Greetings again my Brethren.
As we behold His glory more and more we are able to come into the essence of
God’s nature and character, His truth. If we are to know God we must know Him
through truth. Most Christians today do not value truth they value things of
this earth like money, power, influence, and so much more. This desire for things
of the world and an unhealthy lack of fear (both terror and awe) and reverence
for God is why most Christians do not grow spiritually. Many Christians today seem to have a casual, non-respectful,
fast and loose relationship with the creator of the Universe. It is all about
God blessing them and making them feel good.
Remember, familiarly breeds contempt.
When we lived in
Over my many years as a Believer I
really see God has places in Him we must come to. Making places, places in Him where God can
work on us to conform us into His image of His dear Son Jesus Christ. And if we never come to these places we will
never come to the end God has purposed for our lives. For example; the end for all Christians is not
power, but authority. Today many
Christians operate in God’s power, but lack His authority. It is God’s authority not His power that is a
seal of His approval in our lives and ministry. But, we seem to go after God’s
power so that we can do signs and wonders while we neglect God’s authority. Jesus
shared this great truth with 70 of His Disciples, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord,
even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18And he said
unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from
heaven. 19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means
hurt you. 20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits
are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in
heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20) It is God’s authority we move in
not His power to become like His Son. It is God’s authority we move in to come
into the life of God and to bring others. There is a process, an eternal way, a
spiritual projection that God has for each and every one of us to go to be able
to move in His authority and power.
Starting in January 2006 I would like to share a part of this process
God has been working in my thoughts and life over the last three years. This edition of BHG I would like to lay a
foundational overview of this progression and then with each month build on
each precept. It is important to know we get our concepts and principles to
live our lives from our precepts; original ideas of truth. Now we must be very careful for if our
precepts are wrong then our concepts:
understandings and applications of our precepts and principles; guides
for our daily living will be wrong. If the foundation is wrong then how can
anything that is built on it be correct? The first precept we must establish is
truth is always from God’s perspective. Truth
is what God says it is. If we truly
believe all things begin and end with God and if we flow correctly in this one
truth we can then build our concepts and principles for our Godly living. For us to be able to move correctly with God and
build our concepts and principles correctly, especially if we feel we are
called to ministry we must follow: communion, obedience, brokenness, revelation, and authority. Please prayerfully consider
this pattern and see where you align with it. More next month on this and other
topics.
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Now is the Time for Truth
In
John we read, “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.” (John
4:23) Here Jesus was sharing a
critical spiritual principle with His disciples, a principle we today in the
church need to learn and be a critical pillar in our lives. But, sadly as I travel around the world I see
only one half of this verse in operation. We seem today in the church to go
after worshiping the Father in spirit and seldom do we think about truth. There seems to be a great thrust today in the
church towards spiritual worship, sadly at the cost of integrity and
righteousness. Please do not stand up
during the preaching of the word of God shaking your fist while weaving back
and forth like a bobble-head doll and not be able to put that bit of word into
operation. This type of preaching, that brings us to our feet, effects our
emotions not our spirit and functions outwardly in our lives. True ministry of
God’s word brings us to our knees, down into a low place before God. Please do
not tell me (like many Christians do) how you are growing in God, how your
prayer life is pulling down strongholds, but in reality I see you not telling
the truth, cannot be counted on to do what you say you will do, or worst yet
not able to do the right thing, because it is not apart of your nature and
character. We must not do the right thing because we are told to, oh no my
friend. We must do the right thing because it is apart of our everyday life.
Like breathing, righteousness, honesty, and integrity is to become automatic in
our actions and words. If we do right only when we are caught or when told to
we will never be trusted by God with spiritual things. Why do we think God will
trust us with holy and spiritual things if we cannot be counted on to do the
right thing?
When was the last time you heard a message on
being truthful and honest, oh no my friend these messages are not in vogue
today. We want to hear how to be spiritual, how to reach our destiny in
God. Not so my friend, you will never
reach your destiny in God or be able to worship God in spirit unless you first
can worship Him in truth. This is why
Jesus said, “true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in
truth:” Many worshipper today are false worshippers because they try to
get to God only through the spirit. Now
it is true we must use our spirit to get to God, but our approach to God with
our spirit must be righteous and holy, full of integrity and honesty. We cannot get to God, even with our spirit,
unless we can stand before Him with clean hands and hearts. “Who shall
ascend into the hill of the Lord? or shall stand in His old place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart:
who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” (Psalm 24:3-4) Today we think our spiritual growth and
development is measured by how long we can speak in tongues, prophesy, or even our good works, well my
friend these are not God’s measuring stick. God measures our spiritual growth
and development by how we handle truth, do we do the right thing especially
when no one is watching, when the pressure is on, or when you will lose
something for doing the right thing.
Never forget God measures our gain by what we lose. Jesus said (Matthew
On my last trip for 2004 I flew into the
international airport in Bucharest, Romania there I was to meet a man who would
take me to the train station for a six hour train ride to Suceava. As I came out to face the crowd my eyes
locked on Iovan Teodor Dorel a very trustworthy man and good friend. Dorel is cab driver, married with children,
short in stature, in his late 60s, and has picked me up at the airport three
other times. I smiled when I saw him,
even though he does not speak English well and I speak less Romanian we always
have a great time together. However, this 35 minute trip to the train station
would really test our faith and teamwork. It was now 15.30, due to a 45 minute
delay in
Brethren in 2006 let us purpose in our heart and lives to lead a life of
simplicity and integrity. If you want
peace and joy in God, well it is found in living a life of truth. Doing right the first time when God speaks to
us. What joy it would bring to the
Father if He has to only speak to us once.
Jesus ends the verse in John by saying, “for the Father seeketh such
to worship Him.” The Father is “seeking” such to worship Him? I wonder why God is “seeking” worshippers? Could it be because of lack of relationship?
Without proper relationship with God and man we will never be able to walk in
truth. And for our relationship to be effective
and productive truth must reign supreme in our heart and lives. Sadly also during this trip an American
Christian promised they would support me financially, but they were not true to
their words, nor did they contact me with their change of plans. I harbor no anger or ill will towards them,
but now I can see they are not really committed towards me and the work God has
placed within my hands. Their untruthfulness revealed their lack of devotion,
dedication, and commitment. Their untruthfulness revealed their true heart
condition towards me in relationship. Now it is true whatsoever is in our heart
will come out our mouth, but often (and just as true) it is what we do not say,
when we need to, that exposes our heart even the more. Brethren, “now is when the true worshipper
shall worship the Father in spirit and truth.” Now is the time to live our life in
simplicity and truthfulness before God and man.
God is still seeking true worshippers.
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:
On Patience of Suffering
By Francois de
Salignac de La Mothe-Fenelon
“In your patience possess ye
your souls.” (Luke 21:19)
The soul loses command
of itself when it is impatient. Whereas,
when it submits without a murmur it possesses itself in peace, and possesses
God. To be impatient, is to desire what
we have not, or not to desire what we have.
An impatient soul is a prey to passions unrestrained either by reason or
faith. What weakness, what
delusion! When we acquiesce in an evil,
it is no longer such. Peace does not
dwell in outward things, but within the soul.
We may preserve it in the midst of the bitterest of pain, if our will
remains firm and submissive. Peace in
this life springs from acquiescence even in disagreeable things, not in an
exemption from bearing them.
Excerpt from Fenelon’s Spiritual Letters: Number
100, page 226.
Well we head out on another year with
the Lord. Year 2006, thus far will
proved to be much more active then 2005.
In the past years I would travel out every other month, but in 2006 I
will need to travel some months back-to- back to meet God’s desires for BHG and
me. Never forget it is our life experiences that God uses to conform us into
His precious Son Jesus Christ’s image, so that we may be able to receive His
precious promises. The condition to be
able to receive the promises of God is not working or doing, but becoming like
His Son Jesus Christ. How we have missed
it. I see this truth ever the more as I
travel around the world and count on God’s grace and faithfulness to sustain me
in time of loneliness and lack. Last December my son Daniel travelled with me
to
Karen (my sweet heart)
and family are doing great and send their love. 2006 will see much adjustment for Family
Stahl. Dan, Sarah, and sweet little
Abigail will return from
NEEDS NOT WANTS:
1. In
Silistra,
2. In
3. In
4. Pastor
Joseph Mutua in
5. Pastor
Mike Olufemi in the north of
6. Pastor
S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor
Julian both near
7. Financial
support for the printing of: “Adventures with God.”
8. Pastor Metin Mintaz and the members of
Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in
9. Pastor
Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastor Isreal Mutaitina in
10. Major Rob McIntosh, Chaplin,
11. Vivian’s Maternity and Child Care Clinic
project in
12. Pastor
Tek Dahl and His Church in
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
January: Local ministry
February:
March: Sankarguptum and
I am still available to share what God has given me at
churches and/or home groups. Also, 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
Jacksonville , NC 28546
Phone:
Home: (910) 346-1739
FAX: (910) 346-1739
Email:
dstahl@ec.rr.com
Website:
If you
know someone who would enjoy receiving this newsletter or if you receive this
newsletter and do not wish to please let me know. Also if you would like to contribute to this
ministry please feel free to contact me with the above information. Costs ever
increase.
PLEASE
look within your abilities to begin supporting or to increase your support to
cover these costs. The cost is great, but the cost for not supporting is even
greater. And remember, all donations are tax deductible
