BEHOLDING HIS GLORY
February 2006	Volume IV Number 06

”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. In January’s edition of BHG I introduced the critical need for us to be able to move correctly with God and to build our concepts and principles correctly, especially if we feel we are called to ministry. If we truly have a heart to follow God it must be done from the same heart condition that Jesus demonstrated and taught, “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). We must learn of Christ, we must follow His examples of: communion, obedience, brokenness, revelation, and authority. Sadly most Christians today desire to operate in the power of God, but cannot because they have not been able to “learn of me” to the point they can, “ . . . ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” (John 16:23) which is the Father’s intention for us. Now please do not think I have reached this point in God, to be able to, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” I too lack greatly in this area. Still our short comings and failures here do not diminish the truth of this verse, the power contained in it, nor God’s intention in this area for us. The condition to be able to “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” is to become like Christ. And for this to happen we must learn of Him. Learn how meek and lowly He is. Learn how He always did what the Father asked Him to do. How He only did the things the Father told Him to do. “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19) Today we do things (thinking we are doing them for God) and then ask God to bless them. Jesus never operated like this. Now when the Bible uses the word “nothing” it means “nothing.” Jesus said He “can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do” What a wonderful new concept and principle to do what God tells us to do. Friends and Brethren, making choices and decisions on our own is a very dangerous area in our lives. The longer I go with God the more I want God to make the big the decisions for me. I thank God He picked Karen my wife and directed me to her so that I could fall hopelessly in love with her. I may not have picked her, but God knew what I needed better then me. The greater the decision we make the greater the danger of getting off track.

Jesus knew what the Father wanted Him to do, in every situation, because He had constant communion with the Father. All things from the Father will come to us not from prayer alone, but from first communion with Him. Many Christians shallowly try to get the Father to do things for them without first having established a relationship with Him. Many know the scriptures well enough and try to twist the Father’s arm by using the name of Jesus to get what they want. Remember, Jesus said, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”

Like some sugar-daddy they try manipulating God and people into doing what they want done. Now some Christians who are gifted speakers can manipulate other Christians this I believe is one of the greatest sins of the church. Take heed to the gifted speakers their motives and intentions are only for them selves and their kingdoms. They can never manipulate God so they go after His children who do not have a close walk with Him because these children have no communion with God.

And said, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. ⁶But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:3-6) Here Jesus was using a child and comparing them to new Christian, while giving a great warning to those religious leaders of the day. So too this warning is still for the religious leaders of today. Brethren do not be overwhelmed by gifted Christian speakers with all the bells and whistles. A big church or ministry, much support from many people does not mean God is behind the church and ministry. Earthly riches have never been the sign of Godliness and truth. In reality the opposite is true. The more the world goes after you and the more of the world’s treasures you gather to yourself, church, or ministry the less of God you will have. If the world is patting you on the back, God is not. “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. ²⁰And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. ²¹Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; ²²Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; ²³And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-23) Paul here is not talking just about wisdom, but all things of the world. Sadly my friends as I travel the world I see many a man deceived by gifted speakers and why? No understanding of the truth, and why? No communion with the Father. Take heed Brethren, there is an eternal difference between a gifted speakers and a broken speaker. More next month on our great need of communion with the Father and other topics.

ARTICLE REVIEW:

Ministering by the Spirit

In Romans Paul shares some of the most mystical words in the Bible; “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27) This “know not what we should pray for as we ought:” in the Spirit goes much further then just our communication (our prayers) with God for the things we need from Him. In the Psalms David shares these words, “⁴Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalms 37:4) This is a great example of progressive truth and of the Spirit helping “our infirmities” by praying for the things we know not. Now prayer is an amazing and mysterious function of God. I will be honest I do not know how it all works, but I do know we must not spend our prayers (direct communication with God) on our self. God’s intention in our prayers is for us to spend our time praying for other’s needs not ours. The word “Delight” has nothing to do with being happy or joyful in God. For those who have walked with the Lord some time know there is not much joy and happiness associated with spiritual growth and development. Joy and happiness comes out of doing God’s will. This word “Delight” (in the Greek) means: pliable, moldable, bendable, like clay in the potter’s hands. Become “pliable, moldable, bendable, like clay in the potter’s hands in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of thine heart.” If we can become pliable, moldable, bendable, like clay in the potter’s hands God, who looks at our heart and knows the things we will ask before we pray (Matthew 6:8), will give us “the desire of thine heart” according to His will. The Spirit of God knows what we need and as we pray for others and become pliable, moldable, bendable, like clay in the potter’s hands God’s Spirit will give us what we need. Thus the spiritual principle of receiving from God is not the asking, but the praying for others and becoming pliable, moldable, bendable, like clay in the potter’s hands. Now this application of God’s Spirit functioning in our lives goes deep into our spiritual life, into the depths of our “hearts,” even into the knowledge of the “mind of the Spirit . . . according to the will of God” for our lives, and my friends into the preaching of the Word of God.

I just returned from two and one half weeks of ministry in India. On my way over this trip God reminded me of my first trip to India back in 2001. I had a marvelous time sharing the Gospel from village to village. God never sends me to the fancy places the capital cities, oh no God sends me to where the real people are and where the real hurt, hunger, and despair of the nation is, but also where the hunger and thirst for God’s word is. Jesus never had much time for the big cities, He always seemed to do much better in the villages with the people. When He would go into the big cities He would get into trouble, me too. After two weeks of ministering, in spite of exhaustion and dehydration from the intense heat and diarrhea from my diet, I was waiting before the Lord for what to share that night at the crusade during my last opportunity this trip before heading home in the morning. I remember saying, Lord this is my last shot at them please give me something powerful. As I laid down on the bed God took me to John 4:1-26, where Jesus had an loving encounter with a Samaria woman who was living in adultery. I told the Lord please, give me something powerful, I do not want to share on this topic this is my last opportunity this trip I need something powerful. A second time He drew me to John 4:1-26, and a second time I resisted these verses by saying, I need something powerful to share with them, this is my final opportunity don’t you understand? A third time (I do not believe there would have been a fourth time or another trip to India if I would not have surrendered) God drew me to John 4:1-26, this time I submitted and allowed God to open some thoughts from these verses. During the crusade when I shared the Word I felt God wanted for the night it was like pulling teeth, it took all that I had and they just sat there looking at me with no expression or emotion on their face. When I gave the alter call no one came forward they just sat there looking at me. I thought to myself, I have failed I missed it in God. I departed the next morning excited to see my family, but in my spirit I was troubled. When I got home I checked my email and sent one to Pastor S.J. Peter informing him I arrived home safe and sound. On his reply, and to my utter bewilderment, he thanked me for the powerful message I shared at the crusade. Little did I know the churches in attendance that night were wife swapping, seemed they picked this ungodly practice up from some churches in the States. I did not know the situation going on, but God did and by His Spirit He knew, by His Spirit; ²⁷And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27) My message that night brought great correction to the churches and they turned from their sin and was restored back to fellowship with God and could now look their fellow Brothers and Sisters in the eye again without shame in their hearts. I too learned a very valuable lesson to go along with the Lord, the first time, when He lays a burden on me. For it is by His Spirit we share His words and thoughts for people, not by our Bible School intellect and polished speaking skills. Oh no my friend, “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord.” (Zechariah 4:6) Not by our upward mental ascent into theory and doctrine or our emotional decent into our soul whereby we are stirred by our feelings to be moved into an emotional experience, but it is by God’s Spirit we minister the Word of God unto life for all those who will receive. Sadly many ministers of the Word today are unwilling to pay the price to be able to minister by the Spirit of God. The broken and contrite (crushed and ground to powder) in spirit alone are useful to God and alone can minister light and life to a dark and dying world. And sadly this is why many churches have lost their effectiveness to reach those around them in the world. Preachers and ministers try to share the message of the Gospel; the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from their personality and abilities, thus excluding the power of the Holy Spirit and His ability to minister the things we know not, but is needed to touch the heart and lives of people.

Brethren let us get back to ministering by the Spirit. Let us turn from our self-exalting, ambitious ways and humble ourselves before a loving and caring God. Let us once again allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us the things we know not, but is needed to once again draw men and woman to God through Christ Jesus. Let us minister by the Spirit, “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord.” (Zechariah 4:6) For it is by God’s Spirit there is life and God’s will is accomplished on earth and in Heaven.

Written by David Stahl

THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:

Karen will not be adding something this month, but remember, the best is yet to come.

POETRY CORNER:

Anxiety Concerning the Future

By Francois de Salignac de La Mothe-Fenelon

I wish you all the benefit you are seeking in retreat; above all, that you may find rest in a simple line of conduct, without looking forward anxiously to the future. That future is in God’s hands, not yours; God will rule it according to your need. But if you seek to forecast it in your own wisdom, you will gain nothing but anxiety and anticipation of inevitable troubles. Try only to make use of each day; each day brings its own good and evil and sometimes what seems evil becomes good if we leave it to God, and do not forestall Him in our impatience.

Be sure that God will grant you whatever time you need to attain to Him. Perhaps He may not give you as much as you would like for your own plans or to please yourself under the pretext of seeking protection, but you will find that neither time nor opportunity for renunciation of self and self-pleasing will be lacking. All other time is lost, however well spent it may seem. But assured that you will find all such matters adapted to your real needs.

Excerpt from Fenelon’s Spiritual Letters: Number 77, page 152.

DEAR FRIENDS:

One of the greatest mysteries to me as I walk with the Lord is my seeming inability to learn the lesson God is teaching me and then apply what I have learned the next time I come to a similar situation. God’s intent is for us to be learning and even learning those lessons, from Him, that will enable us to move successfully, in Him, without His constant intervention to deliver us from our self. We are to learn and then apply what we have learned, this my friend is real understanding and knowing. But it seems, (maybe I am the only one) we learn just enough to get through the situation, we understand, we know, we touch God enough just to get through the situation or circumstance we are facing, but have not learned enough to be able to draw on the learning again and again. We must allow God to so work in our lives to the point we learn the lesson He is teaching. God must be able to get through to us His ways and how He operates, if not how can we operate with Him?? The very best we could do is guess what God is doing in our lives. Oh how I see this in operation in many Churches. Brothers and Sisters telling other Brothers and Sisters that God has told them something about their walk with Him or future plans He has for them. Camel cookies! Brethren, if we walk with the Lord long enough He will let us know what He wants for our lives. We will not need someone to tell us what God personally wants to do. Ones that yoke the Brethren by such lies and presumption desires to exalt themselves in self-seeing and is manipulating younger Believers to get them to do or believe the way they believe. We are to believe what God says. We are to do what God tells us to do. Be careful in any other believing and doing in God. Self-seeking is a very subtle sin. I have found the Believer that spends much time under the pew in the Spirit, waving their hands and shouting, or lays prostrate on the floor before God lacks any depth of understanding of the work of God and to the simplicity of the Spirit working in our lives. Let us be very careful in this area of self-seeking. Let us learn the lessons God desires to teach us. Lack of real learning in God often is a sign of self-seeking on our part. Let us guard against this self-life. Let us learn the lessons that will destroy our selfishness to the point we will be able to apply again and again the things of God we have learned.

Karen, “My Sweetheart,” sends her love and greetings. All is well as we plod on in Christ.

NEEDS NOT WANTS:

1. In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastors Yanko and Niki and their church.

2. In Constanta, Romania Pastor Ritisan, the Lighthouse Church, and their Mission Bible School.

3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Marcel at St. Andrews Church, and their Bible School, Christ for Romania. Romania is undergoing new religious persecution from their government.

4. Pastor Joseph Mutua in Nairobi, Kenya needs your prayer and financial support.

5. Pastor Mike Olufemi in the north of Nigeria. He needs your prayers and support to be a light in great darkness.

6. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian both near Hyderabad, India.

7. Financial support for the printing of: “Adventures with God.”

8. Pastor Metin Mintaz and the members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.

9. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastor Isreal Mutaitina in Bukoba, Tanzania.

10. Major Rob McIntosh, Chaplin, Gatwick Airport, Salvation Army, London, England.

11. Vivian’s Maternity and Child Care Clinic project in Aviele, Nigeria.

12. Pastor Tek Dahl and his Church in Kathmandu, Nepal.

FUTURE SCHEDULE:

February: Istanbul, Turkey

March: Sankarguptum and Mumbai, India

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 bless the ministries I visit and share God’s love I would be honored to make it possible for God and you. God told Abram, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” (Genesis 12:3) If you want a blessing, then bless someone. Remember, God is to you what you are to God.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Address:

David and Karen Stahl

141 Coke Place

Jacksonville, NC 28546

Phone:

Home: (910) 346-1739

Mobile: (910) 273-5712

FAX: (910) 346-1739

Email:

dstahl@ec.rr.com

Website:

www.beholdinghisglory.com

I am pleased to announce “God Still Performs Miracles: A Book of Personal Encouragement” is now available and FREE FOR THE ASKING. No cost for the book, but I will ask for mailing cost.

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 me 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