Waiting on God – His Characteristics
August 2020 • Volume XVIII Number 12
”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. When we think about God and all of the things in God that are not in us we think, well it is because God is spiritual and we are not, and this true. But God’s intention for our lives is to love Him enough so that we will allow Him to judge and deal in our lives bringing us into the spiritual realm. Our nature (without God’s work in our lives) leaves us in the natural realm, of the earth, fleshly. But to step up to the spiritual realm there must be a supernatural phenomena in the way of a supernatural work of God in us. Our expression of God in us and walk with God must be in the supernatural. What is coming out of us and what people see of us MUST be born of the Spirit of God which makes it supernatural. The Children of Israel were held in bondage by God and the Egyptians for 430 years, but when they left “by the mighty hand of God” they just did not pick up their “ole kit bag” and hit the wilderness, oh no they left under the “wonders” and by supernatural phenomena’s. In Exodus we read, “And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will doin the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: 22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourned in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.” (Exodus 3:20-22) Who would have thought the slaves would find favor with the Egyptian people? Who would have thought as the slaves left they would spoil or loot the homes, offices, and treasury of the entire city of all things of value? When I read this for the first time I thought what would the people wandering in the wilderness need of silver, jewels, and gold? Well the LORD knew at Sinai they would sin and build a golden calf to worship while Moses delayed coming down from standing before God. God brought the people to Sinai so He could show them His glory, that is what Sinai means glory. God wanted the people to see His glory, but they were afraid of the thunder and lightning on the mountain and told Moses, you go and talk with God. I find it amazing that even in God’s anger because of the unbelief and sin in the people He knew in advance (He is God He knows all things) this would happen and provided for the golden calf out from the Egyptian spoils. What did they make the items in the temple the wilderness with? That is right the Egyptian spoils. God is our provider. It was no small wonder after the supernatural phenomena of the ten plaques: (in order) blood, frogs, bugs, wild animals, pestilence, boils, hail, locust, darkness, and the last death of the first born that the Children of Israel found favor in the eyes of the Egyptian people. In all these supernatural happenings God was working on the behalf of the Children of Israel. The lesson for us today is, if God will do it for the Children of Israel He will then do it for us. We all like the supernatural and yes we need the supernatural as I previously said moving in our lives, but the focus is not the supernatural our focus MUST be God and not a sign. This example of the supernatural because a problem for the Jewish nation and was one of the main reasons they rejected Jesus and never saw Him as their King. For the Jewish people to believe they could not walk by faith, but had to see a sign. We see this in Isaiah when Jesus was announced to the world,
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) They needed a sign to believe. In John,
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.’ (John 6:28-32) We MUST not look for a supernatural sign from God to do the work of God in our lives. Yes we MUST be spiritual and God will do supernatural things in us and out from us, but the focus is not the supernatural, but God. Now that is spiritual.
Next month we will begin to look at a very important topic the things in our lives we MUST overcome to be able to answer the LORD’s call in our lives. 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:
A New Season
If we are feeling spiritually empty it may be the Lord’s intention for us to feel this way. The Lord often removes the old to make room for the new when we are about to enter into a new season, thus, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) What a painful truth to wrap our mind and heart around, but. rather than being discouraged or complaining about our present struggles we should hold this sense of being dissatisfied (being spiritually empty) before the Lord in anticipation of a new and deeper spiritual experience which is beyond our present level of spirituality. Jesus shared these words with the multitudes that followed Him on what we call “the sermon on the mount.” Now some have made this message from God (was not a sermon) more than what it really was, but in reality all Jesus was doing was just ministering to the people who were trodden down with life, maybe suffering from persecution, and carrying many burdens. This is the best we can do when we minister just share our thoughts and heart with the people from the word that God gives us and do only those things directed by Him, anything else can be showmanship and can easily reach into manipulation. Often we can feel there is a fresh stirring of the Lord’s desire for us to become all that He would have us to be. We are hearing a new message, beyond anything that we have heard in the past. Our part is to be spiritually open and receptive. “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…” (Revelation 3:22) Hearing here more by our spirit and not our audible ear. One thing I am learning is anything new I read from the Bible and hear from other ministers it is best not to allow our old bias to squash it in our thoughts and spirit. It is best to hold it before the Lord (even if we do not understand it) and allow the Holy Spirit to shine His light of truth on it and our heart and when it is for us we will be able to understand it or the Holy Spirit will reveal the error in it. Can you imagine the thoughts and misunderstanding the people had (probably some of the same folks at the sermon the mount) when Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” (John 6:53) Well if they had not continued to listen (held His words before them) they would not have had the opportunity to be saved and walk with Him. New does not always mean bad, but make no mistake new most often means change and most people (especially Christians) do not like to change we are very happy in our old ways of understanding and doing things. Change is one of the hardest things for man to do when they have found success in doing things another way. We even make up sayings like, “if it is not broken then do not fix it.” Well it may not be broken, but it can be improved on and that is what God is looking for in our lives improvement the first time he speaks.
In the past there were times and places in which there was a substantial moving of the Spirit and many came to respond to the presence of the Lord. However, as soon as His presence lifted they left as their interest was in being blessed rather than in being changed. Funny how this can happen. As a small boy growing up in Pentecostal churches I remember moves of God where the Spirit of God (you knew it was not man originated) suddenly fell, but it has been some time since I have witnessed such a move of God. Two fast ones and slow one, announcements, take up the offering, about 15 – 20 minutes of good sermon (not a message from God), closing song, maybe altar call, and then blast out the door by 12:00 to beat the Baptists to our favorite cafeteria for lunch all directed by a service bulletin that nowhere says God can move when He wants. I hope this does not typify your service. Charles Haun (my teacher) told me a genuine move of God is 90% God and 10% man and the more man handles things the less of God is moving. When I was teenager living in West Virginia we use to attend a small Assembly of God Church in Wiley Ford. The Pastor was Howard Reckley how I loved this man. Well suddenly there was a move of God in the heart and lives of the 10 to 15 kids in the church. We would run down to the altar and praying hard and weeping for hours. After school the first thing we would do before we went home was go to the church and spend time in prayer. God met us there in a great way, but the more we tried to formalize and orchestrate our getting together the less of the Spirit of God there seemed to be. Unannounced and in a sovereign way God came to us and the more we tried to do to get to Him the harder he was to be found until we loss interest in it all as you would expect of young teenagers. Many have experienced touches of a higher realm of worship and desire more, but it does not happen in the atmosphere of the worldly approaches (music, dance, lights, fog, drama, etc.) found within the present day Church. This limits us (which brings us to fulfillment and completion not freedoms and liberties) to praise (speaking words of adoration to and about God) which can lift us into the higher realms of worship in the Spirit where we bow down, bring our head to the ground, or fall on our face before God which is the highest form of honor, respect, and love for God. I believe the Lord is beginning to unfold before us new levels of revelation as the age-to-come. Revelation as truth is never ours (it is owned by God, but shared with us) and is ever progressive. What I thought I knew (I did and it was real), but God opened another wrinkle, a new vein of understanding from that bit of broken bread to me. He is seeking to take us beyond our hearing sermons that relate to the past or to the future, but into the higher realm of prophetic revelation in which we are receiving a present living word for today. During the 1950’s, deeper-life Bible teachers like: John Wright Follette, A. W. Tozer, Walter Beuttler, and Oswald Chambers to name a few were criticized (there is always a price one will pay for revelation and for the greater revelation the greater the price) and judged because, as forerunners, they saw and understood that which was beyond was greater than what most were seeing or understanding in their day. As there were forerunners in that day there are those today who are reaching into the unknown who also must pay the price of not being understood. Now I am not saying I am a forerunner (probably not) as with John Wright Follette, A. W. Tozer, and Walter Beuttler I can think of others who have a greater revelation (in my most humblest of opinion) of understanding guys like Charles Haun, Wade Taylor, Bill Pepper, Jake Luffy to name a few. I hope you can name such great men in your life but please know when you say and do things that will require change by those who hear your words to come into a greater revelation the stones are coming your way. I think it was Oswald Chambers who said they build the monument to you in death from the stones they have thrown at you in life. They killed Jesus for telling the truth and for saying things for the people to hear. Still in John Chapter 6 we read, “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?.” (John 6:60) It was not the multitudes this time that followed Him, but now it was His disciples who spoke these words. Verses 61-62, “When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? But look at Jesus’ reply to His disciples, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63) Jesus was willing to receive the stones of murmuring to be the stone of stumbling unto their salvation. And is the servant greater than the Master? There is a present urgency and need to present ourselves as being available to become a place of habitation for the presence and glory of the Lord, beyond anything that has previously been experienced or seen. This manifestation of His glory will impact the nations. Walter Beuttler said God told him if he builds God a temple He will inhabit it. May we pray together that we will rise above our present feeling of dissatisfaction, and be ready for that day.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Joined At The Hip (Part 2)
So let me start off for the naysayers who after reading “Joined at the Hip” last month yes we did ask and believe for a miraculous, divine intervention. It wasn’t my idea to go through all that for months to get to a surgery. Quite frankly at least for me and countless millions of other folks I seem to learn things in hindsight. I know it’s not a big deal for GOD to heal me or anybody else for that matter and yes I do have the faith to be healed. In the past there were times where I did get a healing from GOD and there were times I just had to go through things. Like with the hip. GOD was going step by step with me as HE showed himself strong and faithful to me. I neglected to say last month that the back doctor that I saw had his hip done by the same surgeon I had. We saw how well he was walking and had he not said anything we’d never had known he had hip surgery. I was at the place physically, mentally, and emotionally to go for the hip surgery. As we go with GOD on these little journeys in our OBEDIENCE we will come out winners as HE proves HIMSELF to us. Had GOD healed me from the onset I would’ve missed out on all the areas that HE helped me in: from watching the grandkids, to traveling to Bulgaria, Romania, and New Jersey. Receiving encouragement from friends and acquaintances. Other people too wouldn’t have had the opportunity to pray and believe with us during this time. If GOD doesn’t intervene right away in whatever situation we are in perhaps HE is working for a better result in us. Dave always says;” GOD’S main intention for us is spiritual growth and development. Miracles are not always GOD’S best for our lives. Did GOD prevent Daniel from going into the lion’s den? No. Neither did HE prevent Daniels enemies from plotting against him so he would be thrown in the den. Daniel in his righteousness and integrity was tossed into the lion’s den and was delivered from their teeth and claws by an angel sent by GOD. His enemies however were not so fortunate as the lions tore them up before they (and their wives and children) even hit the ground. Read the account in Daniel 6: 1-25. GOD ain’t no joke. Righteousness will be rewarded and evil too will be rewarded and not in a good way. It is no big deal for GOD to do a miracle in our lives, however that miracle may not help us to grow spiritually nor will it propel us to trust and obey in an invisible GOD. In our lives a lot of times the journey is more important than the destination. GOD wants us to get to the place where no matter what happens in our lives we will with a GOOD ATTITUDE bless HIS name. My friend at the end of the day we must come to the place in GOD whether HE gives us a miracle or not or whether HE delivers us or not we will still serve HIM. We see this truth so plain in the Book of Daniel, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18) What are we going to do if the LORD does not deliver us? Let us be like our brother Job (who lost everything in one day) who stated: “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1: 21). So this too is my testimony and I look forward to getting my other hip replaced in August. May both my new hips last till I go home with Jesus and carry me to places HE has for me to go. GOD bless, study your Bible. Written by Karen Stahl
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:
HGMs for August will be 11 and 25 at 7:00 pm.
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
Home: (910) 741-0489
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
August: Local Ministry
September: Local Ministry
October: Local Ministry
Email: charliegolfone@outlook.com
ROCK FELLOWSHIP ON THE RADIO:
On WJCV Jacksonville, NC
1290 AM or 98.3 FM
Every Sunday morning at 9:00 am
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.
