Waiting on God – His Characteristics 

June 2018 • Volume XVI Number 10

”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. 

 

Let us continue looking at the four remaining proper characteristics in  waiting on God.  The next proper and seventh characteristic is patiently.  Now this one we all can relate to.  Not many people are truly patient.  If you think you are just go stand in a line of people, most people get frustrated in waiting and some even will have ill thoughts towards the person in front of  them or in front of the lines.  God must really work in our heart to make us “patiently wait.”  In Psalms we read,  “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
² He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.’  (Psalms 40:1-2) Calmly enduring the seemingly fruitless expenditure of time and effort in the realization that to hurry God is to find fault with Him.  Look what happens when we wait patiently for the LORD,  “he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”  We all want God to “hear our faintest cry and answer us by and by” as the song says, but the condition for God to hear us is not praying longer and louder, but waiting.  God does know what He is doing.  We pray and wait for God to give us the answer.  No need for begging or beating God over the head with His word, thanking Him for hearing you in a heart condition of gratitude is okay, but no need to keep beating Him up. In all things in God waiting is the place if receiving from Him.  The eighth characteristic is hopefully.  In Lamentation we read,        “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. ²⁷ It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” (Lamentation 3:26-27)  Oh look the Holy Spirit added “quietly.”  With quiet and unwavering confidence in the ultimate response of God.  Make no mistake my friend God will respond.  We may not like it, we may not agree with it, it may not be in our time line,  but what we must NEVER do is lose heart that God cares and we must NEVER lose heart that he will respond in due season.  Quietly and hoping is what God is looking for in us.  I have often thought (do not have scripture and verse for this) God will hold off with an answer to our request based on our heart condition.  Seems to be something most parents do with their children.  I have always heard “bad attitudes and ungratefulness can cause a delay in getting our way.” Not really sure if God operates this way, but you know I would not be surprised and would not blame Him one bit.  The next and ninth characteristic for proper waiting is  lovingly.  Now all of the proper characteristics are important, but I would think lovingly would be one of the most important of the 10 because lovingly is so much like our heavenly Father.  Paul helps us here in 1 Corinthians,   “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ¹⁰ But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”  (1 Corinthians 2:9-10) This waiting should not be the waiting of a selfish beggar, but the waiting of a yearning lover. In spite of God’s great love for man “the things which God hath prepared” are not “prepared” for all men and women.  Oh no my friend. “The things which God hath prepared” are “prepared” for only them that love him.  These are the good things that God has prepared, but make no mistake my friend God too has “prepared” things for them that do not love Him.  God would be an unloving God not to provide for the people who do not love Him.  In God’s love He has provided a place called hell.  It is not a question of God’s love both provisions are a part of God’s love, but the question is which side of God’s love are we going to receive based on our either rejecting or accepting of God’s love through His Son Jesus Christ and the work He did on the cross for our salvation.  This thought leads perfectly into the last and tenth proper characteristic – preferentially.  A waiting whereby we desire God in preference to ANYTHING else.  There is NOTHING before God in our lives. 

God says,  “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. ¹⁸ Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.”  (Proverbs 8:17-19) WOW now I am not there yet, but the train has left the station.  This is a very costly place in God, but it is the place God desires for all of us to arrive to.  It is like I can see it afar off, I can almost taste and touch it, but like Paul, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. ¹⁶  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. ¹⁷ Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Romans 7:15-18)  Let us patiently wait on God to be developed beyond this.

          Next month we will do some comparisons and literal rendering at some of the verses in the proper  characteristics section.  Walter Beuttler said if you build God a temple He will inhabit it. Have  you built God a temple?  If you do He will abide and wait for you.

Written by David Stahl 

ARTICLE REVIEW:

                    Read the Bible                                                                              

Lately there have been a lot of preachers and teachers on TV trying to encourage many Christians into believing there will be a great turn around in the world and there will be a great revival (word not in the KJV) and many people will come to know the Lord.  I will be bold and set the tone of this article early (as a matter of fact) I personally believe the best days of the corporate “Church” in America is behind her and if not careful it will taint the church world-wide causing great harm and deception. Now I am talking corporately, there are some solid local bodies of Believers left that still have a heart for God and to do what He has asked them to do, but the majority of the so called “churches” have sold out to the humanistic, apostate message of the Gospel – prosperity and blessing; serving and giving to God to get instead of serving God out of a heart of obedience and giving so that others may receive.  I know what I am talking about I have seen the destructive influence of the American church for years in America and around the world.  Now please do not get me wrong I would love to see many people come to the Lord this is God’s intention for us, but the Bible I read does not talk about this happening. So, why don’t we just read the Bible and believe what God’s word says instead of making up things to believe.  But that is not what we see going on; large amounts of money is collected and some is spent on Christian TV programming and traveling the globe to prime the pumps for this great end-time revival, but again I do not see this anywhere in the Bible I study. Denominational kingdoms and mighty temples of worship for “mighty men of God” are being established all over the earth to fund and reap this phantom end-time harvest, but again the Bible I read speaks nothing about an end-time harvest as preached today.  Now Jesus does mention the harvest, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”  (John 4:35) and in Matthew, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; ³⁸Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37).  Please notice in Luke Jesus answers His own question, “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”  (Luke 10:2) Did you get that Jesus said the harvest is ready, but there is no one to go.  Who was Jesus talking to?  Why His disciples.  It sounds like they were not ready to go into the field and reap the harvest.  I wonder why not? When I traveled abroad every other month I would go and do the work of God, well after two or three years of this schedule I quickly saw I was not doing the work of God He was doing His work in and on me.  All of the traveling, preaching, teaching, signs and wonders were more for my benefit than the people I ministered to.  My friend we are the workmanship of God (Ephesians 2:10) and if we allow God He will work on us to the very end of our self.  

Sure God’s grace is ever there and I daily pray many people take God up on His offer of salvation, but as time continues man also continues to walk away from God faster than he did in days of old, thus I cannot see more people coming to the Lord.  As a matter of fact the Bible talks about the opposite happening.  As we watch history unfold before our eyes and read the Bible how can we not believe what Peter, Paul and even Jesus Himself has said applies to today?  How can we not believe we are living in the last days of man’s rule on earth and a time of grace for our sin and after that the judgment, but not too many Christians believe when Christ returns He will judge them and the nations, oh no they are looking for a baby in the manger to sing about and the presents associated with His birth.  But all we have to do is read the Bible to discern the times. Back in Genesis God established a spiritual principle and man as ruler of the earth, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”  (Genesis 1:28) and he will keep this title and function until Christ returns to judge the world. This is why man has some power to say and do things on the earth and they happen when they are backed by God’s authority and His word.  And why do we have no problem with worshipping or saying God, but we do with Jesus. I wonder why?  Well that is easy, Jesus is Lord and man (me included at times) has never wanted a Lord reigning over him.  Secretly in our heart we want to be the boss who wants to be ruled?  We think God is a far off out there in space somewhere or some big sugar daddy who rolls over at our every whim; so God is safe to worship and serve, but not so with Jesus.  He troubles us, He wants to come and live in our heart and expose our evil nature and character. Jesus wants to be involved with all of our relationships and our labors, how can we allow this?  If we do we will not be in-charge.  In 2 Peter we read, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, ⁴And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. ⁵For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  ⁶Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: ⁷But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”  (2 Peter 3:3-7)  When is “the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men?”  Does this not sound like today? Jesus told the disciples, “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”  (Luke 18:8)  When Jesus comes back will He be surprised to find “faith on the earth?”  How could that be?  Does that sound like today?  The Bible I read tells me what to expect when Jesus comes back why should I believe something else.  In Matthew Jesus shares these words, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. ⁵For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. ⁶And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ⁸All these are the beginning of sorrows. ⁹Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. ¹⁰And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. ¹¹And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. ¹²And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. ¹³But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. ¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:4-14)  Wait a minute I thought things were going to get better in the last days and there is going to be a great end-time revival?  But the Bible does not say that the Bible says, “the love of many shall wax cold” And after the Gospel of the kingdom has been preached to the nations, “then shall the end come.”  I cannot believe in this technological age of satellites and the internet not to mention the 2,000+ years of sending missionaries the Gospel message has not been preached to the nations. Further on down in Matthew 24 we read Jesus saying, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. ²³Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. ²⁴For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”  (Matthew 24:22-24)  Now I do not know about you, but these verses here give me great pause.  I do not consider myself to be the “very elect,” but Jesus was saying unless time is shortened the “very elect” would be deceived and no flesh would be saved.  The Bible tells us all of these things so why don’t we hunker down and get serious with God? Did you know the Bible even gives us a picture of man’s heart condition, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ²²Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ²³And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. ²⁴Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: ²⁵Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  ²⁶For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: ²⁷And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. ²⁸And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; ²⁹Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, ³⁰Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  ³²Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:21-32)  Does this sound like today? What else do we need to convince us that all we need is the Bible?  What is the context Paul is describing here in verses 16-32?  Was Paul talking about only the Church at Rome?  I think not.  Many Christians believe the Scriptures are written to only certain groups of people for a specific reason, well if this be true then all of the Scriptures in the Bible that deal with salvation do not pertain to us.  Like when Paul told the Churches in the New Testament; women should not exercise authority (1 Timothy 2:10-14, Titus 2:4-5, etc.) over any man, oh that was just for them, but now it is okay for women to be a pastor, teacher, evangelist, a deacon, or elder.  Does God’s word change with time or audience?  I think not.  I believe Paul here was describing the heart of man without the harnessing and discipline of God’s work and authority in our lives from the beginning of mankind to the end-times of man’s domination of the earth. 

The Bible tells us all of these things and yet we still make up things and believe a lie.  Why do we not just read the Bible and believe it as it is written?  Remember God is not trying to Christianize the world, oh no my friend man is trying to do that. God is trying to evangelize the world (in an one-on-one, personal, cost effective simplistic way) and having evangelized the world He desires to gather them together in what He calls the Body of Christ.  And it is the Body of Christ; those who have answered the call of God will be His bride and to do this God expects us to read His word the Bible to know what He wants and what He does not want.  My friend there is no big end-time revival coming (the Bible does not support it) be not deceived be a good steward with your resources there is an end-time coming and we must be ready for it and the only way to be ready is to just read the Bible and then move in the revelation given. Written by David Stahl

THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:                              

                  Sin, Sin, Sin     

Brother Paul in 1 Timothy says,  “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15)  Notice he didn’t say I WAS chief, but “I am chief .” We Americans have this self-deceptive attitude that we’re “not so bad.” We compare ourselves to murderers, prostitutes, drug dealers ,etc. etc and think “we’re not such bad people after all we’re certainly not as bad as they are.  I’m good,  I go to church, I give money to such and such charity,  I do this at church, I do this for my community,  I help—– —–(fill in the blank),  I help old ladies across the street, I do my taxes,” so we have this notion that we’re basically “good.” That is self deception and a lie straight from the pits of hell. Paul tells us in Romans, “We all have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD: being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom GOD hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of GOD.” (Romans 3: 23-25).  Sin is sin folks. ALL unrighteousness is sin.  Do we really know what sin has done  in our lives?  How sin destroys every relationship we enter, every life we touch, and all we try to do for GOD.  And the longer we go in sin once we receive salvation the more the life of GOD is destroyed in us until we are bone dead.  Sin kills the life of GOD in us  When will this “I’m a good person, I’m not so bad” thinking pass away?  When GOD is able to deal in our heart and not until.  Wrong thinking is not dealt a death blow in us in a praise and worship service, working in the church, or when we pay our tithes, but when GOD is able to draw near to us (we must allow HIM to) and show us our thoughts and intentions.  I don’t know if  we really  grasp all that was done on the cross for us. I don’t know if we really appreciate the full, total, and FINISHED  work that Jesus accomplished on the cross for our benefit.  And let the truth be told, I believe He’d have gone through all that even just to save one person. That’s how much He loves us. The Bible says we are bought with a price.  “For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify GOD in your body, and in your Spirit, which are GOD’S.” (1 Corinthians 6:20).  And it was a very very dear price let us never forget the price Jesus paid for us and strive to live within His commandments.

Written by Karen Stahl

NEEDS NO WANTS:

1. In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastor(s) Niki Marsov and Emil Nedelchev. Included now are missionaries from Romania Nicu and Elena. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and George Ritisan at the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School and the Faru (Lighthouse) Church.   
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Marcel at St. Andrews Church. They are still standing by God’s grace.
4. Pastor Joseph Mutua in Nairobi, Kenya needs your prayer and financial support.
5. Pastor Mike Olufemi in Aveile, Nigeria. He needs our prayers and support to be a light in great darkness.
6. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian in Sankaraguptham, India.
7. Pastor Metin Mintaz, Dan, Cathy, and members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
8. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone   in Bukoba, Tanzania.
9. Monthly financial support for Vivian’s Maternity and Child Care Clinic project in Aviele, Nigeria.
10. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
11. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda.

NEXT HOME GROUP MEETING:

 26 June  2018 at 7:00 pm

Special Guest Pastor Marcho and Tsetsi from Silistra, Bulgaria

At 232 Everett Drive

Sneads Ferry, NC  28460

7:00 pm please RSVP

Home:  (910) 741-0489

FUTURE SCHEDULE:

June: Local Ministry

July: Local Ministry

August: 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.