| November 2022 | Volume XXI 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. Well, another teaching for the glory of God. As I said last month this month we will start a brand new series called “The Oracles of God.” Before we get going we need to lay a solid Scriptural foundation for this teaching. Now, the word “oracle” means a person who is inspired by God to speak for God. Please know not everyone who says they speak for God is an oracle and not everyone who says they speak for God, speaks for God. Most who say they speak for God in reality speak for themselves for profits of money and power. Please pay close attention here. Speaking for God is authorized ONLY in the capacity of being an oracle of God. In 1 Peter 4:11, we see this truth “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11) Now please notice this verse starts off with the most important word in the Bible, “if.” “If” always sets up the condition to be or to receive something in God. In this case, speaking for God, Let him speak as the oracle of God. Or in other words only an oracle of God can speak for God. All of those phony guys on “Christian” TV and on social media need to understand this verse well. The next point we need to discuss is an oracle is a “mouthpiece” speaking on behalf of someone else. In Exodus 4 Moses tried to run from the call of God on his life by saying he was slow of speech and slow of tongue (verse 10), but God wanted nothing to do with this dribble. In Exodus 4:15-16 he told Moses, “And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.” (Exodus 4:15-16) You can run and you can hide, but God has His ways of putting His words in your heart and mouth. And why not? Out of your mouth speaks your heart. So God told Moses He will teach Him and he (Moses) will tell Aaron his brother and Aaron will tell the people what to do. You know it is strange Moses being trained in the palace as a prince all the days of his life, mighty in combat, yet he was slow of speech and slow of tongue when God called him to serve. Today we think we have to be well spoken, a great teacher, a great writer, gifted to represent God, even as a oracle, but not so. In Moses’ case remember Moses just spent 40 years taking care of Jethro’s sheep in the wilderness, the training grounds for all who desire to speak for God. The next point we need to look at is such a “mouthpiece” when speaking for God is commonly called a prophet. Now this is NOT the so called prophets of today who you see on “Christian” TV or on social media telling you God is going to bless you with a chicken in every pot and a new car. These guys are thieves and liars and will pay dearly some day for all of their lies and deception. In the Bible the prophet was a man who just opened their mouth and God spoke though them. In Jeremiah 1:4-9 we read, “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” (Jeremiah 1:4-9) Here Jeremiah was not a man with fancy robes, wealth, power to control people, but a child. And we see all that God did was to touch his mouth and put His words in His mouth. Prophets in the Old Testament were powerful men so please do not get me wrong here, but not powerful in the way of the world, but in ways of God and the people knew they were speaking as a oracle of God and respected them as they respected God. and the last point is a prophet, therefore, is a “mouthpiece” of God speaking for God. God laid this truth out Himself in Deuteronomy 18-20, “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-20) Yes, God uses people like us, but if you notice three of my four Scriptural references come from the Old Testament, way before the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I will be honest I struggle often to see the need for a “prophet” to speak to the people when they are to have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them guiding and leading them to all truths. But make no mistake God is serious about people speaking for Him, His word is truth and life. In the end, “even the prophet shall die” for disobedience.
Next month we will continue looking at the “Oracles of God.” Do you hear Him draw near? He is speaking to us, but do we have the hearing ears to heard what the LORD is say to us? Written by David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Our Integrity
Make no mistake my friend the greatest focus in our lives is not how much money we give to the church, how much service we do for God, how long we can speak in tongues, or how well we can pray and preach, oh no, the number one focus of God in our lives is our integrity and God’s second focus in our lives is do we have a love for the truth. Not do we know all truth which will carry us only so far in knowing God, but having a love for the truth will easily carry us past our inability to know some things of God, our religious works, and our immaturity in God. Paul tells us, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2) Having all of these things (what most Christians go after in their walk with the LORD) and not “charity” or love, then we are nothing. Again our integrity in all matters of our lives is God’s number one focus. Now we think God is looking at us in the big things, but oh no my friend that is wrong. God is more concerned about the small areas in our lives than He is concerned about the big areas. As a matter of fact the smaller the area, the more insignificant we think the area the more God is scrutinizing us closer. We think God is examining us in the big areas of our lives (cheating, lying, stealing, committing adultery, or murder, etc.), but He is not. We like big things (flashy and showy), but do you know what? God likes small things (behind the scenes people and things) and He is measuring us in the little, insignificant areas of our lives. Most of you all know we had a maternity clinic in Aveile, Nigeria (about six hours south of Abuja and six hours north of Lagos) where we were delivering 125 to 130 babies a month, that is more than the local hospital in the Jacksonville, NC area. Well it was built in 2005 and has not had a major facelift since. We had to build a wall (and paint it) around the compound to protect the clinic from the continued violence, robbery in the country, and the massive crowds of ladies that came (often with their kids) each day to be seen for maternity medical issues or to be fed. So I let some of my friends know about the need for the critical improvements to the maternity clinic and two wonderful brothers gave me some money. One brother gave me $4,000 and another brother gave me $5,000, praise the LORD. Also most of you know I traveled out to the nations every year. In my travels I usually finished my year in Bulgaria and Romania, there are some Bible Schools and churches I have fallen in love with and the feeling is mutual with them. Usually in November I travel there, but in the summer a few years God had sent me out to a country I had not been to in some time. We (Pastor Victor Foster and I) went to India (not been there 10+ years) and the year before that we (Pastor Victor Foster and I) went to Ethiopia (not been in 12+ years). So now it is summer, I had the money for the clinic ($9,000), and we were hosting a pastor from Tanzania, which I have not been to in 11+ years. How tempting would it be to use the money for the maternity clinic on the trip to Tanzania? What a test from God! Remember God tests, Satan is the tempter. You know in God we must not fall into patterns with God, just because you did something last week, last month, or last year does not mean God wants you to do it this week, this month, or this year. I thought I wonder if God wants me to use this money for our trip? I know the money was given for the maternity clinic, but I can rob Peter to pay Paul and use some of the money for our trip to Tanzania, God will be glorified, the church in Bukoba will be strengthened with our BHG conference and crusade, great things in God will take place. I even in ways perused my thought. It is okay to lean forward (project, plan, and coordinate these must be done in advance) in the foxhole, but when you pull the trigger to spend money and expend resources we must be right and well within God’s guide lines of integrity. Some of my friends in ministry (not ours) would say not a big deal as long as the money is spent on ministry, well the LORD does not look at things that way. Remember God closely scrutinizes us in the little things in the insignificant areas, things we think are not important to God, well the smaller the area (like our thoughts, our character, and our integrity) the closer God is looking at us. Now here is the strange part I know we could have went on the trip and God would have been glorified and mighty works would have been done. Amazingly God was leaving it all up to me to either do the right thing or do something that would not totally reflect His integrity and character in my life. How subtle is that? You would miss it if you did not have an ability to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. In Mathew Jesus shares, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23) The key word to understand these verses is the word “iniquity.” The word “iniquity” does not mean bad or wicked like we use it today, but is Strong’s #G459 which means, lawlessness, without the framework, or outside the law. These Christians (in verse 22) were not doing bad things after all they were prophesying, casting out devils, and doing wonderful works, “in thy name,” but they were not doing these mighty works within the framework and guidelines of the way God wanted things to be done. They were operating in “iniquity” or outside the law, they were operating in lawlessness, outside the way God wanted things to be done; while casting out devils, prophesying, and the like and that is why God said, depart from me, ye that work or operate outside the framework of the law. It is odd, strange, and even scary to me to know God will allow people to operate or work outside His framework, maybe that is how evangelists, preachers, and teachers (just turn on Christian TV) can function and be off track (or even over in sin) yet still do good things for God. After all Isaiah tells us, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) It has nothing to do with the speaker, but all to do with the sender. God can even use someone (or even a donkey) in sin to share His word, so we must not get all puffed up and think we have arrived when He uses us. I was even more amazed when the brother who gave me $5,000 was going to cover my ticket which I planned to use on the conference or crusade. It was not a question of God’s ability to keep us or provide for us, but it was a question of my integrity and my love for the truth. Make no mistake I (and the others) were qualified (after all God has made me an international Bible teacher) to go on the trip, but since the money was given to me for the maternity clinic I was not authorized. This is a divine spiritual principle that many young Christians violate; you may be qualified to do something in God, but if God has not authorized you to do it then doing it would be sin. The longer you go in the LORD the more subtle and even almost seemingly deceptive the LORD’s tests become. He will not hold His cards out for you to see or show you what He wants you to learn, oh no the LORD will hold His cards close to His chest and see if you have enough understanding and spiritual discernment to know what He is saying and doing in a given situation or circumstance. He will hide and watch us to see how we will respond in given situations. Solomon said, “The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. 9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.” (Song of Solomon 2:8-9) For the young Christian many cannot handle such scrutiny and inspection they do not have a spiritual wherewithal to discern the mature subtle tests, but as “we grow in the grace and knowledge of the LORD” our spiritual ability is to sharpen, become fined tuned, and as God checks us out He then can approve or qualify us for the next thing He has for us. If we pass the test what awaits us is God’s treasures, not His blessing. I would rather have God’s treasures than His blessing. Again in Isaiah we read, “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” (Isaiah 45:3) If you think the “treasures of darkness” and “hidden riches” are money, influence, power, or authority you are a greedy, selfish, and arrogant Christian. God gives us His treasures not for service, but to build in us His integrity and His character in us (we do not have it when we first are saved) and to establish us in the inward man the more. “Hidden riches of secret places” in the uncertainty and darkness of not knowing, but then coming into the light of knowing that we have done the right thing. What a treasure God gave me. Not a feeling or an emotion because I still would have liked to go on the trip in spite of the dangers. After all God made me an international Bible teacher this is what I am to be doing, but a sense of “well done” knowing I have done the right thing in spite of my emotions and religious zeal by not going. Knowing the LORD and His ways is far above any trip to preach, teach, or minister abroad and knowing He has called me by His name is far beyond diamonds, gold, or rubies. What a treasure far greater than any blessing. Without integrity all we have is commonness which is the opposite of holiness. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Remember
Recently, my sister sent me a photo of her and I that I haven’t seen in decades, talk about a blast from the past! Nice photograph, grainy, cute, but I don’t remember when it was taken nor the occasion. We were nose to nose in the picture and I do slightly remember that I thought it’d be a good photograph as I (think) had seen another photo similar with two people nose to nose as well. Well, choreographing photos is definitely not my forte! But, it did get me thinking about this article! Many times in the Bible the LORD told His people to remember HIS laws, HIS ways, and to remember blessings and punishments promised to them. My take on remembering is first and foremost we need to always remember what the LORD has done for us. Not only with salvation, but HIS Son Jesus who is our all in all. He is our salvation, He is our righteousness, He is our sanctification he is — well everything. Secondly, we must remember what God has done for us in the past. And if you can’t think of anything well excuse me, but why not? The Bible says “Blessed be the LORD , who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the GOD of our salvation.” (Psalm 68:19). We are daily loaded with benefits, and if we don’t recognize them it’s because: 1) we’re not looking, or 2) the cares of this world have gotten to us. Now I’ll admit, sometimes when I listen to/read the news, I seriously get annoyed–to put it mildly. When I see old people getting slugged and robbed, oh how I wish the ner-do-wells would pick an old man/lady who could clean their clock. or at least pull out a 45 and shoot the scoundrel, but I digress. That just shows that I need to remember who is in charge and that HE is not in heaven wringing his hands over anything that’s going on here on earth. But make NO mistake, HE is seriously displeased with the goings on in the world! But, back to remembering. You know there are some things we should NOT purposely remember like people who had offended us, trust me nobody wins the, “I remember what you said, or did, or didn’t do, etc.” Some things we should forgive and just move on. I say that because quite frankly I have a hard time letting go of perceived hurts against my kids, but I learned a long time ago not to play the “keep score” game. Again, no winners there, forgive, forget, and drive on, yet with my kids I have difficulty with those who have hurt them and (as I see it) have not really helped them in their lives. But, that’s just me, what can I say I’m turning into a crabby old lady. Seems like what we want to remember that’s good we can’t, but brother can we remember and hang on to the bad stuff in our lives, the very things GOD wants us to let loose of. We must be careful lest we get the root of bitterness. Let it go. Learn the lesson and move on brighter days are ahead. Folks, GOD wants us to remember mostly the things HE brings into our lives that we learn from and of course we need to remember to thank HIM for the stuff HE does for us daily. GOD Bless, remember to read and study your Bible. Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NO WANTS:
1. In Dobrich, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and in Silistra Pastor(s) Yanko, and Marcho. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and in Agigea Pastor Jacob as the interim Director of the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School.
3. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian at Gospel Assembly in Sankaraguptham, India.
4. Dan, Cathy, and members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
5. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
6. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
7. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli,Rwanda.
8. Christian and Ina Kopjar Missionaries to the County of Liberia.
9. Brother John Vlad, (serving as the Operations Officer), his wife Cristina, and three daughters aboard the international ministry ship Logos Hope.
NEXT HOME GROUP MEETINGS:
22 November at 7:00 pm
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm (910) 382-9287
BEHOLDING HIS GLORY ON THE RADIO:
On WJCV Jacksonville, NC
“Pebbles of Truth”
1290 AM or 98.3 FM
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:30 am
FUTURE BHG SCHEDULE:
November: Local Ministry
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:
Mobile: (910) 382-9287
FAX: (910) 741-0489
Email:
Website:
Blog:
http://bhisglory.blogspot.com/
FREE OFFERS
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.
