Waiting on God – His Characteristics
June 2018 • Volume XVI Number 11
”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.
This month we will do some comparisons and contrast, and a literal rendering at some of the verses in the proper characteristics section. Always remember context is critical. It is so easy to take a verse that is true and pure, but use it NOT as it was intended by the Holy Spirit to help make a point you are trying express. This is fundamentally wrong and just plain ungodly. Too many preachers and teachers bend and spin the truth of the word of God to make it fit an agenda or program sadly all they have done is show how much they do not know about the scriptures and even sadder it shows their lack of integrity. Modern technology (computer Bible programs and the internet where most ministers think they get a word from God) has even enhanced this “err” or to wilfully deceive someone for personal gain not “error” which means to make a mistake. There is a huge difference in the basic practical understanding, but more important the lack of a Godly heart condition to maintain a purity of the word of God. Let us look at Isaiah 64:4 and 1 Corinthians 2:9. Brother Isaiah says,
“For since the beginning of the world menhave not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, whathe hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” (Isaiah 64:4)and Brother Paul shares, “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.” (1Corinthains2:9) Here Isaiah speaks of the act of waiting for Gods whereas Paul speaks of the motivation of waiting. Please note the literal rendering, “whathe hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” The reward is not prepared for the one who has worked (for the LORD), but for the one who first waited to hear what the LORD has to say. One thing I am always learning is if we have not heard from God then we have nothing to say. Now man waits and works at the same time. Many Christians say I will sit here and wait on God to do the work after all He is God and He can do anything I will just wait on Him. Well this is true, but that is not the way the LORD operates. God expects us to get involved with what He is doing not what we want to do. After we hear from Him, the LORD expects “all hands on deck.” Now God sets the wheels of divine providence in motion on behalf of those who wait for Him in loving anticipation. And then God works with man as long as man continues to wait on God to work on his behalf. As I said Paul in 1 Corinthians speaks of the motivation of waiting. If there is no motivation from our heart to wait all we had done is wasted time. Our position of waiting is there, but our heart is far from it. I often see people “waiting before God” as they lay on the floor prostrate before God thinking they are going to get up into the spiritual realm from this lowly position, but it all happens from the heart. Paul continues to press this point to the Church at Corinth “But God hath revealed themunto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)What is going on while man is waiting? “The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” No activity, but seemingly inactivity on our part. You know a tree stands appearing to us in a place of inactivity, but in reality the tree is lifting tons of water from the roots to the top of the branches and back down All day and all night long the tree is hard at work, but it slips our eye because we can not seen any outward work being done. As we wait the LORD is checking us out. What is the LORD checking out? “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) The LORD is evaluating us to see if we have received “the spirit of the world.” How can we hear from the LORD and have the “spirit of the world”operating in us? Not only, “the spirit of the world,”but we too are not to have, “man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth.”How much of the church is infected with the teachings of the world that is based on the wisdom of man? All you have to do is listen to the seeker sensitive humanistic teaching that most of the “big” ministries you see on TV spew. Almost all of the them are physiology and philosophy driven trying to change the outward man while neglecting the inward man of the heart. To be able to affect the inward man of the heart one must be able to hear from God and know His ways because, “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judge of no man..” (1 Corinthians 2:14-15)“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.” Please let me say that again. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.” The only way we shall know the ways of God is by opening up our spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us. Then we can spiritually judge all things and not be judged of man, but of God. It all starts in the heart as we wait on God.
Next month we will begin to look at what may be observed from our waiting. 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:
Walk the Line
The longer we go with the LORD the more we will discover (we do not find things in God we discover them) there is a very fine line we must walk between the world and the LORD. I do not know about you my friend, but I seem to cross the line over into the world more often than I would like to admit. I see myself time and time again getting over in areas and habits (I think in my understanding) not pleasing to the LORD, but it seems I cannot help myself. Too often I find myself snared by American politics and the social issues of the day, with the global politics and issues of the world, and even politics and issues of our local community. And issues of my character, well that will probably be the topic of many articles for the years to come. Now there is a line we must straddle and never cross over while we find ourselves in this world. The Bible teaches us we are not of this world we are strangers (just passing through), this earth is not our home, but at the same time seemingly we are assaulted with every human emotion and desire (no matter how much God has worked in our lives) known to man. Now to be honest this walking the line is a most difficult thing to do. I know God is not setting us up for failure because in God there is no failure. On one hand we are to share the Gospel message while we stand clear of the other hand, the world and all that is in it. The reward for not standing clear is evident we will not be able to do the things God has called us to do and we never will be able to come to the completion God has purposed in our lives. What to do? We see this spiritual dichotomy play out in the Scripture time and time again. In 1 Samuel we read, “The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.” (1 Samuel 2:6-7) At the same time “The LORD killeth, and maketh alive,” “he bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up,”and “he bringeth low and lifteth up.” Please notice the progression is being brought down to be brought up. This is God’s pattern of advancement down to go up because the way up is down. In the Gospel of John we read of this dichotomy, “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die,it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (John 12:23-25)Here the spiritual progression is down to fall into the ground and die so that we can lose our life “in this world”and then find our life “unto life eternal.”Amazingly, God provides for life while He seeks a certain death for Christians. The purpose of God is to bring the individual into a spiritual death to self. This is the only way He can bring His fullness of life into us. Death is sought! God brought the Israelites (Exodus 15:23) to a place where there was no water. They traveled three days into the Wilderness of Shur and found no water. “This is a death trap,” they screamed. Indeed it is death (the cross) to the carnal man in order that the spiritual man may find his release in God. Water is good it is a necessity. What is wrong with having water? Yet God brought His people to a place of no water. Why does God often withhold the good? Because many Believers have never seen God as the good. Many Believers only see that which they want or need as the good. Sadly often Believers will see that which God provides as the good. Seemingly that which pleasantly affects the Believer’s life is always good. It is impossible for God to fulfill Himself in an individual who has filled himself with good things. James must have understood this when he wrote, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:3) Thus it is often necessary for God to remove some things and in some cases everything from a Believer in order that He may become everything to the Believer, again this dichotomy in action. As long as there is water (or things we want) we do not mind serving God. As long as God showers us with obvious spiritual and physical blessings we are zealous to serve Him. We love water we do not like to be thirsty. So here we stand wanting our own way, wanting what we want when we want it and our flesh just screams to live, but we know we must die spiritually (and maybe physically) so that the LORD can live through us. In Matthew Jesus tells us, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salthave lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16) When are we the salt of the earth? When are we a light in darkness? At what point do we qualify for these titles? At our conversion to the LORD or maybe after years and years of walking with Him? I would think both at the same time and as we walk that fine line not straying into the world. The more we stray into the world the less of God is in us. The more we go after greater and greater technology, the Hollywood glamour of TV celebrities and music, sports idols, and the social ways of the world the less of God will be in us. John tells us, “Love not this world nor the things in it.” (John 2:15)Oh how I see myself at times loving the world maybe not in word, but often in deed knowing not to do or say something, but in the end I find myself doing it anyway. Oh our character! God is so concerned about our character even more than our ability to share the Gospel, money we give to further the Gospel, or going after a closer relationship with Him. Our intention should never be an emotional experience with God, but a knowledge and understanding of Him. Now all of these are admirable, but when it is all boiled down what is left is our obedience to Him and His word. The more we can pull our hearts out of this world and all of its distractions the more effective we will be for God serving as salt and light in this world. And God’s idea of us being salt and light in the world is so that we can help God bring people out of darkness and into the light whereby they too can “glorify your Father which is in heaven”by evangelism and not by dead traditions of men, Sunday morning rituals, pious well-meaning religion, nor by denominations, but through one-on-one evangelism telling your family and relatives, neighbors, and even friends at work what Jesus Christ has done in your life and how much they too need Him in theirs, by “speaking the truth in love”as Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:15. A few years ago Vinnie “a good New York Catholic boy” and contractor for Lowes came by our home to do a measurement on replacing one main door and installing two storm doors, well we hit it off right from the start. I could see the love of the LORD in him as he smartly worked and as we talked. I could see a depth of understanding and knowledge gained by once walking in the musical world of New York City, but now projecting the love of God in a most appealing way through honesty, sincerity, and a personal example. Before he left he handed me a newsletter his wife Karen wrote to their large family and in it I read these words quoted from St. Edith Stein who died in a gas chamber in Auschwitz, Poland, “Do not accept anything as truth if it lacks love. And do not accept anything as love if it lacks truth. One without the other becomes a destructive lie.” How profound. I am sure both ladies have paid the price for these words and have learned them out from heartache and loss. We must always “speak the truth in love”no matter the cost if not then our brand of truth (our revelation and understanding of God) is not God’s truth. This line we must walk at times can get blurred, but if we have a heart for God in the end He will bring to us clarity for our soul. This was the case with King Solomon. No greater books in the Bible speak more to us about being careful (to take heed) to walk that fine line between the world and God’s will and ways for our lives than the Books of the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. To me these books are red neon flags on how to live our lives; time and time again Solomon said do this or do that, be careful (take heed) of this type of person, this life-style, this kind of heart condition, but in the end we find Solomon did not listen to his own words. They could be stated from Solomon’s perspective; do as I say not as I do. Sadly Solomon got off the line and too far over into the world and it turned his heart from God and in the end Solomon’s testimony was, “Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all isvanity. 9And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, andset in order many proverbs. 10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which waswritten wasupright, evenwords of truth. 11The words of the wise areas goads, and as nails fastened bythe masters of assemblies, whichare given from one shepherd. 12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there isno end; and much study isa weariness of the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:8-12)In the end Solomon“set in order many proverbs”in other words Solomon became what he said. This enabled him to be able to say, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this isthe whole dutyof man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) Is this not true? Is not the conclusion of all things, especially all things in our lives, what Solomon called our “whole duty”is to “fear God and keep his commandments.” If we can do these two things we will be more than able to stay on track, walk in His ways, and stay far right of the line.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
A Smidgen of Truth
What we believe according to the Bible must be taken in context with which it was written. Most denominations and traditional doctrines take a smidgen of truth from the Bible and run with it twisting and turning things so that the whole of the truth is now neatly and wrongly buried in a gigantic denominational lie. Did you know for a lie to be believed there MUST be an element of truth moving in it? If I told you I could fly you would laugh at me and know I am lying, but if I had a pair of paper and wood wings that fit snugly on my shoulders and arms and if I could flap my arms fast enough in an up and down motion, well maybe I could fly. A lie always has some truth moving in it. And all it takes is a smidgen of truth to sound good and slap on the rest of the denominational dogma and doctrine and voila — half truths which are whole lies. For example Jesus as He was speaking to the 11 disciples in John, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (John 16: 17-18).All of these things underlined is holy and truth, but when you take them out of context by adding a different intent and purpose to fulfill an agenda of men well you have turned the truth into a lieMy friend this is cut and dry, straight from Jesus mouth, yet most main stream denominations actually do NOT believe in divine healing. Other denominations along the Pentecostal line have a whole tradition of handling poisonous snakes during their services. The Bible says not to tempt GOD. We believers ARE not to go out looking for poisonous snakes nor are we to just walk into the local hospital and just start laying hands on people, hoping to empty out the hospital. GOD uses illness and sickness to show HIMSELF strong on our behalf or maybe we just have to trust HIM and still go through things. Paul tells Timothy and us this twisting of Scripture is a great danger to the Body of Christ, Paul writes in 2 Timothy, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away theirears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)Folks the Bible is cut and dry, WE humans make things far more complicated then what GOD intended and why? Power and control. Read your Bible your denomination should line up with the written word and if it doesn’t well take the hint and vote with your feet!!! I would grab my family and run out of that church as fast as my feet can carry me. There are many other examples from the word of God I could give. GOD isn’t wrong and GOD doesn’t make mistakes. Don’t worry you won’t be the first person to have gone for years believing a lie and you sure won’t be the last. Truth hurts but truth saves our souls.
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:
10 July 2018 & 24 July 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.
