FINE TUNING

While Ronnie Huneycutt and I were in Silistra, Bulgaria ministering we stayed at a better than five star hotel. Sometimes God will let us stay in the finest of accommodation and sometimes God finds a place for us in stark poverty and filth, but in either place a heart of thankfulness is what God is looking for in us. At times in Africa and India I have slept with the cattle. In Bukoba, Tanzania I have showered by lifting a bucket of water over my head that was retrieved (before I got up) and heated over an open fire by the pastor’s wife from a river over two miles way. How could I not enjoy my shower knowing the effort and sacrifice involved? How could I not be thankful? How could I want anything better? I really believe at these times God is checking us out and fine tuning our heart condition to be able to show us our heart and to see just how thankful we really are for the things He provides. Well in Bulgaria God put us up in the finest place in town: a four room apartment complete with a stocked (plenty of food, coffee maker, etc.) kitchen, huge bathroom, and two comfortable beds that Pastor Niki and his wonderful father built. What else could we want? Another feature we really enjoyed was Niki’s office computer which allowed contact with our families; just down the outside back stairs and into the back of Pastor Niki’s print shop. One morning as I was coming through the door in the back of the print shop I noticed a man was setting up one of the print machines. I stopped and watched in amazement. The man (I never got his name) looked up and smiled, but continued to work. He was a man on a mission and his mission was to get this machine to run at peak ability and function. Now what was so amazing was the way the man was adjusting or fine tuning the machine. He knew every inch of that machine like the back of his hand, he knew every turn of the dials, every lift of the levers, and every adjustment and slide of the paper guides. He knew every reaction to the adjustments he was making and compensated correctly to get the machine to run at its full potential. I was in awe I was watching a master at work. I know you may think I am somewhat crazy, but it was like watching a master violinist or cellist play their instrument. Foolishly I tried taking a picture, but he would not stop long enough for me to get the shot and it kind of annoyed him so I backed off. He adjusted and fine tuned; after those he nudged the machine again, a half roll of the print drum and another nudge, a slide of the paper guide and another nudge, another half roll of the print drum and another nudge where he then measured and nudged again. This went on for about 30-40 minutes and then added paper filling the paper tray. After a final inspection and a few more gentle nudges the on switch was engaged and the machine was off and running; one sheet, two sheets, three sheets, suddenly the machine was switched off. The adjustments and fine tuning was not to the master’s liking so the man was back to nudging, measuring, sliding the paper guide, and many half turns of the drum. Another inspection then machine was off and running again. The man was not so concerned about time as much as he was about the peak performance of the machine and turning out quality copies of the original. The machine was turned off again and more nudges and fining tuning was completed. At last he was ready to go. The paper tray was filled to the top and the on switch was engaged the machine seemed to rhythmically sing as it spit out copy after copy of the original image. And as I was standing there the LORD spoke to me and said, “this is what I must do to my children I must fine tune them so I can make exact copies of my Son.” What an unexpected word, but powerful word from God. God has to fine tune us so He can make copies of His Son Jesus Christ. Now we all know that, right? Sure we all know Paul told this to the Church at Rome, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Romans 9:29-30) This is God’s main objective in our lives, “to conform us to the image of His Son.” God is not trying to make us happy (He can care less if we are happy), rich, popular, intelligent, or famous God started something back in the Book of Genesis, “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) And God has not changed His mind He is still in the business of conforming man, still in the business of making “man in our image after our likeness” and He will do everything we will allow Him to do to fine tune and complete this process of becoming like Him in our lives. Did you know God is more concerned about our character than He is about how long we can speak in tongues, sing and dance in the Spirit, how much money we give to the church, even how long we have been walking with Him. All these things are okay, but they are not on the top of God’s list of important things for our lives. Our character is God’s number one focus; our character looking like or resembling the character of Jesus Christ. God is even more concerned about our character than He is about our service to Him. Do we really think God cannot get things done on earth without us? Of course not God can do anything He so desires He does not need man, but He made man, He loves man, and He wants to use man to herald the good news of the Gospel message to men. What a wonderful truth that God desires for man to help save other men. Many say (as I just did) we are to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ and this is true, but what image are we talking about? Are we talking about Jesus’ physical image? No of course not. My teacher Charles Haun was the most gifted Bible Teacher I have ever heard; many millions of people around the world would agree with me on this, but some went to the extreme. Many of Charles’ students bought glasses and even copied his dress and mannerisms they were called Haunites, but all of this never made them like Charles Haun. We are to be conformed to the spiritual character and nature of Jesus Christ not His physical features. Now I have a beard like Jesus, but that will never allow me act and touch like Christ. We are to love like Him, but before we can do that we must have a heart like Him. We are to think like Him, but before we can think like Christ we must have a mind like Christ. There is a spiritual principle that says a man cannot give what he does not have. How can we be like Christ if we have never allowed God to work the character of Christ, through His dealing and judgments, in us? So how do we get a mind and heart like Christ? How can we be conformed into the expressed (original) image of Jesus Christ? Well my friend this is a painful process indeed. Just asking God to forgive you of your sins will not do it, oh no my friend there is a process of opening up our heart and lives to God and allowing Him free rule and reign to work in our lives. At the end of Romans 9:30 we read these word, “them he also glorified.” Now most Christians who read these words would think like the disciples, “God is going to make us rich, popular, and famous maybe give us the biggest following in the land,” but not so. John tells us during Jesus victorious entrance to Jerusalem before His crucifixion, “Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt. 16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.” (John 12:15-16) The disciples thought now we are going to set up the Throne of David and kick those Romans out of Jerusalem, but not so. Jesus told the disciples, “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, 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.’ (John 12:23-25) Die who wants to die? Lose who wants to lose? Not me I want to live and be free in Christ, well that is not the spiritual order. The spiritual order is death before glorification. And if we have a good death we will be glorified by the Father like Jesus. Jesus was teaching the disciples a critical spiritual principle, death comes before glorification. If we desire to be glorified like Jesus then we too must die to our fleshly, carnal, lower character and nature. At the same measure we can die to our lower carnal life at that same measure we will be raised in newness of life with Christ Jesus. Also in Romans Paul tell us, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:5) “Planted together in the likeness of his death?” His death? What about the abundant life of God? I want nothing to do with His death, well if so then we shall never be raised “in the likeness of his resurrection:” The Spiritual order is death before glorification my friend. This death in us only happens as we become His workmanship. Paul in Ephesians tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) The good works we are created (or conformed into His image) in Christ Jesus is God’s dealings and judgments in our lives. God’s “good works” (not our works or service to Him), God’s fine tuning (by grace) in our lives will bring us to more than salvation and will do more than take us all to heaven it will conform us into the character and image of Jesus Christ. Now I have understood this truth to be conformed for some time now, but to be honest (is not honesty good for the soul) I have never really understood why God wants us to be conformed to the nature and character of His precious Son Jesus Christ. There must be more to God’s intention here (God always wants more in our lives) and one day while studying I ran across these verses, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:20-22) Now I am sure I have read these verses before I guess I could not handle this bit of truth then, but it was the missing piece to the puzzle God desires us to be His eternal temple of habitation for all eternity not in the heavens or the earth, but in us. Man is to be God’s eternal abode. I cannot explain (I dare not) why God chose to live in man’s heart forever, but He is God and we are not and He chose to live within man for all of eternity. No wonder He must fine tune us like the print master. No wonder God must adjust us He wants His temple to be perfect, holy, and blameless before Him. Written by David Stahl

THE IN BETWEEN TIMES

Ronnie Huneycutt and I just returned from two weeks ministering in Romania and Bulgaria and as always it was a life changing experience to travel abroad to share the word of God and try in some way to do what we could do to ease the suffering and hardships of the people we come to minister to. You know it is one thing to say Jesus loves you, but it totally different to show them that Jesus loves them. In all of this giving to the poor the Gospel message must be preached. Many people focus on feeding and clothing people (now this must also happen), but if you only feed and clothe people what you will have is well dressed, well fed people in hell. The word of God, the message of the cross, must be preached one on one from one heart to another heart not sung about or danced out, but preached word by word, line by line as the Holy Spirit gives us the revelation. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians, “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 of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) Sadly today in most churches not much preaching is done and why because it takes time before God to hear what the Spirit is saying it is easier to sing and dance your way to heaven (probably will not make it this way) than to allow God to work, through His dealings and judgments, in our lives.

As we were drinking coffee (the Bulgarian favorite pass time) one morning near the center of Silistra Ronnie talked about the dash. He was referring to the dash (as seen on grave stones) between our date of birth and our date of death. I wonder why we celebrate these dates we have nothing to do with them our birth is out of our control and to a large extent our death is out of our hands, but what we do during the dash foretells the destination of our eternal home. Then the LORD spoke to me and said, “you are in the in between times the time in between times of ministering the word to people.” What a revelation I was surprised. We think ministry only happens when we stand and speak, but not so. In God there must be a time of preparation: time before God in quiet and stillness, time in the word spent discovering the verses God would have you share to the people, and time spent talking and fellowshipping with people. As we drank the coffee we spoke with an Austrian couple who are making plans to move to Silistra and help Pastor(s) Emil and Niki. The conversation and fellowship was as rich as the coffee we drank, but at the same time sublime moments that resonated in our spirit that filled our mind and soul. As I was sitting there unbeknownst to Pastor(s) Niki and Emil, Ronnie, and the Australian couple God took me back to an in between time in Moldova. While in Chisinau I met a great man of God and special friend Pastor Romcia Hututui. Romcia was a kind and gentle man with great wisdom and inward strength. I had the pleasure of listening to him preach in Russian. I wish I could have understood each and every word, because his spirit thrilled my soul. Nelleia my translator did an outstanding job sharing his words, but the passion and fire that God has put within him was remarkable to witness. As we, Romica, Nelleia, and I, travelled over 950 miles in seven days, sharing the Word of God in Russian speaking churches many hearts were captured for Christ, even mine the more. But, as we travelled I kind of figured out what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 5:6, what we are filled with. And what Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians when he said, “The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” (I Corinthians 10:17) We are filled with “the communion of the body of Christ,” and THE bread, Christ, that satisfies us, strengthens us, and even gives us our very own life. We are partakers of this bread through communion with the Lord and through the communion with our brothers and sisters within the “Body of Christ.” Without communion with the Lord and our brothers and sisters in the Lord we have no place within the Body of Christ. What communion we had as we travelled mile after mile. What bread we shared. Romica broke off a piece of Christ and fed it to me and I did the same for him, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.” As we drove to the city of Floresti, Romica stopped and I bought some grapes. Moldova has the biggest and best tasting grapes in the world. After buying the grapes, we stopped by a well of water to clean the grapes. Romica dropped the bucket down the well and filled it with water after many turns the bucket was in sight full of cool sparkling water. Romica motioned to open the bag of grapes because he was about to pour the water into the bag and I was to agitate the bag so that the dirt would fall off. Great plan in theory, but we failed to consider the strength of the bag. As the bag filled with water the seams gave way and the water and the grapes spilled out onto the ground filling my shoes with water what communion we had we laughed so hard we cried tears of joy. This time with Romica at the well was an in between time before ministry. The in between times is always a time of preparation for our heart. Our heart condition must be dealt with by God before we can stand and share God’s word and during the in between times our heart is being worked on by God. Little do we know during these times God is searching our heart to find if there be any wicked way in us. What a powerful prayer David prayed in Psalms, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24) It is during the in between times as we are alone with God in stillness or laughing with our friends God is searching our hearts. The in between time is also a time we feed Christ to each other. As Romica and I were cleaning the grapes or when Niki, Emil, Ronnie, the Australian couple, and I were drinking coffee we were doing more than cleaning grapes and drinking coffee we were sharing the goodness of the LORD with each other. With each smile and kind word spoken, with each offer to pay for the coffee, with each moment spent together in unity and harmony we were feeding the goodness of Christ to each other. Funny to know we can only feed what we have to give to someone. There is a divine spiritual principle that says a man cannot give what he does not have. How can we give love, joy, and peace if we do not have love, joy, and peace in us? If we are filled with anger, wrath, and hatred then we can only feed that to people. And even in the in between times we can feed these ungodly attitudes and character traits to people. This too is why God must search us so that He can reveal our hearts to us. Unless God can reveal our hearts to us, by His Spirit, we will never be able to feed Christ to others. The in between times is a time of our soul searching and reflection before God. In the times we are alone with God or even when surrounded by people we can take the time to step back (in our thoughts) from conversation and happenings of the moments to reflect on what our attitudes and heart condition is. Did you know you could be alone in a crowd of 1,000s? Your heart condition will detail your perspective. At these in between times our ability and responsibility in God to minister His word is measured and energized within us as we look deep into our soul not God searching us, but us searching ourselves. Our reflection and soul searching always leads to a great dependence on God. Jesus knew this secret the more dependent He was on His Father the more authority and power He possessed. We Christians today run around and say we have the power, but Jesus said He had no power. I think we Christians of today need to learn this secret of Jesus.

During the in between times in Bulgaria I learned two powerful maxims (individual bits of truth) that Niki Marksov shared with Ronnie and I. The first maxim was, “keep your doctrine close, but the Brethren closer” and the second was, “why do we share the good news of the Gospel like it is bad news?” WOW! The in between times a time of God searching our hearts, feeding Christ to each other, and time of soul searching and reflection. Now that is time well spent. Written by David Stahl

LOVE NOT THIS WORLD

When Michael Jackson died on a Saturday that next Monday morning I was sitting in the sauna with a bunch of black friends, some being preachers and pastors. Many of my friends in the sauna were extolling Michael’s praises saying what a great singer and dancer Michael Jackson was how he changed music and dance forever well I chimed in and added, “I bet when Michael Jackson stood before God (and we all will someday) He was not asking Michael about singing and dancing (that all was over), but I would think God would have asked Michael Jackson, “what did you do with My Son Jesus?” There was no singing and dancing then no thriller only tears and maybe some gnashing of teeth at this time. Now I am not sure where Michael Jackson is right now (I wish no one to go to hell because it is the most horrible place ever created) God is the final judge and in His final judgment He alone makes the call out from our obedience to His word in our lives, but if Michael Jackson loved the world and the things therein more than he loved God then his destination has been sealed for all eternity.

Did you know nowhere is the love for this world seen any greater than in the many graveyards dotted around the world. They are filled with people who started out in God full of His promise, but finished their lives, most times early, in shame, open despair, and total loss because of a love for the world and its things. Graveyards are filled with broken dreams and unfulfilled promises from God that people have allowed to fall to the ground in direct disobedience to God and His word. Remember when God speaks something to us (like a promise) it is always His intention in seeing it come to pass, however, whether it comes to pass or not depends not on God (it is His intention, it is His wishes), but on us are we willing to walk in the way we must go to allow the promises of God to be fulfilled in our lives? Are we willing to be limited and restricted to only the words God spoke to us? God wants whatsoever to come to pass in our lives, but whether it does or not is not up to God it all depends on us. My friend for God’s word to be completed in our lives we must “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” How can God’s will and plan for our lives come to pass if we love not God or nor the things of God? Either we love God or we do not love God. Either we love the things of God or we love the things of the world. Now we may try to hide (we Christians sometimes are good hiders) the truth from our friends and family, but make no mistake my friend there is no hiding this truth from God. God looks at our heart and knows if we really love Him and if we really love His things. God will not settle for part-time devotion, oh no God wants all of our heart, all of our devotion, all of our obedience. In 1 John Jesus lays this sobering directive down for our total compliance, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17) Now please notice we are not to “love the world” and “neither the things that are in the world.” Verse 15 continues and we find out why we must not love the world and the things in the world, “If any man love the world (and the things in the world), the love of the Father is not in him.” How can we do the things of God and become what God wants us to become if the love of the Father is not in us? Sadly we cannot. Now please notice there are two bits of truth moving in this verse: (1) love of the world and (2) love for the things of the world, so does this means we can have a love for God, but not for His ways? Or does this mean we do not love God, but have a love for the ways or things of God? The answer is both cases is yes. Strange as it may seem we can love God, but not love His ways. We humans are a fickle bunch we can have a deep love in our heart for someone, but not love the way they do things. There are some people (especially Christians) I love, but they do and say some things that is (I believe) contrary to the word God. Now God is not like man. When God says he hates something He means it. God’s hate is a part of His nature and it is the behavior and the person that is the focus of His hatred. We today try to spin things and say, God hates the behavior, but He still likes the person well not so. All throughout the Bible there are things and people God says He hates guess what, He hates them, but He always gives people a chance to repent and change before He brings judgment and punishment. Oh America take heed to these words before it is too late. God’s hate is as much a part of His nature as His love and when God says He loves someone He loves them and when God says He hates something or someone He means it. Here is a small list of verses (many more in the Scriptures) where God hates: Psalms 5:5, Proverbs 6:16, 8:13, Amos 5:21-23. I do not know about you my friend, but I think it is high time for us to begin to hate the things that God hates.

Now please understand the earth is not the world. I taught this lesson one day to some students at the middle school where I teach. David in the Psalms tells us, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalms 24:1) We see three things here: the earth, the world, and people. The earth was created by God (it is His and will always be His) and He loves the earth. When He created the earth He said it was good, but the world is not the earth. The world is an ungodly way of thinking, a system that is totally anti-Christ and wants to destroy everything that is good and everything God and His people stand for. The world is what appeals to our pride and flesh, it is what appeals to the vanity of our eyes and heart. Today the world is the law-giving system in America that says it is okay to take the life of a baby when God calls it murder. The world says it is okay and normal to be gay, but God says it is an abomination. The world says get politically connected and get your human rights, but God says I am enough. The world says it is okay to get tattoos, paint your hair, and pierce your body, but God says our body is not ours to mark up and mutilate. The world says it is okay to be all you can be, jump higher, score goals, hone your body and mind into becoming a champion, but God says I want you to become like Me. The world says forget about your life you are a nobody, watch TV and go to the movies lust for the lives of the rich and famous, the Hollywood elite, but God says I want you to know Me in an intimate way. The world says come to know people with text messages, on Facebook, and every gadgets you can buy, but God says He wants to know us heart-to-heart and wants us to love our neighbour (person-to-person) as our self. The Christian world says give money to get from God, but God says give so that others may receive. The Christian world is obsessed with being blessed and having earthly things, but God says I am enough. The Christian world is drunk with works, ungodly music, immoral dancing, and deceptive religion, but God says He wants us to drawn near to Him with our whole heart. Paul tells us, “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-20) The world, its ways, and its wisdom is foolish to God. Please do not make the big mistake of confusing the world with the earth.

Many Christians may love the LORD, have asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins, but at the same time they are in the streets as activists fighting in the anti-abortion struggle of the world. They attend rallies and marches, carry signs, yelling and screaming (sometimes obscenities) at the pro-abortion forces, is this the Christian witness Jesus would have us be? We have the truth do we not? This is an example of loving the things in the world. Another area we often see is the eco-Christians they may love the LORD and have asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins, but they are eco-environmentalists (tree-huggers) and some are even eco-terrorist who target business, churches, and religious organizations they love mother earth more than God. Now we must be a good steward on the earth, but we must never worship (like the eco-Christians do) the earth, worshiping the creation of God, but denying the power of the Creator. Still another example of loving things of the world is the Church’s (worldwide) acceptance of homosexuality. Oh they may love the LORD and have asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins, but they preach ungodly diversity and wink at homosexuality, things God said (no matter how you spin it or wrap it up in love) are an abomination and sin. Today many Christians ignore the word of God and preach this “just love someone and they will be okay,” well this my friend is a lie it takes more than love to have our sins cleansed, it takes obedience to God’s word and without this we all are lost, undone, and on our way to hell. Christians love things in the world they love the ease and pleasure the finer “things” of life can afford, the nice home, the big car, the big powerful job, the fine clothing, the expensive jewelry, but God said love not the things in the world. And why? Because the end thereof is loss, destruction, and death. As I said the graveyards are filled with Christians who started out in God, but ended in the world and died. The King of Rock-n-Roll Elvis Presley was such a person. My mother knew his father and she said his father said they would put Elvis up on the altar and he would sing (for the glory of God) the good old hymns of the church, but as time went on and he grew into a man his love for the world also grew. In September 1957 when Elvis appeared (the first time) on the Ed Sullivan Program little did he know in a brief 20 years he would be dead. Many of Elvis’ friends recall the times when Elvis would sit on his piano bench and cried (tears just streamed down his face) while singing the old gospel hymns of the church, but sadly the King of Rock and Roll died while falling off the commode, naked, on a cool hard bathroom floor 16 August 1977. Recently the Queen of Pop Whitney Houston died. Sadly God brought Whitney Houston back around for her Hollywood style funeral to the very church she began her humble singing career. Whitney started off singing in a church choir in Newark, NJ like most famous singers, but along the way her love for drugs and the world grew more than her love for God. Her love for the world and the things thereof side tracked her and her worldly lifestyle spun her out of control destroying everything she touched. When we fall from God we often bring many people with us. And like Elvis Whitney Houston died (some say she committed suicide I hope not) naked submerged in water from a cocktail of numerous drugs and alcohol. Like Elvis she was naked. The world has a way of stripping the life of God out of us and we end up naked. Make no mistake my friend God will bring us back around again and again until He says enough. When we lived in Germany we had a wonderful friend from New Zealand who attended our church and we just adored her, everyone in our family in Germany and back in the States just loved Jackie, but she got offended at us and God. I will never forget the day she pointed her finger at me and said, “I do not need your church, I do not need you, and I do not need your God” and stormed out of our home. Well to make a long story short God brought Jackie back to the very spot on our couch where she said “I do not need your church, I do not need you, and I do not need your God,” but now her testimony was “I need your church, I need you, and I need your God.” Make no mistake my friend God has ways of dealing with our pride, attitudes, presumption, disobedience, and our love for the world and the things therein. Written by David Stahl.

HONOR AND RESPECT

Honor and respect to God is a big deal. One thing for sure if we cannot give honor and respect to whom honor is due then God cannot use us for service we disqualify ourselves for service. The Bible is very clear about this truth. Paul in Romans warns the Church at Rome, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” (Romans 13:7) Rendering or giving honor and respect is mentioned many times in the Bible and not to give respect and honor to those in authority, those older in age, or those who you own a debt is looked on by God as open disobedience to His word. Make no mistake my friend this is a big deal to God. You know it is the small things in our lives that God is really concerned about. Things like our character and our integrity. We think God is more concerned about how well we can sing, dance, or play an instrument even how faithful we are at attending church or even how long we can speak in tongues, well God is not really so concerned about these things as much as He is about our truthfulness and giving honor and respect where due.

As a child growing up in the South I saw the importance of this honor and respect. My father was in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and that meant every two or three years we would pull chalks (wheel guards for airplanes) and move to a new duty station. All but three years (living in Braintree, MA) of my father’s 28 years in the USMC was spent below the Mason Dixon Line. In the past in the South you quickly learned about southern hospitality. I am still amazed today to the number of Northern folks that come South for a visit or to live and comment on how warm and friendly folks in the South are. Also growing up in the South we were taught Southern manners, it was always yes sir or no sir if we said something like huh or yep we were quickly reminded (painfully sometimes) what it meant to be a Southern gentleman. These character traits still today are a large part of who I am and have served me well over my many years. Sadly I see in the younger generations after me these qualities of honor and respect (especially for our elders) being lost to a narcissistic, self absorbed, Godless, society and unless they turn to God they will continue to destroy themselves and America.

When I joined the U.S. Navy in 1976 these Southern customs and courtesies really served me well. One of the major pillars the entire U.S. military is built on is honor and respect for yourself, each other, and those appointed over you. As a Junior Officer I quickly learned my place in good order and discipline in ranks and military customs and courtesies played a role. At the heart of military customs and courtesies is honor and respect. For example when you a junior and a senior (someone who out ranks you) come to a car door the junior opens the door and slides their butt (if they both are going to sit in the back seat) across the seat or opens the back door letting the senior in first then closing the door and the junior rides shotgun in the front seat. While walking the junior always walks on the left side of the senior. In days when warriors wore swords the junior walking on the left could draw his sword (especially if they were right handed) and protect the senior from attack. And one of the oldest military customs and courtesy the junior salutes first and holds their salute to show respect until the senior returns the salute. Remember saluting is not an affirmation of the liking the senior, but a show of honor and respect for the rank of the senior and of the custom and courtesy of age old traditions.

This honor and respect always comes down to the heart condition of the one giving or rendering the honor and respect. There is a Biblical truth that says a man cannot give what he does not have. John tells us, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3:27) Never expect man or woman to give love, forgiveness, or compassion if they have not allowed God to build in them forgiveness, love, or compassion after all love and compassion is not a part of our character they can only be a part of our character after God takes us through some very difficult times (usually when we need for someone else to give to us forgiveness, love, or compassion) and builds in us these qualities. When I think of the words honor and respect I think of Karen’s dad Mr. Andrew Kreiss who would visit his aged father (who was taking care of this handicapped son George) every week-end. He would drive about hour (one way) to Bayonne from Dunellen to make sure his father (who died when he was 95) was okay and had everything needed for himself and his younger brother. Every time we would visit Karen’s parents it was always a highlight to know we were going to visit “poppy” in Bayonne. When I think of the time, miles, and work every week (cleaning the place up) Mr. Kreiss invested in his father and brother how could he not be the best example of honor and respect a son has for his father. His example has always been before me as someone to emulate. This honoring and respecting goes right to the heart of every issue in our lives, remember at the heart of every issue is always an issue of our heart. Another bit of truth that neatly tucks a way at the heart of every issue it is always an issue of our heart is out of our mouth speaks our heart. Jesus told us in Matthew, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matthew 12:34) Just listen to people talk, if so you can tell what kind of people they are. I am reminded of a missionary (and former pastor of ours) we once knew who would stop by our home when we lived in Germany when he wanted something. Well one day Karen and I took him and his charming wife out to a German restaurant for dinner and when ordering he took off on the waiter for not having diet Pepsi sorry, but Germany does diet Coke. I could not believe how he went on and on at the waiter to the point the waiter was relieved of his duties at the table. Sadly this behavior just exposed the lack of respect and honor for himself and others he had in his life. Knowing this man for many years I was not too surprised by his behavior, unless we allow God to build this respect and honor and in us we will always be self-centered and selfish, oh LORD help us all here.

Probably one of the best ways we can show respect and honor is by becoming what we have been taught. The greatest honor for a teacher is when a student embodies the principles and teaching of the teacher. This too is why it matters who your teacher is. In Exodus we read, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12) In our self-absorbed parentless society we think honoring our father and mother is when we do something for them like; buying them something special, visiting them on birthdays, holidays or when it is convenient, or taking them somewhere, but these are not honoring our father and mother these are our least reasonable service of duty to our parents. True honor is when we become what our parents have tried to teach us. I would think the biggest break down of the family is not divorce, but children turning away from the wisdom and teaching of their parents. With our own kids we would rather they become better Christians than us then to have them buy us really cool presents. We know the gifts and presents are on an earthly level of thankfulness, but becoming those things of Christ (what Karen and I have tried so hard to instill in our kids) are far better than any boat or house money can buy. Becoming in Christ those things we have taught our kids is on another level, on an eternal level of thankfulness. It is easy to come and speak swelling words of love and commitment, but the truth of these words can be far from our heart. The people in Isaiah’s day were like this talk is cheap and much talk with heartless effort is even cheaper. In Isaiah we read, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:” (Isaiah 29:13) When we truly honor our parents we will fear them not by the “precept of men” or what other people tell us to say and how to act, but a true commitment and love born out of a great desire to become what you have been taught all of your years. We see this in the life of Jesus. Can you believe Jesus would say and do nothing that His Father did not tell Him to do or say? In John we read Jesus saying, “When ye have lifted up the Son of man (crucified Him), then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” (John 8:28) Did you get the end of that verse? Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords saying, "then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” It is funny today in the church we run around quoting Scripture saying, “we can do all things,” but Jesus said He can do nothing, He said He does not have the ability or power to do anything unless the Father gives it to Him. Jesus had this honoring and respecting down. Again in John we read where Jesus said, “If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:” (John 8:54) If we honor our self it will bring things to nothing, but if God honors us then great things will be birthed in us and out from us to the world. At the heart of honor and respect, the essence is dependence. Jesus knew this He was totally dependent on His Father for everything. Sadly today we honor movie and sports stars, rich people, people with great intelligence, people with great worldly power. When we truly come to a place of honor and respect we come to place of total dependence. What respect and honor the Son had for the Father and this too is to be the model we are to have not only for our earthly father, but also for our heavenly Father. I know this world would be a better place if we Christians did and said only what our Father told us to say and do and how will this work in us? By us first learning what it means to honor and respect someone. Written by David Stahl

A SMALL STILL VOICE

One of the greatest assurances and comforts we have as children of God is that same still voice of God that speaks to our heart and soul. It is hard to explain the uttering of this small still voice seldom is it heard by our ears, but we know it as the truth when we hear it. The truth is like that. When we hear the truth we just know it; it hits us deep in the gut; weakening our knees and our hands fall to our side in compliance to this small still voice speaking to us. How blessed we are as it brings conviction and correction to us, as it probes and makes inquiries about our character and integrity. Even the sinner is not immune from the probing and searching, sinner and saints alike are naked before this small still voice. In Romans we read, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” (Romans 1:19-23) In verse 20 we read, “being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” Because of this small still voice within every man the sinner will have no excuse before God. Even people who have never heard about Jesus Christ will be judged by God and this small still voice will open up the truth about God to them. All that God created speaks volumes of God and His nature and it is that small still voice within us that communicates God grandeur, power, and authority to our heart. My friend no one will have an excuse when they stand before God on judgment day even the sinner (and if the sinner how much more the saint) will have to give account of their actions and words. God would not be a God of righteousness if He did not give all men a chance at salvation.

In 1 Kings we read of a great story of how Elijah was hiding in cave from the children of Israel and the LORD passed by and spoke to him, “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:11-12) We think and even look for (like Elijah) God in big things in our lives; like in strong winds, earthquakes, and fires God is seldom found in such great things, but God is always found in the small still voice in those small things the small things we think are insignificant in our lives God is closely scrutinizing us in it. As a matter of fact the smaller the area in our lives the more God is closely examining us and it is His small still voice that let us know how we are doing. Now for us to be able to hear this small still voice we must be still long enough to hear God speak. Strange how the times I know that I know I heard God speak to me with His small still voice I almost missed Him. God is not loud, nor is He a blabber mouth, nor does He expect us to be. God is not moved by situations and circumstances, but is calm and speaks in a small still voice. But often we are too loud and busy with our living we drown God out of our lives from all of the many distractions in our lives. Most Christians cannot even sit still in a car and mediate on the LORD or His word, oh no we have to turn on our radio, play a CD, or some MP3 (even Christian media) singing at the top of our lungs while squirming in our seat. I am sure you have seen someone in the next car thinking they were auditioning. But sadly their inability to be still and quiet before the LORD disqualifies them for service by God. I can imagine God holding His ears and saying, “please just be quiet for one minute so I can speak to your heart.” But no we sing on and our thoughts are millions of miles away from God. God speaks to us in that small still voice when He says, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Palms 46:10) Guess what? God meant it! God wants us to, “be still and know that I am God.” The only way we will even be able to come to know God is when we can become still in our mind, heart, and spirit. Coming to know God is found only in our stillness before Him. But our lives are filled with cakes, circuses, and the many distractions of life. Octavian, who later became Julius Augustus, developed the Circus Maximus (for gladiatorial combat and entertainment) for the people and fed the people cakes (or bread) so that their bellies would be filled while their insatiable appetite for sport (like us today with basketball, football, baseball, etc.) and distractions (art work, singing, dancing, music, gardening cooking, and the 1,000s of other things in our lives that we do willingly or unwillingly to drown out God. This concert of cakes and circuses (from Latin panem et circenses) was sinister it was used as a superficial means of appeasement. It was the basic Roman formula for the well-being of the population and hence a political strategy unto itself. In the case of politics, the phrase is used to describe the creation of public approval, not through exemplary or excellent public service or public policy, but through diversion, distraction, and/or the mere satisfaction of the immediate, shallow requirements of a populace. So too today our lives and many denominational churches around the world (especially in America) are filled up with cakes and circuses and the results are diversion, distraction, and/or the mere satisfaction of the immediate, shallow requirements of a populace just read the newspaper, watch TV, or attend a local church in your town and you will discover this for yourself.

When we moved to Sneads Ferry I continued to work at Brewster Middle School, but now I have a 45 minute drive to work. What beautiful scenery along the way to school; crossing a high bridge over a huge bay where in the morning you may see shrimp boats trolling the water to the back side of the Marine Corps Base, then down some lonely roads through the industrial area and main side then over to the school, but what a blessed time of communion and fellowship with the LORD. What a time of mediation on the word of God and contemplation. What a wonderful time to be quiet and still before the LORD, till I spontaneously break out in prayer. What a special time to be silent and still before the LORD. Did you know there are three kinds of silence? The first is perfect. The second is even more perfect and the third is the most perfect. In the first the silence of our words there is virtue that is acquired. In the second the silences of our desires quietness is obtained; and in the third the silence of our thoughts . . . this is goal the internal recollection of our senses. To lay hold of the silence of thought is to arrive and abide at the center of our being where Christ dwells. It is there God communicates Himself to our spirit and there in the inmost depths of our being, He teaches us Himself. He guides us to this place where He alone speaks His most secret and hidden heart to us through His small still voice. We must enter into this through all silence if we would hear the small still voice of God speaking to us.

Please let me expound on these three areas a little more. God must be able to bring us to silence so that we can hear that small still voice in us and if He is going to be able to trust us with our portion of ministry. The first area is silence of words. “The 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.” (Lamentations 3:25-29) There is not a lot of talking when we have our mouth in the dust. We seem to have a hard time shutting our mouth. We want to let people know how much we know and just how smart we are. Well, dead men do not do a lot of talking. Many words reveal we are alive to our flesh and God has not been able to kill us. We must allow God to work in our lives to the point we will have nothing to say. Our words have been silenced in us and now when we speak God’s words will come from our mouth. Our words are under restraint and stilled and now God’s words can flow freely from us. God must be able to bring our words to nothing. I had returned from a ministry trip to India and Nepal. Karen and three other ladies went with me. Well, one lady never shut up. She would get into the van and start talking. She would get out of the van and still be talking. Where ever she went she was talking and sadly she was saying nothing of real importance. Even more sadly her talkative nature and opinionated words disqualified her for true service in God. Her many words reflected the lack of mature understanding and God’s work in her life.

The next area in our lives God must bring to silence is our desires. I am amazed how Americans are so full of desires, well God showed me why. If we have the ability to fulfill our desires on our own we will desire even more, but if we cannot fulfill our desires on our own then we will not desire many things in our lives. Americans have the ability to satisfy their desires from their prosperity. We now see this thinking in the Church being taught by the prosperity teachers, get from God all you can. Allow God to give you the desires of your heart. Well my friend, the last thing I want is the desires of my heart. I do not trust my heart one bit. Unless our heart has been dealt with by God we will desire things not of God and get off track and fall out of the way. Jesus taught, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) We are filled with whatever we hunger and thirst after. If we hunger and thirst after the world and its things we will be filled with them, but if we hunger and thirst after righteousness and the things of God we will be filled with them. God must be able to bring our desires for things to a silence. He must be able to bring a stillness in our spirit for what we want to see come to pass in our lives, in our ministry, in the world. Remember, God is God and we are not. Even Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (where oil is pressed) was brought to a place of silence to His desires. In Matthew we read, “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Mathew 26:39). “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt,” Jesus had a will, a desire that was not what the Father wanted, but He submitted His will, His desire for the Father’s desire. We too must submit our desire for the Father’s desire if we are to ever come to a place of knowing God and His ways. God must be able to kill our desires, even for the so called Godly desires that are not of Him. In John we read, “The thief (not the Devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Today our focus and thinking is after this abundant life of things, but Jesus was not talking about earthly things and desires He was talking about the life of God and having “it (the life of God) more abundantly.” If God is going to be able to use us He must be able to kill our desires, bring them to silence in us so that He can fill us with His desires and will.

And lastly God must be able to silence our thoughts. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3) It is no wonder many Christians are full of fear and dread, their minds are not “stayed on thee.” Their thoughts are never at rest, never still. Their thoughts are always looking for ways to fulfill their destiny. Rest never comes to the one whose thoughts are always laboring and anxious. A mind laboring in much thought can never build a trust in God. But a mind “stayed on thee” is trusting in Thee. If our mind and thoughts are on God we will then begin the building process of trust in us which is far beyond faith. The spiritual order is: faith, trust, and rest. Rest is the place God desires to take us all to, but before we can come to a place of rest we first must come to a place of trust. And when our thoughts come to a silence in us we are then able to trust God for everything we need and as we trust God more and more we then are able to enter into His rest. All of this happens as we allow God, through His dealings and judgments, to silence in us our thoughts. The last hurdle to inward strength and peace is in our mind and thoughts. The goal is to be able to come to an inward stillness where God is at the center of our life, an inward stillness where nothing shall be able to move us. If God cannot get us to a place of inward stillness then we will be moved by our emotions and feelings and this will never do. Brethren God must be allowed to bring us to place of stillness and silence so that we can hear His small still voice, if not then He cannot use us we are disqualified for real service. Written by David Stahl

SIN AND SINS

Sin is the one thing that will separate us from God for all eternity. Our sin is never just forgiven oh no, it must be dealt with by God and us. Paul asked the question “who could separate us from the love of God” (see Romans 8:33-39), sadly the answer to Paul’s question is us. Everything in our lives can be dealt with by God, but it is only the sin in our lives that will separate us from God. We have no power to deal with sin in our lives and it is only through God’s grace and mercy can we come to see this truth and the answer to our sin is only found in Jesus Christ. God has already made way to deal with sin in our lives, yet sadly countless of millions of people through the ages have gone off into an empty Godless eternity in their sin separated from Him forever. Oddly today in most churches most people are worried about their sins and work double time to try to take care of them and have never really allowed God to deal with their sin, but unless our sin nature is dealt with our sins will continue to defeat us time and time again. I think one of the biggest misunderstandings in the Bible is the difference between sin and sins and their mutual collaboration of death in our lives if not dealt with correctly. Sin is an anti-Christ nature totally contrary to God and His purpose and will that everyone receives when they are born into this world inherited from Adam because of his rebellion and disobedience to God in the garden. A new born baby has committed no sins but through their mere birth into this world (even into the arms of Christian parents) is stained with sin all the days of their life (being cute, cuddly, and defenseless does not change this truth) and unless they willfully and knowingly receive God’s papitulation (sacrifice or atonement) for sin they will die in their sin and be separated from God forever. Sin is not the individual fleshy acts of: murder, lying, stealing, adultery, etc. oh no these are sins, but sin is doing what God told us not to do. God told us; do not steal and we steal, do not lie and we lie, etc. doing what God told us not to do is the carnal sin nature of disobedience. As He told Adam, “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) Adam had no sin at creation (and Eve also), but choose to do what God said not to do. Verse 17 is the first recorded time in the Bible where God told Adam he could not do something and of course Adam chose wrongly. When I read these verses I see just how serious God is when He speaks and how we must pay attention to what God is saying. When God’s speaks He always gives us choices. In Deuteronomy He said, “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;” (Deuteronomy 30:15)so to with Adam, “Of “every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat.” I believe (some of my friends and non-friends would defer with me) God really allowed Adam to eat “of the tree of knowledge” He said “Of every tree” and He meant it (God always means what He says), but He also said if you eat of the Tree of Knowledge “thou shall surely die.” So too in our lives God gives us choices and consequences to our choices. “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: ²⁰That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days . . . .” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) Please understand I am not beating up on Brother Adam I do not know what I would have done if I was in his shoes. The writer to the Hebrews explains it like this, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: ²⁸So Christ was once offered to bear the sins (not sins, but the sin of many people like you and I) of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:26-28) Do you see the difference? And when He (Jesus) returns we shall see Him being without sin not sins. And why not sins? Because our sin nature has been dealt with and now our sins too can be dealt with. Did you know sin was the biggest topic Jesus spoke about while on earth? I wonder why few churches today speak on sin? Who me? I have this ungodly nature that needs to be dealt with by God? Oh no I am okay; I go to church, I sing in the praise and worship team and choir, I pay my tithes, I even pray and fast, oh no God loves me (this is true) all I need to do is be a better person and stopping doing bad things. Well maybe we today do not believe in our sin nature like Joel Osteen and other preachers?

Now sins (not sin) are different, but come from our sin nature. Sins are individual fleshly acts of our carnal sin nature that we have not allowed God to purge from our lives. And always deals with a willful and knowing choice. I do not know about you my friend, but every time I do something not of the LORD I know it. The precious Holy Spirit convicts us of these ungodly acts, a most blessed thing indeed. Paul goes into great detail to explain sins and how to allow God to deal with them in our lives, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. ¹⁸But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,²¹Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:16-21) Please know this is not an all inclusive list. Our sins like our sin must be dealt with by God and us. Like with our sin God made a way to deal with our sins, “Whom God hath set forth (Jesus) to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (Roman 3:25) and in 1 John we read, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (sacrifice, atonement) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) Now we have no choice (like we have with sin) with our sins, if our sin nature has not been dealt a death blow then we will have no choice but to “fulfill the lust of the flesh” and will always commit fleshly acts against God and man. We cannot help ourselves, man has no internal will power or ability to stop sinning. Man has no ability to control his desires or emotions. The only way to control our emotions and desires is to allow God to deal with our sin nature regenerating (give new life to) our soul, mind, and spirit. This my friend is a most difficult process of God in our lives and just saying words does not do it even if many lost denominations teach this wrong doctrine. There must be remorse (maybe even tears), a sorrow for what sin has wrought in our lives. There must be a true confession in our own words and our own heart, not others words. We must confess (agree what God is saying about us is true and God is saying, “we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)) from the bottom of our sin sick heart and soul we have a sin nature that needs to be dealt with by God and recognizing God has always done His part (through His Son Jesus dying on a cross) we now are doing our part so that our sins too can be cut down in our lives. Paul and John share this same truth, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹For the scripture saith,” (Romans 10:9-11) and from John, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8-10) Today we make it so simple by “just repeat (the sinner’s prayer) after me” and your sins will be forgiven, well that is not what Paul told the church at Colossi, “Mortify (kill or put to death, same Greek word we get the word mortician) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: ⁶For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: ⁷In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.⁸But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.⁹Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;¹⁰And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” (Colossians 3:5-10) Here is another list of sins. Once we truly are converted (not just repeating the sinner prayer which is not found in the Bible) our sin nature has been dealt and we now have the strength to allow God to work in our lives to be able to kill our sins (with our help) replacing them with His righteousness, peace, and joy. As Christians we are not to be down in the mol grubs and the dumps, but steady and sure in all things knowing God (no matter what the situation or circumstance) is able to give us beauty for ashes. You would ask where do the ashes come from? Well, in the Old Testament when the sacrifice has been burnt up only the ashes remain and we are the sacrifice. No ashes no beauty in our lives as simple as that.

One of the last times Jesus was talking with the Disciples He told them, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ⁸And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹Of sin because they believe not on me; ¹⁰Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; ¹¹Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” (John 16:7-11) Please notice Jesus’ words here, “he will reprove the world of sin” not sins. And why not sins? Because our “sin” nature must be dealt with first (by God and us) before our sins can be dealt with. So many people look at God and say He is mad at me, well that is the furthest from the truth, God gave (giving is at the heart of the Gospel) His only begotten Son (Jesus Christ) God could give nothing more precious to save a sinful man from their sin and once sin takes root and is established in lives, relationships, and places sins manifest and bear great fruit and until the seed of sin has been uprooted and the ground (our heart) has been cleansed from its crimson stain sin and our sins will remain and give life to death in us and we in others. It all boils down to whether we desire for God to cleanse our heart and lives, He has done His part He is not mad at us the war is over on the earth and in the heavens, but now is raging within our mind and thoughts. Sin or sins, sinner or saint it all depends not on God, but on have we allowed God to work in our lives (as He so desires) or not. Written by David Stahl

BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE

Of all of the articles I have written lately my last article “Another Pastor is Killed” by far has garnered more email comments than any article in a long long time. I really was surprised by the number of comments; some against (maybe 10%), but the majority (almost 90%) were strongly in support of my article and many requested more teaching on this subject, because they said it is taboo to talk about such things and certainly not Christian to address manipulation and character flaws when uncovered. But maybe that is why many churches today have revolving doors, people coming and going, because of the lack of honor and integrity they find in most churches. How can God be glorified in this? This and my last article should also serve as a warning to those in church leadership who take their responsibilities carelessly and shiftless before God and the people. So I asked the LORD about a follow on article and He gave me the green light. Please understand I am not trying to beat up on Faith Covenant actually I feel sorry for them the leadership ought to have known better. My heart is to see them repent and come clean before the people and God before it is too late.

Now there is so much about how God operates and the things of the Spirit that are so far beyond my ability and understanding, but I like that. After all who wants to serve a God they can figure out? One (of many) of the things I am amazed about is how God can kill us and at the same time make us alive? In 1 Samuel we read, “The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.” (1 Samuel 2:6) In the New Testament we see the same concept and Spiritual principle by looking at the law through the prism of sin and grace. “And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: ⁵Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; ⁶Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter (to write with reference to rules and requirements), but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-7) How could rules and requirements kill us? Well, Paul was not talking about the writing of rules and requirements to do things in God, but was talking about the rules and requirements we self-apply to ourselves to be sufficient in God. These attributes and characteristics my friend will kill the Spirit of God in our lives. Every time we step outside the framework and ways God has established for our lives to operate we begin to operate in these self-applied sufficient characteristics and qualities. And God must be able to kill these self-applied sufficient characteristics and qualities, through His dealings and judgments, in our lives so He can make us alive to His precious Holy Spirit flowing in us and out from us to situations and circumstances in our lives. When we incorrectly function in a given situation the letter of the law is strengthened and the Spirit of God grows weaker in us. And the longer we go in this direction the weaker the Spirit is in us. God will never be able to strengthen us with might in the inward man if we continue to walk contrary to God’s ways. Now I am not talking about sin alone here, but I am also talking about operating in the things found in the Spiritual realm. Those things of: wisdom, honesty, integrity, judgment, and mercy to name just a few. In church today we seem to be good at signing, playing instruments, dancing, thinking we bring down the Spirit so He can bless us, but how good are we at walking in the Spirit so that He can bless others in our lives? So that things can operate correctly in the Spiritual realm for the good of the local Body of Believers? As things are done on earth so they are also done in heaven. Yes my friend I think we will have a lot of explaining to do when we get heaven. Whatsoever we bind (gathered up like sheaves tied together in a field) on earth shall be bound in heaven. I would think we will be surprised (not at sin because we know when we sin) to what have we bound in heaven?

Now I know this is a hard lesson to learn and I know I am not there yet. Please hear me and hear my heart. Grace and mercy never trumps righteousness and truth. God has a complete counsel He operates through. Many in the church today operate in only the grace and mercy partition and willfully miss out on righteousness and truth. It seems truth and righteousness today has little importance in our lives. Why worry about being held accountable for our works and deeds we have mercy and grace to take care of our sins, shortcomings, and even our character flaws. The more we are brought face-to-face with truth (especially about ourselves) and righteousnesses the more we will be able to walk in and handle the things of the Spirit correctly. Jesus told the disciples, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. ²⁴God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) We seem to go after what we call the Spiritual things (praise and worship, etc.), but woefully fall short of the truth part. Well how do we worship God in truth? By doing and saying truthful things. It has nothing to do with singing, dancing, leading intercessory prayer groups, etc., but it is our heart condition that God brings into question. When we operate in truth God can make our spirit alive to righteousness and kill our earthly, carnal ways. Now here is the challenge how do we operate in truth and not offend people? In my last article the heart condition of the loving pastor was to “seek peace with all men” (a noble desire) and cause no offense, but to do this the LORD would have had to impel the sword of the Spirit into all hearts concerned to kill us so He could make us all alive. This my friend is a painful process most (if not all) Christians avoid like the plague. We seem not to want to offend people well the preaching of the Gospel is an open offense to the world and all who are of the world. If I teach or preach the word of God and have not offended you then I have failed to use the word of God correctly as a mirror to reveal your heart and intents. And it is how we respond to this offense inwardly that will determine whether God can kill us and make us alive. Notice the order, the killing comes first and the making alive comes second. The more complete God can kill us the more complete He can make us alive in newness of His life. Oddly the more we get offended by God and His word the more of the life of God we can come in to. One thing about Paul I always admired was his ability not to be a PC Christian. His truthfulness overshadowed his witness of the Gospel and he never held back his feelings. In 1 Timothy there is no doubt who Paul delivered unto Satan, “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: ²⁰Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” (1Timothy 1:19-20) Today we would have bleeped the names, but not so with Paul. He wanted everyone to know who he was talking about. We too must hold fast and call a spade a spade. Before you can cut the head of a snake off you must identify the snake and before you can stop the snake from biting people you must cut the head of the snake off. Also in 2 Timothy we find Paul again not hiding the truth, “Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: ¹⁰For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. ¹²And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. ¹³The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. ¹⁴Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: ¹⁵Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.” (2 Timothy 4:9-15) When we call a spade for what it is we are protecting the unknown hearts and starting the reconciliation process. Remember the goal in “speaking the truth in love” is so that they (the ones in err or error) can grow up in all things. Our concern is always for the one who is walking away from the truth. Make no mistake my friend offense will make us either go towards or away from the truth. At the heart of every issue is an issue of the heart and our heart must always be towards reconciliation and restoration. When I speak on offense I often share, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. ⁸And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.’ (1 Peter 4:7-8) Now this is true, but it is our charity (or love) that is to cover the sins of sinners and babes in the LORD, those personal attacks and words they direct our way. It is the love we have allowed God to develop is us that covers our heart and ears from the words and deeds, but our charity or love is NOT to cover church doctrinal issues that would lead people in error. An “error” is to make a mistake that can be easily corrected with limited damage to a relationship, a human flaw, but “err” (Strong’s #4106, to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way) is something more diabolical and sinister. To “err” is when we intentionally for our own personal gain lead someone astray from the truth of the word of God. Oh no my friend these issue are to be addressed openly before the church when uncovered. James tells us, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; ²⁰Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20) After we are truly convinced of our sins being forgiven the next greatest thing that will get us into trouble with God is Spiritual authority. When we move in direct rebellion (like when we force a pastor to resign) to God’s leadership we “err” and God is paying attention. It is the biggest deal in our lives to God and He closely scrutinizes us in it all the days of our lives. Most Christians have little knowledge of Spiritual authority, but I promise you my friend if you get Spiritual authority wrong it may cost you your life. When we started the church in Germany some Africans brought in a Nigerian pastor to lead a rebellion to take over the church, well God protects His word and His children. One Wednesday night in a home this Nigerian was holding a meeting with some of our folks and as he was speaking he dropped over dead. They wanted me to claim his body I said no and he was cremated in Germany never to be buried in Nigerian soil, but here is the real sad part of the story. Right before his death he came to a service to hear me speak and realized he was wrong, but could not set aside his ambitions and what was already set into motion. He confessed this to others leading the rebellion and seeing his sudden death they left the church in fear, see Acts 5:11.

Now we must be careful not to confuse doctrinal issues “err” with personal issues. I have a friend (I still call him friend), but not so with him. One day he asked me a question that related to his character and I told him the truth, which caused him to turn his back on me and Karen. I was amazed I looked at him as a mentor in the LORD (maybe that was my mistake), but still his offense was too great to get over so he severed our relationship of over 30 years quoting from Romans, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17) Now I agree with Paul we must first judge and second separate (order matters) ourselves from them and if the pastor we must move them from the church over doctrine issues that would lead people astray, but never ever over personal issues or character flaws. We have no doctrinal differences and to me I still love him, but his offense seems too great to consider restoration. I hope and pray in 2012 he changes his heart and once again we can call each other friends. For this to happen we both must allow God to kill us the more so that He can make us alive. Written by David Stahl