Waiting on God – His Characteristics
February 2019 • Volume XVII Number 06
”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. God has so many benefits for us, this day, and not in the sweet by and by in the future. Whether we receive of these benefits of God is not up to God, but up to us. The requirement for receiving of God’s benefits is for us to meet God’s conditions. Each benefit has a condition. I wonder why this is not taught in most churches today? Much of the word of God (the Bible, the Scriptures) is not taught in most churches well . . . maybe that explains why America has drifted away from God into almost every distraction conceived in the heart of man. We have covered many benefits thus far over many months, but the one this month we will look at is probably the most mysterious yet the most important. Beginning this month and probably for the next few months we will look at the aspects of God’s divine enabling to: live on a high plane above the things of earth, run the race without failing by the wayside, and walking circumspectly. So who would not want to live on a high plane above the things of earth? Well this is God’s intention for us, but again whether this happens or not is not up to God it is up to us. Now I will be honest I am not there yet. I do not always live on the high plane that God intends, my flesh and carnal nature engages with my thinking and I often fall from the place of victorious Christian living God has for me. My salvation is still intact and as long as I walk with Him in faith and righteousness I can never lose my salvation, but if I knowingly and wilfully turn away from God and His plan for my life my salvation can be in jeopardy of being lost. Believe it or not this too is a part of God’s divine enabling. Let us look at the Book of Ephesians to get a better clarification on this month’s enabler. Paul writes to the Church at Ephesus and us, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love where with he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:4-10) In these verses detail God’s plan of salvation (so much better than John 3:16) and the positions in God we obtain by understanding His message of love and our responsibility in accepting it. Verse six says, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” God (Himself) has raised us up and “made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” As long as we are “in Christ Jesus” which is our position of truth we shall be able to function in heavenly places. Now that is not us on thrones in heaven, oh no. Us sitting by God and with God discussing the affairs of men and women on earth as some Christians believe from wrong teaching in their churches. If we are “in Christ Jesus” then we can operate in the spiritual realm, we can function in the things of the Spirit while on earth. In John 3:12-13 Jesus told Nicodemus, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” (John 3:12-13) Now we must remember the ascension of Jesus is in the future. Jesus was not talking about people who have ascended into heaven like Enoch or Elijah. Nor is He talking about Jesus (Himself) in an incarnation, nor is He talking about the Son of God leaving Heaven to be born of a virgin. Jesus was talking about God (in the person of Jesus) descending down to earth to commune with man. And as we ascend up into the heavenly in spiritual understanding we can descend with the things of God and give them to men. For Nicodemus to come out of His darkness he must ascend and then descend. We are no different than Nicodemus we too must ascend into the heavenly not physically, but spiritually (and be seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus) to be useful to God on earth ministering to those who are still in darkness and not “in Christ Jesus.” Either we are “in Christ Jesus” or we are in darkness “no man’s land.” This descending from the heavenly with the things of God to give men is an example of God’s divine enabling. I like the beginning of verse 10 in Ephesians 2, “For we are His workmanship.” This explains the ascending and descending from the heavenly. Notice the order is ascend then we descend. We first must get to heaven well how does that happen? Death, but there will be no descending our eternity is sealed. No it is the “workmanship” that God can do in us that gets us to heaven. The more work God can do in us the higher place we will be seated “in Christ Jesus.”
Next month we will continue to look at God’s divine enabling while continue to wait 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:
Our Disciplined Spirit
The longer I go with God the more I find myself not really knowing what I thought I knew; things I thought I would die for now I am not so sure about. Oh I am not talking about heaven or hell issues, but I am talking about things I find myself doing and saying that I would not do or say in the past. Some is for the good while others are not. Now do not worry I have not fallen off the spiritual wagon, but I have noticed a subtle drift in the discipline of my spirit and I cannot (and you too) allow this to happen. It is up to us to prevent this drift in our lives. It is up to us to discipline our spirit and daily walk with the LORD where we are sensitive to the guiding and direction of the Holy Spirit. Brother Paul knew this truth quite well when he said, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: (Strong’s #1396 harshly discipline or to lead away into slavery, claim as one’s slave) lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27) My friend this world (a system of thinking) and our love for our “self” will quickly overtake our soul if we allow them to. We must take heed to our self and our doctrine. Paul told Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:16) and it is no different today.
In the early Church there was a manifestation of the life of Christ that was powerful enough to move an entire nation. Rome was greatly affected by it and nations ever since have been affected by it. Although the members of this early Church had received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and were used in the gifts of the Holy Spirit there were spiritual qualities such as; power and love that permeated these gifts which caused this powerful impact upon nations. In Acts 1:8, Jesus said that He would give us the power to become “His witnesses.” This includes the ability to do the works that He did, but there is to be more than this. He was referring to a quality of life, an element of the Spirit which would become the dedication (agape) of the Son of God resting within us. The early Church moved under the influence and power of this sacrificial dedication until all this became dynamic in the hands of God by which He was able to affect and move a nation. But today that is not the case. Today the church (worldwide) has had little impact in the nations and this is because the church today teaches just enough Gospel from the Bible for a basic knowledge of salvation to get someone into heaven and have stayed away from the critical issues of the day that would allow righteousness to be the order of the day and fill the nations. How do we expect the nation to turn back to God? How do we expect Christian children to grow up and become Christians if they are not taught and grounded in Godly truths when it comes to the social issues of the day from God’s perspective? In schools (from pre-kindergarten and up), from TV, movies, video games, Hollywood, even some churches the worldly view of social issues are force fed to Christian kids and slowly and subtly their mind and hearts are won over to the lie. And if you dare to speak against the politically correct view of such issues as: abortion, creationism, homosexuality, racism, etc. you are vilified called a hater, a homophobe, mean spirited, and more so the world can marginalize you and your message, but the Bible says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) My friend just because the Supreme Court says it is okay to do things God calls an abomination does not make it right. God is the final judge for all things even the affairs of man. There are consequences (and we are seeing them now: disease in an ever increasing scale, social unrest, poverty, loss of peace in the world, families being torn apart, the list is endless) for our willful disobedience to God’s word. Due to our slow and deliberate drifting of our spirit and lack of discipline we have replaced the standard of the word of God with no standard at all. Paul in Romans tells us, “And 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, covenantbreakers, 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 2:28-32) The people knew the truth and they knew the judgment (Romans 1:18-19) of God’s reward for their actions was worthy of death (unless they were already a reprobate), but they still choose to do that which was right in their eyes and this my friend is chaos and always leads to destruction. You know we blame the church, but in reality it is the people in the church that are at fault, after all the church is nothing more than the people. We are the church! We must get back to a disciplined spirit within us to maintain a moral standard within the world.
As important as telling the truth in love (Ephesians 4:17) is there is a deeper thought I would like to look at when it comes to us having a disciplined spirit. Although Jesus taught us the necessity of receiving His power we must always remember it is dangerous to allow its impact to overrule us. The same power that we feel when we are filled with the Spirit is the very power that can make us almost irrational with its moving. In response to a manifestation of this power we feel that we must do something, but we are not quite sure what it is. Then we become agitated and confused because the result was not what we expected. We must come to understand that there is another element that must be added. Believe it or not power and love is not enough to move in God. In the building of our spiritual life the field of motivation must be carefully thought about. There must be a right motivation behind each manifestation as we respond to the power of the Holy Spirit moving within us. We may have all of the gifts and be properly motivated by the love of God, but if there is not a disciplined spirit to go along with them they will not be able to accomplish their purposes. What is a disciplined spirit? This is a military term. Paul uses many military terms. The word here is used in connection with a General who has been disciplined in order to give discipline. He himself is under discipline so that the authority he now exercises will have a backing. One may have both power and love, but unless there is a “disciplined spirit” behind them they will accomplish little. For example, when Jesus called James and John He saw coming toward Him two young men whom He called “Sons of Thunder.” God’s hand was upon them, but they were not yet acquainted with the meaning of this hand that had been laid upon them. They were not fully able to interpret it at this time. I wonder what the mighty hand of God looks like? Today in the church we are filled with God’s grandeur and power yet there is no spiritual discipline in our lives for which God’s power can correctly flow. When Jesus gave them power to go out and minister John came back disturbed because the people in the city where he preached would not receive the LORD. He asked Jesus, “wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (Luke 9:54). John had the power to do this because Jesus had given it to him. John loved the LORD and wanted Him to be appreciated. These people had rejected Christ and their ministry therefore they wanted them to be punished. Then in verse 55, the Lord turned to James and John and said, “You know not what spirit you are of.” The difficulty was not in power nor was it love. This reaction was due to a problem in their spirit. We must be motivated by God to be successful, but it must come out of a right spirit. James and John had both power and love, but their motivation was flawed. The difficulty was in the undiscovered inner resources as seen with John. The territory within my heart that has yet to be discovered sometimes amazes me. There is territory within each one of us that must yet be taken. There are vast areas within our lives that are not yet conquered and the LORD needs to triumph in them. The Lord had seen John as a “Son of Thunder,” but He did not intend to let him remain as one. He used John in places where he would be able to “thunder” for a while. But the time came when God wanted to talk with him, so He took him to Patmos a barren isolated island. Here there was no one to “thunder” at. This was to be a time of quietness, a time to think, there was nothing else to do. Like John the Baptist God took him to a place where there was no water to baptize people, but a prison the place God chose where he too could think about his motives and the reality of his ministry. You know I have friends who zealously work for God, but not much thinking about what they are doing. All they talk about is how God is using them or how God is blessing them, now do not get me wrong here, God blessing us is not the message of the Gospel. The LORD was after John as (He is after us) even more than He is interested in anything that we will ever be able to do for Him. When we have been set on an isle like this by the LORD be careful not to accept the suggestions of all those who are willing to row us back to where we were, because we are so needed in God’s work. The LORD puts us in isolation at times so let Him keep us there! People may attempt to hinder us, but be determined to make time and room for the LORD, to allow Him the necessary conquest within us. When the thunder had become silent within us and the LORD had accomplished what He is after in us then He can gently speak to us. John knew that he had heard this voice before and thought. “Can it be my LORD?” Then the LORD said to John, “I have a message for you. It is not only for you, but for the Church as well. It will be projected down through thousands of years. Let me bring this forth through you.” John’s heart was already broken so just the call of his name was like a balm and he understood. “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the LORD’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” (Revelation 1: 9-10) Have you ever been in the Spirit on the LORD’s (which is every day) day? We know that we are to walk in the Spirit, but how many of us have experienced what it is to be caught up in the intimate moving of God? God gave John a vision and in it He covered every element of the earthly realm: the world, all creation, the skies, moon, stars, animals, trees, people, cities, nations, floods, winds, thunder, lightening. God took every tangible thing that John had ever known and used it all to make a most complicated, yet marvelous display. God has thundered in Revelation. But, did you hear John thunder in Revelation? No, all that was gone. What is the difference now? God is thundering through John. God did not call John because he could thunder. Knowing truth is critical in our walk with the LORD, but it is more important that we have a love for the truth. He did not want John’s thunder. He wanted John’s heart condition (the beloved) and capacity for thunder, so that He could thunder through him. A marvelous change has taken place within his spirit. When John came back from the Isle of Patmos we read of John, “Little children let us love one another.” There is a tenderness, a brokenness, and a graciousness that was not evident when John thundered. So it is with our development. We have this capacity for thunder within us, but He will let us move along for awhile in our own thunder. But someday God will come after us and say, “I am going to dry up your thunder.” He will put us on our “Isle of Patmos” and everyone will wonder what in the world is wrong with us. Do not bring that soul to shore! He is bringing forth a disciplined spirit within us. When God begins to deal and judge within us to accomplish His purposes let us not be fearful He has not given us a spirit of fear. He has a purpose in view for us, both in time and in the ages to come. We are safe and secure in the hands of the living God as long as we have a discipled spirit. The question then is what kind of spirit are we of?
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
GODLY Compassion
In the book of Matthew we read, “And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer (allow) me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury the dead.” (Matthew 8:22) Some people would take great offence to what Jesus said, but that’s because they really don’t know Jesus nor are they familiar with GODS way of thinking. Jesus was very compassionate with people, but what He did was meet them at the point of their need. If they were sick He healed them. If they were hungry He fed them, demon possessed He delivered them. He also raised some to life again. Apparently Jesus knew that it was more important for the disciple above to follow Him that day. As we all should. Jesus only did as His Father told Him to do. He healed people when He was told to. God’s compassion meets the NEED not the want. There’s a big difference. GOD’S compassion gives us laws and precepts to follow so we will live fulfilled, useful ( to GOD first, to other people second) joyful lives. Will the way be strewn with rose petals? Don’t think so. GOD’S compassion ALWAYS points back to GOD while human compassion does not. That’s why the miracles from the hand of Jesus caused people even the ones that were fortunate to witness the miracles to glorify GOD. Human compassion on the other hand is another matter. Human compassion says, “oh there, there, it’ll be alright,” “oh how you must have suffered what a terrible cross to bear,” or “Awwww bless your little heart how can you bear it?” All well meaning, all well intended, but all ungodly. All that syrupy stuff hardly points to GOD. The words and solicitous actions of others appeals to our carnal, fleshly me, me, me nature, and will not encourage us to move on in life, NOR will it heal us. If anything soft human kindness and “compassion” will cripple us mentally, emotionally, and will keep us and encourage us to stay in that weakened state, thus garnering more human sympathy and “compassion.” That’s not real love, nor is it kind or compassionate at all. If you want the best for someone (and NOT for yourself) you will encourage them to go forward. Enabling someone to be weak emotionally and mentally is hardly kindness or compassionate. GOD wants us to buck up! Nowhere in the Bible does GOD say ” now there, there, you’ll be alright…” NO! GOD spared not even His own precious Son to die for us miserable sinners. GOD did not make Jesus’ life on earth easy, nor did HE make any of HIS prophets, anybody that loved Him, or any of the disciples life easy. The story of Job is a case in point. Job lost everything (except his health which came later) in ONE day his ten children all died at the same time, yet in all this he “arose and rent (tore) his mantle (robe) and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshiped. And said, “Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return thither. The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away, blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged GOD foolishly.” (Job 1: 20-22). GOD’S ways are not our ways, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher that your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) and “It is of the LORDS mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3: 22-23). Read the end of Job. GOD jumps Job and corrects him and his three friends, and after Job repents GOD blesses Job with twice what he had previously. Read it! Believe it! GOD didn’t cut him any slack or “enable” him to stay in a mental or emotional weakened state. He enabled Job (and us!) to overcome! He has plans for our lives. And if we follow HIM and allow HIM into our hard stony, religious hearts, His plans for us will come to fruition. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup (dine) with him, and he with me.” (Revelation3:20) God does not want us to be squashed by life’s unfortunate circumstances or even disasters, but will, if we let Him, help rise above any awful circumstance or situation as we continually focus on Him and His will. It’s up to us.
Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NO WANTS:
- 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.
- Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and Ian at the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School.
- In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu 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.
- 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:
12 February 2018 & 26 February 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:
February: Local Ministry
March: Local Ministry
April: 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.
