”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)
Greetings again my Brethren. Okay more this month on places where the word of God may be received. Last month we looked at a glamorous place, a place where we all desire to aspire too spend some quiet time with the LORD, a dungeon. Not much singing, but a whole lot of shouting going on in a dungeon. So, this month we will look at the other end of the spectrum the king’s palace. Now, I find it interesting to know a dungeon is in the palace. In the palace we can be in the throne room where the kings rules and reigns, the dining room where the king eats and entertains his guests, the bed room where the king sleeps, or like last week as we saw the king can decree we go to the dungeon. At the center of these rooms is the desire of the king. You know when we think of a palace we always think of maybe the Disneyland palace in California and Florida or my favorite Schloss the Neuschwanstein (German for castle) which was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, in Fusion, Germany. When we lived in Germany (1996 – 2003) we must have visited the Neuschwanstein at least 15+ times. Every time we would host people from the States they would say, “have you ever been to the Disneyland castle?” And we would say, “well not recently (it is about 3 1/2 hours from Stuttgart) would you like to go?” “Oh yes,” they would say, “it is very beautiful castle.” which it is. Probably the most beautiful in this world, but did you know King Ludwig II never sat as king on his throne in the castle. Before it was completed they found him and his doctor floating face down in the lake behind the castle. The throne room floor had individual tile mosaic scenes and the countless tapestries adoring the walls costing the sight of hundreds of ladies. The last time we were there we saw a bus load of Japanese tourist off load from a German touring bus and stand with the Neuschwanstein over their shoulder for a picture then back on the bus and off they went. But in all of it’s beauty it does not compare to the castle God is preparing for us. In the book of Revelations during the “Kingdom Age” John talks about the “New Jerusalem” first mentioned in Revelation 3:12. John writes, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Revelation 3:12) This castle will far out shine the Neuschwanstein. Later on in the Book of Revelation we get some more information on the “New Jerusalem. “In Chapter 21 John writes of the character of this palace: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 9And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,” Here is the foundation of the castle: 11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Here is the dimensions of the palace: 15And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Revelations 1-23) What a palace! Who needs the Neuschwanstein.
More next month as we look at a prison and other diversities of circumstances. Are you there my friend? In tough situations and circumstances? Have you heard His voice? Listen closely and you will. Written by David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
The Education of God
There is a saying (even in the “church” today) that says, a reader is a leader, well that my friend is flat out false. God’s education for leadership comes not by books, videos, courses, lectures, or tests, but by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and revelation as we submit to His work. In John we read, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13) Now when “the Spirit of truth is come” talks about the coming of the Holy Spirit a promise to send the comforter and also when He comes into our lives we will begin to know truth and understanding the things and ways of God. Later on in John 16 we read, “All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take (talking of the Holy Spirit) of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:15) That is the Holy Spirit will take the knowledge and understanding of Jesus and show them to us, how simple. This is how we can have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5). Notice Jesus did not say we had to go to Bible School (also include seminaries) for two, three, or four years then do two more years for a Masters and another year or two for a doctorate to learn the things God has for us. Why Brother Paul (Saul then) was in Bible School and God kicked him out. in Matthew Jesus was talking to Peter and He said, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:17-18) What was revealed to Peter that “flesh and blood” (man’s teaching and ways) could not reveal to him? “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ (Matthew 161:16) The revelation of who Jesus Christ is. Oh, my friend I am here to tell you unless the Holy Spirit reveals the things of the Spirit to us we will never get them. I shared this truth to a pastor of an Original Free Will Baptist Church in our area and Karen and I were told we were not welcome. Now I will be honest I never spent one day in a Bible School as a student yet I have taught all over the world in Bible Schools. I am not saying Bible Schools are not of God (I have seen some really good ones), but will say most Bible Schools are a big waste of time and money. They use man’s education and not God education. I mean if God has called you to minister the word of God, why go to man to learn how? Oh, I know it is easier to learn from man who you can see than from God who you cannot see. Anyhow God’s tests hurt we must die to our ambitions and desires, but not so in man’s Bible School. In my training days (which are still ongoing) I was in the US Navy and Charles Haun (Prophet Major) would come and stay weeks (while he would travel to churches and places in our area) with us and Charles and the Holy Spirit would take me to school or I would travel to FL where Charles lived and school was in session. For years this happened and for years God would open (by His Holy Spirit) my heart and mind and fill it with deep revelations, truth, and understandings that are not found in a Bible School where head knowledge and worldly ways are taught. An education in God like this is priceless, but this is the way the disciples and others that followed them were educated. There where no Bible Schools in those days just the Holy Spirit and men as teachers who paid the price to receive understanding and revelation from God through experiences and His dealings and judgments. With less men of God who really know Him and His ways around gave great rise to resident Bible Schools (students on campus) to fill the void. In recent years (say the last 100) numbers have really sky rocketed. And of course, with all of the Bible Schools comes the denominational doctrine and specific unique teachings from those who sponsor the Bible Schools. What follows can only be false truth or at best half-truths, with both are deception. Do all of the Bible Schools teach the same thing? Do they all have the same Spirit? No and No. Thus, the graduates of these Bible Schools will only add to the confusion and deception within the Body of Christ. Oh, I know your favorite denomination says they teach the truth, but if so, I guess everyone else is teaching lies/non-truths. What is the standard of truth taught in a Bible School? Please do not say the word of God for many Bible Schools do not use the Scriptures. Maybe the number of Bible Schools have much to do with the deception that fills the pews and hearts today. After all most teachers (not me) want to be called “Doctor,” but no one wants to be called a servant. After all, with the title “Doctor” comes prestige, honour, and if getting paid for preaching or pastoring. The title “Doctor.” commands more money. And now you can go on-line and get a doctorate degree in six months or worse go to one of these fly by night Bible Schools that are so called “accredited” not by a professional organization, but by a church or organization that wants to make money for the staff. Maybe they are well meaning, but the spirit of these schools (will not call then Bible Schools) are all wrong. I for one am tired of seeing these charlatans rob people, but worse spread more confusion and deception within the Body of Christ. Now I know it is the person’s money and let the buyer beware, but most Christians (especially young) have little to no common sense when it comes to things of the Spirit. After all a good snake oil sale men can even sell ice to Eskimos. In the end they have turned the LORD’s house into a den of thieves. They have stolen money, defrauded people under false pretence, and worse caused more confusion and deception within the Body of Christ. Jesus told the Bible teachers in His days, “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, “My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Mark 11:17) Not just “a house of prayer” as Luke and Matthew says, but much more it is to be “of all nations the house of prayer.” In the Greek, the words: “all” (Greek #3957) everything, everyone, and wholly and “nation” (Greek #1484) gentiles or heathens. In other words, the house of God is to be “all and all” to everyone and a wholly place. It is to be the place where truth is taught, the place where we can become whole again before God), the place where we find reconciliation with God and man, but in Mark we read the religious folks (like many today) and even the Bible teachers of the day have marketed the house of God to a point Jesus had to refer to His house as a “den” (a place of vipers, snakes, and not a place where God’s Spirit dwells) and called the people who run the temple “thieves.” The Gospel is not for sale my friend. Yet “Christian education” is bought and sold every day. A diploma in “Christianity” is sold to the lowest bidder, but in reality the integrity and wholesomeness of the Gospel has been cheapened and in some cases I know totally lost for money and influence. My friend the Gospel is not for sale. Jesus paid a dear and eternal price (His life) for the Gospel and we must not sell it by marketing and merchandising the Gospel in fly by night on-line and pseudo resident (classes two or three days a week) Bible Schools. If the course material is from books and videos of people (who you have never met) you are not getting anything of the Holy Spirit at best you are going to get that person’s revelation and for me that will never do. It is the Holy Spirit who will lead and guide us to all truth not a video, self-help book, or a special curriculum. My friend most Bible School’s provide head knowledge, but revelation comes by way of the Holy Spirit. God’s education is received not by reading text books, watching videos, writing papers, or taking tests. It is not won by promotion, but by many prayers and tears. It is attained by confession of sin and much heart searching and humbling before God; by self- surrender, a courageous and uncomplaining embracing of the cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering looking unto Jesus crucified. It is not gained by seeking great things for ourselves, but rather, like Paul, by counting those things that are gain to us as loss for Christ. That is a great price. but it must it must be unflinchingly paid by one who would be not merely a nominal but a real spiritual person of men, a leader whose power is recognized and felt in heaven, on earth and in hell. God’s highest level of education is reserved for those who have qualified in secret. It is that element of sovereignty that begets awe and a great humility in those to whom dedication and commitment is entrusted. The Church is painfully in need of education by the Holy Spirit not from books and videos. Many wait to hear a voice yet no voice comes. I love the back seat in cars. I would always rather listen than speak, but there seems to be no clarion voice to listen to. God’s education comes by way of loss to one’s self and one’s ambition. I wonder how much that cost? Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
My Therapist
Since it seems to be in vogue to have a therapist these days. So, I thought I’d tell you about my therapist. Wow, Karen you have a therapist? Actually, I have two: Dave and Jesus. That’s all I need. Both keep me straight and on track. Along my mental health journey, I learned three things:
1) I am not in charge.
2) It’s okay to follow and not walk point.
3) You must absolutely let go of things.
Point 1, GOD made man/our husbands the boss. Just the way it is. We are not required to like it or agree with it, but it’s in our best interest to go along with what GOD designed. GOD has arranged things that way and GOD is NEVER wrong. Now we are in charge of OUR attitudes, and when raising children, we are (second in command) in charge of the kids to a degree. Point 2, So many women I know cannot and will not let their husbands lead the household. Oh, some pretend that they aren’t in charge, but their behavior eventually exposes their hypocrisy. We are to follow our husbands and HIS career takes precedence over the wife’s career. The wife has to be on the same sheet of music as her husband NOT THE OTHER AWAY AROUND. GOD expects wives to follow their husbands and if they don’t, they either stupid, don’t know any better or are just plain rebellious.” Saying things like: “I know better” or “He doesn’t know what he’s doing.” Be careful ladies the Bible says “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity, and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:23). Ladies just because a man is wrong in one area doesn’t mean he’s wrong in EVERY area. I think Christian, REAL Christian men can see quite clearly, and more clearly than we as women do. Many problems in our lives would go away if we just let our husband lead and when they make mistakes let GOD deal with him, YOU ARE NOT the HOLY SPIRIT in his life. And point 3, the last thing I’ve learned over decades of being married and being a Christian is to let things go. We need not hang on to the things in our lives that are not good. We are not in charge, the past is over, there’s nothing we can do to change the past. Forgive yourself, forgive other people, and MOVE ON. Let it go. There are millions and millions of people in the world who have it worse than you.
Quit being a martyr
Quit being a victim
Quit hanging on to resentment
Quit hanging on to bitterness
Quit being angry. Stop the bad attitudes, let things go! Jesus wants us to be overcomers. MY Mom said a long time ago that some people like to hang on to their problems and clutch them like they were diamonds and never let go, let it go. GOD wants us to be over comers, we can’t hang on to our victimhood, anger, resentment, etc. etc., and hang on to Jesus at the same time. Paul taught the Church at Philippi and us today, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) Now, that‘s my take on mental health, am I making fun of therapists, no. But, sometimes we make things much more complicated than what they are. Help from GOD trumps what man can do in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual realms of our lives. Let it go and press into Jesus. Paul said in Ephesians 4:21-32, “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22That ye put off concerning the former conversation (not speaking but our lifestyle) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesian 4:21-24) We must “put off” so we can put on the glorious light of Christ. We must “put away” from us our self-imposed martyrdom, victimhood thinking, resentment, and yes, our bitterness that prevents the power of God working in our lives. Friend, I beseech you let it go. Hang on to Jesus and study your Bibles. GOD Bless. Written by Karen Stahl Written
NEEDS NOT 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 Brother John Vlad as the 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.
NEXT HOME GROUP MEETINGS:
20 February 24 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:
February: Local Ministry
March: Local Ministry
April: 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.
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