Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
July 2011 • Volume IX Number 11
“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 to look at more of God’s faculties of communication. Now please remember I am not talking about God’s communion which is an inward expression of a certain heart connection between people, but communication the way two people express themselves (one to the other) though their senses. This month we will take a good look at the communication of touch, one of God’s most practical, but also most useful in connecting with man. In the Bible we read many examples of God (the LORD) or His representatives (like Angels) touching man. Here are two examples (both from the Old Testament) where God touched man by Angels, but the outcomes were different. Angels today in the world and the church are worshiped wrongly. In 1 Kings 19 we read where God sent an Angel to wake Elijah up (he was weak from hunger) so He could give him bread and water to strengthened him. Twice God sent a n Angel to touch Elijah. “And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.” (1 Kings 19:7-8) God’s touch in our lives is to strengthen us so that we may be able to do something for Him. God does not give us strength so that we will be strong; oh no, God knows when we are weak He is strong, but God gives us the strength so we may work for Him wearing us out and draining us of our strength so He can fill us again. Did you know the condition to be filled with God is to be empty? Empty of the world and our self.
The next example I would like to look at is the story of Jacob wrestling with an Angel; now I know it says “a man,” but not too many men can do the things the man or Angel did to Jacob. “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.” (Genesis 32:24-25) My friend, never wrestle with an Angel or God if you do you will always lose. Indeed Jacob received an blessing, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed,” but I wonder what Jacob would have received from the Angel or God if he would have submitted and not wrestled? When God makes His approach to us He is always looking for our submission and obedience. With the blessing of the name change Jacob also received a limp when the “man” touched his thigh. The story of Jacob ends in verse 32 where the point of his limp is strongly expressed. But in Jeremiah we read that God desires to touch us, “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9Then 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 1:8-9) And why, so that He can put His words in our mouth. Was this not the example of Jesus in the New Testament? Jesus touched mankind with His words and His life and we too are to do the same we are to touch the world with our words and our lives. Unless we allow (our choice) God to touch us we will not speak the word of the LORD, but speak our own words that does not bring life to the dead of heart and hope to the hopeless. How can we do the things of God unless He has touched us? Friends, God desires to touch our hearts, He desires to touch our minds and lives, today let Him touch us if so more than bread, water, and new name is waiting. Next month we will look at the last faculty God’s speech.
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Building God’s Joy in Us
Often times in the English language Americans (and I am sure it is the same in other languages) transpose words and their meanings without really knowing the impact of the difference. Did you know words matter? I think people outside the United States understand this point much better than Americans. Often we will substitute happy for glad, not a big deal, but there is a difference. Sometimes Americans will substitute angry for mad, again a difference even more than with happy for glad. When I first started traveling abroad I often made promises (with good intentions) I did not follow through on. Many times circumstances and situations, beyond my control, kicked in and others times I just wrote a check with my mouth I could not cash with my heart. My heart was in the right place of wanting to help, but was not dealt with enough by God in this area to keep me from making promises I could not fulfill. Our words do matter. The more one depends on someone’s words the more that is at stake. Always remember, for the ones who follow us the stakes are much higher. The people at the People’s Temple, Jonestown, Guyana found that out the hard way. Now our salvation that is not at stake, that depends on us believing Jesus died for our sins and then our obedience to Him in denying our selves, taking up our cross daily, and following Him. These words were recorded in three of the four (not in John) Gospels, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) Now it is interesting to know only in Luke does the word “daily” appear in the Gospel references, maybe because Luke was a doctor and usually they pay attention to detail, but the point is words matter. If we desire to “come after” Jesus or become (a process of sanctification that happens when we allow God to deal and judge in our lives) like Jesus we must “daily” deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Wait a minute, how about all of the good works we must do to be like Jesus? How about all of the denominations and religious folks that told us we must join the church; be a member and keep all of these doctrinal duties and responsibilities? All three of these requirements today seem very strange to us because they are so contrary to our fleshly desires. Who wants to deny themselves? Oh no our flesh screams look at me me me it is all about me. Who wants to take up their cross so that they can die? The only thing a cross is good for is gruesomely killing someone on, except for Jesus He paid for our salvation on it. And who wants to be a follower? Ever since Kindergarten we have been taught to be a leader and now to be like Jesus we must be a follower? This does not pass the common sense test. I am sure when the disciples heard these things they said are we following the right guy? Who is Jesus kidding; deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him, no way. We want to kick the Romans out and set up an earthly kingdom. We have some big plans for you Jesus just follow us and everything will be okay. Now please do not think I have met all three of these requirements I have not. As a matter of fact the longer I go with God on this wondrous everlasting way the more I see I have not met these requirements. Next Jesus said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Luke 9:24) Now I was not there, but if I was I would not be too surprised to hear them say (like us today) lose no we are winners. If we follow you we get it all we will lose nothing and get: a new chariot, treasures and money, a big mansion with hot and cold servants, their own squad of Roman soldiers, power and authority to command people, everything. They really must have thought Jesus was crazy. But, Jesus knew if we are going to be able to receive the life of God (which is valued much more than things of this earth) we must die to our earthly carnal, selfish, self-centered, and self-life. Please notice losing comes first then we are saved. But who wants to lose? The goal in life as the world teaches is to win. Does not the one with the most toys win? No my friend. In God, the winner in life is the one who can lay down their life so that others may live. Words do matter. Over the years God taught me to measure my words and my promises.
I think one of the biggest synonym word confusion we use today are the words happy (which means: feeling showing pleasure glad contented, lucky, fortunate) and joy (which means: great pleasure, delight). Often to know the future knowing the past and where things come from will spell things out for us. Did you know the word happy gets it origin from the Old English word happen-stance; or depending on happenings in our lives. So too with the word circumstance, an Old English word that gets it’s origin from circum-stance; or depending on events around in our lives (circum), over the years we have dropped the hyphen. But now joy is different. Joy in us is not dependent on circum-stances and happen-stance in our lives. Being happy depends on favorable things (events and situations) around us effecting our emotions and feelings, but joy is something that is built in us not depending on what is going on around us, a big difference indeed. Joy is a thing of the heart and not our emotions and feelings, a big difference. Joy in us does not depend on things around us, but does depend on us doing something. One of the definitions of the word for joy is delight. In Psalms David said, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4) Wow, “the desires of thine heart!” Who would not want, “the desires of thine heart?” We think all we have to do is be joyful in the Lord (sing, dance, work hard) and we will get, “the desires of thine heart” well, this is not true. The word “Delight” here has nothing to do with being joyful, but pliable, bendable, putty in the hands of God and then He can trust you with “the desires of thine heart,” because His desires will be your desires. This too is why our emotions are so dangerous to use when we make our approach to God. We must never use our emotions and feelings, like many denominations teach, to worship God with. Jesus Himself said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) Emotions and feelings got Adam, Abel, Samson, David, Solomon, Jonah, the Disciples, and the list goes on to include us if we are not careful. Our “spirit” and “truth” has nothing to do with our emotions. There is a huge difference in worshiping God with our emotions and allowing God to touch our emotions. Yes God put thoughts, emotions, and feelings, (our soul) in us, but we must never use them to worship God. Our soul (our thoughts, emotions and feelings) will mislead and deceive us. We use either our soul or spirit to ascend us toward God in worship. One will take us to His heart (our spirit) and the other (our soul) will leave us empty and confused, but feeling (when we feel a cold chill up our back) like we have touched His heart. One (our soul) is out from a self-seeking desire to feel God in some way and for Him to touch us (through singing, dancing, flag waving, whatever) and the other (our spirit) is us loving Him enough to come down into a low place (where Jesus is) and allow Him to touch our emotions. One will leave us (our soul) with more questions when we do not get what we want and the other (our spirit) will leave us quiet and still knowing God loves us, not needing to have all of our questions answered.
The aim and goal of joy in our lives is to be our strength when happiness is not enough and to bring us into a place of rest in God. In Nehemiah we read, “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) Now please notice it is not our joy, but it is “the joy of the LORD” that is our strength. How do we get this joy? Maybe when we are saved God gives us our life-long portion of joy to use when things do not go our way in life? Or maybe “the joy of the LORD” is something we have work up, maybe when we hear or sing our favorite song? Or maybe “the joy of the LORD” comes to us when we pray a certain number of prayers, pay a certain amount of money to the church, or do a certain number of good deeds for the poor? No I think not, “the joy of the LORD” comes to us unsolicited, like the presence of the Lord, to bring us into a rest that is beyond human comprehension. It comes as we need it, as we have allowed God to build it in us, as we “Delight” ourselves in the Lord, through God’s dealings and judgments in our lives God can build in us an unshakable place of rest. The more we allow God to work in our lives (Ephesians 2:10) the more of an understanding of assurance of His love and care we have. The spiritual progression of maturity in God is: faith (believing for something like salvation and/or healing), trust (uncommon deeper conviction of ones belief and always linked with obedience) and lastly rest (where we are not moved by what we see or feel because we know we are firmly held by God, not we are holding on to God). We know faith; it works by love (Galatians 5;6) and without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), but Queen Esther displayed her trust in God when she said, “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16) Now rest is the end of the work of God in our lives. Jesus said it well, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) The rest as does “the joy of the LORD” comes to us as we learn just how “meek and lowly in heart” Jesus is and by allowing God, through His dealings and judgments in our lives, to build in us His character and nature. Why do we not have the rest and “the joy of the LORD?” Maybe, because we have not allowed God to build them in us.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM SARAH
The Inner Workings of the Holy Spirit
Note: Sarah (Daniel’s wonderful wife) wrote this article for a college class. It may take three months to complete, but I know you will enjoy it I did.
What an abounding mystery; are the things of the Holy Spirit. Through the study of the Holy Spirit we hope to find a more defined understanding of the inner workings of the Holy Spirit; “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”(Deuteronomy 4:29) The Holy Spirit is originally seen within the first few spoken words of the Bible; stirring up amongst the prelude to a wondrous creation. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2) As seen from the very spark of construction, the Spirit is the energy of God in creation. The first verse of Genesis reveals God’s initial act in the establishment of the universe. “In the beginning” must be taken in its total meaning. This verse declares the mighty power of God in bringing the world into existence out of nothing. This is not a description of God’s mere molding or shaping of preexistent matter. God’s divine act was bringing something out of nothing, an action only God can perform. This is the earliest foresight into how the Spirit molds a Christian, as spoken in the book of Mark “And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.” (Mark 4:26-32) When we consider the full meaning of what God was intending through His creation in Genesis, we realize that what God forms He also sustains.
Upholding all things by His power; thus revealing the Holy Spirit as the illuminator to Godly revelations. The Spirit does not cease His activity by forming what was formless and filling what was empty. In the Old Testament, the mention of the Spirit is in anticipation of the vital work for the Spirit within the ministry of the Messiah. As prophesied in Isaiah: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” (Isaiah 11:1-5) This is but a preview of how the Spirit will work out all things as the Father intends. With the ability to look forward to the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit inspired Isaiah to prophesy, “the spirit of the lord shall rest upon him” (Isaiah 11.2) The Holy Spirit inspired Jesus with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, righteousness, and faithfulness. Thus we come full circle to the New Testament, where Jesus proclaims the fulfillment of this prophecy within Himself. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19) This also happens to be a direct quote from an earlier prophecy in Isaiah. “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound, To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” (Isaiah 61:1-2) Jesus came to be a perfect example, to encourage in what man must become in order to have un-broken fellowship with Him. We see that the Holy Spirit works in the same ways, as from the beginning of time; to bring about the same kind of transformation. Over time, the Holy Spirit reveals the mind of God, the deeper things, directly to those who are His. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (2 Corinthians 9-12) “I go to prepare a place…” In the early part of the 14th chapter of John Jesus speaks of preparing a place, a house, containing mansions. This word “mansion” is strikingly interesting in this passage. Upon further review it’s a far cry from the “mansions” sung about in a popular hymnal. This reference is formed from the Greek word ‘manse’ meaning a dwelling place for a minister. If God created the entire earth and the inhabitants therein, in only seven days, there is no evidence that supports His need to tarry thousands of years to prepare a physical dwelling for His people. The revelation is abundantly clear; the place in which He is preparing is not physical, but a spiritual place within each Christian; built through purification in individual lives. Since He must deal with the flesh and the free will He is unable to snap this kind of preparation into existence. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23) There must be a desire moving within for the building of an abode inside to begin; as Christians are already with Him. Vital characteristics seen in the Holy Spirit are revealed; which explains His authority in bringing a Christian into full understanding. Such as, He is a member of the Trinity. The Bible teaches that God the Father is a person separate and apart from the son and from the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ is a person separate from the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also a person separate in His identity from the Father and from the Son. Thus we have three persons and yet all three persons are in the Godhead. So we speak of one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three are equally God. They are so united that what one thinks they all think. What one chooses they all choose. What one does the others are always in perfect agreement on. One of the remarkable attributes of each member of the Trinity is that He is everywhere at the same time. “Nowhere to hide” is a recurring statement familiar in both the Old and New Testaments. “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:24)
Part 1 of 3
Written by Sarah Stahl
DEAR FRIENDS:
Well here we go. The end of June we will move from our present home (we have been renting) in Jacksonville to a new home for us. I will use the term home and not house. A house is a place where you can live, but a home is place where we feel comfortable and at peace there is a big difference. I find it amazing the date we will say this new house will be our home (we close) on June 22nd or 23rd. Now you may not believe in God’s numbering system or in God leading us in ways where He uses critical events in our lives and dates that coincide together, but it is true. For example; we left for Germany on 23 June 1996 at 11:00 and we returned from Germany on 23 June 2003 at 11:00 exactly seven years to the minute. The number seven my friend is symbolic of completion or a completed work of God. And now on June 22nd or 23rd exactly eight years living at our present address we will buy a home a new beginning. The number eight is symbolic in the Bible means new beginnings. God has a new beginning for our lives. Now this new beginning could be just the move from address to address, but probably not God seldom does anything singly, He usually does many things at the same time, but we cannot see them happening do to our lack of spiritual awareness. Now the important thing is not the change as much as being able to adapt spiritually to what God is doing and for us to be able to move correctly in God we must be able to recognize the change like old things passing away and us not rebuffing God’s changes or not being able to move with God because our heart is stuck in the past in old things and old ways. We will never be able to walk in newness of life if we allow the old things of our life to control our thinking. We must be able to appreciate the past (you will never know where you are going unless you know where you have come from), but we must never get stuck in the past. We must eagerly anticipate what God is doing in our lives and what He next will bring into our lives if we can allow Him to work in us to such a degree whereby we qualify or are approved for the new things He has in store for us. You see in God the future is always exciting, it depends not on God, but on us.
NEEDS NOT WANTS:
1. In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastor(s) Niki Marsov and Emil Nedelchev. Times are troubled in Bulgaria and need much prayer.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastor George Ritisan at Lighthouse Church, and Ciprian Bozdod at the Mission Bible School. They too are expanding making more room for God and ministry to Eastern Europe, Turkey, and Asia.
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Pastor Marcel at St. Andrews Church.
4. Pastor Joseph Mutua in Nairobi, Kenya needs your prayer and financial support.
5. Pastor Mike Olufemi in Aveile, Nigeria. He needs our prayers and support to be a light in great darkness.
6. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian in Sankaraguptham, India.
7. Pastor Metin Mintaz and the members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
8. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
9. Monthly financial support Vivian’s Maternity and Child Care Clinic project in Aviele, Nigeria.
10. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
11. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda.
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
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:
Ministry E-mail: dstahl@beholdinghisglory.com
Personal E-mail: mtnebo@hotmail.com
Online:
Beholding His Glory Website
Beholding His Glory Blog
Our latest book, “Thoughts for Consideration” has been published by AuthorHouse, where you can also purchase it online. You can also purchase two of our other books “Adventures with God” and “God Still Performs Miracles: A Book of Personal Encouragement.”
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.
We are projecting to use the royalties for: our maternity clinic in Aveile, Nigeria, radio station in Katmandu, Nepal, TB clinics in Ethiopia, and Lord willing the Bible Schools in Kenya, Rwanda, and the Congo, and to help publish more books. We have five more books at different stages of production. 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. The cost is great, but the cost for not supporting to others is even greater. And remember, all donations are tax deductible.
