”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 let us continue with the diversity of instruments by which God can speak to mankind. One of the most prized gift sought by man is education. I remember hearing an African Pastor, who could not read that well, say, “readers are leaders.” Oh, how man goes after education. Man thinks education and the knowing that comes with it will propel him to greatness, well Adam’s great desire to want to know got Himself and us into a lot of trouble. Sometimes it is best not to know so much. Man thinks the more educated he is the better he will come to know God well, this too is untrue. Actually, the more we know of this world and religion the less we shall know of God. It seems to be that the Christians with a bunch of letters behind their name know little to nothing about God and they live in this artificial bubble of knowing God. You know there is a huge difference between someone who really knows God, who has a relationship with Him and one that knows about God have it be in writings and reading about Him. There is a reason why the acronym PhD stands for Pile (it) Higher and Deeper. Wiser does not mean knowing God. We see this all throughout the Bible. But, here is the flip side, if education is channelled into God and for His purposes then it can be a useful instrument in the hands of God to speak to mankind, men and women. To be brutally honest I would recommend Christians NOT go to Bible School (any college these days for that matter) or a Seminary unless the LORD directly request it. More is not better. In 1 Corinthians Paul shares this truth with us, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” (1 Corinthians 26-27) The wiser we get into ourself the more foolish we get to God and others who know God. Take heed do not go to Bible school because everyone is going or that is the track to be a preacher, teacher, or pastor. Oh no, come to know God and He will direct your steps and if He wants you to go to Bible School wonderful, go and be the very best student you can be in Him, but do not go to learn more about the Bible, or religion, church history, Biblical doctrine, and the list goes on and on. No greater men other than Jesus Christ, in my humble option, were used more by God than Moses and Paul, known as Saul in an earlier life. At one time Moses and Paul both were educated at the highest levels of knowledge by the most lofty, prestigious teachers and instructors, but God could not use them to fulfil His purposes in their lives till He got the education of the world out of them. In Acts we read where Moses was an educated man of the world he knew the art of warfare, construction and building, a great speaker and counsellor, gifted in the arts, and so much of the world. Luke writes, “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.” (Acts 7:22) Now when the Bible says “all” it means all, not a few or some “wisdom” but “all.” Yet, when God finally gets Moses to a place in his life where He can use Moses we find Mose cannot speak. In Exodus we read, “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” (Exodus 4:10) In other words Moses now stuttered and stammered. Moses’ life can be divided into three 40 year periods. The first 40 years Moses was raised in the palace of Pharaoh learning the ways and things of the world. The second 40 year period Moses kept sheep on the back side of the desert where God worked the wisdom of the world and the knowledge of man out of him. This is where we find Moses in Exodus 4:10. Well, you would too if all you did for 40 years was talk to and follow sheep around all day. But it was his last 40 years where God used Moses for His purposes, to be the deliverer and lead His people out of Egypt, but do not miss the point, Moses’ leadership was not of the world, but of God’s making. Moses went to the School of the Wilderness to learn God’s ways. (see Psalms 103:7) Saul, later called Paul was another great servant of God who was schooled and trained of the world, but God could not use him. In Acts we read, “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.” (Acts 22:3) WOW! Saul was in Bible School and God kicked him out. Paul, a Jew, went on to write 2/3’s of the New Testament and was the instrument that God used to spread the Gospel Message to the Gentiles. Without a doubt he was the most used Apostle of Christ. My friend education is not for everyone. God has a school picked out for you to attend if you have a desire to come to know Him. It may not have ivy covered walls or ivory towers, but it will have the presence and knowledge of God. What else do you need?
More next month as we continue to look at the many diverse instruments God can use to communicate with us. 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 Cost of Godly Character
To “live in the Spirit” is a state of being in which we have died to our self-life and have yielded the totality of all that we are and have to Jesus so He can live His life through us as a witness. Paul tells us, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) Wow do you get that? Does this verse mean we can live in the Spirit, but not walk in the Spirit? The truth of this verse is conditional on the word “if.” Earlier in Galatians Paul told us, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me….” (Galatians 2:20) The “I live; yet not I” comes with the same condition to “live in the Spirit.” This condition requires us to live on a high plain of integrity, commitment, and Godly character in order to maintain the necessary spiritual sensitivity that will make this possible. To “walk in the Spirit” is to live one step at a time, with every aspect of our life experience being lived in total yieldedness and willing obedience to the will and purpose of our LORD. As we walk with the poise of our spirit upward toward the LORD His abiding presence and peace will confirm that we are walking in the center (in the Spirit) of His will. We are both living and walking in the Spirit. Now this is God’s intention for us to live and walk in the Spirit. Sadly in my life sometimes I see myself in the now of walking and living in the Spirit and at other times I see myself miserably failing God. Oh, how I hate myself. Oh how I hate the variance in me and I know myself will destroy me if I allow it to. It is not the devil or some demonic minion I should fear, but myself and what it wants. If we could ever get over our self and the lust therein as James says, wow could we ever serve God in the way He has planned and purposed for our lives. You know one of the greatest gifts God can help us develop is not our ability to minister the Gospel, lay hands on people for a miracle, speak in tongues, or even greater service to the Brethren, but the greatest gift God can help us with is a Godly character. I am convinced not too many Christians value character oh no we would rather have all of the ministry bells and whistles in God. The ones the apostate church of today says we need to have moving in our lives and ministry so we can get all of those blessings. Oddly enough I never hear the folks on Christian (I use that term loosely) TV networks like: TBN, Daystar, Son Life, and the rest mention the importance of Godly character. I wonder why? After all what comes out of our mouth is what is in our heart and whatsoever is in our heart is important to us. This ability to “live” in the Spirit in which His will is being accomplished in us requires that we have a basic understanding of the laws that govern a Spirit led life. How can we walk and live in the Spirit if we do not know the Spirit or how He operates. I am sadly convinced the Holy Spirit, in the typical church of today in the western world, is of little to no affect in the lives of most the people. And that is because the focus of most Christians today is an external focus on the outcomes in God. They serve looking for their reward from God instead of just serving God for His need and sake. Bless me, bless me, bless me! What would we do if God stops blessing us? Do we do service for blessings or to be a blessing? The answer to that question is found in our heart condition, in our motives, in our character, and in our understanding of God’s spiritual laws. Why most Christians miss them is because these spiritual laws do not deal with the externals, but primarily with our heart – that which underlies all that we say or do and believe it or not these spiritual laws hinge on not our spiritual ability, but on our Godly character. It is our Godly character that is developed in us not our spiritual ability and my friend to walk with the LORD (as He wants us to walk) there is a cost we will pay for a Godly character like His. It is not exacted in dollars and cents or even service, but in moments of God’s dealings and judgments in our lives. In moments when God can get our attention and show us our heart condition in any given situations and circumstances. Now we cannot add to our spiritual ability oh no. God gives us His ability just as salvation is a gift so too is our spiritual ability. I wonder why we think we can get stronger in the things of God? Do we exercise our spiritual gifts in service and grow them like muscles? Do we pray and speak in tongues and our spiritual gifts will increase? No this is wrong teaching. They are gifts given to us by God as we qualify and are approved for them. He controls the gifts we are just partakers of His goodness as the instrument He desires to flow through, but the difference between two people is the commitment and desire, the approving or qualifying of an individual by the dealings and judgments of God. It is not we can grow our spiritual abilities, but through our dedication and commitment to God and the work He has done in our lives He can now trust us with more of His goods to be used in touching lives. This involves dedication and the sacrificial giving of ourselves. These are the marks of our having the measure of spiritual maturity that will enable us to function in the realms of the Spirit. Our own thoughts and ways must be set aside in order to follow Him. The natural man cannot come this way for he cannot discern God’s presence to bring us into this higher realm. This is a function of the Spirit and not of the mind. The natural man receives not the things of God because they are Spiritually discerned. The natural man (even carnal Christians) makes his approach to God with their goodness, their emotions, and their intellect, but not so with the Spiritual man. He makes His approach on the goodness of God out from a humble and contrite spirit. One who has a servant’s heart and does not mind the back seat of a car. One who does not stand by when work is to be done or wants to be exalted in the midst of a group of people. I have known some folks who consider themselves above other people based on their (preconceived) walk with the LORD. In their own eyes they see themselves (and others less) with having a deep revelation of God and all around their circle of friends there is an unspoken homage one must submit to or you will be shunned from the circle. If you ever speak up and challenge this arrangement you are set aside and Scripture is twisted as to set an example telling others to turn their backs on people. The basis of this judgment and action is not from God’s word, but from the self-appointed authority of the “deep one” and the self-appointed control and manipulation they wield. And it is all based on the unqualified perception of one’s revelation (and to be honest usually a forceful personality) of God. Well here is a news flash, revelation never trumps Godly character. Relationship in God must not be based on revelation. Sadly, we size each other up according to our abilities in God and even the revelation we possess and somehow value these as to being something we want to be connected with in a relationship. Oh, this person is deep in God and if I know him and if I can work with him, maybe just maybe some of his depth in God will rub off on me. Even worse the whole servant master thinking can come into view and distort the relationship. To have a real relationship there must be pretenses. Each must be valued based not on their understanding of God, but on a common and honest friendship that goes both ways. When one person thinks they are greater than another the relationship is doomed. Oh, it may continue for years, but there will come a time (God will see to it) when the perceived lesser sees though the camel cookies (had enough crap) and says wait a minute you put your pants on one leg at a time just like me. Jesus never valued one disciple over another. It was the perceived bias of the disciples that exalted one disciple over the other. Paul was not greater than Peter and both of them were no greater than Thomas, Matthew, or John. Revelation is not dependent on the favor of God, but on our willingness to be dealt with by God. The more we submit to God the more of a commitment we will make to God. What is the cost for Godly character you would ask? The cost of Godly character is the death of our self-life and all of those thing we hold near and dear to our heart. Anything less only yields a life of great promise, but still a life that has come short of God’s glory. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Pride
The first of the seven deadly sins is pride. GOD doesn’t like that mess, and yet we’re full of it from cradle to grave. Lets see the verse: “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19) Did you catch the abomination part? GOD finds those sins disgusting, an abhorrence, abominable, sickening. But why is pride so bad? I’m not talking about being proud of the work we do we should have a little pride in what we do and where we live, —though that could lead to the pride mentioned in the Bible. Pride can blind us to our faults, Jonathan Edwards said, “The spiritually proud person shows it in his finding fault with other saints. The eminently humble Christian has so much evil in his own that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts.” I believe this to be so. Once GOD gets a hold of us and starts “cleaning house” we’ll see how good we really are—we’re NOT!!! Our sin nature runs deep, and only GOD can dig up that nasty mess in our hearts and bring it to light. Then we confess or agree with GOD what He is saying about us is true. Yes, LORD I’m guilty of that, fill in the blank, ask forgiveness, repent (do an about face) and move on. I think there’s national pride, regional pride, some people from certain areas of the country (bless their little hearts) think they know better than everyone else. Ethnic pride, I won’t go there. Spiritual pride, easy to find in most American churches. (See Luke 18: 9-14) False humility is a type of pride also, “Oh GOD can’t forgive a sinner like me” Now listen, at this point in time GOD has more than enough grace for everybody and then some. So that’s not true. Humility is the opposite of pride and folks, that’s where the LORD wants us to be humble. Jesus said in Matthew 23:12, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” The prophet Micah puts it this way, “He hath shewed thee, o man what is good: and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy GOD?” (Micah 6:8) Give pride the boot! Ask the LORD for forgiveness, repent, and move on, and keep your eyes on Jesus. Written by Karen Stahl
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 August 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:
August: Local Ministry
September: Eastern Europe
October: 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.
