Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
December 2017 • Volume XVI Number 04
”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. Wow where did the year go? Jake Luffy told me if I thought 40 to 50 went fast wait till I hit 60, well he was so right. Let us continue look at the need for waiting on God. This month we begin to look to what purpose does God keep man waiting. You know when I use the term “waiting on God” in my mind I get this image of a waiter standing at attention, in a tuxedo, with a white napkin draped over his arm, waiting for his next command, In my mind I see this waiter as a servant waiting on God’s table, waiting on God’s every beck and call. How could we not hear from God? How could God not bless us as we wait on Him? I see this waiter in a place of inactivity which is a key in receiving from the LORD. We look at the mighty pine trees (in NC) standing so straight and tall and we think nothing is going on with them, but in reality they are lifting 1,000s of pounds of water from the bottom to the top. We cannot see the work, but still it continues 24 hours a day. I see this work in the waiter and I hear the message in the Psalms. In Psalms 37 David urges his men to patience and confidence in God, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” (Psalms 37:7-8) There in these two verses God is saying we need to come to an inward rest and peace, fear not because we our have confidence and hope in Him. You know we never come to a place of rest if we cannot wait patiently for Him. Not wait patiently to wait patiently, but to wait patiently for him. The point is not to wait patiently, oh no the point is to patiently wait for Him. And if we can wait patiently for Him then God will be able (our choice not God’s) “to prospers in His way.” And why? Because we are patiently waiting for Him. In God patiently waiting is the place of receiving from God. I like that so much I am going to say that again. In God patiently waiting is the place of receiving from God. When we cannot patiently wait for God we become angry in our heart and spirit. God desires to quiet our spirit as He works in our lives and brings us to a place of inward stillness. At the center of our being is where God dwells. To silence the natural restlessness and agitation of the human spirit is the first purpose why God wants us to wait patiently. God has many purposes why He wants us to wait. I remember while living in Germany I took a train from Stuttgart, Germany to Constanta Romania, 31 hours one way. I sat hour after hour patiently waiting not speaking or even praying, but just looking out the window of the train watching the world go by and out the window of my heart thinking of Karen and the kids, and what I will experience along “the way” and what will I experience when I get to Romania. The trip was amazing, yet 31 hours back home. The next purpose I would like to discuss is to teach man reverence for a holy God and to give him a sense of his unworthiness because of his earthiness. In Habakkuk we read, “But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” (Habakkuk 2:20) Only a holy God can live in a holy temple, yet this holy God wants to dwell within us the ones who are not holy. Why would a holy God want to inhabit or tabernacle within man? When He has the heaven of heavens at His call? I do not understand it, but I am glad he does. Paul in Ephesians gives us a little glimpse of this when he writes, “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:21-22) Wow we are built “together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” God is building us and one of the tools God uses to conform us into the image (icon) of God is patiently waiting. As he hones off some rough edges, I mean who likes to wait? Just go to a store and get in line at the checkout. 1 minutes okay, 10 minutes maybe okay, 20 minutes you are speaking under your breath, and 30 minutes you are ready to kill the person in front of you in line. Let us face it we do not like to wait. Again the goal of God’s work in our lives is not to wait to wait, but to be able to do a real work of God in our lives in the waiting.
Here our waiting is to bring us to an inward silence so we can see a holy God. And when we can see a holy God we can see a sinful man. We see God high and lifted up and His train (His glory) fills the temple, when we can see this then we at the same time will be able to see the glory of man as compared to God’s glory, which is no comparison. If we can allow God to get us to wait, even patiently we will be able to see our unworthiness because of our earthly humanity. Only then as we see ourselves as compared to God can we ever hope to make a change to the eternal and become that eternal habitation for God by the Spirit. Next month we will look at two more purposes why God keeps man waiting? Do you have time? Will you make time? If you make time for God please know He will make time for you.
Written by David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Real Power
I do not know about you, but I have grown up in church all of my life and when I look back at what I remember and what I see in churches today I ask myself what has happened to the power of God? I can remember the sovereign power of God falling in services and people running to the altar repenting of their sins, not being led in some sinners prayer. Services lasting all night and into the next day; where people really touched the heart of God, lives were really changed by the power of God not like today where services are run by a handout to follow along. God forbid the Holy Spirit would move and change the order of the service. Four or five fast self-centered, humanistic praise and worship tunes from off the overhead projector maybe one or two slow tunes to fool your emotions, take up the offering, and then the real highlight of the service – the announcements. The preaching (if there is any) is no more than 15-20 minutes of a watered down denominational doctrinal drivel with no power or authority then off to our favorite cafeteria style restaurant hoping to beat the Baptists or Pentecostals. No wonder there is no real power in the house of God today; no commitment, no dedication (to God nor man), and no desire to hear God’s word from supposedly God’s man. And before and after in most churches today tea, coffee, muffins, and cake are served; what have we been reduced to nothing more than serving coffee and donuts and smiling at each other? Where is the power of God? What a question to ask. What I remember and what I see today are two different churches, two different life-styles, and two different levels of commitment and dedication. Maybe there are two different Gods? No I do not believe that, that cannot be true. And no I do not need to quote Scripture here to support my belief I know that there is one God, because my mother taught me this from a child, the Bible I read supports her words, and that is enough for me. The folks in Ezra’s day knew exactly what I am saying. In Ezra we read, “And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient (old) men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.” (Ezra 3:11-13) Like many Christians today they sing songs, do church activities, and give thanks to God for He “is good, for his mercy endureth for ever” (now these words are true) they build big beautiful modern buildings with manicured lawns and fancy parking lots, and “shout with a great shout,” but like some priests and Levites (old men) of Ezra’s day, if the Christians today could see and feel the real power of God they too would have “wept with a loud voice.” Now here is my point. Sadly, just like in Ezra’s day, the priests and Levites who shouted with joy prevented the people from being able to discern God’s Spirit and from remembering where the church has come from as the Body of Christ. The struggles and hardships of yester year is faint in the minds of most Christians today and that is reflected in the Spiritual awareness, heart conditions, and character of the people. Now I was raised mainly in the Assemblies of God Churches. In the past the Assemblies of God churches held the line to Godly standards of dress, character, reverence to God, and in general our conduct in the house of God. But recently, I have attended a few Assembles of God churches and was shocked to see how far they have drifted from God. The music was loud rock and roll, so loud you could not hear yourself think. Everything was a big outward show outwardly driving your inward emotions. And of greatest shock to me the older ladies were dressed like the younger ladies; short dresses, rings on every finger, heavy make up, no modesty, and no honor. The service was unruly and so disjointed, no flow of the Spirit of God, and the word of God was powerless. One pastor talked about his Harley Davidson Motorcycle and kept saying, “can you dig it?” There was no Spirit of God nor was the power of God present, only the spirit and power of the world. And why the change, because the Assemblies of God Church, for years, has been losing young people so they went to a contemporary worldly style of service hoping to lure in young people, when all they are doing is deceiving the older people to let their flesh run wild while teaching the young people how to disrespect and be disobedient to God. Please understand I am not saying these things to speak bad about the Assemblies of God Church, oh no I am saying these things to warn the Assemblies of God Church and any other church that would follow after their ungodly, worldly example. When we lose our ability in God to control our flesh we too lose the Spirit of God. Where is the power of God! Now please understand most of the other denominational churches we attended were just as bad as the Assemblies of God Churches. We must have God’s power if we are going to make it through this wilderness of education and learning God has picked out for us.
My friend did you know the power of God is not seen in what we do, but is seen greater in what we do not do. We see this example of great power in the Scriptures when Jesus was driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit for a time of temptation and education. “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:1-4) Now a man with no real inward power (who has supernatural power) would have turned the stones into bread. I wonder why we always seem to go after supernatural signs and wonders in our lives? Here Jesus could have used His supernatural powers to satisfy His flesh, but chose not to. Please notice his choice was made after fasting 40 days and 40 nights unlike the Muslim faith who fasts only 40 days and eat at night. I will be honest, I think I would have made some good dark pumpernickel or Jewish rye, but not so with Jesus, He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” There was a reason he made this statement, believe it or not He Himself had no power to turn the stones into bread. Okay David you have gone too far to say Jesus had no power, well let’s read it from Jesus’ own words, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19) John had a lot to say about the power of Jesus. Yes, Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords who did mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, healed the sick and set the captives free had no power to do things unless the Father gave Him the power. Further on in John we read Jesus saying, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30) and “ . . . I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” (John 8:28) How strange to read from the Scriptures Jesus saying He has no power and we run around the world saying we have the power. I’ve got the power! Do you have the power? Here brother, let me give you the power when Jesus said, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. I really believe Jesus learned this great truth in the wilderness (the place of learning all great truths in God) and any power He had came from His Father in heaven. Amazingly Jesus only did and said the things His Father told Him to say and do. He was limited and restricted to only His Father’s words, this is why He was so powerful and could say as He overcame the devil, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” What a great truth the church of today must learn. We must again learn we can do nothing of ourselves unless the Father gives us the strength to move, we must solely again depend on God as Jesus depended on the Father. Yet we seem fractured and independent of God out there on our own in ministry and in our personal lives. We must get back to this central truth, it is one of the major pillars that all other truths are built on, “I do nothing of myself.” Jesus knew this personally and then shared this truth with the disciples, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Without the Father Jesus could do nothing and us without Jesus, well, like with Jesus we can do nothing. Oh to God we (I include myself here) would get back to being more dependent on God in areas of our lives. Jesus was solely dependent on the Father for all things in His life, I wonder what would happen today in the world if we in the Body of Christ took Jesus’ words in John 15:5 serious?
Another show of Jesus’ great power is when He blessed the loaves and fishes and fed first 5,000 people (Luke 9:12-17, five loaves, two fishes, 12 baskets) and later another 4,000. “And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? 5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. 7And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. 8So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.” (Mark 8:4-9) What great power in all three miracles, but please notice Jesus did not use His supernatural power to feed Himself, but always used His power to touch the lives of others as we also are to do. Jesus was never selfish or looking for self gain, oh no He was always doing things so that His Heavenly Father would be glorified. Now that is powerful, to do things so that others may get the credit. I wonder what this world would look like if the Body of Christ did things so that the Father and others would get the credit for the good works that they do. To be able to do and say only those things the Father tells us to say and do and to do things on earth (as they are done in heaven) so that others will receive the glory will require us to be totally dependent on God; not worrying about who gets the reward, God alone is enough for a reward is he not? For this answer to be yes, we must have no power of ourselves, no strength within us, no nothing of ourselves, except for what the Father gives us. Now that my friend is real power, a power that never comes to an end unless the Father wants it to.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Let the Aged Women
Our Brother Paul admonishes the older ladies of the church to teach the younger ladies, “that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. to be discrete, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of GOD be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:3-4). This basic fundamental Bible teaching is slowly being lost to secular thinking which has infiltrated the home, the church and the very fabric of our society..
When I was a kid growing up very few women worked outside the home most of my classmates moms were stay at home moms. So it was for centuries before until the 1960’s when women’s lib started. This rebellious bunch poisoned the minds of women everywhere. Now in this day and age if you’re a stay at home mom people wonder what’s wrong with you. Don’t you want your own career? You can’t possibly be happy slaving over a hot stove, waiting on your husband, and tending to snot nose kids all day long. Well perhaps not. GOD doesn’t care if we’re happy—that’s up to us and OUR attitude. GOD wants mothers to raise their kids and Dad to bring home the bacon (cabbage for you vegetarians) GOD’S rules, NOT ours. GOD doesn’t give a flying flip if you feel “fulfilled” staying home with the kids—truthfully it’s boring as heck sometimes, mind numbing, frustrating, and maddening to be stuck with kids wanting your attention all day. Talk about a one sided relationship—being a parent is definitely that. It will kill you. It will kill your selfishness! It will kill your hopes and dreams! And if done right it will kill YOUR personal ambitions. You will indeed die to yourself if you truly want to follow the LORD. No one is going to love your kids like you do. Daycare centers ( most, not all) don’t teach kids manners, teach self discipline, any kind of work ethic, and forget about any Christian training–I mean REAL Christian training, plus all the other things they need to be taught at home. This is a BIG deal to GOD. Why would God give you kids and you give them to someone else to raise? How many young women have died and wished they could be around to raise their kids, and here we are we just can’t wait to drop them off at a day care center so we can —fill in the blanks. Now if you HAVE to work that’s different.
GOD expects married women to be sober (to make of a sound mind, to discipline, or correct-teach to be sober). We went to the local store recently and I saw a woman in her late 40’s to middle 50’s (I’m so bad with ages) wearing a tank top, no bra, and pajama bottoms. Was she sober minded—oh heck no. She was pitiful. If she ran out to the store looking like that I can guarantee you the rest of her life is a wreck also. But then again I doubt if she was a Christian. Whatever she was, that was her testimony. Ladies we are held to a higher standard, then our secular sisters. We cannot be worldly women. I’m reminded of that one Army commercial “to be all that you can be,” that’s not for us. because GOD wants to kill us and our selfish ways and OUR plans so His life and plans can shine though us. GOD expects us to be on the SAME team as our husbands and work together to raise them young’uns. GOD has entrusted us with a husband and children and it’s our duty to do the best that we can in our little corner of the universe. Nobody said it would be easy, but if we have the RIGHT attitude that will be half the battle. GOD has a spiritual order and like it or not the man IS the head of the home. And the woman was made for the man NOT vice versa. We women were made to complete the man, to be his help meet, to help him. We are to serve him, not him serve us. every time I see a man serve his wife I inwardly cringe. Now of course if she’s NOT able or incapacitated in some way the husband should step and fetch for his wife, but if she’s able bodied he has no business serving her, even if they both work. Occasionally it is fine, but the man is not to take advantage of the wife nor the wife to take advantage of her husband. Men that cave to the whims of their wives don’t end well, because the order of the home has been compromised. Ladies GOD made us to be the bendy, flexible ones, but we must willfully bend and let our husbands lead for our sake, their sake and the sake of the family unit in GOD. The spiritual order is: “the head of every man is Christ: and the head of the woman is the man: and the head of Christ is GOD.” (1 Corinthians 11:3).
Paul goes on further and says, “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of GOD: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman, but the woman is of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman: but the woman for the man.” (1 Corinthians 11: 7-9) Ladies take heed NOT to be influenced by today’s society, wanting to “be all that you can be.” And treating your husband like your personal lackey. Paul in his letter to Timothy went farther still stating, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness (propriety) and sobriety (moderation): not with broided hair; or gold, or pearls, or costly array: But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to USURP AUTHORITY OVER the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression..” (1 Timothy 2: 9-14) DO NOT be deceived by the gods of our secular society!
Now if those scriptures offend you, GOOD! That just goes to show you how much rebellion is in YOUR heart. Repent and turn away from worldly thinking. Unfortunately for us we are born with a sin nature. Our sin (a spirit that is anti-Christ) nature was dealt with on the cross, but we must allow GOD to so work in our lives to put to death our fleshly desires and ambitions. We must allow GOD by His Spirit to do the work in us to get rid of our selfish and self-centered me me me attitude. Jesus died for our sins NOT our character. We need to allow GOD to show us “the error of our ways” and those sins (individual acts of the flesh) that easily besets us. GOD is very interested in our character ladies and I guarantee you society’s ideas about how women should act and behave is a far cry from what GOD wants. So says this aged woman. Let us read our Bibles and repent of our worldly ways and ask GOD to help us be the Christian wives and mothers HE wants us to be.
Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NO WANTS:
- 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.
- 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.
- In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Marcel at St. Andrews Church. They are still standing by God’s grace.
- Pastor Joseph Mutua in Nairobi, Kenya needs your prayer and financial support.
- Pastor Mike Olufemi in Aveile, Nigeria. He needs our prayers and support to be a light in great darkness.
- Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian in Sankaraguptham, India.
- Pastor Metin Mintaz, Dan, Cathy, and members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
- Monthly financial support for Vivian’s Maternity and Child Care Clinic project in Aviele, Nigeria.
- Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda.
NEXT HOME GROUP MEETING:
17 December 2017 at 7:00 pm
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
Home: (910) 741-0489
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
December: Local Ministry
January: Local Ministry
February: 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:
dstahl@beholdinghisglory.com
Website:
www.www.beholdinghisglory.com/
Blog:
http://bhisglory.blogspot.com/
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.
