Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
April 2016 • Volume XIV Number 08
“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. For the last few months we have looked at Moses making excuses and raising objections to His call from God. One thing for sure if you do not really want the call of God (even though it is God’s plan for your life) then the best God can give you will fall to the ground until you decide to pick it up. It is amazing to know many people in life have accepted God’s second or even third best for their lives. I know of people who have married God’s second best for their lives because they could not wait (bad situations got them in trouble) nor had the spiritual wherewithal to hear from Him. I wonder how many people are doing jobs that God did not want them to do? Probably the same number of people who expected God’s second or third best. Here is a really sad thought. I wonder how many people had to wait or did not hear about the Gospel because the one God wanted to minister the life of God did not want to go. Paul tells us,
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14) God desires none to be lost no not one so He will find someone with a heart for ministry and bring them to hungry hearts.
So this month we will look at how God trained Moses for instantaneous, unquestioning obedience. If God cannot get us to obey the first time He speaks then He will have to keep approving and qualifying (testing us) us in ways to get our attention so that we will learn to respond the first time. Life is nothing more than a test or series of tests to see if we have learned the lessons God is trying to teach us so that we can receive the next thing God has for us. God will not allow untrained and unskilled children to mess up things. God will not give His children real responsibility within the Body of Christ unless they can learn how He operates and functions and He teaches this by lessons he brings our way in life. When John Wright Follette taught in Bible School he had a sign over his desk that read, “yes Lord.” As a student would visit his office for counseling they would sit down and behind him was the sign. The message was clear, God is looking for instantaneous, unquestioning obedience the first time He speaks. We often question the things God allows in our lives (especially the small things that really irritate us), but God has a reason for everything that happens in our lives no matter how silly we think they are. In Exodus we find Moses in a strange training situation where He learned the need for instantaneous, unquestioning obedience. We read, “And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. 7And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.” (Exodus 4:6-7) I guess the rod to snake and back to rod was not enough for Moses to get the lesson God was teaching him. The last lesson had to be a showbiz parlor trick that astounded Moses and yes God was teaching him to be used by Him he had to put his life on the line, but this test brought it closer to home. Here God used Moses’ body to get his attention. If God really wants to get our attention often He touches our health. Nothing is more important to us than our self. No one loves us like we love our self. You know God knows how to get our attention make no mistake about that. The words, “And the LORD said furthermore unto him” tells us the first lesson was not learned or God needed to reinforce what He wanted to teach Moses. But notice God told Moses to put his hand “into thy bosom” (or put your hand under your garment) and he did. The first lesson was understood well enough to teach him obedience, but the second lesson was to teach him instantaneous, unquestioning obedience. Surprise God spoke Moses obeyed and surprise surprise Moses got leprosy. What a lesson. Now what? Well God spoke again, “Put thine hand into thy bosom again” and his hand was restored back to its normal flesh. Sounds like the rod to snake and back to rod lesson, but now the stakes were higher. Who wants to be a leper? How can God use Moses to fulfill His plan for his life with his nose, fingers, and toes falling off? God was teaching Moses He does things instantaneously and it will take instantaneous obedience on his part to be able to function and operate with Him. The showmanship was neat and inspiring, but we must never get caught up in the gee-whiz side of God doing things especially when it comes to things like miracles. Even with miracles there is a lesson that God is trying to teach us and if we cannot learn the lesson then God has to come at us from another angle and with each pass God raises the stakes. God is good at raising the stakes He knows just what it will take to get our attention. Moses found that out the hard way.
Next month we will look at a whole new area, how God gives to Moses the manifestation of the supernatural as the sign and divine accreditation. What is in our heart to object to when God calls. Listen closely my friend do you hear Him call now?
Written David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Keep the Feast with Sincerity
There is a feast, a love feast we must keep before God and man. Everything we do as Christians must be done in love not a soft, spongy love, but a strong developing love that forces change in our lives. Now please let me stop here and say from the start I do not always keep the feast, but am trying to ever allow God to work in my life through His dealings and judgments and bring me to a place where I can with “sincerity and truth” say I am keeping the feast. Even truth must be projected towards those in the world with love if not the truth will kill and not make one alive. This is why Paul instructs, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” (Ephesians 4:14-15) The word “sleight” (Strong’s #2490, dice playing from the deception of men because dice players sometimes cheated and defrauded their fellow players) here really captures the heart of this verse. Unless we speak the truth in love (from a heart of sincerity, concern, and love to see someone push forward in God even if they get their feelings hurt) then those who need to hear will hear the truth and not be, “tossed to and from and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” It is no small wonder we have so many denominations and doctrines in the world today, they know not the truth and are deceiving many. Oh I know I am not suppose to speak against main stream denominations, how dare I call someone or some denomination deceitful or how dare I judge other Christians, who do I think I am to be so bold. Oh no we are told we are suppose to love everyone, look past everyone’s faults, and allow them to make mistakes, just love them in a spirit of meekness, well that is not the example of Paul, Peter, or even Jesus. If you prayerfully (and want to know the truth) and honestly study the Scriptures you will see the glorious message of the Gospel was delivered in aggressive confrontations, much contending for the faith, and even in much conflict, why even Paul had to withstand Peter to the face to correct some things in Peter’s message. Paul speaking in Galatians, “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face (Strong’s #436, to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose or in today’s language had a fight), because he was to be blamed.” (Galatians 2:11) When was the last time you heard a message on this verse? Oh no we hear sermons on forgiving everyone and how we are to ignore character flaws, well how are they going to know of their need for change? You know we are our brother’s keepers. How can we “keep” (guard, tend, support, cause to grow) them if we cannot speak a word of encouragement or correction? Now the problem Paul and Peter had was quite different than what we deal with today, but notice as the deception continued Godly people were being picked off and getting off track. “For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.” (Galatians 2:12-13) Barnabas, one who walked and ministered with Paul (from the start see Acts 13:2) was “carried away with dissimulation.” Because of the confrontation between Paul and Peter, Paul had the opportunity to speak the truth in love whereby people were set back on course and saved from the rocks of error. This is the heart of the issue, unless we speak the truth in love and tell our brothers and sisters they are off track and will fall out of the way and become a ship wreck on the rocks driven by the winds of false doctrines and character flaws (not sin mind you) that prevent the word of God to come through us and out to the world unfettered. We must love our brothers and sisters (keeping the love feast with sincerity) enough to be willing to suffer the loss of their relationship for the sake of sharing the truth with them. It is our responsibility before God to hear and honestly judge our hearts against the words spoken to us by our brothers and sisters. Their attitudes, tones, or even anger does not matter, this is a thing of the Spirit, we are to have enough of God in us to be able to remove our selfishness and self pride to hear what the Spirit is saying to us. How can we say we love someone and not tell them the truth? Our love for each other must not be in word (vain lip and eye service), but we must back up our words with a genuine concern and dedication (the meaning of Agape love) to want to see our brothers and sisters grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must desire, out of a genuine concern and dedication, to want to see our brothers and sisters, “grow up into him in all things.” And this my friend can only happen when we speak the truth in love not wanting to defraud, gain power, or influence over someone. Our motive must always be from a position whereby we desire to see our brothers and sisters grow in the Lord, even beyond where we are.
Not only Peter and Paul (and the other disciples), but many Christians (just like Christians of today) in the New Testament Churches never kept the feast. Paul time and time again had to encourage them, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity (Strong’s #1506, pure, sincere, unsullied found pure when unfolded and examined by the sun’s light) and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-8) There is a feast of “malice and wickedness” we can keep, but Paul encouraged the Church at Corinth to keep the love feast of “sincerity and truth.” Not just “sincerity” or just “truth,” but “sincerity and truth.” One will not work without the other as one cannot walk with someone unless they agree in these two divine spiritual principles. Paul said of the Church at Corinth, they gathered together for the worse and not the better or they were worse off spiritually after coming together as a local body of Christ and why? They were not walking in “sincerity and truth” they were walking as carnal babes, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) This description really says it all they were, “puffed up . . .” (1 Corinthians 5:2). As bad as this all was worse yet was there was no one present to be able (until Paul wrote his letter to them) to speak the truth in love and bring correction (God does this if we do our part) allowing spiritual growth and development to the Local Body. In closing, I have a very good close friend (I still consider him to be a close friend) I have known for many many years who asked me a question and when I replied he did not like my response and got offended (even though he refuses to admit this) at me. We all have character flaws, but when they are introduced to us in good faith and sincerity they must never be allowed to take root in our heart and diminish a friendship. I think he thought I was trying to correct him, but this was the furthest thing from my mind. All I was doing was answering a question he asked as God was working in my heart the last few days. Now I know I am not perfect (Karen keeps reminding me of this) but, all communication between him and I (his choice not mine) has been cut off in spite of me not once but three (even at the funeral of my father) times telling him I am not upset with him and I love him. I do not know what else I could do to convince him, I guess all of the many years of looking up to him as a mentor and all of the stepping and fetching for him means nothing now, while in all of the years we have know each other he has never once returned the sentiment. You see there is a feeling of superiority (he has admitted the Word he delivers is superior than mine) he had towards me. You see his offence was not in what I told him, but that I would dare think or say something negative about him. How could David Stahl say such a thing to me, who does he think he is to say such a thing. Now that I am writing about our tiff (maybe like Peter and Paul) he probably will be even more offended, but never forget truth will offend us. The preaching of the Word of God will offend people and they will get angry with you. They hated Jesus because of what he said and is the servant greater than the Master? Karen and I have friends we have challenged their approach in ministry and they have walked away from us and we have separated ourselves from some acquaintances, some friends, and even family because they have refused to walk in the truth of the Bible. We do not like this and feel the loss of relationship, but truth is truth, the Bible is the Bible and if we are going to walk with the Lord we must always stand and speak the truth (so many will grow in the Lord) in love. If not, we lie and the truth is not in us. Acceptance by all is not worth the price we will pay for our disobedience to God’s word. It seems we all (Christians) are more concerned about making peace with our friends and families than making peace with God and doing what He wants us to do. It seems we do not want to offend anyone, well how will the lost know they are lost if our words, by the Spirit, does not prick their heart? Be careful what you ask for my friend you may hear something that will really test your heart condition before God and man. Now it is true he is older than I and it is true God has opened up to him more things from the Word of God than I, but that does not make him better than I. The message one receives from the Lord is never an indication of someone’s spiritual growth and maturity. When I think I am somebody special I remind myself God opened the mouth of an ass to speak through. It is not our Word it is God’s Word, He gives it to us as we are obedient to His leading and submission. Revelation from God is always seen by how we treat people not by what we say. Authority from God is seen in not reducing men to service, but in serving men. You know words are cheap. Revelation from God is to bring us down into a humble low place before God and man. And the more revelation we have from God the further and further it is to bring us down. It is our character, our motives, and our attitudes we carry in our heart for people that is the true measure of our ability to be discipled by God and the measure of our being able to be used by God not what we have been taught in Bible School or how well we can speak. Well, enough . . . I look to God for reconciliation and the time we can once again eat of the unleavened bread of sincerity and keep the feast, but until then I will allow God to work in my life and keep the door open wide.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
War Horse
I don’t know what got me thinking of this, but I think it was the movie “The Last Samurai.” In it near the end of the movie was this big battle scene with mounted Samurais charging into battle against soldiers with guns. There was thundering hooves, bullets flying, Samurais getting shot off their horses (in slow-mo of course) it was a good, yet a short lived battle scene. Now I’ve always liked horses very much they scare the crap out of me, but I like them. Sir Winston Churchill said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” I think that’s true there is a stable near us and I always enjoy driving past it looking at the horses and thanking GOD that horses are herbivores. Anyway, it has always fascinated me how they train horses for the movies for those big battle scenes of course now a day there’s special effects and the dramatic sounds of battle is added after the scenes are shot, but a long time ago, way back in Bible times the horse was really used and trained for war. “A horse is prepared against the day of battle; but safety is of the Lord.” (Proverbs 21: 31). Now I don’t know much about horse training, but I imagine one has to de-sensitize a horse somewhat and train them to run towards trouble or the battle and to resist the natural inclination to run like heck the other way. So if human beings can train a prey animal whose first instinct is to run away from trouble to run to the battle what is our problem? Why are we so fearful? Are we not smarter than horses? Some horses if you waved a tissue in front of them would bolt away from you as if you were waving a meat cleaver. Sadly, we’re not much better! Do we not have GOD on our side? Brethren, GOD doesn’t want us to be fearful of anything. “For GOD hath not given us a the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of GOD; who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” (1 Timothy 1: 7-9). Perhaps this is something we need to overcome. We all have to overcome something in this life. In fact most of us have to overcome a whole laundry list of things. (Sigh, I speak of myself.) This age of political correctness is evil and lends itself to feeding our fears of being labeled hateful, insensitive, and intolerant, but as we see in the Bible–which is another reason we MUST read our Bible—to know what is in it, nothing has changed since Bible times. They ignored the old prophets in the Bible and treated them with scorn and Jesus got the same treatment—do we think as Christians we’re going to fare any better? We’re not! We might as well settle it now in our hearts and minds that we are NOT to be politically correct and we are not of this world. We are just passing through! The only fear we need is the fear of GOD. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10: 28-31). Now I am not saying we are to throw caution to the wind and be fool hardy! We are to be, “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16). The fear and respect of GOD is lost to us these days and brother we better get it back, pronto. GOD is not our pal. GOD is NOT an indulgent old grandfather who looks the other way when the grandkids misbehave. GOD is NOT a sugar daddy waiting to shower us with everything our selfish, miserly, little heart’s desire. It’s time to buck up, and become the mature men and women of GOD who quell those areas in their lives that are unpleasing to GOD. It’s time to live in the truth and to love the truth starting with the truth about ourselves. And yes I’m here to tell you the truth is going to hit you in the gut and make you despise yourself, but only IF you have a love of the truth. Because GOD will allow us to keep deceiving ourselves, unfortunately many of us have no real love for the truth and would rather love religion and the traditions of men than GOD’s truth. We are to tell others the truth and have the backbone to face their rejection and scorn. Christian and non-Christian alike. We need to grow up, our brothers and sisters overseas are under much persecution and I know we’d fare much worse than them because quite frankly we’re a bunch of whiney babies. We don’t speak out against abortion, homosexuality, divorce, lying, cheating—heck you name it, apparently it’s all ok in today’s church–the church corporate. Time is short brethren, it’s time to take sides and stand firm. It’s time to be like the war horse and run to the battle.
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 TUESDAY 19 April 2016
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
Home: (910) 741-0489
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
April: Local Ministry
May: Local Ministry
June: 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.
