Waiting on God – His Characteristics
February 2021 • Volume XIX 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. Let us continue looking at some areas we may not think about when we answer the call of God in our lives. Last month we discussed allowing conflicting interests to become an excuse to justify our unwillingness to answer God’s call. I can think of no greater conflicting interest than to bury your dad or mom maybe your brother or sister, maybe a friend, but in Matthew Jesus tells one (of the 70+) of His disciples, “And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” (Matthew 8:21-22) Where do our interest lie? Either it is Jesus first in our lives, oh wait a minute Jesus will not take second place in our lives. Either it is Jesus first in our lives or He has no part of our lives. Oh today we like to think we can skirt around religion and hope Jesus will pay attention to us because He loves everyone (and He does), but God is to us what we are to Him. If we have truly given Him our heart and life than He will commit everything within Him to us.
Okay let us move on to this month and see what the LORD has for us. Here is another area we may not consider when we answer God’s call on our life. When the opportunity given to us might for lack of response be given to those with a greater sense of need. In other words what do you do if the people (who God has chosen as we all are) who have been called do not respond. We read in the Scriptures, God wishes none to perish, for none to be lost, but also we know daily people die without God perish (not God’s will) and go to hell. in Luke Jesus addresses this question with His disciples and shows them how worldly people (even some Christians) will be shut out of heaven. Of course we know since Jesus exclusively ministered (except for two Gentiles) to the Jewish people, Jesus was talking about the nation of Israel who would be shut out and the folks not worthy maybe the Gentiles. Jesus shares, “So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” (Luke 14:21-24) God’s heart for mankind is for His house (Heaven) to be full, but that is not up to Him. All God can do is prepare the supper, set the table, and invite (call) all to come in. Attending the supper depends on us answering the supper invitation. No RSVP needed. As we can see the folks the “master of the house” (God) invited was the Jewish nation, but they did not want to come. They rejected the master of the house’s invitation. The “master of the house” was angry so he sent His servants out to find people less qualified, less spiritual, maybe less Godly or maybe these folks were more qualified, more spiritual, more Godly. So the servants did as the “master of the house”commanded and there was still room at the table so the “master of the house” commanded His servants to go back out to different places and find more people who were less qualified, less spiritual, maybe less Godly or maybe these folks were more qualified, more spiritual, more Godly. I would think they were more qualified, more spiritual, more Godly because they had enough wherewithal to answer the master of the house’s invitation. Okay now here in the last verse we see what happens when we reject the invitation of the “master of the house” and when we reject the opportunity. The first group of people invited maybe the worthy and seemingly close to the “master of the house” began to make excuses (verses 18-19) one by one. Sound familiar? The lesson of this story is if we do not answer the call of God in our lives then God’s call to us will be given to another. Now that my friend should be quite a sobering thought. Notice the “master of the house” did not try to resolve some issues with the invited folks, He just moved on to the next group of folks. No questions asked. Supper is ready come and eat. Too busy for God, okay fine, next. In the end here is what the master of the house said about the first group of folks, “For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” If you look closer you will see it was the poor, the maimed, and the halt that responded to the invitation, but I am not sure if it was their physical need that helped them see their spiritual need. At any rate they responded and enjoyed the goodness of the “master of the house.” Make no mistake my friend if you reject God’s call on your life He will pass you over and give to another. Take heed here. The same concept applies with our salvation. In Revelation John writes, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Revelation 3:11) Take heed allow no man (and that can mean you too) “take thy crown.” Make no mistake my friend your crown will NOT be lost if not rewarded to you it will be given to another.
Next month we will continue looking at some areas we may not think about when we respond to the call of God 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:
It is Only A Test
Our life is nothing more than test. Now many Christians would disagree with me on this one and say our life is to glorify God or worship Him and they would be correct, but if we are not obedient to God in what He wants for our lives all of our worship and all of the glory we give Him would not touch one act of obedience to God. Why do bad things happen to good people? God is testing those good people to see their reaction. Why do we suffer if God is all knowing, well our life is a test. Suffering teaches us patience, obedience, mercy, and compassion. Our life is nothing more than is a test and God is watching to see how we react; not to watch us suffer for suffering sake, but watching us to see HOW we react, what we will say, what we will do. In the Book of Exodus we read where God was testing the Children of Israel. Time and time again. God did miracle after miracle for the Children of Israel in the wilderness and their reaction was always the same. In the Book of Numbers we read, “And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5And the people spake against God, and against Moses, “Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.” (Numbers 21:4-5) Time and time again they would say, “Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.” Have you ever been hungry? Time and time again they would rail on Moses (but really railing on God) about the situations and circumstance God has brought them in to. How quickly they forgot about the great miracle of the parting of the Red Sea. How quickly they have forgotten about the taskmasters of Egypt. These situations were not to see them suffer, but God was testing them to see if they have learned anything. In Exodus we read where God came through again and rained bread from heaven. What a great miracle, again God jumps through the hoop for them when they cried. Again God saved them from the circumstance and situation that He brought into their lives. You know God desires not to deliver us, oh no God desires to develop us. Spiritual growth and development requires development and not deliverance. Now if God has to keep delivering us from situations and circumstances in our lives He knows the plan He has purposed for our lives is in jeopardy of being lost (we will walk always from Him) so he picks us up and plants us in another field so we can continue to grow at some lesser level only to replant us in the same field at a later time. We never get past the present test in God until we pass it. God told Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.” (Exodus 16:4) What a wonderful miracle, “bread from heaven.” I cannot remember how many sermons I have heard preached on this verse; how God feeds his people from His own hands, etc., but please notice why God gave the Children of Israel the “Manna” (which means “what is it”), not to fill their bellies or to satisfy their hunger, oh no, but “that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.” God gave them a miracle to test them. Say, our life is a test. God fed them every day (except on the last day of the week they collected two portions) to see if they would be obedient to His words. Who would think God would do such a thing? Anybody who can see the hand of God working in their lives. The bread from heaven was a particular provision and exercise in the people’s training. It was their test of obedience. Later on in the Book of Exodus the Children of Israel would swear to God, “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.” (Exodus 24:7) God knew if they could not be obedient to daily gather bread from heaven to feed their hunger how would they be able to fulfill their words, “All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.” God was testing them with a miracle because God knows obedience does not come from spoken convictions and intentions obedience comes through testings, for everybody even Jesus. In the Book of Hebrews we read of Jesus, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;” (Hebrews 5:8) Again why do we suffer, to learn obedience. Jesus first learned obedience at the hands of Joseph and Mary as a child. Make no mistake my friend Jesus was given a name above all names not because He was God’s Son, oh no but because, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Philippians 2:8-11) One of the objects in our training program of life is to train us in obedience. This is the very basic element. If there is no obedience then there will be no victory. Obedience is a must! It is one thing to say, “all that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.” and quite another thing to do it. Words are important, but words are much cheaper than actions. God is not after lip service; He is after a life that will be willing to march to His tune. He is gathering together a people who will serve Him in reality. He wants people who will do His will, rather than those who simply talk about doing His will. There are people who pray about doing His will and that’s all they do pray about it. That is not what God desires. He desires a people who will actually do that He says to do; who will, in fact, take upon themselves to obey the word of God. That is what He is after. How does God get this arrangement? People are not born with it. They must be trained to obey. Obedience is not something that is automatic. Remember it is only a test of our obedience! There is the need of learning obedience. We have to LEARN to obey. When one is born again of the Spirit of God, it would be just lovely if God somehow dumped into us that quality of total and unquestioning obedience. But that is not the way it happens. How did Jesus learn? Did God say to Him, “Let’s sit down together and I’ll tell You how to be always in complete obedience?” Oh, no. “yet learned he obedience by the things which He suffered” is the servant greater than the Master? Learning obedience is a life-long process, but here is the good news, as we learn the easier learning becomes. We see this process moving in our children. the more they learn the easier other things are to learn. We teach them to tie their shoes and when they master this skill they now can learn some day to tie a surgeon’s knot. So too in God. The more we learn obedience in areas in our lives the easier it will become to learn obedience in other areas. God’s principle have they be in the physical or spiritual realm are the same they must be learned to achieve the goal God intends. And God is after us being obedient to Him the first time He speaks. Oh He will speak again and again if he must, but we will lose some of the original intention God had for us in His speaking. Yes Jesus needed to learn obedience to such an extent that it became a perfect thing in His life BEFORE he began His public ministry. If we are to have a public ministry we too will need to learn obedience. Jesus went to school He did not sit in a classroom in Jerusalem, but He went to school, His Father’s school of the Spirit. And yes Jesus learned through situations and circumstances. The difference between disobedience and obedience may be narrower than a cell split in two, but the results may be worlds apart. At times God needs perfection in obedience that can split a cell in two. he needed that in Jesus’ life and He needs that in our lives. Perfect obedience is not understood by many, let alone knowing the price it will cost through experience. Jesus knew and He learned, he paid the price and is the servant greater than the Master? Keep telling yourself life is only a test, it is only a test and God is looking for obedience in us the first time He speaks.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Truthfulness is the Best Policy
But it can hurt, big time. If you can dish it out you’d better be able to take it when it comes your way. A relative called me a hypocrite and too judgmental recently fortunately they left out shallow, passive aggressive, and sarcastic whew, that would’ve been too much to handle! Yes I can be judgmental, hypocritical I try not to be, but rest assured dear in-law I’ve let GOD and others show me my wretched heart. To be honest, no, truthful— there’s times I can’t stand myself. Oh sure this person bugs me, that person irritates me, but the one person I really can’t stand is yours truly. You see I’ve always wanted the truth, but if you want the truth (in your life) you must first face the truth in yourself before pointing fingers at anyone else. Please don’t think that GOD has not dealt with yours truly. Now have I “arrived” no, there’s a plethora of things in my character that need fixing. But that’s my job. Jesus died for my sins, my crappy character is my job with GOD’s help. Despite being the glutton for punishment that I am and running off family members that I love and acquaintances’ giving them much fodder for digs and barbs–i.e. plenty of ammo to use against me, yet I still seek the truth. What am I going to deceive myself that I’m perfect? I don’t think so. I still seek the truth from GOD and study my Bible, because I don’t want to be a hypocrite, I don’t want to be judgmental I want to judge righteous judgment. Truth hurts (and how!!!) As Jesus said, and I believe, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32). Of course Jesus was speaking of salvation to the Pharisees, but we can certainly apply this scripture to honesty is the best policy. Do we want to be free from our emotional baggage? Do we want to be at our fullest potential in GOD–not our fullest potential in us— but in GOD? The lie says (our pride) I don’t need any help, I can do it on my own, or I am okay. But the Truth says run to God you can’t do it on your own, come to me I’ll help you. Truth is to propel us to GOD not to ourselves, not drugs, not booze, not food, not being so busy we can’t see straight, not hiding from GOD or running away from GOD, not deceiving ourselves that we’re ok because none of us are okay. Who are we kidding–HE sees and knows all anyway, and most people can see though our ruse so why do we go through all these maneuvers? No sir we take ourselves by the scruff of our necks and go to HIM now!! Warts and all, tears and all, pains and all, shame and all, angers and all, hurts and all, resentments and all. Why are we trying to hide things from a GOD that loves and wants to help us as if The Almighty doesn’t know or see. Dearly beloved, if GOD brings something to your attention: a behavior, your way of thinking, character flaws, resentment, whatever He wants you to change. And yes HE will use other people or situations to bring things to your attention or it may be a continuous thought, either way TAKE THE HINT and don’t be unteachable or a know-it-all. We don’t have to stay passive-aggressive, arrogant, paranoid, angry, fearful, bitter, judgmental, hateful, whatever, whatever. The love of GOD, for us who believe is immeasurable, it is out of GOD’S love for us that HE deals with us in our lives. Now you may think if Jesus died for my sins why worry about my character, but are we not supposed to glorify GOD in our bodies? “For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify GOD in your body and spirit which are GOD’S.” (1 Corinthians 6:20). If we are to glorify GOD in our bodies by NOT drinking excessively, eating ourselves into the grave, sex outside of marriage, drugs abortions, etc. why wouldn’t we want to glorify GOD with our character–integrity, patience, righteous judgment, honesty, faithfulness? Dave says the truth does two things; it offends or can make us free. If and when truth offends us we either agree with the truth and can be made free or we disagree and stay offended and lose out on GOD’s best for us. Most of us do the latter we get offended and stay offended. The ones that can’t forgive and forget, those who hold grudges forever, and try to run from GOD, they do not allow GOD to deal in their lives. Honesty is always the best policy, be honest with our self and GOD, run to HIM, because HE loves us so much and HE will help.
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:
23 February at 7:00 pm
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
Home: (910) 741-0489
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
February: Local Ministry
March: Local Ministry
April: 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.
