Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
October 2015 • Volume XIV Number 02
“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. Last month we looked at how God drained Moses of his self-sufficiency and now he finds himself a nobody. What a wonderful place in God to be a nobody. We start in God and think we are a somebody, but when God gets through with us (if God is successful) we learn we really are a nobody. This too was the case with Moses. After 40 years in the desert (what I like to call the wilderness) changed Moses from a “somebody” into a “nobody.” After being raised and educated in the courts of Pharaoh in all manners of knowledge and warfare, Moses said unto the LORD, “10 O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” (Exodus 4:10-12) The wilderness in God has the ability to take things out of us and quiet our mouth to know when to speak and when not to speak if we allow God to work in our lives. All of Moses self-strength was drained and he was a new creation created by the hand of God to do the will of the Father. The hot rocks of the desert was his school desk and the lizards, scorpions, and snakes where his classmates, forged in the furnace of God’s plan for his life Moses was stripped, reduced to raw usefulness where God could put his trust in him to be the Godly leader of His children out of the 430 years of bondage they suffered under the mighty hand of Pharaoh’s taskmasters. Did you know God does math? Oh no? Well in God 1 + 0 = 1. Yes this equations is true every first grader knows this, but in God this equation is only true if the “0” wants to be the “0.” Now do not think we are the “1” we are not God is the “1” we are the “0.” And the better “0” we can be the better “1” God can be. We are the “0,” the nobody. Too many times we want to be the “1” in charge of things, people following us, we making the big decisions, well that is not the way God works. If God allows us to make a decision that has impact on our ministry we better take heed and make it after much contemplation and prayers. But too many times we are quick to make decisions about spiritual things based on humanism factors. Why I have a Masters degree in business administration I know what I am doing, oh yeah? God’s ways are not our ways.
Remember the chicken. Just because it looks like a chicken, sounds like a chicken, walks like a chicken, and even smells like a chicken take heed in God it may be a duck. This why God must reduce us of our self-strength so that He can teach us to think like Him and understand how He operates. If God cannot do this (unteach us) then He cannot use us we disqualify ourselves for service. Moses was untaught and now he could handle the unorthodox ways of God. Who would believe by just lifting a staff into the air the Red Sea would split wide open? Who would believe by just throwing a bush into bitter water it (and the people) would be made sweet. If God cannot retrain our thinking my friend He cannot use us. Moses allowed the LORD to reduce Him and for his obedience Moses was given the task of delivering his people from the Egyptian bondage and make way for the lineage of the birth of Christ to flow through, but the greatest thing Moses earned from his obedience was to be able to stand before God while on earth, hear a Holy God speak to him, and hold stones that a Holy God physically wrote on. In the Book of Acts when Stephen was reminding the Jewish people (before they stoned him) of the exodus story and how the death of Jesus Christ neatly fits into it we read, “And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.” (Acts 7:30) Back in August I said Moses’ life can be divided into three 40 year periods his: palace life, wilderness life, service life. This verse notes at the end of his second 40 years (at age 80) he stood before a Holy God. Please (most people miss this thought) notice the words “when the forty years were expired.” Moses finished (Moses was reduced) his second training period right on time to receive his audience so that God could now reveal Himself personally and the One who is sending him on his next and last 40 year period of his life leading the Children of Israel.
Did you know God has a time for us to get worked on in the wilderness and no begging, service, good works, or praying is going to get us out. The only thing that will get us out of the wilderness is learning the lessons God has for us, if not we like the Children of Israel will wander around bumping our heads on school desk and other things God has arranged to put in our way.
Next month we will learn how God must be able to reveal Himself to us so that we will buy into God’s preparation for our lives. Can you hear Him now?
Written David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
By The Compassion of God
I think one of the greatest characteristics of Jesus I like is His ability to be compassionate with everyone He met. I do not know about you, but the older I get the less I like people with tattoos all over their body, face and tongue piercings, all of the other body piercing, and the Christians who are just knuckle heads, who expect me to forgive them again and again for their actions when they know better. It seems as I get older I ought not to be bothered with the insanity of people, praying for them is enough for me, but that was not the case with Jesus. No matter where Jesus went the Bible says He was moved to compassion for the people, which tells me our heart is either filled with compassion or it is filled with other things. Strange how our heart can be filled or not filled with things and we not even know it.
In the Book of Matthew we read an amazing account of the compassion that Jesus had in His heart, “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (both teaching and preaching there is a difference), and healing every sickness and every disease (both sickness and disease, there is a difference) among the people. 36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:35-36) Jesus really liked people. Jesus liked people more than He did traveling, religion, ministry, preaching, teaching, healing the sick and the diseased. I wonder why we think these things are more important than people? People were Jesus’ one focus on earth. I think it is high time for the church to get back to what Jesus thought was important, people. In verse 36 it says after doing all of the things in verse 35, “but when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion.” Traveling the world in ministry, preaching, teaching, healing the sick and the diseased will never be more important than having compassion for people, I know I have done both. Who really cares how big your church building is, how many people attend your services, or who was healed when you prayed for them, all of that does not matter to God, God does not care about all of the trappings and window dressings we think are important, He really does not. God is after the things of the heart, the Spirit, even the secret things of our soul. We really need to get this in our spirit, the outward Christian appearance and form does not matter. God is looking for the Christian to beat his breast and say, “have mercy on me a sinner.” God is looking for a dedicated selfless humble pastor who is faithful to do the work God has given to him and care for, to the best of his ability, the folks God has brought his way. Again in Matthew we read, “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, this is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.” (Matthew 14:14-15) Again Jesus seeing the multitude of people was moved with compassion. The reason Jesus was moved with compassion was so that He could meet the need of the people. I like that so much I am going to say it again, the reason Jesus was moved with compassion was so that He could meet the need of the people. Compassion always meets the need of people. “But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.” (Matthew 14:16-20) I am sure the disciples were quite shocked when Jesus told them to give up their five loaves and two fishes. I can imagine hearing the disciples say, “but Lord this is our lunch.” I guess they did not have compassion in their heart because Jesus had to intervene to meet the need. When Jesus spoke I believe the disciples could have blessed the food and fed the multitude, but they lacked the compassion. They had the faith, they heard Jesus say, “They need not depart, ye give them to eat” after all faith (Romans 10:17) cometh by hearing. They clearly heard Jesus speak, yet they could not do what Jesus asked them to do. When God speaks and we hear we have all of the faith we will ever need to do that which he has asked us to do. I think this was not a question of faith, but more a question of compassion. In Luke we read another time Jesus was moved with compassion to meet the need. “Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.” (Luke 7:12-15) What I like about this story is how Jesus met the need. Jesus did not go to the mother and console her or tell her how bad life has treated her; losing a husband and her only son which is a big deal in the Jewish culture. Oh no, Jesus told her “weep not” (stop crying) and spoke to the dead son, “Young man, I say unto thee Arise.” Can you imagine the reaction of the people standing by? How could a man speak to the dead and they come back to life? Jesus met the need in a supernatural way and why? “And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.” (Luke 14:16-17) I like the way verse 15 ends, “And he delivered him to his mother.” Jesus did not even talk to the woman, only met her need. I think we would have counseled her now saying, “if it be God’s will He will raise your son from the dead” or prayed this long verbose prayer trying to get God to feel sorry for us and save us and His name from shame, but no Jesus just spoke to him, raised him from the dead, and gave him back to his mom. What compassion. Did you know it is easier to counsel or do the religious church questionnaire (where do you live? do you smoke tobacco? drink alcohol?, do you do illegal drugs? will you come to our church?, etc.) and arm twisting then to meet the need of someone?
Now please do not make the mistake to think love is compassion, love is love and compassion is compassion. Often we make this mistake and confuse the situation and hinder what God wants to happen. Peter said, “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9) Here Peter gives us a list of things we are to have for the brethren and those lost in their sin. Please notice compassion; Strong’s #4841, to suffer or to feel pain together, while love here in this verse is; Strong’s # 5361, in a broader sense, loving one like a brother, loving one’s fellow countrymen. Now this also is not the Greek word Agape; Strong’s #25 to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly or to dedicate yourself towards someone but, is a brotherly type of love. Compassion is compassion and love is love. In 1 John we read, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:17-18) Also please know mercy is not compassion. Mercy is mercy and compassion is compassion. In Romans Paul shares with us, “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy (Strong’s #1653, to help one afflicted or seeking aid or to help the afflicted, to bring help to the wretched), and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Romans 9:15) We must never get these words confused. It is interesting (and surprising) to know mercy is much closer to compassion than love is. I am not sure which of the three (compassion, love, and mercy) words is more important, I guess it depends on what side of the word you are standing; giving or needing. When the word of God comes to us one of the properties of the word of God is it acts as a mirror to show us what is in our heart. And until we allow the word of God to come to us we will see life in a very selfish and self-centered way, but when Holy Spirit comes to us through word of God and shines His revelation light it will illuminate mind and thoughts and we will be able to see what is in our heart. The more we allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate our mind and thoughts the more we will know as we are known by our friends and enemies. One of the greatest revelations we can receive from God is who we really are as compared to him and how others see us. This, my friend, will really scare you and bring you to your knees, which is God’s idea. Paul shared this thought with the Church in Corinth when he said, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) Strange how we live our lives thinking we are better than what we really are or thinking we are something or someone we are not. But if we allow the Holy Spirit to open our mind and thoughts He will be faithful to show us the truth about ourselves. And when we look deep into the face of the truth we will see how much we are NOT like Christ. I guess when we see (understand) something in Christ it often reveals a short coming in our lives. For example I really like how compassionate Jesus was while on earth, thus this truth reflects a lack of compassion in me. I saw this when my father died. My father’s death has had a great impact in my life I can even see that in my writing. For the last few years I have had little to no compassion for my brothers and sisters. Love and mercy was there, but compassion was not in my heart. They have greatly disappointed Karen and I walking away from the Lord not to mention some heinous things that have been said and done to me and our kids. These things still need to be reconciled so Karen and I are keeping them in our hearts, yet still open before the Lord. But when we went up to the hospital to see my father a few days before he died, unexplainably God dropped compassion in my heart for them I previously never had. I guess it was born out of a heart desiring reconciliation and a heart that was hurting from the sting of the upcoming death of my earthly father. I really felt sorry for them, the wrong that was perpetrated against us was still there, but for now the compassion God dropped in my heart was enough to get us through my father’s death, the funeral, and a beginning to mend hearts, ours included. I know Paul said of the three (faith, hope, and charity (or love)) the greatest is love (1 Corinthinas13:13), well I think Paul was comparing the word characters of God we must possess. But I am not sure how that verse and Chapter would have ended if mercy and especially compassion was added to the list.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
It’s the Going
While out walking one day Dave and I met one of many neighbors in our housing area. We chit-chatted for a minute and she invited me to come by sometime. Now most of you that really know me (and still love me anyway) know I’m not a people person, yes I know it’s a shocking revelation, but what can I say. I’m okay being a loner and quite frankly sometimes it’s a bit of a stretch for me to be half friendly and outgoing. Anyway a week later I felt The LORD wanting me to invite this same lady to our next Home Group Meeting. So I took one of our flyers and headed over to her house. Well she wasn’t home no problem since I had a flyer on me I just stuck it in her mailbox and went home satisfied that I had done what I thought the LORD wanted me to do. A few days later during prayer time I felt to go to this woman’s house again so I figured ok, so I did a few things on the computer and got ready and walked over to her house. As I was walking over I was thinking to myself that I hope I was listening to the LORD and that I was doing the right thing. Then as clear as day I get this thought, “it’s not necessarily the destination, but the going.” Whoa I knew that wasn’t me. So I felt better about going to this lady’s house even though as I got closer it looked like no one was home. Sure enough I rang the bell—nothing. Folks, The LORD is looking for those that will go. Are we willing to be obedient and go–even it’s just around the corner? Are we willing to go even if at the time it doesn’t make sense? To me this was an exercise in hearing or being in tune with The ALMIGHTY. I really don’t want to be led by myself and to me it’s important to have an ear for GOD. So perhaps these are just little exercises in obedience for me. You know in dog training as well as training children little exercises in obedience (and repetition) are in order to keep them sharp and in tune with you. Children are quite well versed in being self-centered and the sooner they realize that the world doesn’t revolve around them and that they don’t always get their way —– the better. If we don’t train our kids to listen to us their parents how in the world are we going to expect them to be obedient to GOD? And not only obedient, but not whiney about it either. Unfortunately we’re more in tune with what WE want not what The Almighty wants, this my brethren should not be. Let us keep an ear out for The LORD and be ever ready to do His bidding. As Samuel said to King Saul , “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22).
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.
12. Money for an industrial strength potato peeler at the Mission School in Romania.
Next Home Group Meeting:
Our next Home Group Meeting will be MONDAY 19 October 2015
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
Home: (910) 741-0489
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
October: Local Ministry
November: Bulgaria and Romania
December: 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.
