Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
November 2013 • Volume XII Number 03
“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. This month we start a new area of God’s call the making of God’s instrument which is accomplished through a variety of ways. Specifically this month we will be looking at the time tested and true method of the anvil and hammer. Many Christians do not know God is a master builder and that He has a building program picked out for each and every one of His children who he loves and who loves Him. God ALWAYS starts building by first tearing down any foundation in us not of Him. God does not build on a foundation He did not lay.
We see this building program described in two places in the Book of Isaiah. In Chapter 41 God is talking to the nation of Israel through the Prophet Isaiah, “I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. 5The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came. 6They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. 7So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.” (Isaiah 41:4-7) At first in these verses God is establishing His credentials as the master builder on our lives, “I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. 5The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.” Unless God can convince us (through His dealings and judgments in our lives) of His credentials and ability to make us the men and women, fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers we are to be He will never have a chance to create in us the things we must have to be called His children. It is only when we recognize God as the loving fatherly hammer and His dealings and judgments in our lives is the anvil that fashions and creates in us a new heart, a character like Christ, etc. We are the instrument, we are the workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) that God is creating. Unless we allow God to hammer us “smooth with the hammer” we will never be “ready for the sodering and he that fastened it with nails.” We will be unstable, we will be tossed on every sea of doctrine and every new fad will continue to deceive the masses of Christians today. We will not be secure in our identity, we will not be, “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) All of this work in our lives is done on the anvil as the real work of a potter is done on the wedging board where the impurities and air is worked out of the clay. Later in Isaiah we read, “Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. 16Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.” (Isaiah 54:15-16) It is God who creates, “I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for His work.” The “smith” is not a blacksmith that beats a hammer against the anvil forging and repairing things, but those things that God creates in our lives that makes us the instrument in His hands to do the things He has called us to do. Unless we submit to the testing furnace of God we can never be the instrument that will be able to withstand God’s future testings, but the trials, tribulations, and persecutions of life we must face daily. Where is our Godly metal manufactures? In good times and in green pastures? Oh no my friend in tough and austere times and in those wilderness experiences God can get our attention, but God has also created, “the waster to destroy.” Who would think God would create something to destroy us? God creates all things even evil and darkness, “That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:6-7) God wants us to know He creates all things even, “the waster to destroy.”
Next month we will look at the making of God’s instrument through the school of failure. A school where lessons really matter if we desire to grow spiritually. Remember many are called but few are chosen. Do you hear Him now?
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Patient Waiting
Most of our time serving God is spent in the unknown and waiting. God wants it to be patient waiting, but that is not often the case in our lives. I do not know about you, but I often (even today) find myself so impatient. I remember when I pastored in Germany, God was doing so much in our lives and in our church yet I became so impatient. I wanted time to quickly pass so God could bring those things He spoke to us to come to pass. But my friend, waiting on God is the place of receiving. If we never come to enjoy the waiting on God (the patient waiting) then the receiving will not be as glorious. It is not the receiving from God that is glorious, but the waiting and THEN seeing Him move. God’s greatest things are not to be touched, but experienced in Him. But the most difficult task that we are called to do is patiently wait. We would rather be busy than to be waiting. This is our nature, to do. Today in the church we have a working heart instead of a waiting heart. Who wants to wait? No, we would rather be doing something for God (even if it is the wrong thing) instead of patient waiting, allowing God to conform us into the character and nature of His dear Son Jesus Christ. We can wait only so long then our waiting is not so patient. We can go into a doctor’s office and wait 30 minutes, but any more than that our waiting is not so patient. Or we can go into a supermarket and patiently wait in line three or five minutes, but after that our waiting is not so patient. So God really calls us to this particular area of our life for a particular reason. In the Psalms David (who was not a very patient man) wrote, “I waited patiently (in the Hebrew, I waited in my waiting for a long span of time) for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” (Psalms 40:1) Our waiting is not to be interrupted or spasmodic it is to be continual. God expects us to have a waiting attitude before Him. In Hosea we read, “Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.” (Hosea 12:6) It is like prayer, we are to pray without ceasing, well how can we do that? Prayer, as with our waiting before God, is to be an attitude that continually comes out of us going to the Father. Back in Psalms 40 we find this place of waiting is in a horrible pit and miry (heavy mud) clay. Waiting is always a very uncomfortable place. It is not wet enough to get a drink or dry enough to be comfortable. So this uncomfortable situation will draw us in to focus on our discomfort and we do not want to wait long when we are uncomfortable. However, often this is the place God calls us to wait in. But, usually the reason for the uncomfortable situation is that we do not have the patience in us to wait. We cannot wait patiently therefore the uncomfortable situation. In Romans Paul shares with the Church in Rome who were being used as sport for the masses in the coliseum and target practice for the Romans soldiers, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience waiting;” (Romans 5:3 (Greek)) The uncomfortable situations in our lives is the thing God has designed and uses to produce the patient waiting in us. It is in these tribulations, trials, and tests that God personally brings into our lives that creates the ability to develop our waiting. No tribulations, trials, and tests, no ability to waiting. Waiting, as God works all things for our good and works in us which allows us to patiently wait. God must be able to work in our lives so that we can learn how to wait if we are going to see the end that God has for our lives. We are brought into this place of waiting where we are put (by God) and must stay under a specific set of circumstances to be raised up in victory. God does not want our lives to be too attached to our circumstances this is why He allows what we call bad things to happen to us. Our lives are really centered around our situations, circumstances, the economy, etc., but God does not want us to be attached to the world system or our affections, even though in the world we are not to be a part of it. We are not to take our cues from the situations and circumstances in our lives. We are not to serve the monetary systems of this world. We are not to serve the material situations and circumstances in our lives. We are not to look, talk, and act like the world. We are to serve God, we are to be attached to Him, and take our cues from Him. We are to bow down before God and not our circumstances and situations. We often allow our circumstances and situations to get us down. I find it amazing when a preacher or teacher takes the pulpit and says, “how are you all doing today?” Who cares how everyone is doing today? Open up the word of God and share thus saith the Lord! Do we fall and wallow at the feet of our circumstances and situations or our Heavenly Father? Unless we have allowed God to strengthen us with might in the inward man through His dealings and judgments (and develop this ability to patiently wait in us) we will allow our circumstances and situations to rule our lives. Now make no mistake my friend God knows just how to make a horrible miry pit for us. God knows just the thing that gets our goat. Job (I would think Job knows something about bad situations and circumstances) said, “When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. 27My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented (Strong’s #6923, to meet, come or be in front, confront, go before) me. 28I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. 29I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. 30My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. 31My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.” (Job 30:26-31) Job hoped for “light” (good) in his waiting, but only “darkness” (bad) came his way. Look at these circumstances, how would we like to endure such things? I think not. But after patiently waiting, we see Job learned the lesson and God lifted him out of his horrible pit and restored to him not what he lost, but twice what he lost. At the beginning of the Book of Job (Job 1:1-3) he lost all that he had even his sons and daughters, but at the end of the Book of Job (Job 42:10-13) God restored back to Job twice what he lost. It is amazing what God can do for us if He can teach us to keep our mouth shut. What a holy place in God when we learn to keep our mouth shut. As I travel the world I see and hear many Christians who never shut up, they talk and talk while saying nothing. This is an outward manifestation of them never allowing God to deal and judge in their lives. Little do they know their talkative and opinionated nature has disqualified them for service by God. Unless God can get us to control our mouth and keep it in the dust (shut) God cannot use us. There is not a lot of talking when we have our mouth in the dust. Jeremiah “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. 29He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 30He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.” (Lamentation 3:22-30) The condition to see whether or not we are patiently waiting is seen if we are keeping our mouth shut and in the dust when going through tests, trials, and tribulations.
We are to be living in the overcoming power of God, but this power comes by way of us allowing God to work in our lives to such a degree that it grips our heart to the reality. When we learn the lessons God has for us to learn in the horrible pit God then and only then will bring us up. We must willfully submit and humble ourselves to those in authority over us and God to be raised up from our horrible pit or exalted. Peter taught, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:5-6) I wonder what the mighty hand of God looks like? Make no mistake my friend, God’s mighty hands takes on many different forms and shapes. What in your life is causing you to patiently wait? In reality it is the “mighty hand of God.” David said, “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3And he hath put a new song (words spoken of the heart not singing) in my mouth, even praise (words of thankfulness not singing) unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” (Psalm 40:2-3) David learned the lesson God had for him in the pit and now he was developed to the point in this area God could trust him to be delivered. Apparently good and religious works (singing, dancing, working for God, paying tithes, praying) was not enough to deliver him. “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.” (Psalms 40:6) Apparently David tried all of the traditional religious customs of his day (like most Christians today), but they did not work for David nor will they work for us today. God’s work in our lives is a heart issue. Remember at the heart of every issue is an issue of our heart. If we do not allow God to work in our heart then our approach to Him will be temporal, mental, or emotional which will never get us to Him. God desires us to willfully open our heart in truthfulness, integrity, and honesty allowing Him to reveal the innermost secrets and failures of our lives. God desires to strip us naked of our selfishness, self-seeking, and ambition. God desires (but our choice to make it happen) to be able to bring us face-to-face with whom we really are, not who we want to be or think we are, but who we really are. This revelation my friend will kill us, but if God can kill us then He can bring us back to life like He did with His precious Son Jesus Christ; the divine spiritual principle is: death before glorification.
But when it was all said and done to be brought up from his horrible pit David learned, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.” (Psalms 40:7-10) Unless we allow God to write His words on our heart we will never be able to say like David, “I delight to do thy will, O my God.” Where do we learn this lesson? In the horrible pit not in the land that flows with milk and honey. Not in the time of plenty and excess, but in the valley of the shadow of death. In the place in God where we learn patient waiting is the key to being raised up and exalted.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Offend Not
As God holds out His hand to us for salvation so does He orchestrate our lives with the comings and goings, ups and downs. Most people slap God’s hand and reject His gracious opportunity for our salvation. Let us Christians not reject the Almighty’s daily dealings and judgments in our lives. Let us take heed that we not fuss and complain when we don’t get our way. There will be times (I guarantee you) where you will not be the center of attention, where situations and attitudes towards us won’t go our way, and will come from those closest to us. Who cares if a stranger ignores us or slights us in some fashion? But let a family member or a close friend do that and here comes the boo boo face and hurt feelings. Regardless of the reason it is our response and reaction to those slights (no matter who it comes from) in our lives God is interested in. Do we lash out in anger and bitterness or can we just accept it without getting “an attitude.”
Jesus was ignored. Jesus was ostracized and He didn’t get things his way. Folks nobody was any kinder, gentler, or meeker than our precious Lord and Savior Jesus; who bore all slights and indignities with grace and with His mouth in the dust. Which if we know what’s good for us is where we ought to keep our mouths. Jeremiah in the Book of Lamentations teaches us, “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. 29He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 30He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.” (Lamentations 3:27-30) A mouth full of dust will keep us from ranting and raving over whatever is offending us. As Dave always says you can’t be offended if there’s no offence in you. Let us Christians make sure offences don’t come by our words and actions. In 1 Corinthians Paul gave this advice to the church at Corinth, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:31-33) My friend life is too short and the stakes too high for us to be offended all the time and purposely cause offence in others. When we get offended again and again it is a sign of immaturity, lack of discipline, and an open rejection of God’s dealings and judgments in our lives. Now of course I’m not talking about the Word of God. One of the major works of the Word of God is to offend us and it will keep offending us until there’s no offence left in us, because we have aligned ourselves in obedience with the Word of God. I think you know the offence I speak of—the strife and hurts that we cause each other this my friend shouldn’t be and neither should we wear our hearts on our sleeve and be so hyper-sensitive to every little thing said or done to us. The world does NOT revolve around us—I guarantee you. The sooner we get used to NOT getting our way, the better off we’ll be.
Let us endeavor to go Gods way. Let us keep our mouths in the dust and try not to cause strife or contention in each other’s lives. Life is too short. When Jesus was on the cross He said “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Brethren can we do no less????
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 Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and George Ritisan at the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School and the Faru (Lighthouse) Church.
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and 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, Cathy, and 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 19 November 13
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Home: (910) 741-0489
at 7:00 pm, please RSVP
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
November: Romania/Bulgaria
December: Local ministy
January: 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.
