Waiting on God – His Characteristics 

November 2019 • Volume XVIII Number 03

”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 to look at Revelations 3:20-21 to point out some of the divine spiritual principles contained in these verses.  Let us look at the verses again.  John writes,

“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 with him, and he with me.²¹ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”  (Revelations 3:20-21) Now last month we looked at “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock” where God is arresting our attention to make known His desires to obtain a response.  In all that God does for us, even our salvation, God is looking for a correct response from us. Not any old response, but the response He is looking for from us.  God knows our heart and He knows if we have the capability within us to get it. After all God would not ask something of us He knows we cannot do.  He asks of us only those things He knows we can do, but the long pole in the tent is are we willing to do what He has asked us to do.  Paul encourages us in, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God isfaithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)  I wonder why Paul would tell the folks at Corinth this? Well they were being tempted by all manner of temptations in the bustling sea port city where the world and all of its new religions and philosophies not to mention the many ladies up on the hill from the Temple of Aphrodite. The folks of Corinth were tempted and yes they succumbed, but Paul still called them Brethren.  Make no mistake my friends temptations are coming our way, but we are to have enough of God in us to be able to repel them because God always makes a way of escape for us.  In these times we need not be looking at the temptation, but we need to be looking for the way of escape God has already provided. 

         Okay from these two verses let us this month look at “if any man.”  Here the LORD through John’s hand is giving us an opportunity.  The opportunity of fellowship that leads to communing with God which is given to all.  Do you know what the most important word in the Bible is?  Many would say love,  grace maybe faith.  Now these all are some really important words, but for me they are not the most important word in the Bible which is (my humble opinion) the word “if.”  The word “if” always sets the condition for receiving from God.  I like that so much I am going to say that again. The word “if” always sets the condition for receiving from God.  God always sets divine opportunities before our face to where we MUST make a choice.  Our walk with the LORD is nothing more than coming to know God and what He wants for our lives and then making correct choices, the ones He is looking for us to make.  And “if” all throughout the scriptures (as written here) sets us up for an opportunity to do something or receive something from God.  We have a wonderful example of this in the first chapter of Isaiah.  Isaiah writes speaking of the rebellion of Judah,  “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: ²⁰ But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”  (Isaiah 1:19-20)  Here the LORD gives the people of Judah an opportunity to repent, “be wiling and obedient” to repent then they “shall eat the good of the land.” But if not another opportunity for not repenting, “But IF you refuse and rebel” then they “shall be devoured with the sword.”  Both are opportunities from the LORD and which one of the conditions they choose they will receive. Notice God did not set them up or tell them which one to choose it was their choice to either eat the good (or fat)  of the land or be devoured by the sword.  So too in our lives.  I remember my grandmother had a promise box on her dresser and every morning she would go to her promise box (supposedly with all of the promises in the Bible), pluck one of the colored cards, and read the promise.  Then put it neatly back in the box.  Well that was  nice, but the card was only half correct.  With each promise from God comes the condition or opportunity.  We will never receive the promise unless we meet the condition.  Every promise from God has a condition we must meet to receive the promise no matter great or small.  Here in Revelations the promise is “if any man” it is extended not to the Jew only, but to the Gentile as well. The promise to come and fellowship, to commune with the LORD was extended to any man or woman:  slave, bond, or free to all of mankind. The opportunity was extended no strings attached, no requirements to come and dine with the LORD.           

Next month we will continue on with more spiritual principles contained in verses found in the Book of Revelation as we look at our response. Do you hear Him calling?  Please know God is calling. 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 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, but 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 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, drugs, alcoholism, loss of peace in 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 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 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 with 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 whom God took to a place where there was no water to baptize people, prison 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, but God blessing us is not the message of the Gospel. The LORD was after John (He is after us) even more than He is interested in anything he 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 has 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 disciplined spirit.  The question then is what kind of spirit are we of? Written by David Stahl  Written by David Stahl

THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:                              

Dream Job  

Actually there’s no such thing as a dream job because unless our dreams (worldly hopes and aspirations) line up with what GOD wants in our lives it’s actually a pipe dream. In Colossians we read, “if ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOD. Set your affection on things above, not on the earth. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in GOD. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:1-5) Fulfilling our “dreams” is worldly thinking. GOD wants people that are sold out to Him that want to do what He wants them to do. GOD wants us to, “grow in  grace,  and in the  knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18) He doesn’t care if we get our “dream job or career.” Yes we must work to pay our bills and to eat, but that doesn’t necessarily mean pursuing our “dream job” to make us happy to be fulfilled.  Especially since it won’t help to conform us to the image of Christ.  In all the years we’ve been married I have never heard Dave say, “wow this is my dream job” not once. Do you think Jesus got His “dream job?” Jesus took off His divinity, came down from Heaven, was born in a stable, gathered a bunch of guys that hardly knew what He was saying and doing until after He was tortured and, crucified for everybody’s sins, then arose from the dead.  A “Dream Job?” It cost Jesus plenty to save us humans from our sins. Dream Career? Hardly. Jesus did as the Father wanted, “Father, if thou be willing remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.” (Luke 22:42) Folks it’s not about us getting our way so we’re happy little clams. Sometimes we just have to take whatever job GOD gives us so we can pay the bills.  He doesn’t give a flying flip if it’s our dream job or not. Buying into this worldly mush “I want to fulfill my dreams” mentality is ungodly and downright selfish thinking.  Especially if you have a family because I guarantee you, if YOU have your dream job someone in the family is going to be paying the price for you to engage in your pipe dream. I guarantee it. Somebody is paying. It’s not about us.  God wants us to fall into the ground and die:   die to self, die to the world and all its trappings, all the worlds ways and NOT feed our carnal, fleshly nature by indulging in worldly pipe dreams.  If our attention is on ourselves and our dreams it certainly is not on the things of GOD. It’s impossible. How can we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ when everything else is about us and what we want out of life? Come back to earth! There’s dreams and then there’s reality. And reality is we don’t always get our way. Because IF we’re following GOD we will do his bidding and His thoughts and desires will become our thoughts and desires. We will line up with His ways and NOT our ways. Dream job? Come back to earth and see what GOD wants for your life, then and only then as you walk in obedience to HIS will, will you be fulfilled as you follow Him.  Dream Job? GOD’S plan for our life may be polar opposite to what we want. Are we willing to ditch our dreams and follow Him or will we continue in our idolatry. Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16: 24) (also see Luke 9:23 and Mark 8:34) GOD Bless and read your Bible. 

Written by Karen Stahl

NEEDS NO WANTS:

1. In Dobrich, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and in SilistraPastor(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 Ndolimanain Ruhengeli, Rwanda.

NEXT HOME GROUP MEETING:

13 November 2019 & 19 November  2019 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 November 19 232 Everett Drive, Sneads Ferry NC  in Chadwick shores 11:00 am

10 November 19 232 Everett Drive, Sneads Ferry NC  in Chadwick shores 11:00 am

17  November 19 232 Everett Drive, Sneads Ferry NC  in Chadwick shores 11:00 am

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

FUTURE SCHEDULE:

November: Bulgaria and Romania

December: Local Ministry

January: 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.