Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
September 2016 • Volume XV Number 01
“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. 15 years of “Thoughts!” It is hard to believe it has been 14 years since the first edition of Beholding His Glory (BHG). Through the years God has been faithful to us and BHG in so many ways time and paper is not enough to share them all. As we start year 15 my heart is troubled for the church in American and for the sharing of the Gospel message around the world. It seems great forces (spiritual and non-spiritual) have divided out the church in America causing strife, bitterness, and confusion to the very message Jesus gave us to share with the world. Every denomination seems to be for themselves and to hell with the rest, well my friend God will not put up with this He will see to it our enemies will defeat us until we can learn to work together and come into some degree of unity. God will use the enemies of the righteous to discipline the righteous. All throughout the Bible we see this in operation and are we better than those found in the Bible? Let us purpose to look towards the LORD and allow Him to use us day by day for His glory as we behold the beauty of the LORD.
This month we continue to look at Isaiah’s qualifications when God called him into the ministry. Last month we began to look at revelation for service taken from Isaiah 6:2-4. In verse 6:2 we read, “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.” (Isaiah 6:2) Here we see the activity of the seraphims, nothing. What a wonderful place in God when He can bring us to place of inactivity. The Psalmist said, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) Most Christians cannot even sit in a car without turning on their favorite praise and worship song, no wonder God cannot speak to us. We will never know God unless we can be still.
The seraphim was just standing there before the LORD. So often we cannot sit still long enough to hear from the LORD. We must always be doing something. sadly the church of today has a performance based religion trying to work their way into heaven or thinking if they can just work hard, give money, do something God will accept them more, well that my friend is wrong thinking. Our salvation is through grace by faith, no work required on our part to be saved, but after that God expects us to engage with Him and plod the field together with Him. Plowing the field (what most Christians think is their job) is not so important, but what is important is laying the foundation of salvation correctly so we will not have to go back again and again to lay the foundation. The writer to the Hebrews said, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” (Hebrews 6:1) We are to be saved once then we are to, “grow in the grace and the knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ.” We will never grow spiritually unless we can be still and allow the Holy Spirit to do the work inside of us. In North Carolina there are huge Pine trees some 200 feet tall and do you know what they do all day? Outwardly you would say nothing, just sway in the breeze, but inwardly they are hard at work lifting 1,000s of gallons of water from the bottom to the top (all day long) so the tree can receive the water of life needed to grow. So too in our lives God must be able to work in the inward man so that we can grow spiritually. No outward silence no inward growth. From verses 3 and 4, we see the Seraphim in worship when it was time, “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.” Notice one not all of the Seraphims (there is order in Heaven) spoke when he was told or when the Spirit moved him and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full if his glory.” I believe the Seraphim was busting at the seams as he stood there waiting for his time to let out what was inside of him. He could hardly contain his emotions, “Holy, holy holy” wow what worship. There was no loud music playing to jack up his emotions nor was there a slow soulful song playing softly in the background, just an awe and love from a heart that has been filled with God’s Spirit. When our hearts are filled with God’s Spirit to over flowing we will not need our emotions to be jacked up nor will we need our spirit to be mellowed. No feelings, desires, or manipulation will control our heart. The love of God and all that He has been able to put in us will just come pouring out of us like rivers of living waters. Then and only then will the “the posts of the door moved” in our lives. We will see the King and all of His beauty and the earth will shake in us, our hands will hang at our side, and our knees will be feeble. Now that is a place of true worship.
Next month we will begin to look at another qualification “divine cleansing” for service from Isaiah 6:5-7. So Please take a good study and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart. And listen closely my friend do you hear Him call now?
Written David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Why We Serve God
Real service to God is never outcome focused, how many people we can get to church, how much money we can raise to build a new sanctuary, or what can our church do for the community. Real service to God is always heart focused in obedience to God which never looks at effort or expense. The goal is how will God be glorified in all I do. I believe most Christians today serve the Lord so they can get things from God. Now God You know I am serving You, so here is my list now jump through the hoop, dance to my song, and give me what I want or I will leave You. This is the attitude and heart condition of the new age Gospel message you see on TBN and other Christian TV networks. It is an attitude of entitlement, just like the world has. Sadly but very much expectantly this entitlement thinking has slipped into the churches and deceived the people robbing them of the true Gospel message, and now America is broadcasting these lies to the world. I received a very interesting email recently that talked about this topic. The author of the email believes (and I enthusiastically agree) God is using (raised up like He did Pharaoh) Christian TV networks such as TBN to fulfill the Scriptures and usher in the apostate Church as described in 2 Peter Chapter 2. Please take a heartfelt read of Chapter two and I promise you will see what is on Christian TV (like TBN) and hear the ungodly message and in most churches of today. The heart condition of the folks on TBN and those that support TBN say we will serve God and He must give us His anointing, money, His blessings, and our destiny well my friend God does not dance to our tune. God does what He wants to do and we are along for the ride as long as we are obedient to walk in God’s ways. I hear, “too blessed to be stressed,” this is nothing but deception not even wishful thinking, this type of thinking is selfish, self-seeking, and just plain greedy and will earn you a place in the apostate church and maybe Hell. Real service in God always kills us inwardly so that God can strengthen us with might in the inward man. Paul knew what I am talking about. The Church at Corinth was a troubled lot of people. Paul said they gathered together (1 Corinthians 11:17) for the worse rather than the better. The City of Corinth was a crossroads of global influence, industry, philosophy, and thought. Every practice and ritual of the world was present in the city. If you notice on a map the City of Corinth was built on an isthmus. And just like with the Panama and Suez Canal it is faster and cheaper to cross this isthmus then to go around the Peloponnese Peninsula. Now here was the problem the waters off of Corinth was dangerous so to solve this problem they would take the boats out of the water and put them on wheeled sled like transports to move them from one side of the isthmus to the other. As one of the hubs of the early world The City of Corinth had every religion present and functioning. The early Church in Corinth adopted, mixed, and matched other forms of other world religions (like today) to get people to come to church, but, John tells us, “That which is Sprit is Spirit and that which is flesh is flesh (John 3:6) It did not work then and it will not work today. The end result was spiritual confusion and open rebellion to God and His word. The early young church seemed to be no match for the established religions of the world, except for a man of God (Paul) who was willing to lay his life down for the Gospel message and endure criticism, misunderstandings, separation and loneliness from family and friends to be able to speak the truth in love to a religious world and people who knew not Christ. In 2 Corinthians 12 we read of Paul talking of the early Church at Corinth, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 16But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 18I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 19Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.” (2 Corinthians 12:15-19) Paul was willing to be spent physically and spiritually for them and the more he loved them the less they loved him. Do you hear what Paul is saying here? Paul never was a burden to them he worked as a tent maker for room and board I wonder why so many preachers are out there looking for a pay raise every year? When I pastored in Germany I took no salary (even though I could have) nor have I ever asked for one cent in all of the years I have traveled in ministry. Usually I come with money to help defer expenses of holding a BHG pastors conference and/or crusade. Sharing the Gospel message costs money, but my friend if you have to beg and plead for money to go abroad to minister maybe you should not be going. I cannot remember a single time begging and pleading for money to go abroad. I made the trip known to my friends and God moved on their heart to give. This was also a sign from the Lord to me that He was behind me going. My friend if God is not funding your ministry you better, in these uncertain and dangerous times, take heed and be careful what you are doing. Just because God said He wants you to go does not mean it must be tomorrow, it may be for another time. Remember, God’s speaking is always His intention (no matter what He says), but application and execution of His words is always seen in God’s timing and will.
Always remember if you desire to serve the Lord family and people who do not want to serve God will hate you. But we serve God because He and He alone deserves our service. When we serve God it will always cost us something personally. The cost always exacts a heavy toll on us and our relationships. I re-learned this truth with my late Father’s and Mom’s 60th Wedding Anniversary. Now we did go and congratulate my Dad and Mom on their 60 years of marriage (All Because Two People Fell In Love) on their anniversary (15 Aug), but we did not stay for the party on the 16th of Aug. God told us not to. Many would say God would never do that, well for those who would say that I see your attitude has betrayed your understanding of God and how He operates. Many months before the party God told us my Dad would be dying soon (you can verify this with Karen) and told me certain things to say to my Dad when I get time in the ICU with him, and lastly God told us if we wanted to see my Dad in heaven we could not go the anniversary party. We knew this party was very very important to my Dad, it seemed like he was holding on to life for the party. We also knew if we did not go it would break his heart. We also knew my brothers and sisters would never understand. There already was much friction between them and us over our stance for the truth of the word of God (how we have been raised from little children) and we knew this would only cause more division. The lies and mistruths about Karen and I are still there (and so is our position when it comes to God’s word) and must be dealt with someday, but strangely enough with the death of my Dad we have a greater pity for my brothers and sisters. I love them all very much, but still there is a line in the sand we dare not cross. Death always softens our hearts, but this is so we all can be drawn nearer the Lord where true salvation is. So we could not attend the party we knew my Dad’s soul was at stake. I have not shared this with anyone in my family until now. Were we willing to forego the party and not join in the festivities of 60 years of marriage to see my Dad go to heaven? Of course our answer was yes. You might ask how could this happen, your not going to a party and your Dad being assured of heaven, well I did not say he was assured of heaven, but the ground of sorrow and greater repentance was plowed in his heart out from the sadness I saw in his eyes from the pictures taken. Godly sorrow does work repentance in our heart. I may have missed the party, but my father (we believe) made it to heaven, a great trade off indeed. We serve God so that others may receive, never forget that my friend because if you do you will begin to drift over into the wrong thinking of the humanistic gospel message, serving God for what we can get from Him which has filled the Church of America and now is being exported to the nations.
Lastly there is a wonderful sermon preached by Paris Reidhead called ‘Ten Shekels and a Shirt” taken from Judges 17 that addresses the heart of why we serve God. After going to East Africa and finding the African pagans quite happy in their sin and having no desire to be saved he has a face to face with God. “There alone in my bedroom as I faced God honestly with what my heartfelt, it seemed to me I heard Him say, “Yes, will not the Judge of all the earth do right? The heathen are lost, and they’re going to go to Hell, not because they haven’t heard the gospel. They’re going to go to Hell because they are sinners, who love their sin! And because they deserve Hell. But……I didn’t send you out there for them. I didn’t send you out there for their sakes.” And I heard clearly as I’ve ever heard, though it wasn’t with physical voice but it was the echo of truth of the ages, finding its way into an open heart. I heard God say to my heart that day something like this, “I didn’t send you to Africa for the sake of the heathen, I sent you to Africa for My sake….They deserved Hell! But I love them! And I endured the agonies of Hell for them!!!! I didn’t send you out there for them! I SENT YOU OUT THERE FOR ME… Do I not deserve the reward of my suffering? Don’t I deserve those for who I died?” And it reversed it all!! And changed it all!! And righted it all!! And I wasn’t any longer working for Micah and ten shekels and a shirt! But I was serving a living God! I was not there for the sake of the heathen. I was there for the Savior that endured the agonies of Hell for me, who didn’t deserve it. But He deserved them, (the heathen). Because He died for them. Let’s be done, once and for all, with utilitarian Christianity that makes God a means, instead of the glorious end that He is. Let’s resign. Let’s tell Micah we’re through. We’re no longer going to be his priests serving for ten shekels and a shirt. Let’s tell the tribe of Dan we’re through. And let’s come and cast ourselves at the feet of the nail pierced Son of God and tell Him that we’re going to obey Him, and love Him, and serve Him, as long as we live, because HE IS WORTHY!”
Why do we serve God? So that He and He alone can be glorified, any other reason we name is dead wrong.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Confidence in GOD
When we are fearful not only do we have no confidence in ourselves, but we have no confidence in GOD. If we had confidence in GOD we would be like the three Hebrew children and say: “We are not careful to (have no need) answer thee (return a word to you) in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18). This they said to King Nebuchadnezzar before he had them thrown into the fiery furnace. The mighty men that threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego died because the furnace was seven times hotter than normal, but the three Hebrew children as we know were unscathed not even the smell of fire was upon them and not one singed hair. (see Daniel 3:27) As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego spent time with GOD their faith and confidence in HIM and HIS salvation was unwavering even though they were enslaved and brought to a strange land. No doubt they knew they could die and without divine intervention would most certainly die in that furnace yet they would not bow themselves to worship pagan gods. What faith and confidence in The Almighty! What joy would GOD have in us to know we had that much faith and confidence in HIM as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had! Paul tells us, “For GOD hath not given us 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.” (2 Timothy 1:7-9) This is the choice we have today, “fear” or “power,” “love,” and “a sound mind.” What shall we believe? Now is GOD going to ask you to go into a fiery furnace? Probably not, but HE may ask other things of us that we may be just too afraid to do. It is not about our fear, but more about our lack of faith in GOD. GOD is faithful even when we are not. He is not weak, we are woefully weak many times. GOD does give us a measure of faith to be saved and when we hear HIM speak to us HE even gives us the faith to do what HE wants us to do. In Romans 10:17 Paul tells us, “faith comes by hearing.” The fear comes from us not GOD or the devil because we have not heard from GOD. We don’t trust GOD. We really don’t know HIM. Oh we know of HIM, but we really don’t know HIM—because if we did we would fling ourselves into whatever HE wants us to do. Do we really know that GOD loves us? And has the best intentions for us??? Let us not worry about the what if’s in our lives, but let us begin to trust a holy and righteous GOD with our body, soul, mind, and spirit, as our brother Job said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)
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 September 2016
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
Home: (910) 741-0489
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
September: Local Ministry
October: Local Ministry
November: Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania
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.
