”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. Okay, let us this month go ahead and finish up this section of the teaching looking at the ways God uses divine communication to lead and guide us in our lives. Now, it is NOT important to focus (like on Angels) on the divine ways God communicates to lead and guide us, but what is important is God is using many way (we just looked at 11 ways) to lead and guide us. God is ever leading and guiding us if we have the spiritual wherewithal to be able to discern what he doling. So, the final way God may use to get our attention is through human instruments. Now, before I get going I would like to start with a HUGE caution. Take heed, when someone tells you God spoke to them about you. It is a HUGE red flag if you are a Believer. This is the same way of saying God could not speak to you so He had to speak to me so I can tell you what he said. This is probably the best way, especially young Christians, are manipulated and controlled by pastors, evangelists, Bible teachers, you name it. “God told me something about you.” Now it is true, God will tell other people things about us, BUT these words from God are for edification and NOT notification. If God shares something with you about another person it is for prayer, for you to pray for their edification, but if God directs you to tell them like with the Prophet Nathan and King David (2 Samuel 12:1-8) you better be in the right heart condition, which is NOT to want to share it, but rather knowing this would be disobedience in fear and trembling before God, so you do it. When we lived in Georgia the LORD shared something with me about our pastor and like a baby unskilled in the word of God I went to him and confronted him well, even through true and he knew it, he did not with open arms receive what I had to say. Oh no, from that day forth (he has since been gathered to his elders) there was a separation and a loss of fellowship between us. Take heed my friend. But on a positive side in the Book of Acts we find an example where God spoke to a man about Saul, later called Paul, that set his life on the course, purpose and plan God had for him. In Acts 9 we read, “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the
chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 9:10-17) I usually do not like to cut and paste this much Scripture, but I feel I needed to this time to make my point. Notice a few points from these verses: The first point Ananias was a disciple. God will not speak to a non- Believer about a Believer. God does not work that way. God keeps His things within His family so His family can be edified. Again, it is NOT about notification so the individual can reason or maybe dispute God’s word, oh no. When God’s word comes there is no doubt, no question what is spoken is from God. Now I was not there, but I feel sure when the Prophet Nathan stood before King David and he spoke, “thou are the man” there was no question in David’s mind or heart, he knew 100% what Prophet Nathan was saying and he also knew ii was 100% from God. That is how a real word from God operates. You know that you know that you know. Deep in your heart, deep in your gut where the Spirit lives, God’s words bear witness in us and we have two choices to ether agree or disagree. The King agreed, paid the price for his disobedience, but God said of David, he was man after His own heart. I wish to God He would say at that about me. Point two God not only spoke to Ananias, but also spoke to Saul. God spoke to both at the same time. After all out of the mouth of two witnesses God’s word is revealed. Confirmation is required in most cases. Now, there is always exceptions to everything in God, but in maybe 70 to 80% of cases God’s word will be confirmed in some way or the other. Do not look for the confirmation as much as we need to be listening to God. The confirmation is for us to help us believe. And lastly point three, it happened as Paul saw in his dream, the confirmation to Saul. How could Saul not believe in God from that day forth? How could Saul not believe God had a plan for his life? We always see God in retrospect, then it seems we believe, but the important thing though is to believe and not doubt in your heart.
Next month we will start a new section looking at how the word of God may be received in a diversity of circumstances to lead and guide us in our lives. He is speaking to us, but do we have the hearing ears to hear what the LORD is saying to us? Written by David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Time To Stand Up
I had returned from Turkey a while ago, and man is it time for the Body of Christ to stand up. The nightly activity was planning who they were going to talk to
(other Turkish people) about Jesus. I felt like I was in the first few chapters of the Book of Acts. In America it seems we discuss plans to feed our stomach and go do something for the denomination or religion we belong to than to tell people about Jesus. I was amazed at how the Spirit moved without singing, dancing, or working things up. No money changed hands or promises exchanged except for a promise to keep things in secret because if certain people found out lives could be called into question. This brought me back to the central point of sharing the word of God, the message must be brought down to the heart level, by the Spirit of God, where God can work to change our character and nature. This message is far more than a good story about events in the Bible in what this person said or did as God used them. Far more than a message filled with head knowledge or swelling words of going in harm’s way overseas for the LORD yet the preacher does not even have a passport. Talk is cheap and from the pulpit such talk is laziness and hypocritical. A message where spiritual growth and development should be the central focus of the message. Most of the churches we attend in America speak of love and salvation (which is important), but lack the ability in the pastors to speak on spiritual growth and development due to the inward lack in them. This is why the Body of Christ (around the world) is so off track no desire to grow up in God because the pastors, preachers, and teachers fail to teach on spiritual development, yes from their own lack. I will probably get some hate mail, but that is okay when I saw the commitment and dedication in the face of the danger and even death from the folks in Turkey, well it is time to stand up and speak the truth in love.
I cannot believe the politics of the Body of Christ in world. In 2016 when Donald Trump was elected President in America many Christians felt God was angry with America after all a conservative man won the White House, God’s anger must have been assuaged, well I am here to tell you this thinking is dead wrong. Yes, I agree righteousness (when it comes to the word of God) prevailed I do not understand how the so called Christians who voted for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden (now President) could support killing babies, sodomy, and lesbianism, LBQTQ+ the destruction of the home, the destruction of our country (our moral and spiritual issues of our time), and our society all that God calls an abomination, yet millions of so called Christians stood their ground, shook their fist in the face of God, and voted for abomination. Our Supreme Court said such acts are legal in the eyes of man, well not so in God’s eyes. Our Supreme Court has always been at odds with God and His word and continues to be. In 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford (this ruling was one marker that led to the Civil War) the decision that legalized slavery, well the Supreme Court was grossly wrong then and still is wrong on same sex marriage, LGBTQ+, and abortion is casing greater unrest in America (which could topple the country which is the Democratic Party’s intention, so wrong on so many moral issues. My friend just because the Supreme Court rules on manmade law does not make it true and final. There is
a higher judge and His name is God Almighty, His law is supreme and all men will kneel to it someday. I am sorry my friend, but I can no longer turn my head to such sin I will give such folks in the world a wide birth and let them believe what they want to believe, but at the same time keep my eye on them as I stand afar off (both physically and spiritual) from them. You know God does not follow a political ideology or idea God is holy and righteous and He is looking for His character to be birthed in each and every Christian. I hear many Christians say America is a Christian nation, well this is just foolish wishful thinking, oh no, a nation cannot be Christian. But, America can be a nation of many Christians as with other nations around the world and out of those nations God is building a Body of Believers who someday will become His Bride. America and all of the world someday will be no more. And yes, I love America I gave 24 years of faithful and dedicated service in the U.S. Navy, but I do not love America more than I do Jesus. We must be careful as ministers of the Gospel not to miss this point. To be honest I have and often struggle here. But Jesus did not come to save America, Kenya, Nepal, Germany, Sweden, Russia, China, Japan, or any nation for that matter. Jesus came to save that which is lost and that which is lost is man. Jesus came to save lost men and women who are lost in heir sin and who know not a Holy God and His Son Jesus Christ, who live in a world of spiritual lack and moral depravity. Karen made a statement a few days ago that I have been thinking about she said, “unless we give our heart to the LORD we are a complete failure.” I shared that with about 150 inmates at a prison in Vanceboro, NC and I got a lot of amens and head bobs, they know what failure looks like. It is time nay it is past time for the Body of Christ to stand up for the truth even if it offends us, the world, or even if it requires persecution. I wonder what the Christians around the world think of the Christians in America claiming they are persecuted yet have not suffered beatings having their life threatened at gun point, family members tortured both physically and mentally, and so much more. I hope and pray the Christians around the world will not judge the Christians in America too hard because they know our time is coming unless America gets back on track with God. Our message must be bold, strong, and loud again like it was in the two Great Awakenings from days gone by. Yes, I know the Scriptures do not support a third Great Awakening, but that is okay Jesus is still looking for lost men and women and we must do all we can within the limitations and restrictions of the guidelines within the word of God. Sadly, the apostate “Church” is over into Christian entertainment and the selling of truth forfeiting the opportunity to really lead someone to Christ. Christian TV rangers please do not fool yourselves into believing you are helping the LORD, sadly you are not. This entertainment and selling of the truth for power, influence, and money has led to the spread of many deceptive spirits in the so called “church” and around the world. Service today in America in most “Churches” is nothing more than entertainment that has NO spiritual
results. If you want to get a big crowd just have a Gospel sing or a party, but the same folks who come to hear the singing or feed their face will rarely come to hear REAL preaching or God forbid come to a home group meeting. Jesus talked about such folks in Luke, “And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 32They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.” (Luke 7:31-32) America’s (our Houses of Government) and spiritual leaders (our houses of so called worship) have entertained the people, but the people have not responded in doing the right things, they have continued to drift further and further away from God’s divine spiritual principles. It is time for true Believers of the LORD to stand up and clean out the houses of iniquity that fill our land. What it will take is a falling on our knees and allowing God to show us our short comings and waywardness first then a holy boldness to stand and deliver the words “you are the man” as Nathan told King David. It is time for the “Church” around the world to be accountable for the word of God and the countless sacrifices of the missionaries who have laid their lives down for the Gospel. It is time for the church around the world to be accountable for all of the money and resources given to them throughout the years. How much money does the nations of the world want from America? When will the nations of the world be accountable to God for the blessings He has given them over the last 200 plus years? Jesus also said in Luke, “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:47-48) I wonder what part of these verses do many denominations refuse to agree with? “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” God means that. How long will nations who have been heavily evangelized, who have received the wealth and sacrifice of other nations going to squander what was given to only ask for more? It seems like an open fire hose, the more given the more is expected. When will the African continent stand up and support her own people? Or will her survival continue to be dependent on America and other wealthy nations? It is time for the nations of Africa, India, and Asia (and yes I have wonderful brothers and sisters in these places) to stand up and look to God for their help and not America and other wealthy nations. Lastly it is time for the Body of Christ (the people) to stand up and grow up. This was the prayer and heart from Paul, spiritual growth and development for the Body of Christ, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, where by they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head,evenChrist:16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:14-16) But there is not much a desire to grow up. Growing up requires us to be responsible for ourselves and our actions. We can no longer blame Satan, our brothers, and/or our sisters for our failures and coming short of God’s glory. Time and time again Paul encouraged the Christians of his day to be teachable, learn the lessons God has for them, be learning and ever learning NOT learning and never learning. Stop making the same mistakes over and over, but learn the lesson God is teaching and drive on to the next lesson God has placed before us. That is what this time on earth is all about, yes to a degree learning how to function now, but the training is not for this world as much as it is for our next life. Now we are learning how to function, learning how to operate as God operates in our next life. So, when we get to our next life God will not have to train us we will be productive from day one when we arrive into our next life. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Just Cause You Like Something
I like brownies, but I can’t indulge in them every day, only once in a blue moon. I like donuts, but again I can only indulge once in a blue moon. I like dogs, but it’s not time to get a dog, though I continue to look. I like horses, but I don’t have time to ride or a corral to put one in. I like the beach, haven’t sat out on the beach like a harpooned whale in ages—and it’s 10 minutes away! Just because we like or love something doesn’t mean we have to indulge in what we want—no matter what it is! We love people, but we cannot as Jesus couldn’t give our time and energy to everyone. There’re always choices in life and they’re not always easy. Remember the devil tempts, GOD tests, and we—well, we are led away by our own lust. We may love people in our life, but they may not be good for us, Oh, it may seem like they’re meeting our needs, but if the relationship is not of GOD why indulge? Did we poke our nose into their affairs and allow their problems or make their problems our problems? Sometimes we need to mind our own business and remember we are not miniature providences in people’s lives. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” (1 Corinthians 13:33). The word “communications” has little to do with talking, but means lifestyle. So, a bad lifestyles corrupts good manners. Some people will lead us out of GOD if we’re not careful even if we love them! Listen, GOD wants us to be faithful to HIM. Now sometimes we have to be faithful to things or people in our life, like a husband to his wife or to our boss, but even these relationships must be of GOD. We know of a church where the
pastor is homosexual and the people have no problem with that, they are faithful to a fault, literally to that pastor. Do you think GOD is pleased with this situation? Certainly not! We are to blindly, no fooling, be faithful to Jesus not a pastor, boyfriend, girlfriend, church, even our extended family. The order is GOD, family (wife, husband, kids), then everything else! We must get our priorities straight! Paul, admonishes us, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of GOD, and that the Spirit of GOD dwelleth in You? If any man defile the temple of GOD, him shall GOD destroy; for the temple of GOD is holy, which temple ye are.” (1 Corinthians 3: 16-17) Please if you are in a relationship read 1 Corinthians 6: 18-20. It’s better to be in NO relationship than in a wrong relationship. It’s better to be alone then involved with the wrong people. It’s better to tick off people and get them out of your life than to tick off GOD, because GOD aint no joke. Jesus said “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28). GOD Bless, read 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 for 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:
24 October at 7:00 pm
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
(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:
October: Local ministry
November: Local Ministry
December: 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:
mtnebo@hotmail.com
Website: www.beholdinghisglory.com/
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.
