THOUGHTS FOR CONSIDERATION:
Greetings again my Brethren. Okay let us continue looking at ways and even circumstances “the LORD” (the Father) and even “the Lord” (Jesus) has paid man a visit. Some times their visits are good as we will see here in 1 Kings 3:5, but other times their visit will be not so good as we see things play out all throughout the Bible especially in the Book of Revelations which is THE revelation of Jesus Christ and not some mystical book with scary stories and images, but THE (one and only) revelation of Jesus Christ’s that God (the Father) gave Him that surely WILL come to pass. John writes, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” (Revelation 1:1) I do not know about you my friend, but the Book of Revelations is far beyond me and I do know I do not want to be here on earth to see it unfold. Now I know this may sound funny, but the number one place the LORD talks to me (maybe in the night also) is in the bathroom. Yeah, I know you are probably laughing at me right now, but that is true. I remember when we lived in Germany and my African assistant pastor and I were driving to Moldova, well we got stuck at the Polish border. My assistant pastor had told me that he got his visas for all along the way, but he had not. While in Africa a “prophet” told him he would cross borders without a need for a visa so he moved in that word. Wrong! So we turned around and went back into Germany to a friend’s house near Dresden, because there was a consulate there where he could get a visa. Well, it was closed for the day. What to do now? I thought go to the bathroom so the LORD can speak to me. I excused myself and went to the bathroom. And guess what? The LORD was waiting for me. He said for me to continue on into Poland and for my assistant pastor to go back to Stuttgart and get a visa. So I took him to the train station and I continued on into Poland. Days later he met me in Poland and the story really got wild from there. We never made it to Moldova (went to jail in Poland), but that is another story. Okay, back to our topic. One of the main times the LORD visits is at night. So many critical events happen during the night. Jesus was resurrected during the night time. The children of Israel cross the Red Sea at night. The world was created at night, night comes before day in the Bible. Genesis talks about darkness then the light. One of the good times is in 1 Kings 3:5, I believe to be Jeremiah writes, “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.” (1 Kings 3:5) WOW what an request from God. Unless our heart was dealt with by God this would totally destroy us. Our wildest desires and imaginations could come to pass, nothing would be withheld from us, WOW what a dream come true for some, but for only few, those who know restraint and limitations, it would bring a greater will of God in their lives. Solomon does not ask for money, wealth, health, riches, power oh no Solomon said, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.” (1 Kings 3:9-10) Solomon chose well, and God was pleased and said, “Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, (1) I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. 13 And (2) I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.14 And (3) if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. (1 Kings 3:11-14) So God’s word was true, Solomon was given three things that made him the wisest and the richest man in history, but not so about the third promise. As we read about Solomon’s life we find he, did not “walk” in God’s ways, to keep His statutes and His commandments, as thy father David did walk” and gave himself to idol worship, had wives and concubines, caused Israel to worship false idols, and so many things God did not find pleasing, but in end I want to believe he made it right with God when he said, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) Here is an example of a blessing from God when He came for a visit in the night, but in the end due to disobedience the picture is left unclear. Now I am not going to beat up on Solomon not sure what I would have done with all that God gave him, but I hope I see him in heaven.
Next month we will continue to look at some circumstances in which the LORD has visited man as seen in some diverse situations. Next week my favorite (not that I enjoy it) the wilderness. Do you see Him draw near? Please know God is near to them who are near to Him. Do you feel His presence? Do you see His hand in your life? He is waiting on us to make our first move. Written by David Stahl
Why not me LORD?
Salvation does not exempt us from the everyday problems of life nor does it prepare us for ministry and service unto the LORD. I remember when the LORD was drawing me in greater ways I would pray why not me Lord? Well this went on for some time and I think it was after I got back from spending 55 days (roughing it) at a Joint Task Force Headquarters (as the Deputy Surgeon) in Haiti with the US Army in Port-a-Prince the LORD spoke to me, “you are not ready yet.” I was shocked! What? I am saved come on LORD get your magic wand out and make me ready, well my friend God does not operate like that. The LORD expects us to ready ourselves in obedience (our choice) as he works in our lives. Those who are fully committed to the LORD often find themselves entangled in on-going difficulties. Finally a release comes, only to find that another pressure has taken the place of the one that was resolved. Job had it right when he said, Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” (Job 5:7) “Sparks fly upward” all the days of our lives, up to where the LORD resides. And why? Because we are on the grinding wheel of the LORD to grind and hone off the rough edges of our character and nature. Funny how the Scripture uses the wheel symbolically to represent our lives. We all (as Christians) are on the potter’s wheel and as the wheel goes around the LORD crushes, molds, and breaks us as He makes us into a vessel of honor or dishonor. Paul tells us in Romans, “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” (Romans 9:21) We as the clay have no say in God’s finished product, the LORD and He alone fashions us as He sees fit for the Masters use. The harder the master squeezes the more He is working in the life of the finished product and of course that which comes with the squeezing is the difficulties the clay experiences, but there is a reason for these difficulties. Therefore we should view them as servants placed in our circumstances to accomplish a higher purpose. Only as we refuse to allow these seemingly unending pressures and difficulties to hinder us and instead rise above or overcome them will we be able to successfully become the vessel The LORD has created us for. One thing for sure the longer we stay on the wheel (our choice) the more the LORD can work on us. But how can we refuse to allow these unending pressures and difficulties to hinder us? This is accomplished as we respond appropriately to the circumstances, testings, and disciplines of obedience that we face, and recognize them as the means to prepare us. Therefore it is important that we respond in heart obedience looking to the LORD for a way through these difficult times. As we respond correctly we must remember a few things, one is clay never talks back to the potter. All clay gets to do is go around and around on the wheel of life as the potter fashions it. In life there are only a few things we are really in control of. The only thing we are in control of is our attitude and how we act in troubles and difficulties will determine how long we get worked over by the LORD. Victor Frankl (a holocaust survivor) said, “Everything can be taken from us but one thing the last of the human freedoms to choose ones attitude in any given circumstance.” I can think of no person in the Bible other than Joseph who experienced Frankl’s words in depth. Did you know Joseph’s life can be explained in five “P” words? The first word is “Plenty.” Joseph was raised in a world of plenty, loved and favored by his father. He had a coat of many colors his father gave him. God even spoke to him in dreams what a wonderful life, but at the tender age of 17 Joseph’s brothers threw him into the second word, the “Pit.” God loved Joseph so much and the word He spoke to him in his dreams He put Joseph in a pit for safe keeping. But the LORD did not leave Joesph there oh no because the LORD loved Joseph He had his brothers sell him into slavery. I think Joseph learned something while he was in the pit because, “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. (Genesis 39:2) Now you have to get this image in your mind to really appreciate the LORD’s way of seeing things. Here is a young boy standing naked on a slave block waiting to be sold and later while in prison the LORD said of him, “he was a prosperous man.” God does not see things the way we see things. We would think Joseph is poor and naked, but the LORD sees him rich and prosperous. The next “P” word is “Potiphar” the Captain of the guard and to whose home Joseph was sold. But while he was a slave in Potiphar’s house the LORD was with him. Did you know it does not matter where you are or what you are doing if the LORD is with you? Moses tells us, “And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.” (Genesis 39:3-4) Joseph learned something. He learned the only thing we are really in control of is our attitude and because of that God was with him, gave him favor in his master’s sight, and blessed all that Joseph touched. One would think all is well with Joseph and the world, but because of the LORD’s word to Joseph and the eternal plan the LORD had for him Joseph was take to the next “P” word the “Prison.” Through no fault of his own (all God’s will and plan for his life) and because of the favor of the LORD on his life, his good looks, and a lie from his master’s wife he was cast into prison. But Joseph knew something. He learned the lessons of the pit and the house of Potiphar (all progressive lessons) and now he could keep his attitude in check. We read, “And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was therein the prison. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made itto prosper.” (Genesis 39:20-23) Again the LORD was with Joesph not because he was Joseph, but because he learned the lessons the LORD wanted him to learn. And again God blessed him in the prison. When we are in the right place (spiritually) with the LORD it is easy for Him to bless us. Lastly the LORD did not leave Joseph in prison he elevated him to the last “P” word the “Palace.” “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:44-45) Joseph was raised up to be number two in all of the world (at that time), not because he was Joseph, but because he learned how to keep his mouth shut, endure, and follow the LORD in obedience. At the ripe old age of 30 (13 years later) Joseph was made (by the will of the LORD’s hand) “Zaphnathpaaneah” or God our savior. Many Christians ask “why not me LORD? Why can I not get involved in ministry? Well have you learned how to keep your mouth shut, endure, and follow the LORD in obedience? This is the price we pay to be used of the LORD not abilities, gifts, or talents. This process will be effective only when we accept the fact that these pressures have been placed in our daily life experience to press us into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord may permit us to remain without satisfaction for a time, while our problems linger without an apparent solution. If we were quickly or easily released from these and given an uncluttered pathway we would relax and feel that we had arrived. There would be little inner change or spiritual progress as we would be resting in the blessings and provision that we received. Now here is the lesson for us. In the Psalms we read of Joseph, “He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: 18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: 19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. 20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.” (Psalm 105:17-20) Did you get that, “ Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.” What time and what word came forth? The time is the manifestation of what the LORD has spoken to us. What has God spoken to you? But notice until the manifestation of the LORD’s word in our lives the approving and qualifying of our obedience will be tried time and time again. In Joseph’s life at age 17 the LORD spoke, his father and brothers would bow down (all the LORD’s plan for their lives) before him. And for 13 years, “the word of the LORD tried him” not till age 30 did the LORD’s word manifest in his life to fulfill the plan and purpose. The LORD takes time to do things, no instant Godly leaders and His ways can hurt, but as we rightly respond to the process of being tested and corrected we grow spiritually and enter into our spiritual identity as a mature son. I am chastened when I do something wrong. Our being scourged has nothing to do with any wrong doing. Rather it has to do with the reduction of our independence and is an indication that we are doing everything right. Scourging reaches into the very depth of our being and crucifies our self-life (our right to our own ways) and removes our propensity towards our self-sufficiency. Even a spirited horse has to be broken before it can be ridden. This is done not because the horse has done something wrong, but so it can become productive. Likewise, scourging has to do with our becoming a yielded vessel in the hand of the Lord. John W. Follette once said, “there are few who minister out of a broken spirit. This is because there are few who are willing to go through the process of being reduced, through scourging.” We may feel that we do not deserve the problems that we find in our pathway and this may be true, but they are there because the LORD is seeking to make us far more capable and useful to Him in the outworking of His purposes and it all starts by our attitude. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Double Minded
Our Brother James exhorts the Jewish Believers of his day,
What James told the Believers then and now is that, “
Now it does not say in a few ways or only a couple of ways, but
In everything they do they will be double minded and unstable. Now, I’m not talking about new Believers that make a few mistakes here and there, I’m talking about people who have walked for years with the LORD. Our stability in Jesus is to grow stronger as years go by. As the LORD tests and proves us over the years we (hopefully) become more and more stable to handle whatever comes our way. And being made more stable in our faith, in a Holy and loving GOD, we will not be tossed about with
That would be the doctrines of MAN and all of the taste not, touch not, feel not or any new fad doctrine: like cheap grace, soul sleep, or a hip Jesus all like a cancer infecting the Body of Christ. If you do not read and study your Bible, if you do not pray, if you do not meditate on the LORD, if you do not learn the lessons GOD is trying to teach you, it will be very easy to sin (miss the mark), and GOD forbid, easy to fall away from Jesus. Dave and I visited a certain country a few years ago which in the Apostle Paul’s time although quite sophisticated was as pagan as the day is long. They still are. All you have to do is check out the touristy areas and check out the souvenirs’ that would make anybody half decent blush. But boy how they take great pride in their past and in their pagan temples that were used centuries ago. They were double minded then and still are today. So are people that claim to love Jesus, but hang on to their cultures, their religion, or pagan social organization (like Masons or Shriners) yet still consider themselves Christian. Brethren, you cannot hold on to Jesus and the world. You cannot hold on to Jesus and your religion. It’s either all the way or no way. We need to be single minded and get our minds settled on Jesus—’cause brother, we’re in it for the long haul. A double minded person thinks they can call themselves a Christian and live anyhow, wrong. A double minded person thinks they can have religion and do all the religious do-das and still hang on to Jesus, wrong. A double minded person thinks they’re a Christian and can get drunk, smoke, do drugs, and everything else immoral while thinking they are okay with GOD. Really?? Folks GOD’s Spirit doesn’t always strive with man (see Genesis 6:3). We are only for so long on this earth. We need to get our acts together, NOW! There’s NO SECOND chance when we’re dead. James again admonishes us,
Let us endeavor to have singleness of heart and singleness of mind to our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ. Like the vision of a Dove single eyed. God Bless. Study your Bible. Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NO WANTS:- In Dobrich, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and in SilistraPastor(s) Yanko, and Marcho. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
