Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
June 2013 • Volume XI Number 10
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Thoughts for Consideration:
Greetings again my Brethren. As we behold His glory we will see many things we are and yes even many things we are not in Christ. Now I do not know about you my friend, but I see more things I am not like Christ in. Not only do we see things, but if we have allowed God to work in our lives to any degree we will be able to hear things, like God calling us. The entire process of calling and sending a labourer into the harvest field is “a divine” work in that they were (1) called by Him, (2) made by Him, (3) taught by Him, and (4) sent by Him. This month let us look at the first two steps along the way of being called by God into ministry (evangelism, preaching, teaching, or pastoring) or whatsoever He has for your life. The first step in this process is being called. In Mark we read Jesus calling “whom he would,” but not everyone was chosen. ”And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:” (Mark 3:13-15) Jesus desires not to exclude anyone from His call as with salvation. Many are called, but few are chosen. Those chosen are those who have been qualified or approved for service. Those who have done the things needed to be chosen. Jesus saw something in the disciples, even though not saints, that qualified them for service. Here we also see the purpose or reason, “ . . . and that he might send them forth to preach, 15And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:” The reason and purpose of our call to ministry is to share the good news of the Gospel and to share the goodness of God with people who are hurting and needing help.
The second step in this “divine work” made by Him. In Matthew we read, “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18-20) When we first come to the LORD we know nothing of the things of the Spirit of God as a new born baby knows nothing of the things of this world they have to be made into adults as they grow in stature. The Spiritual realm is no different. As we walk with the LORD we must be made, by God’s dealings and judgments, into the image of Jesus Christ God’s son. When Adam (Genesis 1:26) was made from the dust of the earth he was not made into the image of God his image was latten (like a old camera negative) and had to be developed, had to be made, he had to learn how to function with God. We can see that if we go a few chapters over in Genesis, “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) Seth was not born a fully grown man, here Seth was born as a baby, but in the image of Adam. We too are born in the image of God, but like Adam and Seth we are latten and must grow in the grace and knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ. Please notice in Matthew 4:19, Jesus says, He “will make us” we do not get to make ourselves into whatsoever image we want and still follow Jesus. For us to allow God to make us we MUST enter into His building program. Here is where most Christians miss it. They are called, but not chosen because they refuse to enter into God’s building program. Oh they want to eat the fish, but they are not willing to follow Him and be made. God’s building program is designed to kill you so that he may live. God’s building program starts by tearing down everything in us not built on Him. It is painful and it is meant to be painful so we will develop some compassion for the halt and hurting. It is God’s job in doing the building and it is our job of willfully entering into His program. There will be no making by God useless we first enter in.
Next month we will continue to look at “a divine work” as we look at the remaining two steps; taught by Him and sent by Him. Do you hear Him now?
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Go If You Wish
If we serve the Lord long enough at times God will allow us to discover some truths that will offset all of the trials and problems we often face. This was the case as I was making plans for a trip to India. In myself I seemed to struggle with going or not going. My heart said yes go, go, go Pastor Wilson and his son Julian are such great friends and the 50 or so orphans they care for and feed in their compound are so precious, but I felt in my spirit the Lord saying “go if you wish.” Now I have had the Lord say this before, but never with such intensity. God did not say go nor did He say not to go. It would have been much easier if God would have said, David go and I will bless all that you do and say, but He did not say that, He said, “go if you wish.” Well now when I was younger in the Lord I wanted to go, go, go, wild horses could not keep me from going, but now I am older in the Lord and in earthly years so going is not so attractive. The older we get the more we see and feel the price to be paid for ministry. Ministry is the pouring out of our life so that God can live through us. It is not a question of my faith or desire, God knows my heart, but it is a question of my thoughts (plans in the KJV), motives and intentions. Jesus questioned Peter’s thoughts, motives, and intentions when He said, “Verily, verily, (double negative) I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst (strengthened) thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird (strengthen) thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” (John 21:18) When young in the Lord we “girdedst” our self and “walkedst” where we want to go, but when we get old, “thou stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” In other words when we get “old” (that is in physical years and in the Lord) we will make plans to go and our thoughts, motives, and intentions to go for the Lord in ministry and “another” shall strengthen or gird us AND carry us to where we do not want to go. We understand the price to be paid and know of the loss required in us (spiritually) and from others (physically) for us to go and minister. Now it does not say another person will strengthen and carry us to where we do not want to go. It says, “another” (Strong’s #243, another or other) shall gird or strengthen us. Please know I am not saying other people have not strengthened or even carried me all the days of my life in the Lord. I could start naming names (beginning with my mother) and go on for hours of the people who have had great impact in my life, people who have mentored and molded me, people who have suffered and sacrificed to make sure the Lord was been able to grow in me as I grew in earthly years. But what I am saying is “another” probably is not a person, but is the maturity, wisdom, and experiences we must allow God to work in our lives. Anything we get from God comes by way of us allowing God to work them into us. God does not change our heart (no matter how hard we beg, pray, kick, dance, cry, or speak in tongues) until we submit in obedience to His dealings and judgments in our lives. I wonder why we think God must do what we want Him to do or worse believe He has a magic wand that He bonks us over the head with and presto changeo we have been changed. Oh no my friend God changes us one dealing and/or judgment in our lives at a time. God comes to us and says how about this sin, wrong motive or intention in our heart? We can either agree or reject His advance. If we agree with God’s words He then can take us to the next level, maybe even show us our heart condition in all of this or bring us down into a place of low degree of understanding to the truth about us. But if we reject God’s words to us God will do nothing to change us, the Almighty of the universe is powerless to intervene. Our response is either anger and we stiffen our necks to His words or what most Christians do respond in a religious ways through: singing, dancing, giving in service to the church, running to the latest conference or praise and worship concert. All of these lead us nowhere in God. God is after the inward thoughts of our heart to be brought to a calmness and silence before Him and a spiritual reverence of knowing Him, for there is where righteous and Godly change in our lives happens.
This strengthening and carrying (out from the wisdom, experiences, and maturity) Jesus talked about with Peter happens over time as we grow in the knowledge and grace of God. This growth is a process we must undergo when we come into God’s family. Never forget we come into God’s family not to get things from God or learn our destiny in Him, but for learning. The spiritual principle of first things first of the Spirit of “adoption” in God is for learning the things we must learn to grow and mature to the point we will be able to speak for God. Did you know not just anybody can speak for God? Many Christians think they can, but their words are shallow and powerless and their lives reveal the lack of relationship which is an automatic disqualifier. But the Christian who speaks for God, their words are felt in the spiritual realm (in heaven and hell) and the reality of the manifestation of what they speak is seen in the authority and power that is produced. In Romans Paul talks about this process. “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23) and “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 9:4-5) Here in Romans Chapter 8 and 9, Paul projects this thought of “adoption” as it relates to a three day Jewish feast the father holds for his son after the son completes his schooling and training. When we think of the word “adoption” today we think of legally taking someone into our family. Well this may be true now in our current society, but that is not what Paul was taking about. When a Jewish boy becomes of age (say around age 12) he is given tutors and teachers to sit under in school so that they can lay a foundation of understanding of his father’s business and how he (the son) is knitly joined with the family. The son undergoes years of rigorous schooling and if he does well in his schooling he may (not a given) be able to go on to training. Even in God there is a big difference between schooling and training. We today in the church kind of lump them together so that we can be a know-it-all sooner. Now the better the son does in schooling the better chance he will have in his training if selected. Oh did I mention his training is dependent on the father. Just because his schooling went well does not automatically guarantee or qualify him for training. I wonder why we in the church today think we get to be trained just because we completed a seminary or Bible school? I will let you chew on that one for a while. Anyhow, after years of schooling and years of training, and after the son has learned his lessons the father holds this three day feast, called the adoption feast, for the son as a show of the father’s good pleasure in his son. At this feast the father can now present his son as a member of his family. At this feast the father lets the entire town know the son can now speak for the father. The son’s words are equal to the father’s words and must be obeyed as the father is speaking. In Romans 9 Paul asks, “to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;” or who has completed this adoption process and can now receive the glory? Who has such a wonderful relationship with the Father? Who operates and functions under spiritual laws? Who can now go, speak, and work for God? And who has completed their training so that they may be able to receive the Father’s precious promises as Peter said, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, (whose divine nature? The Father’s of course) having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4) When are we given these “exceeding great and precious promises?” Is it when we are saved as babes in the Lord? No I think not, but when we have been adopted after our schooling and training is complete, now the Father can trust us with His goods. Every Jewish man knew what Paul was taking about when he used the word “adoption” it was the right of passage for business from childhood to manhood. It is really a shame we have twisted the meaning of this word (like many other words) to fit our little schemes and agendas. I do not know about you my friend, but I have not been adopted (in the modern denominational religious thinking) I am a blood heir with Christ. We sing songs with words like “Abrahams blessing are mine,” well I do not want Abrahams blessings I want the blessing God has reserved for me if I meet the conditions of obedience. But is this not the same way we train our children today? When our children are babes they do not get to speak for us, they must undergo years of family interactions, years of failure, trial and error, discipline, correction, and even punishment followed by years of formal schooling and training. Why would we expect things to be different in God? There is no silver bullet or magic pill to take that will make us complete in God, we must grow in God through failure, correction, discipline, and punishment until we come to some measures of obedience and understanding. God trains us the same way. If we would want our child to go through a door we would work with them and when they get off track we would straighten their way. We would tell them and show them the way to go, but as they get older and mature there should be less of a need for us to instruct them. Ultimately the goal (and God’s goal in our lives too) is for us to be able to tell our children one time to do something and there would be obedience. If God has to speak to us it would be for correction.
As I said earlier, when I was planning for my trip to India I felt the Lord saying, “go if you wish.” This freedom to choose really got my attention. And as I said I struggled with the decision until the Lord let me know His thoughts here. As Karen and I were walking our boxer Grimme and discussing the trip I felt a sudden peace in my spirit, as I heard God say, “go if you wish.” The light came on. What a joy flooded my soul it was like the weight of the world was lifted from my heart. I understood what God was saying. After all I did not want to make the wrong decision. I think this desire of not wanting to make a wrong decision can really be a big problem with our walk with the Lord if we are not really careful. When Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) Jesus was not saying to ask, seek, knock again and again until you get an answer. Oh no, Jesus was saying be careful! If you ask something will be given to you, maybe not what God wants in this situation. If you seek you will find something. This is a part of our human nature, always seeking and wanting to know things. This got Adam and Eve in a lot of trouble with God. Seeking always ends in finding something, maybe not what God wants us to find. If we knock a door will open, maybe it is the wrong door. Jesus was saying to take heed, be careful with all of our asking, seeking, and knocking. All of this beseeching of God must be done in the context of what God wants in each situation and not just our self-seeking desire for things or to get God to jump through the hoop for us. I understood what God was saying, “go if you wish” there was no wrong decision. Going or not going was up to me. God was counting on me to look at the situation and make a decision. Wow! A sure sign of maturity in God is when He does not have to tell us to go or not to go. God is counting us to know what to do. Like when our children grow up we count on them to know what to do. God is counting on us to look at all of the information and make a decision. God knows the schooling and training is complete, He knows our thoughts, motives, and intentions our wisdom, maturity, and experience has manifested in our lives and now God has faith and confidence in us. God cannot do this with babes, He still needs to change their diapers and spoon feed them direction. Believe it or not I got scared then. WOW!! God wants me to make the call. I thought why not, I have been schooled and trained, I have spoken for God in the past, I represent Him now, why can I not make a decision for Him? This is what God is after in our lives; to live so that God does not need to tell us what to do, we will automatically know what God wants. We will be able to automatically take on our heart what is on the heart of the Father. His knowing will be our knowing. Our knowing what God wants will be second nature, as breathing is automatic. We will be able to hear God say, “go if you wish” and know what He means.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Divorce
After hearing some bad news about a pastor friend of ours who recently got divorced, the sadness of this situation compelled me to write.
Folks, it is not God’s intention for us to marry and divorce like it was nothing. Most people get divorced for the dumbest of reasons and seldom are divorces due to very harsh realities. Most often divorce is based on selfishness and greed. It is no wonder God wants us to be selfless like Him. Scripture is quite clear on this matter. Jesus said in Mark: “For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 5:9) Now please notice Jesus didn’t say marriage was going to be easy either. I do not know the circumstances surrounding our friend’s divorce and we don’t want to know, but this I do know ladies are to support their husbands—not the other way around. God made women to be the help meet. We’re the flexible ones. We’re supposed to be our husband’s cheerleader throughout our lives. We’re to encourage them and root them on in THEIR endeavors. Yes, I know that means squashing our wants and needs. For how else can two walk down the path of life together? We are to follow NOT lead our husbands. Now I know this goes against the norms of our society, but as Christians we’re to follow God and His ways not society’s ways. If you think America’s society is built on Christian values well read your Bible. You’ll find out how far apart we are from Godly values. What God says in the Bible and what actually goes on in our current society are two different things! In Exodus 20 God gave us 10 basic commandants to live social moral lives in a Godly way and do you think we can keep them? Oh how we have drifted from what God told us to do.
Folks God hates divorce it ruins lives and families. Though some egg-head “experts” say it doesn’t affect children—it does. How can kids ever feel secure when Daddy and Mommy can’t live together in peace and harmony? I think and I’m no expert, but a lot of divorce is because people (men and women) are selfish wanting their own way and not willing to sacrifice what they want for the sake of harmony in the home. Women have been brainwashed into thinking that we MUST have it all; a career, kids, perfect marriage, all the bells and whistles in our homes, a doting husband who supports OUR career. Reproductive rights, we want a boy or girl when WE want them. No sacrifice or laying down our lives for our spouse. Everything is me, me, me when do I get mine, just flat out ungodly wrong thinking on so many levels. We must, we have to get it through our heads to stay committed to our spouses no matter what. This is the attitude we must remember when times get tough and things don’t go our way we feel like we want to cut and run. We must also remember that the grass ONLY looks greener on the other side of the fence very rarely is it greener so don’t bother looking! As God so dedicated Himself to us so we ought to dedicate ourselves to our spouse this is a decision not an emotion. On the Marine Corps Base where we go to the fitness center there are many geese with their babies walking around. We see the mother and father leading the fuzzy chicks around my Lord can we not be as faithful as geese? If we do our part God WILL do His part and bless our marriage. We have another pastor friend who waited over six years and was on the verge of signing divorce papers when the LORD intervened and saved his marriage. Good things take time hang in there be faithful to your family, your husband, and God. Keep your eyes on Jesus and not the world, “Looking upon to Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith.” Keep your heart towards your husband and not some worldly heart throb in Hollywood or in the neighborhood. Read your Bible. The best is yet to come for you and your husband to enjoy.
Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NO WANTS:
1. In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastor(s) Niki Marsov and Emil Nedelchev. Included now are missionaries from Romania Nicu and Elena. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastor George Ritisan at Lighthouse Church, and Ciprian Bozdod at the Mission Bible School. They too are expanding making more room for God and ministry to Eastern Europe, Turkey, and Asia.
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Pastor Marcel at St. Andrews Church. They are still standing by God’s grace.
4. Pastor Joseph Mutua in Nairobi, Kenya needs your prayer and financial support.
5. Pastor Mike Olufemi in Aveile, Nigeria. He needs our prayers and support to be a light in great darkness.
6. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian in Sankaraguptham, India.
7. Pastor Metin Mintaz, Dan, and the members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
8. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
9. Monthly financial support for Vivian’s Maternity and Child Care Clinic project in Aviele, Nigeria
10. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
11. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda.
Next Home Group Meeting:
Our next Home Group Meeting will be 25 June 13
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Home: (910) 741-0489
at 7:00 pm, please RSVP
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
June: Local ministry
July: Local ministry
August: Local ministry
I am still available to share what God has given me at churches and/or home groups. If God moves on your heart to support BHG or other ministries we personally know we would be honored to serve as a go between. Remember, if we want a blessing from God the spiritual principle is we must bless others. Remember, God is to you what you are to God.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Address:
David and Karen Stahl
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Phone:
Home: (910) 741-0489
Mobile: (910) 382-9287
FAX: (910) 741-0489
Email:
Ministry E-mail: dstahl@beholdinghisglory.com
Personal E-mail: mtnebo@hotmail.com
Online:
Beholding His Glory Website
Beholding His Glory Blog
The AuthorHouse link below will lead you to our latest book, “Thoughts for Consideration.” Just copy it into your web browser and return. Also you can purchase two of our other books “Adventures with God.” and “God Still Performs Miracles: A Book of Personal Encouragement.”
http://www.authorhouse.com/AuthorCenter/Protected/BookHome.aspx?bookID=61464
Please take a minute and take a look, they all make for a great encouraging gift, giving hope and sharing God’s love through a deeper teaching that someone can enjoy again and again. All of our books can be purchased at all book stores like Barnes and Nobles, Borders, Book-A-Million, and etc., any Christian Book Store that orders, and all book ordering on-line companies like Amazon.com. Or if you are like me from the old school just contact us, we will let you know the price and then we will mail it out to your home address. Postage and handling is on a case by case basis.
If you know someone you think would enjoy receiving this newsletter or if you receive this newsletter and do not wish to please let me know. Contributions to this ministry is always appreciated and needed the more time continues. Please feel free to contact us with the above information. The cost is great, but the cost for not supporting to others is even greater. And remember, all donations are tax deductible.
