachers I have heard twist and pervert this verse away from the truth. The more verses like this one that are perverted and twisted the more the people move further away from God and His words for our lives. It is restrictions and limitation in our lives that bring us to fulfillment and completion in God. We will never be happy and come to completion as a country or in God if we cast off limitations and restriction in our day-to-day lives. It is in keeping the laws of God where true happiness and fulfillment is found not in having our own way to do whatsoever we want to do. Oh Lord please help us. In the church we have those who continually inform us that they are “the leaders” of the church declaring them selves to be the prophets and apostles of the end-time global movement. But when whatever these leaders prophesy does not come to pass they fail to repent and apologize. Instead, they continue on to the next new thing claiming God is now speaking something else. Many leaders have fallen into moral failure because of lack of relationship with the Holy Spirit and His work of sanctification in their lives. Often, gifting, revelation, and natural organizational skills are mistaken for the character and holiness the Lord demands from His Body, particularly His leaders. God said, “Be ye holy” guess what? He means it. No man shall see God unless he has clean hands and pure heart. David asked this 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 (holy) heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psalms 24:3-5) Pastors have compromised the standard of the word of God for fame, riches, or to be esteemed by their peers. The goal is not souls for Christ, but can I get to a bigger church in my denomination there I can really make a difference, as if a bigger church and more people please God. All we hear at Christian bookstores when we do our book signings is how pastors and the churches have failed them so they come to a bookstore to buy the latest self-help book from the spiritual leaders of today. My friend only God can touch the issues of the heart. Never forget at the heart of every issue it is an issue of our heart. It is only the word of God and the Holy Spirit that mend our heart. Today we find the church in the same spiritual condition as the nation of Isreal. “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 5Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” (Isaiah 1:4-6) Wow did you read that, “Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” A few weeks ago I was on my favorite exercise machine at the gym (the stair-stepper treadmill) when a lady mounted the next machine. We started to talk (it always helps time to go by faster) and she started telling me how much she loves President Obama. She asked me what I thought and I told her I wish him no ill or harm, but wish he would give his heart to the Lord and be a Godly leader. She started to attack me. I said, I guess you are not a Christian and she said no she was a good Jew. I said oh good let us talk about the Torah (the Old Testament) and she said she does not believe in the Torah. I asked how she felt about abortion and she relied, she watched the abortion of a friend and it was the most beautiful thing she has ever seen. I shuttered in my spirit. She went on and on talking about many other liberal topics (sodomy, lesbianism, global warming, etc.) that totally disagrees with the Bible. I tried sharing the Gospel with her, but she wanted nothing to do with the word of God, so I looked her right in the eye and told her she was sick in the head. Now some would say this was wrong to harsh to do, but this type of worldly thinking is what Isaiah was talking about when he said, “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.” Her thinking is sick and her heart does not have the strength to received the things of God. She said my words were foolishness, but her words was just fulfilling the word of God. Paul shared with the church at Corinth, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) When God speaks to us His intention is to heal our inter man. When God comes to us His intention is to strengthen our heart to be able to receive His words. I ended my work out on the machine and bid her a good day. Please keep this lady in your prayers as I do. In these verses of Isaiah 1 we read, “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores.” Here Isaiah is describing their inward spirit lack of righteousness and integrity. They have “wounds, bruises, and putrifying sores” these non-healing sores are from “wounds and bruises” received from the Brethren in relationships. These sores are seen in the lack manifested in broken relationships, in dullness of spiritual hearing and seeing, and in hearts that are hiding far from God. Isaiah was sent by God to rebuke the Israelites for their false worship. They hid their heart from God behind religious activities (like today) and did not have the power and ability to heal their wounds and bruises they both suffered themselves and inflicted upon others. Their remedy to heal these ailments was more religious practices, self-centered and selfish sacrifices, good works to make them feel good and holy (like today), but God wanted nothing to do with this (like today). “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 12When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 13Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;” (Isaiah 1:11-16)

What a condition in Israel then and what a condition today of the church. But please know this is the spiritual heart condition of the religious church today, but God has a remnant that has been cut out by the sword of the Spirit of God, who has not bowed a knee down to the gods of this world. Which church are you in; the religious denomination or the remnant the church within the church? In the Old Testament and recorded in Romans by Paul, Elias thought he was the only person who has not bowed a knee to Baal, but God opened his eyes and heart to the truth? “Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election (our choice) of grace. 6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:3-6) A remnant established not by religious denominations or good works, but by grace. Often times we feel like Elias, but please know God will not allow man to totally destroy what He has intended from the beginning. In spite of all of man’s failures and shortcomings God will not allow man to totally fail. God loves man. When God made man He contemplated, “let us make man in our own image” and right then Jesus was slain for our salvation. God has a plan and a purpose for man and He will do whatsoever He needs to do to have it come to pass in spite of our rebellion, carnality, and wicked nature. It always amazes and scares me when I read how God used men like Samson. In spite of his desirous and rebellious heart God still got through all of his unfaithfulness and pride to accomplish His will for Samson’s life. God will bring all things to completion. And even in the church (religious denominations) today, God has a remnant that will be willing and obedient. The condition to have our “wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores” healed is to be willing and obedient to God’s words. Obedience is always the salve, the balm, the ointment that heals our heart spiritually

The question before us today is what church are we in? Oh we quickly say, the church within the church, but my friend the only way we enter that church is by dying to our selfish ambitions and self-love. I hear many preachers and evangelists manipulate the religious denominational church folks by saying put your seed into my fertile ministry, as if the seed is money, well my friend that thinking is just a bold face lie that seems to sell well because most Christians do not (shame on them) know the Bible. My friend our natural life is our seed not our money. If our natural life is sown into the ground then God can raise us up from the dead like He did Jesus. John said this way, “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat (a seed) fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (John 12:23-25) Jesus was talking of His forthcoming death on the cross when he said, “the Son of man should be glorified.” Who wants to be glorified like that? The church within the church. Unless we “fall into the ground and die” we will not be able to bring forth fruit. The condition for being fruitful in God is not working or doing, but dying. But who wants to die? The church within the church. They have met the condition, they learned this spiritual principle and now they shall receive the promise, “he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” The church within the church is made up with folks who have lost their lives (fallen into the ground and died) so that they can live eternally. There is an expensive price we pay to be a part of the church within the church. In our hearts we know which church we are in. We may be able to deceive some people, but we cannot fool God. He is not mocked, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7-8) Again I ask you what church are you in? Written by David Stahl

PATIENT WAITING

Most of our time serving God is spent in the unknown and waiting. God wants it to be patient waiting, but that is not often the case in our lives. I do not know about you, but I often (even today) find myself so impatient. I remember when I pastored in Germany, God was doing so much in our lives and in our church yet I became so impatient. I wanted time too quickly pass so God could bring things He spoke to us to pass. But my friend, waiting on God is the place of receiving. If we never come to enjoy the waiting on God (the patient waiting) then the receiving will not be as glorious. It is not the receiving from God that is glorious, but the waiting and then the seeing Him move. God’s greatest things are not to be touched, but experienced in Him. But the most difficult task that we are called to do is patiently wait. We would rather be busy than to be waiting. This is our nature, to do. Today in the church we have a working heart instead of a waiting heart. Who wants to wait? No, we would rather be doing something for God (even if it is the wrong thing) instead of patient waiting, allowing God to conform us into the character and nature of His dear Son Jesus Christ. We can wait only so long then our waiting is not so patient. We can go into a doctor’s office and wait 30 minutes, but any more than that our waiting is not so patient. Or we can go into a supermarket and patiently wait in line three or five minutes, but after that our waiting is not so patient. So God really calls us to this particular area of our life for a particular reason. In the Psalms David (who was not a very patient man) wrote, “I waited patiently (in the Hebrew, I waited in my waiting for a long span of time) for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” (Psalms 40:1) Our waiting is not to be interrupted or spasmodic it is to be continual. God expects us to have a waiting attitude before Him. In Hosea we read, “Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.” (Hosea 12:6) It is like prayer, we are to pray without ceasing, well how can we do that? Prayer, as with our waiting before God, is to be an attitude that continually comes out of us going to the Father. Back in Psalms 40 we find this place of waiting is in a horrible pit and miry (heavy mud) clay. Waiting is always a very uncomfortable place. It is not wet enough to get a drink or dry enough to be comfortable. So this uncomfortable situation will draw us in to focus on our discomfort and we do not want to wait long when we are uncomfortable. However, often this is the place God calls us to wait in. But, usually the reason for the uncomfortable situation is that we do not have the patience in us to wait. We cannot wait patiently therefore the uncomfortable situation. In Romans Paul shares with the Church in Rome who were being used as sport for the masses in the coliseum and target practice for the Romans soldiers, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience waiting;” (Romans 5:3 (Greek)) The uncomfortable situations in our lives is the thing God has designed and uses to produce the patient waiting in us. It is in these tribulations, trials, and tests that God personally brings into our lives that creates the ability to develop our waiting. No tribulations, trials, and test, no ability to waiting. Waiting, as God works all things for our good and works in us which allows us to patiently wait. God must be able to work in our lives so that we can learn how to wait if we are going to see the end that God has for our lives. We are brought into this place of waiting where we are put (by God) and must stay under a specific set of circumstances to be raised up in victory. God does not want our lives to be too attached to our circumstances this is why He allows what we call bad things to happen to us. Our lives are really centered around our situations, circumstances, the economy, etc., but God does not want us to be attached to the world system or our affections, even though in the world we are not to be a part of it. We are not to take our cues from the situations and circumstances in our lives. We are not to serve the monetary systems of this world. We are not to serve the material situations and circumstances in our lives. We are not to look, talk, and act like the world. We are to serve God, we are to be attached to Him, and take our cues from Him. We are to bow down before God and not our circumstances and situations. We often allow our circumstances and situations to get us down. I find it amazing when a preacher or teacher takes the pulpit and says, “how are you all doing today?” Who cares how everyone is doing today? Open up the word of God and share thus saith the Lord! Do we fall and wallow at the feet of our circumstances and situations or our heavenly Father? Unless we have allowed God to strengthen us with might in the inward man through His dealings and judgments (and develop this ability to patiently wait in us) we will allow our circumstances and situations to rule our lives. Now make no mistake my friend God knows just how to make a horrible miry pit for us. God knows just the thing that gets our goat. In Job (I would think Job knows something about bad situations and circumstances) said, “When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. 27My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented (Strong’s #6923, to meet, come or be in front, confront, go before) me. 28I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. 29I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. 30My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. 31My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.” (Job 30:26-31) Job hoped for “light” (good) in his waiting, but only “darkness” (bad) came his way. Look at these circumstances, how would we like to endure such things? I think not. But after patiently waiting, we see Job learned the lesson and God lifted him out of his horrible pit and restored him not to what he lost, but twice what he lost. At the beginning of the Book of Job (Job 1:1-3) he lost all that he had even his sons and daughters, but at the end of the Book of Job (Job 42:10-13) God restored back to Job twice what he lost. It is amazing what God can do for us if He can teach us to keep our mouth shut. What a holy place in God when we learn to keep our mouth shut. As I travel the world I see and hear many Christians who never shut up, they talk and talk while saying nothing. This is an outward manifestation of them never allowing God to deal and judge in their lives. Little do they know their talkative and opinionated nature has disqualified them for service by God. Unless God can get us to control our mouth and keep it in the dust (shut) God cannot use us. There is not a lot of talking when we have our mouth in the dust. Jeremiah “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. 29He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 30He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.” (Lamentation 3:22-30) The condition to see whether or not we are patiently waiting is seen if we are keeping our mouth shut and in the dust when going through tests, trials, and tribulations.

We are to be living in the overcoming power of God, but this power comes by way of us allowing God to work in our lives to such a degree that it grips our heart to the reality. When we learn the lessons God has for us to learn in the horrible pit God then and only then will bring us up. We must willfully submit and humble ourselves to those in authority over us and God to be raised up from our horrible pit or exalted. Peter taught, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:5-6) I wonder what the mighty hand of God looks like? Make no mistake my friend, God’s mighty hands takes on many different forms and shapes. What in your life is causing you to patiently wait? In reality it is the “mighty hand of God.” David said, “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3And he hath put a new song (words spoken of the heart not singing) in my mouth, even praise (words of thankfulness not singing) unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” (Psalm 40:2-3) David learned the lesson God had for him in the pit and now he was developed to the point in this area God could trust him to be delivered. Apparently good and religious works (singing, dancing, working for God, paying tithes, praying) was not enough to deliver him. “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.” (Psalms 40:6) Apparently David tried all of the traditional religious customs of his day (like most Christians today), but they did not work for David nor will they work for us today. God’s work in our lives is a heart issue. Remember at the heart of every issue is an issue of our heart. If we do not allow God to work in our heart then our approach to Him will be temporal, mental, or emotional which will never get us to Him. God desires us to willfully open our heart in truthfulness, integrity, and honesty allowing Him to reveal the innermost secrets and failures of our lives. God desires to strip us naked of our selfishness, self-seeking, and ambition. God desires (but our choice to make it happen) to be able to bring us face-to-face with whom we really are, not who we want to be or think we are, but who we really are. This revelation my friend will kill us, but if God can kill us then He can bring us back to life like He did with His precious Son Jesus Christ; the divine spiritual principle is: death before glorification.

But when it was all said and done to be brought up from his horrible pit David learned, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.” (Psalms 40:7-10) Unless we allow God to write His words on our heart we will never be able to say like David, “I delight to do thy will, O my God.” Where do we learn this lesson? In the horrible pit not in the land that flows with milk and honey. Not in the time of plenty and excess, but in the valley of the shadow of death. In the place in God where we learn patient waiting is the key to being raised up and exalted. Written by David Stahl