Waiting on God – His Characteristics 

January 2019 • Volume XVII Number 05

”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.  And another year is upon us.  With each passing year I thank God for His long suffering and mercy.  That would be for my waywardness at times and for the waywardness of mankind in rebellion to God’s word.  I do not know what 2019 holds, but I know God knows and I pray that we love Him enough to learn the lessons He has for us in 2019 so we can go on with Him. 

Let us continue to look at some of the benefits derived from waiting for and upon God.  Last month we looked at God’s answer to our petition for deliverance, but learned God develops and not delivers us. If God cannot develop us then He cannot use us.  This month we will look at God’s divine aid and His protection against our enemies. Now it is nice to know enemies of ours God makes enemies unto Himself.  Because we know the battle is not ours, but the LORD’s.  The sooner we learn this critical truth the less we will get beat up by the enemy and God.  So many times we seem to be in competition  with God for defeating the enemy and we get in the way and often wounded by friendly or not so friendly fire.  Oh no the battle is not ours it is God who wins the battle and then turns the enemy over to our hands for executing the judgement.  To be honest I am not an enemy type of Christian. I know Christians that look for the enemy under every rock and spend most of their lives turning rocks over looking for the enemy.  It is important to remember the enemy is much much more than Satan.  who some Christians “bind” (in the name of Jesus) at Wednesday night prayer meeting, but I guess he gets loose somehow and they “bind” him on Sunday.  Wrong application of the word of God.  The enemy is anything that is anti-Christ. Not just the Anti-Christ,  but anything that speaks against or exalts its self against Christ. The enemy can be a concept, theology, or even a doctrine that is contrary to what the word of God teaches.  Most denominational doctrines are anti-Christ and this is why I chide and rail on them.  They add to the word of God, ritual and deeds making God’s word no affect in the lives of people.  Governments and people can be anti-Christ as we see with communist countries present and past.  And yes the Anti-Christ (mentioned in Revelations) is anti-Christ.  It is important to know the word “anti-Christ” does not mean against Christ, but means another Christ.  One that is anti-Christ projects another thought, idea, government (not diplomacy, but rule or reign in our lives), whatsoever instead of Christ and His projection found in the Bible.  This is why the world is 100% anti-Christ and sadly I would say most of the church of today, especially the denominational ones. When it is all said and done if we truly have a heart for God in the end we will see we (our boastful mouth and ungodly thoughts) are our biggest enemy.  But let us get back on track.  In Psalms David shares two verses with us.  In the 33rd Chapter when He fled from his son Absalom. David shares,  “Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. ²¹  For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. ²² Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” (Psalms 33:20-22) What a wonderful truth we need to hold on now and in the coming days of 2019 and beyond.  The Hebrew language is a very pictorial language that seems to paint a picture with words as they relate to our experiences and life moments. Surely David was having one of the worse days of his life as his son Absalom  was trying to overthrow his leadership and authority with the people in a rebellion. I cannot think of anything more pressing on a father’s heart than to have his son rebel against him.  But can you see the words here.  David’s solace and comfort was not his wives, family, mighty men of valour, his intelligence, or his wealth, but his God.  Because David waited to hear from God and not move rashly against his son he was strengthened with might in the inward man and was sustained.  In this trouble David could now rejoice knowing God had it under control.  As a matter of fact David vacated his throne and put who to be king of Israel in the hands of God.  Not too many leaders would do this, but David knew God and knew He would work things out for His (that would be God’s) glory. David was depending on God’s mercy in the life of His son and in the life of his kingdom and rule.  David learned this lesson well.  Then in Psalms Chapter 59 David was in another life and death situation, “But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. ⁹ Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. (Psalms 59:8-9)  Here King Saul sent the enemy to watch a house were David was staying.  Can you see the picture?  Instead of being in a place of confusion like in Psalms 33 it was the enemy that was in “derision.”  David knew if we waited to act God would be his defence. We get this revelation from the learning and the waiting.  Did you get that?  From the learning to wait (something difficult for man) comes the revelation.  No waiting no revelation.  Waiting is always the place of receiving from God.

Next month we will continue to look at another benefit of waiting on God. 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:

                    Taken By Force                                                                                 

This world is in a mess and sadly I do not see the church (especially in America) a part of helping fix what is really wrong. Now please know the world as we think about cannot be saved.  The “world” is not the earth nor is it the people on the earth.  The world is a system, a way of doing things that is contrary to the way God does things.  John tells us, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”  (1 John 4:3)  The world has a carnal, antichrist way of thinking and doing things.  Most people think the prefix “anti” means against, but that is not true.  The prefix  “anti” means “another” and if we plug this thought into 1 John 4:3 we find, “that spirit of antichrist (another Christ)  . . . even now always already is in the world.” Just a short 90 (or so) years after Jesus’ death, resurrection, burial (the Gospel), and ascension there arose false teachings in the church called Gnosticism; derived from the Greek “gnosis” meaning knowledge.  Gnostics taught salvation by mental enlightenment (sounds familiar today) which only the elite spiritual initiates not the ordinary rank and file Christians. They substituted intellectual pursuits for faith and exalted speculation above the tenets of the Gospel. Sounds like today in the church.  Sadly we have substituted salvation through enlightenment for works and doing good deeds instead of becoming the work of God. Sadly not much has changed since John’s days in the world when it comes to false teaching.  The Gnostics were beat back with the truth of the Gospel, but today most Christians do not read their Bible, spend any time in prayer, and most certainly know not God.  Sadly there is little standing in the way of false teaching in the Church  today.  I am not sure if John would have been able to beat back the Gnostic teachers if they (the Gnostics) had Christian TV.  Now do not get me started on Christian TV this is not the intention of this article, but make no mistake Christian TV has done more damage to the Body of Christ (by teaching lies and half truths) than the devil himself. This spirit of “antichrist” is alive and well in the world and in the church. It is easy to tell who are antichrist John helps us here, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God.” Any spirit or teaching that points one to salvation not though the death, burial, and resurrection (the Gospel) of Christ on the cross is another Christ. Now do not be deceived many false teachers and many denominations talk about how good Christ was and all of the wonderful miracles He did (which all is true), but they are talking about another Christ and another Gospel message that was not delivered to the church by the early fathers.  We see this with the Church at Corinth.  Paul chided the people, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. ⁴For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”  (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)  The Church at Corinth has been beguiled from the simplicity in Christ though false teachers and through a false doctrine, sounds like today. So too with the Church at Philippi, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. ¹⁸(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:”  (Philippians 3:17-18)  Funny how I have seen one Christian stick  verse 17 in the eye of another Christian who they do not like or may have a difference of opinion with. Any time I step on someone’s feelings (I am sorry if I did) and they get offended I am endanger of getting verse 17 jammed into my eye. They foolishly say (because of the disagreement) I am an “enemy of the cross of Christ” and try to turn hearts and destroy friendships.  I have seen this too many times (as I said I have had this happen to me by a close friend) in the church and it needs to stop.  I will not allow this antichrist spirit to take root in my heart because I still love the brother.  Back in Corinth, false teachers have crept in unaware bringing another gospel and Paul is warning the church. Now please know Paul was not saying they were enemies of Christ, oh no they talked about Christ, but Paul said they were “the enemies of the cross of Christ:” You can peach Christ all day long, but when you stand preaching the cross of Christ people’s ears close down and hearts dry up.  Why?  Paul tells us, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. ¹⁸For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”  (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) The antichrist message in the world today never preaches the message of the cross; death to our selfishness, self-seeking, and religious ways.  The antichrist message glorifies and exalts human effort and religious tradition. Just like the humanistic teachings (feel good psychology – I am okay you’re okay thinking) in the church (led by Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, and their ilk) that is replacing the teaching the truth of the word of God.  Sadly the cross of Christ is being “made of none effect” and in the end the people will perish because they have believed a lie, they are foolish. Yes there is nothing new under the sun.      

Even in Jesus’ day we see this anti-Christ spirit.  Jesus shares, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.  ¹³For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. ¹⁵He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:12-14)  Remember John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin.  Mary and Elizabeth (Luke 1:36) were cousins.  From John the Baptist “until now” was about 30 years (John the Baptist was 6 months older than Jesus) and Jesus just began His ministry.  For about 30 years the Jewish people have been trying to force its way into politics to kick out the Romans and establish the throne of Israel once more in the earth and much has not changed since.  Even the disciples asked Jesus about this, “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? ⁷And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. ⁸But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  (Acts 1:6-8)  Jesus was more concerned with establishing “the kingdom of God” ( . . . righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:16)) in their lives which is not the kingdom of heaven or even an earthly kingdom.  Jesus was more concerned with giving them “power” to be able to become “witnesses.” Oh we all want to be a witness for Christ especially when the sun is shining and the birds are singing, but who wants to be a martyr for Christ?  Well that is what the word “witnesses” means in the Greek, martyr.  Jesus was telling His disciples He will give them power to lay their lives down for the Gospel just like He did.  Who wants to lay their life down?  Well that is the message of the cross, death to our self.  That is the message of the Gospel death to our carnal worldly nature.  Unless we deny our self and daily take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24) where are we going to follow Christ to, heaven?  No into our death, our death to our sin nature, death to our ways and desires so that He can live through us.  Unless God can strengthen us with might in the inward man we will never be able to lay our life down for our neighbours, the Gospel, or even Christ.  No we have lost the simplicity of the Gospel just like the Church at Corinth and now we are trying to force things into being what we think God wants on earth.  After all, “the violent take it by force.”  Yes “the violent take it by force,” but we are not to be violent. We are to have the same character and nature of Christ, our example.  We are not to be violent and push our way into what we think God would have on earth, but allow God to make us into His image and nature.  This is why Jesus said, “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,” violent Christians can never establish the kingdom of  heaven nor enter into the kingdom of God,  heaven is suffering because we are doing things outside of God’s framework and plan.  It is not our way it is God’s way.  We must do things through the divine spiritual principles God has established for our lives and His church. We must not allow the anti-Christ spirit of this age and past ages to creep into the church and our lives deceiving us from God’s best. 

Yes the world is in a mess and the people in the world are even in a bigger mess.  There is an urgent need for the intervention of God in the Church, within His people, and in the affairs of the nations.  At this present time the LORD is seeking out those whom He can use for this purpose as the time in which man is in control of the nations is coming to an end. In the past, with few exceptions, the LORD moved through human agency, but was limited by the level of faith and yieldedness in those He used.  At this present time the LORD is preparing overcomers those who desire to go beyond their present spiritual experience and are responding to His voice in obedience.  These are aware that something different is taking place as they are hearing a call to come into a higher level of relationship to the LORD. As world conditions increasingly deteriorate it is becoming evident that there is no lasting solution to world problems, except through divine intervention. Any possible method of dealing with these present world dilemmas is so elusive that leaders must come to recognize that they are incapable of any resolution of these problems.  To be able to overcome these situations in the world requires a high level of personal integrity and commitment.  As we unconditionally commit all that we are along with all that we ever will be to the LORD (in obedience) we will rise above all that is less than His best for us, our relationships with our brothers and sisters, and with God will begin to function correctly. To experience this level of identification with the LORD we must unconditionally submit the totality of our being to Him and specifically give Him permission to deal with us as He may desire, the ultimate sign of our submission. Glory always relates to the presence of the LORD in us.  When He comes to minister to us it is not to our flesh (He wants to kill that), but the abundance of the life of God that we have allowed God to work in us and this my friend can never be forced it must be developed in us.  We cannot take the things of God they must be received this is why the things of God can never be taken by force.

Written by David Stahl

THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:                              

                  Better to be Obedient than to Blab

In Mark, we read,  “And there came a leper to him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. And he straitly (strictly) charged him, and forthwith sent him away; And saith unto him See thou say nothing to any man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without  in the desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.”  (Mark 1: 40-45).  Jesus specifically told the man that He healed NOT to tell anyone save the local priest and to bring the appropriate  offering as commanded by Moses.  But, this guy for whatever reason blabbed it all over the place and Jesus had to leave town. Now on one hand we can understand the gigantic change this healing would’ve brought into this poor man’s life.  He was an outcast, he was unclean and could not be around people even his own family, and was most likely relegated to living outside city limits with the rest of the lepers, for the rest of his natural life.  A grim lifestyle indeed, but now he was healed. He felt it, seen it, and knew it. A happy joyous day indeed!  But, Jesus strictly told him what to do and what not to do. Because of his blabbing all over the city many other people missed their chance of being healed by Jesus and hearing Jesus’ teaching. Woe unto us if we don’t do what Jesus tells us to do! When we do things out of our emotions we often times are not doing the right spiritual thing.  Let us remember emotionalism is not spirituality,  John tells us, “that which is Spirit is Spirit and that which is flesh is flesh.”  (John 3:6) Our emotions will,  if we let them, run  away with us. The true spiritual things in life are not the touchy-feely good, warm fuzzy things we crave. Actually the boring mundane things are probably more spiritual. We are human so we do have a tendency to want things that make us feel good and act spiritual. Our poor leprous friend from the book of Mark no doubt was elated to be rid of his disease and his outcast status. No doubt he was flying high in his new healthy body, but spiritually speaking he was better off as an outcast, lowly leper, because once he got healed, he disobeyed Jesus and other people missed their chance to be touched and taught by Jesus. All because of his disobedience. It was not about him and it’s not about us.  It always was and always will be about Jesus.  There’s always a time and place for our emotions. The wisdom is knowing when and where!  But our obedience is always more important than our emotions!

Written by Karen Stahl

NEEDS NO WANTS:

1. In Dobrich, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and in Silistra Pastor(s) Yanko, Marcho, and Emil. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed. 
2. Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and Ian at the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School.
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu 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. 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:

8 January 2018 &  22 January 2018 at 7:00 pm

At 232 Everett Drive

Sneads Ferry, NC  28460

7:00 pm please RSVP

Home:  (910) 741-0489

NEXT SERVICES FOR THE ROCK FELLOWSHIP AT SNEADS FERRY

3 Feb 19 Sneads Ferry Community Center 11:00 am

10 Feb 19 Hampton Inn Sneads Ferry 11:00 am

17 Feb 19 Hampton Inn Sneads Ferry 11:00 am

24 Feb 19 Sneads Ferry Community Center 11:00 am

POCs are Freddy Everett (910) 545-7918 or David Stahl (910) 382-9287

FUTURE SCHEDULE:

January: Local Ministry

February: Local Ministry 

March: 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/

NEW OFFER

Booklets on Spiritual Authority,  Spiritual Leadership, Prayer, Body of Christ, and Righteous Living the Four Anchors of God are now available by contacting us and requesting one.  You can see them on our home page.  Get one now.

The Author House 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.